Chapter 359: Borrowing Money
Chapter 359: Chapter 359: Borrowing Money
Li Huan frowned. "Jeez, it can’t be that Xu Xianhui, can it? Class is about to start. Is she skipping?"
"It probably is," Su Qing said. "I’ll go see what she wants. Better to get it over with so she doesn’t keep coming back and bothering me."
"Qingqing, if that Xu Xianhui asks to borrow money, don’t you dare agree," Li Huan quickly warned. "You can’t get involved with people like that. Who knows what she’ll do with the money? We’re students. Besides our usual living expenses, what could we possibly need that much money for?"
"Right, definitely don’t," the others chimed in.
"Okay, I’m going to go check."
Su Qing walked out of the classroom, and sure enough, there was Xu Xianhui waiting outside.
Xu Xianhui’s eyes lit up when she saw Su Qing. She hurried over and said, "Su Qing, I have something I need your help with. Can you promise me you’ll say yes?"
"What is it? Tell me first," Su Qing said, looking at Xu Xianhui.
Xu Xianhui said hastily, "Can you please just promise me first?"
"You won’t even say what it is, so how would I know if I can agree?" Su Qing raised an eyebrow. "What if you asked me to commit murder and arson? Should I agree to that? What’s this, are you trying to strong-arm me?"
"No, no." Hearing Su Qing’s words, Xu Xianhui realized with even greater clarity ’that the Su Qing of today was no longer the timid little girl from Lihua Village who used to cower before everyone.’ Fearing Su Qing would get annoyed and ignore her, she quickly said, "Su Qing, could you lend me some money?"
"As I recall, we don’t know each other very well," Su Qing said coolly.
"I know, I know." Xu Xianhui was anxious, but she didn’t dare raise her voice at Su Qing. She said quickly, "Just for the sake of us both being from Lihua Village, could you please lend me some money?"
Su Qing raised an eyebrow. "How much are you looking to borrow?"
Hearing Su Qing’s question, Xu Xianhui thought she had agreed. She quickly said, "A thousand. Can you lend me a thousand, Su Qing? I really need it urgently. If you lend me a thousand yuan, I’ll... I’ll..."
Xu Xianhui wanted to say when she would pay it back, but she just stammered "I’ll..." for a long time, unable to get the words out. ’The truth was, she knew she could never repay a thousand yuan. Su Qing has reunited with her high-official relatives and is going around telling everyone how rich she is. Even if I can’t pay it back, she definitely won’t force me to,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, how would that make her any different from a loan shark?’
"How much?" Su Qing tilted her head slightly as she looked at Xu Xianhui.
"A... a thousand." Xu Xianhui had padded the number. ’She figured she could pay off the loan sharks and the classmates and friends who were hounding her for repayment. After all that, she’d still have over a hundred yuan left. She was really tight on cash, and that extra money would give her some breathing room.’
Su Qing was amused. ’Unbelievable. I just heard about Xu Xianhui borrowing tens of yuan from her classmates and friends, and now she turns around and tries to borrow a thousand from me.’
’A thousand yuan. How much does a full-time worker even make in a month? Sure, I have money, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to be a sucker.’
"Don’t have it. Not lending it." Su Qing sneered and turned to head back into the classroom.
"Su Qing!" Seeing Su Qing refuse and immediately turn to leave, Xu Xianhui panicked. She rushed forward and grabbed Su Qing’s arm. "Su Qing, I’m begging you, just lend it to me! I have no other options; I could only come to you. It’s not like you don’t have the money. I know you do! Besides, isn’t the Song Family supposed to pay your family three thousand yuan? Please, help me out. Lend me the money, okay?"
"You’ve certainly done your research," Su Qing sneered, turning back to face Xu Xianhui. "But why on earth should I lend you that much money? Are we close? Don’t forget, we barely even spoke back in Lihua Village. And you think you can get chummy with me now? Xu Xianhui, don’t take everyone for a fool. Even if the Song Family pays that three thousand yuan, what makes you think I’d give it to you? Could you even pay it back? And another thing—have you paid back the money you borrowed from your friends and classmates?"
"I... I’m not refusing to pay them back on purpose. I really don’t have the money to pay them back." Xu Xianhui hadn’t expected Su Qing to even know about her other debts. Her face paled, and she mumbled.
"You don’t have money to pay people back, yet you still have the nerve to borrow such a large amount?" Su Qing’s eyes narrowed. "Xu Xianhui, if you need this money for a life-or-death medical issue, I can lend it. But I would need to see a medical certificate, confirm it with the doctor myself, and pay the hospital directly. However, if you’re just recklessly borrowing this much money for your own selfish wants, then I’m sorry. My money is not for you to waste however you please."
"I’m not! I just..." Xu Xianhui said anxiously, then stopped short. She didn’t dare admit she had taken out a high-interest loan; she was afraid people would laugh at her.
"Just what?" Su Qing pressed. "If you’re going to ask me for money, you need to give me a convincing reason."
"Look, I just desperately need this money. Can you please help me? I’m begging you, okay?" After a long hesitation, Xu Xianhui was still unwilling to mention the high-interest loan.
"Since you won’t say what the money is for, I’m sorry, but I can’t help you." Seeing Xu Xianhui’s continued silence, Su Qing said flatly, "I have class. You should leave now."
With that, Su Qing wrenched her arm free from Xu Xianhui’s grasp and returned to the classroom.
Xu Xianhui hadn’t expected Su Qing to be so strong; the force of her pull sent her stumbling backward. By the time she steadied herself, Su Qing was already back in the classroom. She considered following her in to continue pestering her, but she worried that the story of her trying to borrow money would spread even further. After a moment’s hesitation, she turned and left, looking utterly dejected.
When Su Qing came back, Li Huan whispered, "What did that Xu Xianhui want?"
"It’s nothing. No need to pay her any mind." Although Su Qing disliked Xu Xianhui, she wouldn’t stoop to gossiping about her affairs.
"Oh, okay. Good." Li Huan didn’t press the issue. When she saw the teacher walk in, she quickly and obediently opened her textbook.
Unable to get the money, Xu Xianhui was in no mood to go to class. She wandered along a path on campus, her mind heavy with thoughts, and the more she dwelled on it, the more resentful she became.
’Su Qing, you’re so rich, so why won’t you help me?’
’A thousand yuan is nothing to you, so why can’t you just spare it to help me out of this bind?’
’Are all rich people this cold and heartless?’
’The loan sharks are like this, and Su Qing is, too.’
’They’re all the same!’
’Are all these rich people trying to drive me to my death?’
"Well, well, Xu Xianhui. Fancy meeting you here!" Suddenly, a man came up beside her and grabbed her by the arm.