Chapter 7

Chapter 7

From Wang Kai's heartbroken words, the others learned that he had transferred all his savings to his 'girlfriend', a sum of a hundred thousand.

Shen Wang, who only had ten dollars to his name: "..."

Li Pingping and Xu Cheng, equally poor: "..."

They couldn't understand the world of the wealthy.

The group immediately went to the police station near the school to report the incident. The police officers were very calm and professional, offering Wang Kai a glass of water to help soothe his emotions.

Wang Kai's face flushed red as he held the cup of water, muttering in shame, "This was the money I saved over many years by living frugally... even my parents didn't know."

"Twenty years of frugality, gone to a scammer in an instant." One of the male police officers, both amused and exasperated, couldn't help but admonish, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. Always think twice and consider... does someone as pretty and nice as her even need to resort to online dating?"

"In reality, loads of guys are lining up to chase after her. Did you really think she'd choose you?"

Wang Kai nodded meekly, resembling a primary school student scolded by a teacher, trembling and despondent.

After recording Wang Kai's situation, the short-haired female officer concluded, "You should brace yourself. These professional scam rings often operate from abroad. Once your money is transferred to their account, it's split into dozens of other accounts within minutes, making it hard to trace and recover."

Wang Kai's eyes reddened again.

"His family was indeed well-off, but being just a student, he didn't get much pocket money from his parents. The money he lost was accumulated over the years from New Year's cash gifts and various red envelopes. The hardship of saving it was known only to him."

"Now, the money he painstakingly saved up had all gone to that damned swindler!"

"If it weren't for the many police officers watching, Wang Kai would have burst into tears right there and then."

"The short-haired policewoman shook her head and consoled, 'Consider it a costly lesson. Be more careful in the future. Always verify before transferring money to someone, especially online acquaintances. Avoid large monetary dealings with them... It's best to download the national anti-fraud app to check the identity of unknown persons or accounts.'"

"Leaving the police station, Wang Kai was disheartened. With the app strongly recommended by the short-haired policewoman on his phone, and having lost a hundred thousand yuan, he felt so depressed that he wanted to cry, or find a secluded spot to bury himself in."

"He looked so pitiful that Li Pingping couldn't bear it, 'Old Wang, think positively. It's only 'possibly' irretrievable. What if the swindler you encountered is a novice, not part of a syndicate?'"

"Wang Kai gave Li Pingping a listless glance, continuing to stare at his toes as he walked back to the dorm."

"As his roommate for so long, there was a bond. Seeing him like this, Xu Cheng also felt uneasy, 'You knew what this could lead to, why did you even start? Shen Ge had already warned you...'"

"At this, Xu Cheng's eyes lit up, suddenly turning to Shen Wang, 'Shen Ge, you’re so capable, can you help Old Wang? He's just a bit straightforward, but a really upright guy, you know...'"

"Though previously rebuffed by Wang Kai, Shen Wang, not one to hold grudges, thought for a moment and said, 'Li Pingping is right. The swindler you encountered doesn't seem to be part of a syndicate, so there's a high chance your money can be recovered.'"

"Wang Kai, who had been downcast since knowing the truth, suddenly looked up, hope shining in his dim eyes, 'Really?!'"

"'Believe it or not.' Shen Wang, who bore no grudges, smiled amiably."

"Li Pingping: ..."

"Why would you provoke him of all people?"

"Wang Kai froze, then remembered that from the beginning, Shen Wang had said his girlfriend was a scammer, but he hadn't believed it at the time."

"He had even transferred all his money to his girlfriend in a huff, trying to prove she wasn’t a scammer after she asked to borrow money."

"After a few seconds of hesitation, Wang Kai's voice trembled, 'Shen Ge, I was wrong before. You were trying to help me, and I was too blind to see your good intentions, mistaking your kindness for malice... I’m sorry, Shen Ge.'"

"Hearing Wang Kai's apology, Shen Wang's smile became more genuine. He calculated with his fingers, 'The one who scammed you is indeed a novice, a man in his thirties, single, lazy, and idle. He pretended to be a woman just for more attention in the game. Before this, he had only scammed small amounts, but this was the first time he got his hands on such a large sum...'"

"Everyone present saw Shen Wang's finger-twiddling, and they all widened their eyes in surprise."

"Wang Kai looked at Li Pingping: 'Is your brother kidding me? I'm already in such a bad state, and he's still playing tricks on me. That's not very nice, is it?'"

"Xu Cheng also looked at Li Pingping: 'So much for saying your brother doesn't know metaphysics!'"

"Only Li Pingping was completely clueless: 'Since when did my brother learn such street swindling? Wasn't he always the one who despised these kinds of deceitful tricks?'"

"'I was wondering why your face looked so green.' Shen Wang sighed, his gaze on Wang Kai filled with pity."

"Wang Kai's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, 'What's happening, Shen Ge?'"

"'You can recover your money... at least a part of it.' Shen Wang shared his calculations honestly, 'That guy is broke, single for years, and when he saw so much money for the first time, he immediately withdrew it to splurge... in the red-light district, you know?'"

"Wang Kai understood, and not just him; everyone present got it."

"It was really tragic."

"His 'girlfriend' took his money and spent it on prostitutes..."

"Wang Kai immediately felt his forehead glowing green with rage, trembling with anger: 'Shen Ge! Help me, Shen Ge!'"

"Wang Kai, a city boy, never believed in superstitions, but this time he was so angry he lost his wits and didn't doubt Shen Wang's words."

"Just thinking about his hard-earned money being swindled for such purposes, Wang Kai wished he could smash the scammer's head, making him regret ever pretending to be a woman to deceive others!"

