Chapter Ninety-Four: Why Is It Sulai?

Before Jiang Xiwen could finish, Hu Pao slapped his thigh and said, “Brilliant idea! Xiwen, you’re absolutely right. Our karaoke machines are set up out in the open. Even though a song doesn’t cost much, a lot of customers still don’t dare to sing. Most of them just finish their barbecue and drink beer.

“Even the bar where Luo Xiaoyin sings backup hardly ever has anyone brave enough to get on stage. I said long ago that karaoke was meant to be something everyone could enjoy, no matter how good or bad their voice is. Now that you’ve come up with the private room idea, it’s truly perfect.”

This time, Yang Wei did not even think of raising his hand to hit Hu Pao. After a moment of thought, he said, “Xiwen, this idea really is good. Hu Pao, for once you actually flattered the right horse.”

“Yang Wei, how much money do you need? Tell me first. If it isn’t enough, I can lend you some. If business goes well, pay me back later. If it doesn’t, then forget it. This was my idea, so of course I should bear part of it.”

Jiang Xiwen’s words moved Yang Wei deeply. In all his years, he had always liked making brothers with loyal men. They had only known each other for less than two days, yet Jiang Xiwen had already helped him beat up Zhang Fang, and now he was even offering to lend him money. To put it bluntly, if Yang Wei refused to repay him, Jiang Xiwen would have no real way to force it.

“Xiwen, that won’t do. I have enough money. It’s only renting a house, after all. You’ve given me such a brilliant idea already; if I still used your money, what kind of man would I be?”

That was exactly the answer Jiang Xiwen had been waiting for. Though he had known Yang Wei only a short while, he had already seen what kind of person he was, and that was why, the moment he thought of karaoke as a path to easy money, he decided to work with Yang Wei.

“Yang Wei, don’t put it that way. If you feel bad about it, then let’s count it as my investment. Go rent a large two-hundred-square-meter place in the commercial district of Ink City. Then divide it into twenty rooms, ten square meters each, with twenty sets of equipment. Our first goal is to become the biggest karaoke lounge in Ink City.”

He had only said half of it when the phone suddenly rang. Jiang Xiwen immediately stopped talking and turned his head. Of course Yang Wei understood what he was worried about, so he hurried into the back room, picked up the receiver, and a moment later came back out smiling. “Xiwen, that girl with the ponytail you mentioned was seen by one of my brothers, Chen Lu. She was by Mist-and-Rain Pavilion, just where you said. We can—”

Before Yang Wei could finish, Jiang Xiwen thanked him and said he would go there himself. Then he yanked open the door and rushed out. That little heiress, Zhang Ya, was annoying as she was, but she absolutely could not be allowed to get lost.

Hu Pao shook his head and sighed dramatically. “Ah, young love. Afraid we might see his little girlfriend. Brother Wei, what a pity I never met such a wonderful first love back in the day.”

“Love your head,” Yang Wei said, frowning as he muttered to himself. “Where on earth did Xiwen get all that money? He wants me to rent a place two hundred square meters big. After rent alone, how much would the renovation cost?”

Hu Pao said nothing. His eyes moved around the room as though he were searching for something. At last they settled on the pen and paper they used to record customers’ usual barbecue and beer orders. He got up, took them over, and began scribbling and sketching.

After Jiang Xiwen left Yang Wei’s neighborhood, he hailed a taxi and soon reached Mist-and-Rain Pavilion. As soon as he got out, he heard noisy shouting coming from the lakeside. Following the sound, he saw a thin young man in his early twenties being surrounded by three tall men, while behind the young man stood a girl. She was too far away, and the three men blocked most of her from view, so he could not make out her face.

Could it be Zhang Ya? Damn it. Why is there fighting everywhere I go? Is trouble hunting me down?

Jiang Xiwen’s heart tightened. He sprinted toward them, shouting, “You bastards, get the hell out of the way!”

The three tall men all turned around at once. The thin young man, upon seeing Jiang Xiwen, had the look of fear and panic on his face instantly replaced by joy. He shouted, “Brother Wen! I’m Chen Lu. We met in prison. She’s a friend of Sister-in-law Wen. Sister-in-law Wen has gone to call the police. These bastards are Zhang Fang’s men...”

“Sister-in-law Wen?” Jiang Xiwen froze for half a second before he understood. So Chen Lu had also mistaken Zhang Ya for his girlfriend. Thinking about it, it made sense; showing up alone in Ink City to look for someone, and it happened to be a girl about the same age, it was easy to be misunderstood.

Before Jiang Xiwen could say anything else, one of the men, a burly bald brute, laughed loudly. “Well, well. So you’re the guy who beat up Brother Fang in prison? You’re in for a treat today!”

