Chapter 33: Do You Like This Method?

“Liangzi, repaying debts is a matter of principle, but it also depends on what kind of debt it is. The principal, sure, and the interest too, but the interest is just absurdly high!”

Xu Shaochen knew Zhang Liang was looking out for him. However, this was the exact moment when he couldn’t leave. If you treat someone as a friend, they’ll treat you as one.

Friendship is built over time. Today, Zhang Liang was trying to protect him by chasing him away, but if he left without a word, would that be fair to their two-year friendship?

“Hey, kid, what’s the meaning of this? You don’t want to pay?”

Chen Tian’s five lackeys behind him suddenly slammed their hands on the table, their gazes fixed on Xu Shaochen as if they could jump on him at any moment.

“Brother Chen, Brother Chen, calm down. This has nothing to do with my friend. He was just worried about me and said a few extra words.”

Seeing this, Zhang Liang quickly walked around the counter, blocking Xu Shaochen from Chen Tian’s view, and spoke in a low, appeasing voice.

“Heh, Zhang Liang, I’ll give you a break this time, but your friend better listen up. If this happens again, he could end up spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.”

Chen Tian, with one leg crossed over the other, gave Xu Shaochen a disdainful glance before sneering at Zhang Liang.

“Yes, yes, Brother Chen, don’t worry, don’t worry.” Zhang Liang let out a long sigh of relief and gestured behind his back to calm Xu Shaochen.

Chen Tian yawned lazily and said, “Now, let’s continue talking about the money. Here’s the deal: I’ll take over running the shop for now. Once you’ve raised the money, I’ll return it to you.”

“Brother Chen, that’s going too far!” Zhang Liang’s face turned pale as he gritted his teeth and looked at Chen Tian.

By now, Zhang Liang knew that Chen Tian wasn’t really here to collect a debt. He just wanted to take over his milk tea shop because it was doing well.

Even if Zhang Liang could scrape together the 20,000 yuan, there was no guarantee Chen Tian would actually return the shop.

“Yeah, I’m being too much. So what?”

Chen Tian stood up, smiling provocatively at Zhang Liang, fully aware that his guess was correct. He indeed wanted the shop.

He had originally lent Zhang Liang 70,000 yuan. Yet within just two months of the shop’s opening, Zhang Liang had managed to repay the principal in full. This milk tea shop was a goldmine!

“I’ll pay what they owe.”

Xu Shaochen looked at Chen Tian with a cold expression. He didn’t mind paying, but those who took his money better not be afraid to hold it.

“Shaochen…” Zhang Liang quickly turned to Xu Shaochen with concern, but Xu Shaochen cut him off with a raised hand.

“Alright, you can pay it, but the price has gone up. He still owes me 50,000 yuan. If you want to pay, you’ll need to cough up 70,000 yuan. If you don’t have the money, I’ll settle for 20,000 yuan for one of your hands. Pay up, or what?”

Chen Tian’s eyes flashed with malice as he looked at Xu Shaochen. To be honest, money wasn’t the point here. He wanted the shop. Xu Shaochen was just asking to get killed for messing with his plans.

“Ding ding ding…”

Suddenly, Xu Shaochen’s phone rang. When he checked, it was from an unknown number—likely the person he was expecting.

“Mr. Xu? This is Linda. We’ve just left the airport.”

A voice with broken Chinese came through the phone. Xu Shaochen looked up at the name of the milk tea shop and said, “Withdraw 70,000 yuan in cash from the bank outside the airport and come to the Brilliant Milk Tea Shop next door. I’ll be waiting here for you.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Tian’s face alternated between gloom and brightness as he looked at Xu Shaochen. It seemed this man was determined to stand his ground.

If that was the case, Chen Tian decided he would have to get ruthless.

“Shaochen, no, you can’t repay this debt.” After watching Xu Shaochen hang up the phone, Zhang Liang urgently said.

Zhou Li added in agreement, “That’s right, your goodwill is appreciated, but 70,000 yuan is no small amount. We can’t let you shoulder this.”

