The Little Spoiled Brat Divorces with a Child, Driving the Big Boss Crazy - Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Early the next morning, word that the Jiao Family had gone to the Jin Family to make a marriage proposal spread throughout their social circle.
The Jiao Family had observed every custom and courtesy, delivering the most traditional eighty-eight loads of betrothal gifts in Beicheng all the way to the Jin residence amid fireworks and firecrackers.
With all the crackling and banging next door, Lu Ying tried to sleep a little longer, only to be startled awake every time she had just closed her eyes.
Auntie Zhang laughed. “The Second Young Master is moving.”
“Can’t he keep it down?” Lu Ying asked irritably. “I planned to sleep until noon.”
Auntie Zhang added, “I saw Young Master Hu moving in.”
“…”
“He didn’t sell the house to Young Master Hu, did he?”
Still in her slippers, Lu Ying hurried noisily into the courtyard. Sure enough, Hu Chuang was standing there directing the workers as they moved his belongings.
Seeing that she was awake, Jin Beizhou appeared at the wall. “I kept my word. I even moved ahead of schedule.”
He had removed the surveillance cameras in the courtyard too.
How obedient of him.
“Brother Hu Chuang is moving in?” Lu Ying asked.
“What?” Jin Beizhou said unhappily. “I bought two houses in the past few days. Am I not allowed to sell one to him?”
“…”
“Am I not even allowed to sell one and recoup some of my money?”
Lu Ying’s lips moved. “Did I say anything?”
“You don’t need to.” Jin Beizhou gave a soft huff. “I can tell from the look in your eyes.”
“Have a safe trip. I won’t see you off.”
“I’m staying at Hu Chuang’s for a meal.”
“…”
“Hey!” Jin Beizhou frowned. “I’m not even allowed to visit my friend’s home?”
Lu Ying exploded. “Did I say anything?”
“You don’t need to…”
“Go fucking die!” Lu Ying screamed.
“…Don’t swear.”
“Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you!”
“…”
Silence.
Half a second later, Jin Beizhou turned his face aside. His shoulders trembled faintly, and the pervert actually burst out laughing.
If bending over had not been difficult, Lu Ying would have picked up a stone from Auntie Zhang’s little vegetable garden and hurled it at him.
“I’m telling you,” she said through gritted teeth, “this is house laundering!”
She finally understood what this dog of a man was plotting.
She could drive Jin Beizhou away, but she could not drive Hu Chuang away.
Jin Beizhou was still laughing. “I’ve only ever heard of money laundering.”
“You’d better pay your taxes on time, or I’ll report you and make sure your company can’t stay in business!”
“…” Jin Beizhou raised a brow. “Ooh. How terrifying.”
Lu Ying turned and went back inside.
Damn it.
She wanted to strangle him.
Hu Chuang walked over, his expression indescribable. “Bro, is this some new way of coaxing a woman?”
“It’s time to eat. Make sure she eats before she goes back to sleep, or her blood sugar will drop.” Jin Beizhou checked the time. “Go invite her.”
“…”
Lu Ying wanted to catch up on her sleep, but Hu Chuang pleaded, “Eat before you sleep. You’re pregnant. How can you skip a meal?”
“I’m not eating.”
“Want me to bring it to you?”
“No.”
“…Little sister.” Hu Chuang was helpless. “Do you sleep this much every day?”
Lu Ying closed her eyes and refused to answer.
Out of options, Hu Chuang racked his brain for something that might wake her up. “Want some gossip?”
“…” Lu Ying opened her eyes. “What gossip?”
Seeing an opening, Hu Chuang perked up. “The Jiao Family gave the Jin Family eighty-eight loads of gifts, right? I heard from someone at the scene that they counted a single wooden comb as one whole load.”
Lu Ying sat upright. “And?”
“I’m guessing Jiao An’s parents must disapprove,” Hu Chuang said. “They couldn’t change their son’s mind, so they gave the betrothal gifts reluctantly and cut corners. Back when you received your eighty-eight loads, Zhouzi arranged everything personally. Who would use a single comb to make up the count?”
Ordinarily, parents and elders handled such old-fashioned betrothal gifts out of concern that the younger generation would not understand the customs and would make mistakes.
But Jin Beizhou had arranged every one of Lu Ying’s gifts himself.
