Wang Changlin had asked Xie Yucheng to go dancing with him several times, but Yucheng had always turned him down. This time, however—unexpectedly—he agreed.
“I’m telling you, all the hottest girls in the city are at this dance hall. Once we go in, you’ll see,” Wang Changlin said.
Wang Changlin was driving his secondhand Santana, wearing a Dacron shirt, flared pants, and a slick, glossy pompadour. He looked every bit the flashy city guy.
Xie Yucheng, by contrast, wore a simple striped short-sleeve shirt with light-colored jeans. His outfit was understated and low-key. His jet-black hair was cut short and tousled, giving him a clean, sunny look.
Sitting in the passenger seat, he cast a cool glance at Changlin and teased, “Picked up quite a few girls with this car, haven’t you?”
The car was something Wang Changlin had bought cheaply from a boss—it had been in an accident. He’d towed it back to the workshop, fixed it up, and replaced most of the parts.
He jabbed a thumb at himself. “You bet. Look around the city—how many people can drive a little car like this these days?”
“The only downside is the space is too small. Not very convenient when you’re, you know… doing things.”
Xie Yucheng’s brow twitched. He immediately understood what Changlin meant.
“Is that yellow trash the only thing in your head? Can’t you think about something else?”
“Hey, I don’t blame you for saying that. What would a man who’s never tasted it know? Why would I even bother explaining?”
Xie Yucheng crossed his arms and leaned back lazily in the seat, long legs bent. “You talk as if you’ve tasted it yourself.”
Wang Changlin slowed the car when he spotted some well-dressed women heading toward the dance hall. He raised his brows and whistled, signaling Yucheng to look.
Yucheng glanced over. All he saw were the backs of two women in short skirts. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”
“Their asses and legs,” Wang Changlin said.
“I’m not interested in other people’s legs and asses.”
“What? Only interested in your little sister’s legs and ass?” Changlin blurted out without thinking.
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized he’d stepped on a landmine. Regret hit instantly, and he sneaked a sideways glance at Xie Yucheng.
Seeing his buddy’s face growing darker by the second, he hurriedly added, “Hey, hey, just kidding! We’re almost there. Tonight, the two of us are going to live it up—dance, drink, enjoy life!”
At six in the evening, the car pulled over by the roadside. The large sign reading “Sunshine Dance Hall” hung overhead as the two walked in together.
The music was deafening, multicolored lights flashing nonstop. The air was thick with the smell of prickly heat powder and orange soda. The night’s revelry was only just beginning.
As soon as Teresa Teng’s “Sweet as Honey” started playing, the entire floor began to sway in rhythm.
Most of the dancers were young people in their early twenties—men in flared pants, girls with ponytails wearing floral dresses.
Not long after entering, Wang Changlin went off in search of “prey.” Xie Yucheng sat alone at the bar, drinking cup after cup. His cold, distant eyes gave nothing away, and his solitary silhouette looked completely out of place amid the lively atmosphere.
When “Sweet as Honey” ended, “Love You but Can’t Say It” came on—melodious and lingering, though the lyrics grated on the ears no matter how you listened.
“Oh yeah, loving you but can’t say it, I don’t know what I should say. Loving you but can’t say it, One day without seeing you, Feels like something’s missing by my side. Oh yeah, loving you but can’t say it, Do you know that I love you…”
“Ah Cheng, let’s go dance!” Wang Changlin came over, a young, pretty woman he’d just met at his side.
Xie Yucheng waved him off. “Not in the mood.” He rarely came to dance halls—and when he did, it was only to drink.
His lazy gaze swept around the hall. Suddenly, like a hawk spotting prey, his eyes locked onto a girl in a white floral dress sitting in the corner.
She sat perfectly straight, as if she were in a classroom.
Her long hair fell loose, tucked behind her ears and draping softly over her shoulders. The white floral dress, white lace-trimmed socks, red patent-leather shoes—beneath the hem of her skirt showed a section of pale, slender calves. It was hard not to notice such a fresh, delicate figure.
Thinking he might be mistaken, he narrowed his eyes to confirm—no, he wasn’t wrong.
A man in a floral shirt walked up to her, bracing one hand on the back of her chair and the other on the table, boxing her in as he leaned close and whispered something to her.
