Chapter 6: A One-Billion Wedding Dowry

Outside the door, Zhou Ruancheng lingered for a long time without opening it. He tried the password again, but after one last failed attempt, the door locked itself.

Furious, Zhou Ruancheng kicked the door twice.

Hearing the noise, Tang Yu was startled awake, sitting up in bed with all her senses alert to the sounds outside.

After a long while with no further banging, she realized Zhou Ruancheng had left and finally relaxed enough to fall back asleep.

The next morning, her internal clock woke her promptly.

Tang Yu finished her morning routine and stepped outside, only to be frightened by the sudden large face right in front of her. She screamed and tried to retreat.

“Tang Yu!” Zhou Ruancheng blocked the door, preventing her from closing it. “I waited outside for you all night! Why wouldn’t you open the door for me?”

“You’re crazy, Zhou Ruancheng! If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police!” Tang Yu shouted angrily.

Her entire day’s good mood was ruined by him.

Seeing her reach for her phone, he realized she wasn’t joking and softened his tone immediately.

“Tang Yu, I’m here to apologize. This time, I truly won’t let you down again. I’ve talked it over with my family. No engagement—let’s just get married directly, okay?”

“I haven’t been able to contact your parents to apologize. Can you reach out? Let’s have both families sit down and discuss the marriage.”

“I know you’re mad at me, and I know I was wrong. Everything you said yesterday in the car—I understand. You still love me, and I love you too, Tang Yu. We love each other; why break up? Please don’t make a fuss.”

Tang Yu was so infuriated by his delusional words that she didn’t even know how to laugh to make him realize the breakup was real.

He just wouldn’t let go.

Like a stubborn mule.

And now skipping engagement to jump straight to marriage—what a joke!

It was as if refusing him was her fault.

“Fine, marriage it is! One hundred million in betrothal gifts, and a fully furnished villa as the marital home! Otherwise, forget it!” Tang Yu said. “Just so you know, you have three days to prepare—no extensions! And one more thing: the one hundred million is for my family; it’s not coming with me after we marry! If you accept that, we can continue talking; if not, get lost!”

Just these two conditions changed Zhou Ruancheng’s expression, turning ugly.

“Tang Yu, you know my family can’t afford such materialistic demands. You’re doing this on purpose!”

His family could at most afford ten million—no more.

“So you admit it’s deliberate?” Tang Yu retorted coldly. “Isn’t forcing me into marriage with you just as much a deliberate act? What are you complaining about?”

Zhou Ruancheng glared at her, lips pressed tight, but silently clenched his fists.

“Move aside, don’t make me late for work!”

Tang Yu shoved him out the door, slammed it shut, and fled down the stairs like she was running for her life.

She didn’t stop until she’d raced down ten floors, gasping for breath.

She was genuinely scared he might do something outrageous, so she was constantly on edge.

On the way to the newspaper office, Tang Yu decided to move immediately.

But where could she find a better neighborhood that met all her requirements?

At the office, Tang Yu busied herself searching online for properties.

Her target was upscale communities, preferably villa districts.

Her landline rang. While checking her phone, she answered the call.

“Tang, come to my office,” Director Li said over the phone.

Tang Yu paused, looking up; her computer wasn’t even on yet.

Once in the director’s office, her mood completely collapsed.

She had been appointed as a special correspondent for Shengsheng Group!

“Director Li, I—” She wanted to refuse, but the contract had already been signed. She couldn’t bring herself to say no.

“Isn’t it a nice surprise?” Director Li asked. “Remember how you chased overseas for interviews and everyone in the industry laughed at you? This is the chairman’s recognition of your abilities. Once the release goes out, you’ll finally have your moment. Work hard!”

Tang Yu was speechless.

It was more of a shock than a surprise.

No need to recall past glories; Lou Xizhou was intimidating enough!

Leaving the office, Tang Yu slumped into her chair, looking utterly defeated.

It was over…

Her colleagues were full of sympathy.

Everyone knew Director Li had rushed to Shengsheng Group yesterday; being called to the office today and coming out like that meant she’d been scolded.

Probably because the exclusive interview draft hadn’t pleased Chairman Lou.

Tang Yu sighed deeply just as her phone vibrated with an incoming call.

Lazily, she picked it up. “Hello…”

“Miss Tang? I have a vacant villa matching your criteria. When are you available? I can show it to you.”

Unexpectedly, it was a real estate agent, and Tang Yu immediately perked up.

“Right now! Send me the location!”

After hanging up, Tang Yu grabbed her bag, told Sister Li, and hurried out.

The villa was in a wealthy district. Tang Yu was confident there would be vacant houses there; the rich never lack properties.

After viewing the villa with the agent, it met every one of her demands, especially excellent lighting.

Eager to move, Tang Yu immediately signed a one-year lease.

The agent smiled. “Miss Tang, your neighbors are uncle and nephew. It’s a simple household. No need to worry about noise.”

Uncle and nephew?

Tang Yu’s mind flashed to Lou Xizhou and Lou Huainan—the uncle and nephew pair.

The day after moving in, Tang Yu met her neighbors.

A sudden thunderclap seemed to strike her head.

It was none other than Lou Xizhou himself!

Meanwhile, Lou Xizhou, still in Luo City, had received a call from the agent about someone renting his vacant villa—a woman named Tang Yu.

Early in the morning, separated by an iron fence, their eyes met. The awkwardness was indescribable.

And the way he looked at her, his deep, whirlpool-like gaze seemed to suck her in, making her utterly uneasy.

Tang Yu turned to retreat back inside—

“Miss Tang,” Lou Xizhou called out, a faint smile barely noticeable in his tone.

Tang Yu swore this was the most rushed move she’d ever made—and the biggest mistake of her decisions!

Could she still cancel the lease?

After a long pause, Tang Yu turned slightly to look at Lou Xizhou, her smile somewhat forced and barely controlled.

“Chairman Lou, what a coincidence!”

Lou Xizhou stepped to the iron fence. Nearly 1.85 meters tall, he was just slightly shorter than the fence between their homes.

“Quite the coincidence. Our fate is even more interesting: broken, then connected again. Right?”

But was it really so?

The truth was, Secretary Xing had overheard Tang Yu was looking for a place. Only a secretary with keen insight could become the boss’s trusted aide—just like Secretary Xing.

So naturally, Tang Yu ended up living next door to Lou Xizhou.

Hearing his words, Tang Yu understood his meaning.

Wasn’t it just that she had blocked him and he had blocked her?

Since that was the case, why not just lay everything out?

Out of courtesy, Tang Yu stepped to the fence and looked up at him. “Chairman Lou, are you in a hurry? If not, shall we talk?”

Lou Xizhou raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. “Do you come over, or shall I come to you?”

“I’ll come over,” Tang Yu replied politely.

Lou Xizhou turned to open the door, and Tang Yu quickly stepped outside.