Don't underestimate the poor and elderly; I was thrilled to refuse the class beauty's adva

Zong Wen tilted his head to look at Zhang Yifan beside him, his tone somewhat low.

"Brother Fan, let's find a place to sit down."

The two walked side by side along the street.

We didn't walk far before we found a home-style beer house hidden on the side of the street.

The store had very low foot traffic and was quiet.

The overall environment is quiet, which is perfect for heart-to-heart talks.

The two walked straight to the empty seats by the window and sat down.

Zongwen raised his hand and called the boss over.

We simply ordered a table of common snacks to go with drinks.

Another big bucket of chilled draft beer, please.

After placing the order, Zongwen fell silent again.

Zhang Yifan sensed that the kid had something on his mind, so he didn't urge him and just quietly stayed by his side.

The kitchen staff prepares dishes very quickly.

Before long, all the ordered dishes were served.

The table was laden with dishes, looking exceptionally plentiful.

Neither of them wanted to touch their chopsticks.

Zong Wen didn't say a word, but raised his hand and picked up a large glass of draft beer in front of him.

He tilted his head back, raised his hand, and drank it all in one gulp with a clean and decisive motion.

The whole mug of draft beer went down my throat, leaving a slightly cool sensation.

Zong Wen's emotions, which had been suppressed for many days, seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

Zhang Yifan saw this and instantly understood his state of mind.

An adult's emotional breakdown often occurs in a silent moment.

He didn't waste words or offer any deliberate comfort.

Between brothers, there's no need for excessive formalities or affectation.

Zhang Yifan picked up his beer mug.

He tilted his head back and chugged it all in one gulp.

The chilled drinks eased the somewhat somber atmosphere.

The empty cup landed on the table with a crisp clinking sound.

Zong Wen sighed heavily.

He raised his head and stared straight at Zhang Yifan.

His gaze was unusually serious.

"Brother Fan, am I really useless?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Yifan's heart tightened instantly.

I instantly became alert, and my heart pounded with genuine panic.

This is very unusual.

This is really abnormal.

Having known Zong Wen for so many years, Zhang Yifan understands his personality all too well.

This kid is a typical optimist.

Even if the sky falls, I'll still be happy and have a good meal first.

No matter how big the problem is, a good night's sleep will make it all go away.

Carefree and without a care in the world, never engaging in internal conflict, and never doubting oneself.

This is a state of emotional emo.

This was unheard of when it came to Zong Wen.

Zhang Yifan leaned forward slightly, his tone serious and urgent.

"Stop with the formalities, just tell me what happened."

"Something's not right with you, don't scare me!"

Upon hearing this, Zong Wen slowly lowered his head.

His head drooped to his chest, and he fell into a long silence.

At the quiet dining table, only his shoulders could be seen twitching slightly.

The suppressed emotions surged wildly within me, and I could no longer hold back.

After a long while, a hoarse, choked voice slowly rang out.

With a sob that could no longer be concealed, the sound made one's heart ache.

"Brother Fan, I might not have a father anymore..."

With a loud bang.

Zhang Yifan's mind went blank for a moment, completely crashing.

My mind is filled with a dense array of question marks.

He couldn't believe his ears.

Uncle Zong had an accident?

Zhang Yifan immediately composed himself, his expression changing drastically.

His tone was extremely serious, and he quickly spoke up to stop him.

"Don't joke around!"

"This is something you absolutely cannot joke about, not even a little bit!"

Zong Wen slowly raised his head.

His eyes were bloodshot and his under-eye area was covered with red veins.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back.

You can tell he's been holding on for a very, very long time.

"I'm not joking, Brother Fan."

He sniffled and choked out the whole truth.

"As you know, my dad was just an ordinary worker in the factory, working honestly his whole life."

"He had a persistent cough for a while, which kept coming back and wouldn't get better."

"My mom keeps urging him to go to the hospital for a checkup, but he keeps stubbornly refusing to go."

"In the end, I couldn't persuade my mom otherwise, so I went to the hospital for a checkup myself."

"After the check-up, when I got home, my mom asked him about the results, and he insisted that everything was fine."

"Just say it's a common cold, get some medicine and rest for a few days and you'll be fine."

"My mom and I believed it at the time, without thinking twice."

At this point, Zong Wen's voice choked up again, and he completely lost control of his emotions.

"Until a few days ago!"

"My mom was charging my dad's phone and accidentally stumbled upon his chat history with the doctor."

"My dad asked the doctor if there were any other conservative treatments for his condition."

"The doctor clearly stated that surgery must be performed as soon as possible."

"The longer it drags on, the more serious it will become, and the greater the subsequent risks will be."

"But my dad told the doctor in the end that he would think about it some more."

In just a few short sentences, a man's helplessness and forbearance are revealed.

