A Finger Was All!

He longed to find a glimmer of hope for salvation, only to discover that he had already been swallowed by darkness.

He began to recall the wonderful times he had spent with Kou'er; those heartwarming memories were like sharp blades, cutting into his heart piece by piece.

He regretted it, he blamed himself, but it was all too late to undo the damage.

So he didn't go home and wandered around outside.

The cold moonlight cast Cao Feng's long shadow, making him appear exceptionally lonely.

His steps faltered, his heart filled with unprecedented fear and despair.

The shadow of usury was like an invisible net, binding him tightly, and every struggle only made him sink deeper.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the night, and several burly men with cold faces emerged from the shadows, blocking Cao Feng's path.

Their eyes held no warmth, only cold calculation and threat.

"Cao Feng, you've given us quite a search." The leader sneered, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Cao Feng trembled, his face ashen. He tried to calm himself, but his voice still trembled uncontrollably. "What... what do you want to do?"

"What for? I'm here to collect a debt, of course." The man said, pulling a crumpled IOU from his pocket and waving it in front of Cao Feng. "Look, the amount on this is all signed by your own hand. Now, it's time to pay back the money."

Cao Feng lowered his head helplessly, knowing he was utterly incapable of repaying this enormous debt. He closed his eyes, as if that would allow him to escape the harsh reality.

However, reality never allowed him to escape.

The next second, a large hand suddenly grabbed his wrist with such force that he almost cried out in pain.

"Stop playing dead. If you can't come up with the money today, don't blame us for being impolite," the man said menacingly, gesturing for his men to step forward.

Cao Feng felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to his heart. He struggled desperately, but to no avail.

Those loan sharks' henchmen were like well-trained wild beasts, moving swiftly and ruthlessly.

"Stop! I... I'll find a way to pay you back!" Cao Feng almost cried out, begging for mercy, but all he received in return was an even colder mockery.

"Think of a way? What way do you have? We know everything about your assets. Even if you did, it wouldn't be enough to pay our interest." The man said, waving his hand to signal his men to take action.

Cao Feng felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, followed by intense pain from his fingertips.

He opened his eyes and was horrified to find that his right ring finger was firmly clamped by a sharp dagger, and blood was gushing out, staining the surrounding ground red.

"Ah--!" He let out a heart-wrenching scream, the sound echoing through the empty street, sounding particularly desolate.

"This is just a warning. If you don't pay back the money, next time it won't be just a simple finger." The man said coldly, flicking his dagger. Blood droplets on the blade drew a bright red arc in the air before disappearing into the night.

Cao Feng collapsed to the ground, clutching his severed finger in agony, tears mingling with blood, blurring his vision. He had never imagined he would end up in such a state.

He was once the pride of his parents and the support in Kou'er's heart, but now he has become a stray dog that everyone avoids.

"Why... why did it turn out like this?" he murmured to himself, his voice filled with despair and resentment.

A few days later, when Cao Feng finally mustered the courage to return home, he was greeted by his parents' even heavier sighs and the house's desolation.

He knew he had disappointed them once again, and he was in big trouble!

"Crunch!"

The door was opened.

The sound of the door hinges turning was particularly jarring in the quiet air, as if time itself had slowed down at that moment.

Cao Feng stood at the door, looking at the familiar scene inside, yet felt an unprecedented sense of strangeness and alienation.

The candlelight cast a dim glow, illuminating the parents' haggard faces. Their eyes held both disappointment and deep worry and reluctance.

The mother was the first to react. Her needlework stopped abruptly, the needle nearly piercing her fingertip, but she seemed oblivious to the pain, staring blankly at her disheveled son at the door.

The father's brows were furrowed, and the teacup in his hand hovered in mid-air. The tea, slightly yellowed from not being drunk for a long time, reflected his complex and unspeakable emotions.

"Feng'er ..." The mother's voice was hoarse and trembling. She put down her work, slowly stood up, and walked towards Cao Feng with slightly unsteady steps.

Every step felt like it was treading on Cao Feng's heart, causing him wave after wave of stinging pain.

"Mom..." Cao Feng finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse. He dared not look his mother in the eye, afraid that the disappointment in her eyes would completely break him.

He lowered his head, letting tears well up in his eyes, but stubbornly refused to let them fall.

"You're back..." His mother gently took Cao Feng's hand, and when she touched the unhealed wound on his cold fingertips, her heart clenched, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. "What happened to you? How did you get hurt like this?" she asked as she carefully examined Cao Feng's wound, her eyes filled with heartache and self-reproach.

The father put down his teacup, walked over and stood aside, silently watching the scene. His eyes held both reproach and, more than anything, heartache and helplessness for his son.

He sighed softly, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately didn't.

"I... I wanted to go find Kou'er, but..." Cao Feng choked up, wanting to explain something, but not knowing where to begin.

He knew that everything he was going through was his own fault, and any explanation seemed so weak and powerless.

"Stop talking, Feng'er." His mother interrupted him, gently patting the back of his hand. "We know the pain in your heart. But gambling is a path you really can't take!" Her tone was full of worry and admonition.

"Mom, I know I was wrong." Cao Feng finally couldn't hold back his tears and they rolled down his cheeks like a broken string of pearls. "I really know I was wrong, but... I've incurred high-interest debt again, and I don't know what to do..." His voice was filled with despair and helplessness.

Hearing this, the parents' expressions became even more serious. They exchanged a glance, as if communicating something silently.

Then, the mother tightened her grip on Cao Feng's hand again, saying firmly, "Feng'er, don't be afraid. We're here, we won't let you face these difficulties alone."

"But..." Cao Feng wanted to say something, but was interrupted by his father.

"No buts!" The father's voice was stern, but it was filled with love and expectation for his son. "You are our son, and no matter how big a mistake you make, we will stand by your side. But you must promise us that from now on, you will never gamble again!"