When Lin Xun returned to his room, his head was still spinning and heavy. His feet felt like they were stepping on cotton, light and floating, lacking all sense of reality.
Huo Tingxiao’s attitude toward him seemed to have undergone a subtle shift.
But as to what specifically it had turned into, or why it had changed, Lin Xun didn’t dare think too deeply about it, and he understood that the answer was meaningless anyway.
A person like him, trapped in the mud, could never possess the bright moon hanging high in the deep night sky.
To be occasionally illuminated by the moonlight was already lucky enough.
When he changed his clothes and returned to the living room, Huo Tingxiao was making a phone call in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Lin Xun stopped by the sofa, gazing at his tall and upright silhouette without making a sound to disturb him.
Just like the countless times he had gazed from afar during their high school days.
Quietly, without blinking.
Huo Tingxiao had changed his clothes as well. A black T-shirt paired with trousers—a simple and casual outfit that added a touch of youthful vigor to his back view.
It was hardly any different from Lin Xun’s memories, only taller and broader.
He imagined Huo Tingxiao back in his university days must have looked even more high-spirited and dashing than what he was seeing now.
Regrettably, he never got the chance to witness it with his own eyes.
Lost in thought, Huo Tingxiao finished the call and looked over.
“What are you thinking about?”
The smile on his face was gentle, causing Lin Xun’s heart to sway. Grinning, he offered his most genuine smile in return.
Huo Tingxiao approached while sizing up his attire.
Lin Xun followed his gaze downward, looking at the sleeveless tank top and ripped jeans he was wearing.
This outfit seemed a bit too “casual.”
Yet he only had a few pieces of clothing, and these jeans were already the pair with the fewest rips under the “casual” style Huo Tingxiao requested.
With his face flushing hot, he quietly tucked the decorative chain on his waist bit by bit into his pocket.
Huo Tingxiao, however, reached out and hooked the waist chain back out.
“Just leave it like this—it’s pretty good.”
He ruffled Lin Xun’s hair.
“Let’s go. The car is waiting.”
It was Ding Jun who had driven over to pick them up.
Lin Xun pulled open the back car door for Huo Tingxiao. After the man got in, he quickly shut the door and opened another, sitting in the front passenger seat.
Huo Tingxiao tilted his head, catching sight of the messy gray hair fluttering about, and let out a low chuckle—causing Lin Xun’s hand to slip even as he buckled his seatbelt.
Ding Jun looked to the side, then into the rearview mirror, silently starting the car.
Only when they merged onto the main road did he say to Huo Tingxiao: “Things with the police station have been arranged. Director Han will send a few unfamiliar faces over to keep an eye on the venue.”
Huo Tingxiao: “Mm, try not to blow your cover.”
Ding Jun hesitated: “Actually, there’s no need for you to show your face today. I heard this guy Long San places heavy value on brotherhood and keeps his lips sealed tight. The probability of squeezing information out of him isn’t high—we could just team up with the police station to monitor who he interacts with.”
Huo Tingxiao said: “That’s too inefficient. We always have to throw out some bait to test the waters.”
In the rearview mirror, Ding Jun looked at him several times as if wanting to speak but holding back.
Huo Tingxiao smiled faintly: “No need to be so tense. Tonight’s theme is relaxation.”
Lin Xun didn’t fully catch on. Seeing Ding Jun’s expression, it was clearly an important matter, yet listening to Huo Tingxiao’s tone, it didn’t seem all that serious.
The car eventually pulled into the bar street of the lower city district. When they reached the underground garage, Lin Xun noticed a Mercedes G-Wagon parked in the adjacent space, with Fu Xingchen and Duan Yang leaning against the front of the car, chatting.
It seemed that night was meant to be a gathering among friends, but he couldn’t figure out where Ding Jun’s apprehension stemmed from.
The moment they got out of the car, Duan Yang walked over enthusiastically to greet them.
Lin Xun offered a small wave in return.
Noticing that Huo Tingxiao and Lin Xun were dressed in matching tones, Fu Xingchen teased: “Are you two wearing couple’s outfits?”
Lin Xun immediately shook his hands so fast they turned into a blur of motion. Huo Tingxiao, on the other hand, merely smiled it off, not taking such a ridiculous joke to heart.
This instead made Lin Xun seem overly earnest and unable to take a joke.
He suppressed his reaction and forced his hands back down.
Following Huo Tingxiao’s arrangement, Ding Jun stayed outside to observe the situation, while Lin Xun tag-teamed with the remaining three.
The four took the elevator up to the ground level and quickly merged into the flow of pedestrians on the street.