Aside from auspicious objects, household items, wine, and fruit, the eighty-eight loads of betrothal gifts were anchored by cash, gold, silver, and jewelry. Wealthier families might even include property deeds and vehicle titles.
Families of ordinary means simply offered less cash and fewer gold ornaments. The exact contents were always negotiated between the two sides.
In truth, the custom was complicated. Preparation alone took a great deal of time, and disagreements could easily arise in the process. It was gradually being replaced by simpler, more modern engagement ceremonies.
Yet Jin Beizhou had still gone to the Lu Family with betrothal gifts in this solemn, traditional manner.
He had prepared Lu Ying’s eighty-eight loads to the highest standard permitted by custom. The gold and jade jewelry had been made through the night by master craftsmen skilled in traditional techniques, and he had personally gone to an auction house to bid on a complete diamond parure.
His devotion showed in every detail.
Her grandfather had been very satisfied. It was only that the gifts were so lavish that preparing a suitable dowry and return gifts gave the old man a headache for quite some time.
In the end, Jin Beizhou knelt beside his sickbed and said, “I don’t want anything else. I want Lu Yingying to knit me a scarf.”
Her grandfather was left speechless.
It was a modest request, but an extremely difficult one.
Both men knew Lu Ying’s temperament. She hated anything that demanded patience and meticulous care.
She did not know how to knit, nor could she sit still long enough to learn.
But Jin Beizhou had given her such lavish betrothal gifts. What was one hand-knitted scarf in return?
For half a month, her grandfather kept Lu Ying at home so a teacher could show her how to knit.
On the day she finished the scarf, snow fell over Beicheng.
Jin Beizhou climbed over the wall and appeared outside Lu Ying’s window. She was furiously beating the scarf with a cotton mallet as though it were him.
The next second, their gazes met through the glass.
Jin Beizhou stood amid the swirling snow, his features sharply defined and devastatingly handsome.
Guilt flickered through Lu Ying’s eyes, and the mallet froze in midair.
After a moment, she awkwardly picked up the scarf and said ingratiatingly, “Beating it makes it softer and fluffier.”
The window opened. Jin Beizhou caught the back of her neck in an iron grip and kissed her fiercely. As he kissed her, he hooked the scarf around them both and wrapped them together inside it.
Lu Ying could not escape. He kissed her lips red and swollen, and she buried herself in his arms, fussing and acting spoiled.
In the end, Jin Beizhou deliberately let her hit him twice before he finally coaxed her into a good mood.
Although her grandfather had prepared generous return gifts, Jin Beizhou deposited all of them into Lu Ying’s accounts and accepted only the scarf.
In his eyes, the fact that Lu Ying had willingly summoned the patience to knit him a scarf could only mean that she loved him beyond measure.
When Hu Chuang mentioned Jin Meimei’s betrothal gifts, Lu Ying’s thoughts drifted. She could not help wondering whether Old Madam and the old master of the Jin Family had tried to obstruct Jin Beizhou when he prepared hers.
The Jiao Family had been so perfunctory with Jin Meimei’s gifts. Had Jin Beizhou arranged Lu Ying’s himself because his grandparents opposed the marriage and he feared they would sabotage it?
Yet throughout the period when Lu Ying was waiting to marry him, Jin Beizhou had greeted her with a delighted face every time they met. He had always seemed completely relaxed.
There had been no hint that anyone was making things difficult for him.
Lu Ying stared into space, her thoughts in turmoil.
There was truth in the saying that spending every day together did not mean you truly knew someone. Jin Beizhou had hidden too many secrets. If they had not divorced, Lu Ying feared she would never have learned about any of them.
She had never seen the side of him that lived in shadow.
Were spouses supposed to show each other only their best sides?
At that moment, Lu Ying suddenly realized something. She had never seen the whole Jin Beizhou.
But she no longer wanted to.
He could hide whatever he wanted. If she wasted so much as another second on her ex-husband, may lightning strike her dead.
“Brother.” Lu Ying interrupted Hu Chuang’s rambling. “Go home!”
“…” Hu Chuang scratched his head. “What? You didn’t like the story?”
“I’m hungry, and I feel like eating someone. You look delicious…”
Before she could finish, Hu Chuang bolted. “I’m not delicious! Not even a little! Don’t say things like that, little sister. I’m afraid your ex-husband will kill me!”
