A few small gangsters walked in, led by a man with dyed yellow hair and a fat face, a cigarette dangling from his mouth - clearly not someone to be trifled with.
Liu Yan stepped forward, shielding Ling Yue behind him. These people would do anything for money, and there was no telling if Yang Jing was safe.
The man walked up to Liu Yan and slammed a debt note down on the table, snarling, "Today's the final deadline for repayment. Pay up or your company's done for."
Liu Yan reached for the note, but the man pinned it down under his hand and glared at him coldly. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I want to check the amount against what I actually borrowed. To make sure they match," Liu Yan explained. When he had urgently needed money before, a friend had introduced him to this company, claiming their interest rates were lower than banks. It was only later that Liu Yan realized they were loan sharks, charging exorbitant interest on top of the principal. Even after he repaid the original sum he borrowed - 100,000 yuan - the interest kept snowballing. The last time they came to collect, they claimed he owed 300,000 yuan.
The man sneered derisively. "500,000 yuan, principal plus interest."
Liu Yan's heart jolted. "I only borrowed 100,000."
"Less bullshit, more money. Today's the deadline. Keep stalling, and we won't go easy on you," the man threatened, shaking his meaty fist.
"We can pay, but we'll have to do it at your office," Ling Yue said, stepping out from behind Liu Yan. Her cool gaze swept over the gangsters. She knew how these loan sharks operated - the casinos in her country were similar. Gamblers who lost borrowed money they could never repay.
"And why's that?" the man asked, eyeing Ling Yue.
Liu Yan understood Ling Yue's intention immediately. His admiration for her grew.
"To settle this face-to-face. Otherwise, you could come back in a few days demanding we still owe you money, and we'd have no recourse," Ling Yue replied calmly. She was familiar with these tactics - even with the debt note, it could easily be fake.
"You afraid we're cheating you? The note's right here!" The man looked slightly shocked by Ling Yue's shrewdness. They did have something up their sleeve.
"Then why not let us see it?" Ling Yue taunted, eyeing the note.
"Pay up and I'll return it, clear as day."
Ling Yue shook her head with a smile. "We'll pay at your office. Take it or leave it."
"Fine by me," Liu Yan agreed.
The man erupted angrily, shaking his fist. "Don't push your luck. You won't like the consequences."
Ling Yue looked utterly unconcerned. "Oh?"
Liu Yan stepped forward again, shielding Ling Yue. "It's not that I won't pay. I just want to settle this at your office, in person. What's unreasonable about that?"
"Enough bullshit. You have three minutes to decide. Time's up and we won't hold back," the man snarled, done talking. He was here to collect, and he would get the money one way or another.
Liu Yan turned to Ling Yue. "Please, just go. I can handle this alone - it's my problem, not yours." Though he'd never been in a fight before, he was still a man. He couldn't drag Ling Yue into this.
Ling Yue smiled gently at Liu Yan, then looked back at the men. "We don't need three minutes."
"Fine! No more playing nice!" At the man's signal, the gangsters rushed at them.
"Run, Ling Yue! This has nothing to do with you!" Liu Yan cried out, bracing himself.
But before he even finished speaking, Ling Yue shot forward faster than the wind. In a blur of movement, she felled the men effortlessly.
Liu Yan rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Ling Yue looked down impassively at the men groaning on the ground, then strode up to the leader and pinned his hand under her foot. "Ready to talk properly?"
The man's face contorted in pain. "T-talk...let go...we'll talk at the office..." This woman was too much. He had to call the boss and give him a heads up.
Ling Yue stepped back. "Get up. Let's go."
Still shaking, the man led his gang out without another glance her way.
Liu Yan gazed at Ling Yue in awe, his eyes full of admiration. "You're so incredible!" She was the most amazing woman he'd ever met.
Ling Yue just smiled and headed for the exit.
Liu Yan hurried after her.
Outside the office, they found Yang Jing returning with several uniformed officers.
Liu Yan rushed over apologetically. "Gentlemen, there's no trouble here. Just a small dispute over debt. Sorry to drag you all the way out here for nothing."
After seeing the officers off, Liu Yan and Ling Yue got in the gang's van and headed for their company office to settle matters face-to-face.
Having been tipped off, the boss had arranged for reinforcements well in advance. If these two wanted to be stupidly stubborn instead of just paying up, he'd teach them a lesson they wouldn't forget.
"Boss, they're here. A man and woman," a subordinate reported deferentially.
Lazily reclining on the sofa with a cigar, the boss took a long drag. "Send them in." He was curious what was so impressive about these two that they could terrify Black Dog and his crew.
Soon Ling Yue and Liu Yan were escorted into the office.
The boss sized them both up contemptuously. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We're here to repay the debt," Ling Yue replied evenly, meeting his gaze. Her eyes were tranquil yet proud, noble even.
The boss faltered under her stare and looked away. How could a mere chit of a girl unsettle him so? "Have a seat, let's talk." He wouldn't underestimate them again, especially not her.
Without waiting to be asked twice, Ling Yue sat down across from him.
Following her lead, Liu Yan also took a seat.
At Ling Yue's pointed look, Liu Yan cleared his throat. "I'm here to repay my debt. Three months ago I borrowed 100,000 yuan from your company. The contract stated a daily 1% interest fee, but today your employee claimed I owe 500,000 yuan total, principal plus interest. He refused to even show me the debt note. That's why I've come to clarify exactly what is owed."
