Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed-Chapter 323 - 149: The Mother-in-law’s Deep Scrutiny of Her Son-in-law, Grows More Satisfied the More She Looks
In a private room at an upscale private restaurant, about three to four kilometers from the Emerald Mansion neighborhood, Li Yuan was undergoing a "political examination" by Bai Weixi’s parents.
Faced with his would-be mother-in-law’s inquiries, Li Yuan felt rather helpless, but he could only give a brief introduction to his family situation.
In truth, there was nothing to hide. He and Bai Weixi were high school classmates, and she had even met his parents before. Lying would have been pointless.
"Mr. Bai, Mrs. Yang, my hometown is in a town northeast of the county. My family has four people, including a younger sister who just started high school this year. My parents used to work in northeastern China, but now they’ve returned to our hometown to build a house..."
Hearing about Li Yuan’s family situation directly from him felt completely different from the version they had pieced together from their daughter.
Bai Tianqi managed a smile, suddenly viewing Li Yuan in a new light. This young man wasn’t just talented; ’brilliantly talented’ was a more fitting description.
He had truly started from scratch, with absolutely no financial support from his family. In just three or four months, he had bought a house and a car in Modu on his own.
A story like that, even if written in a novel, would be classified as an epic feel-good story.
Yang Jinyu was also deeply satisfied, breathing a silent sigh of relief. She had worried that Li Yuan might come from a very wealthy and powerful family, where the elders controlled all the finances. If that were the case, her daughter could have faced a difficult life after marrying into the family.
Wealthy families come with a lot of drama. Her own family, a moderately well-off one from the Jiangnan region, had its own share of problems, to say nothing of a truly wealthy clan.
Marrying someone of a similar social standing was always important.
But since Li Yuan was self-made, the situation was completely different. There was no need for such concerns. In the future, they could all settle down in Modu and start a new life together.
"Yuan, it’s a bit forward of me to ask, but how much do you earn from your writing now?" Yang Jinyu asked, her curiosity piqued. She had seen how generously Li Yuan spent money, not only on her daughter but also on her and her husband. For him to have bought a car and a house after only writing for a few months made her incredibly curious. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Hearing this, Bai Tianqi nearly spat out his Maotai.
"Ahem, Jinyu, what are you asking about?" he scolded gently before turning to Li Yuan. "Yuan, she’s just speaking casually, please don’t take it to heart."
Personal income wasn’t something you could just ask about. It was a private matter. Besides, Li Yuan was only their daughter’s boyfriend; they weren’t married yet. Even if they were married, it would be inappropriate to pry so deeply. Although Bai Tianqi was just as curious himself, he managed to hold his tongue. He never expected his wife would be the one to blurt it out.
Li Yuan downed the small cup of Maotai, smacked his lips, and smiled at his flustered would-be mother-in-law.
Isn’t this the perfect opportunity for me to show off? If not now, then when? If I can win over the somewhat status-conscious Yang Jinyu, then maybe in the future, if a battleground erupts and Bai Weixi throws a fit, my dear mother-in-law might help talk some sense into her. Of course, if that day ever comes, whoever wants to leave can leave. If you’re going to be a scoundrel, you have to own it.
Li Yuan calmly said, "Mr. Bai, Mrs. Yang, my writing is doing quite well at the moment. I earn about two to three million a month."
He was even understating it. Based on his estimates, his manuscript fees for September, combining the main site and other distribution channels, should total over four million. And that wasn’t even counting the 50,000,000 transfer fee for the game adaptation rights he had just sold to Wangyi Company a few days ago.
Hearing that Li Yuan earned two to three million a month, Yang Jinyu gasped, her eyes going wide as her body trembled slightly. "What? Two to three million? That’s ridiculous! Is writing really that profitable?"
The tipsy Bai Tianqi’s hand slipped, and his glass dropped onto the table with a CLANG. He hastily picked it up, but his trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.
Bai Weixi’s smile was radiant. She took Li Yuan’s hand under the table and gazed lovingly at his profile. She felt overwhelmingly happy; the more exceptional Li Yuan was, the happier she became.
"Dad, Mom, the book Li Yuan wrote is the number one web novel online right now," she explained. "An income like this is perfectly normal, so don’t be so shocked."
Yang Jinyu gave her precious daughter a strange look. Her tone made it sound as if she were the one bragging.
Two to three million a month... that’s twenty to thirty million a year. So, my precious daughter has found herself a multimillionaire with a limitless future?
As she looked at Li Yuan again, her expression was one of utmost satisfaction.
Bai Tianqi took the initiative, picking up the Maotai and pouring a cup for Li Yuan, filling it to the brim.
"Yuan, come, let’s have another, you and I."
***
The private banquet lasted until around nine that evening.
Li Yuan and Bai Weixi’s father had each finished a bottle of Maotai.
After downing half a kilogram of the potent spirit, Li Yuan felt only slightly tipsy. His mind was still clear, and he figured he could probably handle another half-bottle or so.
Bai Tianqi, however, had clearly reached his limit. His mind was clouded, and he had already been sick once. He had to be supported by Li Yuan and Bai Weixi on either side.
Seeing her father so hopelessly drunk, Bai Weixi’s heart ached for him. "Mom, don’t stay at a hotel," she pleaded. "Come home and stay with us."
Yang Jinyu had planned to get a hotel room, but Bai Weixi was reluctant to let them go and insisted.
Yang Jinyu, who hadn’t been drinking, furrowed her brow. She felt it was somehow improper for her to go home with her daughter and Li Yuan. If her daughter wasn’t driving Li Yuan back, she would have much preferred for Weixi to stay with her at the hotel so they could have a mother-daughter heart-to-heart...