Xie Yucheng’s lips pressed into a hard line. In an instant, the color in his eyes turned icy. His gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed on that scene. With a loud bang, he set his glass down on the table, the pale red liquid inside sloshing over the rim.
Wen Shiqing had been dragged there by her classmate, Qin Mei.
She’d found the place too noisy and had wanted to leave, but then she’d suddenly spotted the tall figure drinking alone at the bar. She changed her mind.
When she sensed, from the corner of her eye, that that figure was walking toward her, she gently covered the hand of the man inviting her to dance. The corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
Xie Yucheng’s brows knotted tightly. His anger burst like a breached dam, blood rushing straight to his head.
He strode past Wang Changlin and straight up to Wen Shiqing, coldly shoving the man aside, a flash of viciousness crossing his eyes.
He yanked Wen Shiqing up from her seat and sneered,
“Just turned eighteen and already can’t wait to dive into exciting adult nightlife?”
The man in the floral shirt frowned and lifted his chin. “Who the hell are you?”
Xie Yucheng let out a cold snort. His sharp gaze sliced over the man as he gripped Wen Shiqing’s chin. “You tell him—who am I?”
Shiqing’s chest rose and fell rapidly. Her usually cool, pale face was filled with panic now. Her voice trembled as she said, “Brother… let go of me…”
“Now do you know who I am?” Xie Yucheng turned his head and spat out a single icy word at the man: “Get lost.”
The man spat on the ground in annoyance and slunk away.
“You didn’t expect to run into me here, did you?” Xie Yucheng sneered. “Heh, Wen Shiqing—how old are you, coming to a place like this? Are you in such a hurry to find a boyfriend in a nightclub, or are you itching to let some creep take advantage of you?”
He growled in a low voice, his sharp stare terrifying. The grip on her chin tightened, making it hurt.
Not far away, Qin Mei saw what was happening and tried to step forward, but Wang Changlin stopped her. “Hey, they know each other. That’s her brother.”
He tried to wrap an arm around Qin Mei’s waist and whispered, “It’s family business—let’s not get involved. Come on, let’s dance.”
Qin Mei frowned and jabbed him with her elbow. She’d never met Shiqing’s brother and had to confirm things herself—just in case Shiqing was being bullied by a stranger.
Her high heels clicked as she walked over. She pulled Wen Shiqing behind her and asked, “Who are you?”
Shiqing gently tugged at Qin Mei’s sleeve and said softly, “My brother.”
After getting confirmation, Qin Mei swallowed and hurriedly plastered on a smile. “Oh—brother, hello! I’m Shiqing’s classmate. Don’t be mad—we just came out to have some fun today. I promise I’ll keep Shiqing safe…” She even raised her right hand, as if swearing an oath.
“Brother, we’re already adults. We’re allowed to come to dance halls,” Wen Shiqing said, meeting Xie Yucheng’s sharp gaze and forcing herself to stay calm.
Xie Yucheng gave a cold laugh, glanced at Qin Mei, then grabbed Shiqing by the wrist and left.
Shiqing stumbled along, hurriedly turning back and mouthing to Qin Mei: My brother’s angry. I’m leaving first.
Qin Mei forced an awkward smile and waved back silently: Go on. See you.
Once the two figures disappeared into the distance, a male body drenched in heavy cologne leaned in behind Qin Mei. Wang Changlin spoke flirtatiously into her ear, “So what’s your relationship with Shiqing?”
“Classmates.”
“Same class?”
“Yeah.”
Wang Changlin grinned lewdly. “What a coincidence. We’re neighbors—her brother’s my buddy. Tsk tsk, looks like we’re pretty fated.”
Qin Mei snorted and lightly pushed against his chest as he pressed closer. “Sir, we just met today. Please keep a proper distance.”
“Honestly, it was love at first sight for me.”
“Honestly, you’re not the first man who’s said that to me.”
Qin Mei’s parents had been doing business in the south for years, leaving her largely unsupervised. In her class, she was known for having a very rich social life.
She knew how to have fun but also knew her limits. She’d seen plenty of greasy men like Wang Changlin—flirting with them verbally was fine, but taking their words seriously would be naive.
Qin Mei loved dancing and singing and often came to karaoke bars and dance halls. Her dream was to one day become a star on magazine spreads.
After Shiqing left, she lost interest as well. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she headed out too.