After Being Kicked Out, Seven Sisters Turned Against the Family One After Another

Chapter 42: Your Life:

After dinner, Zhang Xi and Li Ruochen headed back to school while Lin You stood outside the hotel, waiting for a car. Suddenly, a sleek Maybach pulled up in front of him, and the window rolled down, revealing a face that was part compassionate and part menacing. It was Tang Sen.

Lin You noticed two men in black nearby, blending awkwardly into the surroundings. They were clearly Tang Sen’s subordinates, likely the same ones from the previous day. Without saying anything, Lin You merely stood there, unfazed. After all, he owed them three million, and it was understandable they would assign people to keep an eye on him.

Tang Sen observed Lin You’s calm demeanor, interpreting it as yet another sign that Lin You was no ordinary individual. Adjusting a pair of gold-rimmed glasses that softened his violent aura, Tang Sen said, “Get in the car. Mr. Ming is waiting for you on the top floor of the Golden Fox Building.”

Lin You silently opened the car door, sat in the passenger seat, and fastened his seatbelt. As he was about to speak, Tang Sen said, “Mr. Lin, you may have noticed my men downstairs at your hotel. It’s not because we distrust you. It’s just standard procedure when collecting debts. We must ensure debtors don’t flee or resort to drastic measures.”

Tang Sen paused, then added, “However, this isn’t about the debt. Mr. Ming specifically ordered us to protect your safety.”

Lin You didn’t respond. He knew from experience that when someone else held the power, anything they said could be spun against him. It reminded him of life with the Lin family, where no one believed him no matter what he said.

“Let’s go,” Tang Sen said.

…

The Golden Fox Building, standing at 78 stories, was the third-tallest building in Hangzhou. It was said that the height of a building reflected the status of its owner, meaning Minghu ranked among the city’s elite.

Twenty minutes later, Tang Sen and Lin You arrived. The tower-shaped building stretched skyward, its top shrouded in clouds. As they entered, doormen and security guards bowed respectfully to Tang Sen, who didn’t even acknowledge them.

Inside the elevator hall, there were separate elevators for employees, management, and the president. Tang Sen pressed the button for the president’s elevator. It ascended rapidly, reaching the 78th floor in just over ten seconds. The speed caused a pressure difference in Lin You’s ears, an unfamiliar sensation for him.

At the president’s office, Tang Sen rang the doorbell, gestured for Lin You to enter, and walked away with a knowing smile.

…

“Come in,” a voice called.

Lin You pushed the door open and stepped into the largest office he had ever seen. It spanned over 500 square meters without partitions, with only a few decorative columns. The walls resembled ancient city walls, and the ceiling, shaped like a pagoda, soared at least 20 meters high. The intricate brackets and arches made the room feel like the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

At the far end of the office stood an oversized screen, in front of which was a massive desk. Behind it sat a middle-aged man in his forties. He was dressed in ordinary sportswear, thin with long arms, a flat head, and a slightly dark complexion. His sharp gaze revealed an intense presence.

Lin You walked toward the desk but stopped ten meters away. The man had been watching him intently since he entered, clearly scrutinizing him.

“Minghu?” Lin You ventured.

The man smirked. “Minghu is just a title. If you were in my position, you’d be called Minghu too. My name is Mingtang—Ming for my surname, Tang for the Tang Dynasty.”

He leaned forward slightly. “And you, Lin You. Lin, as in the surname. You, meaning ‘to protect.’ Tell me, are you here to pay off Li Shengli’s debt?”

Lin You realized he was referring to Li Ruochen’s despicable father. He nodded.

Mingtang chuckled. “What do you want in return? I hope you’re not offering human organs. We don’t deal in that.”

“I don’t sell organs,” Lin You replied calmly. “But I do want to borrow another million.”

He continued, “Lend me a million now, and in one month, I’ll repay five million, including Li Shengli’s three million. If you force my classmate into your ‘harem,’ she’s likely to resist violently. She might even jump to her death, and you’ll lose your money while facing charges for abetment of suicide.”

Mingtang leaned back, amused. “That logic might work for some, but not for me. In my world, there’s only one rule: debts are repaid with money, or with life.”

Lin You remained composed. Placing his right hand over his left, he said quietly, “Fine. What about the loan?”

Mingtang picked up a pen with his left hand, spinning it idly while his right hand disappeared under the desk. “Loans are simple here. For amounts under 100,000, no formalities are needed. But for anything above that, collateral is required—real estate or something of equal value.”

Pausing, he added with a smirk, “If not collateral, your life will suffice. A million for a life is a fair trade.”

Lin You smiled faintly. “I didn’t expect the life of someone as powerful as you to be worth just a million.”

“You misunderstand,” Mingtang said, his voice cold. “It’s not my life. It’s yours.”

“No,” Lin You said firmly, locking eyes with him. “It’s your life.”

With a sudden “click,” Lin You broke his left index finger. The excruciating pain caused his eyes to tremble slightly, but his voice remained steady. “Lend me the money, or you won’t live to see tomorrow.”

Mingtang sat up straight, his demeanor turning icy. “Do you realize what you’re saying? No one has ever dared to threaten Minghu.”

Lin You broke his middle finger next, his voice unwavering. “Now someone has. I know you have four armed bodyguards behind that screen. I also know there’s a pistol hidden under your desk. Your right hand is just eight centimeters away from it.”

He continued, “At your speed, it’ll take 0.7 seconds to grab the gun, load it, and fire. Your bodyguards need at least a full second to act. Meanwhile, I need just 0.3 seconds to reach you, and another 0.4 seconds to press this pen against your neck.”

Silence filled the room. 

After five tense seconds, Mingtang removed his hand from beneath the desk and placed it on the table. A slow smile spread across his face. “Deal.”

He waved toward the screen, and a stunning woman with long legs stepped out, carrying a tray with a sleek black bank card on it.

“This is a Fox Way special bank card,” Mingtang said. “It contains 1 million yuan. The password is six zeros. In 1 month, if you don’t repay the 5 million, your classmate will become the star of my harem, and Li Shengli will find himself in the jungles of northern Myanmar.”