Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 369 - 187 Haohao Don’t Cry_2
Having witnessed his fair share, he dared not underestimate the power of a local bigwig.
"Brother Lu, hello."
Han Lie shook hands with Lu Sheng, who wore black-framed glasses. Lu Sheng adjusted his glasses and responded unexpectedly, "I studied finance too. You could be my teacher. Just call me Shengzi."
What they called each other was not important. Han Lie blamed no one. This was all too normal. If you possess great value and others aren’t blind, how could they resist trying to get close and see what they can gain? It’s like taking a shot in the dark; what if you actually hit something?
Han Lie had figured it out. Fang Tongzhi, Liu Yingjun, and even Ma Lian Shengzi had all come prepared.
"What’s the deal with Zihao?"
Before sitting down, Han Lie casually nodded at Dan Zihao and asked Fang Tongzhi with a chuckle.
"TSK!"
Liu Yingjun jumped in before anyone else, slapping his thigh loudly, "That son of a bitch owed you 800,000, didn’t he? You were kind and gave him a week to raise the money, damn it, but on the third day, the son of a bitch just vanished..."
Dan Zihao cringed, forcing a smile as he whispered, "I didn’t disappear, really. I was about to go abroad, and my mom took me to visit relatives..."
"Fuck off!"
Ma Ke shot out his foot, kicking Dan Zihao’s thigh.
Considering his slight build, he could only act tough with Lou Xiaoxiao for less than three minutes, yet he had quite a temper.
Wang Hong sneered, "You have to pay back what you owe. Going abroad doesn’t erase your debts. If you don’t reach out to Han Lie proactively, then we’ll have to come looking for you."
Wang Xiaotian, playing the part of a well-meaning elder, advised patiently,
"Young Master Dan, to be fair, Han Lie has been more than reasonable. He casually returned your 2 million car to you, and the debt was only 800,000. What more could you ask for?
You agreed in front of all of us, and the big brothers here vouched for you. But then you turned around and tried to run. Isn’t that trying to screw us over?
It’s not that we can’t cover the 800,000, but that’s no way to do things, is it!"
"I really didn’t mean to default on the debt!"
Dan Zihao was on the verge of tears, swearing and explaining earnestly.
"If you don’t believe me, go ask around in my class. I’ve borrowed from everyone I possibly could!"
Fang Tongzhi asked slowly and methodically, "Then why were you hiding? And where’s the money?"
"The money... I didn’t manage to gather enough."
Dan Zihao flushed red with shame and stammered, "I suddenly had to go abroad, so my dad guessed I’d caused trouble and confiscated my supplementary card. I borrowed from everyone I could, but only managed to get 550,000..."
"This is simple."
Ma Lian, who detested his nickname, suddenly spoke. He held a cigarette between his right index and middle fingers, gesturing at Dan Zihao.
"You must have something in your name, right?
Whatever it is, bring it to me tomorrow. I’ll find someone to arrange a mortgage for you. Be there at 9 am, and by 9:01 am, I can transfer the funds to God Lie.
After that, you two can settle the debt, and we’ll sort out our cooperation slowly."
"I..."
Dan Zihao, who had been somewhat feigning tears before, was now genuinely on the verge of crying.
His eyes shimmered with tears, and his voice choked as he spoke.
"But under my name, I only have that car and a house. I can’t get the property deed for the house; it’s in my father’s safe..."
"That old clunker of yours..."
Ma Lian drawled, pretending to ponder.
"Alright, that’ll do. I’ll give you a loan of 600,000 against it, 50,000 interest per month. You pay back the principal and interest in full in three months. If you’re half a day late, I’m coming to your house to take the car."
Dan Zihao gasped, nearly fainting.
Damn! My car cost me 2 million! I hardly drove it for three months!
But the nightmare wasn’t over. Ma Ke cursed again and advanced on him.
"Enough, how you raise the money is your private business, and it’s none of our concern.
Let’s talk now. How many days have you delayed Brother Lie? Calculating based on Brother Lie’s usual rate of return, how much should you compensate in late fees?"
"Ah?!"
Dan Zihao’s eyes widened as his soul seemed to drift away piece by piece.
Liu Yingjun, the second to jump in, said disdainfully, "Asking for too much would make us look like bullies. So, let’s round it up. Pay one million, and we’ll call it even!"
Wang Xiaotian followed up smoothly, "After this is settled tomorrow, Brother Wang will arrange a proper farewell gathering for you. Debts are one thing, relationships are another..."
Dan Zihao did the math. Good heavens! He’d lose the car, and with the 550,000 he’d borrowed, that was 1.15 million in total, yet he had to give Han Lie 1 million. The remaining 150,000 probably wouldn’t last long either—who would pay for tomorrow’s gathering? Son of a bitch, it would definitely be him! If he had known it would come to this, he would have confessed to his father earlier and gotten the 800,000. Wouldn’t that have settled everything?
Dan Zihao was overwhelmed with regret, and the tears he had been holding back finally streamed down his face.
He clutched at a one-in-a-million hope, looking pitifully towards Han Lie.
"Brother Lie?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Han Lie had been observing coldly from the sidelines, saying nothing, letting them perform.
He wouldn’t get implicated in this, no matter what. If they wanted to curry favor and put on a show, he would let them.
However, Dan Zihao’s cry pulled Han Lie back to the center of attention.
Fang Tongzhi turned his head. Ma Ke cheerfully raised his beer. Ma Lian lit another cigarette. Shengzi narrowed his eyes behind his glasses...
Everyone wanted to see how Han Lie would handle this and whether he would acknowledge their gesture.
The initiative was entirely in Han Lie’s hands. He could accept their gesture if he wished, or he could decline.
Because it wasn’t Han Lie who needed their help; rather, they were the ones eager to associate with Han Lie.
Would letting Dan Zihao off the hook weaken Han Lie’s authority? Not at all.
