Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 221 Killing the Cuckoo (36)

From Gao Li believing she had found the right person and happily entering into marriage, to being tricked into having two children, to the people around her opposing her divorce after the truth was revealed, to being instigated to turn against her children, and finally dying of depression.

"The issue of homosexual marriage fraud is not as simple as you think. They are not just deceiving people into marriage; it is a complete exploitation and oppression of wives of gay men. If you don't want to follow in my friend's footsteps, you'd better cut your losses now."

After listening, He Xiaolian went from being bewildered to silent, and after a long while, she began to sob softly.

“But my parents received 200,000 yuan in betrothal gifts from the Li family to buy a house for my brother, and they’ve already spent it all,” He Xiaolian said. “If I don’t marry Li Tingyi, where am I going to get so much money to pay him back?”

Yan Zhen frowned: "You are the victim, so the bride price doesn't have to be returned."

He Xiaolian shook her head: "If we don't return the betrothal gifts, people will gossip about us. The town is so small, we'll run into each other all the time. My parents are very concerned about their reputation, they won't agree."

If I break off the engagement and refuse to return the betrothal gifts for this reason, it will ruin my reputation and make it difficult for me to get married in the future. Besides, my parents are counting on me to help my brother after I marry Li Tingyi… In short, breaking off the engagement is too difficult.”

“That’s why it’s difficult to annul an engagement,” Yan Zhen said. “Li Tingyi has made a name for himself in the big city with a car, a house, and a successful career, but he still went back to his hometown to marry a local girl because he saw that you were easy to manipulate due to your family and the general environment.”

"Now that they've only given the bride price, and the marriage isn't even formally arranged, you'll be trapped. Once you marry him, he'll exploit you to the bone, draining you of every last drop of value, making you a free maid for life in a loveless and sexless marriage."

He Xiaolian finally realized the seriousness of the situation. Thinking of her marriage, which she could see the end from the beginning, her face turned pale and her lips trembled slightly: "What should I do?"

"I'll say it again, insist on annuling the engagement," Yan Zhen said firmly. "Forget your shame. Li Tingyi had the nerve to lie to you, so why should you feel ashamed for not returning the betrothal gifts? If your parents don't support your annulment, then bypass them and find someone who understands your situation and supports your decision. As for your parents' so-called 'face'—"

Yan Zhen glanced at the shabby room. He used his daughter's dowry to buy a house for his son, but made his daughter live in a rooftop storage room that was cold in winter and hot in summer.

There's no need to worry about saving face for parents. "When emotional appeals don't work, then prioritize your own feelings and strive to maximize your interests."

He Xiaolian nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Having said all that, Yan Zhen stopped there.

The rest is up to He Xiaolian.

In an environment where she is constantly being exploited and oppressed, if she is unaware of the danger, even if others pave the way for her, she will not have the courage to take that step.

Only when she awakens and fights for her own interests will she truly be free from this situation.

Before Yan Zhen left, He Xiaolian left her contact information.

On the way back to Ningcheng, Qi Zhaoyi drove while Yan Zhen sat in the passenger seat, and both of them remained silent.

After a while, Qi Zhaoyi reached out and turned on the car's music player. A piano piece that Yan Zhen couldn't name floated out, dispelling the somewhat dull atmosphere.

Qi Zhaoyi asked gently, "Has He Xiaolian's matter affected your mood?"

Yan Zhen shook his head: "It's not so much an impact, it's just..."

I just feel that no matter the time or place, the situation of most women in the lower classes is so difficult.

Women's physiological structure gives them the ability to give birth to new life, but this ability is like a shackle, binding them both physically and psychologically.

"You don't seem to be in a good mood either," Yan Zhen said, looking at Qi Zhaoyi. "Are you too tired?"

"No." Qi Zhaoyi smiled, her expression thoughtful. "I was trapped by rumors for two years and even drove myself into a dead end. This trip gave me a lot of inspiration, and I want to try to go back to work after I get back."

