Xu Huo smiled. "You're pretty clever. You want to trade the interest for the Medal?"
The painted woman hesitated. "I'll give you all my money. Can I have the Medal?"
As she spoke, she tugged pitifully at his sleeve, trying her best to widen her watery eyes.
"How about this," Xu Huo said. "You don't charge me interest on the money you lend me, and I won't charge you interest for borrowing the Medal. Deal?"
The painted woman tilted her head and thought it over. Before long, she happily agreed to the deal and took Xiao Yuan to the stern to watch the glowing fish.
Tan Qi didn't leave. He shot Xu Huo a look. "Doesn't your conscience bother you? You took the money and items that were supposed to go to Sister Lichun, didn't you?"
The painted woman wanted the Medal, so she'd offered to trade everything she'd received from the Special Defense Department. But Xu Huo hadn't agreed to that. Technically, the painted woman's belongings were being kept with him; they didn't belong to him.
Xu Huo glanced at him. "Do you want to lend me money too?"
Tan Qi turned on his heel and left.
Xu Huo leaned back in his chair, enjoying the night breeze as he closed his eyes.
Quite a few people came to the Mountain Villa for a getaway. After two days, even the painted woman had noticed that people from different social circles were treated differently, not to mention Xiao Yuan and Tan Qi. The well-connected nobles had priority over lesser nobles, and lesser nobles over ordinary rich people. Whether it was choosing a boat or using other recreational facilities, everyone accepted this unspoken rule. Sometimes they even gave way without being asked. The Mountain Villa didn't make trouble for anyone who