Chapter 15:
Chapter 15
The News Head returned to his dwelling, a sizable place, with suspicions lingering in his mind. This was originally an abandoned factory that he bought at a low price and transformed into his own base.
There was a courtyard, a two-story building where he lived, and a four-story building where the newsboys resided. Additionally, there was a warehouse storing unsold newspapers and recyclable trash collected by the newsboys from the streets.
Yes, the newsboys appeared in the streets in the mornings and evenings to sell papers. But where did they go during other times?
People like the News Head were essentially bottom-level businessmen who obtained profits through exploitation. They wouldn't waste a single moment of these newsboys. So, during other times, they scavenged for garbage on the streets.
Rumors even circulated in some communities about child thieves breaking into homes. In short, there was no moment of peace for them except for the girls and their resting time at night.
In the warehouse, The News Head saw the five newsboys, who looked distressed. Fear and anguish were evident on their faces. Losing over two thousand bucks had terrified these kids, yet they didn't know where the issue had arisen.
Seeing the News Head return without a smile on his face made them realize that his trip hadn't yielded the expected outcome. This was terrifying because it meant they might continue to face beatings.
The youngest one had already lost control of his bladder. Now, he lost control again, with some urine trickling down his thighs. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, these children had reached their limits.
The News Head, with a dark expression, looked at these kids. There was no trace of the timidity seen when facing Michael or the inexplicable fear while with Lin Qi. His face only showed the ruthlessness of a ruler and a hint of malice.
"Tell me, after leaving that house, who else did you meet and what happened? This is related to your future, so think carefully before answering!" He held a whip, making the children shudder.
The children exchanged glances, and the oldest among them seemed to sense something from the News Head's words. Immediately, he said, "We went to see Mr. Michael..."
In their description, to show respect, they had left their bag on the hook beside the room's door before meeting Mr. Michael.
If the money was indeed missing, it was most likely at that time that the money went missing. For these kids, it didn't matter who had taken the money; what mattered was to deal with the impending dreadful situation by turning on one another.
Once one started speaking, the rest followed suit. In an instant, suspicions against Michael escalated.
This aligned with the News Head's inherent "needs." He didn't believe that Lin Qi, that young man, could have taken his money. The money had been counted twice by several pairs of eyes; it couldn't have gone missing. He refused to believe that Lin Qi was capable of it. If he did, it would mean admitting inferiority compared to Lin Qi, which was unacceptable to someone like the News Head. They could be inferior to people like Michael, but they wouldn't accept being worse than a poor man like Lin Qi.
His conversation with Lin Qi further cemented this notion. Asking Lin Qi for the money was, to a large extent, seeking a sense of "shared victimization," which made him feel less isolated.
Now, suspicions against Michael were undoubtedly the strongest, something he both wanted and didn't want to see. He wasn't sure why he felt this way.
He let go of one child and instructed that child to let the others go. If it truly was Michael and he didn't want to admit it... he truly had no solution.
But this wasn't just a small amount of money. He couldn't pretend he knew nothing about it and carry on as if nothing had happened.
He sent the children to buy some food, fetched a bottle of wine, and sat in the courtyard, eating ham slices bought from a deli, contemplating how to retrieve his money.
The relationship between the News Head and Michael couldn't be defined as mere hostility; it was pure hatred. But Michael had the upper hand, and the News Head was unable to resist; he was dominated.
This made him more eager to escape his current predicament. Sometimes, when privately meeting Michael, he felt an urge to recklessly attack him, to make him understand the pain he had endured all these years.
Inebriated and burdened by inner turmoil, he staggered into the children's dormitory with a whip. Soon, cries, pleas for mercy, and the News Head's roars echoed from the children's dormitory.
The next day, before Lin Qi could step out, the News Head came knocking.
"Lin Qi, my friend, this time, I just want to talk!" Standing outside, the News Head looked at Lin Qi inside. For some unknown reason, he felt a tinge of fear. He didn't want to enter the room and suggested, "Shall we go for a walk nearby?"
Lin Qi hesitated for a moment but agreed. He thought the News Head might concede and end the matter here. However, it seemed the News Head wasn't willing to let go of the money.
In that instant, Lin Qi's mind conceived a new plan.
He changed clothes, took his keys and wallet, and left the room. They strolled aimlessly towards the city center.
"Listen, I've suffered a huge loss, and so have you. Do you think we can just let it go?"
After walking for two or three minutes, the News Head spoke first. He looked at Lin Qi, "This isn't a small sum. We need to recover it!"
Lin Qi nodded subtly, "You're right. My money can't just disappear without explanation. But how do we get it back?"
"If we approach Michael, he won't admit it, and we might end up losing more. But if we don't approach him, can we approach his family?"
"This isn't proper. We must follow his rules," Lin Qi paused and added, "I heard his wife is young and beautiful, and his child is also adorable."
He subtly guided the News Head. If the News Head could execute what he wanted, it would save a lot of trouble and keep him out of it.
Immediately, Lin Qi noticed the News Head's expression changing, including his gaze. It was the result of his hint.
They weren't Michael's match, but Michael's family didn't hold the same power as Michael did, making it easier to deal with them.
The News Head's expression twisted as he remembered the numerous times Michael had brutally beaten him and subjected him to humiliation.
His dignity, self-respect, and character had been crushed by Michael's relentless cruelty. This was why he was increasingly becoming tyrannical now. He desperately wanted to regain what was lost from these perhaps innocent children using the same methods.
His breathing became rapid, his gaze terrifying. Lin Qi stood silently beside him, adding fuel to the fire.
"To think a scum like Michael actually has a decent job, a young and beautiful wife, and an adorable child. God is really unfair!"
"Why can he ruthlessly plunder everything from us while we silently endure it?"Please do not delete thisHow to find a list of chaptersPlease find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