Chapter 174 Secrets and Martial Spats

Chapter 174: Secrets and a Couple Fighting

Zhang Meiyue arrived with high hopes but left with her tail between her legs, totally defeated.

Before the couple left, they received a call from the hospital.

Their son was throwing a tantrum, threatening to jump if they didn't get him a toy, and the doctors and nurses were frantically telling Qian Shu and Zhang Meiyue to get back ASAP.

With their son screaming nonstop, the crushing medical bills, and the recent loss of his job, Qian Shu, who had just stood up, sat back down.

He braced himself and spoke up.

"Tinglan, I'm not asking for much, but..." He paused, his voice strained, his shoulders sagging like he'd lost every bit of his pride. "Can I get some of the child support I've been paying for Youyou back?"

Even he knew how messed up this was, and he didn't dare meet her eyes.

Qian Youyou—now Zhou Youyou—stared wide-eyed, not believing her own dad could be this shameless.

Even Ling Jue leaned in to whisper to Qin Shuyi, "So there are plenty of deadbeat dads out there like Ling Mufeng."

If Ling Mufeng was trash, Qian Shu was a whole new level of garbage.

Had the baby's aunt really been that fooled by his looks back in the day?

Ling Jue suddenly felt a wave of insecurity hit him.

If the Zhou family women were all this shallow about looks, maybe he should start taking better care of his own mug.

He sat up straight, flexing his abs.

Nice, firm, and defined—reassuring.

He brushed his fingers over Qin Shuyi's.

She smacked his wandering hand away and gave him a dirty look.

What the hell are you doing? Read the room!

Ling Jue pouted, all whiny.

Fine, he'd flex his charm when they got home.

He put his hand back on the chair behind Qin Shuyi and kept watching the show.

...

In the big meeting room, after Qian Shu said that, it went dead silent.

Then a teacup flew at the guy with his head down, blood pouring from the gash on his skull.

"Qian Shu, are you even human?"

Zhang Meiyue's face went pale as she grabbed his arm.

But instead of checking his wound or screaming at Zhou Tinglan, she frantically tried to pull him out.

"Your ex-wife is crazy; why ask her for cash? Come on, our son's waiting."

Qian Shu shook her off and turned to Zhou Tinglan.

"I know I'm a jerk. Whatever Youyou's owed, I'll pay back later. This is just for an emergency."

Zhou Tinglan's eyes were blazing.

"Emergency? Then go hit up your dad, your mom, your friends. Don't come begging from an ex you've already burned. And," she sneered, "how much have you actually given Youyou? Five grand? And you want it back? If you're this cheap, maybe I should add up all the child support you've owed me over the years."

"What?" Qian Shu looked stunned. "Five grand? I've been paying every year, right?"

Zhou Tinglan snapped, "Who knows if you paid in your dreams? I haven't seen a dime."

She didn't need the chump change, but as a dad, Qian Shu was so deadbeat he still had the nerve to ask Youyou to help save his son. Unreal.

Qian Shu started to argue, but then it clicked. He spun around, staring in disbelief at Zhang Meiyue, who looked guilty.

His bloodshot eyes went wide.

"Did you take it?"

It was a question, but his tone said he already knew.

Zhou Tinglan wouldn't lie about that.

Zhang Meiyue had been handling his money since they got married. Before they got married, he'd made it clear: if she wanted to marry him, she had to be okay with him giving half his salary to Youyou every month.

And to make up for the crap Youyou and Zhou Tinglan had been through, he'd picked up extra gigs to send them more.

The first year after the divorce, he'd left with nothing, his job and pay took a hit, and life was rough, so he didn't give much. But he made up for it later.

But Zhou Tinglan said she never got it.

Qian Shu's hands were shaking.

Zhang Meiyue felt guilty at first, but seeing her usually pushover husband lose it, she got defiant.

"Who gives half their salary as child support? That's our marital money. I have every right to say no!"

Her eyes were full of resentment. "I married you when I was way younger, and you don't take care of me. Why should my son and I get less than your ex-wife and some brat? You—"

*Slap!* The guy who never raised a hand, the doormat who took everything, hit someone for the first time.

"Zhang Meiyue, you bitch!" he snarled through clenched teeth.

No wonder Youyou hated him so much, and Zhou Tinglan was so pissed.

Zhang Meiyue held her cheek, stunned.

Then she totally lost it.

"You son of a bitch... coward... abuser..." A torrent of curses and accusations poured out.

Zhou Tinglan was also shocked by the truth, frozen for a second.

Before she knew it, the couple was brawling, and Jiang Shiheng quickly shielded her and led her out.

The four younger ones slipped out like little foxes.

Xiao Zhou and Youyou were both quick-witted.

As for Ling Jue, who was sitting further inside, he pulled Qin Shuyi into his arms, using himself as a shield, and hustled her out in three quick steps, even locking the meeting room door behind him to keep the bloodthirsty couple trapped inside.

Through the transparent glass, the six of them silently watched the couple going at each other inside, momentarily speechless.

Jiang Yuzhou looked at Zhou Youyou. "Looks like your dad got scammed."

Zhou Youyou rolled her eyes. "Scammed or not, same difference. Even if he gave it before, isn't he trying to take it back now?"

Jiang Yuzhou: "..."

That was so logical, he couldn't argue with it.

Jiang Shiheng turned to Zhou Tinglan, pursed his lips, and asked, "You wanna help him out?"

Qian Shu wasn't a great husband, but he wasn't a total bad guy either.

Zhou Tinglan watched the two of them rolling around on the floor, scrapping. "Forget it. One decent move doesn't wipe out the past. Best to just cut ties."

Besides, it's the ones who aren't good enough or bad enough that really stick in your craw.

Jiang Shiheng said nothing more, but he visibly loosened up.

On the far side, Qin Shuyi glanced at the teacups and chairs, paused, and said, "Make sure they cover the damages."

Ling Jue let out a low chuckle, then dialed the security office. "Send someone up to haul the troublemakers out."

Watching Zhang Meiyue chuck a chair that nailed Qian Shu right where he was already hurt, leaving him seeing stars, Ling Jue paused. "Note the damages, and," he marveled at how hard they fought, "call an ambulance."

...

The confrontation ended in an absurd and theatrical fashion.

All three Qians ended up in the hospital together, and they probably wouldn't have the guts to show up again.

Before leaving, Zhou Tinglan even said to Ling Jue, who'd hooked them up with the venue, that he should find time to come home for dinner with Shuyi.

Caught off guard by the surprise, Ling Jue's grin nearly split his face.

However, Zhou Tinglan and Jiang Shiheng had dealt with Qian Shu and Zhang Meiyue, but one was left for Ling Jue to deal with, per his request.

He Haokun.

The one who started this whole mess.

The Qians had come for Zhou Tinglan, but He Haokun was after Qin Shuyi.

That night, a guy who'd been going all out but then purposely stalled at the end, teasing his wife until she pinned him and beat the crap out of him, let out a satisfied, sultry sigh. He finally got a promise to be picked up from work tomorrow by his darling.

He stroked the hair of the sleeping woman, kissed her forehead, his eyes filled with a smile.

But then, remembering some trash, his gaze darkened.

He had only just started enjoying his good days. As for those who had no sense and came looking for trouble, they'd just have to be taken care of—for good.

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