Civil Affairs Bureau entrance.
Song Yun wore a suit and dress shoes, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
Today he was going to marry his girlfriend of three years. Reflecting on these years and all the difficulties her parents had put him through, he felt fortunate that he hadn't let go of this relationship.
A Volkswagen stopped beside him, and two men and two women got out—it was his girlfriend's family, the Su family.
He approached, excitedly greeting his future in-laws, and handed the flowers to Su Luting.
"You look beautiful today."
"Thank you."
Speaking of his girlfriend Su Luting, she was a stunning presence on campus during their university days, not only highly attractive but also of good conduct.
In their three-year relationship, they had only progressed as far as holding hands and kissing, saving the more significant steps for after their wedding night. Facing such an innocent girl, Song Yun felt as though he had struck gold.
"Mom and Dad, Ting Ting and I will go in to register our marriage first. You and my brother can wait at the nearby café for a moment."
Just when Song Yun was about to lead Su Luting into the Civil Affairs Bureau, his girlfriend's mother, Zhao Junxia, stopped them.
"Hold on! I have something to say!"
Zhao Junxia looked at the two, her expression gradually turning sour.
"Song Yun, let me be frank with you, if you want to marry my daughter, add another two hundred thousand to the dowry. Otherwise, go get that certificate yourself."
Zhao Junxia thought her last-minute interference was extremely clever; at this critical moment, she was sure that the young pup Song Yun would be completely under her control!
Su Luting hung her head silently upon hearing her mother's words, clearly already aware of the plan.
Upon hearing Zhao Junxia's statement, Song Yun was stunned.
Am I hearing things??? To register the marriage, I need to add another two hundred thousand??? Fucking insane!
"Mom..."
"Stop there, you're not husband and wife until you've registered. Just call me Auntie."
"Alright, Auntie Zhao, haven't I already paid a dowry of one hundred and eighty-eight thousand? Why should I have to pay more?" Song Yun asked, his face darkening.
Zhao Junxia glanced scornfully at Song Yun and snorted, "The previous one hundred and eighty-eight thousand can only be considered engagement money. To marry my daughter, cough up another two hundred thousand! Otherwise... go back to where you came from!"
With that, Zhao Junxia patted Su Luting's shoulder as if pitching a product, saying, "My daughter is the most beautiful teacher at a prestigious school. There's no shortage of men chasing after her. For her to stoop to marrying you, consider it the fortune your ancestors accumulated over eight generations! Surely you can't lack a mere two hundred thousand, can you?"
Of course, Zhao Junxia had more to say that she kept to herself.
Her son had reached marriageable age, so she and her husband had discussed selling their smaller house to buy a bigger one, and the difference in price happened to be exactly two hundred thousand.
Song Yun looked at his future mother-in-law, feeling his gums prickle with irritation.
"Two years ago when Uncle was diagnosed with a tumor and needed surgery, you said you had no money, and I contributed one hundred and thirty thousand for the emergency. One year ago, you said my brother-in-law couldn't afford school fees, and I spent another fifty thousand for his tuition. Now you're insatiable and want another two hundred thousand? Isn't that a bit excessive?"
"What are you talking about! When that happened, I never asked you for money. It was you who willingly offered!" Zhao Junxia said, her face quickly showing displeasure when Song Yun mentioned the money.
"Indeed, that money was spent on the Su family."
"Did I ever force you? If you're unwilling, then don't spend it!"
Zhao Junxia's words and her daughter's silence frustrated Song Yun.
Originally, it was Su Luting who begged him to help the Su family through tough times. Now, at this crucial moment, it seemed as if he was asking for it.
Song Yun had seen shameless people before, but none as shameless as this!
Looking at his girlfriend's family, Song Yun sighed with a wry smile, "I believe I've done all I could for the Su family. Now you are turning against me. Let me tell you the truth, there is no money, not a single penny!"
"What's the point of marrying a wife when you don't have money? You're just wasting everyone's time." Zhao Junxia gave Song Yun a disdainful glance.
"Heh, I guess I finally understand what a shrew is, and it seems you are one of them."
"You you you..."
Zhao Junxia's face turned red, but she couldn't come up with a retort.
Because she was indeed such a person.
Song Yun took Su Luting's hand, gazing into her eyes he asked seriously, "Ting Ting, are you willing to get a marriage license with me?"
Seeing the expectation in Song Yun's eyes, Su Luting couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
"Song Yun, just consider it indulging my whims for the last time, really, I promise you, it's really the last time!"
Hearing this, Song Yun shook his head and let go of her hand.
Once again, and again, she needed his help, and then she would need his money. When would there be an end to this?
Meanwhile, Zhao Junxia pressed him further, "Song Yun, love needs bread to sustain it. If you have money, you can get the license today, and I, as a mother, will bless you. If you don't have money, then wait until you do."
"Huh, got it."
"Alright then, you'd better hurry up and gather the money. Our Ting Ting is very much in demand."
"Whatever, let Su Luting marry whoever she wants to; it's none of my business anymore," Song Yun said with a cold face.
The old him had hoped to have a happy little family, but Su Luting's family was like a black hole, never satisfied no matter how much money he gave. This time it was two hundred thousand, what about when her little brother got married? Would they then demand three hundred thousand, four hundred thousand from him?
Various factors had led to Song Yun's utter disappointment with the Su family.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully rejecting the ungrateful family. The sign-in system is now officially activated!"
"Ding, the system has been activated. Current location detected: Civil Affairs Bureau of Xinhua District, Magic Capital. Host, would you like to sign in?"
Hearing the mechanical voice in his mind, Song Yun was slightly taken aback.
"Sign-in system?"
As an avid bookworm for many years, he certainly understood what that was.
How many protagonists in novels became peak performers in life thanks to the 'golden finger' of a system?
Now that he had been chosen, did he even need to care about this tricky and mean family?
To hell with them, I'll be someone beyond their reach in the future!
"Begin sign-in!"
As his thoughts moved, the system's voice responded instantly.
"Ding, sign-in complete. Sign-in location: Civil Affairs Bureau of Xinhua District, Magic Capital!"
"Ding, as it is the host's first sign-in, a ten-star reward has been activated!"
"Ding, reward: the top beauty of Magic Capital, Ye Qingqing, to marry the host!"
"Ye Qingqing?"
This familiar name slowly unlocked in his mind.
When he was a child, there was a little girl next door, a childhood sweetheart, who had the same name.
Back then, the kids liked to play house; he played the father, and Ye Qingqing played the mother, as they led a crowd of children running wildly around the yard.
However, later on due to his father's job, Song Yun's family moved away from the compound, and the two lost contact.
And now, the top beauty being rewarded today was also named Ye Qingqing.
Wasn't this coincidence a bit too much?