chapter 5 promise

Amos Wu was utterly stunned.
He never imagined that a medical incident could push him to such a desperate situation!
After Archibald Li left with his people, Amos Wu rushed to Erica Xu and knelt before her.
"Sister Erica, you must save me!"
"I did my best in this matter, but somehow it went awry. If you don't help me, I'm truly doomed."
As he spoke, tears rolled down Amos Wu's cheeks, his misery on full display.
He was far from the assertive figure who had challenged Noah Zhao earlier.
Erica Xu was equally troubled.
Archibald Li had made two demands: a debt of 20 million or a fighting dog of equal value.
She couldn't fulfill either.
Erica Xu, exhausted, slumped in her chair, rubbing her temples: "Why is my luck so bad..."
Amos Wu suggested, "Sister Erica, you should quickly gather the money. Your family is local, right? Sell your house and car, save up, and you might scrape together 20 million."
Erica Xu frowned at Amos Wu.
It was all his fault, and now he shamelessly suggested she bleed her parents dry?
"How much can you contribute?" Erica Xu asked.
Amos Wu, looking miserable, replied, "Sister Erica, as you know, I'm from a small place. My family has always farmed. I have no savings."
Erica Xu's eyes flickered: "You've been working for years, and I pay you well. You bought a Passat last month worth over 200,000. Surely you can contribute something?"
Amos Wu quickly said, "What savings? Monthly expenses ate them up. And that car was bought on loan. Selling it would mean losing money, not gaining."
Erica Xu understood.
In this critical moment, Amos Wu was unwilling to contribute a penny.
He probably thought, 'Let those taller handle the falling sky.'
If it weren't for Archibald Li's threat before leaving, Amos Wu would have already fled.
"Amos Wu, all these years, how did I not see your true, heartless nature!" Erica Xu shouted angrily, her face flushed with rage.
Amos Wu fell silent.
His expression seemed to say:
Yes, it's my fault.
But I won't take responsibility or pay up. Someone richer should!
Erica Xu bit her lip, filled with regret.
She berated herself for being blind in choosing people.
"Mr. Zhao, I'm sorry."
"I wanted to hire you, but you've seen what just happened."
"I'm like a clay Buddha crossing a river, barely able to save myself..."
Erica Xu laughed bitterly, her smile filled with sorrow.
"Miss Xu, do you need my help?" Noah Zhao asked, his expression changing.
Erica Xu shook her head.
The issue was too significant for a foreigner like Noah Zhao to help.
He was skilled, but only in medicine.
Her problem was money.
Noah Zhao didn't seem wealthy.
She decided to go home and discuss the situation with her parents, then gather the 20 million as quickly as possible.
Seeing Erica Xu silent, Noah Zhao continued, "Miss Xu, I heard that bald guy say you could compensate with a dog instead of money..."
Before he could finish, Amos Wu scoffed, "What do you know? They don't want just any dog, but a fighting dog, a rare and valuable breed, impossible to buy even with money!"
Fighting dogs were rare.
Finding a supreme, undefeated fighting dog was even harder.
Moreover, they were the playthings of the wealthy.
Out of reach for ordinary people.
That's why Amos Wu's first thought wasn't to compensate with a dog, but with money.
Noah Zhao inquired, "So, a fighting dog is one that's exceptionally good at fighting?"
Amos Wu nodded: "Exactly. They're specialized combat machines. The better the breed, the stronger the fighter."
As he explained, he pointed at the dead dog nearby: "That dead dog there was the third-ranked Dogo Argentino in the fighting dog world!"
Noah Zhao looked over and murmured, "Too severely injured, dead too long, can't be saved."
Erica Xu said to Noah Zhao, "Mr. Zhao, this matter doesn't concern you. You should leave. If there's a chance in the future, I'll contact you for collaboration."
After saying this, Erica Xu opened her purse, took out all her cash, about one or two thousand, and handed it to Noah Zhao.
"I bumped into you earlier. This is a small token of my apology."
Noah Zhao looked at the money and accepted it without refusal.
He was broke and in dire need. This "fortune" could alleviate his immediate troubles.
"Miss Xu, I might not be able to help with other matters, but I think I can find you a suitable dog."
Erica Xu's eyes lit up: "Do you have a channel to buy fighting dogs?"
Noah Zhao replied, "No."
"Then how can you help me?" Erica Xu asked instinctively.
"I may not know much about fighting dogs, but I can find you a dog that's extremely good at fighting!" Noah Zhao promised confidently.
However, Erica Xu was skeptical: "No need, thank you."
A dog good at fighting and a professional fighting dog are entirely different.
Like the distinction between professional and amateur, high-value fighting dogs are genetic anomalies, incomparable to ordinary dogs.
Amos Wu sneered, "With your situation, what kind of good dog can you find? Just stray dogs no one wants."
"Enough, Amos Wu!" Erica Xu glared at him.
Even if Noah Zhao's gesture seemed naive and laughable, it was far better than Amos Wu's inaction.
"Miss Xu, don't worry."
"I will find you an undefeated dog!" Noah Zhao promised Erica Xu.
Then, he turned and left the pet hospital.
Seeing this, Amos Wu said to Erica Xu, "Sister Erica, did you see that? In times of crisis, everyone fends for themselves.
He's no exception. He's probably using the excuse of finding a dog to escape."
"Shut up!" Erica Xu snapped back.
Even if Noah Zhao never returned, she had nothing to say.
After all, he never owed her anything.
And looking out for oneself is only natural.