Chapter 2: Relatives

Luocheng, Central Garden.

Chen Shuo and Wang Huiling stood before the gate of a villa. Outside the beige courtyard wall hung a natural wood sign: "Central Garden Villa 33, Peace and Joy."

Wang Huiling said with a sour, mocking tone, "Back when your eldest brother’s family first moved into this house, your sister-in-law would invite us over for barbecue every few days, as if she were the only one with a villa and a yard. She just loved to show off!"

"Don't you have a villa now, too?" Chen Shuo said smugly. "If it weren't for your man being smart, would you be able to live in a villa?"

Wang Huiling happily hooked her arm through Chen Shuo’s. "Look at you, so full of yourself!"

Chen Shuo pressed his fingerprint to open the gate. As the door swung open, a grand, high-ceilinged living room with a crystal chandelier came into view, furnished with genuine Italian leather sofas.

However, on the most prominent coffee table in the living room sat a black-and-white framed photo of Chen Ji’s parents, with fresh fruit placed before it.

Wang Huiling muttered, "How unlucky." She added, "Why put a memorial portrait in the living room? Does Chen Ji have no sense of propriety? Isn't it creepy? Even if he isn't disgusted, how awkward would it be for a guest to see this?"

*Clang.* Chen Shuo carelessly tossed the portrait into the trash can.

Back then, when he wanted to partner up for a big business venture, he had asked his eldest brother for four million. His brother insisted he wasn't cut out for big business and only gave him two hundred thousand to open a small supermarket, treating him like a beggar.

Wang Huiling sat on the leather sofa, touching this and that. She looked at the hundred-inch LCD TV opposite them and said happily, "How comfortable would it be to watch dramas here? They really lived like royalty before."

"Forget the TV, hurry upstairs and find the property deed. I remember they bought some gold, too; find that as well."

On the second-floor hallway wall hung honor certificates: "Three-Good Student," "Luocheng Go Tournament First Prize"—all belonging to Chen Ji.

Wang Huiling curled her lip at the sight. "Every time we came over, your sister-in-law would drag us to the second floor to show these off. She loved to flaunt them. Throw them away, they’re an eyesore."

Wang Huiling couldn't wait a second longer; she began tearing the certificates off the wall and throwing them on the floor.

Opening the bedroom doors, they found Chen Ji’s room stacked with books, mostly military science, detective and mystery novels, spy thrillers, and various professional reference books.

On the desk sat an admission letter from the PLA Foreign Languages Institute.

Chen Shuo and Wang Huiling rummaged through the room, clearing out and discarding the belongings of Chen Ji’s family. It seemed that only by erasing these traces would the house truly belong to them.

In the living room, Chen Shuo scratched his thinning scalp. "Hey, where’s the property deed? Where did Chen Ji keep his real estate certificate?"

"Could he have guessed something and hidden the deed elsewhere?"

"That’s impossible, right? Old Liu said he still thinks we’re doing this for his own good."

Wang Huiling hurriedly said, "We *are* doing it for his own good. After his parents passed, he stayed cooped up at home all day. If this keeps up, something is bound to go wrong; he’s completely disconnected from society!"

*Ding-dong.*

The doorbell rang.

Chen Shuo paused. "Who could that be at this hour?"

He went to open the door. Standing outside was a middle-aged man in a black Tang suit. He had dark skin and a short, crew-cut hairstyle that looked exceptionally sharp. "Where is Chen Ji?"

Chen Shuo asked suspiciously, "Chen Ji isn't home. If you have business, tell me. I’m his second uncle."

"Second uncle?" The middle-aged man pushed past Chen Shuo and walked in. Only then did Chen Shuo notice someone following behind him.

This man was completely bald, with a ten-centimeter scar running like a centipede from the crown of his head to the back of his neck.

"Who the hell are you?" Wang Huiling retreated in terror. "We’re calling the police!"

The middle-aged man looked around as if no one else were there. "Friends like to call me Pao Ge. I usually handle some lending business. The guy behind me is my little brother, Er Dao. Don't be afraid; Er Dao’s scar looks fierce, but he actually just tripped and fell while working on a construction site years ago. His brain isn't quite right now; he’s a bit rigid."

Pao Ge continued, "We’re here because Chen Ji used this house as collateral. He called this afternoon to say he couldn't pay back the money, so he asked me to come collect the house."

"What?!" Wang Huiling was horrified. "How could he mortgage this house? This house is ours!"

"Oh?" Pao Ge said calmly. "The deed is in Chen Ji’s name. What does that have to do with you?"

