Chapter 39: Call Me Lei Feng
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Li Jie gaped at Lin Fan, disbelief in his wide eyes. This unassuming guy had skills!
His two bodyguards, each capable of taking on two men, didn't last a second against Lin Fan.
As Lin Fan's gaze turned to him, Li Jie shivered, feeling like needles pricked his back. "You… what do you want?" he stammered, his earlier arrogance gone.
Lin Fan flashed a warm smile, stepped forward, grabbed Li Jie's collar, and *slap*—landed a sharp hit across his face.
Li Jie froze, stunned, staring blankly at Lin Fan.
Desperate, he shouted to the crowd, "Who'll teach this kid a lesson? I'll pay a hundred thousand!"
No one moved.
A hundred thousand was chump change to this crowd.
Li Jie gritted his teeth. "Three hundred thousand!"
Still nothing.
"One million! Who'll step up for a million?"
But no one took the bait. They could see Lin Fan wasn't ordinary. A million wasn't worth crossing him.
Li Jie's heart sank, tasting the same despair the car model had felt. The crowd's indifference showed him how fickle people could be.
Trembling, he looked at Lin Fan. "I… I messed up. I won't come after you. I was just talking big, messing around!"
He thought begging would save him, but Lin Fan wasn't buying it. Another *slap* rang out.
Li Jie's face swelled, pig-like, blood trickling from his nose. He looked worse than Wang Shan had.
He stared at Lin Fan, aggrieved. "I admitted I was wrong! Why're you still hitting me?"
Lin Fan rubbed his nose, smirking. "We're adults here. You say you won't retaliate, and I'm supposed to believe you? What am I, a toddler?"
He had a point. Letting Li Jie go now would just invite revenge later. The seed of hatred was already planted.
Li Jie seethed but didn't dare speak. He was terrified of another hit.
Swallowing his anger, he pleaded, "I swear I messed up. Give me a chance—let's call this a fight that builds friendship!"
"I'll follow your lead, big brother…"
Lin Fan cut him off, scoffing. "You as my little brother? You've got no shame, but I do. I'd lose face showing up with you."
Ouch.
Li Jie nearly lost it. *This guy's ruthless! I was just being polite!*
What had he done in a past life to cross paths with this menace?
Lin Fan tossed Li Jie aside. "Enough talk. Let's discuss compensation."
*Compensation?*
Li Jie and the crowd blinked, confused.
You hit him, and *you* want compensation?
Lin Fan glared. "What're you staring at? Pay up!"
"My hand's sore from slapping you. You owe me medical expenses."
Li Jie just wanted out. He nodded frantically. "Right, right, compensation!"
Lin Fan nodded, satisfied. "I'll give you a 20% discount. One million."
Li Jie's forced smile froze, his hand hovering over his wallet.
One million?
Sure, his family had money, but it didn't grow on trees!
"Uh, a million's steep. How about five hundred thousand?" Li Jie ventured, humbled by his own extortion.
Lin Fan's face darkened. "Five hundred thousand? You think I'm a beggar?"
He raised his hand again.
Li Jie flinched, shouting, "One million, one million! I'll pay now!"
He handed over a bank card with exactly one million—the money he'd planned to spend on a car.
No car, no money.
Lin Fan took the card, patted Li Jie's shoulder, and grinned. "Good. Learn your lesson. Don't pull this crap again, got it?"
Li Jie's face was grim, but he nodded like a bobblehead. "Got it. Won't happen again."
Lin Fan waved him off. "Scram."
Li Jie bolted, but at a safe distance, he stopped, turned, and pointed at Lin Fan. "This isn't over, kid!"
Then he vanished.
Lin Fan shrugged. He'd already pissed off the Qinglong Gang—what was one more enemy?
The young car model approached cautiously. "Th-thank you!"
Lin Fan smiled and handed her the bank card Li Jie had given him.
She blinked, confused.
Lin Fan's smile widened. "I believe there are more good people in this world. Your family's in trouble, right?"
The car model gig looked glamorous, but everyone knew the shady side. Lin Fan figured no one would choose it unless they had to.
He loved money, but he had principles. Some lines he wouldn't cross.
The girl's lips trembled, her eyes welling up. Finally, someone understood her.
If life hadn't forced her hand, she'd never work a job like this.
She eyed the card longingly but pushed it back. "Thank you for helping me, but this is too much. I can't take it."
Lin Fan pouted, shoving the card into her hand. "You think I'm short on cash?"
"Take it."
With that, he turned and walked away, cool as ever, leaving his heroics unspoken.
The girl clutched the card, summoning her courage. "Can I know your name?"
"This million's a loan. When I graduate and get a job, I'll pay you back!"
A student, huh?
Lin Fan didn't turn, just waved, his voice ringing with noble flair through the hall. "Call me Lei Feng!"
The crowd: "…"
The girl: "…"