Regarding the goal of this trip, Lin Xun was still half in the dark—until they arrived in front of a three-story building.
Beneath a red-and-gold sign hanging from the outer wall, the words “VIVI CLUB” shone blindingly harsh under the neon night sky.
He instantly understood what Huo Tingxiao meant by “relaxation.”
ViVi was a well-known adult club in the lower city district—a den of debauchery, sensory indulgence, and extravagant pleasure.
The moment they stepped through the front door, a powerful wave of music pounded against them amidst the roaring din of the crowd. The stage was divided into two: strip dancers in high heels and muscular men showing off their physiques were both trying hard to attract customers.
Duan Yang’s eyes lit up with excitement as he longed to squeeze closer to the stage, but Fu Xingchen scruffed him by the back of his collar and dragged him toward the staircase.
Huo Tingxiao glanced sideways at Lin Xun.
Lin Xun subconsciously leaned closer to his side, using his eyes to ask what he meant.
Huo Tingxiao naturally leaned down, whispering in his ear: “Stay close to me.”
Lin Xun complied, edging even closer.
Their arms pressed tightly against each other, their body heat transferred onto each other’s skin without reservation. As they walked, their arms brushed lightly, their knuckles occasionally touching—now close, now apart.
It felt as though they were holding hands sneakily.
Lin Xun felt as if he had forgotten how to walk, unsure whether his arms and legs were moving in sync.
He navigated mechanically through the dance floor and made his way up to the second floor.
It was less crowded and no longer congested here. With no reason to keep walking glued together, Lin Xun stopped his steps silently, pulling back to a distance of half an arm’s length.
The warmth on the outer side of his forearm quickly dissipated.
“Which private room?” Fu Xingchen turned back to ask.
“288,” Huo Tingxiao said.
“Lead the way.” Fu Xingchen couldn’t be bothered to look for it. Huo Tingxiao glanced sideways at Lin Xun first before good-naturedly taking the lead.
The pathways in the private room area were winding and dimly lit, like a maze, yet Huo Tingxiao traversed them with practiced ease, rounding a few corners before arriving in front of door 288.
This was the most secluded spot; the music from downstairs could barely be heard anymore.
Two young men in floral shirts stopped them, demanding harshly: “What are you here for?!”
Fu Xingchen said: “My surname is Zheng. I have an appointment with Third Brother.”
“Why are there so many of you?” A guy with yellow hair asked vigilantly.
Fu Xingchen draped an arm over Huo Tingxiao’s shoulder, smiling with a thug-like swagger: “We’re all fellow travelers, trustworthy.”
“That won’t do!” the other man spoke up. “Third Brother said he’d only see you. No one else goes in.”
“I know you don’t trust me. How clever—I don’t trust you guys either. Doesn’t that leave us at a deadlock?” Fu Xingchen said impatiently. “Bottom line: are we meeting or not? If not, we’re leaving. Waste of time.”
As he spoke, he turned as if to leave, and Yellow Hair immediately called him back.
The other man slipped into the private room and came out shortly after, saying in a firm tone: “Third Brother said you can bring at most one person inside. The rest wait at the door.”
Fu Xingchen and Huo Tingxiao exchanged a glance, then turned around to tilt their chins at Lin Xun and Duan Yang: “You two wait here for a bit. Don’t wander off.”
Duan Yang was a bit nervous and subconsciously wanted to follow them in.
Yellow Hair shoved him rudely.
Lin Xun instantly shoved back with his backhand, then yanked Duan Yang behind himself to shield him.
“Oh, holy shit, got quite a fucking grip there, huh?!”
Yellow Hair cursed and tried to pick a fight, but his companion caught him by the shoulder and quietly talked him down.
Lin Xun looked into the private room with concern.
There was only a narrow, long strip of clear glass on the door, so he couldn’t see the situation inside clearly and could only vaguely catch a few snatches of conversation.
Duan Yang pressed his ear against the door panel.
Yellow Hair wanted to shoo him away, but intimidated by Lin Xun protecting him, he ultimately chose to ignore the eavesdropping.
Duan Yang heard Fu Xingchen asking about the “goods,” but the other party was talking in circles.
“No rush, let’s talk first.”
Long San sat with his legs crossed, his gaze continually sweeping back and forth between Fu Xingchen and Huo Tingxiao.
“You two look a bit unfamiliar. Don’t come out to party often?”
Huo Tingxiao said: “Just returned from abroad.”
Long San asked: “Which flight did you take?”
Huo Tingxiao replied in a low tone: “010.”
