Wang Changlin had invited Xie Yucheng to the dance hall several times, only to be repeatedly turned down. This time, unexpectedly, he actually agreed.
“Let me tell you, the finest girls in the city all gather at this dance hall. You’ll see once we get inside.”
Wang Changlin drove his second-hand Santana, wearing a dacron shirt and bell-bottom pants, his hair slicked back into a glossy pompadour—the very picture of swagger.
Xie Yucheng wore a striped short-sleeved shirt with light-wash jeans, a simple and understated style, his black hair cut short and tousled, exuding a sunny freshness.
Sitting in the passenger seat, he eyed Changlin’s getup coolly and teased, “Picked up plenty of girls with this car, haven’t you?”
The car was one Wang Changlin had bought cheap from a businessman after an accident. He’d towed it back to the factory, fixed it up, and replaced nearly all the parts.
He pointed a thumb at himself, “You bet. Look around the city—how many can drive a car like this out now?”
“Let me tell you, the only downside of this car is the cramped space. Makes it inconvenient when you’re getting down to business.”
Xie Yucheng’s brow twitched, instantly grasping what he meant by “business.”
“Aside from these dirty thoughts, is there anything else in that head of yours?”
“Hey, I won’t hold it against you for saying that. What would I know talking to a guy who’s never tasted meat?”
Xie Yucheng crossed his arms and leaned back in the seat, long legs bent in a lazy posture. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
Wang Changlin spotted some stylishly dressed women heading toward the dance hall along the street, slowed the car, raised his eyebrows, and whistled, signaling Xie Yucheng to look.
Xie Yucheng glanced over—just the backs of two women in short skirts. “What am I looking at?”
“Telling you to check out their butts and legs,” Wang Changlin said.
“I’m not interested in other people’s legs and butts.”
“What? Only interested in your sister’s legs and butt?” The words slipped out before Wang Changlin could stop himself.
The next second, realizing he’d crossed into Xie Yucheng’s forbidden zone, he immediately regretted it and stole a sidelong glance at him.
Seeing his buddy’s face darken, he quickly added, “Hey, just kidding. We’re almost there. Let’s have a good time tonight, you and me—dancing, drinking, living it up!”
At six in the evening, they parked by the roadside. The large sign “Sunshine Dance Hall” hung overhead as they entered together.
The music was loud, colorful lights flashed incessantly, and the air was thick with the scent of prickly heat powder and orange soda. The night’s revelry had only just begun.
As the rhythm of Teresa Teng’s “Sweetness” started, the whole floor swayed to the beat.
Most of the dancers were young people in their twenties—men in bell-bottoms and girls with ponytails, wearing floral dresses.
Wang Changlin had barely stepped inside before he went off hunting for prey. Xie Yucheng sat at the bar drinking, one glass after another, his cold, lonely eyes lost in thought, his solitary figure starkly out of place amid the lively atmosphere.
After “Sweetness” ended, “More Than I Can Say” began, its melody sweet and moving, yet the lyrics grated on his ears no matter how he heard them.
“Oh yeah, I love you more than I can say
I don’t know what I should do
Love you more than I can say
A day without you near me
Is like a day without sunshine
Oh yeah, I love you more than I can say
You know I need you so…”
“A-Cheng, want to go dance?” Wang Changlin came over to call him, accompanied by a young, pretty woman he’d just met.
Xie Yucheng waved a hand dismissively. “Not in the mood.” He rarely came to dance halls, and when he did, it was only for the drinks.
His gaze lazily swept across the dance hall until suddenly, his hawk-like eyes locked onto a girl in a white floral-print dress sitting in the corner.
She sat primly upright, like a student attending class.
Her long hair was loosely draped, tucked behind her ears and falling softly over her shoulders. The white floral dress, lace-trimmed white socks, red patent leather shoes, and the glimpse of pale calves beneath the hem made her delicate figure impossible to miss.
Thinking he might be mistaken, he narrowed his eyes to confirm—no, he was certain he hadn’t misseen.
A man in a patterned shirt approached her, placing his hands on her chairback and the table, effectively trapping her as he leaned in close, whispering something.
