Miao Jing noticed his walking posture and looked somewhat surprised. "What happened to your leg?"
"Got into a fight. A steel rod stabbed through it, left me with a limp." Bo Zai chuckled lightly. "Hey, it's not bad considering I didn't end up in jail. Can't complain."
"When did this happen?"
"About five or six years ago. Back then, several groups were fighting over territory, and many got arrested. The Boss Zhang we followed also went inside. It happened during a crackdown period—everyone got sentenced. We were actually lucky; having a criminal record would've been worse."
Miao Jing frowned, her gaze sharp. "Was Chen Yi involved too? Have you been with Chen Yi all these years?"
Bo Zai grinned. "Not exactly. After Boss Zhang fell, we all lost our jobs. Yi Ge went out on his own for over two years before coming back. Later, he earned some money and opened this billiards hall. I've been following him since."
Chen Yi had been a regular at billiards halls since middle school. By vocational high school, his skills were unmatched in school—he made a living through gambling on games. This billiards hall had been open for two years, operating from 10 a.m. sometimes until 1 or 2 a.m. Chen Yi and Bo Zai managed it together. Fortunately, the income was decent, and they split the profits equally—a gesture of Chen Yi's care for Bo Zai.
"The billiards hall is on the street behind the vocational high school. Just head straight—you'll find it easily. It's the weekend today, so the place is pretty lively."
Hearing this, Miao Jing felt tempted to check out the billiards hall. Behind the vocational high was a bustling old student street, and nearby was a newly built branch of a junior college, attracting plenty of visitors. Miao Jing spotted a white light box by the roadside with just three words—"Billiards Hall."
A long staircase led downward, likely to a basement shop. Overhead spotlights shone, and colorful neon lights flickered along the stairway. Further in, a narrow glass door stood ajar, revealing a bright, spacious interior. The elongated space held several green billiard tables, with mirrors lining the back wall to enhance the sense of openness. To the side stood a long row of pink claw machines.
The place was crowded with both boys and girls. Two tall, strikingly dressed girls with colorful hair particularly stood out, busy resetting balls, practicing with customers, and chatting. The seats at the counter were empty. Miao Jing stood at the entrance for a while, unnoticed as everyone was engrossed in their activities.
A group of girls gathered around the claw machines, probably girlfriends of the guys playing billiards. They held a few small stuffed toys and had some game coins left. They called for the boss, complaining that the claw machines were too hard to win.
Chen Yi strode over from the billiard tables, his long legs covering the distance effortlessly. His smile was lazy and unrestrained, dazzlingly bright. He grabbed a handful of game coins, raised an eyebrow, and chuckled. "Why not blame your own skills? Which one do you like? I'll get it for you—guaranteed win."
"This bunny."
"This bear is the cutest."
"Take it easy, one at a time."
The girls crowded around him. He leaned in, focusing intently on the glass window, adjusting the claw while joking with them.
"Boss, how old are you? What's your zodiac sign?"
"Are you trying to set me up or investigate my background?"
"Do you have a girlfriend—" a young girl cooed, dragging out her words.
"Sure do—" Chen Yi teased, mimicking her tone.
The girls burst into giggles, covering their mouths."Really? What a shame, you're actually taken. I was thinking of setting you up—my roommate is really pretty and would be a great match for you."
"How pretty?" Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, swiftly pressing the button to target the bunny. "If she's exceptionally pretty, I might consider switching."
"Boss, you're so shameless! How heartbroken would your girlfriend be if she heard that?"
"Then everyone should stay away from a scoundrel." The claw machine lit up with colorful lights as he lifted his brows triumphantly. "Whose bunny is this? If anyone says my claw machines are hard to win again, I might just have to pull some pigtails."
"And this one, boss, I want this one!"
Over by the claw machines, cheerful, chirping laughter floated through the air, while at the pool tables, someone was growing impatient.
"Boss," a coquettish voice called out, "why aren't you back yet?"
"Coming right away."
After finishing with the claw machines, Chen Yi returned to the pool table, slipping back into his role as a billiards coach with the effortless grace of a butterfly flitting through flowers. "How's the practice going?"
The billiards hall offered membership cards with a "learn-to-play" package, and of course, patrons could choose their preferred coach. The options were a smiling, youthful "spicy" girl or the young boss oozing masculine charm. The boys picked the spicy girl, and the girls picked the boss—nothing wrong with that.
Chen Yi was teaching a few college girls, starting with the rules before demonstrating foot placement, stance, hand bridge, cue movement, and the shot. His rich, steady voice carried a low, calm tone, and the girls giggled as they listened. Chen Yi, biting the tip of his tongue with a half-smile, tapped the cue stick against his palm and said playfully, "If you don't pay attention, you might get a spanking."
The girls laughed even more delightedly.
Then came the hands-on teaching, correcting their movements. The girl holding the cue was a bit nervous. Chen Yi stood behind her, adjusting her arm and stance. His tall frame leaned forward as he corrected her hand bridge and cue movement. "Relax your forearm, focus on the ball ahead, and try to feel the force of the shot."
His handsome, chiseled face and the rich scent of tobacco washed over her. A firm, honey-toned arm rested securely beside her, exuding a sense of safety. The man's posture and expression were entirely serious, yet that seriousness somehow invited wild imaginations.
The girl's cheeks were already tinged pink as she softly took her shot.
"Looks like you didn't eat much at lunch," he said with a roguish grin. "Put a bit more force into it."
After teaching each of them in turn, his voice grew slightly hoarse. Chen Yi excused himself for a break, letting them practice on their own. He made a round of the hall, checking on everyone, and as he walked back to the counter, Wei Wei stopped him—Chen Yi had hired several part-time female coaches, and Wei Wei was the one who showed up the most.
"Yi Ge, what are we eating tonight? Should I order Chongqing Chicken Pot?" Wei Wei draped her arm over Chen Yi's shoulder, playfully clinging to him like a vine. "And maybe some seafood barbecue?"
"Sure, order whatever you guys like."
"Great! Is Bo Zai coming tonight? Should I order his portion too?"
"He's off today." Chen Yi, feeling the urge for a cigarette, was about to step out for a smoke when Wei Wei tilted her chin and said, "There's a beauty sitting by the counter—has been for a while. No idea whose girlfriend she is. She's really stunning, pure and elegant, not like someone who'd usually hang out here."
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