Chapter 038 Selling His Daughter

Lu Yuan turned to see three men behind him.

The middle-aged man at the center wore stained clothes, his sallow face lit by greedy eyes that crawled over Lu Yuan like roaches. Two cocky youths flanked him, sizing up Lu Yuan's designer clothes with predatory grins.

So this is Cheng Xiao's gambling addict father, Lu Yuan realized, recalling her stories of being nearly sold to settle debts. His smile stayed polite. "And you are…?"

"Cheng Zhengyuan! That ungrateful brat's father!" The man puffed his chest, though his posture wilted when glimpsing the Rolls-Royce behind Lu Yuan. "Who the hell are you? Why're you with my daughter?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Lu Yuan spread his hands innocently. "I'm courting Xiao."

Instead of outrage, Cheng Zhengyuan's eyes glittered. "You're her boyfriend?"

"Still working on that." Lu Yuan feigned bashfulness, glancing at the thugs. "Friends of yours?"

"Y-yes! Business partners!" Cheng flinched under the youths' glare.

"Let me treat you to lunch," Lu Yuan offered smoothly.

Before Cheng could accept, a thug gripped his shoulder. "Money first," the goon growled.

Cheng licked cracked lips. "Little Lu… could you lend this uncle some cash? Just a small loan—10,000 yuan! My business is about to—"

"Uncle Cheng," Lu Yuan cut in, "I'd need an IOU. Considering I'm not family yet…"

"Of course! I'll write it now!" Cheng nearly salivated.

As the driver fetched stationery, Cheng pressed the paper against the Rolls' trunk—until Lu Yuan cleared his throat. Jerking back like scalded, the gambler hastily scribbled on his palm.

At the amount field, Cheng paused. "Actually… how about 300,000?"

Lu Yuan's gaze flicked toward the school gates.

"Take her!" Cheng blurted. "She's yours! That brat refuses, I'll break her legs myself!"

"How reassuring." Lu Yuan's smile turned arctic as he accepted the IOU. His stomach churned when Cheng produced a personal inkpad from his grimy jacket—professional debtor's kit.

After transferring funds, Cheng clutched his phone like a holy relic. "Good son-in-law! So generous!" He scurried to the thugs' van, cackling, "That idiot actually paid to rape my daughter!"

The engine roared toward the casino.

Alone now, Lu Yuan spat on the pavement. "Filth." Every yuan felt tainted, but necessary—better this than Cheng snatching Xiao from school.

He glared at the Rolls. Need more leverage. His fingers tightened around the car door. Time to invest in real power.