C23 Suspicious Target

"Lending you money isn't out of the question, but..." Yang Yu trailed off, his gaze shifting to Zhang Chunhe.

"Yu, I knew it—you're such a good kid. You wouldn't hold this against me, would you?" Zhang Chunhe implored, her voice tinged with urgency.

"Of course, I don't hold a grudge. But whether my mom will... that's another story," Yang Yu retorted with a cold huff, turning his attention to his mother, Lyu Huan, in the distance.

Zhang Chunhe's smile remained undiminished as she heard this. "Yu, leave it to me. We've been like sisters for so many years. Your mom won't hold it against me!"

With that, Zhang Chunhe, accompanied by her son Xu Jianhua, approached Lyu Huan.

Lyu Huan was basking in the glow of celebrity status, surrounded by a throng of dignitaries and high-ranking officials.

As the mother of the 'golden goose,' it was well-known that currying favor with Lyu Huan could lead to securing more loans from Yang Yu.

Money was king, especially in Spalding City, where the so-called elite were worth merely tens of millions—a pittance compared to Yang Yu's wealth.

Amidst the crowd, Zhang Chunhe and her son made their way to Lyu Huan and, under the watchful eyes of all, fell to their knees. "Sister Huan, I'm the worst. I've made a mistake. Please, I'm begging you to forgive me!"

Zhang Chunhe's performance was Oscar-worthy, complete with tears and snot, as she repeatedly slapped her own face.

Lyu Huan, ever the soft-hearted one, was moved by the display. She quickly forgot their past grievances and helped Zhang Chunhe to her feet. "Chunhe, there's no need for this!"

"Sister Huan, if you don't forgive me, I'll stay on my knees forever!" Zhang Chunhe sobbed.

"I forgive you, now please stand up," Lyu Huan said, her voice laced with resignation.

"Sister Huan, you're aware of my struggles. After the divorce, I raised my child alone. Xu Jianhua is still in high school, and I want to leave him something for the future. He's thirty now and it's time for him to marry. In the city, brides expect a car and a house, but I have nothing. I'm begging you, please put in a good word with Yu for me, help me borrow some money to buy a house!" Zhang Chunhe pleaded, her face awash with tears and snot, a sight that could easily fool anyone into believing her plight was truly dire.

"Thirty years old and still in high school? Isn't that a bit odd?"

"You don't understand. Xu Jianhua is a celebrity. He was even featured in the newspaper last year. It took him nine years to finish elementary school and six years for junior high. Now, he's been in high school for seven years. His dream is to be admitted to the University of Solaris and become the nation's top scholar!"

"You're never too old to learn!"

Most people looked at Xu Jianhua with a mix of pity and respect.

Lyu Huan was well aware of Zhang Chunhe's family situation and harbored no resentment. "You're just too stubborn. In today's world, a diploma isn't everything. Why push yourself so hard?"

With that, Lyu Huan linked arms with Zhang Chunhe and approached Yang Yu. "Yu, stop giving her a hard time. Leave the old grudges to the older generation. Just lend the money to Zhang Chunhe."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yu gave a slight nod, though he had already made up his mind.

When he first encountered Deng Yiming, the System Devastator had been pulsing with bright light, leading Yang Yu to believe Deng might have a system too.

But even after Deng left, the light didn't fade, which made Yang Yu suspect there were other hosts within Rescould Pavilion.

Now, it seemed likely that the mysterious host was Zhang Chunhe and her son.

Yet, Yang Yu hadn't considered the possibility that there might be more than one system owner in the Rescould Pavilion.

His assumptions were based on the belief that systems were rare in this world.

In reality, there were far more systems out there than Yang Yu could have imagined.

"Zhang Chunhe, I'm willing to lend the money, but it will only be to Xu Jianhua," Yang Yu declared.

With the Super Rich System marking Xu Jianhua as a golden target, Yang Yu was intent on maximizing his benefits.

Without a moment's hesitation, Zhang Chunhe had Xu Jianhua sign the paperwork.

As soon as they got the money, they dashed to the sales office to make the payment and finalize the contract.

The entire transaction took less than fifteen minutes. When Zhang Chunhe and her son left the sales office, beaming with joy, their gaze towards Lyu Huan had transformed.

"Huan, did you manage to buy a house?" Lyu Huan asked with a smile, approaching to strike up a conversation.

But she was met with Zhang Chunhe's icy stare. "Lyu Huan, if there's still money at home, you might want to get your son's head checked!"

"What!" Lyu Huan was taken aback by the abrupt shift, too shocked to respond.

"Hehe, haven't you figured it out yet? You lent me money without securing any collateral. Are you still living in a fantasy, waiting for me to pay you back?" Zhang Chunhe said with a smug laugh.

"And you're not worried about us taking you to court?" Yang Manman demanded, fuming.

"By all means, try!" Zhang Chunhe retorted with brazen confidence.

"Let me spell it out for you fools, so you're not left in the dark," Xu Jianhua boasted as he stepped up to Yang Yu. "Our loan agreement stipulates that the entire principal and interest, a sum of 12 million yuan, must be repaid in a lump sum after five years. But since you didn't secure any collateral, you can't sell any assets to cover the debt. Within these five years, we'll certainly sell off the Rescould Pavilion property and relocate our family to Brubesh. When that time comes, if you want your money back, you'll have to cross the ocean to find us. And let me tell you, the courts in Brubesh won't entertain your lawsuit!"

The crowd around them seethed with anger upon hearing Xu Jianhua's declaration, yet no one dared to speak out.

Many who had borrowed money shared the same sentiment but lacked Xu Jianhua's audacity to voice it openly.

Still, there were those who hadn't snagged such a "bargain" and were currently defending Yang Yu.

"Young man, consider it an expensive lesson learned. You can't be so hasty in the future!"

"The cost of this lesson is steep. I've heard Yang Yu himself has lent out forty to fifty million, and Tian Hua Credit has loaned out over a billion today. With such an amount, no company in Spalding could withstand the blow. It's heartbreaking to see them regress overnight," someone lamented.

"He's just too young. The money barely warmed his hands before it vanished. I'm afraid this kid is headed for a breakdown."

The crowd murmured among themselves, their hearts filled with envy for those who had effortlessly come into a fortune, their lives suddenly complete. With such wealth, they could live out their days in extravagance and still never run out of money.

Under the scrutinizing gaze of the crowd, Yang Yu remained unshaken. With a mocking sneer, he commanded, "Xu Jianhua, slap Zhang Chunhe!"

"What?" His demand sent shockwaves through the onlookers, who were convinced Yang Yu had lost his mind.

Zhang Chunhe and Xu Jianhua, mother and son, were known for their close bond. It was clear to any observer that despite being thirty, Xu Jianhua was still utterly devoted to his mother, a fact evidenced by his seven grueling years of high school.

The idea of Xu Jianhua raising a hand to his mother, Zhang Chunhe, was unthinkable.

"My son is the epitome of obedience. Him hit me? In your dreams!" Zhang Chunhe's laughter was brazen, with Xu Jianhua chiming in supportively.

Yet, in the very next moment, under the intense scrutiny of all present, Xu Jianhua raised his right hand and delivered a resounding slap to Zhang Chunhe's cheek.

A hush fell over the crowd. No one could comprehend what had just transpired. The once inseparable mother and son had turned on each other, with the son striking his own mother.