C10 Paying Back Debts

Paying back what you owe is a matter of principle, but for some reason, this logic seemed to escape Lee Yunqing. Was he somehow exempt from the rules that applied to everyone else?

Ye Yufei was visibly upset, but Lee Yunqing remained unfazed. To him, Ye Yufei was just another hot-headed youth, prone to stirring up trouble—nothing to be concerned about.

"What if I don't pay back the money today? Are you going to babysit me at my house?" Lee Yunqing scoffed dismissively. His debts extended far beyond a single individual; aside from his brother-in-law, he was indebted to a multitude of creditors.

He had grown accustomed to the daily parade of people seeking repayment. Meanwhile, Gao Yunyun sat by, the picture of relaxation. Tang Xiaofeng's aunt might have appeared unassuming, but she had a knack for spending money with reckless abandon.

"Keep an eye on you? We could do that. My brothers and I could camp out at your doorstep every day, or even inside your house—after all, it's in your name. Perhaps it would be best to put the house up as collateral," Tang Xiaofeng suggested, his voice tinged with fear. He had never stood up to his uncle before, and with good reason—everyone knew that Lee Yunqing could be dangerously unpredictable.

Standing his ground against Lee Yunqing, Tang Xiaofeng finally grasped his father's strategy. They were peers, and it would have been awkward for his father to confront Lee Yunqing. It made more sense for Tang Xiaofeng to handle it.

The young troublemakers had thrown down the gauntlet with their brazen words, and though they had challenged his authority, Lee Yunqing was too intimidated to retaliate.

"I'm doing you a favor by even talking to you! Remember, I'm your uncle. At the end of the day, we're family. I borrowed money from your father, and now you come to collect it? I've already told you, I'll pay it back when I can afford it!" Lee Yunqing's defiance was palpable.

The more Tang Xiaofeng heard, the more incensed he became. Waiting for someone like Lee Yunqing to repay a debt was like waiting for a miracle—it might never happen, perhaps not even by the time of his death.

"Aren't you aware of your own behavior? You borrowed my money, and I have the right to set the repayment terms. I don't care how you do it, but you need to produce the money today, or else we're not going anywhere!"

Tang Xiaofeng stood his ground with unwavering determination, while Ye Yufei had been propping him up from behind. It baffled him how Xiaofeng could be so timid, shivering at the mere conversation with someone like that.

Thankfully, Yufei was there to back him up; otherwise, Xiaofeng might have collapsed to the floor while speaking his mind.

"We can do more than just stand by your side; I'm prepared to take legal action. You haven't done anything commendable out there. Once I bring all your deeds to light, let's see how the police handle you! You'll end up as a widely known deadbeat and blacklisted individual!"

Each of Tang Xiaofeng's pointed words pierced Lee Yunqing's heart. He hadn't anticipated such brazenness from the young man, who had never shown such wild behavior before.

"And what do you think you amount to? I'm telling you, even if I don't pay back the money, what can you possibly do? If you dare follow through with your threats, don't blame me for not showing any courtesy. I'll make sure your whole family lives in turmoil, unable to find peace even in sleep!"

Lee Yunqing let out a cold laugh, confident in his ability to handle such a troublesome nuisance. He had yet to meet anyone who could outdo him in shamelessness.

"Your mother should never have had you. She should have ended it right then and there. If you had been nothing more than a bloodstain, I wouldn't be here wasting my breath on you now."

Lee Yunqing made his way to the sofa, leaving Ye Yufei in disbelief that the Tang family could have such an eccentric relative.

Having such an uncle, Yufei mused, must be karmic retribution for past misdeeds. Yet, today, Xiaofeng seemed to be surpassing his usual self, something he'd normally never dare with those close to him.

But their bickering was futile; Xiaofeng's words lacked the necessary bite, and Lee Yunqing was clearly a man of duplicity. Xiaofeng's meager efforts were ineffective against such a character.

Unable to stand it any longer, Ye Yufei snatched the IOUs from Tang Xiaofeng's grasp.

"Take a good look. Your own handwriting is all over these documents. Deny it if you will, but the judges in court will see the truth. If you insist on a legal battle, you could be looking at decades behind bars. By the time you're released, you'll be an old man, a pitiful sight indeed."

Ye Yufei deliberately flaunted the IOUs in front of him, and Lee Yunqing felt a wave of nausea. He had, after all, studied this matter previously.

He had thoroughly researched the IOUs after signing them, realizing that if the Tang family took legal action against him, he might as well resign himself to a life behind bars.

"What are you talking about? Shut your mouth!"

Lee Yunqing spat out the words, fuming with the urge to strike Ye Yufei. He couldn't fathom where Tang Xiaofeng had found such a spineless individual.

"What's the matter? Can't handle the truth? If you don't believe me, go ahead and see for yourself. When you're rotting away in jail, Tang Xiaofeng will probably still be kicking. He can string these IOUs together and drape them over your gravestone!"

Ye Yufei chuckled after his tirade, amused by the mental image. While others' graves might be adorned with offerings, his would be uniquely decorated with a line of unpaid debts.

Eventually, the debts left unsettled in this life would follow him to the next, leaving him vulnerable to exploitation. Should he end up in a den of the deceitful, he'd likely be out of his depth.

"And just who do you think you are? Daring to spew such insolence at me? Go ahead, ask around about Lee Yunqing. Cross me, and I'll tarnish your name so badly you won't be able to show your face in this city!"

Lee Yunqing glared with a menacing pride, his face twisted with the desire to devour Ye Yufei whole. Tang Xiaofeng and Feng Yun watched, utterly captivated. It was clear that only Ye Yufei could handle someone like Lee Yunqing.

"Go on then, give it a try. I'm right here, ready to see it through to the end."

Ye Yufei stood aside, looking almost disappointed, eager to see what other schemes the old swindler might try.

Gao Yunyun, standing behind Lee Yunqing, tugged at his sleeve. The fact that he could utter such infuriating remarks suggested he was no ordinary character.

"Yunqing, let's not waste our breath on him any longer. We don't even know who he is. What if he's someone with significant influence? Remember, the Tang family's acquaintances are not to be underestimated."

Gao Yunyun leaned in and whispered something to him, but Lee Yunqing was too enraged to pay any attention. To him, the person in question was just a young upstart, hardly worth fearing.

"Today, I'm going to put you in your place," he declared, "and we'll see who's truly formidable."