Chapter 22: Shen Tao’s Humanity Test
Seeing Han Xue in such a miserable state, Fang Xiaocao secretly rejoiced. She pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds and started munching away.
Thirteen thousand yuan was a lot, but to the current Fang Xiaocao, it was nothing.
A villa worth millions, a luxury car worth hundreds of thousands, Bitcoin worth two hundred million, and gold worth millions—Fang Xiaocao was now a little rich lady.
After a brief mental struggle, reason triumphed over emotion. She decided to stand by and do nothing.
A person like Han Xue wasn’t worth saving.
Rather than paying off her bar bill, that thirteen thousand yuan would be better spent helping those in need.
Thirteen thousand yuan might not be much, but it could provide better education for children in impoverished areas, bring warmth to the elderly, protect endangered species, or even save lives.
No matter which way she looked at it, the money would be better spent elsewhere.
Helping someone in need could save a life, rescue a family, and earn sincere gratitude.
Helping Han Xue?
She would only repay kindness with scheming and backstabbing.
Fang Xiaocao knew Han Xue too well.
She wasn’t someone who knew gratitude. Instead, she would be envious of others living better than her and look for ways to sabotage them.
“Brother Shen… I don’t have any money…”
“Please, let me go…”
Han Xue cried so hard that her makeup was ruined. She sat on the ground, pleading desperately.
Shen Tao suddenly smiled.
It was a playful smile, as if he had just thought of something amusing.
“How about this? I’ll give you a suggestion.”
Shen Tao grinned.
“W-what? Brother Shen, please tell me…”
Han Xue’s eyes lit up as if she had just grabbed onto a lifeline.
“Your group of friends is still here.”
“Go ask them to pitch in. As long as the bill is settled, I’ll let you go.”
Shen Tao smiled at Han Xue.
Hearing this, the light in Han Xue’s eyes grew brighter.
Some of her friends might not be rich kids, but they came from decent families. They dressed in luxury brands—surely, gathering the money wouldn’t be difficult.
In her mind, she quickly calculated.
“The drinks weren’t just for me! Why should I be the only one paying?”
Han Xue fumed internally.
Thinking about the humiliation she had just endured, she felt as if she had suffered on behalf of everyone.
She had been humiliated, mistreated, and lost face—everyone owed her!
She shouldn’t have to pay for this!
“Anyone who drank should chip in!”
Han Xue muttered under her breath.
Seeing her reaction, Shen Tao grinned even wider.
“If you can’t gather the money, then none of you are leaving tonight. Especially you.”
Shen Tao squatted down, pinched Han Xue’s face, and smiled.
Though he was smiling, his eyes were icy cold, sending a shiver down Han Xue’s spine.
“Did you hear me?”
Shen Tao asked with a smirk.
“I… I heard you.”
Han Xue nodded weakly.
“Then start your performance.”
Shen Tao stood up and looked over at the group of people who had shared the two bottles of 1982 Lafite with Han Xue.
That group had been held back by the bar’s security.
About six or seven people—both men and women.
The guys looked like typical street punks, while the girls dressed flamboyantly, practically reeking of the nightlife scene.
Among them were several familiar faces from Fang Xiaocao’s class.
While she was lost in thought, Han Xue shakily got up and stumbled toward her so-called friends.
“Call your families and pitch in for the bill. If we gather enough, we can leave.”
Han Xue ordered them arrogantly.
“Why should we pay?”
“Yeah, weren’t you the one treating us?”
“If you don’t have money, why act like a big shot?”
“I’ve never seen someone so vain.”
The moment Han Xue spoke, the group erupted in anger, all pointing fingers at her.
Han Xue’s face instantly turned pale.
“You were all happy to drink before! Now that it’s time to pay, you’re making excuses? You all drank, so cough up the money!”
Han Xue screamed at them, furious.
“You acted rich—why should we pay?”
“Yeah! You always flaunt your money, and now you expect us to bail you out?”
“We complimented you a few times, and you really thought you were a rich second-generation?”
“Do you even know your own worth?”
Han Xue’s so-called friends were clearly not the type to be loyal. They wouldn’t dare challenge Shen Tao, but they had no problem turning on Han Xue.
Sharing wealth? Sure.
Sharing hardship? Who do you think you are?
Do we even know each other that well?
Han Xue trembled with rage, pointing at them in disbelief.
“Boss Shen, she ordered the drinks. This has nothing to do with us! If you need money, ask her.”
“That’s right, Boss Shen. She booked the private room and ordered everything. We had nothing to do with it.”
“If you want to keep someone behind, keep her! We were just guests. Since when do guests have to pay?”
“Yeah, yeah! Boss Shen, if you don’t let us leave, we’ll call the police!”
The group grew restless, shouting from behind Han Xue, completely throwing her under the bus.
Shen Tao chuckled at the scene.
Exactly as he expected.
“I, Shen Tao, run a business. I welcome all customers and never do anything illegal.”
“If you want to call the police, go ahead.”
“When the police arrive, they can call your parents or your school administrators to come pay. You think you can leave without settling the bill?”
With that, Shen Tao took out his phone and pretended to dial.
That move scared everyone.
If the police got involved, their families and schools would find out, and they’d be in big trouble.
“Boss Shen, please, be reasonable! We really didn’t order the drinks. Please, let us go!”
“Han Xue, you bitch! You made this mess—deal with it yourself!”
“Yeah! Han Xue, you fix this. Why should we suffer because of you?”
“Han Xue, hurry up and pay! If you don’t have money, fix your makeup and go back to entertain Boss Shen’s guest.”
“Exactly! I went to high school with you. I know exactly what kind of girl you are. You’ve been with so many guys—what are you pretending for?”
“You used to sell yourself just to buy new phones and luxury bags. Now Boss Shen is giving you a way out, and you’re acting all innocent?”
Realizing Shen Tao wasn’t joking, some people started pleading, but more began attacking Han Xue outright.
Some even exposed her dirty secrets.
Hearing all this, Fang Xiaocao smirked.
She had heard similar rumors before but never took them seriously.
Now that even Han Xue’s high school classmates were talking about it, even someone as skeptical as Fang Xiaocao started to believe it.
(End of Chapter 22)