“Sis-in-law, Liangzi and I are brothers. I couldn’t make it to your wedding, so consider this my belated wedding gift.” Xu Shaochen smiled at Zhou Li. He cut off Zhang Liang when he tried to speak again, saying, “Enough, Liangzi. Let me handle this.”

“But…” Zhang Liang felt deeply moved but said no more. He quietly vowed to never forget this kindness.

“Tap, tap, tap…”

A series of footsteps echoed as five people walked into the milk tea shop.

Leading them was a tall, voluptuous foreign woman in a red dress, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Behind her were four burly men in black suits, all with yellow skin, typical of Longguo. One of them was holding a bag.

As soon as these five entered, everyone in the milk tea shop turned their eyes to them.

Especially the foreign woman in front—her exotic looks and stunning figure were absolutely jaw-dropping.

“Mr. Xu, I’m Linda, the Chairwoman of the Longguo Branch of Xu Corporation, and your personal housekeeper.”

Linda immediately spotted Xu Shaochen, flashed a sweet smile, walked up, and extended her delicate hand, speaking in her broken Chinese.

“Hello.”

Xu Shaochen shook her hand briefly. He wasn’t expecting the Xu Corporation’s Longguo branch to be set up in Jiangzhou.

“Sir, here’s the cash you requested.”

One of the bodyguards obediently handed the bag to Xu Shaochen.

Meanwhile, Chen Tian and the others in the milk tea shop were completely dumbfounded. A personal housekeeper? Bodyguards? This was clearly someone of great importance!

Zhang Liang was also stunned. Bro, this is what you meant by making a little money?

“Clatter!”

Xu Shaochen unzipped the bag and casually tossed it on the ground, then looked at Chen Tian and said, “70,000 yuan, it’s all here. Go ahead, take it.”

Chen Tian’s face was a mix of emotions as he stood still, sweat starting to bead on his forehead.

He knew if he dared take that money, he would be as good as dead.

Linda watched the scene unfold with interest. Her new boss seemed to be teaching someone a lesson.

For a moment, the entire milk tea shop was deathly silent.

“Slap!”

The next second, Xu Shaochen slapped Chen Tian across the face, his tone light as he said, “Take it, use it for your medical expenses. Didn’t you hear me?”

Chen Tian gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and stared at Xu Shaochen, saying nothing.

“Slap!”

Xu Shaochen raised his hand and slapped him again, still speaking in the same calm tone: “Take the money. Are you deaf? Do I have to personally stuff it into your hands?”

“Don’t push it!” Chen Tian’s eyes burned with anger as his face stung from the slap. He gnashed his teeth as he stared at Xu Shaochen.

“Bang!”

Before he could finish his sentence, Xu Shaochen kicked him to the ground.

“Ah!” “Crash!”

Chen Tian was sent sprawling onto the floor, smashing two chairs in the process.

As he tried to get up, Xu Shaochen stomped him back down, towering over him and saying, “I tried talking nicely, but you didn’t listen. You prefer it this way, huh? Too much? I learned from you. Being too much is what I’m doing now. What are you going to do about it?”

“Boss!”

Chen Tian’s four lackeys were about to rush forward, but Xu Shaochen immediately stopped them.

“Look carefully! Anyone who dares move will get their leg broken and tossed out.”

Xu Shaochen’s gaze was icy as it swept over the four of them before directing the words to the black-suited bodyguards.

“Yes, sir.”

The four bodyguards responded, eyes locked on Chen Tian’s lackeys, ready to attack.

Chen Tian’s lackeys froze in an instant. Fear drained the color from their faces as cold sweat dripped down, their legs trembling.

These guys were just thugs who dealt in loan sharking. They’d never seen anything like this.

“You won’t take it? Then I’ll help you.”

Xu Shaochen picked up the bag and calmly began tossing stacks of money into Chen Tian’s face.

Zhang Liang and Zhou Li stood in shock. Their poverty had limited their imagination.

Chen Tian’s fury was palpable, but he said nothing. He realized he had kicked a steel plate today.

After finishing with the last stack, Xu Shaochen casually tossed the empty bag aside and coldly said:

“Get out.”