Rebirth Begins with Rejecting my Childhood Friend - Chapter 522

Although An Zhanjin knew Xu Xiuwen was wealthy and well-connected, he was still surprised by how generous he was.

He knew computers were expensive, though he didn’t need one himself. He also knew mobile phones weren’t cheap. Even the cheapest ones cost several hundred yuan, and someone like Xu Xiuwen definitely wouldn’t buy the cheapest model. So, this phone was probably at least one or two thousand yuan.

Thinking of this, An Zhanjin said, “Let me see the phone.”

Hearing her father’s words, An Shuishui didn’t move. Knowing her father well, she guessed he had his eyes on the phone. If she handed it over, she might never get it back.

Seeing her hesitation, An Zhanjin frowned and scolded, “Didn’t you hear me? Bring the phone over!”

Startled, An Shuishui flinched. Instinctively, she wanted to hand it over, but she couldn’t bear to part with it. She’d only just gotten the phone, and it wasn’t even warm in her hands yet. Her reluctance made her feel wronged, and her eyes began to brim with tears.

Fortunately, Xu Xiuwen spoke up at that moment.

“I bought this phone with my own money. Who I give it to is my decision. You’d better not get any ideas about it.”

Xu Xiuwen was blunt, showing no politeness, but An Zhanjin actually respected this kind of attitude. Though annoyed, he held back his temper and said, “Fine, I won’t look at it. It’s not like I can’t afford one myself.”

Then, An Zhanjin cut straight to the point. “Did you bring the bride price this time?”

Xu Xiuwen had thought An Zhanjin would wait a bit longer to bring this up, but he didn’t expect him to be so direct.

From his phone calls with An Shishi, Xu Xiuwen knew An Zhanjin rarely came home. It seemed he’d made a special trip today just for the bride price.

Not wanting to waste time, Xu Xiuwen said, “I brought the money.”

Hearing this, An Zhanjin was overjoyed. The fat on his face visibly trembled with excitement. “Where’s the money? Give it to me!”

“Hold on,” Xu Xiuwen replied.

“Hold on for what? I came back just for the money!”

Xu Xiuwen said calmly, “I can give you the money, but let’s make things clear. The agreed bride price is 100,000 yuan—no more, no less. And you must write and sign a statement promising that once you’ve received the money, you won’t go back on your word or interfere with Shishi and me in any way.”

An Zhanjin frowned, clearly displeased, but he didn’t argue.

Turning to An Shishi, Xu Xiuwen said, “Shishi, go to my car and grab the black plastic bag and my bag from the front passenger seat.”

“Okay,” An Shishi replied, taking the keys and heading outside.

“Shuishui, bring me a pen.”

“Got it, brother-in-law.”

Before long, An Shuishui brought a pen, and An Shishi returned with the items from the car.

As soon as An Zhanjin saw the black plastic bag, he immediately noticed it was stuffed with cash. His eyes reddened.

Xu Xiuwen tossed the bag onto the table and then pulled a pre-printed agreement and a fingerprint pad from his bag.

“I’ve already prepared the statement. Take a look. If it’s fine, just sign it and press your fingerprint.” Xu Xiuwen handed the paper over.

An Zhanjin took it and immediately became furious. “Why does this say it’s a loan agreement? I’m accepting the money, not borrowing it!”

Hearing An Zhanjin’s crude words, Xu Xiuwen didn’t hold back.

“I don’t care how you talk to others, but if you swear in front of me again, I’ll slap you. Try me if you don’t believe it.”

With his face darkened and his gaze sharp, Xu Xiuwen suddenly looked quite intimidating.

Even An Zhanjin was momentarily stunned.

In his mind, Xu Xiuwen, as the man courting his daughter, should at least be respectful and deferential to him. There was no way he’d dare speak to him in this manner.

But then he remembered the time Xu Xiuwen had tied him up, hand and foot. He knew Xu Xiuwen was someone who would absolutely follow through on his words.

An Zhanjin was deeply unhappy, nearly on the verge of losing his temper. However, considering that he couldn’t win in a fight and might end up offending Xu Xiuwen, potentially losing the money altogether, he forcefully swallowed his anger.

Holding back his frustration, An Zhanjin asked, “What’s the deal with this loan agreement when we’re talking about bride money?”

Xu Xiuwen replied, “If you don’t go back on your word, this agreement will stay in my bag and never see the light of day. But if you try anything shady, this document will ensure I don’t play nice with you. Are you signing it or not? If you don’t want to, fine—just give me back the money I gave you last time!”

Hearing this, An Shuishui immediately became nervous. She was worried her father might refuse and anger Xu Xiuwen in the process.

An Zhanjin hadn’t expected Xu Xiuwen to take control of the situation like this. He was caught off guard and growing increasingly frustrated.

But despite his anger, he was helpless. Most of the money Xu Xiuwen had given him last time was already spent, with only a little left. There was no way he could return it. Besides, he’d been eagerly anticipating the rest of the bride price for ages.

