Chapter 16: A Dilemma

"Exactly, let's take our time to talk things through!"

Seeing Wu Bei hang up, Luo Hou finally stopped struggling.

Wu Bei elbowed him down to the ground, eyes sharp and fixed on him.

Luo Hou clutched his sore lower back, hands pressed together in pleading: "Big brother, I always keep my word. If you help me out, I promise I won’t betray you. How about this—lend me five hundred yuan for the fare, I’ll head home tonight, and I’ll repay you with interest after I get back..."

Before he could finish his rambling, Wu Bei grabbed him by the collar again and hoisted him up.

"Ring ring..."

The phone ringing made both freeze in place.

Staring at the number on the screen, Wu Bei hesitated. Though his relationship with Qi Jinlong was just average, the guy had helped out a lot this past year. Standing him up now would cut off his own backup, a move that wouldn’t pay off.

He glanced at Luo Hou, who was looking up at him pitifully, lips pouting like a catfish.

After a tense few seconds, Wu Bei pressed the answer button: "Hey, brother!"

Qi Jinlong’s voice rang loud: "Wu, the signal was bad earlier. I didn’t catch what you said. Did you get the money yet?"

Wu Bei feigned indifference, replying casually: "Don’t mention it. I went to several ATMs. Either the machines were down or there was no cash. Looks like I’ll have to wait till tomorrow."

There was a pause on the other end before Qi Jinlong laughed: "Alright, as long as it’s before noon tomorrow, that’s fine. Wu, you better keep an eye on him. My whole fortune and life are tied up in you two. Don’t let me down."

"Relax, I’m no coward without a plan," Wu Bei assured confidently.

After some small talk, they ended the call.

"Phew..."

Luo Hou exhaled deeply, slumping onto the bed like a rag doll, clasping his fists: "No need to thank me, brother. Don’t worry, I’ll repay you a hundredfold..."

Wu Bei ignored his rambling and grabbed his collar roughly again.

It was just past three in the morning when they returned to the gatehouse.

Probably never having walked that far before, as soon as they got inside, Luo Hou collapsed onto the bed, gasping for breath like boneless.

"Hey, you’re a security guard? Such wasted talent!"

"And your neighborhood is pretty rundown, huh? Those two slab buildings are almost as old as my grandpa..."

"Hey man, got a smoke?"

After barely five minutes of rest, Luo Hou’s mouth started running non-stop again.

Wu Bei tuned out the chatter, his face tight as he pondered what to do next.

He couldn’t offend Qi Jinlong—not worth provoking over a fool who wasn’t even related. But Luo Hou’s loose lips meant if Wu Bei handed him over, that bastard would definitely spill the beans about him hitting Han Wei.

After some thought, Wu Bei tossed Luo Hou a cigarette, expression unreadable: "Call your family and have them transfer the money."

Luo Hou took the cigarette, face serious: "Can’t get through. Seems like all my relatives blocked me. Probably my dad’s doing."

"Use my phone."

Wu Bei handed over his phone.

Without hesitation, Luo Hou dialed a number in front of him.

The phone rang a long time before someone answered: "Hello?"

Luo Hou called out eagerly: "Dad, it’s your second son..."

"Beep... beep... beep..."

The line was cut off at lightning speed. When Luo Hou tried again, it was already switched off.

Luo Hou looked at Wu Bei with a grimace: "Big brother, you saw how my old man reacted."

He didn’t forget to take a couple of hard drags on his cigarette.

"I’ll kill him!"

Wu Bei’s pent-up anger exploded. He grabbed the thermos on the table, ready to smash it.

"Mercy, please!"

Luo Hou instinctively covered his head.

Wu Bei held back, not wanting to destroy the thermos, though he really wanted to rip it apart.

Forcing himself calm, Wu Bei cursed through gritted teeth: "Aren’t you supposed to have a sports car? Sell it!"

Luo Hou shrank his neck, cautiously negotiating: "The repairs alone cost over forty thousand. I don’t have the cash. W-what if you front it for me? My car can sell for six hundred thousand!"

Crunch!

Wu Bei clenched his teeth so hard he thought he’d shatter them. At this moment, he wanted to slap himself twice. He kept warning himself not to take small gains that lead to big losses, but in the end, he was still blindsided by a trap falling from the sky.

"Ring ring..."

The sudden phone ringing startled Wu Bei, making him jump.

Seeing it was Qi Jinlong again, Wu Bei took a deep breath and answered.

"Wu, my boss isn’t at ease. He wants me to watch that kid with you. Where are you? I’ll come find you..."