Xie Yucheng’s lips pressed into a thin line, his pupils instantly turning cold. His gaze sharpened like a blade, and he slammed his glass onto the table with a “thud,” splashing the pale red liquid inside.
Wen Shiqing had been dragged here by her classmate Qin Mei.
She found the dance hall too noisy and was about to leave when she suddenly caught sight of the tall, straight-backed figure drinking at the bar. So she changed her mind.
Out of the corner of her eye, noticing that figure heading toward her, she lightly placed her hand in the palm of the man who had asked her to dance, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Xie Yucheng’s brow furrowed deeply, anger surging like a broken dam, blood rushing to his head.
He strode past Wang Changlin, marching straight up to Wen Shiqing, coldly shoving the man aside, a flash of ferocity in his eyes.
Pulling Wen Shiqing up from her seat, he sneered:
“Just turned legal and already rushing to sample the thrills of adult nightlife?”
The man in the patterned shirt frowned, tilting his chin up. “Who are you?”
Xie Yucheng snorted coldly, his sharp gaze cutting like a knife as he gripped Wen Shiqing’s chin. “Tell him who I am.”
Shi Qing’s chest heaved, her delicate face now filled with panic as she stammered, “Brother, let me go…”
“Now do you know who I am?” Xie Yucheng turned, spitting one icy, sharp word at the man: “Scram!”
The man spat in disappointment and slunk away.
“Didn’t expect to see me here, did you? Hah, Wen Shiqing, how old are you, coming to a place like this? Are you that desperate to find a fling in a nightclub or just eager to get felt up by some creep?”
He growled in a low voice, his piercing gaze especially intimidating, his grip on Shi Qing’s chin tight enough to hurt.
Qin Mei, seeing this from a distance, moved to intervene, but Wang Changlin pulled her back. “Hey, they know each other—that’s her brother.”
He tried to wrap an arm around Qin Mei’s waist, whispering, “Let’s not meddle in family business. Come on, let’s dance.”
Qin Mei frowned and elbowed him. She’d never met Shi Qing’s brother and had to verify for herself to ensure Shi Qing wasn’t being harassed by a stranger.
Her high heels clicked closer as she pulled Wen Shiqing behind her, demanding, “Who is this?”
Shi Qing gently tugged at Qin Mei’s sleeve, whispering, “He’s my brother.”
Receiving an affirmative response, Qin Mei swallowed nervously and quickly forced a smile onto her face. “Brother, hello, I’m Shi Qing’s classmate. Please don’t be angry—we just came to have some fun today. I’ll make sure Shi Qing stays safe…” She even raised her right hand as if taking an oath.
“Brother, we’re already adults. We’re allowed to come to dance halls,” Wen Shiqing said, meeting Xie Yucheng’s sharp gaze with feigned composure.
Xie Yucheng let out a cold laugh, glanced at Qin Mei, and pulled Shi Qing away by the wrist.
Stumbling along, Shi Qing hurriedly turned back to Qin Mei, mouthing and gesturing: My brother is angry, I have to go.
Qin Mei gave an awkward smile and waved silently in reply: Go ahead, see you later.
After the two figures disappeared into the distance, a male body drenched in heavy perfume pressed up against Qin Mei from behind. Wang Changlin whispered intimately in her ear, “What’s your relationship with Shi Qing?”
“Classmates.”
“In the same class?”
“Mm.”
Wang Changlin flashed an extremely rakish smile. “What a coincidence! We’re neighbors. Her brother is my buddy. Tsk tsk, we’re practically fated to meet.”
Qin Mei snorted coldly and lightly pushed his increasingly close chest. “Big brother, we just met today. Please maintain an appropriate distance.”
“Seriously, it was love at first sight for me.”
“Seriously, you’re not the first man to tell me that.”
Qin Mei’s parents ran businesses in the south year-round, leaving her largely unsupervised. In class, she was known for having an extremely vibrant social life.
She knew how to have fun but also understood boundaries. She’d encountered plenty of slick characters like Wang Changlin—fine for some playful banter, but taking his words seriously would be utterly naive.
Qin Mei loved dancing and singing, frequently visiting karaoke bars and dance halls. Her dream was to one day become a star featured on magazine posters.
After Shi Qing left, she lost interest in staying and left as well, her bag slung over her shoulder.