Long San asked again: “Who was the captain?”
Huo Tingxiao: “The driver.”
Long San: “Since you have acquaintances, why bother making a detour to get on my ride?”
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Fu Xingchen chimed in. “I want Ecstasy. What he has in hand isn’t even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth.”
Long San pondered for a moment and said: “Ecstasy is hard to get. I have weed and milk tea here…”
Fu Xingchen interrupted him: “A pilot chased an imaginary dragon and crashed his plane last month. I don’t want to end up like him. Ecstasy is milder. Just tell me how much you have on you—I’ll take it all.”
Long San burst into laughter: “Mister, you’ve got quite a big appetite.”
“Got a lot of friends who all want a taste of something new.” Fu Xingchen unceremoniously took off Huo Tingxiao’s wristwatch and tossed it onto the coffee table: “This is more than enough to buy ten batches. Bottom line: can you do it or not? If not, we’ll find someone else.”
Long San lowered his foot, his expression turning serious.
As he fell into thought, the private room fell silent.
Duan Yang couldn’t hear a thing anymore.
Covering his mouth with his hand, he asked Lin Xun in a low voice: “What are they doing? Are they speaking human language?”
Lin Xun typed on his phone: Underworld slang.
Duan Yang still looked completely lost, but Lin Xun’s expression had turned unusually solemn.
At that moment, movement could be heard from inside the door again.
Long San said: “I have a bit of stock on hand right now. Why don’t you two sample the quality first? Only when you’re satisfied will there be any need for us to talk further—it’s good for both you and me, isn’t it?”
With that, the lackey standing behind him pulled two small blue pills from his pocket and dissolved them in a glass of warm water.
“Go on.”
Long San pushed the glass in front of them, smiling insincerely: “My treat, no charge.”
Huo Tingxiao picked up the glass.
Beneath the light blue surface of the water, a stream of dense, tiny bubbles rose, seeping a chill like soda water.
Seeing that he made no move for a long time, Long San’s brows sank: “What’s wrong? Is this your first time playing with this?”
Fu Xingchen let out a cold sneer: “Drinking it dissolved in water is boring.”
“Whether it’s boring or not, you’ll only know after trying it.”
Long San leaned back into the sofa, one hand resting seemingly casually on his waist—though everyone in the private room knew full well what was hidden there.
Huo Tingxiao gently swirled the glass twice: “Can you get high-purity liquid that can pop the skylight?”
Long San narrowed his eyes: “Playing that big?”
Huo Tingxiao asked: “Can you, or can’t you?”
Long San said: “We’ll talk after you test the goods.”
That brief pause to think before answering had already given Huo Tingxiao his answer.
Huo Tingxiao watched the ripples of light blue water spreading across the glass, his eyes darkening gradually.
Fearing he might act recklessly, Fu Xingchen kicked him under the table.
With a heavy bang, the private room door slammed violently against the wall. Two floral-shirted men tumbled into the room one after the other, and Lin Xun lunged past them in a single stride, rushing in front of Huo Tingxiao to knock the glass from his hand.
Almost at the exact same instant, Lin Xun and Long San both aimed their gun barrels straight at each other’s heads.
The turn of events happened so abruptly that just as Fu Xingchen reached to touch the mini pistol tucked behind his waist, he heard Long San suddenly raise his voice in a tone of utter surprise: “Lin Xun?”
Before the ferocity in Lin Xun’s eyes could fade, Long San holstered his gun, stepped around the coffee table, and came right up to him.
“It’s me, Long Fei! Don’t you remember me? We met downstairs at Ah Qing’s massage parlor—back then I was nearly beaten to death. You not only helped me, but even lent me two hundred bucks for a meal. Remember now?”
Lin Xun searched his memory; it seemed there really was such an incident.
Long San seemed a bit excited, stepping right up against Lin Xun’s gun barrel to give him a hug, then tightly gripping his hand with a smile far more genuine than before.
“These two are your friends? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Lin Xun turned his head back. Huo Tingxiao remained seated on the sofa, looking at him with a calm face, no emotion visible in the depths of his eyes.
Lin Xun guessed he was probably angry because he had barged in without permission.
Gritting his teeth, he decided to go all the way with his unauthorized act and dragged Long San right out of the private room by the arm.
Duan Yang, who was poking his head around at the doorway, was startled by the two men in floral shirts clambering back to their feet, darting over to the sofa in a few quick steps.
He patted Huo Tingxiao’s shoulder, looking completely out of the loop.
“Why did Lin Xun leave with that guy?”