"I wasn't going to say this, but Brother-in-law hasn't made any money! His writing? It's nothing! The other day, he bragged about earning over 800,000, so I checked. He hasn't written anything decent. Yinyan knows online novels too—to make that kind of cash, you'd have to be a big-name author online. But he won't even tell us his pen name or what he's written! We follow the hot authors on Qifei Chinese Network, and he's not one of them!"
"So, we've all been fooled! His money's from credit cards, Huabei, Jiebei, maybe even loan sharks! He's faking it to look rich in front of us! What happens when he can't pay it back? Won't it fall on Auntie and your family? He's living it up now, but when he's drowning in debt and bolts, who's screwed? Auntie and Sister Wan!"
"What?! Is that true?! Bin Bin, you can't just say that!" Before Du Bin finished, Shen Yun jumped up, eyes gleaming with excitement, scolding him nervously.
"Bin Bin! You can't make that up! If it's true, Li Bin's going to ruin your aunt's family!" Du Jianjun stood too, glaring at Li Bin fiercely. "Li Bin, is what Du Bin said true? Answer us honestly right now! If you did this, I'll beat you senseless today!"
Du Jianjun's tone was harsh, his words sounding like confirmation, as if he'd already decided Li Bin was guilty of borrowing to flex.
To him, Li Bin was exactly that kind of person.
He was convinced Li Bin had taken out loans to pull this off! Du Jianjun looked ready to take Li Bin down himself, like a vigilante.
"What?! No way! That's impossible! It can't be! Li Bin's not like that!" Wen Wan panicked, her face pale, trembling, her eyes on Li Bin filled with fear. "Honey, tell the truth—is it real?"
Wen Lan's face went white too, scared. Du Bin's logic made sense, and she started believing it, her view of Li Bin crashing, staring at him in disbelief, waiting for his answer.
"Xiao Bin?" Shen Han shuddered, grabbing Li Bin tightly, her tone firm as she snapped at Du Bin, "Bin Bin, don't talk nonsense! I know my son-in-law's affairs. He earned this money through hard work! It's my birthday, and everyone's happy, so I won't hold it against you. But don't say that again!"
She pulled the calm, composed Li Bin aside, lowering her voice in a frantic whisper, "Xiao Bin, tell Mom the truth—is Du Bin right? If it's true, don't be scared. Just tell me. I have some savings—I'll help you pay it off. We'll return the watch too. I know you're filial, but we can't do this again, okay? Promise Mom. I won't push you to make money anymore. Just live well with Wen Wan, alright?"
Shen Han's face was ashen. Despite her firm front, she believed Du Bin, thinking Li Bin had taken out loans to play big shot.
But what moved Li Bin deeply was that Shen Han didn't blame him. Instead, she fiercely protected him, even offering her life savings to cover his debts.
Over their time together, their bond had grown deep. Shen Han genuinely saw Li Bin as her own son, treating him like true family.
This touched Li Bin profoundly.
Seeing Shen Han's worried, tearful face, Li Bin's eyes welled up. For such a money-loving, vain mother-in-law to offer all her savings to protect him—this was real.
Growing up, Li Bin never felt such familial love. His own parents favored his brother, ignoring him, which is why he was fine marrying into the Wen family as a live-in son-in-law.
"Mom, you're overthinking it. This money's mine, earned fair and square, clean as a whistle! I haven't borrowed a cent. Du Bin's talking nonsense," Li Bin said, comforting her with a hug, guiding her back to her seat with a calm smile. "Du Bin's got it wrong. First, I can confirm I haven't borrowed a dime. Second, I can assure everyone this money's from my hard work—clean and legit."