Chapter 3: Defying the Natural Order
Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Defying the Natural Order
On the way home, Zhang Yan had carefully considered how to explain his sudden windfall, so he already had a drafted story in mind.
"Dad, Mom, there’s something I can’t keep from you any longer. Actually, we are a family of billionaires."
"Huh? What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you brat? Don’t you think I’d know how much money we have?"
"Yan, are you sick and running a fever? Are you delirious? Let Mom see," Mother Zhang said, reaching out to check his forehead, but she didn’t find anything unusual.
Zhang Yan chuckled and continued, "I never mentioned this because I wanted to test you... I mean, test Cheng Lu. You know about Bitcoin, right? Back in 2011, I spent all my New Year’s lucky money buying Bitcoin. I only remembered it recently and sold off a portion."
This was a half-truth. He really had spent the money back then, which his parents knew about but hadn’t pressed him on, except he had used it to buy some rather unmentionable private items.
Father Zhang and Mother Zhang had heard of Bitcoin; after all, the myths surrounding it had swept the globe.
"You were in elementary school back then. You understood Bitcoin? And where exactly would you even buy it?" Father Zhang shot him a look that clearly said, "Are you trying to con your own father?"
"Don’t ask for the specifics. An elementary school classmate’s dad was buying it at the time, and I bought a little out of curiosity.
"Don’t pry into the specific channels since it involves other people’s privacy. Anyway, it’s too late to buy it now.
"Our country’s stance on cryptocurrency is rather ambiguous, so let’s just keep this matter within the family. Don’t spread it around."
Seeing the two elders looking as if their son had contracted a severe illness and needed to be rushed to the hospital, Zhang Yan knew he had to show them something real.
"I know you won’t believe me no matter what I say, but you can’t argue with money, right?
"Mom, check your text messages. The transfer should have arrived by now. This is a special fund for you to go traveling. It’s only a tiny fraction of my assets, so don’t be frugal with it. Spend it however you like.
"I only feel at ease leaving the money with you. If I gave it to Dad, I’d be worried about getting a few stepmothers."
Father Zhang raised his hand to teach this audacious and rebellious son a lesson, but his curiosity made him pause to look at his wife’s phone instead.
It was a deposit notification from the mobile bank.
"This, this, this... Old Zhang, hurry up and count this for me. How many zeros is this?"
"Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands... Five million?! I counted twice, I’m definitely not wrong!"
Facts spoke louder than words. Faced with an unimaginable amount of cold, hard cash, the two elders had no choice but to believe their son’s fantastical story.
"Dad, Mom, didn’t you dream of traveling all over the country’s beautiful landscapes when you were young?
"Later, you had to give up on that dream because I was born.
"Tomorrow, a specialist I hired will contact you. Go fulfill your dreams. Your lives shouldn’t have any regrets!"
The two elders were still in shock, but at the end of the day, it was a tremendously good thing, so they gradually accepted it.
"Then what about Lulu... Are you two not getting married anymore?"
"Why would we still get married!
"She’s a bloodsucking mosquito who only wants to drain our family’s money!
"If I compromised and gave in to her even a little, she’d only get worse. If I actually married a woman like that, the rest of my life would be ruined.
"She failed my test, and she won’t ever get another chance!
"Your son is rich and handsome! What kind of woman wouldn’t I be able to find in the future?
"Dad, Mom, just focus on fulfilling your dreams and traveling the country. If you’re still up for it, travel the whole world!
"Our family has plenty of money now, so you don’t need to worry about my marriage. By the time you come back, you might even be holding a grandson!"
While Zhang Yan’s family was basking in joy, Cheng Lu had returned to her parents’ house, though she was in a much sourer mood.
"I’m so mad! Mom, I don’t know what’s gotten into Zhang Yan today, but he actually wanted to break up with me. It’s just a little bit of money, but he actually values it more than our relationship!"
"That’s outrageous! My daughter is so beautiful and graduated from a prestigious university; why would you ever worry about not getting married? If that brat doesn’t know what’s good for him, then we won’t rush the wedding. Mom will introduce you to a few better catches!"
Cheng Lu felt much better hearing her mother’s comforting words, but thinking of her belly, she knew this matter couldn’t be delayed.
"Mom, Zhang Yan is probably just caught up in the heat of the moment. He’ll probably call to apologize tonight. I’ll go out with a friend for a couple of days to leave him hanging, and then he’ll come crying and begging for my forgiveness."
"Alright, sweetie, Mom supports you one hundred percent. Truth be told, I never thought highly of his family anyway. If it wasn’t for the fact that he treated you well, I wouldn’t have agreed to this in the first place. Who would have thought he’d turn on you first!"
Cheng Lu took a pretty selfie, carefully selected who could see it, and captioned it:
"I was bullied by my boyfriend. I really want to break up. SOB SOB SOB."
Sure enough, it didn’t take long for several of the eager fish in her pond to privately message her with words of comfort.
"What’s wrong, goddess? If you’re in a bad mood, let me take you out to dinner."
"Beautiful Cheng, feeling down? Want to come out for a stroll and clear your head?"
She picked the one who was currently the most willing to spend money on her, aside from Zhang Yan, and replied, "I just found out today that my boyfriend doesn’t seem to love me that much after all. I’m in a bad mood and really want to treat myself to a huge feast."
"Sure thing! You pick the place, my treat!"
Cheng Lu’s lips curled up in a smirk. "Humph, I have plenty of fish in my pond. If you won’t do, I can just replace you."
Meanwhile, at Zhang Yan’s home, his parents had happily gone out to buy plenty of delicious food they were usually too frugal to purchase. They cooked a lavish meal for their eldest son, and the family enjoyed a high-spirited feast.
Watching his parents excitedly planning their trip, Zhang Yan smiled faintly, a wave of deep satisfaction welling up in his heart.
He took out his phone and posted on his Friends Circle along with a picture. However, he didn’t block Cheng Lu from seeing it:
"My wallet is too heavy, and your love is too light. Bloodsucking mosquitoes only deserve to be swatted against the wall.
"Celebrating my return to the single life today."
Cheng Lu still thought things were the way they used to be. She assumed that once he cooled down by nightfall, he would beg for her forgiveness, make up with her, agree to all her demands, or at least show his hand to see exactly how much he could offer.
When that time came, the initiative would naturally remain in her hands, whether she decided to replace him or add on more conditions.
But Zhang Yan’s actions were a blatant declaration to all their mutual classmates and friends: they were done, and there was zero chance of them ever getting back together.
He would not contact Cheng Lu again; he only responded to her with facts.
Today, Zhang Yan had stepped away from the tree he would have eventually hanged himself on, but in doing so, he gained the entire forest.
As if sensing his mood, Brother Tongzi opportunely issued another mission.
[DING!]
[A man will ultimately be haunted his whole life by what he could not obtain in his youth.]
[As a middle-aged man who has just divorced, you feel a deep emotional void. Thinking of one of the most beautiful women you have ever met in your life, Xia Xiqing, you deeply regret not becoming close confidants with her when you were young.]
[Side Mission: Reestablish contact with Xia Xiqing. Reward: 100,000 yuan.]
"Senior Sister Xia?"
Zhang Yan remembered that Xia Xiqing was a senior from the Fine Arts Department of the Art Academy. He had indeed been fortunate enough to cross paths with her once before, leaving a profound impression on him.
However, it was obvious that she came from a very affluent family. She was a genuine aristocratic lady, aloof and proud, much like a goddess high up in the heavens. At the time, Zhang Yan hadn’t dared to entertain even the slightest inappropriate thought about her.
But now, everything was different.