Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

That was when everyone finally noticed Qin Mei. The girl’s face was a complete mess.

”And she is...?” someone asked, curious about Qin Mei.

”That’s my Sister Qin. She’s got my back now,” Zhang Haoyuan said, acting like a total bootlicker.

”Pfft.” The crowd scoffed.

No one paid them any mind and went back to their gambling. Seeing this, the man’s brow furrowed. He had no choice but to take them to see the boss.

The man knocked on the door and said, ”Boss, Zhang Haoyuan is here.”

”Bring him in,” a gruff voice replied.

The man pushed open the door, and Zhang Haoyuan and Qin Mei stepped inside. A middle-aged man was sitting in a chair, and behind him stood four burly, formidable-looking men.

Qin Mei thought to herself, ’Bodyguards?’

Just by standing there, these four men were incredibly intimidating.

”Zhang Haoyuan.” The boss’s voice was frigid. His authority had been challenged.

”Boss.” Zhang Haoyuan was utterly spineless. His legs went soft, and he dropped to his knees. He had tried to prepare himself, but he was still as timid as a mouse in the face of the boss’s authority. Fear surged from the depths of his heart, and he had the sudden urge to back out.

”Get up,” Qin Mei’s cool voice commanded, laced with a hint of ruthlessness.

”Sister Qin,” Zhang Haoyuan’s voice trembled.

The boss sized up Qin Mei and was instantly repulsed by her rash-covered face. He had trypophobia, and the sight made all the hair on his body stand on end. ’That bastard Zhang Haoyuan, bringing a girl like this just to disgust me.’

Still, the girl had some real nerve. She dared to meet his gaze. As their eyes clashed, he was the one who lost, looking away first. He honestly felt that her face was an insult to his eyes.

”Get up,” Qin Mei said, kicking Zhang Haoyuan. ”You kneel to borrow money and stand to pay it back. How did you manage to get it backward? Get up. The one paying the debt is the real boss here.”

”I... my legs are weak.” Zhang Haoyuan’s legs truly had gone soft with fear.

”Pathetic.” Qin Mei kicked him again. It was unclear where the blow landed, but Zhang Haoyuan just fell over. Lying down was easier on the eyes than kneeling, anyway.

Qin Mei ignored Zhang Haoyuan, found the chair closest to the boss, and sat down. She had figured it out—he had trypophobia. The more he was afraid to look at her rash-covered face, the more she wanted to provoke him.

Seeing this, the boss instantly felt his authority had been undermined. Everyone was afraid of him, yet this girl didn’t show a shred of fear. ’Is it because she’s too young and foolish to be scared?’

The boss glanced at Qin Mei’s face and immediately looked away. The sight was just too unpleasant.

”How much does he owe you?” Qin Mei asked directly.

”You want to pay it for him?” the boss asked, lowering his head to stare at the area below Qin Mei’s neck.

To the four burly men watching, this was a shocking sight. Qin Mei’s head was raised while the boss’s was lowered. From any angle, it looked like the boss had lost his imposing presence.

”Did he not make himself clear?” Qin Mei retorted.

The boss thought for a moment, then asked doubtfully, ”You have the money?”

”I do,” Qin Mei stated plainly.

The boss glanced at Zhang Haoyuan, who was still on the floor. ’Where on earth did this guy meet such a gutsy but clueless girl?’

The boss picked up his enamel mug, took a sip, and cut straight to the point. ”The principal is ten thousand. With interest, the total is one hundred thousand.”

The boss expected this figure to frighten Qin Mei, but she remained perfectly composed and turned to ask Zhang Haoyuan, ”Was the principal ten thousand?”

”No! Boss, didn’t we agree it would be twenty thousand with interest?” Hearing the figure of one hundred thousand, Zhang Haoyuan instantly lost his composure and scrambled to sit up.

”Yesterday, it was twenty thousand. Today, it’s one hundred thousand,” the boss said, smiling at Zhang Haoyuan with an expression that said he had him right where he wanted him.

’He never intended to let Zhang Haoyuan off the hook in the first place. And after he brought someone like that to disgust him... if he didn’t teach Zhang Haoyuan a lesson, how could he maintain his authority?’

”A hundred thousand it is. I’ll pay,” Qin Mei said boldly.

”Sister Qin,” Zhang Haoyuan said, staring at Qin Mei in disbelief.

The boss’s eyes narrowed as he studied Qin Mei, his revulsion momentarily forgotten. ’She’ll pay a hundred thousand just like that? She’s far too calm. This isn’t normal. Any other woman dragged in here would have been scared shitless by now.’

’Unless... there’s something fishy going on. My first thought: she’s a cop.’

’Then he thought about Zhang Haoyuan’s situation. Cooperating with the police to get a lighter sentence, and then...’

SLAM! The boss slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, glaring furiously at Zhang Haoyuan. ”Zhang Haoyuan, you dare set me up?”

The four bodyguards behind him drew their guns in unison, pointing them at Zhang Haoyuan and Qin Mei.

Zhang Haoyuan froze for a second. ’We’ve been exposed this quickly?’ Seeing the guns drawn, he figured his life was over. And suddenly, he wasn’t afraid anymore. ”Boss, you know exactly what I’m capable of. Do you really think I have it in me to set you up?”

On second thought, the boss realized he was giving Zhang Haoyuan too much credit. He waved a hand, signaling the men behind him to put their guns away. He sat back down, sipped his tea, and crossed his legs.