The Poor School Heartthrob Was Secretly a Financial Titan - Chapter 25

“They’re gone.”

What did you just say to him?

Han Xuetao didn’t reply, but picked up an apple from the bedside table and started peeling it.

Han Defu sighed: “Xiao Tao, your uncle is still your uncle, and he’s the most successful among our relatives. After you graduate from university and enter society, having more connections will open up more opportunities for you. Your attitude just now wasn’t good.”

Han Xuetao didn’t stop peeling the apple; the blade circled the peel, leaving a thin strip of skin hanging down.

“Dad, I don’t need to rely on him for this path.”

Han Defu was taken aback: “What do you mean?”

Han Xuetao handed over the peeled apple: “With my uncle’s relationship, he can add to my success, but he won’t help me in times of need. If I’m doing well, he’ll naturally come to me. If I’m not doing well, it won’t do me any good. Whether we’re relatives or not, it all comes down to how high you’re standing.”

Han Defu took the apple, but didn’t bite into it, and looked at his son.

Han Xuetao picked up another apple and peeled it for himself: “I don’t want to rely on anyone to take care of me. I want to take care of you all.”

Han Defu remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, “You’ve grown up. You’ll handle things yourself from now on.”

He took another bite of the apple, and as he chewed, his voice suddenly lowered: “Dad is incompetent, can’t earn money, and is just a burden to you.”

Han Xuetao paused, knife in hand, and looked up at him: “Dad, you gave me my life. Why are you being so distant with me?”

He took a bite of the apple and laughed: “Didn’t you help when I was born?”

Han Defu was taken aback, then realized what he meant and laughed, “You brat! Are you trying to drive me crazy by staying here all night? Your mother will come tomorrow, you don’t need to come!”

Han Xuetao smiled and continued eating his apple: “Dad, if you’re not sleepy, let’s have a chat.”

“What should we talk about?”

“Tell me about your two apprentices. How was your drinking today?”

Upon hearing this, Han Defu perked up.

For a master craftsman, the proudest thing in life is teaching apprentices. He leaned back against the headboard and began to ramble on: “That kid Lu Dahai, he didn’t know anything when he first came to the factory, and I taught him everything by hand. Now he’s a key member of the workshop. And that young Tang, he couldn’t even use a multimeter back then, but now he can train apprentices…”

Han Xuetao peeled an apple for his father, then peeled one for himself, listening as he ate it, a smile on his face.

But that smile was a little cold.

The next morning, Zhao Xiurong arrived carrying a thermos and hospital supplies.

“Xiao Tao, go back and get some sleep. You have to go to work this afternoon.” She put her things down and pushed her son out the door.

Han Xuetao smiled and agreed, but after leaving the hospital, he didn’t go home.

He boarded the bus, but sat in the completely opposite direction.

Workshop 3, Second Fertilizer Plant.

Electrician Lu Dahai was climbing a ladder to inspect the wiring when someone from the workshop office ran over and shouted, “Lu Dahai! You got a call from home saying your child is sick. Go home right away!”

Lu Dahai felt a pang of anxiety and dropped his tools to run home.

He was stunned when he opened the door to his home.

A young man was sitting in the living room, legs crossed, slowly munching on an apple.

His wife and children have disappeared without a trace.

Lu Dahai’s expression changed: “Who are you? What are you doing in my house?”

He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Yajuan! Yajuan! Xiaoyu!”

A “whooshing” sound came from the bedroom, as if someone’s mouth was being gagged.

He rushed over, grabbed the doorknob, and turned it—the door was locked from the outside. Upon closer inspection, he saw that the doorknob and the door frame were tightly wrapped with coils of wire.

Lu Dahai felt a chill run down his spine. He turned and glared at the young man: “Who are you?! What do you mean by barging into my house and locking my wife and children inside?! I’m telling you, I’m calling the police!”

Han Xuetao threw the apple core into the trash can and stood up.

“Is Han Defu your mentor?”

Lu Dahai was taken aback.

“He’s always been good to you. He taught you all sorts of skills, and sometimes he even brought you meals from home.” Han Xuetao took a step forward. “He even introduced you to your wife. Otherwise, you might still be single.”

He took another step.

“So here’s the question—why did you betray him?”

Lu Dahai’s expression changed, and he subconsciously took a step back: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“have no idea?”

Han Xuetao approached step by step, while Lu Dahai retreated step by step until his back hit the wall.

Han Xuetao grabbed his hair with his left hand and pulled him down, then slammed his right knee into him!

“Bang!”

Lu Dahai groaned and went limp. Han Xuetao pinned him to the ground, pressed his knee against his chest, and raised his hand to slap him repeatedly.

“Slap! Slap! Slap!”

Her face swelled up quickly.

“If you have the strength, why don’t you fight back?” Han Xuetao looked down at him. “Because you’re guilty.”

Blood trickled from the corner of Lu Dahai’s mouth, and his eyes darted away.

“Han Defu still thinks it was the workshop director who hired someone to beat him up.” Han Xuetao stared at him. “But actually, it was his apprentice who had invested the most in him. It was you, you bastard.”

He grabbed Lu Dahai by the collar and lifted him up a bit: “You think you deserve to be called a person? Your master taught you skills and introduced you to a wife, and this is how you repay him?”

Lu Dahai trembled all over and dared not look at him.

Han Xuetao released his grip, stood up, and looked down at him.

“I’ll give you two choices. First, hand over the person who instructed you and return the money you received. That’s the end of it.”

He paused.

“Secondly, I guarantee that none of you, your wife and child, will have a good end.”

After saying that, Han Xuetao sat back down on the sofa, but Lu Dahai rushed over and grabbed his leg, shouting, “I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”

His face was covered in snot and tears: “My master treated me very well, but I had no choice! I owe them money, gambling debts! They said if I didn’t pay them back, they would arrest my wife and daughter! I had no choice!”

Han Xuetao looked down at him: “Address. Name.”

“Behind the West Street vegetable market, there’s an old vegetable wholesale market management committee building, on the third floor! Gambling takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The person in charge is called He Biao, everyone calls him Brother Biao!” Lu Dahai’s voice trembled. “They approached me, saying that if I reported them, they would forgive my debts…”

Han Xuetao remained silent.

Lu Dahai got up, staggered to the cabinet, pulled out an iron box, shakily took out a small stack of money, and handed it over with both hands.

Han Xuetao took it and counted it. Around one thousand.

He glanced at the table and saw a fruit knife. He picked it up and walked over to Lu Dahai.

Lu Dahai was stiff all over and dared not move.

Han Xuetao plunged a knife into his shoulder.

“Ah—!” Lu Dahai screamed in agony.

Han Xuetao pulled out his knife and threw the thousand yuan at his face, scattering the banknotes all over the ground.

“Don’t tell your master about your betrayal. He’ll be heartbroken.”

Lu Dahai collapsed to the ground, clutching his shoulder, blood seeping from between his fingers, mingling with his tears.

Han Xuetao had already pushed open the door.

Outside, the midday sun in summer was blindingly bright, making it hard to open one’s eyes.

The cicadas’ chirping filled the air, one after another, as if trying to break the entire summer apart.