Everyone in the Group is a Main Character, Except Me Who's the Villain

109: I’ll give you 500,000.Fang Ming didn’t respond; he simply gazed out the car window at the streetscape retreating rapidly, deep in thought.

Given Zhao Ruilong and Qin Xiao’s methods, it was entirely within reason for them to use various channels to threaten Lin Shihan. However, the specifics of how they threatened her would only be known once he met her.

The white Volkswagen drove through the bustling commercial district and gradually entered the old city area.

The streets here were noticeably narrower, flanked by residential buildings with some history. The exterior walls were mottled, air conditioning units were rusted, and the lush leaves of the roadside trees almost reached the middle of the road.

The car stopped in front of a row of six-story old-fashioned residential buildings.

“Right here, Unit 3, Room 502.” Tan Jing turned off the engine and pointed to one of the buildings.

The stairwell was very narrow. Most of the green paint on the walls had peeled off, revealing the grayish-white cement underneath. The iron handrails were heavily rusted, leaving a red powder on one’s hand upon touching them.

The two of them quickly climbed to the fifth floor. Tan Jing knocked on the dark green iron door of Room 502.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Who is it?” a girl’s cautious voice came from inside.

“Is this Lin Shihan? I’m Lawyer Tan. I contacted you yesterday.” Tan Jing tried to make her voice sound as gentle as possible.

A rustling sound came from inside the door. A few seconds later, the door opened a crack.

A small, delicate, and pretty face peeked out from behind the door.

The girl looked very young, with her hair tied in a simple ponytail. She wore a light pink home T-shirt and shorts that had faded from washing, and cheap plastic slippers on her feet.

“Lawyer Tan...” Lin Shihan greeted in a small voice, her gaze lingering on Fang Ming for a moment with a hint of wariness.

“This is Mr. Duan, a friend of Zhou Yuan,” Tan Jing introduced naturally. “Can we come in and talk?”

Lin Shihan hesitated for a moment before pulling the door open. “Please come in... the house is a bit messy, sorry.”

The apartment wasn’t large—an old one-bedroom, one-living room layout, estimated to be less than fifty square meters.

The living room was small, containing a faded fabric sofa and a folding dining table. On the table sat half a cup of water and several boxes of medicine.

Though simple, it was kept quite tidy. The window was open, and a breeze blew in, causing the off-white curtains to sway gently.

“My grandmother is resting in the bedroom. She’s not in good health, so let’s speak quietly.” Lin Shihan kept her voice very low, pointing to the adjacent bedroom with its door closed.

The bedroom door was slightly ajar. Inside, a white-haired elderly woman could be seen lying on a single bed. She was resting with her eyes closed, her face sallow, and she coughed violently every now and then.

“Please sit.” Lin Shihan pointed to the sofa.

Tan Jing and Fang Ming sat down on the sofa, which immediately emitted a slight creak.

“Student Lin, regarding Zhou Yuan’s case, we need your testimony. You are a direct witness to this case, and your statement is crucial for determining the nature of the incident.”

Lin Shihan lowered her head, staring at the worn edges of her slippers, and didn’t say a word.

“Do you have some concerns?” Tan Jing softened her tone. “If it’s because you’re worried about your safety or if someone is threatening you, you can tell us. We will find a way...”

“No!” Lin Shihan looked up abruptly, her voice somewhat urgent. “No one is threatening me!”

Realizing she might have overreacted, she lowered her head again, her voice dropping. “I just... I just feel like it’s already over. I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

Fang Ming had remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the cramped living room.

On the corner of the folding dining table sat an old smartphone with tape wrapped around the charging port. Next to the sofa were several cardboard boxes stuffed with various empty medicine boxes.

He suddenly spoke, his voice calm. “Does your grandmother’s illness require a lot of money?”

Lin Shihan’s body visibly stiffened.

She looked up at Fang Ming, a flash of panic in her eyes. “How... how did you know?”

“These are drugs for treating tumors. A single box costs several hundred or even over a thousand.” Fang Ming looked at the empty medicine boxes. “Unless it was absolutely necessary, given your family situation, you probably wouldn’t be willing to spend money on these drugs.”

Lin Shihan bit her lower lip and didn’t deny it.

“The doctor said it will cost three hundred thousand.” Her voice was very soft, almost inaudible. “Surgical removal plus follow-up treatment... my parents passed away early, and my grandmother raised me. I can’t... I can’t just watch her...”

She couldn’t go on, her eyes reddening. Tan Jing glanced at Fang Ming, her expression complex.

She had guessed yesterday that Lin Shihan might have a hidden hardship, but she hadn’t expected such a heavy reality.

Three hundred thousand was an astronomical sum for a girl who had just graduated high school and had no one to rely on.

“So you don’t dare to offend Zhao Ruilong?” Tan Jing asked softly. “Are you afraid he’ll make things difficult for you at work?”

“I signed a contract. If I leave, there will be a very large penalty for breach of contract.”

“They said if I don’t talk out of turn, they can give me resources and a sum of money,” Lin Shihan’s voice trembled. “They can also help contact a better hospital... but if I dare to testify in court, not only will my job be gone, but my grandmother’s treatment will also...”

She didn’t finish, but the meaning was clear.

Tan Jing’s face darkened. “This is blatant intimidation and bribery. Miss Lin, you don’t need to fear them. The law will protect witnesses...”

“The law?” Lin Shihan suddenly smiled, a bitterness in her smile that shouldn’t belong to someone her age. “Lawyer Tan, can the law give me three hundred thousand to cure my grandmother’s illness?”

She raised her hand and wiped her eyes. “I know Zhou Yuan is a good person. He saved me, and I’m very grateful to him, but... but I really have no choice. She’s the only family I have left.”

The girl’s voice carried a sob, echoing in the tiny living room.

Tan Jing opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found herself speechless.

Indeed, it was easy to persuade others from a moral high ground, but how could an eighteen-year-old girl shoulder the realistic pressure of three hundred thousand?

Fang Ming listened quietly, his gaze falling on the stack of high school textbooks by the dining table. On top was a math workbook, with ’Lin Shihan, Grade 12, Class 2’ written on the cover in elegant handwriting.

If Qin Xiao hadn’t been reborn, Zhao Ruilong would not only have failed to report the incident to the police, but would also have frequently suffered setbacks in his struggle with Zhou Yuan. The dispute between Lin Shihan and Zhao Ruilong, as well as the money for her grandmother’s medical treatment, would have been covered by Zhou Yuan’s delivery system.

But now, this girl who should have been preparing for the start of university was struggling between her conscience and reality for three hundred thousand in surgery fees.

“Let me see your grandmother’s medical records,” Fang Ming said.

Though puzzled, Lin Shihan gently brought out a stack of medical records and test reports from the bedroom, carefully closing the door to avoid disturbing the elderly woman’s rest.

Fang Ming took them and flipped through them quickly.

A malignant tumor had been found in the lungs, with clear indications for resection. It was best to operate as soon as possible; otherwise, if it spread and metastasized, it might never be cured.

For a resectable malignant tumor plus postoperative recovery, three hundred thousand wasn’t considered a lot.

After a brief thought, Fang Ming spoke directly: “I’ll give you five hundred thousand!”

“What??”

“Five... five hundred thousand??”