Wang Changlin had invited Xie Yucheng to the dance hall several times, but he had always turned him down. This time, unexpectedly, he agreed.
“I’m telling you, all the hottest girls in the city hang out at this dance hall. You’ll know what I mean once we get inside.”
Wang Changlin drove his secondhand Santana. He wore a polyester shirt, bell-bottom trousers, and a slicked-back hairstyle that gleamed with hair oil. He looked incredibly proud of himself.
Xie Yucheng wore a simple striped short-sleeved shirt with light-colored jeans. His outfit was understated, while his short, slightly tousled black hair gave him a fresh, youthful look.
Sitting in the passenger seat, he glanced coldly at Changlin and teased, “You’ve picked up quite a few girls with this car, haven’t you?”
Wang Changlin had bought the car cheaply from a businessman. It had been in an accident, so he had to tow it back to the workshop and repair it. Many of its parts had been replaced.
He pointed at himself with his thumb.
“Of course. Just look around the city. How many people can afford to drive a car like this right now?”
“Let me tell you, the only downside is that it’s too cramped. Makes it inconvenient when you want to take care of certain business.”
Xie Yucheng’s brow twitched. He immediately understood what kind of “business” Changlin was talking about.
“Can you think about anything besides that filthy stuff in your head?”
“Hey, I don’t blame you for saying that. What can I possibly tell a man who’s never had any experience?”
Xie Yucheng crossed his arms and leaned lazily against the seat, his long legs bent comfortably.
“You make yourself sound like some kind of expert.”
Through the car window, Wang Changlin spotted several stylishly dressed women walking toward the dance hall. He slowed down, raised his eyebrows, and whistled, signaling for Xie Yucheng to look.
Xie Yucheng glanced over. All he saw were the backs of two women in short skirts.
“What am I looking at?”
“Their legs and asses,” Wang Changlin said.
“I’m not interested in other people’s legs or asses.”
“What, only interested in your little sister’s legs and ass?”
The words slipped out before Wang Changlin could stop himself.
The instant he realized he had crossed one of Xie Yucheng’s boundaries, he regretted it. He secretly glanced at his friend.
Xie Yucheng’s expression grew darker and darker.
Changlin hurriedly added, “Hey, I was just joking. We’re almost there. Let’s have a good time tonight. Dance, drink, and enjoy life!”
At six in the evening, they parked by the roadside beneath the large sign that read Sunshine Dance Hall, then walked inside together.
The music was loud, colorful lights flashed continuously, and the air was filled with the scents of prickly heat powder and orange soda.
The night’s festivities had only just begun.
As Teresa Teng’s Sweet Honey began playing, everyone on the dance floor swayed along to the rhythm.
Most of the dancers were young people in their twenties. Some of the men wore bell-bottoms, while the girls wore floral dresses with their hair tied back in ponytails.
It didn’t take long for Wang Changlin to start looking for his next target.
Xie Yucheng sat at the bar, drinking one glass after another. His cold, distant eyes seemed lost in thought, and his lonely figure looked completely out of place amid the lively atmosphere.
When Sweet Honey ended, the next song was Love You from the Bottom of My Heart but Can’t Say It. The melody was beautiful and tender, but somehow every lyric sounded painfully grating to him.
“Oh yeah, loving you, but I can’t say it…
I don’t know what I should say…
Loving you, but I can’t say it…
A day without seeing you
Feels like something is missing beside me…
Oh yeah, loving you, but I can’t say it…
Do you know that I love you…”
“Acheng, come dance!” Wang Changlin came over, accompanied by a pretty young woman he had just met.
Xie Yucheng waved him off.
“Not interested.”
He rarely came to dance halls. Whenever he did, it was mainly to drink.
His lazy gaze swept across the dance floor.
Suddenly, his sharp eyes locked onto a girl sitting in the corner wearing a white floral dress.
She sat perfectly straight, almost like a student sitting in class.
Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, tucked behind her ears. She wore a white floral dress, white socks trimmed with lace, and red patent-leather shoes. A section of her fair calf showed beneath the hem of her dress.
Her delicate, graceful appearance made her difficult not to notice.
Thinking he might have mistaken her for someone else, he narrowed his eyes and looked again.
No.
He hadn’t been mistaken.
A man in a floral shirt walked over to her. He placed both hands on the back of her chair and the table, effectively boxing her in. He leaned close and whispered something into her ear.
Xie Yucheng’s lips pressed into a thin line.
