Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Chiba Yumeyu stood at the entrance of the Ash Gang and took a deep breath.

This is an inconspicuous old building with most of the exterior tiles missing, revealing the blackened cement underneath.

The iron gate downstairs was ajar, the doorknob rusted. If the young man squatting by the door smoking hadn't glanced at her, she would never have guessed this was Ash Gang territory.

"Who should I look for?"

The young man exhaled a puff of smoke and looked her up and down.

"I'm looking for your boss."

Chiba Yumeyu said, her voice more steady than she had expected, "I'm here to talk about my younger brother."

"Wait."

The young man looked at the girl in front of him, raised an eyebrow, stubbed out his cigarette, pushed open the iron gate, and called inside, "Brother Rong, a girl is looking for the boss, saying she's here to talk about her brother."

There was silence for a few minutes, then a voice came out: "Let her up."

The young man stepped aside and gestured towards the stairs with his chin: "Third floor."

Chiba Yume gripped the strap of her backpack tightly and went inside.

The stairs were narrow and creaked when you stepped on them.

The corridors on the first and second floors are still covered with old, dusty tiles, and the gaps are filled with grime that can't be washed off.

Several patches of plaster had peeled off the wall, revealing the blackened cement underneath. The air was filled with the smells of smoke, alcohol, and the musty odor typical of old houses.

But when she got to the third floor, things suddenly changed.

The floor beneath my feet was no longer made of ceramic tiles, but rather solid wood flooring with a dark red sheen, without the creaking sound that old floors usually make.

The walls on both sides of the corridor were painted snow-white, and several paintings hung on them. They didn't look like the cheap goods you see on the first or second floor; they were properly framed.

Although I don't know the name of Chiba Yumeyu, it looks expensive.

Two henchmen stood at the top of the stairs, dressed in clean clothes and standing ramrod straight.

Upon entering the room, the musty and smoky smells disappeared, replaced by a faint woody fragrance.

It's not strong, just faint, and its scent brings a sense of peace.

Upon entering the room, you can see that the lights are very bright, with warm yellow light evenly shining down, and the furniture inside looks like it's very expensive.

If she didn't know where she was, she would have thought she had entered the living room of some well-mannered person.

Liu Hu sat on the sofa with a cup of tea in front of him. He smiled when he saw Qianye Mengyu come up. His tone was as friendly as if he were greeting a neighbor's child, "You're here? Make yourself at home, sit wherever you like, don't be shy."

Chiba Yumeyu stood still.

Tiger didn't mind and waved to the person next to him: "Go, pour Miss Chiba a cup of tea. Oh, by the way, didn't I just get a box of pastries from Maple Leaf District yesterday? Bring it here."

Someone responded and quickly brought over a cup of tea and a plate of rather exquisite-looking pastries.

Chiba Yumeyu looked at those things, remaining silent.

Binghu leaned back on the sofa, smiling at her: "Your brother is doing well here with me, don't worry. He eats well and lives well. It's just that sometimes when his addiction kicks in, he gets a little rowdy. You know that, there's nothing I can do about it."

Chiba Yumeyu's fingernails dug into her palm.

"I want to see him."

"Of course, we can meet anytime."

The sickly tiger picked up his teacup, took a sip, and smiled kindly, "But you've come all this way, you must be tired. Sit down, have something to eat, and drink some tea before we talk~"

Chiba Yumeyu stood still.

Binghu looked at her, put down his teacup, and sighed.

"Why won't you listen to advice, kid? Fine, if you don't want to sit, then don't. Let's talk business."

He held out his hand, and someone next to him handed him a notebook.

The sick tiger opened the book, glanced at it, and slowly said, "Miss Chiba, your brother has been spending 130,000 on food, drink, entertainment, and women while I'm here. Then there's your father, who owes us 80,000. In total, it's 210,000. Here's the bill. You can take a look if you don't believe me."

As he spoke, he handed the bill to Chiba Yumeyu. Chiba Yumeyu looked at the bill in front of her and gripped the strap of her backpack tightly.

"I----"

She spoke, her voice a little dry, "I don't have that much money right now."

"I know."

Lame Tiger closed the notebook, tossed it aside, and chuckled, "So I didn't expect you to return it now."

He leaned forward, clasped his hands on his knees, and looked at Chiba Yumeyu.

