...
Faye Owen, always used to having the upper hand, was thrown off by this situation. She felt pitiful like a homeless kitten wanting to take shelter from the rain in a house, just to be kicked out.
Rage ignited in her heart.
"Firstly, I'm the owner of this house. What does your lease agreement with someone else have to do with me?" Yves King, utterly nonchalant, paid no heed to her anger and mimicked her speech. "Secondly, if you want to exercise your presidential power, do so in the office. This is after work hours and you are in my house. President Owen, surely you can't believe that my becoming your subordinate worker makes me your slave, subject to your whim? This is a socialist country where everyone is equal, not a feudal society."
"You…" Already upset, Faye Owen was taken aback by Yves King's words. She stared at him, her pretty face angry: "Regardless of what kind of relationship you claim to have with Professor Zhao, she has rented this house to me and I've paid my dues. I now have the right to use this house. If you have any problems, you are free to discuss it with Professor Zhao. Right now, I'm tired and want to rest, so I ask that you leave."
"Oh?" Yves King slouched back on the sofa and watched her with interest. "So, the President is planning on forcibly occupying my house and driving me, the rightful owner, away? I advise you to disappear on your own accord before I lose my temper and physically throw you out."
"Throw me out?" Faye Owen suddenly stood up, her angry eyes fixed on Yves King. She said coldly, "Fine, I, Faye Owen, am right here. Let's see how you'll throw me out."
"Oh, you seem enthusiastic, even trying to intimidate me?" Yves King's eyes sparkled and narrowed, "Since you're keen on experiencing what it's like to be thrown out, I'll gladly fulfill your wish." Saying this, he stood up and slowly advanced towards her.
"Hey, what are you trying to do? Don't do anything crazy, I'll scream, you know. If you touch me, I will scream harassment," said Faye Owen as she watched him inch closer, anger mixed with panic. However, she was the type who wouldn't back down when confronted.
"Go ahead and scream, call everyone to watch if you like. I heard you just returned from America? You must like calling the police then, perhaps you should summon them too," replied Yves King disdainfully, gripping her wrist and dragging her towards the door, "I don't believe that just because you're a chief executive who studied abroad, you're anything special. You usurp civilian houses and still dare to sound reasonable? Let's let the police judge this, or we could invite the media to broadcast your wrongdoing."
Faye Owen was both shocked and furious, struggling with all her might while she bellowed at him, "Mr. King, what the hell are you trying to do? You're a damned, boorish, and utterly ungentlemanly thug. Let go of me immediately." But how could she possibly break free with her strength? Her wrist felt as if an iron clamp was clamped onto it - not too tight, but so numbing she couldn't exert any strength.
"Click!" Just as Yves King was opening the door to throw her out, a middle-aged woman with fair skin appeared at the stairwell. The woman, despite her graceful demeanor, appeared tired and haggard, her eyes marred by dark circles. Seeing the door swing open, she exclaimed, "Little King! So, you've really come back!"
Yves King glanced at her, sneering, "Isn't this Professor Zhao? I'm surprised you remember me, Yves King. I assumed you thought I was dead."
"Little King, what you're saying is... Ah, this mess is my fault, allow me to explain," replied Professor Zhao, attempting an awkward chuckle and then quickly shifting her gaze to the young woman Yves King was gripping by the wrist. "Little King, could you please let go of this young lady? This community full of long-term residents is close-knit. We see each other every day. It's not good to make a scene."
"There's no scene to make here. In consideration of our past relationship, I don't plan to hold this against you. But let me make it clear - I've returned, and this house will certainly not be rented out." Yves King turned his head disdainfully, declaring, "Miss Owen, are you really obliged to make me do the dirty work of eviction?"
"Yves King, you dare!" cried Faye Owen in utter shock and anger. Her struggles were futile and Yves King's actions ignited her fury. In an icy tone, she threatened, "I demand you let me go immediately, otherwise, you'll pay a heavy price."
"Do what you must," Yves King replied tersely, furrowing his brow and preparing to show her the door.
"King, King, please calm down." Upon seeing this, teacher Zhao became instantly anxious, quickly stepping into the room. She grabbed Yves King and began to push him back inside: "Please, for my sake, let's sit down and discuss this matter, and please don't take drastic actions. King, considering the extra care I took on your mother, please help me out. This time, I really have no choice."
