Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 325: Simply Can’t Reach an Agreement

Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Simply Can’t Reach an Agreement

After a night of turmoil, the two teams had reunited. Although the blizzard was still raging outside, everyone felt a lot warmer huddled together inside a tent.

Lin Xi looked at Ning Qi with a puzzled expression, wondering when there was a new beauty in Gu Fan’s squad.

Ning Qi was also intrigued. She already knew that Lin Xi was Gu Fan’s ex-girlfriend. This made her more suspicious, wondering why Gu Fan and Lin Xi were leading separate teams on an expedition to Yuxueyun Mountain. What exactly were they looking for?

Ning Qi had a hunch that this situation was anything but simple. Whatever Gu Fan and Lin Xi were after had to be more valuable than just a treasure. She was glad she had chosen to stay with Gu Fan.

Seeing Ning Qi nestled close to Gu Fan, Lin Xi gave a wry smile, "Well, Gu Fan, how long has it been since we last saw each other and you’ve already gotten to know a new beauty. Impressive."

Gu Fan responded directly, "We met on the way. Her companions had an accident, so she joined us. In such wilderness, should we not help each other? As you know, I’m always willing to lend a hand."

What a bunch of lies. Lin Xi scoffed, "If you’re so ready to help, why come all the way here when there are so many people in the city who need it? It seems you’re here to stir up trouble. I have a feeling you’re here for revenge."

"That’s because Gu Fan’s..." Lu Yi began to explain but was silenced mid-sentence by Gu Fan’s hand over her mouth.

Seeing this, Lin Xi frowned, suspecting that Gu Fan and his team had a ulterior motive they weren’t willing to admit.

Indeed, Gu Fan couldn’t disclose the real reason they caught up. Should he tell Lin Xi the truth? The boss held Leng Le hostage, forcing Gu Fan to sabotage Lin Xi’s project? If Lin Xi knew, wouldn’t she immediately start a war? Surely, she wouldn’t be sitting calmly in this tent for a friendly cup of tea.

To ease the tension, Luo Jingrong made a peace offering, "Since everyone decided to form a team, whatever we find can be split equally. The more of us, the safer."

Du Changhui added that he had no objection. From the start, he hadn’t intended on excluding Gu Fan, especially after having witnessed how Gu Fan had led them to Qianye City. He was hoping for Gu Fan’s help.

It was Lin Xi who had been adamant about keeping Gu Fan out. She didn’t want him to share the profit.

With a smile, Du Jun chimed in, "Since we are allies now, we are friends. Friends don’t need to keep up pretences."

Immediately, Ouyang Jin objected, "Business is separate from friendship. You still owe me money."

"Haven’t I mortgaged all my most valuable assets to you?" Du Jun pleaded, finding his creditor quite overwhelming.

Unimpressed, Ouyang Jin retorted, "Your said assets only amount to eighty percent of the debt. You still owe me seventy thousand."

Shocked by this figure, Du Jun exclaimed, "What! How did you calculate that?"

Ouyang Jin clarified with a meticulous breakdown, "It’s simple. You defaulted, so the penalty fees, along with the interest accrued over the last year, takes into account. Subtract this from the value you’ve already mortgaged, and the remainder is seventy thousand."

Accepting defeat, Du Jun muttered, "You drive a hard bargain." Although he could afford this amount, he felt taken advantage of. But with a guilty conscience, he had no choice but to pay his debt, especially since Ouyang Jin was already closing in on him.

Unexpectedly, Gu Fan had an epiphany, "Right. You all should compensate me for the mental trauma. Do you know how dangerous it was to leave me unconscious there with no one to care for me? I’m only here because of my great fortune."

"Don’t tell me you also want a piece of the pie." Du jun hardly had time to lament when Lu Yi suggested that the expenses owed to Old Man Tian and Ouyang Jin should be paid by Du Jun.

Shaken, Du Jun protested, "Don’t take it too far."

Gu Fan shrugged nonchalantly and added, "Bear in mind that I helped you get two of the blueprints. You don’t agree, I walk out of here with those blueprints."

Hearing this, Lin Xi clenched her fists in anger, gave a nod of assent—it was a bitter pill to swallow.

With the situation dictating the terms, Du Jun reluctantly agreed to pay all expenses. However, the moment he consented, Ouyang Jin whipped out a name and paper, asking Du Jun to write a promissory note.

"You’re pushing it too far." Unable to take it anymore, Du Jun wanted to object. However, Ouyang Jin was adamant, reminding him of his previous default. Ouyang Jin wasn’t interested in a second default as debt collection was an arduous affair.

"Alright, alright. I admit I was wrong. It was me who defaulted," Du Jun confessed. He had no advantageous options and couldn’t present any arguments. So, he wrote a promissory note, technically committing to a debt of a hundred thousand yuan.

Du Changhui and Luo Jingrong downplayed the importance of the amount. If something valuable came up, as much as ten million yuan wouldn’t be a problem.

Hearing this figure, Gu Fan, Lu Yi, as well as the others—merely poor students—felt as if they were looking at a vast fortune. Ouyang Jin’s eyes lit up.

Ning Qi also was astonished. However, she regained her composure quickly. Ning Qi wondered what Gu Fan and Lin Xi were seeking that could even be worth more than ten million yuan.

Although Ning Qi was a rich miss whose family had a decent amount of wealth, she couldn’t rival true ’movers and shakers’ like Du Changhui and Luo Jingrong. Ten million wasn’t a small amount to her. She had siblings, so her inherited wealth was limited and it was hence that she coveted the treasures.

At first, Ouyang Jin rejoiced. Then, doubts crept in. High returns meant high risks. Considering all the dangerous situations that had already happened, and whatever might happen in the future, he felt that tagging along with Gu Fan and Lin Xi wouldn’t bring any good.

Ouyang Jin then demanded, "While ten million does sound impressive, I’m more interested to know what you’re looking for in Yuxueyun Mountain. If you continue to keep me in the dark, isn’t that a way of saying you don’t trust me?"

"It’s not that we don’t trust you, it’s just..." Gu Fan hesitated, contemplating the level of trust Old Man Tian and Ning Qi deserved.

"We’re looking for the ruins of an ancient tribe that has artifacts of interest to me. That’s all for now," Lin Xi answered, without giving too many details away. However, Old Man Tian, who had been silent until then, seemed startled.

"Why do I get the feeling that you’re here for an archaeological expedition?" Ouyang Jin suddenly interjected, looking at Lin Xi with a puzzled expression.