The warmth vanished from his pupils in an instant, leaving them icy cold. His gaze was like a blade fixed on the pair.
With a loud bang, he slammed his wineglass onto the table. The pale-red liquid splashed out from the force.
Wen Shiqing had been dragged to the dance hall by her classmate, Qin Mei.
Once she arrived, she found the place too noisy and had wanted to leave.
But then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the tall figure sitting at the bar with a drink.
She changed her mind.
When she noticed that figure approaching her, she lightly placed her hand over the palm of the man who had just invited her to dance.
The faintest smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
Xie Yucheng’s brows knitted tightly together.
His anger surged like a floodgate breaking open, rushing straight to his head.
He strode past Wang Changlin and walked directly toward Wen Shiqing. He coldly shoved the man away, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.
Then he pulled Wen Shiqing up from her seat and mocked her.
“Barely an adult and already so eager to experience the exciting nightlife?”
The man in the floral shirt frowned and lifted his chin.
“Who the hell are you?”
Xie Yucheng gave a cold snort, shooting him a sharp, warning look. He turned Wen Shiqing’s chin toward him.
“Tell him. Who am I?”
Wen Shiqing’s chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her usually composed little face was now filled with panic. In a trembling voice, she said,
“Brother, let go of me…”
“Know who I am now?”
Xie Yucheng turned his head toward the man and coldly spat out one word.
“Get lost.”
The man clicked his tongue in annoyance before reluctantly leaving.
“I bet you never expected to see me here, did you? Heh. Wen Shiqing, how old are you? Coming to a place like this. Are you in such a hurry to find yourself a boyfriend at a nightclub, or are you looking to have some sleazy guy take advantage of you?”
His voice was low and angry, and his piercing gaze was intimidating. His grip on her chin tightened enough to make it hurt.
Not far away, Qin Mei saw what was happening and wanted to go over, but Wang Changlin stopped her.
“Hey, they know each other. That’s her brother.”
He tried to put an arm around Qin Mei’s waist and whispered,
“It’s a family matter. Let’s not get involved. Come on, let’s dance.”
Qin Mei frowned and elbowed him.
She had never met Shiqing’s brother. She had to go over and make sure for herself. She didn’t want Shiqing to be bullied by some stranger.
Her high heels clicked rapidly against the floor as she approached.
She pulled Wen Shiqing behind her and asked,
“Who is this guy?”
Wen Shiqing lightly tugged on Qin Mei’s clothes and whispered,
“My brother.”
After getting confirmation, Qin Mei swallowed nervously and quickly plastered a smile onto her face.
“Brother! Hi, brother. I’m Shiqing’s classmate. Don’t be angry. We just came here to have some fun. I promise I’ll keep Shiqing safe…”
She even raised her right hand as though she were taking an oath.
“Brother, we’re already adults. We’re allowed to come to dance halls.”
Wen Shiqing met Xie Yucheng’s sharp gaze and pretended to remain calm.
Xie Yucheng gave a cold laugh.
He glanced at Qin Mei, grabbed Wen Shiqing by the wrist, and walked away.
Wen Shiqing stumbled along behind him. She hurriedly looked back at Qin Mei and mouthed,
My brother’s angry. I’m leaving first.
Qin Mei gave her an awkward smile and waved.
Go ahead. See you later.
Once the two figures had disappeared into the distance, a man’s body smelling strongly of cologne moved up behind Qin Mei.
Wang Changlin leaned close to her ear and asked flirtatiously,
“What’s your relationship with Shiqing?”
“Classmates.”
“Same class?”
“Yeah.”
Wang Changlin flashed an especially roguish smile.
“What a coincidence. We’re neighbors, and her brother is my buddy. Tsk, tsk. Looks like we’re pretty destined to meet.”
Qin Mei snorted and gently pushed against his increasingly close chest.
“Big brother, we only met today. Please keep an appropriate distance.”
“I’m serious. It was love at first sight for me.”
“I’m serious too. You’re not the first man to tell me that.”
Qin Mei’s parents had spent years doing business in the south, leaving her largely without supervision. Among her classmates, she was known for having an especially lively social life.
She knew how to have fun, but she also understood boundaries.
She had seen plenty of greasy men like Wang Changlin. Flirting and trading witty remarks with them was one thing. Taking their words seriously was another matter entirely.
Qin Mei loved dancing and singing and often went to karaoke bars and dance halls. Her dream was to become a star in the pages of a magazine someday.
After Wen Shiqing left, she lost interest and slung her bag over her shoulder before leaving as well.