Fraud

"The money is gone. It's all gone."

Tang Manman sobbed, gasping for air. Lin Yu had never heard her sound so utterly broken before.

However, upon hearing that the issue was money, Lin Yu breathed a small sigh of relief.

As long as she was physically safe, no other problem really mattered.

"What happened?"

"What money is gone?"

"Tell me exactly what took place," Lin Yu asked.

"I... I..."

"I invested with some friends, and... and we were scammed."

"They ran off with all the money."

"The money I was saving to pay you back... it's all been scammed away."

"Waaaaah..."

Tang Manman let out a heart-rending wail. It was so intense Lin Yu actually worried she might cry herself into a faint.

"Alright, alright, stop crying for a moment. Calm down. Money is a small matter; don't ruin your health over it," Lin Yu soothed her gently. Once Tang Manman's wailing subsided into spasmodic sobs, Lin Yu pressed for details.

"Who did you invest with?"

"Have you called the police?"

Tang Manman gasped between sobs, crying as she spoke: "We already called the police."

"I invested with some classmates I know from the laboratory."

"Classmates from the lab?"

"How are they doing?"

"Were they scammed too?"

Lin Yu asked, worried that Tang Manman had been set up by people working together.

"Mmh..."

Tang Manman let out a trembling, nasal sound of confirmation.

Hearing her response, Lin Yu's expression turned grave.

They were all scammed, and the police had been notified. It seemed those classmates were victims just like Tang Manman...

"Lin Yu, what am I going to do?"

"The police said it's very difficult to recover the stolen money and told us to prepare for the worst."

Tang Manman cried helplessly. The more she spoke, the louder she wailed, her barely stabilized emotions collapsing once again.

"It's fine, it's just money."

"Mere worldly possessions."

While comforting the breakdown on the other end of the line, Lin Yu subconsciously asked, "How much were you scammed out of?"

"Over two hundred thousand!"

"Waaaaah..."

Hearing Tang Manman lose control again, Lin Yu felt a headache coming on.

Over two hundred thousand... where did she get that much money?

And she actually dared to use it for 'investment'? She certainly had guts.

"Alright, calm down now. Stop crying. I have something to wrap up here, and then I'll come over."

"You're coming?"

Tang Manman sobbed, her cautious question saturated with grievance.

"Yeah."

Lin Yu nodded, adding an instruction: "Don't be too heartbroken. It's not certain that the money is gone forever. With such a large amount involved, the police will definitely take it seriously."

"Try to think on the bright side. Don't be too sad."

"Mmh."

Tang Manman gave a tearful hum of agreement, her pitiful tone tugging at his heartstrings.

After soothing Tang Manman, Lin Yu hung up the phone.

The itinerary was already planned.

After the competition ended, he would rush to Tang Manman's side as fast as possible.

Yet, despite this plan, the tightening sensation in Lin Yu's chest showed no sign of easing; instead, it constricted even further.

The agitation was nearly driving him mad.

No!

He couldn't wait!

Disregarding everything else, Lin Yu quickly bent down and started changing his clothes, preparing to leave right this instant.

Over two hundred thousand was no small sum, even for him, let alone for the impoverished Tang Manman.

Heaven knows how much sweat and effort she had poured in, and how much humiliation she had endured to earn that massive sum. Now that it had vanished in the blink of an eye, Lin Yu was genuinely terrified she might do something drastic or suffer an accident.

The finals were this afternoon, but Lin Yu couldn't wait any longer.

He needed to be by Tang Manman's side right now!

To hell with this damn competition!

Just as Lin Yu finished changing, Zhou Yise and her group appeared in a huddle at the lounge.

Their exquisite, moving faces were beaming with joy and happiness.

They had come to celebrate Lin Yu's victory. Of course, Qian Jie and Hu Hao, who were mixed in with sour expressions, certainly didn't share that sentiment.

Grabbing his jacket, Lin Yu ignored the group of school beauties who had barged in cheerfully to celebrate him. He turned to Tao Yaoyao and spoke seriously:

"I have an emergency and need to leave first. I won't be participating in this afternoon's competition."

Having said that, Lin Yu didn't wait for Tao Yaoyao's reply. He threw on his jacket and strode away.

The group that had burst in to celebrate was taken aback by these words.

Leaving?

Now?

Is he not competing this afternoon?

Having eliminated the most powerful opponent, Qi Fei, the championship and glory were as easily within reach as an unguarded wildflower by the roadside.

And you're leaving now?

Unaware of what had happened, they stood at the door, staring blankly as Lin Yu, wearing a grave expression, passed right through them.

"Wait!"

A nearly scolding voice came from behind, but Lin Yu showed absolutely no intention of stopping, continuing his long strides toward the exit of the arena.

"You stand right there!"

Qian Jie roared, sprinting to catch up. He attempted to reach out and grab Lin Yu's shoulder, righteously trying to stop him:

"You can't leave."

"If you leave, what happens to the afternoon match?"

"How can you be so irresponsible?"

"You leave after you finish competing!"

As he spoke, Qian Jie's hand latched onto Lin Yu's shoulder. The next second, his hand was violently thrown off.

Lin Yu didn't even glance at him, nor did he look back, continuing to stride toward the exit.

Qian Jie stood frozen for a moment, but he reacted quickly.

Perhaps feeling that he held the moral high ground, he became exceptionally aggressive, striding forward to chase him down again, shouting:

"I said, you finish the competition before you go!"

Catching up to Lin Yu, he reached out to grab him again. This time he used significant force, ensuring that once he grabbed the clothes, Lin Yu wouldn't easily break free.

This time, Lin Yu didn't try to break free.

Feeling his clothes being yanked, Lin Yu spun around abruptly. With his thumb and index finger spread wide, he drove the web of his hand swiftly into Qian Jie's throat, then tightened his five fingers, strangling him in a death grip.

Lin Yu's expression was ferocious. His already sharp features, rendered by rage, became vicious, making him look like a furious desperado.

"Don't you fucking tempt death with me!"

Lin Yu practically squeezed these words out through gritted teeth.

In an instant, pain and suffocation transformed into boundless terror. Qian Jie's trembling hands lost all strength without Lin Yu even needing to struggle.

Seeing Qian Jie's face twisted in agony, Lin Yu had no interest in teaching him a further lesson.

Judging that he wouldn't dare continue his harassment, Lin Yu released him, turned around, and continued walking toward the exit.

"Wait!"

"Wait a moment!"

The call came from behind again.

This time the voice was soft and delicate—a woman's voice.

Lin Yu recognized it as Tao Yaoyao's voice and couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.

Lin Yu knew that his mid-competition withdrawal was unfair to her.

But no matter what, he had to leave this place to find Tang Manman!

Now!

Immediately!

It was not up for discussion!

Tao Yaoyao jogged to catch up.

Because she had run urgently, her breathing was tinged with a hint of haste.

Lin Yu stopped in his tracks, took a deep breath, and looked at her with a distinct air of impatience.

Just as Lin Yu was about to tell her that he absolutely had to leave, she finally caught her breath and spoke in a soft voice:

"It's hard to catch a ride around here. Let me drive you."