Chapter 31: The Assault Fee

"Alright, don't be too sad. Since you call me brother, I will certainly help you cure this illness." Seeing Bai Lan's eyes well up with tears, Lin Chen gently ruffled her hair.

Bai Lan managed a faint smile. "Thank you, Brother Lin Chen."

Though she spoke words of gratitude, it was clear she took Lin Chen's promise as mere consolation and did not believe he could truly cure her condition. Having researched her own illness, she knew all too well that her situation was beyond medical repair.

Just as she was feeling despondent, a voice caused her expression to change.

"Bai Lan, why are you off work so early today? Did you get your paycheck? If you did, pay up!"

A square-jawed young man with a fierce look on his face approached, followed by two henchmen. They had clearly been looking for her.

Seeing him, Bai Lan panicked. "Mr. Yuan, I didn't receive my wages today. Could you please give me a few more days?"

The young man's face turned cold. "What is this, Bai Lan? You still owe me twenty thousand. I'm only asking for two thousand now; I've been more than generous. Don't try to pull any tricks on me. If you really push me too far, you won't like the consequences!"

"I really didn't get my paycheck today, I'm not lying to you," Bai Lan insisted.

She had intended to quit today after collecting her wages, especially after being harassed by her boss the day before. However, the incident with the middle-aged woman had been so distracting that she had forgotten to even ask for her pay.

Lin Chen asked, puzzled, "Who is he, and why do you owe him twenty thousand?"

The young man finally noticed Lin Chen and sneered, "Kid, who are you? Her boyfriend? Are you going to pay her debt for her?"

Lin Chen ignored him, waiting for Bai Lan's answer.

"I fainted from my illness on the street once," Bai Lan explained. "Passersby took me to the hospital, but I couldn't pay the medical fees. This man lent me ten thousand so I could settle the bill."

Lin Chen frowned. "If he lent you ten thousand, why are you now paying him back twenty thousand?"

"I've already paid him back many times, adding up to ten thousand already," Bai Lan said, feeling wronged. "When he first found me, he never mentioned interest; he just said he could lend me the money. He acted so kind, and I was desperate, so I thought I had met a good person. But only after I paid the hospital did he demand high interest. By then, I couldn't afford to pay him back. Now, I have to pay interest every month, and whenever I fall behind, the debt just keeps ballooning from ten thousand to twenty thousand."

Lin Chen's expression turned icy. He knew these types of vultures well—they hovered around hospitals, targeting people like Bai Lan who couldn't afford medical care, only to trap them in high-interest debt cycles.

Seeing Lin Chen's cold stare, the young man scoffed. "Oh? What, do you want to hit me? Pfft! Let me tell you, you're paying that two thousand today—that's this month's interest. Once that's paid, Bai Lan still owes me twenty thousand, and there will be another two thousand in interest next month."

Seeing Lin Chen remain silent, he shouted, "Are you deaf? Since you're her man, you pay the money. But honestly, there is another way to settle this."

The young man's eyes turned lecherous as he looked at Bai Lan. "If Bai Lan spends a week with me, I'll waive the two thousand. What do you think? Two thousand for a week—that's three hundred a day, much better than working as a waitress."

"Don't even think about it!" Bai Lan cried out in anger.

"What? Playing the saint? Fine, pay the two thousand right now. Kid, did you hear me? Hand over the money, or do I need to break your bones to make you listen?"

Seeing Lin Chen unmoved, the young man grew irritated and barked at his two henchmen, "Go over there and slap some sense into him. Search him for money, too—take every cent he has."

"You got it, Brother Yuan!"

The two thugs responded, clearly well-versed in this routine. They were used to people resisting, and a good beating usually did the trick. Aside from the truly destitute, everyone eventually coughed up the money, and if they didn't, the thugs would simply take it by force.

They walked toward Lin Chen with sinister grins, and one of them reached out to strike Lin Chen across the head.

"Get lost!"

With a sharp shout, Lin Chen kicked them both, sending them flying seven or eight meters away, where they landed coughing up blood.

Brother Yuan, who had been standing by with his arms crossed, turned pale as a sheet. His jaw dropped. How could a human be that strong? Both his men weighed nearly two hundred pounds each, yet they had been sent flying with a single kick. He had clearly kicked a steel plate this time—how could he be so unlucky?

Swallowing hard, he turned to run, but Lin Chen kicked him to the ground before he could take a step.

"Big Brother, it's all my fault! I was blind—I had no idea you were this powerful. Please, have mercy!" Yuan pleaded, looking like he was about to cry.

Lin Chen sneered, "Weren't you very arrogant? Threatening to teach me a lesson, rob me, and force Bai Lan to be with you?"

Yuan shook his head like a rattle, wearing a smile uglier than a grimace. "I... I was just joking. If I had known you were this capable, I never would have dared to provoke you."

He felt a deep sense of regret; if he had known the guy was this formidable, he would have fled the moment he saw him.

"You wouldn't dare?"

Lin Chen slapped Yuan across the head, making him wince in pain. "I don't care what you dare or don't dare. You prey on the sick who can't even afford medical bills—you're truly scum!"

He delivered another sharp slap to the back of Yuan's head.

"Ah! Stop, please stop! Big Brother, I really won't do it again!" Yuan wailed, snot and tears streaming down his face. He felt like he might have sustained a concussion.

"Fine," Lin Chen said coolly. "Since you've realized your mistake, let's talk about compensation."

Yuan looked bewildered. "What compensation?"

"My emotional distress fee, my 'teaching you to be a good person' fee, and my 'striking you' fee," Lin Chen stated. "Empty your pockets."

Yuan felt like crying. He had heard of emotional distress, but what on earth were those other fees? You hit me, and I have to pay you for it?