YM778.TV Chapter 308 - Cousin Ding Zhenyun
Back at the house, no one realized anything amiss. Earlier, both Xiao Luo and Ji Siying had gone into the room together, and once inside, the volume on the TV was turned up to the maximum, before they stole out the window.
And, no one—not Grandpa, Grandma, Xiao Zhiyuan, or Hua Heying—suspected anything even after they returned. In fact, they all thought that Xiao Luo and Ji Siying had been making out in the room, especially when they both came out looking drained from rigorous activity. Xiao Zhiyuan and Hua Heying even beamed at each other, and quietly gave Xiao Luo an encouraging thumbs-up.
Xiao Luo didn’t know whether to laugh nor cry, and the misunderstanding seemed to have deepened.
New Year’s Day was a very lively affair. Leading up to the new year, gongs and drums had been sounding over the last three days at the Seekong shrine, the new couplet had been mounted at its altar, and red lanterns hung at the front of every household. Kids were gaily dressed in their brand-new garments, and joy and laughter pervaded the village, celebrating the start of the festive season.
“I guess you are disappointed that you cannot spend the New Year in your hometown.”
Standing at the rooftop of the three-story building and watching the people of Luo Village setting off fireworks, Xiao Luo smiled and asked Ji Siying, standing beside him.
Ji Siying’s long, silky hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her captivating face that glowed with natural beauty—she had fair, smooth skin and delicate facial features that seemed to give her that alluring look. Ji Siying was slender and well-limbed, neither too voluptuous nor too scrawny, and she had good posture and carried herself well. She had the attraction of the classic country belles from the canal towns in the south, famed for their unblemished beauty and even temperament.
“I don’t have a hometown.” Xiao Luo turned and glanced at her, a little confused. She stared back at him, blankly with a half-smile and said, “I grew up in an orphanage.”
For a brief moment, Xiao Luo didn’t know how to react, then he blurted. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay...”
Ji Siying’s expression suddenly became very somber, and the smile on her face seemed to fade. This was the one part of her life that was a void; she had never known who her parents were or what they looked like. Spending time with Xiao Luo’s family, indulging in their affairs, and the festive season’s delights was a new experience. As they watched the Spring Festival Gala together, one could only guess how envious she was.
She pondered how it would feel to have grandparents who doted over her and to have parents who were kind and gentle. If she could trade ten years of her life in exchange for that, she would agree without any hesitation. Often, she wondered if her biological parents had abandoned her at the orphanage because she was a girl.
“Mr. Xiao Luo!”
“Hmm?”
“Can you lend me your shoulder?”
It was unusual for Ji Siying to be so emboldened, but sensing the joys of families reuniting for the New Year, and caught up in the moment, she gave in to her vulnerability and emotions.
“Sure,” Xiao Luo nodded and said.
Ji Siying leaned gently against him, and no longer able to hold back, she began sobbing quietly.
Xiao Luo didn’t say a word, nor did he try to comfort her. He just stood there in silence and gazed serenely into the night sky. Fireworks rose high into the air, bursting into dazzling blooms of colorful lights and patterns. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
...
...
On the fourth night of the New Year, Ding Zhenyun, the son of his father’s eldest sister, suddenly sent him an urgent messaged: “Luo, please lend me 2000 bucks. It’s an emergency, so, please!”
Xiao Luo was somewhat concerned and frowned. His relationship with Ding Zhenyun had always been good, and he had never before asked to borrow money from him. Besides, he was only a young man in his early twenties, and if he had needed money urgently, his aunt would undoubtedly have helped him. So, asking for money out of the blue was a little peculiar.
In obvious desperation, Ding Zhenyun called Xiao Luo directly moments after sending the message. “Luo, are you tight on budget? Can you lend me 2000 bucks? It’s an emergency.”
Listening to Ding Zhenyun’s desperate plea, Xiao Luo agreed without asking for any details. And, after hanging up the call, he immediately transferred 2000 dollars via WeChat pay.
However, within just a few days, Ding Zhenyun called him again. “Luo, can you lend me some more money?”
Xiao Luo was a little puzzled, and this time around, he did ask, “What are you going to do with the money? How much you want this time?”
“Ten thousand.”
“Ten thousand?”
“Five thousand will do if you don’t have ten thousand. Please help me, Luo,” Ding Zhenyun pleaded.
Xiao Luo was convinced that something wasn’t quite right and said, “What exactly are you up to?”
“Sigh, Luo, I’ll be honest with you. I’m involved in this project. As long as I can funnel in 30 thousand dollars, I’d be able to earn back the capital within half a year. And after that, I’ll be making tonnes of money. I already have 20 thousand dollars. I’m just short of another ten thousand. Please help me if you’re okay at the moment,” Ding Zhenyun said.
Pyramid scheme?!
These two words immediately appeared in Xiao Luo’s mind. He asked, “What project is this?”
“It’s about developing a program that will be used in the billing system of high-speed rails and buses. It’s complicated, I can’t explain it to you in such a short time, but what I’m sure of is that it’s very profitable. My friend is already driving a BMW and even visits the hot chicks at the club very often.”
Ding Zhenyun sounded agitated, and he spoke dreamily about the project like he was high on drugs. “Luo, do you want to invest some money too? The more you invest, the more you will get back. If you invest, say 100 thousand, it’ll turn into 300 or 400 thousand dollars in the following year. I’m only telling you this because you’re my cousin. This is one hell of a way to get rich.”
Xiao Luo was sure that this kid had been brainwashed. Every investment came with its own inherent risks. There was no such thing as a risk-free project that could give one a considerable profit from a small investment sum. “Zhenyun, where are you now?”
“I’m in Xiahai,” Ding Zhenyun said.
“Didn’t you return home for the New Year?” Xiao Luo said with surprise.
“Well, I used to go home every year, but I’m experiencing New Year away from home this year. I want to work hard and earn money for my parent’s sake. It’ll only be a year. When I get myself a car, I’ll go home every year.”
Xiao Luo shook his head and sighed. “Aunt must be anxious about you not going home.”
“I’m already over twenty. I’m not a kid anymore, so what’s there to worry? Luo, let’s leave that aside. Please lend me five thousand dollars, I’ll pay you back when I start earning money,” Ding Zhenyun said, seeming to be a little impatient.
“I can lend you the money, but you must come home. There’s a direct trainway from Xiahai to our city. It’ll just take you eight hours to make a trip home.”
“Luo, I have things to do here, I don’t have time to go back,” Ding Zhenyun responded.
“Come back, and I’ll help you go through your project proposal. If your proposal can convince me, I’ll invest 100 thousand dollars in your project,” Xiao Luo said, casting a bait too attractive to ignore.
Ding Zhenyun was silent for a moment, then complying with Xiao Luo’s condition, he replied, “Fine, I will go back tomorrow.”
After the call ended, Xiao Luo immediately phoned his aunt, Xiao Jianying, to find out more about Ding Zhenyun.
Xiao Jianying was in a jovial mood when they first spoke, but when the subject of Ding Zhenyun was raised, she lost control of her emotions and began crying. “Xiao Luo, it’s like he has changed into a different person now. He is forcing your uncle and me to give him money to make some investment. I said that we don’t have money, and we still have lots of debt to pay off, but he just won’t listen. He insisted that we transfer 30 thousand dollars to him. Your uncle and I are almost going mad.”
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