Who says those who retire at the speed of light are not heroes?

"How much money do you owe?"

"The principal was 4 million, but the interest kept rolling up to 8 million... My family sold their house and car to raise 5 million... But after paying it back, there was still 3 million in interest rolling up..."

Lin Cheng frowned slightly, "How could it become like this?"

"I don't know. Dad didn't gamble originally. He just played cards occasionally. But in the past few months, he played more and more with those people. In the end, he lost all the cash in the family and owed so much. My mother and I are now living in a hotel... The debt collectors are looking for my dad every day, but now I don't know where he has gone. The debt collectors came to our house every day and said that they would chop off my dad's hands and feet if they found him..."

As Jiang Li spoke, her eyes gradually turned red. Lin Cheng hesitated for a moment, then took out a tissue and handed it to her, "I understand."

No wonder she organized this class reunion. She probably thought that she could rely on the friendship of her former classmates to get Zhang Qianyuan's family to show mercy and let them go. But she didn't dare to meet Zhang Qianyuan alone, so she also called some of her former classmates.

"I, I don't dare to see him alone, so, so I called you guys to come together..." Jiang Li whispered, but her voice gradually choked up. Lin Cheng didn't know what to say, and thought for a while, "It's okay, I'll just come here to eat."

Jiang Li hummed softly, wiped her tears with the tissue he handed her, tried hard to make her expression look less sad, and changed the subject, "What have you been doing all these years?"

Lin Cheng started the story-making session, which he was best at. As they were chatting, footsteps were heard outside the private room. Lin Cheng remembered that Jiang Li had told him that she had invited nine people in total, but in the end only two people came.

One was Zhang Qianyuan, and the other was a former male classmate who came with Zhang Qianyuan. Jiang Li's phone had received messages one after another about classmates who couldn't come due to some matters. She bit her lip slightly, put her other hand on her leg, and her eyes revealed a hint of uneasiness.

He clearly agreed to it, but suddenly he didn't come as if he had made an appointment.

Zhang Qianyuan came in wearing a black shirt and trousers, with an exquisite mechanical watch on his hand. He sat down next to Jiang Li. His eyes fell on Lin Cheng first, and he was a little surprised. "Who are you?"

"Lin Cheng, the one who dropped out of high school, I'm here to eat." Lin Cheng showed a harmless smile.

Zhang Qianyuan gave him a deep look, then turned his gaze to Jiang Li and said, "They just said in the group that they can't come. Let's order the food first. I know you have something to talk to me about. Let's talk slowly."

Jiang Li hummed softly, but was afraid to look Zhang Qianyuan in the eye.

Perhaps it was because Zhang Qianyuan's eyes were looking her up and down, and that look did not seem like he was reminiscing about an old classmate from many years ago, but rather like he was looking at an exquisite item that was about to be acquired.

The male classmate next to Zhang Qianyuan said at the right moment, "Sister Jiang Li seems to be getting more and more beautiful in recent years."

Jiang Li looked up at him, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "Are you... Chen Zhe?"

"Yeah, I followed Brother Zhang after graduating from high school." Chen Zhe smiled and inadvertently revealed the green watch on his wrist.

Jiang Li hummed softly, not knowing what to do. She slowly stood up and said softly, "I, I'll go call the waiter to serve the food..."

"Wouldn't it be better to let him go for such a small matter?" Zhang Qianyuan glanced at Lin Cheng.

Lin Cheng had a strange expression on his face.

…He seemed to understand a little.

Jiang Li invited a group of old classmates to dinner, thinking that they would feel more at ease with more people, but Zhang Qianyuan greeted those old classmates, so no one dared to come. However, Zhang Qianyuan did not have his contact information, so he seemed redundant here at the moment.

"I, I'll go. After all, it's my treat..." Jiang Li said hurriedly.

But Zhang Qianyuan's eyes were still fixed on Lin Cheng, and his voice became slightly heavier, "Lin Cheng, go and order the dishes."

His tone was somewhat impatient, perhaps because he was used to being arrogant and domineering, but it was actually quite oppressive. Lin Cheng looked at him innocently, stood up and shouted to the corridor outside the door, "Waiter, serve the food."

