While Old Wen was sneezing furiously in the next room, Little Wen was scheming how to throw her dad under the bus to save herself.
The matter of the 10 million investment in Tianjiao absolutely couldn’t be mentioned, or she’d be done for along with him.
She needed to bring up something that would divert Manager Chen’s attention without implicating herself too much, at least ensuring most of the heat stayed on Old Wen, with her only catching a bit of the fallout.
Wen Ying asked Chen Ru for a “hint”, not just to stir the pot but to subtly probe what Chen already knew.
After a couple of rounds of back-and-forth, Wen Ying pieced it together: Chen Ru wasn’t certain what Old Wen was hiding. It was Old Wen’s own slip-ups, acting off at home lately, that had raised her suspicions.
Getting up in the middle of the night.
Spending hours in the bathroom, even humming songs in there.
Taken together, it was clear something thrilling yet guilt-inducing was going on with Old Wen.
Chen Ru even suspected Old Wen might be having an affair.
In front of Wen Ying, Chen Ru wouldn’t say it so bluntly. Wen Ying caught the hint but pretended not to, stammering, “It’s nothing much, really. I earned some manuscript fees, and seeing how Dad quit smoking because we were tight on money, I sometimes secretly give him a bit.”
…That’s it?!
So that dog of a man, because he got some pocket money from his daughter and was afraid of being caught, was acting all weird?
What a disgrace!
Chen Ru’s expression soured.
They’d agreed not to touch Wen Ying’s manuscript fees, yet Wen Dongrong was secretly spending her money. As a couple, this made Chen Ru lose face.
Wen Ying swore repeatedly that the money she gave her dad never exceeded “a thousand yuan”, but Chen Ru’s expression didn’t soften much.
“Fine, go rest. I’ll deal with your mistake later. I’m warning you, if you tip off your dad, you’ll be in even bigger trouble!”
Chen Ru stormed off, clearly not giving Wen Ying and her dad time to collude.
Wen Ying crept out, pretending to get water in the living room while eavesdropping on her parents’ room.
Poor Old Wen got a brutal scolding, with Chen Ru blasting him as a liar and a cheat.
A woman dredging up old grievances is terrifying, linking unrelated matters together.
After years of marriage, Chen Ru had plenty of Wen Dongrong’s wrongs to recount!
She started with how, after Wen Ying’s birth, her mother-in-law favoured boys, then moved to Wen Dongrong’s blind support for the Wen family, secretly giving who-knows-how-much to Wen Hongyan, and how he got cocky after success, slacking off during their joint exam prep. This litany of old grudges left Wen Dongrong’s heart trembling.
Since hiding Wen Ying’s 10 million Tianjiao investment, Wen Dongrong had been extra guilty lately. Chen Ru’s tirade nearly made him raise both hands and feet in surrender.
Seeing Chen Ru circle around without mentioning the 10 million, Wen Dongrong was tempted to confess but held back.
Years of work experience taught him: the more critical the moment, the less you can lose your cool!
Confess and you’re doomed.
Resist and you go home free.
If Chen Ru found out about the 10 million, he’d probably be exiled to the balcony to experience all four seasons!
So, what evidence did this tigress actually have?
Wen Dongrong decided to cut his losses, handing over his hidden stash under the mattress while Chen Ru was parched from scolding.
“Honey, stop yelling, I’m coming clean. Wen Ying secretly gave me some money, here it all is!”
Wen Dongrong’s apology was enthusiastic, his words guiding, “I couldn’t resist the temptation of money, but put yourself in my shoes, think about how I feel. I took Wen Ying’s filial money not because I needed it, what do I need money for? I’ve even quit smoking! It’s mainly psychological satisfaction. Take Old Li’s kid, for example, graduated university and still leeching off his parents, needing Old Li to bribe for jobs, save up for a house for marriage. I’m different, my daughter’s only in high school and already earning money for me to spend… I know I was wrong, terribly wrong, outrageously wrong!”
The stash under the mattress wasn’t much, less than two thousand yuan.
So, despite his sincere words, Chen Ru wasn’t convinced.
For two thousand yuan, he couldn’t sleep and was humming in the bathroom?
It didn’t add up!
Chen Ru suspected Wen Dongrong was downplaying something bigger.
“You think you can still fool me? Wen Ying already told me!”
—Damn, that treacherous girl!
Wen Dongrong had a revelation.
No wonder he was sneezing out of nowhere.
How could he not sneeze?
Other daughters are warm little jackets, but his black-hearted cotton leaks air, offering no warmth for body or soul, now even selling out her dad to save herself.
This wasn’t just black-hearted cotton, it was like ripping out the stuffing, leaving an empty, tattered shell!
In that moment, Wen Dongrong wavered, tempted to spill everything, dragging Wen Ying down with him, both facing the 10 million fallout together.
After two or three seconds of hesitation, he quickly nixed that idea.
No way.
His status at home wasn’t what it used to be.
For the same mistake, he and Black-Hearted Cotton would face different punishments.
If he ratted her out, it’d likely hurt her less and cost him more, not worth dragging her down at his own expense.
At worst, Black-Hearted Cotton could shed crocodile tears, act cute, or use studying as an excuse to dodge punishment.
After weighing his options, Wen Dongrong chose to be the “noble father”, sacrificing himself heroically, “Wen Ying told you? I didn’t plan to hide it for long, I was going to confess! Don’t blame her, we said we wouldn’t use her earnings, but she’s a kid who earned money and wants to prove herself. By accepting it, I let her feel she’s contributing, it makes her feel good. She’s young, I’m old, she’s the kid, I’m the dad, so the fault’s mostly mine.”
In the living room, Wen Ying, eavesdropping by the door, was somewhat touched.
She’d guessed Old Wen wouldn’t spill the “10 million” bomb.
But she was surprised he took the blame himself.
When did their plastic father-daughter bond become so solid?
Her life experience wasn’t rich enough to fully grasp Old Wen’s tactics. It lasted a mere ten seconds before his next sly move shattered it.
After years as a couple, Chen Ru knew Wen Dongrong too well to buy his excuses, “You’re saying you were reluctant to take Wen Ying’s money? How much did she give you, where did you spend it, explain every cent, and why were you sneaking laughs in the bathroom!”