"I've inquired about you. You're in the Abyss Biology Department at Holly University, with good grades and highly regarded by your professors. You have a bright future after graduation. As for me, I won't make things difficult for you. Your younger brother is with me; consider it me supporting him for you. After you graduate, come and work for me for a few years, and we'll call it even."

"————"

Chiba Yume looked at him with some surprise and doubt, but more so with wariness.

Epilepsy Tiger chuckled. "Don't worry, all I want is the knowledge in your head to work for us. As for women, do you think our gang lacks them?"

Chiba Yumeyu was silent for a few seconds. "Can I see my younger brother first?"

Lame Tiger raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Alright. Scarface, take her there."

At this moment, a man with a scar on his face walked over and gestured for Chiba Yume to follow him.

As soon as Chiba Yume took a step forward, the man reached out his hand: "Let me keep your phone for now."

Chiba Yume gripped her phone tightly.

"That's the rule."

The scarred man's tone was perfectly calm. "I'll return it to you when I get out."

Chiba Yu looked at him, then at the smiling, lame tiger on the sofa.

She handed him the phone.

Scarface took it and put it in his pocket. Then he turned and walked inside.

Chiba Yume followed behind him.

After passing through a door, there is another corridor.

At the end of the corridor was a door, an ordinary white wooden door, which was quite clean.

Scarface pushed open the door and stepped aside.

Chiba Yume went inside.

The air conditioner was blowing warm air.

The windows were large, the curtains were light-colored, and the floor was covered with composite flooring, which was swept very clean.

A large bed with neat sheets was placed against the wall. On the other side were a desk, a wardrobe, and a large sofa.

The television, mounted on the wall, was playing the news, but the volume was very low.

The coffee table was piled high with things: snacks, fruits, drinks, several exquisite pastry boxes, and leftover seafood.

There was a strange smell in the air.

The aroma of fried chicken, the warm air from the air conditioner, and a familiar, sweet scent that made her heart flutter.

Her gaze fell on the sofa.

Her brother was sitting there.

She was wearing a clean sweatshirt, her hair was fluffy, and she looked very energetic.

But he had a glamorous girl in his arms, who was dressed very little and was holding a small bottle, putting something under his nose.

Hayato Chiba tilted his head back, looking completely entranced, a silly, smug smile playing on his lips.

Two women were sitting nearby, playing on their phones and eating sunflower seeds, occasionally glancing up as if watching a show.

Chiba Yumeyu stood at the door.

Hayato Chiba took a breath, his shoulders trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Until he saw the person at the door.

His expression changed.

He suddenly shoved the girl in his arms away. The girl stumbled and almost fell, cursing something.

"sister--

'

Her younger brother stood up, his voice trembling, "Sister, what are you doing here?"

Chiba Yumeyu looked at him.

Looking at his clean hoodie, his fluffy hair, and the tablet behind him that was still playing a movie.

Looking at the table full of snacks, at the women, and at this room that was even more comfortable than his own rented apartment.

She didn't say anything.

Just watching.

Scarface chuckled beside him.

"I'm not kidding you, am I? Your brother is eating and living well here. Isn't this much more comfortable than the shabby house you used to live in?"

Chiba Yumeyu ignored him and just looked at her younger brother.

Hayato Chiba stood there, his face still showing signs of panic. He wrung his hands nervously, muttering, "Sister—I—I just—they've been really good to me—"

Chiba Yumeyu closed her eyes.

two seconds.

Then open your eyes.

Scarface walked up to her, softening his tone as if he were advising her.

"Miss Chiba, our Tiger Brother genuinely wants to cooperate with you. Look, your brother is right here; we haven't mistreated him, have we?"

We'll treat him to good food and drink, and even find ways to entertain him. As long as you agree to help us, you can have the same kind of environment.

He paused, then added, "Don't worry, we're not asking you to sell ash or anything like that. You'll do the same thing you normally do at your company outside. Help us write reports, analyze data, it's a proper job. And with the Ash Gang protecting you, you two siblings can walk around the Parrot District with your heads held high. Nobody will dare bully you."

Chiba Yumeyu looked around the room.

Looking at the bewildered younger brother, the women still eating sunflower seeds, and the table full of snacks and the still-bubbling Coke.

She suddenly felt very tired, a kind of tiredness that seeped into her bones.

"sister----"

Hayato Chiba called out again, his voice tinged with a hint of pleading, "You—you'll say yes to them, right? They've really been good to me—"

Chiba Yumeyu looked at him.

Those brown eyes were different from the ones she remembered.

If there was light inside before, now there is only a chaotic, drifting black mist.

