Velvet Chains of a Tycoon

Lu Sheng glanced at the IOU Qin Ran had sent him, his lips tightening ever so slightly.

What could this woman possibly be worried about?

Did she fear he would exploit the 300,000 yuan as leverage to manipulate her into doing things against her will?

She thought too highly of herself and far too little of him!

Thinking back to the part-time job she mentioned earlier, he picked up his phone and messaged Lu Yu.

"What exactly is a haunted house?"

Lu Yu's reply came swiftly: "Bro, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Without missing a beat, Lu Sheng lied smoothly: "I'm considering moving into one."

The shock hit Lu Yu so hard that his phone nearly flew out of his grasp, landing safely only because the thick carpet cushioned its fall. After retrieving it, Lu Yu took a moment to compose himself before responding.

"Bro, what's gotten into you?"

Lu Sheng replied nonchalantly: "What's wrong? Are haunted houses really that bad?"

Lu Yu couldn't help but laugh bitterly: "Bro, haunted houses are where murders have occurred. Such places are steeped in negative energy due to lingering spirits. People go out of their way to avoid them—why on earth would you want to live there?"

Lu Sheng typed back: "What are lingering spirits?"

Lu Yu sighed: "They're ghosts. Most haunted houses are rumored to be haunted, making them impossible to rent or sell."

Lu Sheng paused, typing nothing further.

Lu Yu continued earnestly: "Bro, are you unhappy with the size of the Songhu Garden apartment? Just endure it for a few more days. Once your wife starts school, you can return to your mansion. When she comes back, you can go back to Songhu Garden. That way, you won't have to stay cooped up in such a cramped space every day."

Lu Sheng responded coolly: "It has nothing to do with the size of Songhu Garden. I'm simply intrigued by haunted houses."

Lu Yu pleaded: "Bro, the defining feature of haunted houses is that they're haunted. Don't develop an interest in such eerie things. And are you still planning to bring your wife home tomorrow? Mother will surely make life difficult for her."

Lu Sheng abruptly exited the chat, unwilling to discuss the matter further with his brother. He had no idea how his mother might react since he'd never brought a girl home before. All he knew was that she was deeply displeased upon learning he had married a woman from an ordinary family.

His mother had always envisioned a daughter-in-law from a well-matched background. While he didn't disagree with the concept, none of the wealthy young ladies she had chosen for him had caught his eye. As for marrying Qin Ran, it was entirely to dodge the arranged meeting with Lin Li—a mere tactic to appease the old man's relentless pressure to wed.

In the other bedroom, Qin Ran was messaging Xia Lan.

"I have plans tomorrow. Can you inform the real estate agent that I'll check out the haunted house the day after tomorrow?"

Though being a haunted house tester promised 300,000 yuan over three months, the payment wouldn't arrive until then. Since Lu Sheng had already transferred the full amount to her tonight, she naturally prioritized his request. With the 300,000 yuan plus the 100,000 Qin Jian had given her, she now had 400,000 yuan. She could withdraw 20,000 from her credit card and borrow another 80,000 through online platforms, easily reaching the required sum.

Xia Lan replied after finishing her shower:

"I informed the agent, but they said someone else is viewing it tomorrow. If negotiations fail, they'll contact you for the day after tomorrow."

Qin Ran replied succinctly: "Alright."

Such jobs as haunted house testers were typically avoided by those lacking courage. Anyone bold enough to accept the position likely wouldn't qualify for the high salary anyway.

Meanwhile, Qin Jian and Du Xiaomei were embroiled in an argument over selling their house. Qin Jian, who cherished their marriage, was usually patient and accommodating whenever Du Xiaomei grew angry. However, when she adamantly refused to sell the house and insisted on a fake divorce to evade debt, even his normally calm demeanor shattered.

"I don't know whether your so-called fake divorce is genuine or not," Qin Jian snapped. "But my principles forbid shirking responsibility. If it's my duty, I won't run away."

Du Xiaomei shot back: "Didn't you say the photo studio messed up the blueprints? If that's true, then it's not your fault!"

"But there's no surveillance footage to prove it," Qin Jian countered. "Without evidence, the responsibility remains mine, and I must shoulder it!"

He stared at her resolutely: "I'll apply for a loan tomorrow to pay the 500,000 yuan compensation. Then we can sell the house..."

"You're dreaming!" Du Xiaomei interrupted. "Where will we live if we sell the house?"

"We can rent," Qin Jian replied calmly. "Not everyone needs to own a house to live comfortably."

"Renting?" Du Xiaomei scoffed. "I married you for a house. My ex-boyfriend rented, and I wouldn't have married you if he could afford a house."

Qin Jian's temper flared: "So you married me for the house, not for me?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Du Xiaomei sneered. "Do you think you're special? He owned a company!"

"If I'm not special, you should've told me upfront that you wanted the house—"

"Would you have married me if I had?"

Du Xiaomei pouted: "I'm done arguing. We're not selling the house. Either find a way to borrow the money, or agree to a fake divorce and leave with nothing."

"Divorce is fine," Qin Jian retorted, "but I won't leave empty-handed. I bought this house with my own money. Why should I walk away with nothing?!"

He fixed her with a steely gaze: "Let's forget the fake divorce. Let's make it real. You didn't contribute a single penny to this house, nor have you worked since we married. The one who should leave with nothing is you."

Though not highly educated, Qin Jian had spent fifteen years navigating life's complexities and heard countless stories. He genuinely wanted to build a life with Du Xiaomei, but she was materialistic, valuing wealth above all else—including him. Living with such a woman for the rest of his life seemed worse than living alone.

Qin Jian was loyal and principled. Though some had warned him about Du Xiaomei's past, he chose not to dwell on it. Those events occurred before they met, and he felt no right to judge. As long as she lived harmoniously with him, he vowed to treat her well and be a devoted husband.

But now, seeing her prioritize his property over their relationship, he realized their marriage was beyond repair. Hearing his threat of a real divorce, Du Xiaomei panicked.

"Qin Jian, what do you mean? I suggested a fake divorce for our family's sake. You were framed—why should you give away 500,000 yuan?"

Her anger mounted: "I've been thinking of our family, protecting our assets, and you want a real divorce? I was even considering having a child with you!"

Qin Jian replied coldly: "Thank you, but perhaps you should consider having children with someone else."