Cheng Ji still had that cynical look. He put his hands in his pockets and looked Luo Ying up and down without restraint. A wicked smile curled on his lips. "It has been two days. Did you miss me?"
Luo Ying wanted to ask about the debt. However, the words stayed in her throat. She looked at him for a moment. Disappointment slowly filled her eyes.
Cheng Ji sat across from her with a grin. He spoke in a casual tone. "The debt is fully paid. Every single cent."
He pulled a bulging folder out of his bag and tossed it onto the coffee table. "Here. These are the vouchers and debt notes I recovered. You can handle them yourself."
[Item: Debt Vouchers]
[Description: A thick stack of papers representing a ten million yuan debt. Status: Cleared.]
Countless stars seemed to light up in the eyes of Luo Ying. She felt like she was in a dream. She pinched her wrist hard. It hurt.
"Really?!"
"Of course. See for yourself." Cheng Ji pointed his chin toward the folder.
Luo Ying grabbed the folder. She unwound the string and pulled out a thick stack of papers. She checked them one by one.
It was them! When she saw these vouchers before, she felt like the world was ending. They were like death warrants. They took her father, and then they came for her.
Was it really over? Were these all just waste paper now?
She looked at Cheng Ji again with disbelief. Cheng Ji watched her with interest and laughed. "Yes. They are just waste paper now. You can burn them right now."
He handed her a lighter. "Come on. Let us go to the rooftop and burn them!"
Yes. She would burn them for her father. She wanted him to rest in peace.
Luo Ying did not hesitate. she climbed to the rooftop with Cheng Ji. She set fire to the things that had destroyed her father and nearly ruined her entire family.
She watched the flames consume the papers. They curled into ash and drifted away in the wind. Luo Ying could no longer control her grief. She covered her face and began to cry.
She cried for her father. These things had pushed him to a dead end. Now, they were separated by life and death.
Her father did not even leave a final word. She had not even seen him one last time.
Cheng Ji looked solemn. He gave a deep sigh. He stood by her side and protected her in silence.
The late autumn wind caught the hem of his black trench coat. It snapped like the wings of a large bird.
Luo Ying finished crying and wiped her eyes. She looked at Cheng Ji with cold logic.
"Thank you. What do you want in return?" She did not believe he would help her for nothing. She was prepared for anything. She would give him whatever she had.
Cheng Ji suddenly smiled. He stared at Luo Ying for several seconds. His usual wicked grin remained on his lips. "Break up with Lu Liangchen. Become my girlfriend."
Luo Ying froze. It was expected, yet it was also absurd.
'Who would trade ten million for a single girlfriend? Is his obsession really that deep?'
"Is there anything else?" Luo Ying asked. She was not sure.
Cheng Ji grabbed her hand. The heat in his eyes made her tremble. She tried to pull away, but then she stopped. She let him hold her hand. She felt the warmth and dryness of his palm.
"Nothing else. It is enough if you are my girlfriend." Strange lights danced in the eyes of Cheng Ji.
"Fine!" Luo Ying agreed.
There was no formal start to her relationship with Lu Liangchen. It felt like it had started when they were children. However, she needed to find a time to meet Lu Liangchen. She had to put a proper end to their feelings.
The mental state of Huang Jingmei became a problem. She often saw hallucinations of Luo Sheng. She would talk to the empty air and make strange gestures.
Luo Ying took her to the hospital for an exam. The doctor said she had mild schizophrenia. She needed treatment immediately. If not, it would become serious.
[Status Effect: Mental Fragmentation]
[Description: Target is suffering from hallucinations. Immediate medical intervention required to prevent permanent debuff.]
However, all the family money was gone. Huang Jingmei had just retired. Her pension was small. Her sister's salary was only enough for daily life. There was no money for medical bills.
Luo Ying decided she would not go to graduate school. She would find a job right after graduation.
Chapter 9: Ten Million for a Girlfriend (2 / 2)
Cheng Ji said ten million was the price for her to be his girlfriend. Luo Ying treated it like a joke. Right now, his passion was high and he would pay any price. Once he cooled down, he would settle the score. Besides, Luo Ying would not feel at peace if she did not try to pay him back. She would repay as much as she could.
Luo Xu looked worried. Her small face was wrinkled. "Yingzi, what should we do?"
"It is fine. I have a plan." She planned to use her credit card first. Then, she would sell their house.
If Huang Jingmei was awake, she would never agree to sell the house. But the neighbors all knew their business. There was too much gossip.
Living there would only make Huang Jingmei sad. It was bad for her recovery.
She would sell this place and buy a smaller house in a worse location. Then she would have money for her mother's treatment.
After making the plan, Luo Ying went to handle the hospitalization paperwork. When it was time to pay, the staff told her it was already settled.
Luo Ying was stunned. She asked and found out that Cheng Ji had paid in advance.
Her heart felt complicated. She did not expect Cheng Ji to go this far. He was quietly watching her and helping her at the right time.
She felt more grateful toward him. Even if she did not love him yet, she no longer disliked him.
Cheng Ji came to the hospital to find Luo Ying. He ran into Lu Liangchen again.
The two men stared at each other. Lu Liangchen spoke first. "Why are you here again? You are not welcome. Get out! If I see you bothering Yingzi again, I will not be polite!"
Cheng Ji laughed. He gave a vulgar whistle. "I think you do not understand the situation. You are the one who should get out! Luo Ying is my girlfriend now!"
"What did you say? Stop talking nonsense! Do you want me to hit you?" Lu Liangchen clenched his fists and rushed forward.
Luo Ying quickly blocked him. "Liangchen, do not be impulsive!"
Lu Liangchen froze. He stared at her with suspicion. The panic in his eyes grew stronger.
Cheng Ji walked over boldly. He put his arm around the shoulder of Luo Ying. He looked at Lu Liangchen with a challenge. "Get out! If I see you near Luo Luo again, do not blame me for being rude!"
Luo Ying stood stiffly. Her eyes were full of apology as she looked at Lu Liangchen. She had not had the chance to explain. Now he was facing this conflict without any warning.
She could no longer stand by his side like before.
The eyes of Lu Liangchen changed from doubt to shock. Then they turned to pain and madness. He pushed Cheng Ji away. He stared straight at Luo Ying. "Tell me clearly. What does this mean? Did he force you? Is he blackmailing you?"
His voice grew louder. Anger twisted his face. He suddenly turned and punched Cheng Ji. There was a dull thud. Cheng Ji fell to the ground.
Cheng Ji reacted quickly. He stood up and punched Lu Liangchen back. The two men began to fight.
Luo Ying circled them in a panic. She kept shouting. "Stop! Stop fighting!"
No one listened to her. The two men rolled on the ground. Both of them were bruised.
Luo Ying saw an opening. She rushed between them and pushed them apart.
Lu Liangchen raised his fist over the head of Luo Ying. Then his arm fell weakly. He gave a long sigh. His voice was hoarse. "Is it because he paid your debt? You gave yourself to him for that?"
The pain in his eyes and the bitterness in his voice hurt the heart of Luo Ying. But she could say nothing except "I am sorry."
Cheng Ji acted like a winning rooster. He shook his messy black hair. He smiled, but it hurt his wounds. He hissed in pain. "Hehe. Do you understand now? Luo Luo does not want you! Get lost. Have some grace in defeat. You do not act like a man at all!"
In the blurred vision of Luo Ying, the back of Lu Liangchen grew smaller. Eventually, he disappeared.
Her heart felt like it had suddenly vanished. She could not feel its presence.