Chapter 17 - Again!!!
“Ming, what's the status of your upcoming nuptials with Xue? Is the date finalized?”
The voice of Su Ming's mother resonated from the other end of the phone line.
“Mother.”
Experiencing a moment of hesitation, Su Ming felt compelled to be honest. “Wang Xue and I have parted ways.”
“Excuse me?”
A sense of urgency filled Lee Sumei's tone. “Why wasn't such a critical decision shared with us? The unborn child in Xue's womb is blameless. If it's a matter of finances, your father and I can secure additional funds. Whatever it takes, we shouldn't postpone your wedding.”
The words from Lee Sumei touched Su Ming deeply, almost bringing him to tears.
His parents were simple rural folk.
They had sacrificed much on his behalf.
“Mother.”
Su Ming clarified, “It's not as you're imagining. I'd unquestionably assume responsibility if the child were mine, but the baby Wang Xue is carrying isn't mine.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Lee Sumei was left bewildered.
“Mother, let's put this matter to rest.”
Attempting to uplift her spirits, Su Ming continued, “On a brighter note, I've secured a promising job. My monthly earnings exceed 20,000 yuan.”
“Is that so?”
A note of astonishment colored Lee Sumei's voice. “Be prudent with your earnings. Put some aside for your eventual wedding.”
“Understood, Mother.”
A smile crossed Su Ming's face.
“Very well, I'll let you get back to your responsibilities now.”
With those words, Lee Sumei ended the call.
Holding the phone, Su Ming felt a swirl of emotions. He exhaled deeply and tucked the phone away.
Should he reveal to his parents his ownership of a city land parcel valued at ten billion, he feared they might not grasp the enormity of it.
Patience was the better course of action.
In due time, he would introduce them to the luxuries of city life.
Resolving this, Su Ming ceased to dwell on the matter.
Su Ming reclined comfortably, letting the sun warm his face while the gentle breeze caressed him.
Just as he teetered on the edge of sleep, a jarring bell sound jolted him awake.
He sluggishly opened his eyes and, upon seeing the caller ID, his brow creased.
It was the landlord ringing him.
Glancing at the calendar, Su Ming had an epiphany.
Ah, that explained it.
Today was rent day.
The place he rented was located in an older suburban area.
Lacking modern amenities like geothermal heating or air conditioning, it was bone-chilling in winter and oppressively hot in summer.
The setting might be somewhat austere, but the price was right.
The landlord, however, was notorious for his short fuse and stinginess.
He perceived Su Ming as an easy target, constantly pushing him around.
He even accused Su Ming of damaging the house's floor, walls, and the old refrigerator.
Truth be told, the place was already in a state of disrepair.
The fridge was nearly as old as Su Ming, so it breaking down was hardly a surprise.
It was the affordability and the convenient bus route nearby that made Su Ming opt for this place.
In the past, Su Ming would have politely engaged with the landlord over the phone.
But times had changed.
“Where are you now?”
The moment Su Ming answered the call, a shrill voice snapped, “Are you planning on skipping out on rent? Listen up, you've got 30 minutes. If you're not back by then, find somewhere else to stay, even if it's the streets!”
“Also, just so you know, I'm raising the rent. It's a thousand a month from now.”
With that, the call ended.
Not this again.
Su Ming couldn't help but smirk.
Periodically, the landlord would hike the rent, and previously Su Ming would bring over fruits and gifts, imploring him for leniency.
He wasn't going to indulge him anymore.
Su Ming powered down his phone, reclined once more, and in no time, he was fast asleep.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l