chapter 4 why is it always you

In the Residential Community.
Inside a room of a civilian house, chaos reigned, all valuable furniture long since removed.
A young girl, her nose red and eyes brimming with tears, was cornered against the wall.
"Hibiscus, what are you going to do?"
"To treat your mother's illness, you borrowed six thousand, and now that she's gone, are you going to repay it or not?"
The man speaking, with a scarred face and a crisp suit, was clearly not someone to mess with. "Not repaying? At House Lending Company, we've never failed to collect a debt!"
"I've already repaid the six thousand!" Hibiscus, the girl with red eyes, clutched the edge of her clothes, fighting to keep the tears at bay. Her mother's illness had drained all their savings over five years. Hibiscus had even taken out a high-interest loan, but in the end, she couldn't save her mother.
"Six thousand was just the principal!"
Scarface laughed out loud, "With interest compounded, it's now forty thousand. You owe me forty thousand!"
"You… you… you're bullying me!"
"We agreed only six thousand would need to be repaid!"
The girl nearly broke her teeth from clenching them so hard, her body trembling with rage.
"So what if I'm bullying you? You're all alone; you're perfect for me to bully!"
"Unless someone pays for you, or someone stands up for you. Look, Hibiscus, with your beauty, how many rich young masters would fall at your feet? Just a flick of your finger, and they'll line up to give you money!"
Scarface sneered coldly, "How about it, I'll give you two more days to pay up! Otherwise, I'll have to sell you to cover the forty thousand!"
"No... No!"
As Scarface grabbed a handful of Hibiscus's hair and yanked it viciously, her tears finally spilled over, and she trembled uncontrollably.
"Stop it!"
A roar came, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Quickly, a stunning young girl burst in, a tall young man following her.
"Nagnoloa!" Hibiscus exclaimed.
"Don't be afraid, Hibiscus! I'm here!"
The newcomer was Nagnoloa Harper. She had planned to go shopping with Hibiscus, but when Hibiscus was late, she came to her house to check and stumbled upon this scene.
Seeing Scarface grabbing Hibiscus's hair, Nagnoloa's face flushed with anger, "Let her go! Is it about money? I'll pay for her!"
"Oh, you'll pay for her?"
Scarface sneered, releasing Hibiscus, who collapsed to the floor. Nagnoloa hurried to help her, "Hibiscus, are you okay?"
Hibiscus shook her head but grabbed Nagnoloa's hand, "Nagnoloa, don't give him money, I'll pay it back myself…"
"Hibiscus! It's come to this, and you're still stubborn?"
Nagnoloa was furious. She couldn't understand Hibiscus's 'pride.' Despite the family's poor situation, and the debt from her mother's passing, even with scholarships and part-time job money, Hibiscus couldn't cover the debts!
"Yes, Hibiscus."
The tall young man behind Nagnoloa also spoke up. His name was Bernard Dun, a suitor of Nagnoloa's from a wealthy family, the young master of a renowned local building materials company, "Just say the word, and many at school would help you, Mr. Fanix has also said…"
"No!"
"I don't need his help!"
Hibiscus shook her head, aware her looks could bring many conveniences. Like Fanix Evans, who pursued her relentlessly. Forty thousand was nothing to him. A few sweet words, and Fanix would solve everything. But she didn't want to do that. What difference would it make from selling herself?
"Hibiscus!"
Nagnoloa grew even more dissatisfied, "You don't want others to help you, but I can help you, right? We're best friends; I'll pay for you!"
Before Hibiscus could respond, Nagnoloa stood up, "How much? I'll pay!"
Scarface looked at her coldly, "Not much, four million."
Nagnoloa's face turned pale instantly. Four million, even for her rich family, was not a small sum!
And Hibiscus shouted, "You just said forty thousand!"
"Hmph! Whatever I say goes. If you can pay today, we'll call it even. If not, don't blame me." Scarface cracked his knuckles threateningly.
"You're doing this on purpose!"
"So what if I am? There's money to be made! Since the 'young lady' here is so wealthy, surely paying thirty million for her best friend is simple, right?" Scarface smirked as he sized up Nagnoloa.
"Heh heh, can't pay? Then don't try to act rich!"
"It's fine, this girl is quite the catch, she can pay off the debt with Hibiscus! Sleep with a few rich guys, and you'll have the money in no time!"
"Hahaha, you're right, beautiful women make easy money. Just spread your legs, and the cash flows in…"
The room erupted with laughter from Scarface's companions.
Nagnoloa turned ashen, her delicate lips trembling with anger and fear.
"You're looking for trouble!"
Bernard Dun was already furious, seeing himself as Nagnoloa's protector. Though she had always kept her distance, to him, Nagnoloa was a goddess, not to be insulted.
"How dare you bully Nagnoloa!"
"Looking for trouble!"
Bernard charged forward, determined to show these men a lesson. He was a black belt in karate, always agile and strong!
Boom!
Confident in his skills, Bernard launched a whip kick at the man.
Snap!
His kick was fast, but unexpectedly, it was caught effortlessly.
"Amateur moves, get lost!"
The man scoffed, pulling hard on Bernard's ankle.
Bernard, at 1.8 meters tall, was flung away, crashing into furniture with a loud noise.
Bernard lay on the ground, unable to rise, moaning in pain.
He hadn't expected his opponent to be so formidable, defeated in a single move. Black belt or not, real-life fighting was far removed from the dojo.
Nagnoloa was completely shocked. Before she could scream, Scarface approached her like a mountain, sneering as he looked her over, "So, will you pay?"
Nagnoloa, filled with anger and fear, pale-faced, still defiantly said, "I'll pay, thirty thousand! Not a penny more! My father is Desmaius Harper of the Harper Corporation. If you mess with me, my father won't let you off!"
Scarface paused, then became arrogant again, "So you're a Harper. But who will know if I have my way with you and then kill you?"
Nagnoloa turned even paler, realizing she was powerless when her status didn't intimidate others.
Hibiscus rushed over to protect Nagnoloa, "Go, Nagnoloa, don't worry about me!"
"Hibiscus…" Nagnoloa was in turmoil, unable to save her friend and now needing her protection.
Overwhelmed with guilt and pain, she bit her tender lips until they bled.
Scarface sneered, "If you can't pay four million, get out. I only want Hibiscus to repay the debt! If she can't, she'll work it off in a nightclub!"
Boom!
The door was suddenly kicked open.
"If you dare harm a hair on her head!"
"You're dead!"
The voice that followed made Nagnoloa freeze, her heart skipping a beat. She turned to see who it was.
Delfina Dawson!