Chapter 80

080

Yang Chen understood. It seemed that the person who could send Guo Ziheng to chase after someone was quite a figure. At the very least, Guo Ziheng, the small-time gang leader, didn't dare to offend him, but he also couldn't beat Yang Chen, so his fear of Yang Chen had never faded. Therefore, he was trying to pass the buck.

"Alright, alright, don't show that fox-like expression," Yang Chen said with a carefree smile. "Just give my name, if he wants to cause trouble, let him come to me. I'll be waiting in the public relations department of Yulei International."

"Mr. Yang is truly a straightforward man!" Guo Ziheng laughed heartily and called out to his gang, "Let's go!"

How could Yang Chen let him leave so easily? He waved his hand, "Wait! I haven't finished speaking yet!"

Guo Ziheng's steps paused, sensing something bad was about to happen. He asked stiffly, "Mr. Yang, is there anything else you need?"

Yang Chen chuckled, "Boss Guo, if I take on these matters, I should at least get some handling fees, right..." As he spoke, he rubbed his fingers together.

Sure enough! Another extortion! A bloodsucker! A thug!!

Guo Ziheng cursed inwardly but had to put on a very willing expression. After receiving the checkbook from one of his subordinates, he quickly wrote a check and handed it to Yang Chen with both hands, smiling obsequiously, "Mr. Yang is right, I really didn't consider it properly."

All the subordinates stared dumbfounded. What was their boss doing? Giving money to someone and acting like a孙子 (grandson)!

Yang Chen nodded in satisfaction, tapping the check in his hand. Guo Ziheng was quite reasonable, giving him 20,000 RMB right away. He smiled, "You can go now, I'll take care of the rest."

Guo Ziheng didn't dare to stay any longer. Another minute might cost him more money. He hurriedly left with his gang, as if avoiding a ghost.

Watching the group leave, Yang Chen turned around with a smile and said to the still-dazed Chen Bo, "Don't you have anything you want to explain to me?"

Chen Bo swallowed hard and stammered, "T... Thank you, Yang Chen..."

"Is that all?" Yang Chen asked with a half-smile.

Chen Bo twisted the hem of his clothes, his face turning red as he couldn't find the words to speak.

Yang Chen didn't force him, walking to a corner of the noodle stand and taking a few bottles of beer. He said to Feng Biao, who was hiding nearby, "Boss Feng, is it okay if I take a few bottles of beer?"

"Of course, of course!" Feng Biao cursed inwardly. This guy was a plague. Even in his current state, he still came to trouble him. If those thugs really came to fight, wouldn't his small stand be demolished?

Yang Chen gave Chen Bo a meaningful look, "Come with me."

They walked to the riverbank in the suburbs, both silent. The cool breeze made the atmosphere serene and eerie.

Stopping at a slope, Yang Chen sat on the grass, and after a moment's hesitation, Chen Bo sat down beside him.

"Can you drink?" Yang Chen picked up a bottle of beer and twisted it slightly, the cap coming off easily.

Chen Bo swallowed, nodded, and took the beer, gulping it down. After a few sips, he started coughing and choking, tears streaming down his face. But before he could recover, he started gulping again, as if he had a grudge against the beer.

Yang Chen didn't stop him, taking a bottle for himself and drinking a few sips.

Chen Bo's tolerance for alcohol was clearly poor. After a few sips, his face turned red and his eyes became hazy.

The night breeze blew over the river, clearing their heads a bit. Chen Bo, who had drunk quite a bit, breathed more steadily. Suddenly, he put down the empty bottle and turned to look straight at Yang Chen, his delicate face showing an unprecedented seriousness.

"Yang Chen, will you look down on me?" Chen Bo asked.

"If I looked down on you, I wouldn't have taken on this mess to save you," Yang Chen glanced at him.

Chen Bo's lips trembled, "I'm not that kind of person, I was forced, I don't like men..."

"To be honest, you know I'm back from abroad. Homosexuality isn't a big deal to me, so you don't need to explain these things to me. Whether you are or not doesn't matter much to me. I just want to know how all of this happened," Yang Chen said.

Chen Bo nodded, as if he had made up his mind, and began to narrate, "You've helped me so much, I should tell you everything, even if you look down on me afterward..."