If he missed out on milking Xu Xiuwen, there was no way he could get 100,000 yuan in bride money—even if he married his daughter off to the village chief’s family.

In the end, An Zhanjin decided to sign.

Under the watchful eyes of Xu Xiuwen and the two sisters, An Zhanjin signed his name and pressed his fingerprint onto the document.

Once done, An Zhanjin said, “Now hand over the money. And let me tell you, not a cent better be missing.”

Without saying a word, Xu Xiuwen casually tossed the black plastic bag onto the table in front of him and picked up the signed document.

After confirming the signature and fingerprint, Xu Xiuwen finally relaxed.

He carefully placed the document into his bag and turned to An Shishi. “Shishi, put my bag back in the car.”

An Shishi was a bit dazed. That small A4 sheet of paper on the table didn’t feel like just a piece of paper—it felt like her.

It felt as though she had been placed on the table as a commodity to be sold by her father.

After signing the document, her father’s first instinct had been to grab the money, not even sparing her a glance. The thought left her feeling cold inside.

Xu Xiuwen didn’t look at her, either. His gaze remained fixed on the A4 sheet of paper, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Yet, for some reason, that smile carried a warmth she couldn’t quite describe.

Then she heard Xu Xiuwen speak.

The first time, she didn’t register what he was saying.

It wasn’t until he repeated himself that she snapped out of her thoughts. Instinctively, she took the bag containing what she felt was her “bill of sale” and walked outside.

Meanwhile, An Zhanjin grabbed the bag of money and immediately began counting.

Watching him, Xu Xiuwen let out a cold laugh but said nothing.

An Zhanjin counted the money surprisingly quickly. In just ten minutes, he had counted every last yuan and confirmed that the amount was accurate.

Satisfied that not a single cent was missing, An Zhanjin was overjoyed.

He returned to the main room, fetched a coat, and used it to wrap the bag of money securely. Then he said to An Shuishui, “I’m leaving.”

Seeing her father preparing to leave with the money, An Shuishui said nothing.

Just then, An Shishi came back inside, brushing past him as he headed out.

Watching her father clutch the money tightly, her heart felt cold. Her gaze turned icy.

An Zhanjin, however, didn’t notice her emotions at all. Hugging the bag of money close, he left in high spirits.

Most likely, An Zhanjin had gone to town to find his mistress.

To Xu Xiuwen, 100,000 yuan wasn’t a large amount. But for the people of Liu Family Village, it was an astronomical sum. Many of them worked tirelessly all year and still couldn’t earn even 10,000 yuan.

For An Zhanjin, 100,000 yuan was more than enough to squander for a long time. Until the money was gone, he probably wouldn’t bother coming home again.

An Shishi walked over to Xu Xiuwen, gently leaning her head against his shoulder without saying a word.

Xu Xiuwen could sense her emotions, but he didn’t know what to say. Instead, he patted her shoulder lightly as a gesture of comfort.

Before long, Liu Ruo finished reheating the dishes.

The food wasn’t leftovers—none of the three women in the An family had eaten yet. They’d been waiting for Xu Xiuwen to arrive so they could have dinner together.

But as the food had gone cold, Liu Ruo reheated it once more.

When she emerged from the kitchen, she heard An Shishi mention that An Zhanjin had left with the money.

Liu Ruo didn’t show much of a reaction. She didn’t seem disappointed, angry, or sad. She simply accepted it with calm indifference.

The four of them then sat down to eat dinner.

During the meal, Liu Ruo suddenly suggested having some alcohol.

An Shishi also wanted to drink.

Seeing the look on their faces, Xu Xiuwen didn’t object.

It’s worth mentioning that the cigarettes and alcohol Xu Xiuwen had brought last time were all used up by An Zhanjin.

However, Liu Ruo had hidden a bottle of premium Guangming wine as a precaution, and now she brought it out to share.

It was just one bottle.

Xu Xiuwen didn’t drink much, leaving most of it to the mother and daughter, who soon finished it.

Unfortunately, neither of them could hold their liquor well, and they were quickly drunk.

Xu Xiuwen and An Shuishui helped carry An Shishi and Liu Ruo back to their respective rooms.

After settling them in, Xu Xiuwen and An Shuishui returned to the front room.

The two exchanged a glance before An Shuishui looked down and said softly, “Brother-in-law, you should wash up and get some rest. I’ll clean up the dishes.”

Seeing her shy demeanor, Xu Xiuwen felt a twinge of affection.

He smiled and asked, “Shuishui, are you afraid of me?”

An Shuishui shook her head. “No.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?”

“I’m not… I’m just a little worried.”

Xu Xiuwen walked over and sat down, then gestured for her to come closer. “Come here.”

“What is it, Brother-in-law?” she asked hesitantly, slowly walking over.

When she was close enough, Xu Xiuwen reached out and pulled her directly into his lap.

His arm wrapped around her slender waist as she sat on his thigh, her back pressed tightly against his chest.

