Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Old Colleague
Qin Tuo remained impassive at the thug’s words, but Han Zilin was struck with terror.
"But... you clearly said it was two hundred thousand last time. How did it suddenly become five hundred thousand?"
The color drained from her face, and she looked utterly devastated.
The thug leader sneered triumphantly.
"We adjusted our interest rates. So after this week’s calculations, it’s piled up to five hundred thousand. You’re paying this money whether you like it or not!"
Han Zilin was so stunned she couldn’t say a word.
She finally understood. This online loan was a bottomless pit!
"Haha..."
Han Zilin suddenly seemed like a different person, shaking her head numbly.
"How ridiculous. I actually thought I could pay this back through my own hard work. It looks like that was just wishful thinking!"
After staggering back two steps, Han Zilin collapsed onto the ground, despair slowly taking over.
Seeing her like this, Qin Tuo’s heart twisted in pain.
"Zilin, get up first!"
Qin Tuo quickly helped Han Zilin to her feet.
Han Zilin, seemingly on the verge of collapse, threw herself into Qin Tuo’s arms and began to sob inconsolably.
But the thug leader just wore a lecherous smirk as he said:
"Little lady, if you can’t come up with the money, that’s fine too. Just come with us. If you take good care of us, everything can be negotiated!"
As he spoke, the group of thugs closed in, all of them staring at Han Zilin with brazen insolence in their eyes.
Just as the thug leader was about to grab Han Zilin, Qin Tuo spoke up unhurriedly.
"It’s just five hundred thousand. Can’t I just pay it?"
Han Zilin froze for a moment, then quickly pulled away from him and said anxiously:
"Brother Tu, where would you get that much money?!"
Qin Tuo gave a faint smile.
"Silly girl, don’t worry about it. Just leave everything to me."
But Han Zilin shook her head fiercely, insisting:
"Brother Tu, I know you just got out of prison! It’s only been a few days, how could you possibly come up with that much money? You can’t just act tough and sacrifice yourself for me!"
’This girl...’
Qin Tuo gently tapped the tip of Han Zilin’s nose.
The thug leader’s face twisted as he watched Qin Tuo and Han Zilin’s public display of affection. He gritted his teeth in anger.
He said menacingly:
"Punk, you damn well better be able to cough up that five hundred thousand. Otherwise, I’ll make you regret messing with us!"
Qin Tuo let out a cold laugh.
"I said I’ll pay, so I’ll pay. Just come with me to the bank to withdraw the money."
"Brother Tu, are you really going to the bank to get them the money? But... how is that possible..."
Hearing that Qin Tuo could actually produce five hundred thousand, Han Zilin was completely astonished.
From what she knew of the Qin Family, even if they sold all their belongings and added all their savings from over the years, they probably couldn’t scrape together five hundred thousand!
The thug leader was a little surprised, but also very reluctant.
He coveted Han Zilin’s beauty, thinking that if he couldn’t get the money, enjoying himself with her for a while wouldn’t be a bad alternative.
Besides, the original principal was only a few thousand yuan. It wouldn’t be much of a loss for them.
But now, unexpectedly, Qin Tuo had stepped in.
’Still, this is good too. At least I can make a huge profit off him!’
"Kid, I’ll bet you won’t dare pull any tricks. Get in!"
One of the thugs opened the door to a van, motioning for Qin Tuo to get in first.
Qin Tuo patted Han Zilin’s head and smiled.
"Zilin, you go home and wait for me. I’ll be back in a little while."
Han Zilin said worriedly:
"Brother Tu, I can’t do that! How can I let you face this danger alone? No, I have to go with you!"
Though she was terrified, Han Zilin’s tone was resolute.
Qin Tuo comforted her, saying:
"Silly girl, if you come with me, I’ll only be more worried. So just be good and go home. That would actually be helping me out!"
Seeing Qin Tuo’s earnest expression, Han Zilin finally agreed, but tears were already streaming down her face.
She walked into her residential complex, looking back every few steps with extreme reluctance in her eyes.
She looked as if she were bidding Qin Tuo a final farewell.
"Let’s go, kid!"
a thug urged.
"What’s the rush?"
Qin Tuo just smiled casually and got into the van with a nonchalant air.
The thugs wasted no time and drove to a large bank in the city center.
After they got out, the thugs immediately stuck close to Qin Tuo.
"You’d better behave, kid. Our guys have already blocked off every exit here. There’s no way you can run."
Qin Tuo couldn’t even be bothered to respond to these petty thugs and walked straight toward the bank’s entrance.
"Hurry up and follow him inside! See what kind of trick he’s trying to pull!"
The thug leader told one of his underlings to go with him, and the two of them followed Qin Tuo into the bank lobby.
Fortunately, it wasn’t crowded today. After a short wait, Qin Tuo arrived at a teller window.
As soon as he sat down, Qin Tuo said:
"Hello, I’d like to make a withdrawal."
The bank teller didn’t even look up, saying lazily:
"A withdrawal? There’s an ATM by the entrance. Go use that."
But Qin Tuo just gave a helpless smile.
"Sorry, the amount I’m withdrawing might be a bit large. I’m afraid the ATM won’t be enough."
"Oh?"
Only then did the bank employee look up and give Qin Tuo a serious once-over.
She frowned slightly. Judging by his appearance, Qin Tuo didn’t look like someone with a large sum in his account.
So, she asked suspiciously:
"How much do you want to withdraw?"
Qin Tuo said:
"I want to withdraw five hundred thousand."
"What! Five hundred thousand?"
The heavyset female bank employee was also surprised. She hadn’t expected Qin Tuo to ask for such a large amount right off the bat.
Cash transactions of five hundred thousand weren’t common here.
Hearing the number "five hundred thousand," several other customers near the counter couldn’t help but look over at Qin Tuo curiously.
You have to understand, in this day and age, five hundred thousand was no small sum.
"Huh? Are you Qin Tuo?"
A woman nearby called out Qin Tuo’s name in surprise.
Qin Tuo turned to look. The woman was caked in heavy, gaudy makeup and wore a pungent perfume. For a moment, he honestly didn’t recognize her.
"I’m sorry, and you are?"
Qin Tuo asked politely.
The woman’s face immediately fell, her layers of foundation looking like they might crack and fall off.
"Qin Tuo, how can you not recognize me? It’s me, Zhang Wenxia!"
A hint of displeasure was evident in her voice.
"Oh, so it’s you..."
Qin Tuo finally remembered. This Zhang Wenxia had been a colleague of his at work two years ago.
Come to think of it, there had been a bit of a misunderstanding back then.
Zhang Wenxia had been fooling around with the project manager’s husband at the company, but she was found out.
The female manager later gave her a brutal beating and fired her on the spot!
At the time, Qin Tuo had accidentally stumbled upon their affair.
Because of that, Zhang Wenxia had always believed that Qin Tuo was the one who reported her, and she held a grudge against him to this day.
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