Chapter Seventy-Two: What on Earth Have You Been Up to These Past Six Months?

"Mom, I'm heading out now."

Early in the morning, after finishing breakfast at home, Dai Xinhua hurriedly gathered her drawing tools, called out to her mother, and prepared to leave. She had promised Luo Chen yesterday to start working on the comic today, so it was best to go early.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Han Yinglan, finally with some free time and intending to spend it with her daughter, hadn’t expected her to be rushing out so early. Are high schoolers really this busy on weekends?

"Oh, um..." Just as she was about to step out, Dai Xinhua was asked by her mother where she was headed. She glanced away, flustered and evasive.

"I... I made plans with A-Ling to go out and draw, so I might not be home until late. I’ll eat lunch and dinner outside."

Speaking quickly, she blurted out her hastily concocted excuse and, without waiting for a reply, opened the door and dashed out.

If her mother found out she was spending every day at a boy's house, she'd be in real trouble.

Behind her, Han Yinglan opened her mouth, about to say something, but the sound of the closing door made her swallow her words.

How strange—usually her daughter wishes she’d stay home. Why did it feel like she was avoiding her lately?

Han Yinglan pondered in confusion, deciding it was best to ask Xinhua when she returned. There shouldn't be a lack of communication between mother and daughter.

Coincidentally, she had a busy day ahead as well, needing to contact that angelic main character for a contract. Hopefully, everything would go smoothly this time, without any unexpected trouble.

...

Unaware that she would soon see her mother, Dai Xinhua sat peacefully on the living room couch, immersed in drawing her comic. Though she felt guilty for deceiving her mother, she quickly lost herself in her work.

She had prepared at home the night before, so she swiftly finished sketching the main characters and stood to hand them to Luo Chen.

Yesterday, before leaving, Luo Chen had written out the basic plot, character designs, and background details for the comic, giving them to Dai Xinhua so she could review them whenever she had time.

Although she couldn't fathom how Luo Chen could so thoroughly flesh out the story—down to the characters' looks and costumes—just in his mind, since he already had a complete vision, she felt it necessary to draw the key figures first to show him.

Taking the drawings, Luo Chen glanced at the first sheet: the blue-and-white knight dress, green-eyed, golden-haired king with the distinctive strand of hair, and smiled softly. In this world, it was the first time he saw such a familiar figure from his previous life.

Indeed, the first comic Luo Chen wanted Dai Xinhua to illustrate was "R," the Holy Grail War!

But why this one, and not those with greater influence in his previous life, like Pirate or Ninja?

Luo Chen could only say it was due to the art style. The characters in "R" were mostly beautifully designed, perfectly suited to Dai Xinhua’s strengths, allowing her to faithfully recreate them.

Bang bang bang!

"Luo Chen! Open the door, let us in!"

Outside, the persistent knocking and raucous voices were loud enough that even Luo Chen in the living room could hear them clearly.

"Luo Chen, is that Luo Song and his group?"

Last time Luo Song and his crew came to collect debts, Yan He wasn’t around, but had heard about it from Luo Tianyi afterward. Now, she asked, a bit worried.

"Yes, I think so. Yan He, take everyone else to the bedroom for now. When I’ve settled this, you can come back out."

Turning, Luo Chen instructed the girls in the living room. He could handle this himself; if the girls stayed, any mishap would be hard to manage.

"Hm? Are you sure you don’t need my help?" Yan He asked, seeing that Luo Chen seemed intent on confronting them alone. Wasn’t it always her help he sought when there was trouble?

"No way! Didn’t we always face things together?" Luo Tianyi protested, unhappy at her brother’s plan to leave her behind.

"If there are more of us, maybe they won’t dare cause trouble?"

"What’s happening? Should we call the police?" Dai Xinhua and Le Zhengling didn’t quite understand the situation, but didn’t intend to hide. With all five together, it was better than leaving Luo Chen alone.

"Honestly, there’s no need to worry. They’re just here for debts—not because we don’t plan to pay. You all should stay out of sight for now. If anything happens, Yan He and I can handle a dozen on our own."

Seeing their concern, Luo Chen felt grateful, but that was all the more reason not to expose them to danger.

"Then be careful. If anything happens, let us know right away, I’ll come running," Yan He said, hesitating briefly. Seeing Luo Chen’s resolve, she stopped arguing, dragged Luo Tianyi away, and the other two girls, after giving Luo Chen a cautionary look, followed her into the bedroom.

Once everyone was gone, Luo Chen exhaled, his usually gentle gaze sharpening as he strode forward, twisted the handle, and opened the door.

"Why so long? Are you planning not to pay?"

"Listen, we’re ready to call the police!"

"Exactly, we’ll take it to court and see if justice still exists in this world!"

...

No sooner had the door opened than a dozen middle-aged men and women crowded in impatiently, led by the long-absent Luo Song and his wife. Before Luo Chen could speak, they began to berate him.

"I never said I wouldn’t pay. Since everyone’s here, let’s settle it all at once today—everything that’s owed will be paid. How does that sound?"

The once spacious living room erupted into chaos, forcing Luo Chen to raise his voice to calm the noisy creditors.

Since the debts were owed by his family, Luo Chen had every intention of settling them. These were ordinary people, their money earned through hard work; their agitation was understandable.

"What... pay? Today?"

"Is this for real? That’s over a million—paid off today?"

...

The creditors, prepared for all sorts of confrontations, were stunned by the sudden news. Once it sank in, they rushed to ask.

Could the problem that plagued them for nearly half a year really be solved so easily?

Some even wondered if they’d come sooner, the money would have been repaid long ago.

With that thought, many turned to the still-shocked Luo Song and his wife, silently questioning what on earth they’d been doing all these months, dragging out such a simple matter.

Thanks to the generous support from Yuyuko the Big Eater and Drunken Moon’s Remnants, who tipped 200 Starting Point coins, and book friends Purple Alone and 160501205627607, who tipped 100 coins. Tossing flowers. There will be another update today, if it’s finished before midnight...