Because of her natural shyness, An Shuishui’s face instantly turned crimson.

She sat quietly in his lap, too embarrassed to move a muscle.

Xu Xiuwen asked, “What are you worried about?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“Are you regretting being with me?”

“No,” An Shuishui answered without hesitation.

“Then what is it?”

“I’m worried my sister will be upset,” she whispered.

Xu Xiuwen was momentarily stunned but quickly understood.

An Shuishui was probably worried that being too close to him would make An Shishi jealous.

A girl’s heart really was soft and considerate, something Xu Xiuwen had almost overlooked.

“Shuishui, thank you for reminding me. Don’t worry, I’ll continue to treat Shishi well and won’t let her feel left out. You don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself. Shishi agreed to us being together; she won’t feel jealous or upset.”

Hearing this, An Shuishui nodded, seeming to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Shuishui, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Did you miss me?”

“Didn’t you just ask that earlier?” An Shuishui replied shyly.

Xu Xiuwen chuckled. “Earlier, Shishi was here, and you seemed too embarrassed to answer. Now it’s just the two of us—you can say it freely.”

An Shuishui lowered her head, staying silent.

Seeing this, Xu Xiuwen pressed on, “Alright, let me ask, and you just answer. Did you think of me during the day?”

“Mm.”

“And at night?”

“Mm.”

“Was it every single day?”

“Mm.”

Hearing her soft responses one after another, Xu Xiuwen was overjoyed.

He pulled An Shuishui closer, resting his head on her shoulder and pressing his cheek to hers. “I think about you a lot too.”

An Shuishui’s body trembled slightly, her heart pounding like a drum.

Gathering her courage, she softly asked, “Brother-in-law~”

“Mm?”

“What do you think about when you think of me?”

Xu Xiuwen chuckled. “That’s a long list. I think about your beautiful little face, your shy and adorable expressions, your soft and sweet little scent…”

Hearing his words, An Shuishui’s heart fluttered, yet she couldn’t help but want to hear more.

But just as Xu Xiuwen was about to continue, he suddenly stopped.

She instinctively asked, “Why did you stop?”

Receiving no response, she turned her head slightly to look behind her, only to meet Xu Xiuwen’s intense gaze.

An Shuishui felt his gaze was so fiery it made her heart race. Her own eyes began to dart around nervously, yet curiosity made her glance back to check if he was still looking.

The atmosphere grew undeniably intimate.

Staring at the pure and adorable An Shuishui before him, Xu Xiuwen felt his heart burn with passion.

At this moment, it was just the two of them—everything aligned perfectly.

Xu Xiuwen didn’t hide his feelings anymore.

Without hesitation, he gently cupped An Shuishui’s delicate chin, applying just enough pressure to make her turn toward him.

Then, he kissed her.

The moment Xu Xiuwen’s lips touched hers, An Shuishui’s body trembled again.

But she gradually relaxed, leaning into him.

Inexperience is never a flaw.

Although An Shuishui didn’t know how to respond, didn’t know when or how to react, Xu Xiuwen didn’t mind.

He understood enough for the both of them. He could take his time teaching her.

It wasn’t clear how long the kiss lasted.

When Xu Xiuwen finally let go, An Shuishui was left breathless, her lips slightly parted as she took rapid breaths.

Her exquisite face was flushed with a deep red, making her look even more delicate and lovely.

Satisfied, Xu Xiuwen smiled and said, “Shuishui, take a little break, and we’ll continue.”

His words startled An Shuishui, snapping her back to reality.

Suddenly, as though she’d just woken from a dream, she quickly stood up from his lap.

“I-I’m going to wash the dishes now!” she stammered before hurriedly leaving.

After speaking, An Shuishui hurriedly grabbed the dishes on the table and rushed to the kitchen.

Watching An Shuishui fluster around, Xu Xiuwen couldn’t help but smile.

She really is cute.

Xu Xiuwen sat for a while before heading to the backyard to get some water and wash up.

When An Shuishui saw Xu Xiuwen, her face flushed red. She quietly pleaded, “Brother-in-law, please just let me off.”

Xu Xiuwen rubbed his nose, thinking to himself, Am I really that lecherous? He nodded and said, “Shuishui, don’t worry. I’m just getting some water to wash up, not planning to do anything to you.”

An Shuishui realized she had been overthinking. Her face reddened again, but luckily, it was already flushed, so it wasn’t very noticeable.

She lowered her head, shyly saying, “Brother-in-law, wait a moment. I’ll get the water for you.”

Xu Xiuwen chuckled. “No need, I can do it myself.”

After brushing his teeth, Xu Xiuwen filled a basin with water and headed to the yard.

Under the moonlight, he used a towel to wipe his body with the cool water, then washed his feet.

After finishing, he turned and said, “Shuishui, I’m going back to the room now.”

“Mm.”

An Shuishui hid in the kitchen, not daring to come out, but she did manage to make her voice heard.