C12 Swaying on the Brink of Collapse
"Mr. Yufei, what do you need that for? You're not seriously planning to jab that embroidery needle into his body, are you?"
Tang Xiaofeng and Feng Yun exchanged glances. The needle Ye Yufei had just pulled out of the box was the largest one. One could only imagine the pain it would cause if it were to be jabbed into someone's flesh.
"He didn't faint earlier because he was duped; he fainted from shock when his own punch landed on himself. If I prick him with this needle, he'll wake up immediately. You have to trust me!"
Ye Yufei brandished the needle before them, a mischievous grin on his face as he approached Lee Yunqing, who seemed to enjoy playing dead on the ground. Well, it was time to see how he'd react to the needle's prick.
"Lee Yunqing, I'm here to help you!"
Without a second thought, Ye Yufei jabbed the needle towards him. It didn't pierce his skin, but Lee Yunqing visibly tensed up. That sensation must have been quite the shock to the system.
Ye Yufei continued to prick him several times. There he was, still lying there, feigning death. It looked like he was set on being a permanent fixture on the ground.
"Why hasn't he woken up yet? Didn't you say he'd come to right after you pricked him? I don't see any reaction."
Tang Xiaofeng was bewildered by the scene. Ye Yufei, unfazed, knew that enduring this was far better than repaying the debt.
Despite being pricked repeatedly with the embroidery needle, Lee Yunqing kept up his act, motionless. However, his expressions gave him away.
His face had gone from calm to flushed red. If he truly felt nothing, such a reaction would be impossible.
Lee Yunqing was groaning in discomfort on the ground, prompting Tang Xiaofeng to approach cautiously.
"Maybe we should stop. It seems like he might have actually passed out. Let's just take him to the hospital and have a doctor examine him."
Tang Xiaofeng was convinced by Lee Yunqing's state that he had indeed lost consciousness, but Ye Yufei wasn't buying it. This seasoned trickster had pulled every stunt in the book. He was just holding out, hoping they'd believe he'd fainted and simply walk away.
Others might resort to conventional methods, but Ye Yufei was known for never playing by the book.
"Yeah, please, just let us off the hook. If we had the money, we'd definitely pay you back. You've seen it for yourselves; we're holed up here, living on instant noodles every day. We simply can't come up with that kind of cash right now. We're not intentionally dodging our debts."
Gao Yunyun pleaded with a strained voice. Her pitiable state might have melted the hearts of others.
Ye Yufei, however, was growing impatient with the situation. He had been going back and forth with them for too long, and Lee Yunqing was nearly exhausting his patience.
It was time to play his ace. He was curious to see how they would react.
Suddenly, an interface appeared before him. The system truly understood him—it always popped up just when he needed it most.
"Host, which mode would you like to activate this time?"
The answer was clear: Power Mode. Lifting this heavyset man would be no small feat.
Activating Power Mode...
Initiating...
Activation complete. Host, you are now endowed with incredible strength.
Ye Yufei suppressed a chuckle upon hearing the system's prompt, already visualizing Lee Yunqing begging for mercy on his knees.
"Both of you, come over here and help me lift him. I'm going to try a different treatment method. There's no need to take him to the hospital. Don't worry so much. Just stand by my side and watch."
He gestured to them, and Feng Yun and Tang Xiaofeng exchanged a glance before reluctantly approaching.
They were both genuinely averse to this kind of scenario. Despite their eagerness to release their pent-up frustration, there were some things they simply couldn't bring themselves to do.
"Why aren't we taking him to the hospital? Are you planning to continue jabbing that embroidery needle into his back? I don't see your method making any difference. We'll end up riddling him with holes until he looks like a sieve," Tang Xiaofeng remarked with revulsion, imagining the scene. It was a good thing none of them had a phobia of such things, or they might have passed out at the sight.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Yufei effortlessly hoisted the man into the air. Lee Yunqing's eyes flew open in shock. He had underestimated the seemingly frail young man who had just lifted him with ease.
"Both of you, come help me hold his feet. I can lift him, but if I try to place him on the shelf behind us, his size might just bring the whole thing down."
Ye Yufei hoisted Lee Yunqing effortlessly, while Tang Xiaofeng couldn't help but admire his strength.
"Why should we help you hold his feet? Are you planning to carry him around indefinitely?"
Feng Yun was baffled by Ye Yufei's actions. Ye Yufei gave them a look of contempt. It was clear he thought brains should be used for more than just filling a skull.
"Given that he's not waking up and he owes a hefty sum, I see no point in taking him to the hospital. We'd have to cover his medical bills, and it would be easier to just toss him out the window. If I'm not mistaken, we're on the fifteenth floor. A fall from here would turn him into a mess, and his debts would be gone with him."
Ye Yufei spoke nonchalantly. Approaching the window, he positioned Lee Yunqing precariously, his head already dangling outside.
"Ah! Let me down!"
Lee Yunqing's scream shocked Feng Yun and Tang Xiaofeng.
"Were you faking it all along? That explains why your face was so red on the floor. Must have been quite the sensation with those needles poking you, huh?"
Tang Xiaofeng clapped Lee Yunqing on the shoulder, finding his predicament as comical as a character from a cartoon—though in that cartoon, the character was a pig, and Lee Yunqing's build was not too dissimilar.
"Please, put me down! What if I actually fall? I don't want to die! Somebody, help me!"
Lee Yunqing's pleas were met with laughter from the others. They thought, had he known the consequences, he might have settled his debts promptly to avoid this debacle.
Ye Yufei dragged him along casually, his body swaying with the breeze.
"I can put you down, but what about the money you owe? The amounts on the IOUs vary, not to mention the cash Mrs. Tang lent you off the books. Just pay back what's on the IOUs for starters."