After a flood of tears, life had to go on.
Xu Ke contacted a realtor; he planned to sell his house.
Tianhai City is one of the four top-tier cities in Huaxia, with exorbitantly high housing prices, but market liquidity was also very strong. Xu Ke believed he could quickly get back the down payment he was due.
However, after making several phone calls, Xu Ke's heart instantly turned to ash.
The glaring incandescent light on the ceiling seemed to scorch him, leaving him in a daze. His eyes were lifeless. "Do you really have to be this ruthless?"
The realtor said that Li Jun had already used his family's clout to blacklist Xu Ke throughout Tianhai City's real estate market. His house was now a hot potato that no one would touch.
Moreover, it wasn't just that. It was now difficult for him to even find a job in the fitness industry.
Though the Li Family wasn't a top-tier family in Tianhai City, it was still considered first-class. Xu Ke, who was without power or influence, simply couldn't fight the Li Family's blockade.
He was at the end of his rope.
At this moment, he thought of someone.
Wong Qifu.
A beautiful thirty-five-year-old woman and member of the gym who had taken his personal training classes. She was the Helmsman of the Wong Family, one of the six great families.
Xu Ke took a deep breath.
Wong Qifu had once told him that if he ever got tired of struggling, he could call her. At the time, Xu Ke was busy working overtime teaching private fitness classes and taking on extra jobs, all for the sake of getting married. Of course, he had paid no attention to her words.
But now, it seemed this was his only option.
Only someone from the six great families could possibly ignore the influence of the Li Family.
Xu Ke stared at Wong Qifu's number, a bitter smile forming on his lips. But she might not help me just because I've crossed the Li Family.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Ke finally dialed her number. He had to at least try.
"Hello."
A lazy, mature female voice answered.
"Sister Wang, it's me," Xu Ke said, a little nervous.
"Xiao Ke, why are you calling your sister?"
"I want to sell my house to pay off my debts. Could you please help me out, Sister Wang?" Xu Ke stated his purpose directly.
Wong Qifu's tone was playful. "You need to pay off debts? Why doesn't sister just settle them for you?"
Xu Ke forced a smile. "No need, Sister Wang. I just want to sell the house to settle my debts."
Although he knew that his modest sixty-something-square-meter house was less than a drop in the ocean to Wong Qifu, he couldn't stomach the thought of living off her charity. He then mocked himself internally. Why am I still clinging to some ridiculous sense of dignity?
"Weren't you about to get married? Why the sudden sale? Is Siao Jia giving you trouble?" Wong Qifu asked curiously.
"No..." Xu Ke's expression dimmed. "We broke up over some issues, and I can't find a job right now, so I have no money for the mortgage payments."
He deliberately omitted the details. Even after the breakup, he couldn't just cast off all his feelings in an instant the way Siao Jia did, let alone speak ill of his ex-girlfriend in front of someone else.
Wong Qifu's voice was teasing. "Xiao Ke, still not telling the truth? If you don't tell the truth, how can your sister help you?"
Xu Ke was taken aback. Her words meant she already knew what had happened and was telling him to stop protecting Siao Jia and reveal the truth. Otherwise, she wouldn't lift a finger to help.
He hesitated for a moment, his principles crumbling. After a brief silence, he confessed, "Jia Jia dumped me for the young master of the Li Family to get her brother's bride price. I offended them, so now I can't sell my house or find a job to pay back the money."
After he spoke, a stabbing pain shot through his chest. A second ago, he had been adamant about not exposing Siao Jia's deplorable actions. The next second, his principles had become a joke in the face of reality.
"Alright."
Wong Qifu smiled faintly, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable dominance. "Since that's the case, helping you with the mortgage is no trouble at all for your sister."
"But, sister has one condition."
Xu Ke took a deep breath. "Sister Wang, please tell me. What is it? I'll do anything I can."
"Don't be so nervous. Sister's condition is very simple."
"Marry me."
Wong Qifu's voice was gentle, but her words were earth-shattering.
Xu Ke's eyes widened. "What?!"
「It was half-past nine at night.」
Xu Ke got into the car in a daze.
"Mister Xu, the young lady is waiting for you at the Wong Family Corporation," the driver said with a gentle smile, glancing in the rearview mirror.
Xu Ke nodded mechanically. "Okay."
His mind was still a complete mess. He had never dreamed that Wong Qifu would make such a request.
As the Helmsman of the Wong Family, Wong Qifu was the eldest daughter of the former Family Head. After he passed away, she assumed the position of chairman of the Wong Family Corporation at the young age of twenty-five due to her outstanding abilities.
At the time, all of Tianhai City was speculating about who would be fortunate enough to marry the Wong Family Empress. Everyone thought it would have to be someone from one of the six great families. Some even believed that Wong Qifu might marry a commoner out of love. After all, she already had complete control of the Wong Family and staggering wealth, so she had no need to marry for an alliance.
But ten years had passed, and Wong Qifu had shown no intention of getting married. This led those in the know in Tianhai City to wonder whether she had a different sexual orientation or was secretly maintaining a harem of handsome men.
Back when Wong Qifu was his client, Xu Ke had even discussed with Siao Jia when Wong Qifu might get married.
But...
Xu Ke never imagined that Wong Qifu would now be planning to marry him.
With a heart heavy with worries, Xu Ke was dropped off at the Wong Family Corporation building. Standing before it, he looked up. The top floors were dark, except for one single office, which was ablaze with light.
Wong Qifu was there.