"Is the value of a thing only money? Does money necessarily have value? In my eyes, money is just a tool, a tool to make my wife and family happy. All my money should belong to my wife! Whatever my wife likes, I'm willing to give everything to buy it for her! Although I don't have much money, for Wen Wan's sake, I was willing to use all my money to buy a watch that cost over forty thousand. Little Cui, you're so rich, but I've never seen you buy Hanrui a watch. I remember last time Hanrui had her eye on a Longines watch, and you said she was being wasteful. To put it bluntly, you're just selfish. You're just unwilling to spend money on Hanrui."
Li Bin spoke unhurriedly, his reasoning clear and methodical.
"You! You!! What kind of twisted logic is this! You're spouting nonsense!! I'm unwilling to spend money on Hanrui? Then how did I buy her a car?!" Cui Tianjiao immediately retorted, agitated.
Never mind Cui Tianjiao; if it were the Li Bin of the past, an old-school straight guy like him would have probably exploded upon hearing such a shameless argument.
Such a statement is simply the shameless groveling of a simp! It's a disgrace to all men! But, to a woman's ears, such words are the sweetest nothings, the most profound vows of eternal love.
Especially for a performative feminist like Ling Hanrui, her eyes lit up as she listened, her gaze towards Li Bin full of approval and admiration. Wen Wan was even more moved, a blush creeping onto her face as she looked at Li Bin, her eyes filled with happiness.
[Intimacy with Ling Hanrui: +20 (-15 Unfamiliarity)]
"Is that so?"
Li Bin gave a faint smile, then asked curiously, "Then, forgive me for asking, but is this car in Hanrui's name, or in yours? This watch, I gave it to Wen Wan, so now it's Wen Wan's. That car of yours... I'm afraid you just bought it for yourself to drive, didn't you?"
"What do you mean, my name or her name?! We're husband and wife! What's the difference if it's in my name or hers?!" Cui Tianjiao argued excitedly, sensing Ling Hanrui's expression beside him growing darker and darker. Cui Tianjiao didn't even understand the point of Li Bin saying such a thing!
"Of course it's different. Otherwise, why do people nowadays insist on writing both spouses' names on the property deed when they get married? Putting it in the wife's name is a sign of trust in her, a promise to her! If I remember correctly, the house you bought before you got married... I think it's in your parents' names, right? Heh, if you really think you and Hanrui are a married couple and it doesn't matter whose name is on it, then why did you put it in your parents' names back then?"
This matter of the name on the property deed was something Li Bin had heard from Wen Wan before. Back when the couple had just gotten married, Ling Hanrui and Cui Tianjiao had almost called off the wedding over this very issue.
If the Cui family hadn't added another 100,000 to the bride price, Ling Hanrui would have broken off the engagement right then.
"You!! Nonsense! My parents paid the down payment for the house I bought before the wedding, and I'm the one paying the mortgage now! What's wrong with it being in my parents' names? I didn't ask Hanrui for a single penny to buy the house! On what grounds must I put her name on it?" Cui Tianjiao finally couldn't take it anymore, shot up from his seat, and pointed a finger at Li Bin.
"Li Bin, stop talking! How can you say such things?"
Wen Wan was terrified now, too, and she hurriedly grabbed Li Bin's arm, shaking her head. Seeing that he had angered Cui Tianjiao, who was now starting to ramble incoherently, Li Bin remained even more calm and composed, revealing a triumphant smile.
"Bang!" Just then, Ling Hanrui, with her large pregnant belly, shot to her feet, slammed her hand heavily on the table, and with a dark face, pointed at Cui Tianjiao and scolded, "Cui Tianjiao! What do you think you're doing? What's with the attitude? Did Li Bin say anything wrong? I get angry every time the topic of property comes up! Other people's parents buy a house for their son and put it in the names of the young couple, the son and daughter-in-law. But your parents, how nice of them, they only wrote their own names! Don't think I don't know, you're just guarding against me, aren't you? Your parents are just thinking that if we get a divorce in the future, I'll have to leave with nothing, right?
No wonder! No wonder you put the car in your name when you bought it! So this was your plan all along! I should have seen through you, you selfish man! And here I am, bearing you a son!!
You bastard! Here I am, having your child, and this is how you scheme against me! No! You have to give me half of our family's property!! Otherwise, I'll get rid of the child!"
"I haven't! I never thought that!! Ling Hanrui! What nonsense are you talking about?! Have you gone mad?! Isn't my child your child too? How can you say you're bearing a child for me?! That house belongs to my parents! They paid the down payment! Can you please be reasonable?! What belongs to my parents, won't it all go to our child in the future anyway?"
Being yelled at by Ling Hanrui like that, Cui Tianjiao finally began to get furious as well!