Upon hearing the word 'mother', Yves King couldn't help but shudder. He thought back to the time when his mother had just brought him to Nineteenth Central, where teacher Zhao indeed took very good care of her in both her personal and professional life, and their two families have maintained a good relationship ever since. Indeed, if it weren't for that, he would never have trusted teacher Zhao and certainly would not have entrusted her with the care of his precious house.
Seeing her anxious face, pleading with him, Yves King's heart softened slightly, and then he released his grip, speaking in a cold voice as he stepped back: "Alright, let's talk inside then. But teacher Zhao, I must warn you in advance, I will not rent this house to anyone."
"What's so superior about you, King? Is it just because you have a shabby house?" Faye Owen was so incensed by him that her heart was filled with intense anger. She retorted angrily and sarcastically, "Do you think you are the only one in Sea City who owns a house?"
"Well then, please ask teacher Zhao to return your rent and deposit right now. Go and rent some place else, a villa, a luxury apartment, anywhere you like. This shack of mine is way too small to accommodate a big deity like you." Yves King said calmly, "Of course, don't forget your luggage."
Even though this was a solution, Faye Owen found it hard to swallow this bitter pill. She had never been subjected to such treatment before. She crossed her arms and sneered, "King, do you think you can just cancel your lease anytime you want just because I paid the rent? I'll tell you, it's not that simple. According to the contract, even with a strong reason, if you want to terminate the lease, you have to notify the tenant a month in advance, and compensate no less than three times the monthly rent, and bear the tenant's loss. If you want me to leave, please come back in a month and compensate me for my loss."
"Miss Owen, right? Please calm down, let me talk to King." Hearing this, teacher Zhao's face changed again, seemingly turning paler, as she hurriedly appeased Faye Owen. She then awkwardly and uncomfortably walked up to Yves King, not knowing where to put her hands and feet, and said in a somewhat submissive tone, "King, the thing is, I really owe you an apology. I violated your trust."
Yves King was not entirely unreasonable. If someone chose to be tough and confrontational with him, he would certainly match them in equal measure. In contrast, if someone approached him in a polite and gentle manner, he would consider it and respect their feelings.
Seeing teacher Zhao speak in such a remorseful and humble manner, he found it hard to keep a stern face. After all, whatever happened, she was somewhat like an elder to him, and had been kind to him and his mother. He quickly rose, assisted her to sit down, took out a bottle of mineral water from his luggage and handed it to her, speaking softly, "Aunt Zhao, take your time. Has something happened? There's no rush for the other things, at worst, we can refund Miss Owen's money." After all, teacher Zhao had been devoted to him, and she had looked after his house for five years. If she was really greedy, she could have secretly rented it out a long time ago.
With a guilty conscience, teacher Zhao awkwardly sat down halfway, lowered her head and said, "Actually, I had no choice. I hadn't planned on renting out this house, but my niece, who knew about my situation, urgently needed money and knew I was taking care of a house for someone. The president of her company needed a quiet, nice house, so she persuaded me. Alas, I was momentarily confused, thinking that since you hadn't come back for five years, you wouldn't suddenly return, so-, so I agreed."
Yves King's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Auntie, aren't you and uncle both teachers? This profession is known for its stable life, why the sudden need for money?"
"Miaomiao, it's Miaomiao. You remember her, right? She just got admitted to FD University, and suddenly was diagnosed with uremia." Teacher Zhao's face turned somber, and when she spoke of her sorrow, tears poured down in large droplets: "My daughter, she really has a tough fate."
"Miaomiao?" Yves King jumped up, "Of course, I remember her. How could she suddenly be struck with such a cruel disease?"
Faye Owen was also surprised, covering her mouth with her hands and letting out a small gasp. Her eyes filled with sympathy for teacher Zhao, and her previous anger towards her for her near-fraudulent actions began to dissipate.
"It's just a bolt from the blue." Teacher Zhao cried, her voice full of sorrow: "We teachers, although our income is stable, we could never be rich. You also know that the disease is very expensive. To afford her kidney transplant, all the savings we've accumulated over the years have been spent, even my gold and silver jewelry have been pawned. Moreover, we owe debts to some relatives and friends. We almost had to sell our house. King, I know you cherish this house, and I sincerely apologize for letting you down."
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