"If you dare say a word, I'll kill you." He whispered close to her ear, teeth clenched, the words scraping out from his throat, terrifying.
Miao Jing's frail body trembled uncontrollably.
That night after bathing, everyone went to bed, the two bedroom doors already closed. By moonlight, Miao Jing slowly rubbed the purple bruise on her leg, lying stiffly awake. She turned over and through the curtain gap saw Chen Yi lying on his side, covered head to toe, back facing her. Wearing a white tank top and knee-length shorts, his body curled up, the bones of his shoulders appearing gaunt and prominent like a silent mountain.
Chapter 3: Miao Jing, You're Something Else
What eventually became of those young hoodlums from back then?
Some ended up eating prison meals, others kicked the bucket.
Among those who remained free, those from better families studied abroad or inherited family businesses, becoming respectable social elites. The luckier ones got into demolition work, opened factories, or contracted projects, becoming crude nouveau riche.
Of those commoners who went straight: Da Tou Yuan married a young delinquent girl - one went into hair washing and cutting, the other became an aesthetician. A Yong became an auxiliary police officer, perpetually wearing his uniform through wind and sun on the streets. Others sold used cars, delivered packages, worked in auto repair. The most formidable back then, Chen Yi, became owner of a small billiards hall - knowledgeable about everything, dabbling in everything, rising here and falling there. Aside from his handsome face, he hadn't achieved anything particularly outstanding.
The entire Guihua Street was lined with open-air food stalls, late-night snacks available until 2 AM. Dai Mao, Zhao Kun, Hua Qiang and others sat under the camphor trees, with white liquor, red wine and beer covering the table, saying they were holding a welcome dinner for Chen Yi's return from making money in Yunnan without forgetting his old friends. Hua Qiang first penalized himself with three drinks - last year his arcade got reported and shut down. Back when he'd persuaded Chen Yi to invest, all the money went down the drain without Chen Yi even getting angry. Now he talked about making comebacks and current money-making opportunities, just lacking connections and capital...
While everyone was eating and drinking merrily, Chen Yi seemed distracted, smoking cigarette after cigarette. When his phone buzzed on the table, he appeared not to notice, slouching lazily in the plastic chair, head tilted back, gaze unfocused, puffing clouds of smoke that enveloped his entire face. Young women's eyes would slide from his sharp brow ridge to his prominent Adam's apple, their hearts fluttering as they passed by.
"Yi Ge, Lily's calling - she's reached my phone now."
A beautiful woman approached slowly down the street - Chanel No. 5, rose-colored lips, red hair, lace bodycon dress, ten-centimeter heels - fiery and eye-catching.
Tu Li was Chen Yi's girlfriend, graduated from a vocational dance school. They met in a bar where Tu Li used to dance jazz. During breaks she'd come down with a drink to socialize, once spilling red wine on Chen Yi's white shirt - that's how they connected. After their relationship stabilized, Tu Li quit her nocturnal bar job to work as cashier at Chen Yi's billiards hall. After a few months, seeing all the young girls flocking around the hall, she couldn't help getting jealous. Chen Yi, unable to handle it, found her a front desk job at a gym. Today she was supposed to work until 11 PM but slipped out early to see her boyfriend.
Spotting Chen Yi in the crowd, she couldn't contain her joy. Clicking over in her high heels, Dai Mao and the others waved and called out "sister-in-law." She giggled, pulled up a chair, and patted Chen Yi's face: "Did you miss me?"The low-cut dress plunged deep, a bottomless allure—men were all lustful creatures. When they first started dating, Tu Li had asked Chen Yi what style he preferred. His eyes had skimmed over the sexy models in magazines, and Tu Li felt that without some spice, she wouldn’t be able to hold her ground. She deliberately leaned into that direction.
Chen Yi’s gaze drifted, a faint scar between his brows slightly furrowed, his expression indifferent. His long legs were sprawled casually apart, his voice husky and sensual from years of smoke and alcohol: "You’re here."
Everyone bantered and teased the couple for a few moments, toasted another round of drinks, and then moved on to another topic. Tu Li pressed herself boldly against Chen Yi’s arm, her fingers rubbing against his slightly rough jaw, then sliding up along his handsome face to caress the patch of skin behind his ear. She stroked the back of his neck, her fingertips tangling with the black cord around his throat.
The jade pendant hanging from his neck swayed gently with her movements, bumping against the man’s collarbone.
On any other night, Chen Yi would have already hooked an arm around to pull her close. But tonight, his soul seemed to have left his body—he showed no reaction at all. It was rather strange.
With Tu Li clinging to him like that, everyone understood the situation. Dinner wrapped up quickly, and people slipped away in a hurry. Tu Li linked arms with her boyfriend and hailed a taxi to go to his place, but Chen Yi stopped her: "Not convenient today."
"Why not?" Tu Li reached back to feel his rock-hard chest muscles, grinning playfully. "Aunt Flo visiting? Or did you lose your nerve on the way?"
He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag with a frown, and said, "I’ll take you home first."
"Who was it that called me yesterday, tempting me to come over?"
"Really not convenient." He lowered his eyes, flicked the ash from his cigarette, and said in a low voice, "Something’s going on at home."
"You’re all alone—what could possibly be going on at your place?"
"Why the hell do you have so many questions? None of your damn business?" His gaze turned sharp, the cigarette tilted at the corner of his mouth, a sudden surge of aggression surfacing. "The car’s here, get in."
Tu Li muttered under her breath, "So boring."
It had been almost a month since they’d last seen each other—Tu Li lived with her parents and a younger brother, so whenever she stayed over, it was always at Chen Yi’s place.
After seeing Tu Li off, Chen Yi headed to the billiards hall. The hall he owned was located behind the dormitory building of a vocational school, with a branch campus of a technical college nearby. Its main clientele were these young students. It was still August, summer vacation, and the schools were empty, so business at the billiards hall was slow. Chen Yi didn’t need to be there every day; leaving Bo Zai alone was enough.
Bo Zai and Chen Yi were old neighbors. Since childhood, Bo Zai had followed Chen Yi around, eating and drinking wherever he could. He was short and skinny but fierce in a fight. Later, he limped on one leg and mellowed out. After Chen Yi opened the billiards hall, Bo Zai had been working there ever since. Chen Yi paid him well—enough to support a family. Bo Zai got married, and life gradually settled down.
The billiards hall stayed open until midnight. Chen Yi checked in with Bo Zai, saying he’d watch the shop tonight so Bo Zai could head home early.
Before leaving, Bo Zai noticed Chen Yi seemed to have something on his mind.
"What’s up, Yi Ge?"
"Nothing. You’ve been holding down the fort alone while I was away—must’ve been tough. Take a few days off; I’ll watch the shop."
"Sounds good. I’ll go home and rest, take the wife shopping tomorrow, and come back in a couple of days."
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