Chapter 031: Debt Collection

Morning.

Gentle sunlight filtered through the window, filling the room. Liu Wan had fallen asleep at the bedside, while Zhao Feng sat on the sofa, his right hand propping up his head, also fast asleep.

A soft murmur broke the silence.

Xia Lin slowly opened her eyes.

She glanced at Liu Wan beside her, then at Zhao Feng on the sofa, and finally at the sunlight streaming outside. Frowning, she muttered to herself, "I can't believe I slept for so long!"

Stretching languidly, she felt refreshed, clear-headed, and in high spirits. The only discomfort was the dryness on her face, as if a hard layer of plaster was caked on her skin.

She touched her face, shook her head, slipped into a pair of pink slippers, and made her way to the bathroom.

Standing before the mirror, she saw her face smeared with something black and sticky, now hardened like a seaweed mask.

Looking at her reflection and recalling Zhao Feng spanking her the night before, Xia Lin ground her teeth. "Zhao Feng, you’d better hope this works! Otherwise, I’ll toss you into Dragon Lake to feed the fish. Hmph!"

Taking a deep breath, a slight unease crept into her heart. She turned on the faucet, scooped up some water, and splashed it onto her face.

To her surprise, the ointment melted instantly upon contact with water, turning into black liquid, which flowed straight down the sink with a rinse.

Amazed, Xia Lin exclaimed, "Zhao Feng’s ointment is incredible! It dissolves at the touch of water!"

She shook her head, scooped up another handful of water, and splashed her face again.

Water cascaded down as she washed her face thoroughly and then reached for a towel to dry herself.

At that moment, Xia Lin dared not look in the mirror. With the towel still covering her face, her heart pounded with anxiety.

She drew a deep breath. "Whatever is meant to happen, will happen!"

Clenching her pearly teeth, she slowly lowered the towel...

A piercing scream, louder than sixty decibels, suddenly echoed through the house, waking Zhao Feng and Liu Wan from their sleep.

Startled, Zhao Feng almost leapt from his seat, while Liu Wan shot up, looking around in panic. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Without a second thought, Zhao Feng dashed into the bathroom.

There he saw Xia Lin, dressed in a black long dress, staring at herself in the mirror.

He blinked. "What’s the matter?"

Xia Lin pointed at her snowy-white face. "My face, my face!"

Too excited for words, she could only repeat, "My face, my face!"

Zhao Feng rolled his eyes. "What about your face?"

With trembling hands, Xia Lin pointed again. "My face is completely healed!"

"What else did you expect?" Zhao Feng replied nonchalantly.

“Yay!” Xia Lin jumped up in delight, giving Zhao Feng a big hug—and then…

And then…

She planted a kiss right on his cheek.

Zhao Feng wiped his face with distaste. "You got your saliva all over me!"

Xia Lin was mortified.

Just then, Liu Wan rushed into the bathroom, only to see Xia Lin’s beautiful, flawless face.

"Ah!" Liu Wan let out a shriek of her own. "Lin, your face is really healed!"

Laughter filled the room—joyful, uninhibited laughter.

Off to the side, Zhao Feng rolled his eyes. "Alright, your face is fine now. When will you give me my million?"

The laughter instantly died.

Xia Lin glanced at Zhao Feng and said, "I’m older than you. I don’t mind having a friend like you. From now on, just call me sister."

Zhao Feng cocked an eyebrow. "What’s that supposed to mean? You’re not planning to pay me, are you?"

Xia Lin was at a loss for words.

She forced a laugh. "Tell me, which is more important: a million, or my friendship?"

"A million, of course!" Zhao Feng answered without hesitation.

Xia Lin was speechless.

She waved her hand. "Wan, give him the million."

Liu Wan nodded.

The three of them went to the living room. Liu Wan retrieved the briefcase she’d prepared the night before. "The code is three eights."

Zhao Feng grinned. "Thanks!"

He took the briefcase and left without a second thought.

Xia Lin and Liu Wan stood in stunned silence.

Liu Wan whispered, "Lin, are we really just letting him go?"

Xia Lin nodded. "He’s not someone we can control."

Liu Wan nodded, half understanding.

Outside the Red Romance Club, Zhao Feng waited by the roadside for a taxi. While waiting, he took out the smartphone Chen Ying had given him and started scrolling through short videos.

A car horn sounded.

Zhao Feng looked up and was momentarily stunned.

Xia Lin, driving a red Porsche, smiled at him. "Hop in! Where are you headed? I’ll give you a ride."

Zhao Feng rubbed his nose. "Alright, I’ll take you up on that."

Xia Lin laughed. "Just get in already!"

Zhao Feng rolled his eyes but didn’t hesitate. He opened the passenger door and got in.

With a roar, Xia Lin stepped on the accelerator, and the red Porsche sped away.

…

Xiaohe Village.

Zhao Feng’s home.

At this moment, a crowd had gathered outside his house—hundreds of people packed so tightly there was no room to move.

Liu Dahua stood at the front of the crowd, facing Zhao Jun and his wife.

Their faces were dark with worry.

Liu Dahua, holding a loudspeaker, shouted, "Debts must be repaid. It’s only right!"

The group of yellow-haired thugs behind him chimed in, "Debts must be repaid. It’s only right!"

Zhao Jun’s expression was grim; he didn’t know what to do.

Liu Dahua snorted. "Zhao Jun, call Zhao Feng out! We made it clear yesterday. Today, either you pay up, or you hand over the ancestral heirloom!"

Zhao Jun drew a deep breath. "Just wait a bit longer. Xiaofeng will be back soon!"

Liu Dahua sneered. "Back? I bet he’s run off with the heirloom already!"

Zhao Jun shook his head. "Xiaofeng isn’t like that!"

The crowd burst into laughter.

"He isn’t like that? How well do you really know him?"

"That’s right!"

"Hmph! Even brothers keep accounts clear!"

"Exactly!"

"Brothers, I say Zhao Feng must have run off!"

"No doubt about it!"

"Such a heartless, shameless person!"

Zhao Jun’s face grew even darker. "Xiaofeng is my own son. He would never abandon us!"

Liu Dahua scoffed. "Do you know what I used to do?"

Zhao Jun frowned. "What?"

Liu Dahua chuckled. "I used to collect debts! I’ve seen plenty of fathers and sons turn against each other!"

The crowd roared with laughter.

Zhao Jun’s face turned ashen. "Our family is different! Even if it were ten million, not just one, we’d never turn against each other!"

"That’s right!" Chen Lan, standing by his side, immediately echoed his words.

"I don’t care," Liu Dahua snapped. "Since Zhao Feng isn’t here, we’ll just take you two instead! Take them!"

With that, he waved his hand, and his men surged forward.