"How much did he borrow?" Chen Shuo asked nervously.

"Fifteen million," Pao Ge sat on the sofa with a commanding air. "We follow the rules. As long as the customer pays back the principal and interest, we have no issues. But I’ve taken a liking to this house. No need to pay back the money; the house belongs to me."

"No!" Wang Huiling shrieked. "Chen Ji is a mental patient! The mortgage contract he signed is invalid."

This reminded Chen Shuo, and he shouted, "That’s right! Chen Ji is a mental patient. We have his medical diagnosis right here!"

Pao Ge frowned.

He looked at the date on the diagnosis in Chen Shuo’s hand and laughed in anger. Chen Ji had arranged for him to come collect the house tonight, but then produced a diagnosis at the last minute—he was clearly trying to set him up. Not having the money to pay back a debt was one thing, but treating him like a fool was crossing the line. "So that’s the game. You two conspired to pull a scam on me, didn't you? Kneel."

"What?" Chen Shuo almost thought he had misheard the last two words.

Er Dao: "Pao Ge, kneel where?"

"In front of me."

Before Chen Shuo and Wang Huiling could react, Er Dao grabbed them and dragged them before Pao Ge. With a kick to the back of each of their knees, the two of them were forced to their knees.

Pao Ge leaned down and stared at Chen Shuo. "I’ve been in the streets for so many years; what haven't I seen? You think you’re qualified to scam me? Break a finger, then we can talk properly."

Er Dao: "Break which one?"

"The index finger."

Er Dao: "Which joint?"

Pao Ge helplessly scratched his eyebrow. "The second one, I guess."

The conversation was bizarre. Er Dao was methodical; he did exactly what Pao Ge told him to do.

Er Dao’s hand gripped Chen Shuo’s index finger like iron pliers, and with a *crack*, he precisely snapped the second joint.

"Ah!" Chen Shuo screamed in pain.

"I’m calling the police!" Wang Huiling yelled.

Pao Ge: "Er Dao, slap her."

"How hard?"

Pao Ge sneered, "Slap her until she sees her great-grandmother."

Er Dao pondered for two seconds, then swung his arm in a full circle and slapped Wang Huiling, sending her vision into darkness.

After the slap, Er Dao observed Wang Huiling’s expression, then turned to Pao Ge and said seriously, "She should have seen her."

Pao Ge took the diagnosis from Chen Shuo’s hand. "I’m a reasonable man. Since Chen Ji says he can't pay, the house is mine. Normally, that would be the end of it. But I hate being lied to. Since you two set a trap to scam me, you have to accept the consequences."

"No!" Chen Shuo gradually realized the truth. "No, no, no! We didn't set this up to scam you! Chen Ji is the one scamming you! We were scammed too!"

"Oh?"

Chen Shuo’s finger throbbed, sweat pouring down his forehead. "Chen Ji said he couldn't pay, so he asked you to collect the house. But as far as I know, his parents left him at least thirty million! He couldn't possibly be short on money, he doesn't need to mortgage this house, and he certainly doesn't need to default on your debt!"

This actually surprised Pao Ge. Chen Ji wasn't short on money?

As Chen Shuo analyzed the situation, his own mind cleared: Chen Ji’s behavior at Qingshan Hospital that afternoon was all an act, just to get them to bring the diagnosis back and provoke Pao Ge, while Chen Ji himself stayed safely tucked away in the hospital.

That was why Chen Ji hadn't chosen a legitimate bank, but instead picked a ruthless man from the streets to take the house!

Pao Ge was thoughtful. "Chen Ji? He seemed so honest and shy. You aren't trying to trick me, are you?"

He recalled his impression of Chen Ji; the boy had been exceptionally shy and soft-spoken when signing the contract.

Could a student raised in a greenhouse really have the heart to play everyone?

Seeing his hesitation, Chen Shuo continued, "Don't you see? He scammed me too! I didn't even know he signed a mortgage contract with you until now—doesn't that prove it? And you want this house, right? He has the money to pay you back at any time. Once you finish me off, he’ll just redeem the house, and you’ll only make a bit of interest! He’s playing you!"

Pao Ge smiled faintly. "So, according to you, I’ve been used by a high schooler?"

"He’s not a high schooler. He was specially admitted to the PLA Foreign Languages Institute."

Pao Ge raised an eyebrow. "That school teaches more than just foreign languages; the people who come out of there are military attachés... Interesting. Where is Chen Ji now?"

"At Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital!"