CH 24

Lu Yong did not refuse either but stood silently beside and watched Shen Wenqiu writing down the debts on a paper.

Shen Wenqiu knew that he was watching and he let Lu Yong see while he recalled his own mountain of bad debts with full attention. His handwriting was beautiful and things were neatly recorded. Before, he always didn’t want to think about it. Every time he recalled it, he would feel a headache. But today he slept all day and his mind was very clear. Each person, each debt, each number, he remembered everything clearly.

He intended to write all of them first and then sorted out the order of priority.

Lu Yong said, “The money owed to the loan sharks, except for the statutory rate, the others don’t have to be repaid. I will help you find a lawyer.”

Shen Wenqiu said, “Thank you.”

In the news, there were often reports of huge debts owed to illegal loan organisations and then the debts were cancelled after the police report and legal procedures.

Lu Yong knew someone who read a lot of similar news and felt that the money borrowed from a black loan was a free loan. He thought that the other party’s money was not clean and could not be repaid. Then, he trusted in his luck and borrowed a lot of money, thinking that he had gotten a big bargain.

The person used this loaned money to invest in the illegal fund-raising industry. But the money was taken away from him and he could’nt reap a single grain. Only after a private loan company came to collect debts did he discover that the other party played tricks much better than him. At this time, the interest had rolled into a huge snowball and he owed a huge debt.

However, Lu Yong took a closer look and found that Shen Wenqiu’s illegal loans were only a small part of his debts and most of them were still owed to the bank. They were to the extent that now his creditworthiness had impoverished and he was given consumption and access restrictions. Even if he managed to find a suitable job, it might be a little troublesome for him.

Shen Wenqiu finally finished writing. He really finished listing all of it. To his surprise, the project was only half a page of paper. Lu Yong still couldn’t think of a good solution for Shen Wenqiu. He didn’t know how he could make money and pay off his debts, “Do you have a plan in your mind?”

Shen Wenqiu said, “No.”

Lu Yong, “…”

Shen Wenqiu chuckled helplessly and said, “If I can figure out a simple way to pay off 100 million debts in one breath, I wouldn’t leave myself to rot for years.”

That makes sense. Lu Yong thought deeply.

“But, let’s start paying it first and start thinking of a way. If I don’t make money to pay off the debt, I’ll definitely not be able to pay anything. If I start to pay it now, I may be able to finish paying it in this life. If the debts really can’t be settled…” Shen Wenqiu thought and said, “Then, then I can’t help it.”

“Anyway, let’s pay it back first.”

He seemed to smile optimistically, “From another perspective, in a sense, I am also a man with a net worth of more than 100 million, right?”

Lu Yong didn’t chime in. He still looked solemn. He sat down, peeled the oranges and the two ate half of it. 

Shen Wenqiu ate the orange while Lu Yong ate a slice of it. He lost his appetite and asked, “That’s too hard. I can help you pay it back first, so that your debts are cleared and your credit is better. It will be much easier to start again later.”

Shen Wenqiu asked, “That is like integrating the liability and shifting the debt to you alone. Why are you saying such silly things? Aren’t you afraid that after you pay back all the debt I’ll run away?”

Lu Yong said honestly, “I said I didn’t want you to pay it back. You don’t need to pay it back. It doesn’t matter if you run away.”

Shen Wenqiu’s emotions were not as intense as before. He probably ran out of emotions in that unfinished death. He felt that he should scold Lu Yong but he couldn’t muster up his energy.

Because in the previous battle, he lost, he lost to Lu Yong. He thought he was determined enough but Lu Yong was even more ruthless. Although they both didn’t want to live, could they be the same? He had nothing but Lu Yong had a successful career and his life was much more valuable than him!

Even so, Lu Yong could actually be so cruel that he desperately wanted to pull him up. What was the use of scolding such a person?

He knew that even if he scolded Lu Yong, it wouldn’t help.

Lu Yong said that he would repay his debt.

On the shore yesterday, when he heard Lu Yong say this, he knew that no matter how absurd or outrageous it seemed, he knew that Lu Yong was serious.

No matter what the reason was.

Lu Yong would not lie.

Last time it was true when he said that there was not enough money and this time it was true when he said that he was willing to pay off his debts but he might use all of his wealth.

There were indeed people in the world who could be this stupid.

Shen Wenqiu lay down, sighed a long breath and said, “You don’t have to be a saint to this extent, do you? Is it because I almost died in front of you?”

Lu Yong said, “No.” It’s because I like you, but he couldn’t say it explicitly.

Shen Wenqiu turned to look at him.

Previously, Shen Wenqiu was always fooling around and smiling, and Lu Yong never felt embarrassed. But in contrast to it now when Shen Wenqiu stripped off all the disguise, completely became mean, indifferent and not gentle at all, being stared at directly by such cold eyes, Lu Yong felt a little hot on his face.

He lowered his head and continued to peel the oranges. In fact, there was something he thought about for a day but he didn’t figure it out—Shen Wenqiu asked if he wanted to buy him at 800 yuan for one night before jumping into the river.

Lu Yong knew this was a joke.

He didn’t take it seriously.

But why did Shen Wenqiu ask such things?

He never slept with a man… What does it mean? Is this sentence true? But doesn’t Shen Wenqiu dislike men? Does he still need to say this specifically? The subtext is that he had sex with a woman before, right?

Lu Yong thought a lot. He knew in his heart that in fact, no matter what it was, it would not change Shen Wenqiu’s position in his heart. But he needed to adjust with the new setting due to the separation of ten years.

As he was thinking about it, Lu Yong heard Shen Wenqiu say, “Also, the 800 yuan that I’ve said before…I was deliberately irritating you, so don’t take it to your heart. I was out of my mind at that time.”

