"Qian Shaohang, you have to go and help Xiaoxiao," Zhang Qiuya urged Qian Shaohang as she saw Che Xiaoxiao being entangled by Brother Huoniu, becoming anxious herself.
Although Zhang Qiuya liked Qian Shaohang and resented Che Xiaoxiao for stealing away the man she liked, Xiaoxiao was ultimately her friend, and she didn't want to see Xiaoxiao harassed by Brother Huoniu.
Qian Shaohang's body stiffened, and his face turned somewhat ashen. Situ Ming had already said that Brother Huoniu was a man who licked blood from the blade's edge. If he intervened, he would probably get chopped up.
Moreover, Brother Huoniu was so burly, his own frail frame stood no chance of stopping him.
"She's already fallen for someone else, so what happens to her is none of my damn business," Qian Shaohang said, feigning calmness, seemingly too afraid to meddle in this business.
Zhang Qiuya was shocked on the spot, staring fixedly at Qian Shaohang; she hadn't expected him to say such a thing.
Wasn't Che Xiaoxiao the girl he liked? How could he be ?
Feeling guilty under Zhang Qiuya's intense gaze, Qian Shaohang lowered his head and muttered, "Since she already has a boyfriend, her boyfriend should be the one to protect her."
Qian Shaohang certainly did not want to risk his life for a woman who had already fallen in love with someone else.
Zhang Qiuya shook her head, looking at Qian Shaohang with a cold sneer:
"Qian Shaohang, I really misjudged you!"
Not just Zhang Qiuya, including Situ Ming, everyone cast contemptuous glances toward Qian Shaohang.
With his face pale as iron, Qian Shaohang kept his head down, drinking alcohol, pretending not to see everyone's looks, and ignored Zhang Qiuya's words.
"Kid, you have a bright future. I've got my eye on you," Brother Huoniu pointed at Qian Shaohang and laughed heartily.
At that moment, Zhang Qiuya turned her gaze to Hao Jian, hoping he would intervene, but instead, she saw Hao Jian, like Qian Shaohang, steadily drinking without as much as a glance at Brother Huoniu.
Zhang Qiuya smiled bitterly and lowered her head, thinking that Hao Jian should be somewhat different from Qian Shaohang, only to be disappointed.
"Brother Huoniu, could you do me a favor and let my friend go?"
Situ Ming chose to step forward at this time. After all, it was his idea to invite Che Xiaoxiao for drinks, so he had to take responsibility.
Brother Huoniu's eyes rounded fiercely, and he slapped Situ Ming's face hard while jeering, "What makes you think you're worthy of a favor from me?"
With his face burning, Situ Ming clenched his jaw as he said:
"Brother Huoniu, no matter what, I've been attending to you for so long. Sometimes you give money when you're happy, and don't when you're not. I've never uttered a word. Even if you won't do me a favor, you should at least consider how often I've played the host."
"Oh, you dare to negotiate with me, huh?"
Brother Huoniu, furious yet sneering, grabbed a bottle of wine and smashed it onto Situ Ming.
Situ Ming fell to the ground, clutching his head and wailing incessantly, his forehead instantly crimson.
"Smash this place up!"
Brother Huoniu roared, and his lackeys immediately stood up, grabbing chairs and randomly smashing up the bar.
"Blind trash, you think you can negotiate with me?" Brother Huoniu snorted coldly and kicked Situ Ming hard several times.
"Stop! Or else I'll call the police!" Zhang Qiuya, now frightened into tears, shouted angrily.
"Call the police? Do you really think that would do any good? Let me tell you, all the local police, patrol officers, armed police are all well acquainted with me, we refer to each other as brothers," Brother Huoniu said with disdain, and then tossed a cell phone onto the table: "Go on, call the police! I won't stop you."
Zhang Qiuya was suddenly speechless, frozen in place, knowing that Brother Huoniu wasn't joking. Which mobster didn't have an official backing?
"You, let my friend go!" Che Xiaoxiao also shouted at Brother Huoniu, her face filled with rage.
"Let him go? Sure, as long as you come with me to the little woods," said Brother Huoniu with a lecherous chuckle. He was particularly fond of little Lolitas, especially a pretty and cute one like Che Xiaoxiao.
"Dream on, and maybe take a look at yourself in the mirror!"
Che Xiaoxiao said with disgust, trying to break free from Brother Huoniu's grip, but his hand was like a vice, firmly holding onto her.
At this moment, Brother Huoniu's face turned ugly due to Che Xiaoxiao's words, his smile strained as he said:
"Girl, it's an honor for you that Brother Huoniu is taking a liking to you. As long as you're with me, you can strut all over East City District. But if you keep disrespecting me, don't blame me for getting rough."
Che Xiaoxiao's hand was tightly caught by Brother Huoniu, pain was evident on her face, but she still defiantly met his gaze, "You can forget about it!"
"Alright, alright, it seems you really want to force me to be forceful!"
Brother Huoniu's face turned cold, and he reached out with his other hand towards Che Xiaoxiao, intending to abduct her on the spot.
Just then, from out of the blue, a hand reached over and grabbed hold of Brother Huoniu's hand.
Brother Huoniu's eyes narrowed, focusing on the owner of the hand.
Hao Jian casually held a cigarette at the corner of his mouth, a smile in his eyes, "Brother, isn't this going too far?"
"Who the hell are you?" Brother Huoniu scoffed with a smile on his face, yet a surge of anger couldn't help but rise in his heart.
"I'm her boyfriend. Bullying my girlfriend in front of me, that's not very nice, is it?" Hao Jian chuckled, unfazed.
"Boyfriend? That's no big deal, we can have a threesome, I don't mind," Brother Huoniu laughed shamelessly, thinking himself witty, though no one else found it amusing.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not have my 'cabbage' ravaged by a pig," Hao Jian shook his head, rejecting Brother Huoniu's suggestion.
Upon hearing this, Che Xiaoxiao immediately glared at Hao Jian dissatisfied. This jerk, comparing her to a cabbage?
Seeing Hao Jian dare to call Brother Huoniu a pig made Zhang Qiuya and others gape in shock. Wasn't this courting death? Didn't Hao Jian see how many people Brother Huoniu had brought with him?
At this moment, Qian Shaohang also displayed a cold smile. Talking to a mafia leader like that, this kid must be insane?
Qian Shaohang thought it would serve Hao Jian right if Brother Huoniu wasted him, thereby exacting Qian's own revenge.
"Kid, you don't seem to get how things work, do you?" Brother Huoniu also laughed coldly, seeing Hao Jian looking at him with an amused smile, his inner fury rising rapidly.
Hao Jian smiled and pointed at Brother Huoniu's hand, "Take your hand off her."
By this time, Brother Huoniu's lackeys had finished their destruction and started to surround Hao Jian.
Brother Huoniu glared at Hao Jian with a cold smile, "Say that again if you dare?"
Brother Huoniu's lackeys all drew out their machetes, the glaring blades and killing intent creating an especially frightening scene.
"How much money do you want to let this go? I'll pay you!" Zhang Qiuya said, trying to sway Brother Huoniu with money.
Brother Huoniu laughed coldly, then outright slapped Zhang Qiuya, "I'm after respect right now, not money! Get it?"
Then, Brother Huoniu turned his attention back to Hao Jian, "I asked you to say it again!"
Hao Jian sighed, "To tell the truth, I really didn't want it to come to this, but reality always seems so relentlessly disappointing, doesn't it?"
As his words fell, a beer bottle flew from Hao Jian's hand, striking Brother Huoniu's head heavily.