I'll Pay Five Million

Yang Lanlan's cheeks flushed red. She was stunned. It was a secret only she and Jiang Junlai knew. How had Zhang Yang found out? Had that pervert been following her? No, that didn't make sense. Zhang Yang had been at Yang Su's birthday party.

I'm a man who's lived the same day for a thousand years. You think a little girl like you can push me around? Don't underestimate me! Zhang Yang thought as he watched Yang Lanlan fume.

"You..." Yang Lanlan wanted to explain, or at least argue, but this wasn't the place. It was a secret. If it came out, everyone would know, and she would never be able to show her face again. She was a mistress who wanted to keep up appearances and get married.

"All right! Since everyone's in agreement, I've decided. I'll find Dongxue a suitable match, someone who can measure up to Zheng Xinran," Yang Su suddenly announced.

Zhang Yang was stunned. Yang Su had said it in front of everyone, with Cheng Dongxue's lawful husband sitting right there. She was openly looking for another man for her.

Cheng Dongxue was stunned too. She knew her mother looked down on the poor and admired the rich. She knew her mother was vain. But to do something so immoral, even illegal, right in front of her?

"Mom..." Cheng Dongxue was furious. Even if she divorced Zhang Yang, even if her mother was in a hurry to marry her off again, she should at least ask for her consent. This was a free society governed by law. Arranged marriages were a thing of the past. How could one happen now, in the Cheng Family?

"Dongxue, there's nothing wrong with it. You need to listen to your mother. Cheng Company is in trouble. If Zhang Yang could come up with that much money, fine, but he can't. Five million! Five million! That good-for-nothing Zhang Yang probably couldn't even come up with five hundred!"

Cheng Dongxue spoke up in support. If things went as her mother proposed, she wouldn't have to pay a cent, and she would have every justification for it.

"Mom, think it over. You can't do this!" Cheng Lin was stunned too. Her mother might be ignorant, but she was a modern woman from a wealthy family. Cheng Lin couldn't believe she would do such a thing.

"There's nothing to think over. I've been thinking about it for a long time. I only brought it up today because the time has come. I can't stand it anymore."

Yang Su's expression turned stern as she spoke.

"Hmph..."

"Auntie, shouldn't you think it over?" Yang Lanlan suddenly switched sides and spoke up for Zhang Yang.

Yang Lanlan didn't know how Zhang Yang had learned her secret with Jiang Junlai, or how much he knew. But he had mentioned a bed, Jiang Junlai, and Jiang Junlai's wife. It was a threat, plain and simple. If she didn't show Zhang Yang some goodwill, he might lose his temper and expose her at any moment. Then this meal would take a very different turn.

"Huh? Sis, have you lost your mind? Why are you defending that good-for-nothing?" Yang Tai was stunned. He couldn't imagine why Yang Lanlan had suddenly changed sides.

"It's... it's nothing!" Yang Lanlan stammered. She gave Zhang Yang an innocent, pleading look, then said, "Zhang Yang isn't completely useless... Look, he cooks pretty well. There aren't many men who can cook these days."

"Huh?" Yang Tai was dumbfounded. Since when had Yang Lanlan been interested in men who could cook? How had her tastes changed so suddenly?

"What's there to think about? You'd be better off thinking about where to get a facial tomorrow!" Yang Su snapped, too angry to wonder why Yang Lanlan had changed sides.

"Mom... I don't agree. Zhang Yang is my husband, no matter what, and I won't divorce him. Find whoever you want, but if you want someone to marry him, do it yourself!"

"Pfft..."

Zhang Yang had been drinking soup. At Cheng Dongxue's words, he sprayed out a mouthful.

"Xiao Xue, you can't say that. It's disrespectful. Besides, my father-in-law Cheng Hai is still right here. They'd have to divorce first."

Zhang Yang grinned. He couldn't help it. After all this time at the table, his family had finally given him something to laugh about.

"Do you have five million?" Cheng Hai's face had turned the color of liver, but he kept himself remarkably composed. He forced down his anger because words could no longer vent it. All he wanted was to rush over and slap Zhang Yang a few times.

"Five million... I..."

"He does..."

Zhang Yang was taken aback. Coming up with the money wouldn't be difficult for him, but why should he pay?

Before he could say anything, Lin Xiaofei answered at once.

"Zhang Yang, say yes. It'll save a lot of trouble. I'll pay the five million!" Lin Xiaofei said quietly to him.

But Zhang Yang wasn't the only one who heard her. Cheng Dongxue heard her too.

"Xiao Fei..."

Cheng Dongxue was deeply moved. Not all best friends were alike. Hers was willing to pay five million to save her marriage. She couldn't have found a friend like that if she'd searched with a lantern.

"He does? Hmph. That joke isn't funny!" Yang Su shook her head with a mocking laugh, then waved a hand. "I'm done eating. Everyone can leave!"

Yang Su really was angry, not only with Zhang Yang but with the guests she had invited that day.

"Zhang Yang—"

Everyone else left on bad terms, but Zhang Yang remained seated, eating his dinner at an unhurried pace.

Once the others had gone, Zhang Yang looked up and saw three people still at the table: Cheng Dongxue, Lin Xiaofei, and Yang Lanlan.

Cheng Dongxue was upset with Zhang Yang. At a time like this, he should have made some effort. Even if he didn't have five million, a few hundred thousand would have been something. At least they wouldn't have called him a good-for-nothing.

"Zhang Yang, you may not have five million, but you should have five hundred thousand." Cheng Dongxue was nearly beside herself with anger. Zhang Yang was deliberately provoking them.

Five hundred thousand? Ha. He could come up with five yuan, maybe. I could puke, Yang Lanlan thought, keeping her face blank.

"Everyone's gone. Do you need something?" Zhang Yang let out a breath. With the others gone, he felt much more relaxed. He looked up at Yang Lanlan.

Yang Lanlan glanced at Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei. She couldn't speak while they were still there.

"If not, let's eat. Nobody ate much today. It'd be a waste to leave all this food." Zhang Yang had worked hard all afternoon. Why let it go to waste? He served himself another bowl of Soft-Shelled Turtle Soup.

Zhang Yang noticed that Cheng Dongxue's and Lin Xiaofei's bowls were empty, so he filled them too. Then he looked at Yang Lanlan. "What about you?"

"I'll get it myself!" Yang Lanlan immediately picked up her bowl and served herself some soup.

"Zhang Yang, I was trying to help you. Why won't you accept it? Do you want to divorce Xue?" Lin Xiaofei wasn't trying to keep Zhang Yang for herself, and his refusal annoyed her.

Zhang Yang looked up at the breasts hovering above his head, rising and falling with her breath. He shook his head and gave her a roguish grin. "No. But how could I, a grown man, take your money?"

"But do you have it?" Cheng Dongxue was annoyed too. The chance was right in front of him, yet Zhang Yang wouldn't take it.

"I don't have five million, but I won't divorce you either. Xiao Xue, I'll always be your husband unless you cast me aside."

Zhang Yang solemnly promised Cheng Dongxue.