Shi Qing hadn’t actually left. Xie Yucheng was furiously dragging her through every corner of the dance hall.
In the center of the dance floor, a man’s large hands groped a woman’s buttocks while his mouth nibbled her ear.
In a dimly lit corner, a woman was pressed against the wall, a man’s thick tongue thrust deep into her mouth in a passionate kiss.
Then at the restrooms near the back entrance, even before entering, waves of moans could be heard from inside, enough to make one blush, not hard to imagine what was happening within.
Wen Shiqing’s face turned from pale to red, then from pale to green. Her wrist ached from his tight grip as she struggled to break free.
Xie Yucheng’s temples throbbed with rage as he half-dragged, half-pulled her out through the back entrance.
He couldn’t bear to imagine how many men would leer at her with vulgar thoughts or take advantage while dancing to grope her.
A pure, beautiful girl with such graceful figure appearing in this kind of place was like transplanting a sacred flower into filthy mud – every breath she took here was defiled by the air.
Only when they were far from the dance hall did he finally release her hand. Pointing back toward the establishment, he said coldly, “See clearly now? This is the kind of place your classmates brought you to!”
Wen Shiqing’s wrist was already flushed red. Her delicate skin, subjected to his rough handling, was both reddened and painful.
“Why can you come but I can’t?” She stiffened her neck defiantly. Below her slender swan neck lay elegant collarbones, while her low-cut floral dress hugged the firm, full curves of her bust, her waist so slender it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand.
Seeing her stubborn retort, Xie Yucheng reached out and gripped her chin, speaking through gritted teeth, “Because I’m a man who can protect myself. You? If danger comes, can you protect yourself? If some man lays hands on you, or drags you into some alley…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, pausing for a second as he looked at her innocent face. “When that happens, could you fight back?”
His voice was deep and slightly hoarse, as if rage had set his throat aflame.
“Brother, are you worried about me?” The girl’s cherry-red lips parted slightly, her beautiful eyes staring directly into his.
The disco music from the dance hall was noisy and clamorous, separated from the quiet night outside as if they were two different worlds.
Under the dim yellow streetlight in this corner, surrounded by boundless darkness, who knew how many unspeakable emotions lay hidden.
Xie Yucheng’s breath caught. He averted his gaze, his profound eyes darker than the night. Suddenly speechless, his throat felt as if stuck with a thick fishbone – neither coming up nor going down, the obstruction making him uncomfortable.
“Go home right now!” He didn’t answer the previous question.
Wen Shiqing lowered her head to look at her shoe tips, the corners of her mouth lifting in a faint smile. When she raised her head again, she had resumed that harmless, delicate expression.
“Brother, aren’t you coming back? I have a matchmaking meeting tomorrow – won’t you help vet him for me?”
Xie Yucheng’s lips twitched slightly. He lowered his head with a cold laugh, “Tch,” then stared at her and said sternly:
“I don’t care what kind of man you find! The sooner you marry and get out of this house the better. When you leave, don’t forget to take your brainless mother with you.”
A dull ache spread through Wen Shiqing’s heart, her thumbnail digging deep into the flesh of her forefinger.
She tucked the stray hair behind her ear, lifted her gaze with a resilient smile, and said, “Fine, I’ll do as you wish—marry soon and find a good man. As for my mom and Uncle Xie, if they want to live together, that’s their business. I can’t control it, and neither can you!”
With that, she hailed a rickshaw, got in, and left.
Xie Yucheng stood frozen in place for a long time, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. The fish bone felt as if it had slid down into his gut, tearing through his intestines.
The next day, Wang Changlin was jolted awake when his leg was suddenly shoved aside. He opened his eyes to find Xie Yucheng already up and dressed.
“Where are you going?” he asked groggily.
They had stayed out late the previous night and shouldn’t have woken until afternoon. He glanced at the clock—it was only a little past eight.
“Going home,” Xie Yucheng replied, pulling on his jeans and a striped shirt. He ran some of Wang Changlin’s hair wax through his hair, tousling it casually.
Wang Changlin exclaimed, “Wow, look at you, preening like a peacock~”
Xie Yucheng ignored him and pushed the door open to leave.
The secondhand, modified Jiefang 141 truck was parked in the factory yard. The vehicle had been purchased and the contract signed, but a few parts still needed replacing for optimal performance.
He opened the door, started the engine, and listened to its low hum, his hand resting on the steering wheel.
After a moment, he returned to the room and tossed the truck keys at Wang Changlin. “Hurry up and get that Jiefang 141 fixed up for me. I need it for work soon.”
“Damn it, Young Master Xie, can’t you let me sleep in? I drink with you at night, work on your truck by day, and on top of that, I have to soothe your moods. Am I your triple-duty companion or what?”
“Let me ask you—you just went home a couple of days ago to get clothes. What are you going back for now? Is it because of your ‘sister’?”
Xie Yucheng stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his hair and loosening two buttons on his shirt, faintly revealing his well-built chest.
“It’s not about her. There’s something else.”
Wang Changlin wore a knowing expression. “If you ask me, screw the complications. If you like her, go for it. What’s the point of torturing yourself like this? Last night at the dance hall, the look in your eyes was terrifying—you scared off that guy who tried to chat her up.”
Xie Yucheng grabbed a small object nearby and threw it at him. “Are you done spouting nonsense? I was just worried she’d cause trouble for the Old Man.”
“Ha! You’re head over heels but too stubborn to admit it. Wait till that girl really gets married—you’ll be crying your eyes out. And don’t come crying to me then. I’ll step on you and tell you, ‘You had it coming.'”
Xie Yucheng put on his watch expressionlessly, picked up his motorcycle keys, and slammed the door on his way out.
The streets were lined with lush osmanthus and goldenrain trees. Pedestrians and cyclists exchanged smiles and nods, greeting acquaintances with, “Have you eaten?” “Yes, I have.” “Off to work?” “That’s right.”
Xie Yucheng went to the local department store and bought a new thermos—silver, made of 304 stainless steel, with gilded characters embossed on the body, elegant and minimalist. He asked the salesclerk to pack it in a nice bag.
Tomorrow was Xie Guoli’s birthday, so he had to go home. He couldn’t afford to wander around outside these next couple of days.
Passing by a bakery, he spotted golden, glossy honey small bread in the display window. Almost involuntarily, he went in and bought some, hanging the bag from his motorcycle handles.
Soon, his motorcycle slowly turned into the alley. His eyes fell on a conspicuous white Santana sedan parked prominently in front of his family’s courtyard gate—its body clean and gleaming, exuding an air of grandeur.
The alley was narrow, completely blocked by cars.
Xie Yucheng had no choice but to park his motorcycle under a large tree in the distance and walk into the courtyard carrying some items.
As soon as he entered, seven or eight pairs of eyes from the main room, which had been chatting and laughing, turned to look at him all at once.
Aside from the three family members, there was also a well-known matchmaker—their next-door neighbor, Aunt Zhang—along with an unfamiliar middle-aged couple and a young man around twenty years old.