"Shooting a documentary?"

Qi Zhaoyi nodded: "Yes."

"That's great."

Yan Zhen watched a documentary about Qi Zhaoyi in her spare time. Putting aside the cinematic quality, the touching copywriting in it left a deep impression on her. When she learned that Qi Zhaoyi had stopped working for two years due to illness and might not even be able to continue in this industry, she felt sorry for her.

Now that he has recovered, she is truly happy for him.

Back in Ningcheng, Yan Zhen opened the door to his home and saw Fang Yihe's shoes in the entryway.

The living room was dark and the lights were off, so she couldn't immediately tell if Fang Yihe had returned.

After changing his shoes, Yan Zhen walked into the living room and immediately noticed a shadowy figure sitting on a single sofa in the darkness with his head down. Even though he couldn't see the expression clearly, he could feel the decadent aura emanating from him.

Why is Fang Yihe back at this time?

"Husband?" Yan Zhen called out tentatively, turning on the light at the same time.

The living room lights came on, illuminating Fang Yi's bruised face and bloodshot eyes.

Yan Zhen exclaimed dramatically, "Husband, what's wrong with you?" She rushed to Fang Yihe's side, looking at him with both heartache and anxiety, reaching out to touch his face, but afraid of hurting him.

"How did it get like this? Who hit you?"

Fang Yi hesitated for a long time at the resort before deciding to come back, and planned to go to Li Tingyi's house the next morning to settle things with him.

Whether he spends money, plays the emotional card, or threatens Li Tingyi in return, or tries to keep him in check, he no longer wants to be entangled with him.

He felt frustrated and depressed when he made this decision, and his mood plummeted even further after returning home for half a day.

Looking into his wife's worried and distressed eyes, and with the contrast of Li Tingyi's ferocious face in front of him, a mix of indescribable emotion and guilt welled up in his heart.

His eyes reddened, and he reached out to pull Yan Zhen into his arms.

He was very resistant when his parents pressured him to get married, believing that his parents did not respect his sexual orientation.

Now, holding his wife in his arms, he finally understands the good intentions his parents had.

Marrying a woman as a wife means at least she won't cause him any more trouble than Li Tingyi did, leading to a life-or-death struggle.

Even if a commotion breaks out, I won't be in a weak position where I'm controlled.

Yan Zhen paused slightly, then gently patted his back to comfort him: "Are you alright?"

"Not good," Fang Yi said in a muffled voice.

"Could you tell me what happened?"

Fang Yi didn't answer, but just hugged her tighter.

Yan Zhen felt goosebumps rising on his skin from being hugged, but he could only force himself to be understanding and say, "If it's inconvenient, then don't say anything. I don't understand the complicated interpersonal relationships at your workplace, and I'm not capable of helping you... Let me treat your wound first, and then get you something to eat, okay?"

Fang Yi then let go of his hand.

Yan Zhen was about to get up to get the medicine box when Fang Yi stopped her, hesitating to speak.

Yan Zhen asked, "What's wrong?"

Fang Yi was hesitating whether or not to be honest with her.

He knew very well how extreme Li Tingyi's personality was. Back then, because he refused to admit that he had pushed Gao Li, causing her to miscarry, he bought all the stun guns on the market and tested them one by one himself. He then spent half a month finding the so-called murder weapon in the sewers...

If they don't reach an agreement by tomorrow and have a falling out with Li Tingyi, he will definitely keep his word and send the video of the two of them to his wife.

Rather than being exposed for cheating, he believes that if he confesses to his wife now and promises to be devoted to her from now on, given her gentle and tolerant nature, she will most likely forgive him after her anger subsides.

Thinking of this, Fang Yi mustered her courage and said, "Xiao Li, there's something I need to do..."

"Ding-dong-"

Yan Zhen's phone rang with a WeChat message notification, interrupting Fang Yihe's conversation.