He Lingchuan glanced at Cao Xue standing between them, his eyes sharp: "Who are you calling trouble?"

He still couldn't be sure if the money was actually from Cao Xue. Cao Xue wasn't alone; Cao Wei was also there, and two elegant and wealthy-looking people stood beside him, who appeared to be a couple and were probably Cao Xue's parents.

He Lingchu dared not speak. What if they didn't know the money belonged to Cao Xue? If he asked Cao Xue now, wouldn't he expose the truth?

Shen Yanxi snorted coldly, glancing at Cao Xue out of the corner of her eye: "Stop playing dumb with me. Your little girlfriend is so considerate, aren't you going to thank her properly?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

He Lingchuan narrowed his eyes and warned Shen Yanxi. A look of jealousy flashed in her eyes. This was the first time He Lingchuan had ever seen Shen Yanxi with such an expression. He looked puzzled and said, "Let's not talk about whether this matter has anything to do with her or not. Even if it does, so what? My affairs are none of your business."

"So who do you want to manage this? Cao Xue?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yanxi completely broke down. She pointed at Cao Xue and questioned He Lingchuan, "We've been together for so many years, and this is the first time you've spoken to me like this. He Lingchuan, is this how you're going to treat me for this woman?"

"I've been very polite to you."

He Lingchuan forcibly pried Shen Yanxi's hand off, and without even looking at her, walked towards Cao Xue.

He had only taken two steps when Cao Wei stopped him, looking at He Lingchuan with an impatient expression: "What are you doing? Stay away from my sister."

"I have a few questions I want to ask her."

Cao Wei looked at He Lingchuan with a cold smile, her expression full of disdain and anger: "Come on, wasn't your purpose in getting close to my sister to get him to help you pay off your debts? Now that you've achieved your goal, what else do you have to ask?"

Cao Wei questioned He Lingchuan without hesitation. He Lingchuan was stunned for a few seconds before looking at the person in front of him: "You know everything?"

“Not only do I know, but my parents know too.”

Cao Wei looked at the two people standing next to her. Compared to Cao Wei, their expressions were not as angry.

They remained very calm and even gave each other friendly smiles when He Lingchuan looked at them.

He Lingchuan swallowed hard, forcing himself to calm down. He walked up to the two men, intending to explain.

"Uncle and Aunt, I..."

"He Lingchuan, right?"

Cao's father interrupted him, and He Lingchuan paused for a few seconds before nodding slightly at him: "What are your instructions?"

Cao's father looked He Lingchuan up and down, his tone serious and sharp: "Our Cao Xue is still too young to distinguish men properly. You are indeed a very outstanding person, and we can understand that she likes you. But you are already a father of two children, and it is not appropriate for you to be with her."

Cao's father stated his opinion directly. His voice was very calm, as if he was not angry at all, but in fact his eyes were full of annoyance and alienation.

He Lingchuan knew what he meant, bowed to Cao's father, and said, "Don't worry, I definitely won't do anything to your daughter. I came here today just to ask if this money really belongs to her."

He Lingchuan looked at Cao's father with a serious expression: "If it really was Cao Xue who took it, I will definitely find a way to return the money to him."

Cao's father was somewhat surprised; he seemed to have never expected He Lingchuan to repay the money.

He hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "You don't have to pay us back this money. It's Cao Xue's own money anyway. If she's willing to give it to you, we can't say anything. Consider this money as a way to end your relationship. Don't contact my daughter anymore."

Upon hearing this, Cao Xue, who had remained silent until now, began to sob softly: "Dad, I don't want to, I want to see Brother Lingchuan."

She looked at He Lingchuan with reluctance, her eyes full of grievance. She walked past Cao Wei to He Lingchuan and gently grabbed his sleeve: "Brother Lingchuan, I don't want to be separated from you. You won't be separated from me, right? I really like you. I gave you money just to make things easier for you. I didn't have any other thoughts."

Cao Xue doesn't seem to be in a good state right now; they probably came to talk to her as soon as they found out about this.

Cao Xue must have been under tremendous pressure; that's a hundred million, no small sum.

He Lingchuan took a deep breath and promised Cao's father, "Don't worry, I will definitely avoid contact with Cao Xue. As for this money, I will definitely repay it."

Cao's father looked at He Lingchuan, who was about to say something, when he heard He Lingchuan swear to him, "Uncle, I know what you mean. You just want me to stay away from your daughter. Don't worry, I never intended to get close to her from the very beginning."

He Lingchuan paused for a moment, then continued, "From the beginning, I never intended to take this money. I didn't expect Cao Xue to use this money to buy my patent directly. In fact, I can return this money to you now."

He Lingchuan looked at Cao's father and thought it over. He decided that this method was better: "How about this, I will return the money to you directly, so that I will not owe Cao Xue anything."

Upon hearing this, Cao Xue immediately looked up to stop him: "No, it's too late."

"What's too late?"

He Lingchuan looked at Cao Xue with a puzzled expression, completely not understanding the meaning of her words.

Cao Xue took a deep breath and slowly said, "I've already put my name on the patent for this project. Even if you refund my money, it won't help. I can't return the patent to you."

He Lingchuan's eyes widened. He could roughly understand why Cao Xue did this; it was simply to cut off his own hopes.

She just didn't want to return the money to him.

He Lingchuan's expression grew increasingly solemn. If this method didn't work, he would have no choice but to accept the money, but he felt guilty.

Cao Xue worked so hard to save up so much money and gave it all to me. Not to mention his parents would be angry, even Cao Xue's friends would be furious.

He Lingchuan narrowed his eyes and slowly said, "If it really doesn't work out, I won't take the patent anymore, and I'll give you back the money."

"Need not."

Cao's mother, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "Our Cao family is not short of money at all. You can take this money to pay off your debts, as long as you don't continue to have contact with Cao Xue."

At this point, Cao's mother carefully protected Cao Xue and said softly, "Xiao Xue, if you want to find a boyfriend, Mom will find you someone better. Why do you insist on being with this person?"

"I don't want anyone else, I only want Brother Lingchuan, I just like him."