Zongwen could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down his face.

The sobs were suppressed and aggrieved, filled with a sense of helplessness.

"My mom burst into tears on the spot after reading the chat history."

"But she didn't dare to ask my dad, she really didn't dare."

"My dad was a very strong-willed person his whole life, and he always shouldered everything himself."

"He was diagnosed with a serious illness, but he deliberately kept it from our whole family."

"He's just afraid of spending money, afraid that medical treatment will drain the family's already meager savings."

"I'm afraid that getting medical treatment will interfere with my studies and become a burden on me and my mother."

"My family's financial situation is just average, and we simply can't afford the expenses of a major surgery."

"He couldn't bear to spend the money, preferring to endure the pain himself."

At this point, Zong Wen raised his hand and wiped away a tear.

His tone was full of despair and self-blame.

"I've completely panicked these past few days and have absolutely no idea what to do."

"I don't dare tell my relatives, I don't dare tell my classmates, and I certainly don't dare let my dad know that I know."

"I'm afraid of exposing his pretense, afraid that he will give up on treatment completely."

"I'm desperate, I've searched through my contacts, and you're the only one who can help me."

"That's why I secretly borrowed 100,000 yuan from you to cover my losses."

"Don't worry, Brother Fan, I will definitely pay back this money. I absolutely won't default on it!"

After hearing the whole story, Zhang Yifan felt a mix of emotions.

He raised his hand and gently patted Zongwen's back.

He looked at the boy in front of him who was breaking down in tears.

What came to mind was Zongwen, who used to be carefree and lazy, spending his days slacking off.

A sudden family tragedy.

They forced a carefree teenager to become mature and composed.

Overnight, all childishness faded, and she shouldered pressures that were not appropriate for her age.

At this moment, Zongwen finally showed the responsibility that is unique to men.

Zhang Yifan spoke calmly, each word uttered with exceptional firmness.

"You don't need to worry about the money, and you don't need to pay it back."

With me here, the sky won't fall down.

Everything else is now on the sidelines.

The only important thing is to take my uncle to a major hospital for a second opinion and a confirmed diagnosis as soon as possible.

Surgery should be arranged immediately if possible; diseases requiring surgery cannot be delayed for even a moment.

The longer you delay, the greater the risk. As for the money, I'll cover it all for you.

With Zhang Yifan's words as a safety net, things were finally settled.

The huge weight that had been pressing on Zong Wen's heart for days was instantly lifted off the ground.

My tense nerves finally relaxed completely.

A sense of relief at surviving the ordeal instantly enveloped him.

His eyes were red, and his voice trembled with the shock of surviving a disaster.

"Thank goodness you're here, Brother Fan."

Without you, I would truly have nowhere to go this time.

I really don't know how I can get through this alone.

The oppressive atmosphere gradually eased, and Zongwen's emotions gradually calmed down and stabilized.

Zhang Yifan felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, and then he remembered Tang Xiaonuan's words of betrayal, which he spoke through gritted teeth.

He then spoke up.

"I know about your family situation now, but what exactly is going on between you and Tang Xiaonuan?"

Why did she accuse you of being unfaithful?

When asked this question...

Zongwen, who had just been filled with sorrow, froze instantly.

The sadness vanished instantly, replaced by extreme embarrassment.

He raised his hand and scratched the back of his head, looking completely at a loss.

His eyes darted around, and he stammered for a long time before he could speak a complete sentence.

"Ah...this..."

Zhang Yifan watched him quietly, waiting for what would happen next.

Zong Wen braced himself and whispered the outrageous truth.

"After I learned that my dad was going to have surgery and that the family would definitely have to spend a lot of money."

I completely lost it.

My family wasn't well-off to begin with, and this illness has completely drained our savings.

Subsequent living expenses and medical treatment costs are bottomless pits.

Tang Xiaonuan grew up in a privileged environment and was a pampered young lady.

In a moment of impulse, I felt I couldn't be a burden to her.

I'm about to be burdened with a lot of pressure, and I'm sure I'll be living a very frugal life.

I don't want her to suffer, toil, or live a poor life with me.

I figured it was better to have a short, sharp pain than a long, drawn-out one.

In order not to hold her back, I directly and unilaterally broke off our friendship.

After that, he deliberately ignored her, avoided her, and intentionally distanced himself from her.

After saying this, Zong Wen lowered his head in embarrassment.

Zhang Yifan listened to the whole story.

He sat there in the chair, completely stunned.

My brain was buzzing, filled with absurd question marks.

He remained silent for a good ten seconds.

Looking at Zongwen, who was both aggrieved and embarrassed, yet also self-satisfied.

In the end, all I could manage to utter was a single, utterly helpless complaint.

"this one?"

"You're really awesome..."

[There is no tragedy, so please read with peace of mind!]