At first, Apple Bro didn’t answer. Fan Jia persisted and kept calling. After twenty or thirty rings, Chen Zhaoci finally picked up, his voice lowered and tone gentle: "Lingling, what’s the matter?"
Fan Jia had the call on speakerphone, and Xu Mengshan was recording it simultaneously. Hearing the address, Xu Mengshan’s eyebrow twitched mockingly. By now, Fan Jia was fully immersed in her role, panicking: "Apple Bro, I just received a text saying the interest and late fees I owe are almost 2,000 already! What’s going on? Didn’t you say the interest was only a little over 100 a week? How could it be so much? How can I pay it back?!"
Chen Zhaoci on the other end was silent for a moment before replying, "The 100-plus is the interest on 10,000. You borrowed another 20,000 a few days ago."
Fan Jia, with a tearful voice: "But that should only add up to 300 or 400!"
Chen Zhaoci sighed and said, "You didn’t pay last week’s interest, so late fees were incurred. That’s why it adds up to this much."
"...Late fees? But how could it be so much?"
Chen Zhaoci patiently explained: "Because when you borrow from our company, no collateral is required—just your ID and student card as proof. The premise is that our company supports college students in starting businesses, so we place a lot of trust in students. We’re taking a big risk. You don’t understand finance, but from a financial perspective, since we’ve given you such great trust and taken such significant risks, the legally stipulated late fees are correspondingly high. Does that make sense to you?"
Fan Jia adopted a tone of half-understanding panic: "Then... then what should I do? 2,000 a week! I can’t possibly pay that back!"
Surprisingly, Chen Zhaoci actually offered her advice: "Didn’t you just borrow 20,000 the other day? Use some of that to pay off the interest first."
On her end, Fan Jia rolled her eyes and cried, "But that money was for an emergency at home—my dad is still in the hospital... I already transferred it all to them. I really don’t have a single cent left now. Apple Bro, what should I do? I really don’t know what to do! If I can’t pay the interest this week, what... what will happen?"
Chen Zhaoci’s tone darkened: "That would be quite troublesome. The interest will definitely keep increasing. And we have an agreement—if you delay repayment, it will seriously impact your personal credit. In the future, when you try to get a mortgage or even take trains or planes, you’ll be blacklisted! And it’s illegal!"
"Then what should I do? I really have no money! Apple Bro, could you... would it be possible for you to lend me some money?"
Chen Zhaoci sighed and replied, "I only graduated a few years ago and I’m still paying off my mortgage. To be honest, a couple of years ago, I helped a few juniors, but... the money went down the drain. You heard Brother Li say that the other day. So I’m a bit tight on funds myself."
Fan Jia: "You really can’t help me? Or... or could the company lend me another sum to tide me over? I’ve already stocked up on inventory! As soon as the online store opens, I’ll be able to pay it back quickly! Please lend me some more!"Chen Zhaoci let out a deep sigh and said, "I really shouldn't agree to this. Firstly, borrowing more money worries me about the pressure you'll face later. But since the interest needs to be repaid, and we must choose the lesser of two evils, paying off the interest is more important—because if your credit record gets tarnished, it's a lifelong issue! Secondly, you have no collateral, so under normal circumstances, you wouldn't be able to borrow any more money. Just try looking around—who would lend you 30,000 yuan without any collateral? And now you want to borrow even more! It's just... just that according to company policy, you'll need to provide some collateral this time."
Fan Jia: "What could I possibly use as collateral? I have nothing."
Chen Zhaoci fell silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly, "Actually, it's quite simple. Just record a video explaining the loan and send it over."
Fan Jia: "Really? Then I'll record it right away."
"Wait a moment," Chen Zhaoci said. "A simple video doesn't really provide any security for our company. Don't worry—I won't see this video, nor will anyone else in the company. Only the lady in the finance department will see it, and it absolutely won't be shared."
Fan Jia: "Wh-what do you mean?"
Chen Zhaoci said, "Actually, many of your female classmates have done this before—it's nothing. You'll need to take off all your clothes, be completely naked, hold your ID card, and record the video. As long as we have this, the funds will be released to you the next day."
Author's Note:
Don't misunderstand, everyone—the male lead won't recover just yet. When the time for his recovery truly comes, I'll give you a clear signal. Our ultimate scheming male lead must make a dazzling entrance with a thunderclap from the sky! So what's wrong with the male lead today? Just a temporary lapse in judgment. A precursor to his recovery.
OpenNovel