Just as I was about to be caught, a black sedan pulled smoothly alongside me and slowed to match my running pace—deliberately keeping step.

Even I, slow on the uptake as I was, could tell the car was after me.

As confusion flickered in my mind, the door slid open. Behind the wheel sat a middle-aged man in sunglasses, flashing a bright smile. "Hello, kid! You must be Lin Xiaoxi, right?"

"Ah!"

"Yes!" I gasped between heavy breaths, answering instinctively.

"Perfect! Looks like I arrived just in time. No time to explain—get in!"

Wait, who was he?

I glanced back: the furious creditors, Wang Bili huffing hard, his pecs jiggling violently. Gritting my teeth, I dove into the passenger seat.

The door clicked shut. The driver floored the accelerator—the engine roared to life!

In the rearview mirror, the creditors shrank into the distance, along with Wang Bili’s heartbroken little glance.

Oops, my heart skipped a beat—

Like hell it did! Sure, I might look a bit feminine, but I’m not *that* easily swayed by a man!

I massaged my aching waist, catching my breath before turning to him. "Thank you, sir… but do we even know each other?"

He grinned, handing me a card. "Cheng Shun, Senior Business Manager at Orange Fish Media. Just happened to pass by—saw you in trouble, lent a hand."

Phew. A kind stranger. Guess good people still exist in this world—

Wait. Something felt off.

"But… how did you know my name? I never introduced myself!"

His smile stiffened slightly, then returned. "Heh. Let’s say I have my sources… And I know you’re deep in debt, right?"

Silence. My relief curdled into wariness.

This wasn’t over.

He kept talking, confident. "‘Huge debt’? Nah. Just 1.31 million yuan total. Monthly interest: 7,132. Sound familiar?"

How did he know *that*?!

"Wow. A sixteen-year-old first-year high schooler owing over a million? Seriously impressive."

He lit a cigarette with a self-mocking chuckle—

"Cough! Cough!"

"Sorry, forgot you’re young." He stubbed it out, studying me carefully before speaking earnestly. "So… you’re desperate for cash, huh?"

That tone… so shady.

Felt like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

"Your uncle here’s got a money-making gig for you~"

Even shadier!

That lewd tone, that sleazy smirk—

Nope. Cheng Shun wasn’t a good guy either.

Fresh from a nightmare, I pressed against the door, voice trembling. "No! I don’t need it! Let me out—now!"

"Ha! You think I’m like that ‘human body artist’ back there?"

(Aren’t you?)

He met my suspicion with a cold chuckle, pulling a glossy brochure from his briefcase. "Little Xiaoxi, we’re a legit listed company."

I took it. Cover: *Orange Fish Media*. Inside: business details, org charts—and there he was, Cheng Shun, photo and title matching perfectly under "Senior Business Manager."

Orange Fish Media—city-famous giant in ads and film promotion. Even I’d seen their name in the news.

I checked his card again: *Cheng Shun, Senior Business Manager, Orange Fish Media*.

Okay… not some creepy old man. A reputable figure. Probably no ulterior motives. My shoulders loosened a fraction.

"So, Manager Cheng… why tell me all this?" I asked, confused.

"Ha! To make you money! Wanna sign with us and earn big?"

"But… I’m sixteen! Just a high school student! Is that even legal? Isn’t this child labor?"

"Come to my office. I’ll explain."

He fell silent, slammed the accelerator, and sped toward the unknown—carrying my uneasy self deeper into the mystery…