C10 Not Paying up Won't Do

Lin Qing's complexion had turned a ghostly pale. There was no way he could come up with ten million yuan tonight. Everyone had assumed that such a sum was mere pocket change for Lin Qing. They were unaware that he was in a predicament, utterly unable to produce the funds.

At that moment, all eyes were fixed on him. He had worked hard to earn respect at the banquet and had recently taken over as the head of the Lin family. A misstep now could lead to disdain from numerous corporate CEOs and other family heads.

Lin Qing was determined to maintain his dignity, even if it meant putting on a brave face through the pain. He deeply regretted his impulsive act of spilling the wine. Ten million yuan was not insignificant to the Lin family; it wasn't just a thousand yuan to be carelessly squandered. It represented a substantial amount of the family's wealth.

"Uh... well, cough... I will certainly cover this expense. It's just ten million yuan, after all. They can come to me later to get the money," he said, though his confidence was clearly forced.

Old Mrs. Lin, seated at the head of the hall, let out a cold huff. The ten million yuan was a loss for the Lin family, and the garment belonged to Tang Hao. He had the right to wear whatever he chose, no matter the cost. Renting a ten-million-yuan outfit for hundreds of thousands was normal for someone as eccentric as him. No one would quibble with a madman.

But Lin Qing had stubbornly spilled red wine on Tang Hao. If Tang Hao had been wearing ordinary clothes, it wouldn't have been such a big deal. Old Mrs. Lin didn't care for Tang Hao, and she would have ignored any insult to him. However, Lin Qing had damaged a garment worth ten million yuan. Regardless of the Lin family's wealth, it wasn't theirs to waste.

Having just assumed leadership of the Lin family, he had already caused an embarrassing incident and incurred a ten-million-yuan loss. Out of respect for the family's reputation, he was compelled to pay, but the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Everyone had seen that Lin Qing had spilled the wine himself; no one had forced his hand.

The act of giving away money left many in the audience utterly baffled.

Lin Qing was in such agony that he nearly shattered his wine glass in a vice-like grip.

Tang Hao, however, had no intention of giving Lin Qing a moment's reprieve.

He made a quick call and arranged for someone to pose as an employee of the rental company. For someone with Tang Hao's influence, orchestrating such a charade was a piece of cake.

In no time, under Tang Hao's direction, several individuals clad in black suits arrived at the door, brandishing the rental company's credentials, ready to collect the compensation fee.

Lin Qing hadn't anticipated the rental company's representatives to arrive so promptly.

"Hello, are you Mr. Lin Qing? As per our clothing rental company's contract terms, anyone who damages our garments is required to compensate us for the full original value," one of the agents said.

"We do not accept checks. We only accept bank transfers, cash, or any legally binding real estate. Payment must be made immediately; otherwise, we will initiate a civil lawsuit against Mr. Lin Qing, with all associated legal costs, including attorney fees, falling on him."

Hearing this, Lin Qing went ashen.

The prospect of being dragged to court over a stained garment, especially as the new head of the Lin family, was a public relations nightmare.

"Let's not be hasty. Can't we resolve this amicably? It's only a matter of ten million yuan. Why make it so awkward?" Lin Qing pleaded.

"Perhaps we could settle this in a few days? As you can see, we're in the midst of hosting a banquet."

"That's possible, but please review the contract terms," the agent replied, presenting a contract.

Upon reading it, Lin Qing gasped in shock.

"What? There's a loss tax? And compensation for delayed payment?"

"Indeed, the garment in question is the work of a renowned designer. Its mere presence holds artistic value, even when not rented out," the agent explained.

"Once damaged, you owe not only the ten million yuan for the garment itself but also additional fees for our exclusive collection value, loss of the garment, and our visit to collect payment. Should Mr. Lin Qing require an extension for payment, a daily penalty of twenty percent will be incurred, uncapped."

"If you settle today, the total comes to fifteen million yuan. If you pay tomorrow, it will be seventeen million yuan. Should you have any doubts about these figures, we advise you to consult a lawyer for an official interpretation."

Lin Qing was stunned by the figures presented to him.

He had assumed that ten million yuan would suffice to settle the matter.

Unexpectedly, there were additional costs, and the longer he delayed, the steeper they became. Daily interest charges of one to two million yuan were beyond what even Lin Qing could handle.

Only one question echoed in Lin Qing's mind: What now?

Tang Hao couldn't hide his smirk as he watched Lin Qing squirm. The fool had shot himself in the foot, and Tang Hao was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

"If Mr. Lin Qing intends to postpone repayment, we'll take our leave," the leasing company representatives said, turning to leave. Lin Qing hurriedly stopped them.

"Please wait, we'll settle the payment immediately."

It was ludicrous. With interest accumulating by the hundreds of thousands daily, the Lin family might be wealthy, but they couldn't afford such wastefulness.

"I'll go get the items right now. Just give me a moment, please."

With no other choice, as Lin Qing didn't have the necessary funds, he borrowed money from his father, Lin Xinguo.

He also mortgaged several luxury cars parked at the entrance.

Using the cars and a few million in cash as collateral, he finally managed to cover the cost of the clothes.

Yet, it seemed likely that the Lin family's ostentatious luxury cars would soon have new owners.

Earlier, Lee Wanqing had been complaining about the quality of her car. Now, these heirs were left without any vehicle at all. They might even have to take the bus home.

The funds of Lin Qing and his father were tied up in the Lin Group, and they wouldn't be accessible until the next day.

To avoid the crippling interest, Lin Qing and his son had no choice but to use their immediate assets as collateral.

The guests were abuzz with speculation.

"Did you see that? Lin Qing put up his luxury cars as collateral. What's going on? Can't the Lin family even come up with ten million in cash? They acted so high and mighty earlier, but it was all just a front."

"Exactly. I saw those cars get mortgaged for almost ten million, and the rest was just cash on hand. It looks like the Lin family is on the decline. They're all show and no substance."