Li Yan didn't know the details of their meeting, but he basically guessed that Zhang Yurong was looking for Yu Xiaodi to help with his matter, and Yu Xiaodi also wanted him to quietly undergo a full-body examination to check if there were any issues.

He felt grateful in his heart for such thoughtful care from them, and he also understood that if he directly told them he was fine, even if he told Yurong that last night was just an act, they probably wouldn't believe it now. Unless... Yue Yao vouched for him!

But the last meeting between Yurong and Xiaodi made Li Yan realize that such a scenario wouldn't be beneficial for them, so naturally, Yue Yao couldn't come out at this moment.

Fortunately, if he wanted to solve this issue, it was quite simple. He just needed to "go along with it," pretending not to know anything, and follow Xiaodi's arrangement to have a full-body check-up, which would reassure them.

...

In the morning, after waking up, Li Yan first went to find Zhang Yurong and learned that her foot was no longer a problem and that she just needed to be careful, which allowed him to have breakfast with peace of mind.

Upon arriving at the company, he started slacking off again. After all, learning the operations of the planning department from scratch was a hassle for him and not something that could be done overnight, so he might as well delegate authority.

What he needed to do now was follow Zhang Yurong's instructions from yesterday and collect that bad debt.

After setting up some departmental affairs that didn't require his direct involvement, Li Yan drove away from the company and followed the address provided in Ke Yunyun's data to locate the debtor company.

The company was not hard to find. It was in a small unit inside a commercial building, housing only a few people at work. It was unclear what the nature of the business was, but it entirely didn't look like a strong company; more like a fly-by-night operation.

However, Li Yan didn't underestimate them. Since they could persist here and even cooperate with the Paradise Group, even if only a branch, they must have some influence.

A middle-aged woman immediately received Li Yan warmly upon his arrival, asking what brought him there and if there was any business she could assist with.

Li Yan ignored her with a demeanor that said, "You're not worthy," while observing the company for a while before slowly saying, "Where's your Manager Liu? I have some business with him."

The bosses of such companies, who act like scoundrels, are often well-versed in the game, assuming that a big company like Paradise Group would only resolve issues through legal means, allowing them to find excuses to delay. But being a rogue means they likely owe multiple debts; 2 million might not affect Paradise Group much but could cut off a small company's cash flow, leaving them unable to manage. These days, when people are pushed to their limits, getting some guys to beat someone up isn't a big deal.

So, for such bosses, they usually wouldn't meet most clients themselves; the people under them would play along, claiming they couldn't find the boss when it's collectors; you can't just beat up a random employee, after all.

Here, there were only a few people, seasoned enough to size up their visitors. Li Yan wasn't acting like a debt collector but more like a bigwig.

"Manager Liu..." The middle-aged woman wasn't offended by Li Yan's disdain but remained vigilant and suspicious, "He's not in the company! He's very busy; did you make an appointment?"

"Appointment? Busy my ass! How much shit does he have going on?" Li Yan straightforwardly cursed.

"Hey… Well, you see... May I have your name, sir? I can call Manager Liu and ask him to return?"

"No need! Since he's so busy, I bet your company is too and doesn't have time for my business; I'm leaving!" Li Yan feigned displeasure and made as if to leave.

The middle-aged woman hesitated, unsure if this was really a big client. However, seeing Li Yan lose patience and wanting to leave, it didn't seem he was there to collect debts. A debt collector would try everything not to leave. If it really was a hard-won client being let go like this, it would be a major loss.

She immediately changed her demeanor, smiling and saying, "No rush, to be honest, Manager Liu just managed to take a short break; it's my fault, my fault, please follow me!"

She didn't wait for Li Yan's response, pulling his sleeve, and led him to a small door at the back. The rest of the company seemed used to this and didn't pay any attention.

"Don't pull! Can you afford to pay if you ruin this?" Li Yan acted like a nouveau riche.

Opening the small door revealed a corridor, and the middle-aged woman led Li Yan to another unmarked office, smiling as she said, "This way please!"

Li Yan understood that this was their boss's real office, prepared separately. Some clients were brought here directly through this corridor, while others went to the front office. Being brought here meant if he were a client and they ever owed him money, Mr. Liu might retreat to a third office. "A crafty rabbit has three burrows," as they say!

