"Alright, take it. You're not old, but you know a lot. Who told you that I have that kind of relationship with him?"
"Don't you?"
Seeing his candidness, Min'er felt a surge of joy.
"You just think too much."
Zhan Beijue tapped her forehead.
"As a girl, can't you think of something normal?"
Min'er thought: This kind of thing is normal, it's just that I can't accept it.
It's not that I can't accept it, it's mainly that I can't accept you with someone else.
"So, you really aren't involved with him? Then what have you guys been doing these past few days?"
Zhan Beijue countered.
"What do you think we've been doing? Not going to work every day, going out on dates with him?"
Min'er turned her head away.
"That's what everyone says anyway."
"Which everyone?"
"Who else could it be? You know yourself even if you think with your toes. Besides me, who in the restaurant likes you?"
Zhan Beijue couldn't help but chuckle again.
It seems this place is really not suitable for me to stay.
Such a small restaurant, yet so much internal strife.
"Alright, I won't beat around the bush with you. Actually, I went out with the boss these past few days to help him collect debts."
"Ah? Collect debts?"
Min'er would never have guessed that this was the case.
She knew about debt collection.
She hadn't only seen it on TV, but had also experienced it herself.
People who collect debts usually have violent tendencies.
No wonder they were dressed like that.
Going to someone's house, whether they have difficulties or not, if you say you want money, you want money.
If they can't pay, they might smash things at best, or beat and scold people at worst.
It's a very cruel and cold-blooded profession.
She didn't expect him to be willing to do anything for money.
Seeing Min'er sizing him up with a look of disdain and fear,
Zhan Beijue quickly explained.
"Your outdated notions need to be updated. Times have changed. Debt collection is not as violent as it used to be. We do it civilly now."
Civilly?
How can debt collection be civilized?
If you're civilized, will they give you the money?
"That depends on whether you know how to use a few little tricks."
Zhan Beijue pushed her towards home, explaining as they walked how he did it.
No need to hit or scold, just call a few brothers, drive a few old cars or motorcycles, and park them in front of the debtor's shop.
Turn on the stereo, set the volume to maximum, then take out the signs and play cards in front of their shop, making it impossible for them to do business.
Min'er imagined the scene.
A group of ruffians blocking the entrance, preventing business from being conducted, was indeed quite terrifying.
"Aren't you afraid of attracting the police?"
"I'm not afraid of the debtors, so why should I be afraid of anything? You still don't understand human weaknesses enough."
Min'er then happily took out the envelope and started counting the money.
"This much?!"
Zhan Beijue said, "I helped a friend of the boss recover a debt that was over ten years old."
"So he was so excited that he gave me half."
"And he also said he would introduce business to me in the future. We might be making a small fortune next."
This was hardly a small fortune!
In just a few days, she had earned more than she would have working herself to death for two years.
This was a huge amount of wealth!
Min'er couldn't help but praise him again.
"You're really like James from that chase game. The first time I saw you with your face clean, that's what I thought!"
Seeing her smiling happily, Zhan Beijue felt at ease.
"What is a chase game? Do you like playing games too? Was it a game you used to like playing a lot?"
"No, you probably haven't seen it. It's a variety show from Switzerland."
Min'er said, "It's a wilderness survival type. They select 100 physically fit contestants and put them in harsh wilderness environments."
"They have to survive alone in the wild for 100 days, and the only survivor can receive a generous prize."
"This show has very high ratings and is held every year. But I haven't watched it much in the past two years. My impression is still from when James won the championship that year."
"It was really exciting. I don't know why, but the first time I saw your true face clearly, I immediately thought of him."
"Oh? There's a show like that? Held every year? How much is the prize money?"
"It used to be one million euros, I don't know about now. Aren't you familiar with the boss? You can ask him. He should like watching this show."
Zhan Beijue fell into thoughtful silence.
The two continued walking home.
As they neared Da Mei's house, Min'er said.
"I'll go to Da Mei's first to return the money. It's not easy for her to raise a child alone. Let her be happy too."
Zhan Beijue agreed.
"Then you go back first. I'm going out for a run to exercise."
"Running? Aren't you tired at this hour?"
"Not tired. I need to train my body well. Let the wound recover quickly. So I can earn more money to make you happy."
Saying that, he strode away towards the lake.
Min'er waited until she was drowsy before he returned.
He looked as if he had been swimming, his whole body drenched.
"Why did you take so long? Hurry up and wash up and go to bed, you have work tomorrow."
Zhan Beijue said, "I went for a run, and a swim. It's okay, I'm not tired. You go to sleep first."
The next morning, at the first light of dawn, Min'er turned over and opened her eyes. Zhan Beijue, who had been sleeping on the floor, was gone again.
She hurried to the back window and looked towards the lake.
A pair of arms were vigorously moving in the lake. This person had gone out to exercise again.
His wound had only been healing for a few days, and he was pushing himself so hard with exercise. He really wasn't afraid of death.
At work, Zhan Beijue took the opportunity to chat with his boss.
He asked if there were any good TV shows to watch lately, as he was bored at home in the evenings.
The boss said no.
"I haven't watched TV in a long time, it is indeed quite boring. But there will be a good show coming up soon."
"What show?"
"Chase Game Season Seven. They're already holding auditions for contestants, and filming will officially begin soon."
Mentioning this, the boss became enthusiastic, his eyes lighting up as he spoke.
"This is the seventh year, the show is becoming more mature and has accumulated a large fan base. It hasn't even aired yet, but everyone's expectations are sky-high. I believe it will cause another nationwide viewership craze."
Zhan Beijue had been waiting for this.
He quickly followed up on the boss's words.
"Your country has this kind of show too?"
"You have it too?"
"It seems like all variety shows copy each other, just changing the packaging."
The boss said, "Who cares, as long as it's good to watch."
"And I heard that the age limit for contestants has been lowered this year, with many young people signing up. The competition is fierce, so the show will definitely be more exciting."
"How much is the prize money this year?"
"Five million euros. If only I had that physical ability. To go out and fight for 100 days, to earn enough pension for the rest of my life, it would be so worth it."
Zhan Beijue smiled, saying no more, and continued serving dishes.