Chapter 18

Cheng Sangluo, pick up the money.

Lin Jin stood in the middle of a group of thugs, her slender and delicate figure a stark contrast to the burly men.

A chilling smile played on her beautiful, elegant face, and her imposing presence completely overwhelmed Xu Songheng.

She only brought Sheng He as her subordinate, but that was enough to make her look down on everything around her. She didn't need to say a word; someone would make arrangements for her, just like Xu Songheng at this moment.

He was furious that Cheng Sangluo had gotten involved with Lin Jin, and he had no choice but to put on a good face and keep her company.

He waved to the creditors, and someone immediately prepared a chair for Lin Jin.

Lin Jin walked slowly and deliberately, her high heels clicking rhythmically as she moved. People naturally made way for her wherever she went, making her look like a alpha wolf in charge.

She settled down leisurely, crossing her legs and resting her cheek on one hand. Her eyes were filled with affection as she gazed at the puppy, but her tone was chillingly cold: "To be honest, you brought this situation upon yourself."

"You asked for it?" Cheng Sangluo's voice trembled as she endured the excruciating pain that felt like her body was collapsing, struggling for a long time before slowly standing up.

"Aren't you bored that you're the only one concerned about winning or losing in this betting game?" Cheng Sangluo's question was filled with anger. Her bloodshot eyes reflected a dark, fragmented light as they swept across every hateful face until they finally landed on Lin Jin's face.

"I told you, I'm here to help you. I told you it's hard for you to take the initiative. I also told you I have many ways to deal with you." Lin Jin pieced together the important information from each conversation.

Her eyes were filled with melancholy, as if to say, "I gave you so many chances to be gentle, but you insisted on choosing the most difficult path. Who can you blame for this ending?"

"Do you have to humiliate me so publicly? Do you have to hear me beg you? Why won't you let me go? Why?" Cheng Sangluo gritted her teeth, her hatred for Lin Jin had reached the point of collapse.

She had endured being repeatedly humiliated and having her bottom line crossed, but today was different.

She hated Lin Jin for bringing Xu Songheng into the family, and she hated that her most wretched and pathetic state had become a laughingstock for her enemies.

Lin Jin didn't reply, but raised her hand to signal the people behind her.

Upon receiving the order, Sheng He opened the heavy suitcase, and stacks of thick cash were shaken all the way to Cheng Sangluo's feet.

Not too much, not too little, just enough to pay off the debt.

Lin Jin rested her hands on her knees, leaned forward, and smiled: "Today I'll teach you the third lesson. After you learn to bend over, you also need to learn to crush your own dignity. Compared to fighting and killing, it is indeed shameful to crawl on the ground and pick up money, but it can solve practical problems, right?"

She suppressed her frivolous laughter and muttered to herself, "You'll never understand what I want to give you."

"I won't kneel! I won't pick it up!" Cheng Sangluo clenched her fists so tightly that the veins on the back of her hands bulged, and her hawk-like eyes were filled with murderous intent.

She stared at the location of Lin Jin's carotid artery, carefully calculating in her mind how many steps it would take to kill this hateful madwoman.

Seeing this scene, Xu Songheng, who was standing by, had a great sense of mockery on his face.

Lin Jin was always both an enemy and a friend. He really couldn't figure out what this woman was thinking. He was about to say something to kick her when she was down, but he was choked back by the sudden look she gave him.

Lin Jin's gaze was not only cold, but also sharp enough to rip out one's heart and lungs. "Xu Songheng, I didn't invite you here to watch a show. You created this mess all by yourself. Do you think you can get away with this without cleaning it up?"

Xu Songheng felt a chill run down his spine from being stared at. He had no choice but to loosen his tie to relieve the suffocating feeling and hurriedly bowed respectfully, saying, "President Lin, it's all up to you how you want me to handle this. I will do whatever you ask."

"Cheng Sangluo! I'm your brother! You'll be punished by heaven if you stand by and do nothing!"

When Cheng Xing saw his sister hesitating to pick up the money and show weakness, he suddenly burst into a blaming roar, interrupting their conversation.

Lin Jin lowered her eyes to look at the man at her feet, and simply stepped on his face with her high heels, grinding them hard as if she wouldn't give up.

"ah--"

Cheng Xing screamed in pain as the sharp heel almost dug into his flesh, and blood gushed out of his cheeks.

"Shut up." Lin Jin coldly scolded, then had Cheng Xing's mouth gagged and dragged aside for a beating.

She wouldn't allow anyone to bully Cheng Sangluo; Xu Songheng's mockery was unacceptable, as was Cheng Xing's insults.

She was the only one outside the rules, and in those moments of self-awareness and unawareness, she wantonly bullied, humiliated, and bullied Cheng Sangluo, yet she always felt conflicted and heartbroken for her.

Seeing their son being beaten, the two elderly people became restless. Ignoring the dagger held to their necks, they kept twisting and turning their bodies.

Cheng Sangluo's hand, hanging by her trousers, gradually crumpled the trousers.

She remained unmoved; the more her parents struggled, the colder her heart became, until it grew numb.

Lin Jin leaned back, savoring the puppy's expression, then suddenly asked the creditor, "She's very stubborn. Do you have any good ways to make her submit?"