The middle-aged woman knocked on the door, and after a while, someone opened it from within.

It was a young secretary-looking woman, her face slightly flushed, and her hair a bit messy.

"Secretary Zhou, this gentleman is here to see Manager Liu." The middle-aged woman gave a subtle nod, indicating she'd assessed the situation.

Secretary Zhou glanced at Li Yan and said flatly, "Please come in!"

Li Yan stepped inside; it was a simple office with just the two of them inside, in addition to the secretary who opened the door, there was a slightly balding middle-aged man sitting behind the desk.

"Hello, hello, may I ask who you are..." Given the prior assessment, Manager Liu was convinced he wasn't a debt collector but still had no recollection of this person at all.

Li Yan took a seat across from him, took out a cigarette, and lit it up, "You're Manager Liu, right?"

"Haha, actually, I'm not the boss, just a manager. May I know your name, sir?" He wasn't a fool, much more cautious than the middle-aged woman, sensing something off.

"I don't care what you are, I'm here to collect a debt today. You owe our company 2 million; when are you paying up?" Li Yan blew out a smoke ring, cutting straight to the point.

"2 million? There must be a mistake. Which company are you from..." Manager Liu slapped his forehead, pretending to ponder seriously.

"Paradise Group. Our company's legal department has already sent a lawyer's letter, Manager Liu, you have such a short memory," Li Yan smiled, "Or have you racked up so many debts you can't keep track?"

"No, no... Paradise Group, such a big company, of course, I remember and know." Upon hearing it was Paradise Group, Manager Liu composed himself. As they say, it's the barefoot who aren't afraid of the ones wearing shoes; being a rogue, he's more afraid of those who get desperate and violent, but compared to Paradise Group, he's the barefooted one.

"If you remember, are you going to pay?"

"Brother… look, you have a strong legal department and a team of lawyers; how could a small company like ours not pay? Let me be honest with you, I'm fretting over this. Look! I've been so worried these days that I'm losing my hair!" Manager Liu appeared earnest, pointing to his slightly balding head, prompting a chuckle from the secretary.

Li Yan nodded, "That's quite serious, but you still need to repay the money, even if you're losing hair—unless you lose your head."

"Of course. Doing business, reputation is most important; how could I not repay? It's just that, for now, we can't handle the funds. If you don't believe it, wait for the legal process after which the court can freeze our accounts and see how much is left! I'm currently unable to pay salaries; ask Secretary Zhou, she hasn't received a salary for months, and if it weren't for her loyalty, she would've job-hopped long ago."

Manager Liu sighed dramatically.

"Bloody hell! You're that broke, yet still have the mood to fool around with women in the office?" Li Yan saw he was indeed playing the rogue and didn't hold back his words.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Liu's face, but he quickly smiled and said, "Brother, you don't understand. I've owed Secretary Zhou her salary for months, no money to give, so paying with flesh..."

Li Yan couldn't help but admire; he could deliver such an unbelievable lie so tearfully and sincerely, a real talent!

"Damn, and the old auntie who brought me in, is she getting paid with flesh too?"

Secretary Zhou couldn't hold back her laughter again; her acting was clearly not up to par.

"A kindred spirit, brother! Now you understand why I'm losing hair?" Manager Liu displayed a look of sacrificial spirit, no, practically martyrdom!

Li Yan was disgusted by this old trickster, and he coughed out the smoke he was puffing.

Manager Liu stood up, went over to open a safe behind him. "The company accounts can be investigated by the court to see if there's any money when the time comes. Since you're here now, have a look at our petty cash, see if there's any money. It's long been snatched to pay their wages if there were! Drawers, just look at our drawers again! Secretary, open them up for our friend from Paradise to see!"

Finally, the secretary adjusted to Manager Liu's tone, and opened everything for Li Yan to see, revealing that they contained nothing. The whole office had no smell of money.

Li Yan threatens to leave, but the middle-aged woman changes her tone to mollify him.

"Don't be in such a hurry, to be honest with you, Manager Liu just managed to take a break, it's my fault, please come with me!"

