The house fell silent for a moment.
Even Pan Tuozi himself was somewhat choked by the smoke, coughing softly a few times.
"Oh—"
"Whoosh—"
Then cheers and whistles erupted.
The younger brothers inside the house started to jeer and roughhouse.
"Boss! This chick really likes you!"
"Boss, you're quite the ladies' man!"
"Heh! Someone's actually coming to us willingly..." ...
Pan Tuozi took a drag from his cigarette, strode forward a few steps, and reached out to pinch Song Ning's chin, as if wanting to get a better look at her face.
Through her slightly hair-obscured eyes, his gaze was filled with coldness and mockery, "You like me?! Do you even know who I am, to dare to like me!"
Song Ning shook her head, "I just like your type. Who you are doesn't matter!"
"Tsk! You've got some nerve, huh? But I wonder if your life is as tough as your attitude! Can you handle me messing with you!"
Pan Tuozi released Song Ning's chin but put his arm around her waist, pulling her forward threateningly.
Song Ning showed no fear, even reaching out to proactively grasp Pan Tuozi's hand, staring into his eyes as she said, "Big Brother! No need to suspect! I'm sincere!"
"Oh————"
The younger brothers started jeering again, whistling even louder!
"Boss! Should we clear out a place for you guys!"
"Boss! Go for it!"
..
Pan Tuozi picked up his cigarette, took a deep final drag, and threw away the butt.
Then he exhaled a mouthful of smoke forcefully.
He pulled Song Ning into his arms and said to those around him, "All of you, shut the hell up! This 'liking' that's come to my doorstep, I really need to cherish it properly!"
With that, he took Song Ning into an adjacent room and slammed the door shut with a "bang—".
An oil lamp was lit inside the room.
Song Ning turned around and quietly looked at Pan Tuozi.
Pan Tuozi tugged at his collar, pushed Song Ning onto the bed, and then pressed down on her.
Song Ning neither cried out nor screamed, nor did she resist.
Pan Tuozi braced himself on the bed, maintaining a distance from the girl beneath him; if he relaxed his arm, he could press her down completely...
But the girl looked at him with sparkling eyes, blinking repeatedly, as if expecting him to make the next move.
He couldn't help but frown, letting out a cold sneer, "I, Pan, do like women! But for someone like you who actively throws yourself at me, I really can't muster any interest!"
Song Ning smiled, softly uttering a few words, "No interest? Or no courage?"
Pan Tuozi's complexion changed, and he immediately locked his hand around her larynx, saying coldly:
"Looking to die!?"
"Gently, gently!"
Song Ning patted his hand with both of hers, "It hurts! It hurts!"
Pan Tuozi actually let go, but he yanked Song Ning up, narrowing his eyes and saying:
"What? Coming here in the middle of the night... trying to test my courage, Pan? You really think I'm a pushover!?"
Song Ning clutched her neck, glaring at him. This man had quite a grip!
She coughed softly a few times before speaking, "I escaped! Seven girls were abducted by human traffickers, five were sold, and the remaining two, myself and another, escaped."
"Escaped!?"
Hearing her words, Pan Tuozi took out his lighter and with a "click—" lit another cigarette. He took a deep drag, his gaze through the smoke fixed on her, flickering uncertainly...
After a moment, he spoke, his voice laced with amusement and mockery, "You're saying—you escaped from human traffickers and then came looking for me, Pan Tuozi!? Do you have some misunderstanding about my reputation?"
Song Ning shook her head, "I don't know if there's a misunderstanding! But I probably found the right person to look for! Since I like you, it wouldn't be impossible for you to help me!"
Pan Tuozi almost choked on his smoke again. He stepped forward, opened the door, and pushed Song Ning out.
The younger brothers eavesdropping at the door immediately scattered.
Pan Tuozi surveyed his younger brothers, pointing at Song Ning, coughing and laughing, "Brothers! I've really seen it all! This chick says she escaped from human traffickers and came to seek my help, Pan! You tell me... is she... slapping my face!"
The younger brothers outside were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter!
Song Ning calmly observed this group. Seeing they had laughed enough, she spoke, "Tsk! I truly admire Big Brother and have great sincerity in asking for your help! Since you're unwilling, then I'll be going!"
However, as Song Ning took a step, Pan Tuozi's arm hooked around her shoulder, pulling her straight back to his chest.
Pan Tuozi looked down at her, flirtatiously and casually saying, "It's easy to get into Pan's place, but hard to get out! If you don't explain yourself clearly today, I'm afraid you won't be leaving through that door!"
Song Ning looked up at him. She saw his face was covered in stubble, and his hair obscured his eyes, making him hard to see clearly. His nose was quite prominent; she wondered what he'd look like with a shaved beard.
Pan Tuozi blew a puff of smoke into her face, "Don't look at me like that! I'm not interested in you! My patience is limited, if you don't speak up, don't blame me for taking action!"
Song Ning thought for a moment, then spoke, "The people you just beat up were the human traffickers who abducted me! But there were more than just those few!"
Everyone around looked at her, and Pan Tuozi also looked at her.
But she had stopped speaking.
It seemed she wasn't prepared to say anything further.
"That's it?!" Pan Tuozi couldn't help but ask.
"Isn't that enough?" Song Ning asked earnestly.
Seeing the surprised expressions of those around her, she had to explain further, "You helped me beat up those human traffickers, avenging me and letting me vent my anger! The enemy of my enemy is my friend, isn't that... isn't that enough?"
Pan Tuozi laughed until his eyes turned red, even wiping the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.
"Tsk! So, I, Pan, have also eliminated a scourge for the people! You—you like me because of this!"
Song Ning nodded, "That's right! Big Brother eliminated a scourge for the people, which made me like you at a glance!"
"Hey, hey—I say, Younger Sister! There's something wrong with your eyes!"
A younger brother beside him couldn't help but tease, "It was us who beat them up just now, the Boss didn't even make a move! How did you end up liking him!"
Several others started to jeer...
"Are you stupid! She's not looking at the person! She's looking at his face, right!"
"Looking at his face!? You can't even see anything clearly with Boss's face!"
"Yeah! I also hit them! I hit them with all my might!"
Song Ning turned back and looked seriously at this younger brother, then pointed to the one beside him and said:
"That's right! It's thanks to the two of you intervening. Your elbow strike and hook punch were particularly well-executed! His sweeping kick to the head was also used very skillfully! I saw it all!"
Song Ning's words seemed to hit a mute button.
The room fell into complete silence.
Until Pan Tuozi lowered his head, chuckled softly, then shook his head and said to Song Ning, "Alright! You secretly touched my hand just now, twice! Tell me, why? Purely teasing?"
Song Ning pursed her lips, wanting to laugh.
Pan Tuozi glanced sideways at Song Ning, a half-smile on his face, "If you don't convince me, I won't let you go today!"
Song Ning paused, then looked up at his eyes, which sparkled with a subtle light, and said, "Your right hand's tiger's mouth, palm, and index finger all have calluses. You've been practicing with a gun for years."
✦✦✦