Chapter 140: A Money-Losing Wretch

Inside the VIP suite, Yao Chuchu stood rigidly, not daring to move. Lu Feng gestured toward the sofa and said, "Sit down. Don't just stand there."

Yao Chuchu hesitated for a moment before slowly moving to sit beside him. She knew what was expected to happen; when she was first brought to the nightclub, she understood that this would be inevitable. She had told herself to endure it, that it would pass, but now that the moment was truly upon her, she felt an inexplicable sense of fear.

Lu Feng reached out toward her face, intending to touch her earlobe. Yao Chuchu recoiled instinctively, her heart pounding wildly. However, she dared not resist, so her movement was slight, and she forced herself to endure it.

Lu Feng pinched her earlobe, removed her earring, and said, "Did you just get your ears pierced? They look a bit inflamed. You shouldn't wear earrings."

"I... I just got them done today..." In truth, Yao Chuchu had felt a throbbing pain in her earlobes all along, but she had been so overwhelmed by worry and panic throughout the night that she hadn't paid it any mind. Hearing Lu Feng’s remark, she quickly took off the other earring as well.

Lu Feng crossed his legs and asked, "You mentioned your father is ill. What kind of illness is it?"

"I don't know," she replied. "He just coughs constantly. It's very severe."

Usually, a cough suggests a respiratory issue—likely the trachea or the lungs. Of course, it could be something minor like a cold or fever, but if she had to sell her body at a nightclub to pay for medical expenses, it was unlikely to be trivial.

Lu Feng asked again, "Does he cough up blood?"

"No, I haven't seen any blood," she answered.

Lu Feng considered this for a moment before asking, "Do you want the money to take your father to the hospital, or would you like me to examine him?"

"I don't know what to do; you decide..." Yao Chuchu said nervously, her body trembling because she felt that whatever was meant to happen was about to begin.

Noticing her trembling, Lu Feng asked, "Are you cold?"

Yao Chuchu was incoherent; she shook her head, yet her lips whispered, "A little..."

Lu Feng began to take off his jacket. Out of the corner of her eye, Yao Chuchu saw his movements and slowly closed her eyes, bracing herself for what was to come. The rustling sound of clothing filled her ears. A few seconds later, a garment was draped over her shoulders.

She opened her eyes, looked at the jacket covering her, and then stared blankly at Lu Feng. Only then did she realize his intention. She whispered a quiet, "Thank you..."

***

Lu Feng checked his watch. Over half an hour had passed, so he stood up and said, "I'll take you home."

"Can I leave now?"

"Would you rather stay here?"

Yao Chuchu shook her head hurriedly and followed Lu Feng out of the suite.

"Zhabo" Qiang was downstairs drinking. Seeing Lu Feng descend, he cast a glance at Yao Chuchu behind him. Although she was wearing Lu Feng's jacket, Qiang could tell at a glance that she hadn't been touched; her hair was neat, and there were no signs of perspiration on her face or skin.

Nevertheless, Qiang greeted Lu Feng with a grin. "Did you have a good time, Young Master Lu?"

Lu Feng nodded. "It was fine."

"Don't take today's incident to heart, Young Master Lu. I'll deal with that blind fool, Black Coffee, properly," Qiang promised.

Lu Feng said nothing more and led Yao Chuchu out of the nightclub. Guo Yanzhi had been waiting downstairs and quickly followed them out. "Do you want a report on the whole situation?"

"Later. Let’s get the girl home first," Lu Feng said, opening the car door for her. Guo Yanzhi climbed in as well, and Lu Feng drove off, following the address Yao Chuchu provided.

As they drove, the streets became increasingly desolate and the streetlights dimmer. Eventually, they entered an old residential area. The environment was poor, the streets were narrow, and debris was scattered haphazardly along the roadside. It was clear from the surroundings that Yao Chuchu’s family situation was indeed dire.

The car stopped in front of a dilapidated house. After getting out, Yao Chuchu thanked Lu Feng repeatedly. "Thank you so much..."

Lu Feng stepped out, looked at her front door, and asked, "Would you like me to come in and check your father's pulse?"

"Is that... okay?" Yao Chuchu worried about her messy home and felt a deep sense of inferiority.

Before Lu Feng could enter, someone emerged from inside.

A man in his forties or fifties stepped out, carrying half a bottle of loose rice wine. He looked at Yao Chuchu, then scrutinized Lu Feng and Guo Yanzhi. Finally, pointing at Lu Feng, he demanded, "So, you're the one who brought my daughter back?"

"I am," Lu Feng replied.

"Good. Did you pay up? Fifty thousand!" The father held up five fingers.

Lu Feng frowned slightly. "I am a doctor. I can examine your father for free."

"What!" Upon hearing "free," the man immediately flew into a rage. "Who asked you to treat me? Do you even know what kind of sickness I have? I don't want your treatment, I want the money! Fifty thousand, not a cent less! You touched my daughter, and you're trying to welch on the deal? You look all dressed up like a gentleman, don't tell me you can't even cough up fifty thousand!"

Lu Feng realized the situation was not what he had imagined and glanced at Guo Yanzhi. Guo Yanzhi shrugged; he had known the general circumstances of Yao Chuchu's family but hadn't had the chance to tell him.

Yao Chuchu felt humiliated. She grabbed her father's arm, trying to pull him back inside. "Dad! You've misunderstood! He's not that kind of person—"

"What do you mean he's not!" Her father shook her off and cursed, "You ungrateful wretch! You climbed up the social ladder and now you want to kick your own father to the curb? I raised you with such hardship, and this is how you repay me? I don't expect you to support me in my old age, but now you won't even get me medical money!"

Lu Feng could tell just by looking at him that the man had a habit of drinking and smoking. While his health was clearly poor—the cough likely stemming from the cigarettes—he did not appear to be suffering from any terminal illness. It seemed the father was merely looking for a handout.

Having assessed the situation, Lu Feng lost interest in staying. He climbed back into the car, ready to leave.

The father stumbled forward, blocking the car's path, and slapped the hood. "You dressed-up piece of trash! You think you can just finish your business and leave? If you don't leave the money today, you’ll have to run me over!"

"Dad! Stop it!" Yao Chuchu grabbed his arm again. The state of her family made her feel so ashamed she could have died.

"Nothing happened with your daughter. Please move," Lu Feng said, his expression darkening and his voice turning cold.

"You say nothing happened, and that's it? My daughter went out with you all night and you only just brought her back! You think a simple 'nothing happened' wipes the slate clean?" The father pounded his wine bottle against the hood with a loud clang.

Yao Chuchu clung to her father’s arm, sobbing as she knelt on the ground. "Dad! I beg you, please stop..."