She says as she pulls Li Yan's sleeve and leads him through a small door to another office without a sign. The others in the company seem completely unfazed by this.

"Don't pull! Can you afford to compensate if you tear this?" Li Yan said, acting like an upstart.

Opening the small door led to a corridor, and the middle-aged woman led Li Yan to another unmarked office, smiling as she said, "Right this way!"

Li Yan understood; this was their boss's deliberately hidden main office. Some clients were likely led here directly, while others went to the front office. With him being led here this time, it was possible that if he really were a client, and they later owed him money, Manager Liu would be in a third office. The saying goes "a sly rabbit has three dens!"

The middle-aged woman knocked on the door first, and after a moment, someone inside opened it.

The door was opened by a young, secretary-looking woman with slightly flushed cheeks and messy hair.

"Secretary Zhou, this gentleman is here for Manager Liu," The middle-aged woman gave a nod, indicating she had assessed the visitor.

Secretary Zhou glanced at Li Yan and said flatly, "Please come in!"

Li Yan walked in; it was just a small office, with only the two of them inside—the secretary who just opened the door and a slightly balding middle-aged man sitting behind a desk.

"Hello, hello, may I ask for your name..." Given that the visitor had been vetted by the staff earlier, Manager Liu was convinced he was not a debt collector, but he still had no memory of this person.

Li Yan sat opposite him, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. "You're Manager Liu, right?"

"Haha, actually I'm not the boss, just a manager. May I have your name, sir?" He was no fool, much more cautious than the middle-aged woman, and started to feel something was off.

"I don't care who you are. I'm here to collect a debt today. You owe our company 2 million; when are you paying up?" Li Yan blew out a smoke ring, cutting straight to the point.

"2 million? There must be some mistake. Your company is..." Manager Liu tapped his head as if pondering with sincerity.

"Paradise Group. Our legal department has already sent you a notice, Manager Liu seems to have a selective memory," Li Yan said, watching him perform, "or have you just owed so many debts that you can't keep track?"

"Not at all, not at all… Paradise Group, such a big company, of course, I remember, of course I know." Hearing it was Paradise Group, Manager Liu became much calmer. As the saying goes, those barefooted have no fear of those wearing shoes; he may be the one dodging debts, afraid of those desperate enough to take violent action, but compared to Paradise Group, he was the one without any shoes.

"If you remember, then are you going to pay it back?"

"My friend… look, you have a strong legal department, a team of lawyers, we're just a small company, there's no way we wouldn't pay it back. To be honest, this debt itself troubles me; just look! I've been so anxious these days that I'm losing my hair!" Manager Liu appeared earnest, patting his slightly balding head with sincerity, even making Secretary Zhou suppress a laugh.

Li Yan nodded, "That is quite serious, but even if you're losing hair, you still need to pay the debt."

"Brother, look… You have a formidable legal department and team of lawyers, our little company, how could we dare not to pay. Honestly, I've been up at night worrying about this, you see! My hair is almost gone from stress!"

Li Yan nodded again, "That's serious, but even if your hair falls out, you still have to pay the money!"

"Of course, but look at you, coming here. I'm behind on paying Secretary Zhou's salary for months, can't even afford it. I end up having to pay her with… you know," Manager Liu said, pointing to his balding head, causing the secretary to smile again.

"A comrade in arms, my friend! Now you know why I'm losing my hair?" Manager Liu wore a look of self-sacrificial nobility, no, heroism!

Li Yan was disgusted by the act from this old fox, coughing up his smoke.

Manager Liu opened a drawer behind him, "The company's accounts, go ahead and look. If they had any money, they would've been taken to pay salaries by them long ago! Secretary Zhou, open your drawer, show this brother from Paradise!"

The sidekick secretary finally matched Manager Liu's pace, opening everything for Li Yan to see, which revealed absolutely nothing, the entire office had no smell of money.

Li Yan threatens to leave, but the middle-aged woman changes her tone to mollify him.

She immediately changed her demeanor, smiling broadly and saying, "No rush, honestly with you, Manager Liu just managed to take a short break; my fault, my fault, please follow me!"

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