As if Shen Wenqiu heard his heart. Lu Yong’s ears were red but he knew it was impossible. However, in front of the person he liked, knowing it was a joke, he still anticipated it and had some wild thoughts in his mind. 

Shen Wenqiu felt embarrassed when he thought of Lu Yong’s decisive answer at that time. He looked away and said, “But it really makes me quite embarrassed that you refused so righteously. It’s not like I was serious.”

Shen Wenqiu reluctantly admitted his mistake to regain his dignity, no matter how stiff it was.

Lu Yong had always listened to him closely. He gave Shen Wenqiu an out and said, “I liked you very much when I was in high school. You are right.”

Shen Wenqiu’s heart subconsciously missed a beat but then he realised that it was in past tense.

Lu Yong blushed with a serious expression and said with some difficulty, “But I… I don’t visit prostitutes, ah! I didn’t mean that, I mean… anyway, that kind of unruly place… I won’t go. Whether to buy or not…I’ve never been good at picking up these kinds of words.”

Shen Wenqiu also blushed a little and felt uncomfortable as Lu Yong said this. He was now wondering how could he say such things at that time.

A virgin is a virgin and it’s not humiliating to die a virgin. It is good to be clean.

He knew it was probably out of moral compulsion.

Even if it was a bit mean, he wanted to stay by Lu Yong’s side.

At this time, a voice asking for directions sounded in the quiet corridor outside the room, “Hello, Miss Nurse. I want to ask, how can I get to Ward 917? Why can’t I find it?”

The nurse said, “Oh, that’s a VIP single room, right in front.”

After a while, there was a knock on the door.

Shen Wenqiu saw the familiar face of an old man, “Uncle Lu?”

Lu Yong’s father laughed, with a lot more wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He was dressed almost the same as before with simple clothes and his skin was rough. He did not look like a rich man and still had a worker’s appearance, “Xiao Baa, long time no see.”

He carried a fruit basket, walked over and put down the visiting gift on the table, “Dayong is also really… He never told me that you guys reconnected and even almost had an accident……”

Lu Yong retorted in a dull voice, “I just want to wait for my relationship with Shen Wenqiu to stabilise before telling you.”

They chatted up like it was an ordinary visit to the sick and they were in harmony. There wasn’t the slightest sign that Shen Wenqiu had attempted suicide before.

Shen Wenqiu concealed his guilty conscience and actively asked questions, “Uncle, what are you doing now since you are retired?”

Speaking of this, Father Lu was obviously happy and said proudly, “I opened a rescue station, a small animal rescue station which I financed myself and I go to rescue some cats and dogs every day when I am free. I raise them and find an owner for them.”

Shen Wenqiu nodded, “That’s great.”

He thought, Lu Yong and his dad were indeed a father and son.

Both had a heart of compassion for the living.

Shen Wenqiu asked, “But uncle, you are at this age. Don’t you just want to enjoy? Aren’t you tired?”

Father Lu grinned and said, “I am tired, those little beasts are difficult to take care of. I often receive rescue calls, have to travel long distances and sometimes encounter unreasonable people.”

“But I am getting used to being busy. I gave Lu Yong the company before, I had nothing to do and was idle. When I had nothing to do, all illnesses started to appear. When I started to be busy again, all my illnesses disappeared. I don’t like playing with mahjong, I don’t smoke or drink and I don’t like square dancing. They are boring.”

“It’s good to have something to do. I like cats and dogs. I used to feed stray dogs. There was a pup at home but I was busy with work and had no time to take care of it. Now that I have time, I can do something I like. I can also do good and accumulate virtue along the way.”

“I will rest after I can’t do it anymore.”

Shen Wenqiu thought, it’s no wonder that when he lived in Lu Yong’s house he didn’t see him talking to his father on the phone very much. Both father and son had their own affairs to be busy with and were dealing with their own affairs separately.

He couldn’t control himself to feel envious, not only of Lu Yong but also of Lu Yong’s father. They all had things they wanted to do. But he didn’t and he didn’t know what to do next or what job he should find.

Not only was he bankrupt, he had only been playing in the past few years and he also had no work experience. He didn’t remember where he placed the degree certificate and various skill certificates so he had to go and reissue them first. He had to take it slow……

Father Lu suddenly said, “Xiao Baa, are you working now?”

Shen Wenqiu shook his head, and said awkwardly, “…No.”

Father Lu asked frankly, “I remember you studied business management in college? It’s been many years and uncle can’t remember it.”

Shen Wenqiu replied, “En. Yes.”

Father Lu looked at Lu Yong then looked at him and said, “Then why don’t you just go and give Dayong a hand? I’m not good at managing a company and I don’t think he’s good at it either. His head is full of whimsical thoughts. Your family has operated a big company before, it would be good if you could help him out.”

“I think it’s just right, don’t you think?”

If Lu Yong proposed this, Shen Wenqiu was not sure if he would agree.

But because someone else brought it up, he didn’t have that much stubbornness in his heart. He thought about it that why should he be stubborn? At least he could get job experience in Lu Yong’s company.

Shen Wenqiu said, “Of course I can, but it depends on whether Lu Yong is willing to…”

Lu Yong was barely able to hold himself back, making himself seem less eager and said, “Yeah. I’m fine with it.”

Lu Yong listened to the end with full concentration.

Then he glanced at his dad casually, wondering that he didn’t collaborate with his dad, right? His dad said this too timely.

However, Father Lu knew that he liked Shen Wenqiu back then.

T/N: Hi guys, this is Rin! We’re not password protecting our chapters because we really don’t care too much about others and just want to translate and upload chapters. We’ll only stop updating when we are told to do so. However, you can’t take translators’ work and effort for granted. Remember to join Dummy’s discord so you can be up to date with everything that is going on! Thanks for reading as always!