“We may not know much else in this underworld, but we’re good at bluffing. Chopping off hands and feet is our specialty.” The creditor pulled out a knife from his waist and walked straight up to Cheng Xing. “You’re so unlucky, there’s no point in keeping you around. You might as well chop it off so you won’t gamble recklessly in the future.”

"No, no, don't chop off my finger..." Cheng Xing screamed in terror, "Sang Luo, Sang Luo... pick up the money... I'm begging you... If you won't give me face, at least think about Mom and Dad..."

"Mmm—mmm—"

When the elderly couple saw their son about to have his hand chopped off, they frantically cried for help, and their eyes were filled with resentment as they stared at their daughter.

That kind of hatred probably stemmed from blaming Cheng Sangluo as the culprit.

Lin Jin watched with a sense of impending doom, while the creditors pressed on relentlessly, and her parents harbored indiscriminate resentment.

Cheng Sangluo was caught in the middle and became the target of everyone's criticism.

She lowered her head with a self-deprecating smile, staring at the piles of tempting cash, and suddenly let out a chilling laugh that made her shoulders tremble.

That smile seemed to be the culmination of half a lifetime of suffering, embarrassment, bitterness, and unbearable pain.

Why should I bear all the injustices time and time again when I'm not the one in the wrong?

Lin Jin's eyes widened with excitement, her face practically screaming, "Let me see how you went from being indomitable to being groveling!"

Cheng Sangluo remained silent. The moment she bent over, it was as if all her energy had been drained away, and her eyes finally lost their light.

She picked up stack after stack of money until her arms were full, numbly stuffed it into her suitcase, and then continued picking up more money in a disheveled state.

Lin Jin chuckled to himself. The scene he had been looking forward to had finally come true, but why did it fail to satisfy his inner joy? Why did a sour feeling choke him? Why did a pair of hands clench his heart and cause him pain?

Was it because Cheng Sangluo was calm and resigned, or because she lost her perseverance while enduring humiliation?

"Don't pick it up!" Lin Jin suddenly snapped, shouting sternly, "I told you to stop!"

No, you must not bend over! Never learn to bend over – that's the lesson that will make me look at you in a new light!

All the onlookers were stunned, but Cheng Sangluo ignored them and continued picking up money with her head down.

Xu Songheng gave his men a signal, and someone snatched the money from Cheng Sangluo's arms and quickly cleared the area.

Cheng Sangluo slumped her shoulders, her empty eyes remaining expressionless. She maintained the posture of holding something and refused to speak.

Lin Jin got up and was about to walk towards her, but Sheng He stopped her, saying, "Boss, it's dangerous."

Lin Jindao glared at him and said, "Get out of the way."

She knew, of course, that Cheng Sangluo had murderous intentions towards her, but she still insisted on getting close to him.

Cheng Sangluo's gaze followed her figure slowly until the fragrance wafting towards him grew stronger, which brought him back to his senses.

“Your men were right to stop you,” Cheng Sangluo whispered, her gaze lingering on that slender neck.

At such close range, all she had to do was cup her face in her hands and twist it hard, and the crazy woman would be gone.

“I did it voluntarily.” Lin Jin saw through her thoughts, but took another step closer. “If you want to do something to me, now is the best time.”

Cheng Sangluo turned her head away, avoiding her eyes, as if afraid of drowning in a dark pool. "Whether I begged you or not, I did as you said. Now you won't let me pick up the money. What more do you want from me?"

Yeah, it's such a contradiction.

Lin Jin didn't answer, but instead reached out and hooked Cheng Sangluo's sleeve, turning to look at Cheng Xing, "Your family has never been worth doing this for, has it?"

Cheng Sangluo pursed her lips, realizing she couldn't answer, because these people really weren't worth it.

Lin Jin turned to look at her parents and sneered, "I know you've been looking for them ever since you got out of prison. Why bother? A father who doesn't care about you, a mother who doesn't love you, and a brother who's addicted to gambling—you can just get rid of these people who bleed you dry."

"There's no reason..." Cheng Sangluo's voice grew even hoarse, "You've never had a reason to barge into my life, not once..."

Lin Jin finally flashed his signature fake smile, "So, why am I getting close to you, teasing you, and helping you? Want to know why?"

Even when I ask why, you never give me an answer.

"Many problems will be solved easily; there's no need to rush to find a solution," Lin Jin said, leaving the question unanswered.

She went around behind Cheng Sangluo and pressed her forehead against his slightly hunched back.

Her breath was filled with the scent of puppies, and the rustic soapberry mixed with a hint of sweat. It wasn't particularly fragrant, but it had a calming effect on her emotions.

Cheng Sangluo stood still, the touch on her back not unpleasant, but rather gave her the illusion of having found a backer when she was alone and powerless.

She felt that Lin Jin was contradictory, and she also felt that she was contradictory. They were always hurting each other, yet getting closer while disliking each other.

"Tell me, what are the conditions for exchanging such a large sum of money?" Cheng Sangluo turned around, rarely so proactive in probing Lin Jin's eyes.

[Author's Note]

I recommend reading this chapter and the next chapter together for double the enjoyment!