137: Lu Jun and his sister

Lu Jun was standing by a client manager's workstation, his back slightly hunched, looking like a completely different person from the one who had stood as straight as a pine tree before.

Although he couldn't hear the specifics from a distance, Lu Jun's slightly stiff body language,

and the expression on his face—a mix of helplessness and near-humility—were enough to explain the situation.

Chen Li immediately had a guess—it was likely about a Loan.

Recalling Lu Jun's impressive skills that night, he suddenly had the idea of taking him under his wing—if money alone could solve the other man's predicament, he was more than happy to help.

Of course, there was a prerequisite—Lu Jun had to be willing to work for him.

Whether as a driver or a bodyguard, having such an expert by his side meant he wouldn't have to deal with many troubles personally.

He greatly admired the pure soldierly aura about Lu Jun—his eyes were resolute, and he had strong principles; people who had been tempered by the military often possessed extremely high loyalty.

Chen Li's guess was correct.

Lu Jun was indeed there to apply for a Loan, for his sister's illness which could not be delayed.

The money his comrades had pooled for him earlier was long gone; he said it was a Loan, but everyone knew they were giving it to him.

However, the Bank's review was strict; he had no steady job and couldn't provide collateral.

Even with his status as a veteran, he couldn't bypass the Bank's hard-and-fast rules.

He was almost at his wit's end.

"Manager Zhao, please, help me look into it again, even if the amount is a bit smaller..."

Lu Jun's voice was raspy from anxiety and exhaustion.

"Mr. Lu, I explained it very clearly to you this morning."

Manager Zhao looked troubled, but his tone remained professional: "There's really nothing I can do. I don't own the Bank; everything has to follow the system and the rules. If you don't meet the criteria, the system won't approve it."

"Is there really... no other way at all?"

Lu Jun still hadn't given up, making one last effort.

"I'm sorry, there really isn't."

Manager Zhao shook his head and turned back to his work.

Seeing the light instantly fade from Lu Jun's eyes and his struggling silhouette, Chen Li no longer hesitated; he stepped forward quickly and called out to Manager Zhao, who was about to leave.

Seeing this, Fu Mingyuan also immediately followed.

"Hello, may I ask what business that gentleman was handling just now?" Chen Li asked.

Manager Zhao turned around, seeing Chen Li first, then noticing the serious-looking Fu Mingyuan behind him,

and immediately greeted him respectfully: "Hello, President Fu!"

"President Chen is asking you a question," Fu Mingyuan reminded him.

"He... he was here to inquire about a Loan." Zhao Da was a bit nervous.

Chen Li understood the situation, gave Fu Mingyuan a nod, and turned to chase after Lu Jun toward the Bank's entrance.

Just as he stepped out of the revolving doors, he saw Lu Jun scanning a bike, preparing to leave.

"Lu Jun!" Chen Li called out.

Hearing his name, Lu Jun turned his head. Seeing it was Chen Li, his brow furrowed slightly, and he instinctively wanted to avoid him, pushing the bike forward.

At this moment, the last people he wanted to face were those who knew him.

"I can help you," Chen Li said directly to his back, without beating around the bush.

These words seemed to have a magical power, causing Lu Jun's footsteps to nail him to the spot instantly.

He remembered that Chen Li drove an Audi and that Li Weishan had secretly tried to deal with him; this showed that Chen Li not only had financial strength but likely a background that wasn't simple either.

If he was willing to help, given his character, he probably wouldn't make him do anything that went against his principles or conscience.

Lu Jun took a deep breath and slowly turned around, looking at Chen Li with a complex gaze, carrying a hint of scrutiny,

and a glimmer of hope like a faint light in a desperate situation: "You'll help me? Do you even know what I need?"

"Money," Chen Li said succinctly.

"Yes, I need money, and a lot of it."

Lu Jun's tone carried the weight of someone burning their bridges, "It might be... a bottomless pit."

Chen Li beckoned to him: "Come, let's chat in the car."

Chen Li's words seemed to possess an invisible force, causing Lu Jun, who was in the midst of confusion and despair, to instinctively choose to follow.

He almost involuntarily stepped forward and followed Chen Li.

Chen Li seemingly casually glanced at the white van not far away, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth—he'd take them for another spin first.

The two of them sat in the car. Faced with Chen Li's sincere inquiry, he was hesitant at first, but the long-accumulated sense of helplessness finally broke through his defenses.

Lu Jun took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and then recounted the desperate situation he faced one by one.

He had a sister, Lu Hui, who was in her second year of high school and suffered from a rare disease called "Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria."

Currently, her condition could only be barely controlled with ordinary suppressive drugs, but the truly effective specialty drug—a complement inhibitor—was completely unaffordable due to its high price.

Now, even the ordinary suppressive drugs that cost tens of thousands of yuan a month were hard to maintain, let alone the specialty drugs that cost millions of yuan a year.

To cure the disease fundamentally, a hematopoietic stem cell transplant was necessary, but a suitable match had not been found yet.

"Where is your sister now?" Chen Li asked.

Currently, there was one empty binding slot in the system; rather than letting it go to waste, it was better to use it on someone who truly needed it.

If Lu Hui met the criteria, it would not only save a life but also bring him profit and completely win over Lu Jun—killing three birds with one stone.

"In the rented house."

"Let's go, take me to see her," Chen Li said, already starting the car.

Lu Jun nodded and gave directions.

Through the rearview mirror, Chen Li saw that white van following them again, neither too close nor too far.

The corners of his mouth curled up in a cold sneer—these people really were like a piece of stuck-on plaster that couldn't be shaken off.

"That car behind us isn't right," Lu Jun quickly noticed the problem.

An imperceptible cold sneer flashed across Chen Li's lips: "I know. Let them follow for now. When we get back, we'll find a place to deal with them."

Under Lu Jun's guidance, the car soon drove into an old Residential Complex.

Following Lu Jun into a simple rented apartment, a pale girl ran out from the inner room upon hearing the sound: "Brother, you're back!"

Her voice was crisp, with the unique vitality of a young girl; despite her poor complexion, her eyes were bright.

Lu Jun stepped forward, wanting to introduce him, but suddenly got stuck, looking at Chen Li awkwardly—he only then realized he didn't even know the other man's name.

"Hello, Lu Hui, I'm Chen Li," Chen Li introduced himself with a smile.

"Hello, Brother Chen Li!" Lu Hui smiled so widely her eyes curved; she had a very cheerful personality.

Taking advantage of the gap in the conversation, Chen Li shamelessly used the system to scan Lu Hui's information:

[Lu Hui]

[Affection Level: +15]

[Figure: 60]

[Appearance: 85]

[number of times kun: 0]

[number of kunners: 0]

The girl was very good-looking with delicate features, but her Figure was a bit thin, whether because she hadn't fully developed yet or due to the long-term effects of illness and malnutrition.

What surprised Chen Li a bit was the +15 Affection Level; this should be a natural fondness for her brother's friend, rather than romantic feelings.