Chapter 434: The Angel Investor's Perfectly Timed Crisis
Lu Ran's expression turned grim as he looked at Long Hao.
At this moment, Long Hao's gaze was a torrential mix of raw emotions—excitement, exhilaration, fervent expectation. It wasn't a subtle interest; it was an overwhelming, almost abnormal intensity that burned with the heat of a furnace. It was the look of a predator that had finally cornered its long-sought prey, and it sent a chill crawling up Lu Ran's spine.
Lu Ran's own appearance was a delicate, almost ethereal thing. With features as fine and graceful as a woman's, he could easily pass for one if he donned the right clothes. The resemblance to his sister, Lu Qiong, was uncanny. She had been the undisputed campus belle, celebrated as the most beautiful girl in the university's history. Her chronic illness only added to her allure, casting her in the fragile light of the legendary beauty Xi Shi clutching her heart—a sight that inspired a fierce, protective pity in all who saw her.
Given that Lu Ran shared eighty percent of his sister's features, one could imagine the effect he had. It was a curse as much as a blessing. Throughout his life, he had been forced to deal with unwanted attention, not just from women, but occasionally from men with… peculiar tastes. The memory of their leering gazes and suggestive whispers still made his skin crawl.
Now, this stranger, Long Hao, was staring at him with that same unnerving fire.
'Could it be... that this Long Hao harbors those kinds of intentions towards me?'
The thought solidified in Lu Ran's mind like a block of ice, chilling him to the bone. The more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed. His expression soured, his weariness deepening into a guarded hostility. However, his gentle nature, worn down but not yet broken by hardship, held his temper in check. Long Hao hadn't actually done anything yet. Still, his voice dropped several degrees, becoming as crisp and cold as the night air.
"Sorry, I don't know you."
Long Hao, completely oblivious to Lu Ran's internal turmoil, was lost in his own triumphant fantasy. A wide, irrepressible grin stretched across his face. 'I found him! The future Immortal Doctor Lu Ran, right here, at his lowest point! This is the ultimate opportunity!'
"It's okay," he beamed, his voice booming with misplaced confidence. "We'll get to know each other later."
Lu Ran was rendered speechless by the sheer audacity. He took a half-step back, creating more distance between them. "Excuse me, please move aside. I need to set up my stall to sell things. Thank you."
Only then did Long Hao's excitement-addled brain register the frost in Lu Ran's tone. The young man wasn't just reserved; he was actively hostile. He quickly recalibrated his approach, attempting to appear more professional and less like a deranged fan.
"Lu Ran, I specifically came to find you," he said, his voice now a model of sincerity. "I heard about your situation, and I can help you. I can invest in you."
"Invest in me?" The words hung in the air, utterly foreign. Lu Ran stared at him, a flicker of genuine surprise cutting through his suspicion before he shook his head in disbelief. Invest in what? A financially destitute student working three jobs just to stay afloat? A young man with no prospects, no special skills, and a mountain of medical debt? He was utterly, remarkably unremarkable.
Then his eyes met Long Hao's fervent gaze again, and the ugly suspicion returned with a vengeance. His stomach churned. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a harsh, private whisper.
"Brother, I'm straight. I don't have those kinds of thoughts, so don't fantasize. I still need to set up my stall to earn money and support my family. Please, don't disturb me."
What?
The accusation struck Long Hao like a physical blow. He froze, his mind screeching to a halt as he replayed Lu Ran's words. A moment later, comprehension dawned, followed by a wave of mortification. A wry, helpless smile twisted his lips.
"Lu Ran, you've completely misunderstood," he said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm straight, too. I like women. I want to invest in you because you're worth it. I can help you. I can pay for your sister Lu Qiong's treatment and your grandfather's surgery fees."
If Long Hao expected this grand offer to be met with tears of gratitude, he was sorely mistaken. For Lu Ran, it was like a bucket of gasoline thrown onto the smoldering embers of his distrust. His face, instead of showing joy, became a mask of profound wariness. The world had taught him one brutal lesson: nothing was free. Miracles didn't just fall from the sky.
His grandfather's cancer diagnosis was a death sentence, not just for the old man, but for the family's finances. The attending physician had been clear: a minimum of two million Yuan was needed for the surgery and subsequent treatments, and even that offered no guarantees. His sister, Lu Qiong, had been frail her entire life, her body a fragile vessel that required constant, expensive care.
Who, in their right mind, would offer to shoulder such a crippling burden for a complete stranger?
His grandfather's words echoed in his mind: 'No good deed goes unpunished... unless it's a trap or a theft!'
And then, the most terrifying possibility clicked into place. If this man didn't want him, then...
'Could he be here for Qiong Qiong?'
The thought ignited a cold fury in Lu Ran's heart. From the time they were children, he had been his sister's guardian, the gentle boy who would transform into a snarling wolf to protect her from bullies and unwanted advances. Just last month, a rich heir had made a similar proposition, offering to cover all their medical expenses. The condition? Lu Qiong had to become his woman, his plaything.
Lu Ran had refused without a moment's hesitation, his knuckles white as he imagined breaking the man's jaw. He would rather beg on the streets, sell his own blood, or work until his body collapsed than allow his sister to be sold like a piece of property.
At that moment, his gaze toward Long Hao turned absolutely glacial. "Offering unsolicited favors is never a good thing," he said, his voice dangerously low. "I won't accept any of your investments. Please leave."