"The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Wang Kai blurted out, 'Shen Ge, if you can help me get my money back and teach that scammer a lesson, I'll give you ten percent commission!'"

"Shen Wang, who was about to say 'the police will help you recover it,' was speechless..."

"Seeing Shen Wang spaced out and silent for a long time, Wang Kai realized his blunder and felt terribly ashamed: he had actually tried to hire Shen Ge for a mere ten thousand yuan, a sum too trivial for Shen Ge!"

"Wang Kai gritted his teeth and added, 'Ten thousand is indeed too little, how about twenty percent? Twenty thousand yuan!'"

"No sooner had the words left his mouth than Shen Wang immediately asked, 'Are you serious about this?'"

"Wang Kai couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but he felt that at that moment, Shen Ge's eyes... sparkled unusually."

"Wang Kai nodded vigorously, 'A gentleman's word is his bond! As long as you, Shen Ge, can help me recover the scammed money and teach that swindler a lesson, twenty thousand yuan, I will not go back on my word!'"

"'Deal! Twenty thousand for the service, no backing out!'"

"Li Pingping watched the unfolding events in shock. He steadied Wang Kai's trembling, excited hand, and forgetting his injured foot, briskly pulled Shen Wang aside."

"'Brother, Wang had a disagreement with you before, but he's in such a bad state now. Please let it go for my sake, and considering we'll still be roommates for two more years.'"

"Shen Wang: '???'"

"Shen Wang: 'Do you really see me as someone who must retaliate against anyone I've had a disagreement with?'"

"Li Pingping with a firm gaze: 'Aren't you?'"

"'I am so magnanimous.' Shen Wang gave Li Pingping a knock on the head, annoyed, 'That swindler has already withdrawn the money to splurge in the city. By the time the police solve the case, most of it will be gone. Only about ten to twenty thousand can be recovered... Your roommate is giving me ten to twenty thousand, and if we recover eighty thousand, he still comes out ahead.'"

"Li Pingping, holding his head, became even more confused, 'Weren't you just bluffing him?'"

"With time pressing, Shen Wang gave Li Pingping, who didn't believe him, a glare and walked over to Wang Kai, taking his phone."

"Wang Kai felt inexplicably nervous, heart fluttering. He carefully brought up the scammer's number, 'He's already blocked me, Shen Ge, look...'"

"Shen Wang glanced at it and sent a text from his own phone."

"[Wang Daqiang, male, 39 years old. When you were eight, your mother left and never returned. At fifteen, your father drowned after a drinking accident. For the past twenty years, you've been alone, living off manual labor. At thirty-five, you met your first love, but you despised her for being older and divorced with a daughter, driving her away. You've been single ever since.]"

"Wang Daqiang had just gotten off a car when he received this message from an unknown number."

"He had unexpectedly come into a large sum of money. Unable to contain his excitement, he immediately hired a car to the city, determined to fully enjoy life!"

"The first step in enjoying life was to find a woman and relax."

"Wang Daqiang smiled exceptionally happily, never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would have a hundred thousand yuan. This money would make those who looked down on him respect him, and those women who scorned him admire him..."

"With a 'ding-dong', another text message arrived on the phone."

"[That woman was the only romance in your life. Miss her, and you'll end up wifeless, childless, and alone for the rest of your days.]"

"'Damn, that's bad luck,' Wang Daqiang spat. He had no choice before, only that woman in her forties, ugly and with a child, would look at him. But now things are different, he has a hundred thousand yuan!"

"As long as he has money, what kind of woman can't he find? Muttering to himself about blocking the number, Wang Daqiang grumbled, 'Who the hell is this, cursing me to be wifeless and childless, to die alone? Bullshit! I’ll marry a virgin, have a chubby son, no, two...'"

"Just then, a third text message arrived."

"[This year marks the turning point of your fate. You will be sentenced to eight years for fraud, and after release, continue to live on odd jobs. At fifty-five, you'll develop Parkinson's and languish for nearly a decade, dying at sixty-nine.]"

"[Lonely, sick, and dying alone in your home, that will be your final fate.]"

"Wang Daqiang's hands trembled slightly. He could dismiss the earlier messages as leaked information or a prank by someone he knew, but these last two messages had him thoroughly panicked."

"When idle, Wang Daqiang often played games, and once he realized female characters got preferential treatment, it was like unlocking some hidden potential."

"In the game, he was a girl in a pink dress, called 'little sister' by men, who once wouldn't spare him a glance. College students would chase after him, sending milk tea and snacks, some even sending red envelopes with '520' or '1314'."

"The biggest sucker was a guy he'd recently met, who eagerly transferred him a hundred thousand yuan. After receiving the money, Wang Daqiang immediately blocked the naive college student."

"Disturbed and confused, Wang Daqiang didn't even notice that the stranger was texting, not calling. He hurriedly replied to the last message, 'How can it be fraud if it's consensual? He gave it to me willingly. That doesn't count as scamming...'"

"With a 'ding-dong', as if the sender had heard Wang Daqiang's words, another message came through."

"[Turn right, then left. Enter the first door you see. This is your last chance to change your life.]"

"Wang Daqiang clutched his phone tightly, looking around. To the left was the place he wanted to visit, a place he had heard his friends boast about many times; to the right..."

"People passed by without giving him a second glance, but Wang Daqiang felt a chill down his spine. Swallowing hard, he stepped towards the right."

"Turn right, then left, the first door... Wang Daqiang mindlessly followed the instructions in the text message."

"'Sir, do you need any help?' A man in a police uniform sat at the front desk, his demeanor exuding righteousness."

"In the blue and white hall, Wang Daqiang's legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees."

"The police officer exchanged a look with his colleague, both wary."