Shi Ran knew that coming here would cause some trouble, but she hadn't expected to actually run into it.
However, she was naturally unwilling to pay an extra one hundred and fifty thousand yuan for no reason.
"I'll give you forty thousand at most!" she said, lifting her chin slightly, feigning composure.
Because she was wearing a mask and a scarf that covered her face, they couldn't clearly see her appearance. But through the exposed skin and her eyes, they could tell she was extremely beautiful.
"I heard your parents sold their house to pay off your brother's debts," Li Heizui said with an evil grin. "I know you, a little girl, can't come up with that much money either. Brother is a kind person. As long as you follow me from now on, I won't ask for that money."
Shi Ran was wearing a long white down jacket, a red knitted scarf around her neck, and a high, long ponytail, revealing a fair and smooth forehead. Her bangs were fluffy little strands, giving her the appearance of a pure girl.
These thugs especially liked this kind of youthful girl. After all, they were used to all sorts of worldly women and found young girls refreshing.
In the underground billiard hall, Shi Ran, trying to maintain her composure, reasoned with Li Heizui. The other party was unyielding.
They demanded either fifty thousand yuan or she would be kept as their 'bandit queen'.
Time ticked by. Unable to persuade them, Shi Ran could only resort to threatening them with 'calling the police'.
Who knew that this very statement would directly enrage the group.
Meanwhile, Tang Si and his companions had just left Zhuo Rui Technology when Qing Muyan and Lu Yanming's phones rang simultaneously.
People in the business world typically used email for their phones, and the email notification sound was different from text messages.
The two thought it was an important work email and opened their phones, only to find a message from Shi Ran.
Qing Muyan and Lu Yanming stopped in their tracks and said in unison, "Shi Ran sent a message."
Han Yu and Tang Si looked at them. Tang Si asked, "What is it?"
Lu Yanming handed his phone to Han Yu and Tang Si. "She said she went to the underground billiard hall in the East District to find Li Heizui to repay usurious loans and asked us to rescue her immediately."
Tang Si looked at the email message and felt an inexplicable annoyance. His face darkened, and he muttered, "Stupid!"
It was infuriating that she had sent an email to Qing Muyan and Lu Yanming for help, but not to him!
"Let's get in the car. It's at most a twenty-minute drive to the billiard hall from here. I'll notify people on the other side first," Qing Muyan said, then comforted Tang Si, "Don't worry, she'll be fine."
The four got into the car. Tang Si drove, speeding along as if he wanted to turn the sedan into an F1 race car.
After Qing Muyan got in the car, he called his subordinates and instructed them to check the situation with Li Heizui at the underground billiard hall.
What should have been a twenty-minute drive, Tang Si completed in twelve minutes.
Running red lights and swerving lanes, the car created a thrilling scene reminiscent of Fast and Furious.
Upon arriving at the underground billiard hall, the four got out of the car. As soon as they stood firm, Lu Yanming and Han Yu rushed to the side and leaned against a tree, bending over and retching.
"Ugh... Damn... Mmmph..." Han Yu clutched his chest. "Damn it, I never want to ride in Xiao Si's car again."
"Ugh... Mmmph... Hiss..." Lu Yanming had already thrown up.
Qing Muyan cast a sympathetic glance at the two and went ahead with Tang Si into the underground billiard hall.
After going downstairs, they headed to the second basement level. Someone saw them approaching and instinctively tried to stop Tang Si, but upon glancing at Qing Muyan following closely behind, they obediently stood still and dared not speak.
"Take me to Li Heizui," Tang Si said.