Husband, Spend Some Gold Coins

Xie Qi thought, feeling that the money was indeed too hot to handle. His effort could no longer match the salary received. He must increase his performance.

Despite feeling happy and secure holding it, when he calmed down, an uneasy feeling settled in. It was like his feet were always on clouds, so light that they never touched the ground. It felt too unreliable.

He genuinely needed money, and he truly appreciated it. Yet, he was genuinely perplexed.

To accept the money with peace of mind, he had to work hard to help Qin Yizhi woke up or… just make his relationship with Qin Yizhi being a real married couple.

But… why did his thoughts circle back to this point?

Xie Qi’s heart thumped, and a voice emerged in his mind: ‘Madam Yao, is this also part of your plan?’

He suspected he might be overthinking, but his current mental state led him here – after all, Yao Wenzhu wanted to give him more money when she requested to see his parents, and upon his refusal, she continued to press for it. Wasn’t this… psychological warfare?

No way, Xie Qi thought of Yao Wenzhu’s playful and sweet style, and he couldn’t believe it.

But a voice deep in his heart said: ‘Despite Yao Wenzhu’s casual and silly demeanor, she is still a mother of 26-year-old son, a middle-aged woman. She has experienced more life than his fair share of life. Is she truly foolish?’

Xie Qi: “…”

In this moment, he finally belatedly realized that obtaining the easy money was not only difficult but possibly impossible.

.

Fan Qingyue continued to talk: “If you really can’t handle it, I’m willing to replace you for the money. We’ll split it evenly when the time comes, fair and square.”

Xie Qi snapped back to reality and couldn’t help but smile. “You’re really something else.”

Fan Qingyue said, “Of course, you’re my good brother.”

Xie Qi questioned, “Huh? Aren’t we a father and son?”

Fan Qingyue laughed, “Hahahahahahaha, our relationship is quite unique. If you move forward, I’m your adoptive son; but if you step back, I’m your brother~”

Xie Qi smiled, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes.

He contemplated returning the extra 200,000 yuan.

The initial agreement was for 200,000, and they had signed a contract. It could be considered an employment relationship, so why did he accept the additional 200,000?

Putting down such a large amount might be intended to make him uneasy and prompting him to compromise.

Xie Qi began to feel irritated. Not only was the money a source of discomfort, but it seemed like an attempt to control him.

All of this was because Yao Wenzhu wanted to bind him to Qin Yizhi, fearing that he might develop feelings for others. What made it even worse was that his relationship with Qin Yizhi was entirely fabricated by Yao Wenzhu’s delusion and was false!

His tangled web of deceit led him into a deep pit. Now, he started to wonder why Yao Wenzhu insisted on meeting his parents. It wasn’t reasonable to meet in-laws when his biological mother and stepfather were both hospitalized. Could it be that it was not about “meeting the in-laws” at all, but an attempt to buy him out with a lump sum of money…?

Xie Qi: “…”

He quickly halted these thoughts. How could he let his mind wander into darker territories regarding Yao Wenzhu? He couldn’t dwell on it; it might affect his relationship with her.

.

Approaching Jiang Sining’s ward, he pushed away those thoughts, but his heart felt heavy, and his mood turned gloomy.

Jiang Sining’s spirits had lifted considerably since Hou Linong was transferred to her ward. Despite his body being covered in plaster, the move to a general ward indicated stability in his physical condition.

Li Siwen and Fan Qingyue greeted Jiang Sining, who smiled and said, “You’re all here today. Come on, there’s fruit on the table. Help yourselves.”

Only then did Xie Qi notice a sizable flower basket on the table beside her bed and asked, “Who visited you?”

Jiang Sining replied, “A colleague came to see me this afternoon.”

Xie Qi sat down, took a fruit knife, and began peeling an apple. Fan Qingyue remarked, “Wow, no need to peel it for me. I’ll eat with the skin. You’re too polite.”

Xie Qi responded, “No, I peel it for my mother to eat.”

Jiang Sining said, “Ah,” and added, “No need, I just had dinner.”

“Oh, did my mother just leave?” Li Siwen inquired. “I was thinking of taking her back.” As they chatted, Xie Qi found himself uninterested, so he made an excuse and left.

His eyes stung, so he leaned against the hospital corridor wall and applied eye drops.

At this moment, Xie Qi realized that there was no one around who could offer him guidance.

Jiang Sining was out of the question; he didn’t want her to be aware of this situation. Li Siwen and Fan Qingyue weren’t suitable either. Despite being close friends, their relationship hadn’t reached this level.

He felt irritable.

.

Troubles compounded when Xie Qi returned home in the evening and saw a Bentley parked in front of his house.

He didn’t pay much attention at first. After all, this neighborhood was in a school district with many wealthy residents. About to bypass the car and head home, the back seat window of the Bentley rolled down, revealing a familiar face who called out, “Qiqi.”

He turned to see Uncle Wang’s face. Xie Qi for a moment, he approached as Uncle Wang got out of the car. The man walked up and said, “You should go home. Your father misses you a lot.”

Xie Qi: “How could he miss me? He only misses me when he needs me, right?”

Uncle Wang, a bit embarrassed, admitted: “True, I won’t hide it from you. After all, I’ve watched you grow up. Young master, the Xie family is facing some trouble now. They want to arrange a marriage with the Yun family. Didn’t two of the three Yun family sons play with you as kids? You know them well, and you were quite close with them.”

Xie Qi: “…”

He looked at Uncle Wang seriously this time and suddenly smiled, “I didn’t expect you to come here as a mediator.”

Uncle Wang, in his fifties, nodded. When Xie Qi was young, Uncle Wang worked as a housekeeper for the Xie family. He was skilled with his hands, making wooden toys more exquisite than those from high-end stores.

Their relationship was good back then.

Meeting again recently, Xie Qi realized that things had changed and some people changed long ago.