After shouting, he continued to sit back down, "Okay."

Jiang Li had ordered the dishes in advance. Zhang Qianyuan didn't say anything, but Chen Zhe on his side had already spoken, "We haven't seen each other for a long time. Let's have a drink, Sister Jiang Li."

Jiang Li bit her lips lightly, "I...can't really drink..."

"Have a little drink?" Zhang Qianyuan's tone towards Jiang Li was quite gentle, but his tone was a little frivolous.

Jiang Li put her hands on her legs, her shoulders slightly lowered, and for a moment she didn't know where to look.

Lin Cheng could feel the depressing atmosphere in the box at the moment, as if it was really a very inappropriate time for him to appear here, but since he was already here, he might as well join in the fun.

"If a girl doesn't want to drink, she doesn't have to. If you want to drink, should I drink with you?" He said to Zhang Qianyuan with a smile.

Zhang Qianyuan didn't even need to speak, Chen Zhe had already taken over Lin Cheng's words, "Do you think everyone is qualified to drink with Brother Zhang? Many people before didn't even have the qualifications to toast Brother Zhang."

Zhang Qianyuan smiled and patted Chen Zhe on the shoulder, "Don't talk nonsense, we are all classmates, just drink casually."

Before Lin Cheng could speak, Jiang Li slowly raised her head and whispered, "I...I can drink a little..."

The waiter quickly started serving the dishes, and Zhang Qianyuan took the menu and ordered the most expensive liquor in the store, which cost more than three thousand yuan a bottle. He ordered two bottles and placed them on the table. He put the small wine glasses aside, and Chen Zhe poured wine into the tea cups on the side, four full cups, just enough for each person.

"I... I can't drink that much..." Jiang Li's voice became weaker and weaker.

"Some things can only be discussed after drinking some wine, don't you think? After all, your matter... is not a small amount, and it's also quite troublesome." Zhang Qianyuan said meaningfully. The dishes on the table have been served, but no one has started eating yet. Zhang Qianyuan raised his glass first.

"Come on, today is a reunion for old classmates. We haven't seen each other for a long time. Let's have a drink together."

Lin Cheng raised his glass. He had never attended this kind of party before... It felt like a child playing house. He raised his glass and clinked it with Zhang Qianyuan's. Zhang Qianyuan seemed a little displeased.

Lin Cheng drank the wine in the glass in one gulp and smacked his lips, "The wine is pretty good."

Zhang Qianyuan looked at him at this moment, as if he wanted to say something but was suppressed by him. After a moment, he smiled at Lin Cheng, "I see you can drink a lot?"

"It's OK. People who know me call me the Little Wine God of the North City."

"Let's have another drink then?" Zhang Qianyuan picked up the bottle and poured him another full glass. Lin Cheng raised his glass and clinked it with his again. Zhang Qianyuan took a sip, and Lin Cheng drank it one gulp after another.

He looked at Zhang Qianyuan in front of him with a smile, his eyes showing a hint of amusement.

"Another drink?" Zhang Qianyuan didn't believe it.

"Okay." Lin Cheng nodded.

Another glass of wine.

Lin Cheng's expression remained unchanged. Zhang Qianyuan looked at him deeply and said, "Let's eat."

....................................

The atmosphere in the box was particularly depressing.

Jiang Li picked up the dishes carefully with chopsticks, but obviously had no appetite. Zhang Qianyuan was chatting with Chen Zhe about things in the casino, and the conversation turned to women, with dirty jokes one after another. Lin Cheng was gnawing on a pig's trotter on the side, looking very happy to eat for free.

After a while, everyone was half full. Jiang Li wanted to speak several times, but seeing Zhang Qianyuan and Chen Zhe chatting, she didn't know how to interrupt. After hesitating for a long time, she picked up the wine glass, looked at Zhang Qianyuan sitting next to her, and whispered, "Zhang Qianyuan, I... toast you a glass."

"We are all classmates, there is no need to respect each other. Do you remember that I pursued you before, Jiang Li?" Zhang Qianyuan finally paid attention to Jiang Li, squinting his eyes slightly, and telling stories about the past with a smile.

Jiang Li nodded gently, her hand holding the white wine glass in the air trembling slightly, "Remember."

