In the evening by the city moat,
Yan Yuchen and his younger sister, carrying groceries from the supermarket, were preparing to go home together to cook dinner and personally express gratitude to the kind lady.
Though he inexplicably harbored a dislike for the neighbors, they extended a helping hand when his family faced difficulties.
Regardless, he felt the need to thank them in person.
By the river at this time, with lush greenery and graceful willows, the slightly intoxicated sunset cast its glow on the rippling lake, creating a breathtaking scene that attracted couples and elderly strollers.
Yan Yuchen and Yan Xiaoxi, bathed in the fiery red sunset, strolled leisurely, chatting like a couple, drawing many curious glances.
Some elderly people scoffed, openly discussing, "Look, they're even carrying groceries; they must have been living together for a while. Young people these days..."
"That boy probably engages in domestic violence. Look at that little girl, her face scratched, with band-aids. Young people nowadays are too casual."
"Ah, the youth these days, so carefree."
As the elderly were gossiping about the couples on the lawn, a flat boat suddenly appeared on the lake. A stunning girl in a white dress stood at the bow, her ethereal beauty enhanced by the reddish sunlight, captivating everyone.
"Look! Such a beautiful girl, like the White Snake just transformed from West Lake, even more beautiful and younger than the White Snake."
When Hu Gua Gua (the girl on the boat) appeared, not only the elderly strollers but also the couples whispering sweet nothings were now wide-eyed, amazed by her astonishing beauty.
"Such a gorgeous girl!"
A unanimous exclamation echoed among the onlookers.
However, when the girl spoke, her angelic image was suddenly shattered.
"Yan Toad, return the money now! You scoundrel, bully this lady and have the audacity to borrow money from my family. Is your face really that thick? Don't you feel ashamed?"
Hu Gua Gua, hands on her slender waist, shouted loudly at Yan Yuchen on the shore.
Yan Xiaoxi blushed, feeling embarrassed, and was about to speak when Yan Yuchen stopped her, saying, "Ignore her; she's just a crazy dog. The more attention you give, the more she barks. Let's pretend we didn't hear anything."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Hu Gua Gua exploded with anger, shouting even more furiously, "Yan scoundrel! You are the dog! You shameless toad, borrowing money from my family and daring to call me a dog. Do you have any conscience?"
Yan Yuchen looked surprised and muttered, "This is really like dealing with a dog. Such sensitive ears, able to hear from such a distance..."
"Yan scoundrel! Say that again! If you dare, I'll make you repay the money right now!"
Hu Gua Gua angrily yelled.
Yan Yuchen ignored her, quickly pulling his younger sister away and entering their own small courtyard.
He desperately hoped that the song would succeed soon; otherwise, that annoying frog would continue to insult him under the pretext of debt, and he couldn't retort or retaliate since he did owe them money.
While the two were cooking in the kitchen, Hu Gua Gua barged into the yard again, confidently declaring, "Yan Toad, I haven't had dinner yet. Make more, serve me first, and then you can go to the hospital."
Unable to hold back, Yan Xiaoxi came out of the kitchen, saying, "Hu Gua Gua, the money was voluntarily lent to me by Aunt Nuan. It's not like I forced her to lend it. You always use this as an excuse to target my brother; you... really lack manners."
Hu Gua Gua widened her eyes and said, "You dare to insult me?"
An angered Yan Xiaoxi replied, "I just did. So what?"
Hu Gua Gua scrutinized her from head to toe, nodded, and said, "Good, you dare to insult me. Excellent! No one has dared to insult me from childhood till now. Let me tell you, I'll make you cry today!"
Undeterred, Yan Xiaoxi proudly stated, "Come on, I'm not afraid of you!"
Hu Gua Gua smirked, then suddenly rushed towards her!
Just as she reached Yan Xiaoxi, she made a sharp turn, brushed past her, and ran into the kitchen. She jumped onto Yan Yuchen's back, wrapped her slender legs around his waist, and grabbed his ears. Triumphantly, she said to Yan Xiaoxi outside, "Letting you insult me! I'm going to torment your brother now, make him suffer, and see if you cry! Hmph!"
Yan Xiaoxi stood at the door, dumbfounded, clearly not processing what just happened.
Yan Yuchen, wielding a sharp kitchen knife, gestured as if he was going to swing it backward.
Unfazed, Hu Gua Gua, with her hands still gripping his ears, taunted provocatively, "Come on, if you have the guts, swing it here. You owe money to my family and now want to murder me, Yan Toad. You're quite something. I won't be afraid of you! If you have the guts, swing it. If you don't, you're not a man!"
Yan Yuchen's grip on the knife weakened, and he put it down, saying, "Fine, I'm not a man. Can you come down now?"
Hu Gua Gua, still holding his ears, looked at Yan Xiaoxi at the door triumphantly, saying, "No, I won't come down unless your sister cries. Otherwise, I won't budge."
Yan Xiaoxi stood at the door, lightly biting her lip, looking at her brother with a troubled expression.
She knew her brother well. Despite his occasional stubbornness and careful calculations, he was always soft-hearted toward those who had helped him. No matter how others treated him, he wouldn't easily retaliate.
Unless someone hurts his closest loved ones.
Yan Xiaoxi looked at the girl who always targeted her brother with confusion, asking, "Hu Gua Gua, where did my brother offend you? Why do you always want to pick a fight with him?"
Hu Gua Gua's eyes revealed a hint of hatred, but she coldly smirked, saying, "He has offended me in many ways. Besides, I just can't stand him; I want to make his life difficult. What about it? Can you make him bite me?"
As she spoke, Yan Yuchen suddenly turned around, biting her snow-white wrist. She screamed in pain and jumped off his back.
"I bit you. What now?"
Yan Yuchen spat out the saliva in his mouth, picked up the knife again, his eyes cold, and his tone somewhat grim, "Hu Gua Gua, don't go too far. If you provoke me, that's fine, but stay away from my family! If you want to make my sister cry, I'll make sure you cry first. Try me!"
Hu Gua Gua, holding her throbbing wrist, glared at him with resentment, shouting, "Yan Yuchen! Don't forget, you still owe my family forty thousand yuan! What right do you have to bite me? What right do you have to scold me? How come you have reasons when you owe others money?"
Yan Yuchen looked at her, remained silent for a few seconds, then held up two fingers, saying, "Give me two days. I'll definitely pay you back the money. If you want interest, I'll give that too. Hu Gua Gua, I do owe you money, but I don't owe you my dignity. Remember that."
Hu Gua Gua gritted her teeth, glaring at him, and after a while, she grumbled, "Fine! It's a deal. I'll see how this scoundrel can pay me back forty thousand yuan in two days! If you can't, don't blame me for continuing to trample on your dignity! Hmph! Worthless toad! Smelly toad! What dignity do you still want?"
With that, she turned around and angrily left.
Yan Yuchen watched her retreating figure, squinted his eyes, then continued to chop vegetables with a calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened.
Yan Xiaoxi entered the kitchen, looking at him with some concern, whispering, "Brother, how are we going to repay the money? It's forty thousand yuan, should we sell Mom's jewelry..."
Yan Yuchen continued to chop vegetables, still looking down, and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll find a way, sis."
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