Chapter 4: Since I Paid the Bride Price, the Beauty Naturally Belongs to Me

However, to Chen Yanzi’s disappointment, Lin Fan didn’t even glance at her. His gaze was fixed on Gu Qingcheng, and he smiled indulgently. “Honey, you’re going to be late for work. We need to hurry.”

“Oh—look, it’s almost nine! We can’t waste any more time, darling, let’s go!” Gu Qingcheng clung to Lin Fan’s arm, pouting coquettishly, and her manner was so captivating that Chen Wei, standing nearby, found himself staring in awe.

Seeing Gu Qingcheng flirt with her man so brazenly, Chen Yanzi felt a surge of anger well up in her chest. She quickly shed her pitiful expression, ready to march over and confront Lin Fan.

But before she could move, the exhaust from Lin Fan’s luxury car hit her, and in the blink of an eye, all she could see was the faint shadow of the car speeding away.

“Sis, stop staring. The car’s long gone.” Chen Wei saw Chen Yanzi frozen like a statue, gazing after Lin Fan, and couldn’t help but mutter sarcastically, “So now you regret it? Why didn’t you think of that earlier?”

“How dare you! If it weren’t for preparing your dowry, would Lin Fan and I have ended up like this?” Chen Yanzi glared at him fiercely. After a moment, she declared, “Call a cab. We’re following them. No matter what, I’m getting my dowry money back today!”

“Alright, sis, I’ll do whatever you say!” At the mention of the dowry, Chen Wei stopped arguing and sprang into action.

…

Two cars pulled into the sales office parking lot, one after the other.

Inside the luxury car, Gu Qingcheng wrapped her arms around Lin Fan’s neck and offered him a sweet kiss. They cuddled for a long while, and only after agreeing that she would cook dinner that night did Gu Qingcheng finally leave for work, thoroughly satisfied.

Watching her depart, Lin Fan savored a long-forgotten sense of bliss. But before he could fully bask in the feeling, Chen Yanzi, like a persistent ghost, forced her way into the front passenger seat.

Her sudden arrival took Lin Fan by surprise. He frowned, looked her up and down, and his voice turned icy. “Get out.”

“Brother Lin Fan…” Chen Yanzi batted her eyes at him, looking as pitiful as she could. In the past, whenever she wanted Lin Fan to buy her something, she would call him “Brother” in that same sweet, coquettish tone.

It had always worked before, so Chen Yanzi was sure she could win his heart back this time.

But she was destined for disappointment.

Not only was Lin Fan unmoved, he grew impatient, frowning even more. “Who told you to get in? Get out.”

His cold refusal nearly broke her composure, but she forced herself to remember her purpose—to placate Lin Fan and get him to hand over the five hundred thousand yuan dowry, so her brother could successfully get engaged!

With that thought, Chen Yanzi bit her lip, and tears sprang to her eyes. She choked out, “Lin Fan, are you still angry about what happened yesterday? My mother just wanted to test you, to see if you truly loved me.”

“Oh? Well, congratulations to your mother. She got her answer.” Lin Fan sneered inwardly, replying with indifference as he absently fiddled with his phone.

It wasn’t that he was addicted to his phone; he just had no interest in chauffeuring Chen Yanzi, who was now refusing to leave his car.

Stifled by Lin Fan’s response, Chen Yanzi managed a strained smile and bravely tugged at his sleeve. “Don’t be like this, Lin Fan. I know you truly love me. I’ve already explained things to my mother—she won’t do that again. Can’t we just have a normal wedding?”

“A normal wedding?” Lin Fan looked up, fixing her with a steady gaze. “Does that mean I don’t have to give the five hundred thousand yuan dowry?”

“No!” Chen Yanzi blurted out before she could stop herself. Realizing her mistake, she forced another smile. “Lin Fan, didn’t you promise me before? Does that not count anymore?”

Lin Fan remained silent.

Seeing this, Chen Yanzi started crying again. “You can’t do this, Lin Fan. You promised me five hundred thousand for the dowry. If you don’t give it to me, where will my brother get the three hundred and eighty-eight thousand for his engagement?”

Such shameless words almost made Lin Fan laugh out loud. He was about to ridicule her when he remembered the rules the system had previously mentioned.

A thought flashed through his mind, and Lin Fan’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I can pay, but I’ll give the money to your brother’s fiancée myself, so no one forgets who it came from.”

“Fine!” Getting Lin Fan to agree to pay at all was more than Chen Yanzi had hoped for. She dared not push her luck and quickly agreed, afraid he might change his mind. “Let’s go now, then? My brother and everyone else are waiting for you at the venue.”

“Alright.”

…

At the engagement banquet, as everyone toasted and mingled, Lin Fan strolled in with his hands in his pockets, Chen Yanzi trailing beside him, and a man carrying a suitcase following behind.

Chen Wei and his family, all in a panic over the dowry, brightened at the sight of Lin Fan, flocking to flatter him—everyone except Chen Wei himself.

Chen Wei didn’t spare Lin Fan a glance, but followed closely behind his sister, eyes full of anticipation. “Sis—”

“What are you doing? Go thank your brother-in-law!” Chen Yanzi shot him a warning look, then quickly latched onto Lin Fan’s arm, pressing herself close and showering him with flattery.

Lin Fan’s expression didn’t change as he listened to her praise. He simply jerked his chin at the man with the suitcase. “Give it to the fiancée.”

“You got it!” The man strode over to Chen Wei’s elaborately dressed bride-to-be, set the suitcase before her, then, as instructed by Lin Fan, opened it to reveal stacks of red bills.

“Three hundred and eighty-eight thousand. Count it and see if it’s all there.”

No one knew when Lin Fan had moved over, but he was now pointing at the suitcase, his gaze fixed on the striking young woman.

The spectacle left everyone around them stunned into silence. For a moment, all conversation ceased. People forgot they had been chatting, and all stared in shock at the suitcase full of cash, completely at a loss.

After what felt like ages, someone finally found their voice. “Isn’t today’s engagement for Wei and Xiaoxue? Who’s this guy? Is he here to steal the bride?”

“Exactly! The ceremony was almost over and the Chen family still hadn’t produced the dowry. I figure this guy is here to object.”

“Is this fake money? That’s three hundred and eighty-eight thousand! Xiaoxue’s dowry is pretty high.”

The murmurs around him made Chen Wei’s face burn red. He clenched his fists and was about to retort, but before he could even open his mouth, Chen Yanzi tugged at his arm.

At his own engagement, all eyes were on Lin Fan. Even his own sister held him back from speaking. Chen Wei swore that in over twenty years, he had never felt such humiliation!