"You should have been more decisive in rejecting me then. It really made me sad for a while. Alas, who would have thought that we would have the chance to meet again a few years later, right?"

Jiang Li didn't know what to say, so she lowered her head slightly and hummed softly.

"I know what you are looking for me for. I am not in charge of my family's casino. My second uncle is in charge of the casino. Before I came here, I also asked my second uncle. Your father borrowed 4 million from my second uncle in black and white, and the interest was agreed in advance. He can't pay it back now, and it is difficult for us to deal with it. According to the rules of the underworld, if he still can't pay it back... then you have to give up your hands and legs, otherwise how can we run this business in the future? If we were not classmates, my second uncle was going to... forget it, it's better for you not to know."

Zhang Qianyuan's tone was particularly understated, but Jiang Li's expression became extremely pale.

"This is not easy to handle." Zhang Qianyuan smiled helplessly, "I can't tell my second uncle that this is my classmate's father, so the interest can be waived, right? That's not fair, right?"

Jiang Li was a little out of breath and could only nod blankly, "Yes."

"Alas, my second uncle always says that I am not serious, that I am idle all day long, and that he always wants to find a woman to take care of me. I just talked to him and he mentioned it to me again. I was supposed to go tonight to ask him to introduce me to that person for dinner, but in the end I came to your place. I have given enough face to my old classmate."

Jiang Li's head lowered lower and lower, she bit her lips tightly, and her eyes became a little glistening.

Seeing her tearful look, Zhang Qianyuan's smile turned teasing, "Don't get me wrong, don't get me wrong. I'm not threatening you with this. I don't intend to have a relationship with you. We're not children anymore. You know some things. You're not worth that much money."

This was nothing short of a direct humiliation. Tears rolled down Jiang Li's cheeks, but Zhang Qianyuan seemed to be getting more eager to perform. "Why are you still crying? We are classmates after all. I came here today just to find a solution for you."

Zhang Qianyuan took several other wine glasses and filled them up in front of her.

"Here are four glasses of wine in total. You still owe my second uncle three million. Finish these four glasses of wine. As long as you can still walk out standing in thirty minutes, the three million will be written off."

"If you can't get out, I'll take you back tonight. We're old classmates after all. Chat with me and Chen Zhe in the evening. If you have a good chat, this problem can be solved."

101 Those who lie must swallow a thousand needles

Jiang Li slowly reached out her hand, wiped away the tears on her face, and looked at the four glasses of white wine in front of her, her head a little dazed.

She had only taken a small sip before, and her head was now a little dizzy, and her throat was burning and slightly painful.

Lin Cheng was sitting next to Jiang Li, looking at her red eyes, which were filled with humiliation. Perhaps it would be better if Lin Cheng was not here now. His sitting here made Jiang Li feel even more ashamed.

Just as Lin Cheng's memory of her stayed on her gentleness and brightness, her memory of Lin Cheng was of the quiet boy who sat in the corner, always reading books seriously. Everything in high school was carefree. At that time, she held books all day long, living in her own spiritual world. She was always out of tune with her peers around her, but Lin Cheng had the same hobbies as her. Every time she lent him a book, she would feel a little satisfied in her heart, perhaps because she discovered that she was not the only special person in the world, and there were people who kept the joy and touch in books like her.

Later, Lin Cheng dropped out of school after the natural disaster. She would recommend the books she was reading recently to Lin Cheng on the chat software, but Lin Cheng gradually stopped replying. Without any intersection, they naturally drifted apart, and her memory of Lin Cheng ended there.

Time flies and a long time has passed.

Jiang Li slowly stretched out her hand, and just as her fingertips touched the wall of the wine glass, tears began to fall from her chin again. She turned her head to look at Lin Cheng, her voice trembling with pleading, "Lin Cheng..."

"Hmm?" Lin Cheng sat aside innocently and blinked.

"Can you please... go back first, I will treat you to a meal alone next time."

"Ah, but I'm not full yet." Lin Cheng suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, "You treated me to a meal, so I'll do you a favor and help you with this matter."

"you……"

"Don't worry." Lin Cheng smiled at her gently.

