"Yo, looks like you've been living pretty well these past few days," whistled the buzz-cut man, lazily leaning against the doorframe. Known as Brother Huzi, he was an enforcer for the Hongyi Gang. With six years of Sanda training under his belt, he caught the eye of the gang boss after single-handedly taking down five armed thugs in a street brawl, which earned him his current position.
Position might be an overstatement, but having a bunch of younger gang members treat him with deference and call him "Big Bro" was an ego trip he quite enjoyed. Though, when it came to real big shots, he wasn't even a fart—no, not even close.
His usual gigs included managing the Hongyi Nightclub and occasionally collecting debts. He spent his days flanked by lackeys, living carefree.
This time, collecting a debt from a woman felt a little boring to him, especially since she dared to consider calling the cops? Running away? Borrowing money without even knowing who Hongyi Gang was?
Still, since she was a looker, maybe he'd let it slide this time. A lewd grin flitted across Liu Hu's face. His ten henchmen had already formed a circle around the shop entrance. Customers, upon sensing the atmosphere, hurriedly set down their flower selections and left the store.
Those smart enough to leave were not stopped.
Soon, what had been a lively flower shop became a ghost town.
The shopkeeper, shivering as he looked at the gangsters, didn't dare call the police. He knew that if he got involved, his business was as good as dead.
Still, with this wall of thugs outside, it wasn't like business could continue anyway.
"Come out, or do I need to go in and get you?" Huzi whistled again, toying with her.
Xia Shiyu bit her lip, her ice-queen beauty now shadowed by fear. Seeing her boss silently pleading with his eyes, she sighed, put down the vase in her hand, and walked stiffly toward the entrance.
"Didn't expect you'd be working at a flower shop," Huzi said as she approached, reaching out to touch her face. "So? Got the money yet?"
To his surprise, the defiant woman dodged his hand.
"I'll repay what I owe through work. Please stop bothering me," Xia Shiyu said, trying to keep her composure.
"Work? Doing this? Grandpa would be dead by then, haha," Huzi laughed, but his eyes turned cold.
"...So what do you want?" she asked, face tight, voice steady despite her trembling legs.
Interesting girl. Scared to death but still putting up an attitude. Huzi arched an eyebrow, smiling with amusement.
"Two options: money or you," Huzi slowly held up two fingers.
"I don't have the money right now," Xia Shiyu replied calmly.
"Then it's simple. We take you," Huzi spread his hands like it was a done deal.
"Me? You planning to traffic women now?" she scoffed.
All the gangsters burst into laughter.
The humiliation was suffocating. Xia Shiyu didn't think it was funny. She had always believed she could stand on her own two feet, support herself and her parents, and live with dignity...
But reality was merciless.
"No, no, that would be such a waste, especially for a beauty like you," Huzi said after laughing his fill. He turned to his men, "At least let people have some fun for a few years before selling her off as a wife, right?"
"Hell yeah! Maybe we'll chip in to support her too, ha!"
"Sell her to Pi-ge, he likes used goods."
"F*** you, I said I like used goods, not that I wanna marry one!"
Hearing their crude jokes, Xia Shiyu bit her lip so hard it almost bled. For the first time, she wanted someone—anyone—to save her.
Even during her darkest times, she had never felt this desperate.
Tears welled up. Death seemed preferable to being taken by them.
Huzi, experienced in debt collecting, saw her breaking point. He signaled for his guys to shut up and softened his tone.
"Alright, I can see you're pitiful. But rules are rules. Debts must be paid. Work at the Hongyi nightclub for a few years, pay it off, and walk away. No one will know. Then go to another city, marry a nice guy, just don't borrow again..."
Classic tactic: stick, then carrot. As old as time, but always effective.
Jiang Chen, watching from nearby, saw the despair on his former manager's face and sighed. He had once hated her... but now, he couldn't bear to just stand by.
Guess I'll help out.
Before, he might've been scared of gangsters. But now...
...
"Hey, what should I call you, brother?" Huzi was stunned when someone appeared next to him, offering a cigarette.
Xia Shiyu looked up through teary eyes in disbelief. It was him? The man she had once fired in a fit of rage?
She had felt a flicker of regret over her actions, but never expected to see him again—let alone like this.
Why is he helping me? Shouldn't he be gloating?
Her expression was a chaotic mix of guilt, gratitude, confusion.
"Huzi," Huzi mumbled, taking the cigarette, unsure what to make of this guy.
Cops? Nah. The boss had cops in his pocket.
A lunatic? Huzi started to feel uneasy.
"Funny coincidence, saw someone I knew and thought I'd check in," Jiang Chen chuckled, then his tone shifted. "I heard the conversation. How much does she owe you?"
Huzi squinted. This guy was acting way too cocky.
The boss had told him: if you can take her, take her. The interest wasn't worth much—but her looks? Now that was profit. She could bring in big bucks at the club.
"Yo, you got guts, kid," Huzi sneered and grabbed at Jiang Chen.
Xia Shiyu's heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She was... worried about him?
"This outfit cost ten grand. Can you afford to ruin it?" Jiang Chen sighed, catching Huzi's hand mid-air like it was nothing.
Huzi's hand felt clamped in a vice. He couldn't move it.
Shit. This guy's trained.
Unwilling to back down in front of his men, Huzi pulled out a knife with his left hand and slashed.
Jiang Chen casually tilted his head, dodged, and shoved him to the ground.
"Get him!" shouted one of the lackeys.
More knives came out. Jiang Chen sighed.
Should've known not to wear such expensive clothes when picking a fight.
"How about the alley over there? No cameras," he said, pointing casually.
Huzi paused. This guy wasn't afraid. Not even a little.
Still, backing down now would kill his street cred.
"Heh, bold guy. Lead the way," Huzi replied, putting on a boss-like air.
Asshole. Still playing tough.
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes and strolled into the alley.
Huzi smirked. No matter how good you are, can you take ten armed guys?
He left a useless lackey to watch Xia Shiyu and followed with the others.
...
"Get him—" Huzi started.
Click.
A pistol barrel pressed against his forehead.
"No cameras here," Jiang Chen shrugged. Who knew that gun Yao Yao found would come in handy?
"F-fake, right?" Huzi stammered.
BOOM.
Gunpowder cracked by his ear. A lackey dropped, screaming, blood soaking his thigh.
The bullet lodged deep in the pavement.
The alley fell silent.
In the underworld, only lunatics and true killers carried guns.
Huzi trembled.
"B-bro, we can talk, no need for a gun, right?" he forced a smile.
"I tried talking, you kept interrupting," Jiang Chen said with a shrug.
F***, this guy's crazy.
"Loan note?"
"H-here." Huzi handed it over.
"Bank account number?"
"Huh?"
"Paying the debt, duh. Transferring the debt to me. What, I look like a deadbeat?"
"N-no, not at all."
Paying off the debt avoided further trouble with the gang. Jiang Chen wasn't worried, but Xia Shiyu couldn't defend herself.
She needed protection.
This was the best solution.
After wiring 410,000 yuan, Jiang Chen watched them limp away, not daring to ask his name.
He tossed the gun back into his storage space and stepped out of the alley.
...Wait, is that blood?