TL: Etude
"If you don't pay back today, I'm not leaving!"
A menacing duck-like voice echoed through the room.
"What's going on, Wanqiu!"
Chen Jianghai burst into the room, shouting. Seeing that Lin Wanqiu was unharmed, he finally felt relieved.
"Oh, the main person has returned?" Another man in the room, putting out his cigarette, spoke.
After glancing at the man, Chen Jianghai quickly realized what was happening.
In the end, it was his past self who had been undisciplined, wasting time in pleasure and idleness.
Given such circumstances, Lin Wanqiu's meager income was naturally insufficient.
Chen Jianghai had once envisioned becoming rich through business ventures and had borrowed money from various people.
The man in the room was called Chi Fei, his creditor.
"Jianghai!"
Seeing Chen Jianghai had returned, Lin Wanqiu couldn't help but throw herself into his arms.
"It's okay, I'm here," Chen Jianghai patted Lin Wanqiu's back gently, then turned his cold eyes to Chi Fei: "The money was borrowed by me. What kind of capability do you think you have, bullying a woman?"
"Hey, hey, I haven't bullied her," Chi Fei waved his hands, "Paying back what you owe is a matter of course. Do you think I shouldn't demand my money back?"
Chen Jianghai spoke without hesitation: "Fine, it's just 300 bucks, right? I'll pay you back now."
Saying this, Chen Jianghai took out three banknotes from his bag and handed them over.
Chi Fei, seeing the money, immediately took it.
"Alright, I've repaid you. You can go now," Chen Jianghai pointed at the door.
Chi Fei looked at the money in his hand, then glanced at Chen Jianghai, his eyes shifting slyly. "Chen Jianghai, the amount seems incorrect."
"What's incorrect? I initially borrowed 300 bucks from you," Chen Jianghai responded sternly.
"Well, that's not how you should see it," Chi Fei shook his head leisurely, "Money in the bank accrues interest. You've borrowed this for almost a year now. Just giving back 300 wouldn't be fair to me."
Chen Jianghai realized that Chi Fei simply wanted to extort more money from him.
"So, how much interest are you demanding?"
Lin Wanqiu was there, and Chen Jianghai didn't want to escalate the situation and scare her. If he could resolve the issue by spending a bit more money, so be it.
"Jianghai, you've become quite assertive. Have you struck it rich recently?" Chi Fei said with a grin, pondering internally about the appropriate amount to demand.
"Enough, just tell me how much interest you want," Chen Jianghai said flatly.
Chi Fei then raised three fingers: "Fine, I won't ask for much, another 300 will do!"
Upon hearing this absurd request, Chen Jianghai showed no reaction, but Lin Wanqiu's face changed immediately.
"300? Is this bank interest? This is compound interest! Do you think our money grows on trees?"
"I don't care," Chi Fei shrugged, "Everyone who borrows from me pays this rate."
Chen Jianghai took out 30 bucks from his pocket and said, "Here is 30 for your interest. Either take it and leave or I'm calling the police."
"Hmph, 30? Are you treating me like a beggar? And you're trying to intimidate me with the police?"
Chi Fei was irked that Chen Jianghai, who used to be easy to bully, was now standing up to him: "Damn it, even if you report to the police, I'm not afraid!"
Chen Jianghai scoffed, "Chi Fei, are you ignorant of the law?"
"What do you mean?" Chi Fei's face slightly changed.
Chen Jianghai loudly proclaimed, "Do you know what your actions are called? It's usury! This is not protected by law. Tell me, when the police arrive, will they side with me or with you?"
After hearing Chen Jianghai's words, Chi Fei's face turned somewhat unpleasant.
He hadn't expected that Chen Jianghai, who had always been so unassuming, would suddenly know so much about the law.
Stunned for a moment, Chi Fei then said, "I don't care, if you don't pay the interest today, I'm taking your stuff!"
After speaking, Chi Fei looked around the room, seemingly ready to take action.
Chen Jianghai stood by, watching coldly. If Chi Fei dared to move anything, he reasoned that he would be justified in intervening physically.
Lin Wanqiu, however, didn't think that far. Seeing that Chi Fei was about to take something from her home, she hurriedly rushed forward to stop him.
"This is my home; you can't touch my things!"
Chi Fei violently shrugged her off, shouting, "Get out of my way!"
Unable to maintain her balance from the shove, Lin Wanqiu fell to the ground.
Upon witnessing this, Chen Jianghai's eyes turned red. He immediately rushed over to help Lin Wanqiu up, anxiously asking, "Wanqiu, are you okay? Where are you hurt?"
Lin Wanqiu covered her waist and her face turned pale, appearing to be in some pain.
"Take it easy. Go lie down on the bed."
After helping Lin Wanqiu onto the bed, Chen Jianghai, with bloodshot eyes, took steps towards Chi Fei.
Seeing the almost cannibalistic look in Chen Jianghai's eyes, Chi Fei became a bit flustered.
"Chen Jianghai, this has nothing to do with me. She was the one who—"
"To hell with you!"
Before he could finish, Chen Jianghai landed a solid punch on Chi Fei's face.
To Chen Jianghai, Lin Wanqiu was his line in the sand. Anyone who dared to harm her would never be forgiven.
Chi Fei was no match for Chen Jianghai.
In the blink of an eye, he was beaten down by Chen Jianghai and was begging for mercy on the ground.
Lin Wanqiu was also shocked by the scene.
This was the first time she had seen an infuriated Chen Jianghai; it was quite terrifying.
"Stop hitting me, I was wrong!"
Chi Fei's cries startled Lin Wanqiu and also alarmed the neighbors.
"What's going on?"
A surprised voice from Mo Xinmei came from outside the door.
Then Fu Qiang's voice was heard, "Are they fighting?"
Lin Wanqiu quickly walked to the door and said, "Brother Fu, could you come in and help me restrain Jianghai?"
Chi Fei on the ground was now curled up in a ball, continuously begging for mercy.
Upon seeing this, Fu Qiang was a bit stunned, "What... what happened?"
Mo Xinmei said, "Hurry and separate them! I'm calling the police!"
After saying this, Mo Xinmei rushed out.
"Brother Fu, please come and help!"
Lin Wanqiu, not minding her sore waist, held onto Chen Jianghai's hand while motioning for Fu Qiang to come and help.
Both hands held, Chen Jianghai slowly calmed down and took a deep breath, "Let go of me, I won't hit him anymore."
Hearing Chen Jianghai, Lin Wanqiu glanced at him and found he was no longer as violent as before. She then loosened her grip along with Fu Qiang.
"Wanqiu, are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital?"
The first thing Chen Jianghai was concerned about was Lin Wanqiu's injuries.
Lin Wanqiu shook her head, "I'm fine. Just need some rest; it's not serious."
At this moment, Lin Wanqiu knew she had to downplay her condition, or else Chi Fei might face another beating.
Not long after, Mo Xinmei also came back, asking anxiously, "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine," Fu Qiang waved his hand in response.
While the three of them were fine, Chi Fei on the ground was not. He had been beaten by Chen Jianghai to the point of having a swollen face and multiple bruises.
Struggling to his feet, Chi Fei snarled, "Chen, you dare hit me; you're a dead man!"
"If you ever dare to touch my wife again, I'll break your hand, understand?"
In response to the threat, Chen Jianghai took a step forward, enunciating each word clearly.
Although he said it calmly, Chi Fei inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine, instinctively taking a step back.