Ignoring the stunned look on Long Hao's face, Lu Ran turned his back on him. He knelt on the pavement, unzipped his worn backpack, and began his nightly ritual. He carefully unfolded several layers of soft, clean cloth, creating a small, pristine stage amidst the grimy cobblestones. Then, one by one, he meticulously arranged the handicrafts his sister had made: exquisite cloth dolls of majestic dragons and vibrant phoenixes, adorable pandas, and proud tigers. Alongside them were intricately woven pendants and good-luck charms.
Each piece was a proof of Lu Qiong's talent and perseverance, crafted during late nights when pain kept her awake. Looking at them, Lu Ran felt his own exhaustion—the bone-deep weariness from a full day of classes followed by a grueling shift at a restaurant—evaporate, replaced by a fierce, burning drive. He had to earn money. He had to save his grandfather, heal his sister, and give them the life they deserved.
Meanwhile, Long Hao stood awkwardly to the side, scratching his head. He felt a spike of annoyance, both at Lu Ran's stubbornness and his own clumsy execution.
'Sure enough, if a stranger just appears out of nowhere offering to solve all your problems, of course they'll be suspicious. I was too excited, too rash,' he berated himself. 'I need to reflect. This is a critical investment. I can't afford to make this mistake again.'
A part of him was also relieved. Thank goodness his first target was the gentle Lu Ran. If he had approached the Dragon King, Han Qi, with such a blunt offer, he wouldn't just be met with suspicion. Han Qi, with his paranoid and ruthless nature, would probably have had him captured and killed just to prevent any potential secrets from leaking.
Long Hao took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. He wasn't discouraged. This was the future Immortal Doctor, a legendary figure. Investing in him now, during his darkest hour, was the definition of "sending charcoal in the snow." The returns, according to his system, would be exponentially greater than "adding icing on the cake" later on. He just needed to find the right angle to prove his sincerity.
…
Miles away, nestled in the silent, leather-scented interior of a cruising Maybach, Shen Anyu watched the entire pathetic drama unfold on a high-definition tablet. The audio feed was crystal clear, capturing every desperate plea and cold rejection.
He took a slow sip of a 1982 Romanée-Conti, the wine a splash of liquid rubies in his crystal glass. The street-level scene was amusing, like watching two ants fight over a crumb.
'Interesting. The Investment System holder has found his target, but Lu Ran shows no signs of being a Child of Destiny. The threads of fate around him are weak, tangled only in misfortune.'
His gaze sharpened, a cold, analytical light entering his eyes. He replayed the information he had.
'The energy is not on Lu Ran, but it's near him. The sickly sister, Lu Qiong... A classic trope. The fragile damsel in distress who secretly harbors immense latent power or a heaven-defying fate. A much more likely candidate for a Daughter of Destiny.' A faint, predatory smile touched his lips. 'Then let's test that theory.'
With a flick of his thumb, he composed a short, encrypted message on his phone and sent it. The instruction was simple, directed to a subordinate already in position near the hospital.
'Time to apply some pressure.'
…
Back on the Antique Street, Long Hao watched Lu Ran meticulously arrange his stall. An idea sparked in his mind. He put on his most charming and non-threatening smile and approached again.
"Lu Ran, how about this?" he said, his tone casual. "I'll buy all of your handicrafts. What do you say? This isn't an unsolicited favor. I genuinely think these things are well-made. They'd look great as decorations at home."
It was a half-truth. Lu Qiong's craftsmanship was indeed superb; these were high-quality items. But if it weren't for his goal of getting close to the future Immortal Doctor, Long Hao wouldn't have given them a second glance. He preferred collecting anime figurines and a pantheon of 2D 'waifus,' not traditional dolls of dragons and pandas.
Lu Ran paused, looking up at Long Hao's face. The man was clearly trying his best to appear sincere. It was a straightforward transaction—money for goods. There would be no debt, no uncomfortable obligations. After a moment of hesitation, he gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, preparing to agree.
A triumphant smile began to blossom on Long Hao's face. He was in!
Ding-a-ling!
The sudden, shrill ring of a phone cut through the night. It was Lu Ran's.
He fumbled for the cheap, cracked device and answered. Before he could even say hello, a choked, weeping voice spilled from the speaker.
"Brother, Grandpa's condition… it's gotten worse! The doctor said if he doesn't have the surgery soon, he might… he might…"
What?
The news struck Lu Ran like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. All color drained from his face, leaving it a sickly, pale white. The world seemed to tilt on its axis, but he forced it back into place with sheer willpower. He couldn't panic. He was the backbone of this family. If he broke, everything would shatter.
He swallowed the lump of fear and panic in his throat, his voice coming out as a low, steady rumble. "Qiong Qiong, I'm coming right away. Don't worry, and don't cry. Wait for me at the hospital."
The moment the words left his mouth, he ended the call. In a blur of frantic motion, he swept all the precious handicrafts back into his backpack, the careful arrangement forgotten. He scrambled to his feet and sprinted towards a battered electric bike parked nearby, leaping onto it and speeding away from the Magic City Antique Street without a single backward glance.
[Ding! Child of Destiny Long Hao is speechless. Plundering +666 Destiny Points!]
…
'Damn it! I was just about to get on his good side, to take that crucial first step, and he just ran off?'
Long Hao's mouth twitched, but then he suddenly thought of something, his eyes lighting up.
'Lu Ran rushed to the hospital; there must be a sudden change, and he needs money.'
'Hehe, it's time for me, your great angel investor Long Hao, to make my appearance!'
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