C2 I Have No Money!

The moment Nie Feng spoke, a stir erupted from outside the private room. With his keen instincts, Nie Feng swiftly drew his pistol and aimed it at Mr. Wang.

As expected, within seconds, over a dozen burly men in black suits stormed into the room, while Mr. Wang's bodyguards drew their own guns, pointing them at Nie Feng and Gao Yang.

"What's going on here? Let's talk this out. Mr. Wang, Feng is just a kid, don't stoop to his level," Gao Yang blurted out, visibly alarmed.

Mr. Wang paid no heed to Gao Yang, instead addressing Nie Feng directly, "Do you have any idea what happens to those who cross me in Silkwick?"

"I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. But if you're looking for a game, Mr. Wang, I'm game. Let's see which one of us drops first! And you're mistaken about one thing—I'm not just any special forces soldier; I'm the elite of the elite," Nie Feng retorted icily, showing no sign of fear.

Nie Feng's gun was trained on Mr. Wang, ready to fire at the slightest provocation.

"Look, Mr. Wang, we can walk away from the money. Feng, let's get out of here," Gao Yang said, setting the case on the table and tugging at Nie Feng.

"You think you can just leave whenever you want? This is not your house," one of Mr. Wang's bodyguards snapped.

"Silence! Since when do you call the shots here? Stand down! Alright, kid, you've got nerve. I'll let you off the hook today," Mr. Wang shot the bodyguard a fierce look before turning back to Nie Feng.

Mr. Wang was well aware of Nie Feng's reputation; killing him here could mean a death sentence for himself as well. It wasn't worth the risk. As the eldest son and only male heir of the Wang family, with both wealth and influence at his disposal, Mr. Wang knew he'd have other chances to settle the score with Nie Feng.

With a slight smile, Nie Feng exchanged a knowing glance with Gao Yang, who quickly made his exit. Once Gao Yang was clear, Nie Feng cautiously backed out of the room.

After exiting the bar, Gao Yang hurriedly jumped into his car, flooring the gas pedal to escape the scene with Nie Feng in tow. Wiping the sweat from his face, he exclaimed, "Damn, I never expected Wang Fugui to double-cross us like that!"

"Told you we couldn't trust this deal. Now we've worked for nothing and didn't even get paid," Nie Feng grumbled, clearly frustrated by their predicament.

"Let it go, man. Wang Fugui is the Wang family heir, and they've got both the cash and the clout. We're no match for them. They throw around a million like it's nothing, and suddenly there's a horde of hitmen after you! Plus, Wang Fugui's as sly as they come. We're better off laying low," Gao Yang said, his expression sour.

"Well, I'll take him out before he gets the chance to come after me!" Nie Feng's gaze turned icy. "The Wang family, huh? It won't be long before I wipe them off the map of Silkwick. They think they can get Nie Feng to do their dirty work without paying? They'll be paying with their lives instead!"

The Wang family was one of the top four families in Silkwick City, practically owning half of the city's business sector. Wang Fugui was notorious for his high-handedness, treating people with utter disdain. This time, it was Zhao Dahai's insults that led him to put a hit on the man.

"Drop the anger. Come over to my place. My wife will whip up a couple of great dishes, and we'll have ourselves a proper drink," Gao Yang offered, stepping on the accelerator and humming a tune as he drove Nie Feng back home.

Nie Feng wasn't just angry; he was anxious about his rent. If he didn't pay up soon, his landlord would surely evict him.

Gao Yang's car pulled up at the base of an apartment block. His family rented a small, cramped space of less than fifty square meters. Most of their money went towards medication for their child; they had it tough.

Gao Xiaoxiao, Gao Yang's daughter, opened the door. Afflicted with cerebral palsy from a young age, eleven-year-old Xiaoxiao was unable to speak and walked with a pronounced limp, her movements awkward and pained. Yet, her eyes lit up with unmistakable joy when she saw Nie Feng.

"Hey Xiaoxiao, I've come to visit!" Nie Feng said with a smile, gently ruffling Gao Xiaoxiao's hair.

"Feng's here? Take a seat, dinner will be ready in no time!" Gao Yang's wife, Wang Yanchun, was delighted to see Nie Feng and warmly invited him to sit down.

Wang Yanchun didn't work because she stayed home to care for Gao Xiaoxiao. Gao Yang himself didn't have steady employment; he made ends meet by doing odd jobs and collecting debts for others.

"I hope I'm not intruding, sister-in-law," Nie Feng said apologetically.

"Nonsense, we're family here! No such thing as intruding. Come, sit down!" Gao Yang ushered Nie Feng to the table, uncorked a bottle of strong white liquor, and filled a glass for him.

Nie Feng downed his drink in one go, then poured another. Gao Yang looked on, bewildered, "Are you out of your mind, kid? You're hitting the bottle hard without a bite to eat. You're going to get plastered."

"I'm just feeling a bit down," Nie Feng admitted, emptying his glass once more.

