Chapter 54: Family Background

The man in the black suit left, bruised and swollen, carrying a heart full of grievance and terror as he went back to report to his boss.

He knew that the interest on this debt was likely unrecoverable.

The other party was a ruthless character—the kind of ruthless that would smash your head open when angry. Someone you simply couldn't afford to provoke.

The boss probably wouldn't want to mess with someone like that either, right?

Fortunately, the principal had been recovered, so it wasn't entirely a loss.

It was just this face... he had taken a brick to the face for nothing... *Hiss!* It hurts!!!

*Sigh...*

...

Having sent the loan shark away, Lin Chuhan breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Wang Teng. "Wang Teng, just now... thank you."

"It's nothing!" Wang Teng shook his head, lighting a cigarette as he tucked his lighter away.

"Stop smoking!" Lin Chuhan said suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Smoking is bad for your health," Lin Chuhan said.

"You scared me so much I had to light one to calm my nerves!" Wang Teng replied.

"..." Lin Chuhan.

"Just kidding!" Wang Teng tossed the cigarette to the ground and crushed it with his foot.

Smoking in front of a girl really wasn't a good look.

"By the way, why are you here?" Lin Chuhan asked, suddenly curious.

"Would you believe me if I said I came here specifically to check on you?" Wang Teng smiled.

Lin Chuhan's heart skipped a beat. She quickly turned her face away, feeling her ears grow hot, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear to hide it.

"I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to go check on my mom."

Lin Chuhan ran back to the grocery store and explained the situation to her mother, telling her that the loan sharks had been dealt with and the IOU had been burned.

Mother Lin hugged Lin Chuhan, weeping with joy. She had truly been driven to the brink of madness by those people lately.

"By the way, Xiaohan, who did you borrow that money from? Tell him that even though we don't have much money right now, we will definitely pay him back as soon as possible," Mother Lin said, wiping her tears.

"I borrowed it from him." Lin Chuhan looked toward Wang Teng.

"Ah? Where would a young man like him get so much money?" Mother Lin asked, surprised.

"His family owns a company," Lin Chuhan said.

Mother Lin realized, then thought of something and asked suspiciously, "Xiaohan, are you two...?"

Seeing her mother's expression, Lin Chuhan knew exactly what she was thinking. She stomped her foot and said coquettishly, "Mom~ what are you thinking? He's my deskmate."

"Alright, alright, Mom wasn't thinking much, Mom wasn't thinking much," Mother Lin said quickly.

"You girl, why didn't you invite him into the house? He helped our family so much. I must personally express my gratitude to him."

Lin Chuhan was about to go call Wang Teng when she saw him already walking over leisurely.

"My mom says she wants to thank you personally," she told Wang Teng.

"That's right, Xiao Teng—I don't mind calling you that, do you? Thank you so much this time. Otherwise, we really wouldn't have known what to do," Mother Lin said gratefully.

"I don't mind, Auntie. Chuhan is my deskmate, and she helps me out a lot too. It's only right that I help her when she's in trouble," Wang Teng said.

"Good, good. Xiaohan is truly lucky to have a deskmate like you."

The more Mother Lin looked at Wang Teng, the more she liked him. What a good kid—even if he was a bit mischievous...

But he clearly looked like someone responsible, someone who could make things happen. He was polite and took care of Xiaohan. If he were a son-in-law... that wouldn't be bad at all.

In the Martial Era, one could marry at eighteen. Mother Lin felt it was time to start considering her daughter's lifelong affairs!

"Eat dinner at our house tonight!" Mother Lin suddenly became enthusiastic. "I'll go buy groceries right away. Xiaohan, you stay here and look after Xiao Teng."

Without giving Wang Teng or Lin Chuhan time to react, she rushed out the door.

Leaving Wang Teng and Lin Chuhan staring at each other, the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.

"Should I... leave first?" Wang Teng suggested.

"Leave? My mom has already gone to buy groceries. If you leave, how am I supposed to explain it when she gets back?" Lin Chuhan rolled her eyes.

"Just make up a reason, like I have something urgent to do," Wang Teng offered.

Lin Chuhan looked at Wang Teng.

Was this guy really that unwilling?

Although she felt embarrassed too, Wang Teng's apparent reluctance actually made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

"If you want to explain, explain it yourself. I'm not explaining anything," Lin Chuhan glared at him.

"Fine, fine. It's just a meal. I, Wang Teng, fear nothing!" Although he said this, he looked as if he were walking toward an execution ground.

Seeing him like this, Lin Chuhan finally realized—he wasn't unwilling, he was just a bit timid. Usually, he seemed fearless, and she had forgotten he was just a normal person after all.

She couldn't help but giggle secretly behind his back.

Standing in the shop, Wang Teng didn't quite know what to do. Seeing the candies scattered on the floor, he went over to help pick them up.

Lin Chuhan also snapped out of it. Looking at Wang Teng's back, her gaze grew even softer as she knelt down to help him.

"I'll transfer the remaining money to you later," she said, remembering the money.

"Okay!" Wang Teng nodded.

"As for that hundred thousand, I'll work during the summer break to earn it back and pay you," Lin Chuhan said.

"Actually, it's a hundred thousand and one hundred," Wang Teng joked.

"Yes, yes, a hundred thousand and one hundred. You stingy old crow," Lin Chuhan rolled her eyes.

"Hahaha..." Wang Teng laughed heartily, unbothered.

Lin Chuhan didn't realize that it was precisely this kind of respect hidden within their words that allowed their relationship to remain normal, without any rift caused by this incident.

...

Not long after, Mother Lin returned with groceries—large and small bags filled with fish and meat.

"Xiao Teng, you and Chuhan go sit upstairs for a bit while I cook," Mother Lin called out before diving into the kitchen to get busy.

"Let's go, upstairs," Lin Chuhan led Wang Teng toward the upper floor.

"Is your uncle not home?" Wang Teng asked.

Lin Chuhan bit her lip and said, "He's here. I'll take you to see him."

Wang Teng met Lin Chuhan's father: a drunken man, gaunt, with both legs missing.

"Your dad... how did he end up like this?" Wang Teng was truly shocked.

"My dad used to be a martial artist. After returning from an otherworldly realm once, he became like this. His teammates barely managed to save him, but not only did he lose his legs, his Origin Core was also shattered. He's completely become a cripple," Lin Chuhan explained gloomily.

"This..." Although Wang Teng knew the world of martial artists wasn't as beautiful as the rumors suggested, he never imagined it could be this cruel.

The shocking scars on Father Lin's body made his heart race just looking at them.

Furthermore, he never expected that Lin Chuhan's father had actually been a martial artist.

"Since you know how cruel the martial world is, why do you still want to practice martial arts? Why do you want to take the Martial Exam?" Wang Teng couldn't help but ask.

"I want revenge!" Lin Chuhan said through gritted teeth as she closed the door.

"Was it man-made?" Wang Teng was startled again.

"My dad's teammates said it was a trap set by their rivals that caused all of this," Lin Chuhan said.