During the October holiday, Li Baolong and his long-time classmate Wang Yumei went to Tianfu Square and People's Park for a day. After not seeing each other for more than a month, they felt a little distant from each other. Perhaps it is best to let things take their natural course.
After two months of dual training in university life and working in a dance hall, Li Baolong has gradually adapted. University studies have broadened his knowledge and horizons, while his weekend work in the dance hall has been like a door to a complex society, allowing him to witness the many facets of human nature and the heavy price that beautiful women pay behind the glitz and glamour.
On Saturday night, the dance hall was bustling with people, and Li Baolong, as usual, bustled about. Suddenly, a sharp woman's scream pierced the noisy air from a private room. Li Baolong's heart tightened, and he rushed towards the room. Through the glass door, he saw a horrifying scene: inside were two men, one with a burly face and arms covered in tattoos, tightly embracing a girl named Shasha, while another girl, Xixi, cowered to the side. The tattooed man's hands roamed wantonly over Shasha's body; Shasha, her face contorted with humiliation, struggled and cried out for help.
Li Baolong pushed open the door without hesitation and shouted, "Brothers, this is a public dance hall. Don't force girls to do things they don't want to do." The tattooed man was enraged by this sudden intruder. He stood up instantly, glared fiercely at Li Baolong, and roared, "Who do you think you are? A waiter! I pay to see women, I can touch them whenever I want. Mind your own business and get out!" Before he finished speaking, he grabbed Shasha's buttocks hard again, and Shasha screamed in pain once more.
Li Baolong suppressed his anger and continued, "If you keep acting so unreasonably, I'm calling the police!" The tattooed man laughed dismissively, "You want to call the police? What crime have I committed? I paid money to have fun. If this isn't allowed and that isn't allowed, what kind of dance hall are you running?"
Just as the two sides were at an impasse, Sister Honghong arrived after hearing the commotion. Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly put on a broad smile and stepped forward to apologize, "Brother Dalong, this is my brother. He's helping out here. Please don't hold it against him. Tonight's bill is on me." Dalong revealed a lewd smile and said, "The boss lady said this matter is over, otherwise she'd cripple you." As he spoke, he deliberately lifted his shirt, revealing a dagger tucked into his waistband, his eyes filled with provocation and threat.
Sister Honghong could only force a smile and drink with Brother Dalong to apologize. Brother Dalong took the opportunity to grope Sister Honghong, his hands wantonly touching and groping her alluring body. Sister Honghong's body trembled slightly, but she still tried her best to maintain her composure and pretend to be friendly with Brother Dalong.
Li Baolong stood by, watching helplessly as everything unfolded, his heart filled with anger and helplessness. His clenched fists turned white at the knuckles, and his teeth chattered, yet he had to suppress his impulse. He knew all too well that in this complex and dangerous social environment, his power was so insignificant. If he acted rashly now, he might not only fail to protect Shasha and Sister Honghong, but also bring even greater disaster upon himself and them.
Looking at Xixi hiding in the corner, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness; Shasha with tears streaming down her face, her body trembling incessantly; Li Baolong was filled with anger and resentment, but could only endure it; and Sister Honghong, behind her seemingly charming smile, hid endless bitterness and humiliation.
Finally, the noisy dance hall gradually quieted down in the early hours of the morning. The two thugs, having finished their drinks without paying a penny, stood at the entrance of the dance hall, waiting for Sasha and Xixi to come out so they could forcibly take them out for a late-night snack.
Filled with indignation, Li Baolong couldn't help but say to Sister Honghong, "Why didn't you call the police on this kind of thug?"
Sister Honghong gave a bitter smile and sighed softly, “Before, when your cousin Huang Jian worked at the dance hall, these local thugs gave him some face and didn’t cause much trouble. Now that your cousin’s gone, and a few pretty girls have come to the dance hall, they’re like flies that have smelled something, swarming in. It’s fine if they come to dance, but I’m afraid they’ll bully these girls and scare away all the other customers, then I can’t do business. We can’t afford to offend these people; they all have big shots backing them up. Even if the police come, they can just lock them up for one night and they’ll be out tomorrow. It’s not a big deal, and usually no one will investigate further. But if they want to retaliate against us, it’s too easy. They can just send a few people to cause trouble every day, and we can only watch helplessly, unable to do business.”
Upon hearing this, Li Baolong gritted his teeth inwardly: These scumbags, bullying others with their power, will pay the price one day. They only know how to bully ordinary people. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.
Looking at Li Baolong's expression, Sister Honghong gently patted his shoulder: "Xiaolong, don't be too impulsive. There are too many things we can't do in this society. We can only try to be careful and avoid trouble."
Looking at Sister Honghong's tired and helpless face, Li Baolong slowly loosened his fist and took a deep breath: "Sister Honghong, I understand. But I won't just stand by and watch them continue to act recklessly like this."
After this upsetting incident, neither Li Baolong nor Sister Honghong had any appetite for a late-night snack. Li Baolong first saw Shasha and Xixi into their car, then accompanied Sister Honghong home. Both were preoccupied and silent the entire way. Unexpectedly, this was all witnessed by Dalong, a thug who had been secretly observing them. Dalong, his face contorted with rage, staggered away.
After dropping Honghong off at home, Li Baolong arrived at the alleyway below Honghong's apartment building. Suddenly, a Xiali car screeched to a halt, the screech of brakes jarringly loud in the quiet alley. The car door opened, and out stepped the despicable Brother Dalong and his friend, accompanied by two menacing henchmen, each holding a steel pipe that gleamed coldly under the streetlights.
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