Gao Yang understood the root of Nie Feng's troubles and offered some words of solace, "It's been a while now. Try not to dwell on it. It wasn't your fault. If there's anyone to blame, it's fate for its cruel games."

Once a promising young captain of an assault team and a colonel, Nie Feng's career and the life of his dearest love were both shattered by a single bullet.

"You're strapped for cash, aren't you? I'll give you a thousand yuan to cover this month's rent. Keep whatever's left for yourself," Gao Yang offered.

"There's no need, I've got some money. Plus, I'm three months behind on rent—a thousand yuan won't cover it. Don't worry about me, Yang. I'll figure something out," Nie Feng declined, gesturing dismissively. With Gao Yang's family already in a tight spot, he couldn't bring himself to ask for money.

"Alright then, but remember, if you're ever in a bind, you come to me," Gao Yang said, nodding earnestly.

Wang Yanchun served up the meal, presenting three dishes and a soup—all simple, home-cooked fare. "Feng, I didn't prepare anything fancy, just some humble food. I hope you don't mind!" she said with a warm smile.

"Sister-in-law, don't even say that. How could I mind?" Nie Feng replied, eagerly grabbing a piece of egg to eat. Wang Yanchun's culinary skills were beyond reproach; Nie Feng had practically grown up on her cooking.

"By the way, I secured a job for Feng today. He'll be working as a security guard in a residential complex, earning four thousand yuan a month," Wang Yanchun announced.

"What kind of job did you find? Is it even dependable?" Gao Yang questioned skeptically.

"Absolutely dependable. It was introduced by my aunt's cousin's mother-in-law. He'll start tomorrow. And it's no ordinary place—it's Flourishing Age. The security guards there are all ex-military. With Feng's abilities, he could even end up as head of security, which would mean an extra five hundred yuan!" Wang Yanchun explained with enthusiasm.

"Being a security guard is a dead-end job. No way. Our Feng is an elite soldier, the nation's sharp blade! How can he settle for security work? People would laugh us out of town!" Gao Yang protested, shaking his head vehemently.

"Why not? It's still a job, and the pay isn't bad. It's a cushy gig, something you couldn't even land!" retorted Wang Yanchun, clearly irritated.

"I think it's a good opportunity. Any job that pays is fine by me. Sister-in-law, I'll check it out tomorrow," Nie Feng interjected, prioritizing the need to secure a steady job and income.

Nie Feng was well aware of Flourishing Age, Silkwick's most luxurious villa community, where real estate went for fifty thousand yuan per square meter. Its residents were the crème de la crème of society—wealthy and influential.

Wang Yanchun was delighted with Nie Feng's acceptance and shot Gao Yang a triumphant glare.

After dinner, Nie Feng headed back to his own place, a dilapidated building with just a bedroom and a communal bathroom. It was a slum, neglected by the government. The entire building was packed with migrant workers, all tenants of a landlady known for her sharp tongue. Despite its size, the rent was exorbitant—eight hundred yuan a month, and Nie Feng was already three months behind.

As Nie Feng was about to unlock his door, a hand suddenly reached out, attempting to snatch the keys from his grasp. Reacting on instinct, Nie Feng seized the hand and with a swift move, flipped the intruder to the ground.

"Ouch, you little punk, are you trying to kill me?" the landlady wailed in agony, pounding the floor with her free hand.

Startled, Nie Feng quickly released her, exclaiming, "Landlady, it's you? Why on earth are you trying to take my keys?"

Grimacing as she got up, the landlady massaged her shoulder and retorted, "Have the nerve to ask, do you? Listen here, you're three months behind on rent. The contract says you've got to pack up and leave, now!"

"Please, landlady, just a few more days! I swear I'll pay you within a week!" Nie Feng begged.

"A week? Dream on. Where are you going to scrounge up two thousand four hundred yuan? Planning a heist? And just so you know, I don't accept dirty money!" she snapped, hands defiantly on her hips.

"I won't resort to that, I swear. I've landed a job, and I'll pay you as soon as I get my paycheck!" Nie Feng assured her, desperate to pacify her for the moment and put the job worries on the back burner.

"Don't make me out to be the bad guy! It's late, and I'd feel terrible making you sleep on the streets tonight. So here's the deal: pay up by tomorrow, or get out. And if you try to squat, I'll have someone come and deal with you! Hmph!" With that, the landlady shot Nie Feng a fierce look and waddled off.

Entering his room, Nie Feng was greeted by the sight of a mouse nibbling on the bread he had bought for the next day's breakfast.

"Damn it! That's supposed to be my breakfast!" he exclaimed in dismay, quickly snatching the half-eaten loaf from the rodent. In one swift motion, he caught the mouse, which looked back at him with wide, terrified eyes, squealing and scratching at his fingers in a futile attempt to escape.

"Sorry, buddy, but you can't just help yourself to my bread," Nie Feng muttered. He set the bread aside, opened the window, and tossed the mouse out from the sixth floor.