Chapter 11 — 58 Lakhs And His True Face

Like it wanted to stab me straight.

“Sorry, I broke up with him.”

My voice is still very calm.

“I don't know about his debt, nor am I responsible.”

“Don't rush to brush off the relationship.”

His voice was slow.

"When he borrowed money, he patted his chest and said, I have your back."

"Tell me your father just transferred you a large sum of money."

“Say you two are getting married.”

“Telling this amount of money to you two is not worth it.”

Every sentence, every word, was like cold water poured straight into my face. I can almost imagine him drunk, red-faced, banging on the table and showing off in front of strangers. Inside I felt both disgusted... and funny at the same time. It's funny because before I used to consider those drunken words as "manly spirit".

“That's him talking nonsense.”

I pursed my lips.

“He has no right to use my money as a guarantee.”

“That is an agreement between you guys, it has nothing to do with me.”

“If it's not relevant, it's not relevant.”

He laughed again.

“But fifty-eight thousand yuan in my account… is very relevant.”

"Right?"

This time, he said the number directly. My heart sank. The cold wall behind him could not quell the rising anger.

“Where did you know that money from?”

“My ex-boyfriend said.”

He did not avoid it.

"We do business, lend money, we have to know what the other person has to pay."

“He said his girlfriend had a dowry in her account.”

"Say you two have a very good relationship, I will definitely help him raise money."

"And that said, even if you hesitate, he still has a way to make you agree."

In the last sentence, he deliberately prolonged the three words "there is a way". My hand tightened around the phone, my knuckles turning white.

“Then he overestimates himself.”

My voice was cold.

“He doesn't understand my parents' hardships.”

“Even if I don't understand, I hate it the most when other people decide how to use that money.”

“I say again, his loan does not have any legal connection with me.”

“If you want to collect a debt, you find the borrower himself.”

“If you say that, it's a bit lacking in humanity.”

He let out a fake sigh.

“We do construction work, there are rules for everything we do.”

“He and I signed a short-term loan of 30,000 yuan, with clear interest.”

"Now he doesn't pay, hides, doesn't answer the phone."

“I also have to have a place to vent, right?”

“He pulled me out to make beer, so what should we do?”

“The one who pulled me out to make beer was him, not me.”

I speak slowly, each word clearly.

“If you want to resolve it, sue in court.”

"If there is a loan, there is a transfer, the court will handle it."

“But if you come to me to cause trouble… that's a different story.”

“Oh, it turns out he is also someone who understands the law.”

He laughed, this time with a bit of irony.

“If you want me to sue, I won't stop you.”

“It's just a small amount of money like this, going back and forth to the court, lasting half a year.”

"Our capital chain is broken, the loss is not only 30,000."

“I'm easy to talk to.”

"If you're willing to step up and help him cover up these thirty thousand, I'll pretend nothing happened."

"Whether you two still want to come back later is up to me."

“My side just needs to collect money.”

At this point, I suddenly understood the true purpose of this call. Not just a threat. Which is… testing the waters. See if I have a soft heart or not... to help Tan Dieu. Even though it's not 580,000, as long as I release these 30,000 first... to them, that's already a gap.

“I won't pay replace him.”

I say every word clearly.

“The money he borrowed, he paid for it himself.”

“That's an adult's choice.”

“I have no obligation to pay the price for other people's choices.”

“You really don't think about him at all?”

The man's voice on the other side suddenly lowered, carrying a layer of gloom.

“Now he can't even afford 30,000.”

“What does that say?”

“It's because he's having a hard time.”

“You've known him for so long, he's not bad for you, right?”

“Are you going to stand by and watch him be cornered?”

"It's at the end of the line... no one can predict what people will do."

The last sentence he said was very light. But it was like a blade, silently piercing through the gap. This is a blatant innuendo. Anger immediately flared up inside me. Not only because of him... but also because of that person who is hiding.

“Even if he is cornered, he has no right to take my money to fill his hole.”

I did not hold back.

“If you really want to help him, then don't waste your time on me.”

“Go find the borrower, or report to the police.”

“I'll say it again.”

“The money he borrowed has nothing to do with me.”

“If you call me like this again, I will consider it harassment and directly report it to the police.”

"You really don't drink when you're invited, but you like to drink as punishment."

His voice turned cold.

“Don't think that since you're in the city, the police can protect you all day long.”

“My personality is not good.”

“I can't get my money back, I'm upset.”

"But it's already annoying... if you do something too outrageous, no one can stop you."

“So you should try it.”

I laughed coldly.

“Today's call, I've already recorded it.”

"I can play the threats you just made verbatim to the police."

“If you think I'm threatening, you might as well try.”

The other end of the line was silent for exactly one second. Then he hummed softly.

“You know how to talk.”

“No wonder he always says you have an opinion.”

"Okay, out of respect for the fact that he used to waste time for you in the past, that's all for today."

“Think again.”

“I said it can be done.”

“Just pay, it's as if these 30,000 dollars never existed.”

The call ended. In my ears, only the vague echo of the hallway remained. I lowered the phone and looked at the "call ended" line for a few seconds. Palms are wet with sweat. I leaned against the wall and slowly exhaled. The feeling of being threatened by someone "doing too much"... is really not pleasant. Even though I know, legally, he doesn't know any of my weaknesses. But that vague feeling of danger... Just like in a city, in a corner you're not familiar with, a shadow suddenly appears. You know it might get closer… But you don't know when or how. I don't want to bring this insecurity back to my parents. I don't want them to worry either. I took out my phone, saved the recording just now, and changed the name to: "Creditor - call 1". Then text your cousin.