After the divorce, he took care of his child and sold fried rice; his ex-wife was filled with regret

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan couldn't help but smile.

Lin Fan straightened up and turned to look at Su Xiaoxiao sitting opposite him.

"Xiaoxiao," Lin Fan said in a friendly tone, "Don't bother going back to the school cafeteria today. Stay for dinner tonight. You can try this new tofu."

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly: "Okay! Thank you, Brother Lin! I'm really in for a treat today."

With something to look forward to, the atmosphere in the hall became much lighter.

Lin Fan didn't go back to the kitchen to cause any more trouble.

He took a clean rag, walked to several empty tables, and methodically wiped the surfaces.

Although the store is closed today, keeping it clean is a habit he has maintained for many years.

Su Xiaoxiao moved a small stool and sat next to Tuantuan. The two of them, one big and one small, sat together at the square table, scribbling on the picture book with watercolor pens. Occasionally, a couple of low chuckles could be heard.

The little orange cat, Shrimp Dumpling, lay in the sunlight, its tail occasionally swishing lazily.

……

Binhai City, southern suburbs.

This is a seaside resort project that has been abandoned for seven or eight years.

The gray-white concrete frame, resembling a giant skeleton, stands abruptly on the coastline.

The sea breeze, carrying salty, fishy vapors, poured in recklessly, producing a sound like the howling of a wild beast.

An abandoned fifth floor, an open space without railings at the edges.

A middle-aged man wearing a gray jacket and with a large belly was kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

Half of his face was swollen and purplish-red, and blood and foam kept seeping from the corner of his mouth, along with several broken teeth, which he spat onto the ground.

Even so, he did not stop.

"Brother Biao...Master Biao! Please, give me another half a month!"

"The government's project funding will definitely be approved next month, at the beginning of next month! Then, I'll pay back all the principal and interest, twenty million, not a penny less, to Brother Lei! Please, I... I still have a daughter in high school at home!"

The bald man, known as Brother Biao, was wearing a black leather jacket, his hands in his pockets, and a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his mouth.

He looked down at the middle-aged man kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, his face expressionless.

"Old Wei, you've been around the block for a bit, don't you know the rules?"

Ah Biao took the cigarette out of his mouth, exhaled a puff of bluish-gray smoke, and spoke in a flat tone.

"You said the same thing last month. Brother Lei gave you a month's salary, but you couldn't pay and even wanted to run away to northern Myanmar."

"I didn't mean to run away! I just went there to borrow money..." Old Wei shook his head desperately, his voice cracking.

Ah Biao ignored his nonsense, raised his right foot, and kicked Lao Wei hard in the chest.

Old Wei screamed and fell backward, sliding two meters across the ground, leaving a trail of blood. He curled up in agony like a shrimp.

"Brother Lei said, debts must be repaid, and if you don't have the money, you'll pay with your life."

Ah Biao nodded to his two silent subordinates beside him, "It's about time. Send Boss Wei on his way."

Two burly henchmen stepped forward, one on each side, grabbed Old Wei by the back of his collar and belt, and dragged him toward the edge of the fifth floor where there was no wall.

"No! No! Brother Biao! I can raise the money!!"

Old Wei struggled frantically, his hands gripping the protrusion on the ground tightly, his fingernails scratching bloody marks into the rough cement.

But to no avail at all.

The two men dragged him to the edge. Outside, there was a drop of more than ten meters, with icy seawater and reefs churning with white foam directly below.

"Have a safe journey." Ah Biao walked to the edge and glanced at him.

With a sudden burst of strength, the two henchmen threw Old Wei away.

A piercing scream cut through the air, brief and urgent.

Two seconds later.

A muffled thud. The screams abruptly ceased.

The rolling waves instantly swallowed the falling shadow, leaving only a ring of white water on the surface that was quickly dispersed.

Ah Biao peeked out and flicked the remaining cigarette butts into the sea.

……

On the first floor of the unfinished building, a large flat that was originally planned as a sales office has been converted into a temporary office.

The interior decoration contrasts sharply with the desolate and dilapidated exterior.

Thick carpets covered the floor, and several standing air conditioners were placed in the corner, blowing warm air.

In the center of the office, there is a large sofa.

On the wall directly opposite, there is an 85-inch high-definition LCD TV.

On the television screen, a fighting game was playing. The speakers emitted the visceral sounds of punches landing and the roars of the game characters.

A man in his thirties was sitting cross-legged on the carpet in front of the sofa, holding a game controller in his hand, his thumb rapidly rubbing the buttons.

He was wearing a casual suit, and beneath his strong, broad chest were clearly defined abdominal muscles.

A gold necklace, as thick as a thumb, hung around his neck, swaying back and forth with his movements.

His hair was cut very short, and his facial features were deep-set, but there was an unconcealable fierceness and coldness between his brows and eyes.

At that moment, the office door was pushed open.

Ah Biao walked in with two of his men. He first wiped the mud off the soles of his boots on the doormat before walking up behind Zhang Lei.

"Brother Lei," A Biao called out, bowing his head.

Zhang Lei didn't turn around; his eyes were fixed on the television screen.

With a flurry of rubbing fingers, the game character on the screen unleashed a powerful attack, instantly knocking out the opponent.

The word "WIN" appeared in bright red on the screen.

Zhang Lei then released the handle, picked up a can of iced cola from the coffee table, pulled the tab, and took a big gulp.

"Did you get things done smoothly?" Zhang Lei turned his head and looked at A Biao.

"Yes," Ah Biao reported calmly, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"Hmm." Zhang Lei nodded, picked up a cigarette from the side and put it in his mouth. A Biao quickly took out a lighter and lit it for him.

Zhang Lei took a drag, exhaled smoke, and his eyes turned cold.

"Old Wei lent me five million, and in the past six months, the interest has compounded to fifteen million."

"If I can't get the money back, I can only use his life to set a rule for the brothers who lend money to me. Otherwise, everyone will think that my money comes from thin air and that I can borrow money whenever I want."

"Brother Lei is right, the rules can't be broken." Ah Biao nodded in agreement.

Zhang Lei tossed the controller onto the sofa, ready to start another game.

The phone on the coffee table suddenly vibrated, emitting a muffled buzzing sound.

Zhang Lei glanced at the screen. The caller ID showed an unmarked number, but he immediately recognized it as belonging to Jiangcheng.

He frowned, picked up the phone, and after seeing the number, a mocking smile flashed in his eyes.

"Brother Lei, who is it?" Ah Biao asked casually.