Chapter Fourteen: My Sister's Boyfriend

“Well, young master, you’re home early today,” said Gu Ming, who was twenty-six this year—tall with a cheerful disposition. She patted Yan Xuan on the shoulder as he passed by. “Come, come, meet your brother-in-law. Song Yang, this is my little brother.”

Yan Xuan shook hands with the man. He’d meant to exchange a few words, but Song Yang merely touched his hand lightly before withdrawing, his eyes already roaming over their house.

Truth be told, this house had stood for decades and was quite old. But Old Ding kept a tidy home, and with three women in the household, it was much cleaner and more orderly than most. Yet in Song Yang’s gaze, there was an unmistakable trace of disdain.

Gu Ming, boisterous as ever, noticed nothing amiss. She pulled Song Yang over to the sofa and called out to Old Ding in the kitchen.

Yan Xuan glanced at taciturn Old Gu, then at Song Yang, whose demeanor was distinctly cold. Quickly, he set about brewing tea and pouring water, trying to warm up the atmosphere with conversation.

Old Ding popped out to say hello before returning to the kitchen, leaving Gu Ming to wash and slice fruit.

Just then, little Gu Lan wandered in, catching Gu Ming’s eye. “Lanlan, where did you get that dress?” she asked.

“My brother bought it for me. Isn’t it pretty? Don’t I look just like a real little princess?”

“It’s lovely.” Gu Ming nodded, then turned to Yan Xuan, hand outstretched. “And where’s my gift?”

Old Gu’s face darkened. “What are you asking your brother for gifts for?”

“I’ve got something, I’ve got something.” Yan Xuan hurriedly smiled. “Lanlan has it. Lanlan!”

“I know!” Lanlan ducked into her room and returned with a small box.

It wasn’t large, but Gu Ming froze when she opened it. Inside were four lipsticks. Unable to hold back her surprise, she said, “Young master, you’ve struck it rich, haven’t you?”

This set of lipsticks, though just four tubes, was from a major brand and cost about fifteen hundred yuan; sometimes, when they were sold out, you’d have to pay extra just to get them.

“Tch, they’re fakes.” Before Yan Xuan could reply, Song Yang interjected from the side.

“What?” Gu Ming blinked, examining the lipsticks in her hand more closely. “That can’t be—the design and the logo are real.”

“Isn’t your brother just a junior designer who hasn’t even gone permanent yet? He only makes a couple thousand a month, and he has to pay rent and buy food. He’d need two months just to save up for this set. Do you really think he’d buy it for you?” Song Yang sneered.

Yan Xuan didn’t argue, just smiled faintly. “As long as you like them, sis.”

Seeing Yan Xuan didn’t deny it, Song Yang grew even more pleased with himself. “There are tons of knock-offs like this online. This set probably costs a little over a hundred, if that. I’d suggest you don’t use them—you might get poisoned.”

Before Yan Xuan could reply, Old Gu snapped, “If you can’t keep your mouth shut, you’re welcome to leave!”

Song Yang was taken aback, then snapped right back, “Fine, I’ll leave! Sitting here, I might catch your poverty.”

He stood up to go. Gu Ming stared, “Dad?”

“If you don’t want to stay, you can leave too!” Old Gu said, his tone unyielding.

Yan Xuan was stunned. He’d seen Old Gu lose his temper before, but rarely and never like this. He was truly angry.

Gu Ming hesitated for a moment, then dashed out the door. The house fell so silent, you could hear a pin drop.

“What’s going on?” Old Ding, hearing the commotion, came out to find an unusually quiet living room. “Where’s Mingming? And her boyfriend?”

“Uh, Mom, sis and her boyfriend went to get something. I’ll go call them,” Yan Xuan said, getting up.

“We’re all at home, what could they possibly need? Go call them back,” Old Ding said, puzzled but not pressing the issue.

Yan Xuan hurried downstairs. It had only been a minute or two; they couldn’t have gone far. As he turned the corner, he heard the sound of a man and woman arguing and quickened his pace.

He hadn’t gone far when a sharp slap rang out. Yan Xuan froze, then picked up his speed.

Gu Ming’s face was still clouded with anger after slapping Song Yang. “Song Yang, do you even hear yourself?”

“You actually hit me?” Song Yang stared at her in disbelief, hand to his cheek, then raised his hand to strike back.

Yan Xuan grabbed his wrist from behind. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Let go, you little wretch!” Song Yang struggled but couldn’t break free, so he began to curse.

Yan Xuan’s expression was icy. “Listen, no one in my family is going to be bullied by the likes of you! If I ever see you lifting a hand against her again, I’ll break your teeth!”

With a hard jerk, Yan Xuan flung Song Yang back two steps. Song Yang looked like he wanted to fight, but seeing the siblings standing together, he thought better of it.

“Gu Ming, it’s over between us! Pay back the money you owe me!” Song Yang spat out.

“What money do I owe you?” Gu Ming was stunned, then furious. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

This was an old neighborhood; everyone knew each other. Some rented here simply because it was cheap. People had already begun to gather when the shouting started, and now the crowd was growing.

For a girl to be accused of owing money in public was mortifying. Gu Ming’s eyes were red with anger.

“What money does she owe you?”

“Don’t try to deny it, Gu Ming. We’ve been together for over half a year. In that time, I bought you dinner six times—I have the records right here. I also took you to three movies; I paid for the tickets, the popcorn, the drinks. And I bought you a piece of clothing—that cost a hundred and sixty…” Song Yang pulled out his phone and opened a note, reading out each item. “It’s all written down. Don’t think you can get out of it. Even the gift I brought today—if you want to keep it, pay me back. I have the receipts.”

At first, the onlookers thought it was just a spectacle. They were surprised to hear that Old Gu’s eldest daughter, usually so upright, could owe a man so much money.

But as the itemization went on, their expressions changed.

“What kind of man are you, chasing a girl down to ask for this kind of money?” a burly man nearby finally couldn’t take it.

“Yeah, get lost. Men like you are an embarrassment to the rest of us. Pathetic!”

“You dated her for half a year, bought her dinner six times—that’s barely once a month. Did she pay for everything else?”

“And you’re counting water, popcorn, and milk tea? Even the gift you brought to meet her family? You want her to pay you back for that?”

“Listen to yourself—what trash! Meeting your future in-laws and that’s all you brought? If I were her, I wouldn’t have even let you in!”

The crowd’s voices grew louder. Song Yang’s face flushed, then paled, then flushed again. Suddenly, he shouted, “So what? I paid for those things! Why shouldn’t I get my money back? She was my girlfriend before, but now we’re breaking up, so of course I want it returned!”

“There’s no need to shout,” Yan Xuan said, raising his hand to calm the crowd. “Just tell me the total. I’ll transfer it to you.”