Jiang Li sat there at a loss, but Zhang Qianyuan looked at him at this moment. He was not angry, but just asked jokingly, "Can you come up with three million?"

"High-value private lending is not recognized." Lin Cheng shrugged, "There is no need to pay it back."

Zhang Qianyuan was amused by him and sneered, "I'll give you ten seconds to get out. If you give me one more second, I'll cut off one of your fingers."

Lin Cheng scratched his head.

It feels numb.

My life should be a love comedy of being entangled with beautiful girls, not such a clichéd plot of pretending to be cool and then getting slapped in the face.

He put down his chopsticks and stretched his hand to the table in front of Zhang Qianyuan, "I'll give you a chance to cut now."

Before Zhang Qianyuan could move, Chen Zhe beside him suddenly stood up and looked at Lin Cheng coldly, "Lin Cheng, get out now, don't be so ungrateful and make Brother Zhang unhappy."

When he said this, he winked at Lin Cheng frantically and looked a little anxious. Lin Cheng probably understood what he meant. Perhaps he hoped that he would be more sensible and avoid getting into trouble.

"It's okay. I'm also curious whether he dares to cut it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Zhe sighed helplessly and took out a shiny short knife from the small bag he carried with him. He looked at Lin Cheng and said, "Are you out of your mind? There is a limit to how much you can stand up for a woman. Now is your last chance. Get out of here!"

Lin Cheng then looked at him straight in the eye, and then suddenly he was a little surprised, "Strange, you obviously don't have any energy source, but there is some energy fluctuation in your body, have you taken alchemical potions to improve your physical condition?"

Chen Zhe was also stunned for a moment, frowning slightly, "You..."

Zhang Qianyuan looked at Lin Cheng with unfriendly eyes, "Who are you?"

"The watermelon from the fruit store." Lin Cheng knew that there was no more fun, so he withdrew his hand and glanced at Zhang Qianyuan. "You will suffer retribution for running a pig-killing scheme. Your B-level ability is useless. Just pay the money back and forget about it. By the way, where are you from?"

"I've never heard of a watermelon in a fruit store."

Zhang Qianyuan suddenly laughed when he heard this. Lin Cheng's head hurt. Should he blame Lizhi for protecting his information too well? Or not use a big account? Tell him that I have a full-level Siming account.

"So where are you from?"

"In the west of the city, my second uncle used to be under the Black Beast, and he just took over one-fifth of the Black Beast's territory recently."

"what is it call?"

"Zhang Kunxi."

Lin Cheng sighed and asked, "Do you know Litchi?"

"I've heard of it, but I've never seen it."

"Okay, give me three minutes."

Lin Cheng took out his cell phone and made a call. The call went through quickly. Before he could say anything, Lizhi said playfully, "Why are you located in the hotel across the street, and you're having dinner with a girl? We just bought the hotel."

"Spying on me again! I'm in a little trouble. Do you know someone named Zhang Kunxi?"

"do not know."

"It is said that it is a small leader in the west of the city who took over one-fifth of the Black Beast's territory and opened a casino."

"Ask Hong Shao, the casino before Black Beast is not under my control."

"alright."

Lin Cheng hung up the phone and called Hong Shao again.

Why is it that in other pretentious and face-slapping routines, the protagonist's body trembles as soon as he announces his name, and the other party trembles in fear, while he has to receive calls one after another. He sighed helplessly, and his prestige was gone in an instant. Fortunately, Hong Shao's call was connected within five seconds.

"Huh? Why are you calling me?" Hongshao's seductive voice came from the phone.

The moment Hong Shao's voice came from Lin Cheng's cell phone, Zhang Qianyuan's body suddenly began to tremble. He remembered this voice, this inexplicably seductive woman's voice that sounded like a cat's paw scratching his chest. It left a particularly deep impression on him.

Zhang Qianyuan once had the good fortune to meet Hongshao when he was with his second uncle. His second uncle once reminded him not to look directly at her, not even at a glance, because she was the leader above his second uncle, and even his second uncle himself did not dare to look at her for too long. Hongshao hated men, especially men who looked at her with lustful eyes. The last man who did not know the rules and tried to flirt with her had been chopped up and fed to dogs.