When the Soul Ferryman returned, Yu Miaomiao was wriggling on the bed like a worm.
“It hurts… it hurts so much…”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I don’t know, I have diarrhea, and my stomach hurts terribly…”
Brother Gui poured a glass of water and calmly told her, “Don’t worry, you won’t die.”
Wow, what a comforting thing to say.
“Thanks, but do you have any way… to make the pain stop?”
He didn’t have that ability.
“You need to go to the hospital.”
No kidding, if Yu Miaomiao could go to the hospital by herself, she would have gone long ago.
“I don’t have the strength… and I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold it in on the way…”
The Soul Ferryman handed her his phone. “Call 120.”
A mere case of gastroenteritis cost 180 yuan for treatment, but the ambulance ride cost 800.
Yu Miaomiao lay on the hospital bed, silently crying.
“Are you still feeling terrible?” Brother Gui stayed by her bedside.
The emergency room for IV drips was noisy and chaotic, so no one paid attention to her muttering.
Yu Miaomiao sobbed, “Of course I feel terrible! Over 3,000 yuan worth of seafood, and I didn’t absorb any of the nutrients—it was all wasted!”
Then she looked at him. “How come you’re completely fine? That’s not fair!”
Although Brother Gui wasn’t vomiting or having diarrhea, he didn’t seem to be in high spirits either.
Staring at Yu Miaomiao’s dehydrated face, he whispered, “You should find a boyfriend.”
Yu Miaomiao thought she was hallucinating from the diarrhea.
“What did you say?”
“There should be someone to take care of you. I can’t help much.”
He said this with his head lowered, rubbing his hands together.
So, could this be interpreted as—guilt and self-blame?
Yu Miaomiao was genuinely shocked.
“I’m barely alive, what’s the point of dating? What if my boyfriend can’t handle the shock and decides to die for love or something? Wouldn’t that just add to your workload?”
She patted Brother Ming’s cold hand. “No need to blame yourself. Not taking me away is already a huge help!”
After the IV drip, her stomach felt much better. There was no time to waste.
“Tomorrow, I’ll go collect debts. One person isn’t intimidating enough, so I need to hire a few more actors.”
She wasted no time discussing it with Brother Ming.
“No problem, I’ll cover the cost.”
Fortunately, the elderly folks came out to dance in the square in the evening, leaving her the entire day to prepare.
Dragging her weak body, Yu Miaomiao went east to buy a wig, west to get her nails done, and even bought a set of very “gangster girl” clothes.
She was really going all out to stay alive!
With sunglasses on and her big wavy hair tossed, she looked completely unrecognizable, even to her own mother.
The hired actors were also in place, all chosen for their “gangster boss” vibe.
Two hundred yuan per person, she hired five burly men to surround her, a seemingly tough little potato.
The debt-collecting team of six was officially in action.
At five o’clock, the park was filled with booming music, as various square dance groups blasted their tunes, competing with each other.
When Yu Miaomiao arrived at the scene, Brother Gui pointed to an old man in a yellow shirt and white pants. “That’s Uncle Wang.”
Thin lips, peach blossom eyes—he looked like an old version of a heartbreaker.
“Got it, leave it to me!”
Yu Miaomiao swung a long shoehorn in her hand and swaggered over.
“Hey, Old Man Wang, stop dancing! Your son, Wang Junnan, owes over 500,000 yuan in debt. Pay up now!”
The elderly crowd quickly gathered around. After all, watching drama was more important than dancing.
“Old Wang, did your son really owe someone money?”
“Over 500,000 yuan is no small amount. Didn’t you say your son was a big boss, very successful?”
Old Wang’s face fell, glaring at Yu Miaomiao and saying, “If he owes money, go find him! What does that have to do with me?”
“A son’s failure reflects the father’s neglect—how can it have nothing to do with you? Your son has already become a credit defaulter, yet here you are dancing and flirting with old ladies. How can you be so carefree?”