The Demon Supreme Borrows Money

"Waiter, two milk teas, please. One with extra sugar, one with less."

After some pleasantries, Zhou Yan ordered two milk teas from the waiter. He then composed himself, his gaze falling on Lin Fan in front of him.

"Right, you said you had something to discuss with me. What is it?"

Seeing Zhou Yan take the initiative to ask, Lin Fan cut straight to the chase.

"I want to borrow twenty thousand yuan from you."

Zhou Yan was his best friend. They knew each other so well, they even knew how many pairs of underwear the other owned and what colors they preferred. There was no need to be embarrassed.

Besides, unlike Lin Fan, who was an orphan, Zhou Yan's parents were both full-time public servants, and his grandparents owned several rental properties in the city. He was, in essence, a genuine second-generation rich kid, a detestable landlord.

Twenty thousand yuan might be a significant sum for ordinary people, but for Zhou Yan, it was merely pocket money.

"That's it? Just twenty thousand yuan? That's nothing~"

As soon as he heard it was just about borrowing money, Zhou Yan didn't hesitate. With a wave of his hand, he took out twenty thousand yuan in cash from his bag and placed it on the table.

This extravagant move startled Lin Fan.

"Why are you carrying so much cash?"

Although he knew Zhou Yan was wealthy, he never imagined he would carry tens of thousands of yuan in cash with him.

After all, this was the era of mobile payments. Almost everyone paid with their phones for shopping and even transfers when they went out.

Cash was inconvenient and unsafe. Very few people carried cash nowadays, let alone tens of thousands of yuan.

"The money in your phone is just a string of numbers. What you can touch is real money~"

"Listen to that. That's the sound of money. I call it the most healing sound in the world~"

Zhou Yan held the twenty thousand yuan in his hand, his fingers brushing over the bills, creating a rustling sound.

Watching Zhou Yan revel in it, Lin Fan couldn't find anything to refute him. He even found himself inexplicably agreeing with him.

Especially now, when he was desperately in need of money…

He hadn't thought money was that great before, but now, the sound of rustling bills felt like heavenly music. It could probably even cure depression on the spot…

"Here."

Zhou Yan placed the twenty thousand yuan on the table and pushed it towards Lin Fan.

"Thanks."

Lin Fan reached out to take it but found Zhou Yan's fingers firmly pressing down on the bills.

Zhou Yan's usual carefree demeanor vanished. He looked serious, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby. Then, he leaned over the table and whispered to Lin Fan, "Lin Fan, forget borrowing, I'd give it to you as a gift, but you have to tell me the truth, you haven't touched any that, right?"

Lin Fan gave Zhou Yan a speechless look.

"Do I look like someone who's touched that stuff?"

"Hmm… you really don't!"

Zhou Yan scrutinized Lin Fan carefully and shook his head.

People who had touched that stuff often appeared disoriented, gaunt, and would become agitated during withdrawal periods, only to relapse into a state of mental lethargy, becoming neither human nor ghost.

Lin Fan in front of him was full of energy, and his physique was excellent. He certainly didn't look like someone who had touched that stuff.

"Not that, then gambling?" Zhou Yan continued, still uneasy.

"No, you know me, I hate gambling the most."

"That's true…"

Zhou Yan nodded, then began to speculate on his own.

"Then did you borrow money from some criminal organization and get forced into a loan shark situation?"

"No!"

Lin Fan frowned, showing impatience.

"Yanzi, just say yes or no. Why so many questions? Are you conducting an investigation?"

"Heh heh, don't blame me for asking so much. You've never asked me for money before. I'm just worried you might have gone astray."

Zhou Yan put on a fawning smile, realizing he might have been asking too much.

Seeing that his friend was just concerned about him, Lin Fan didn't want to say more. He just asked curiously, "You've asked about drugs and gambling, and even loan sharks. Why didn't you ask about the other one?"

"Oh, that? That's nothing. How much money could that possibly cost?"

Zhou Yan blinked, then understood what Lin Fan was referring to, and looked dismissive.

"If you like that sort of thing, I can take you for a foot massage later and arrange ten girls for you!"

Lin Fan: "…"

"Forget it, forget it..."

Lin Fan was speechless, quickly waved his hands to refuse, and made up an excuse to explain:

"I only borrowed money from you because I was traveling and accidentally ran out of cash. Don't overthink it."

"Oh, you should have said so! Then I'm relieved."

Zhou Yan's worries eased, and he immediately released the twenty thousand yuan he had been holding down.

"Here, take it~"

"Thanks, I'll pay you back double later."

Lin Fan took the twenty thousand yuan and promised with gratitude.

He usually didn't borrow money from others easily, but if he did, even from his closest brothers and friends, he would definitely repay it. This was his consistent principle of conduct.

"It's nothing, no deadline. You can pay me back whenever you want."

Zhou Yan waved his hand generously, not caring, and casually changed the subject:

"Speaking of which, since you're back, you probably aren't working your old job anymore. What are you doing now?"

"Um... writing novels."

Lin Fan hesitated for a moment and answered truthfully.

"Ah?"

Zhou Yan's expression was startled, and then a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.

"No wonder you wanted to borrow money from me. So you're writing novels..."

Lin Fan: "..."

Lin Fan fell into awkward silence, yet he had no way to refute it.

He had indeed come to borrow money because he hadn't earned anything from writing novels...

"Lin Fan, it's not that I want to criticize, but you should really give up writing novels. It's a dead end, and you might starve to death someday in the future."

"How about I introduce you to a new job?" Zhou Yan earnestly advised.

Lin Fan refused without any hesitation, shaking his head decisively.

"I've been traveling for a long time and I like a carefree life."

"Sigh, alright then!"

Seeing Lin Fan's firm resolve, Zhou Yan didn't try to persuade him further and took out another twenty thousand yuan from his backpack.

"Here's another twenty thousand yuan. I'll give it to you as well. You might need it later."

"This forty thousand yuan should be enough to keep you going until you give up. Tell me when you can't hold on anymore."

Lin Fan: "..."

"Can't you wish me well for once..."

Looking at the other twenty thousand yuan on the table, Lin Fan felt both touched and amused.

Zhou Yan laughed heartily, patted Lin Fan on the shoulder, and said with a serious expression, then changed his tune:

"Then I'll change that. I believe you can definitely do it!"

After saying that, Zhou Yan desperately suppressed his rising smile and stifled his laughter.

Lin Fan looked helpless.

This guy didn't believe him at all; he was just watching the show...

As the two were talking, a waiter brought two cups of latte to the table.

"Sir, here are your two bubble teas. Please enjoy."

The waiter placed the two cups of latte in front of Lin Fan and Zhou Yan, respectively. As he handed the cup to Lin Fan, he glanced at him again and gave him a slight smile.

"As expected, men with good bodies are liked by women wherever they go... Damn it!"

"Why isn't she smiling at me! Looks like I need to put fitness on my agenda!"

Zhou Yan took a sip of his bubble tea, his expression extremely serious.

"Go for it~"

Lin Fan raised his bubble tea, took a sip, and encouraged him with a smile.

He knew his brother too well. Ever since college, he had been talking about getting fit, signing up for gym memberships everywhere he went, but he never actually went.

"I'm absolutely serious this time!"

Zhou Yan said with a serious and solemn expression. After a moment of hesitation, he suddenly changed the subject, a bright smile appearing on his face.

"But today is a great day for our reunion, so let's start tomorrow~"

"Tonight, we won't stop drinking until we drop~!"