At first, Apple Bro didn’t answer. Fan Jia persisted, letting it ring twenty or thirty times before Chen Zhaoci finally picked up, his voice low and gentle: “Lingling, what’s the matter?”

Fan Jia had put it on speaker, and Xu Mengshan was recording. Hearing this nickname, Xu Mengshan’s eyebrows twitched mockingly. By now, Fan Jia was fully in character, speaking frantically: “Apple Bro, I just got a text message saying my interest and late fees are already almost 2,000! What’s going on? Wasn’t it supposed to be just over 100 in interest per week? How did it become so much? How can I possibly pay this?!”

Chen Zhaoci remained silent for a moment before saying, “The 100-plus was interest on the 10,000 loan. You borrowed another 20,000 a few days ago.”

Fan Jia spoke with a tearful voice: “But then it should only be 300 or 400!”

Chen Zhaoci sighed and said, “You didn’t pay last week’s interest, so late fees were added. That’s why it adds up to this much.”

“…Late fees? But how can it be so much?”

Chen Zhaoci explained patiently: “Because when borrowing from our company, we don’t require any collateral, just your ID card and student card for verification. The premise is that our company supports university student entrepreneurship, so we have a high level of trust in students. We’re taking a big risk too. You don’t understand finance, but from a financial perspective, since we’ve given you such trust and taken such risks, the legally stipulated late fees are correspondingly high. Do you understand my explanation?”

Fan Jia responded with a confused and panicked tone: “Then… what should I do? 2,000 in one week! I can’t possibly pay that!”

Chen Zhaoci seemed to offer advice: “Didn’t you just borrow 20,000 the other day? Use some of that to pay the interest first.”

On this end, Fan Jia rolled her eyes while crying out: “But that was urgently needed for my family, my father’s still in the hospital… I’ve already transferred it all to them. I really can’t spare a single yuan now. Apple Bro, what should I do? I don’t know what to do! What will… what will happen if I can’t pay the interest this week?”

Chen Zhaoci’s tone grew serious: “That would be quite troublesome. The interest will keep increasing. Plus, we have an agreement – if you delay payment, it will severely impact your credit. In the future, you won’t be able to get home loans, or even take trains and planes – you’ll be blacklisted! And it’s illegal!”

“What should I do then? I have no money left! Apple Bro, could you… would it be possible for you to lend me some money?”

Chen Zhaoci sighed and answered: “I only graduated a few years ago and I’m still paying my mortgage. To be honest, I helped several junior schoolmates in the past couple of years, but… the money vanished. You heard Brother Li mention it that day. So I’m quite tight on cash too.”

Fan Jia: “You really can’t help me? Or… could the company lend me another sum to tide me over? I’ve already purchased inventory! Once the online store opens, I can pay back the money quickly! Please lend me another sum!”

Chen Zhaoci heaved a deep sigh and said: “I shouldn’t agree to this. First, with another loan, I’m worried the pressure will be too much for you later. But the interest needs to be paid, and between two evils, choose the lesser one – paying the interest is more important because once a person’s credit rating is tarnished, it’s a lifelong matter! Second, you have nothing for collateral, so normally, you couldn’t borrow any more money. Go ask around, and see who would lend you 30,000 without any collateral, and now you want to borrow even more! It’s just… according to company policy, this time you’ll need to put up some collateral.”

Fan Jia: “What could I possibly use as collateral? I have nothing.”

Chen Zhaoci was quiet for a few seconds, then said slowly: “Actually, it’s quite simple. Just record a video talking about the loan and send it over.”

Fan Jia: “Really? I’ll record it right away then.”

“Wait.” Chen Zhaoci said, “A simple video wouldn’t provide much security for our company. Don’t worry, I won’t see this video, neither will anyone else in the company. Only the senior accountant in the finance department will see it, and it absolutely won’t be spread around.”

Fan Jia: “Wh-what do you mean?”

Chen Zhaoci said: “Actually, many of your female classmates have done this before, it’s nothing. You’ll need to take off all your clothes, hold your ID card, and record a video. Once we have this, the loan will be released to you tomorrow.”