She didn't say anything.

Turn around.

Walk outside.

"sister"

Without pausing, Chiba Yume walked out of the room.

Back on the third floor, Binghu was still sitting in the same spot, his tea now replaced with a fresh cup. He saw Qianye Mengyu come out and flashed that same smile again.

"How about it? I wasn't lying to you, was I?"

Chiba Yume stood in front of him.

I promise you.

The sick tiger's eyes lit up.

"After graduation, I'll work for you. But you have to guarantee my brother's survival. He can't touch those things again, and he can't die. After I pay off my father's and brother's debts, you can't stop us from leaving!"

Sick Tiger laughed and sank into the sofa: "Miss Chiba, don't worry, our Ash Gang never forces anyone to buy or sell. We always prioritize mutual consent."

After saying that, he waved to the person next to him: "Scarface, give the phone back to Ms. Chiba, and then bring over the contract that was prepared earlier."

In no time, the contract, pen, and seal were ready.

A contract lay open in front of Chiba Yumeyu, covered in black and white text.

She didn't look at it closely, and it wouldn't have mattered anyway. What was written in the contract was completely unimportant; what mattered was that once she signed it, she would no longer be herself.

Liu Hu sat on the opposite sofa, smiling at her, his tone as kind as if he were concerned for a junior, "Have you thought it through?"

"Sign this contract, and your brother's matter will be wiped clean. After you graduate, you can work for me. I'll take care of your father and brother, ensuring they're never hungry or cold, and that no one is bullied. Isn't that a good deal?"

Chiba Yume gripped the pen tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The conditions for treating epilepsy tigers cannot be described as harsh, but rather as extremely generous.

The offer was so generous that she couldn't refuse even if she wanted to.

At this moment, the first person she thought of wasn't her father or brother, but Bai Yuze, the one who gave her a sandwich at the convenience store.

Finally, Chiba Yumeyu closed her eyes.

Then open your eyes.

The pen tip landed on the paper.

Just then, someone shouted, "Wait!"

An old, hoarse voice boomed from the stairwell.

Ye Mengyu suddenly turned around and saw her standing at the top of the stairs.

This is Ye Dazhi.

The old man, who usually drank a little wine every day, grumbled and never moved, stood at the top of the stairs, hunched over, panting heavily. His face was covered in sweat, and his clothes were wrinkled, as if he had run all the way from somewhere.

Two grumbling young thugs stood behind him, clearly unable to stop him.

Ye Dazhi didn't look at them. He stared at his daughter by the coffee table, then at the lame tiger sitting on the sofa, his eyes red as if they were about to bleed.

"Release my daughter!"

Tumor Tiger frowned.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray with a light touch, but the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.

Scarface glared angrily at the man digging, "Old man Ye, how did you get in here? Do you even know where this place is? You just barged in!"

J

Taishi Chiba did not answer.

He took one step forward, then another, until he reached the coffee table and pulled his daughter behind him.

Ye Mengyu stumbled as he pulled her, and Ari's pen fell to the ground.

"dad----"

"Don't speak."

Ye Dazhi didn't turn around, but stared at Binghu. "I'll talk about my son and me. You want money? I'll give it to you. You want my life? Take it."

The sick tiger looked at him.

The room fell silent for a few seconds.

Then the scarred man next to him laughed.

He tilted his head, looking Ye Dazhi up and down with a mocking expression on his face.

"Old man Ye, do you know how much money you owe us in total?"

Chiba Taishi didn't look at him, but stared at Liu Hu: "I know, my son has 130,000, and I have 80,000."

"Two hundred and one thousand."

Scarface took a step forward and continued, "Tell me, what will you use to pay me back? Your dilapidated house? Or your old bones?"

As he spoke, he walked up to Ye Dazhi and poked Ye Dazhi on the shoulder.

"Old man Ye, I think you haven't grasped the situation. It's your daughter begging us to take her in and work, not the other way around. Understand?"

Ye Dazhi didn't move.

He simply looked at the ailing tiger and said clearly, word by word, "My daughter will not sign."

The sick tiger's face darkened, and he looked at him quietly: "This Mr. Ye, I respect you as an elder and will speak to you politely. Please don't be rude."

"I won't allow you to be so kind?"

Ye Dazhi suddenly laughed, a hideous laugh. "My son has already been ruined by you, and now my daughter's eyes are going to be ruined. You tell me, what does it mean to 'give someone a break'?"

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