C6 The Loan

"It's me," Zhang Xiaodong said, gazing at her calmly and nodding solemnly.

The once clingy Zhang Xiaodong now seemed somewhat distant, especially with his deep-set, world-weary eyes that appeared sharp yet detached. His angular face was etched with resilience and maturity.

The youth who once made Zhonghai City tremble had returned!

"Xiaodong, where have you been all these years? Are you doing okay?" Ning Chujing asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

Five years had passed since Xiaodong left. Aside from the money he sent home punctually every month, Ning Chujing sometimes wondered if he was still alive.

"Aunt, how have you been?" Xiaodong asked, his gaze softening as he looked at her.

"Good, very good! Your aunt has been living well," Ning Chujing replied, her face wet with tears. She grasped Xiaodong's hand and said with excitement, "Come on, let's sit down at home."

"Alright," Xiaodong agreed with a nod.

Stepping inside the house, Xiaodong surveyed the surroundings, noting that everything was just as it had been when he left.

Ning Chujing had been living alone since her husband died in a car accident over a decade ago, raising her daughter by herself. Through all these years, she remained on her own.

Xiaodong was aware of her struggles and chose not to bring up the topic of the house rental.

"Xiaodong, your aunt is sorry!"

As soon as Xiaodong sat down, Ning Chujing personally brewed him a cup of tea, her face etched with sorrow.

Xiaodong accepted the tea with a smile and reassured her, "Aunt, you've got it all wrong. I came today just to see how you are. Nothing more."

"Xiaodong, about renting out the house... It was my mistake. I had no choice..." she said, tears streaming down her face.

Life as a widow, shouldering the entire household and providing for her child, was unimaginably tough.

The need to rent out the house was a testament to the difficulties she faced.

"Aunt, please don't apologize. I don't hold the house rental against you," Xiaodong consoled her. "Living alone isn't easy. Renting out the house at least brings in some money for living expenses. I understand."

"But Xiaodong, the money you send every month... I'll pay you back," Ning Chujing insisted.

"Auntie, what are we to each other? You've watched me grow up. Do you think I, Zhang Xiaodong, care about that little bit of money?"

"No, Xiaodong, it hasn't been easy for you to make money all these years. You've been through so much hardship. Just look at you; you've changed so much," Ning Chujing said, her voice tinged with concern. Zhang Xiaodong had been orphaned at a young age and had lived a life of solitude for many years. Finally finding his footing, he returned to Zhonghai with nothing to his name.

Only Zhang Xiaodong knew the true extent of the pain he had endured over the years. To him, money was nothing more than a stack of paper. He could earn a seven-figure sum with just one hit, but the more hits he carried out, the heavier the toll on his soul. He was weary of a life drenched in blood.

"Auntie, you don't need to worry about me. By the way, how have you and Qingqing been getting on these years?" Zhang Xiaodong asked with a smile, dispelling the earlier discomfort.

Before reuniting with his aunt, he had been somewhat upset about his house being rented out. But seeing her struggle, his heart softened. After all, the tenants had kept the place spotless, sparing him the trouble and expense of maintenance.

"Hehe, Qingqing is in her senior year of high school now. She's about to graduate and head to college. She just stepped out to run some errands and will be back shortly," Ning Chujing replied with a gentle smile.

With a graceful twist of her waist, she headed into the kitchen, laughing, "Xiaodong, don't go anywhere today. I want to cook a couple of dishes for you myself. It's been years; we should really sit down and have a proper drink together."

"Sounds great. I've missed your cooking, Auntie," Zhang Xiaodong said with a grin.

Back before he had left Zhonghai, Zhang Xiaodong's everyday life was intertwined with visits to his aunt's home, where he often dined. Since his departure, he hadn't had the chance to enjoy her home-cooked meals, and he couldn't help but feel a touch of nostalgia.

It was truly a shame that his aunt, once the dazzling belle of Zhonghai, had become as unremarkable as a farmer's wife. Driven out by her grandfather over a worthless man, she never expected that, after so many years, her husband would still be gone, and she hadn't returned to the grandeur of the Lai family.

Suddenly, a series of loud knocks echoed from the door, accompanied by raucous cursing. Zhang Xiaodong's brow furrowed.

"Xiaodong, you need to hide, now!" Ning Chujing's face was ashen as she hurriedly ushered Zhang Xiaodong into the house for cover.

"What's the matter, Auntie? Is something wrong?" Xiaodong asked, his brow creasing with concern.

Ning Chujing's beautiful face was etched with worry as she whispered urgently, "Don't worry, it's nothing. Just hide for now, Xiaodong."

"Okay." Xiaodong's eyes narrowed, a hint of steely resolve flickering within them. His instincts, honed over the years, told him that his aunt was definitely in trouble; her panic and fear were unmistakable.

As soon as Ning Chujing opened the door, five burly men barged in, led by a man with a scar marring his face. Scar Man shoved Ning Chujing onto the couch with a sneer.

"Hey, beautiful Zhang, what took you so long to open the door? Were you scared we'd devour you?" he jeered with a malicious grin.

"Mr. Tian, could you possibly give me just two more days? I'll be getting my paycheck then. I promise I'll pay you back, with interest," Ning Chujing pleaded, her complexion ghostly pale as she faced them with a sense of defeat.

"Two more days? Ning Chujing, our boss already extended your deadline by a week. What's it going to be? You don't want to pay, or you can't pay?" Scar Man scoffed, his gaze sweeping menacingly across the room.

His eyes finally settled on Ning Chujing's shapely figure, and he chuckled lewdly, "If you don't want to pay—or can't pay—just nod your head, and you won't have to pay at all."

Ning Chujing knew exactly what he was insinuating. This man, known as Zhou Tianba, was a notorious thug in the area.

Ning Chujing found herself in a desperate situation when her daughter fell gravely ill, leading her to borrow money from them. What she didn't foresee was the ten thousand yuan spiraling into a predatory loan. Now, even if she sold everything she owned, it wouldn't be enough to settle the debt.

"Mr. Tian, I'll repay you. Just give me two more days, okay? Here, I have a little money; take it for a drink," Ning Chujing pleaded, pulling out two hundred yuan from her pocket in an attempt to end the harassment.

Zhou Tianba, however, forcefully rejected her offer, berating her, "Do you think I'm a beggar? You expect to get rid of me with a mere two hundred yuan? That wouldn't even cover the cost of a massage."

He then presented her with two grim choices: "Either take a nude photo and sign an IOU, or let my friends and I have our way with you today. If you satisfy us, I might consider extending your deadline."

With a malicious grin, Zhou Tianba reached out to caress Ning Chujing's cheek.

"Mr. Tian, I will pay what I owe. Please, have some decency!" Ning Chujing demanded, her anger rising.