"When I was a child, my family was poor, but I did well in school. Although I was weak and often bullied in school, I was still recommended to Peking University. Because I looked like a girl, many people in school made fun of me. In my third year, a senior from the basketball team suddenly invited me to dinner. His family was very wealthy, and I didn't dare to refuse. But that day, he drugged me... and did that to me..."

Chen Bo's eyes showed pain, hatred, and helplessness, "I later found out he liked men. But he didn't allow me to tell anyone, and I didn't dare to report it. I was alone in Beijing, with no relatives or friends to help me. I was also worried that others would look down on me and treat me as an outcast, so I endured it. After that, the senior often called me out to do that... but he would give me some money, which made my life in Beijing a bit easier. Sometimes, I would send the extra money to my parents back home. At that time, I thought that enduring a bit of humiliation was better than suffering without any compensation."

"Later, the senior started bringing other men, and I found out they had a club for that kind of thing. They were all very wealthy, and I couldn't resist them. After graduation, I hardly spoke to anyone, fearing I might slip up and be looked down upon..."

Yang Chen sighed inwardly. Chen Bo's past was indeed dark. Although it wasn't the most tragic story, for a regular college student in China, enduring such experiences must have been extremely difficult. It wasn't just a matter of losing his male dignity; it was also a matter of losing his soul.

Chen Bo continued, "After graduation, many companies wanted me to join, but I came to Zhonghai to escape those men in Beijing. Fortunately, I succeeded. They probably got tired of me, so I've been working at Yulei International without any trouble... But... recently, I had a problem and needed a lot of money..."

"What kind of problem?" Yang Chen asked curiously.

"My father has a chronic illness from his hard labor when he was young. Recently, he was diagnosed with kidney failure and needs a transplant, but we don't have enough money... So I..."

"So you thought of making money through other means?" Yang Chen pondered for a moment and asked, "A few days ago, I saw someone in Tianfu who looked like you. Was that you?"

Chen Bo was surprised, "In Tianfu? You... you did see me, I work there."

"No wonder you were so sleepy in the morning, you didn't sleep at night," Yang Chen realized.

"In Tianfu... there are... those kinds of services..." Chen Bo, having opened up, spoke more freely, "Many male customers like men, and I can earn a lot of tips there... It's uncomfortable, but at least I can earn more money to support my family. Besides, I had already done that before, so I decided to go all in, at least to get money for my father's treatment."

"What about today?" Yang Chen asked again.

Chen Bo bit his lip, pained, "He's a pervert, a madman. I've seen him torment other men in Tianfu... His methods are cruel, and I was afraid it would be my turn one day, so I always avoided him. But today, he wanted me to go to him, and the gang leader who grabbed me was there to play with him. They wanted to take me to him. I don't plan to work at Tianfu anymore; I'll quit tomorrow and find another job."

"Do you know his name?" Yang Chen, having understood the situation, thought that the pervert Chen Bo described was likely involved in shameful homosexual activities.

Chen Bo shook his head, "I only know his surname is Zhou, and they call him Master Zhou. I don't know anything else, but he seems to have a lot of power. The gang leader, Guo, always flatters him."

Yang Chen nodded thoughtfully, smiled, and patted Chen Bo's shoulder, "Don't worry too much. If your father's treatment needs money, you can ask me for a loan. You can pay me back later. I may not have much to my name, but I can help a friend. Besides, money can be earned again, but if a person is gone, everything is gone."

"Thank you..." Chen Bo couldn't hold back his tears, wiping them away and smiling, "I know you're a good person, but I don't want to borrow your money anymore. My sister and I have already raised enough money, borrowing from relatives and friends. My sister is coming to Zhonghai on Wednesday to work and help pay off the debt."

"Your sister is coming to Zhonghai to work? Isn't she in school?" Yang Chen thought Chen Bo's sister was just visiting.

Chen Bo shook his head bitterly, "My sister is very sensible. She dropped out of school, but her university has kept her enrollment. She can continue her studies in a few years."

"Every family has its own troubles. Since you say you don't need a loan, I won't force you. But if you need any help, feel free to tell me. I'm quite idle, you know," Yang Chen winked.

Chen Bo, having unburdened himself, felt much better when he saw that Yang Chen didn't look down on him. He blushed and said, "Yang Chen, if I were a woman, I would definitely marry you. You're a real man."

Seeing the fair-faced Chen Bo blushing and saying this shyly, Yang Chen shuddered and waved his hand, forcing a stiff smile, "That... that's for another life... hehe..."

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**End of Chapter**