Another one, tall and gaunt with long hair over his shoulders, followed up, “And this little chick too. We’ll take her back and let Brother Fang enjoy her properly...”

“You three are so tough, bullying a few kids like us is just no fun at all,” said the girl behind Chen Lu. “And the police will be here soon. If you don’t leave now, you may be too late.”

Her voice was soft yet sharp, measured and calm, but what she said was beautifully calculated. First she flattered them enough to make them feel superior, then she used the police’s imminent arrival to pressure them. Even though it was a threat, the way she framed it made it sound as though she was actually helping them solve a problem.

Though none of the three tall men showed it on the surface, each of them had unconsciously developed a favorable impression of the girl. Their speech also became less crude.

“Little girl, what you said isn’t wrong,” the bald one said first, “but this kid isn’t nearly as simple as you think...”

“What’s simple or not?” the girl replied, still praising them in a calm voice that was pleasant to hear. It was obvious she was trying to buy time.

As she spoke, she stepped out from behind Chen Lu. The moment Jiang Xiwen saw her, he could no longer look away.

When he had heard her voice earlier, it had already sounded strangely familiar, but he had thought it impossible. Now that he saw her with his own eyes, he finally believed it.

It was still that short black hair, that porcelain-doll face. Standing before him was Sulai, but she now seemed even more spirited and bold than she had in Yangjiang last time.

“You?” Sulai stared at Jiang Xiwen in shock. “Jiang Xiwen...”

She had not forgotten the boy she had met two months earlier. Back then, when he had taken her hand, she had not known whether he had done it on purpose or whether she had simply been too sensitive, but it had felt as though he had gently squeezed her, and her face had gone red at once.

Thinking of that, she looked down at Jiang Xiwen’s hand, only to see it wrapped in bandages. “What happened to your hand?”

“Sulai, long time no see. What are you doing here?” Jiang Xiwen recovered from his brief daze. The last time he had already seen Sulai and quickly adjusted his state of mind, but meeting her again now still stirred feelings he could not quite suppress. He did his best to appear calm.

The third tall man was a scar-faced thug. Seeing that the one man and one woman before him were treating them like air, he barked, “Damn it, what kind of little kids act like lovers meeting each other?” As he spoke, he suddenly reached out to one side, grabbed Chen Lu by the collar, and hauled him up.

He had not gone to prison together with Zhang Fang, so he had never seen Jiang Xiwen’s skills. In his judgment, the easiest way was to beat Chen Lu first; then the rest would be much simpler.

“Brother Wen, save me, save me...” Chen Lu shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Save your ass!” The scar-faced man flung Chen Lu to the ground, then stepped forward, bypassed Jiang Xiwen, and reached out for Sulai.

“Get lost, bastard!” Sulai stepped back, her face flushing with anger. Two more steps and the lake would be behind her.

Damn it. He’s moving on my woman.

Even in his previous life, Jiang Xiwen would have fought anyone who dared bully Sulai. Let alone now. He did not care in the slightest whether he would be locked up in a police station again.

Picking the right moment, he raised his uninjured arm, bent his elbow, and smashed it hard into the scar-faced man’s outstretched arm.

The bald brute shouted, “Careful! Brother Fang said this kid has some skill...” But before he could finish, the cry of his companion was already ringing in his ears.

The tall lanky man cursed and lunged forward, his long leg whipping up high as he drove a brutal kick toward Jiang Xiwen’s head. At the same time, the bald brute rushed in as well. His target was not Jiang Xiwen but Sulai. He did not know whether he could beat Jiang Xiwen, but taking a hostage was always easier than facing an enemy head-on.

Go to hell!

Jiang Xiwen met the kick with his fist, striking at a very sharp angle into the lank man’s calf. This time he used all his strength. He had to strip the opponent of any chance to fight back in the shortest possible time. He could not allow Sulai to be trapped in danger.

Watching the bald man close in step by step, Sulai shouted angrily, “Don’t come any closer. Take one more step and I’ll jump!”

Of course the bald man ignored her. At the same moment the lank man’s howls rang out, his hand had already touched Sulai’s arm. But to his surprise, Sulai truly lurched backward, turned around, and hurled herself into the lake.

“Sulai...”

Jiang Xiwen sprang forward and reached out to grab her, but he could not catch her. With a splash, Sulai plunged into the icy early-spring water of the lake.

Seeing that both of his companions had been knocked down, a savage fury rose in the bald brute’s heart. He lifted a fist the size of a clay pot and smashed it toward Jiang Xiwen’s temple.

Heavens, how could this be? Don’t do this to me...

Watching Sulai fall into the lake with his own eyes, Jiang Xiwen was frantic with alarm. He did not even have time to remove his shoes before he was about to leap into the water after her.