After the sound of the bottle shattering, my gaze remained fixed on Ye Zhi's hand. The blood that had flowed out had covered the wound, making it impossible to discern its size, but Ye Zhi's expression showed great pain; after all, the ten fingers are connected to the heart.
A surge of anger welled up inside me. It felt like someone had cruelly plucked a petal from my favorite flower. The flower itself wasn't ruined, but every single petal was precious to me, so I hated the feeling of loss, not even the smallest bit.
But I must restrain myself. If a fight really breaks out, I definitely can't handle so many people by myself. Once a melee starts, it will also affect Ye Zhi and Nicole. So, in this unfavorable situation, I absolutely cannot act rashly.
I said to the toughest-looking man wielding a steel pipe, "Buddy, you're wrong. I'm not here to cause trouble. Everything has to be reasonable. My friend hasn't received her performance fee from Boss Zhao for three months. The New Year is almost here, everyone's decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and families are reuniting. This girl, who came to Dali alone with no one to rely on, has had such a hard time earning her money. Isn't it reasonable for her to ask for some wages to celebrate the New Year? ... But Boss Zhao, taking advantage of the lack of a labor contract, is stubbornly refusing to pay her wages!" After a slight pause, I continued, "Boss Zhao called you over, which proves you're a loyal friend. If your friend were in this situation, you wouldn't pretend you didn't see it, would you?"
The man was stunned for a moment, probably not expecting that I would not be intimidated by his imposing manner, but would instead calmly and respectfully explain my reasoning to him.
During this break, I said to Nicole, "There's a pharmacy nearby. Quickly take Ye Zhi to buy some disinfectant and treat her wound."
Nicole looked at me with a troubled expression and asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"
"No problem, you all get out of here now."
Nicole was a smart woman; the next moment, she grabbed Ye Zhi's hand and forcefully pulled her out... Watching them disappear from her sight, my heart finally settled down...
In just a moment, the anger that I had been forcibly suppressing surged up again and I could no longer hold it back... My mind was filled with images of blood flowing from between Ye Zhi's fingers, and I felt like I wanted to kill him.
Without batting an eye, I took a cigarette from my pocket and handed it to the man carrying the steel pipe, saying, "Buddy, I'm doing this for a friend, and you're doing this for a friend too. I think we're pretty similar; we're both the kind of people who would go to great lengths for a friend... Honestly, it's not worth ruining our relationship over a few thousand dollars. Let's talk it over. If we can't reach an agreement, I'll take responsibility. I'll pay the money Mr. Zhao owes my friend out of my own pocket... But Mr. Zhao has to admit that he owes my friend performance fees. This is a matter of principle... It also concerns my friend's reputation. After all, she still needs to make a living in this industry, and we can't let her get a reputation for being unreasonable... Is that too much to ask?"
As the man took the cigarette from my hand, he turned to the bar owner and said, "I think this guy's not bad... Don't go too far, how about we compromise... You pay him half his wages, and that'll be the end of it..."
Just as he lowered his guard, I grabbed his hand, slammed it onto the table, and then grabbed an unopened beer bottle, smashing it hard into his hand...
Instantly, his screams, accompanied by the sound of beer bottles shattering, filled the entire bar… Everyone present, except me, was stunned by this sudden turn of events. No one spoke, and no one dared to approach me… My heart was filled with the exhilaration of venting my anger, but also with tension, because I had stirred up a hornet's nest… I wasn't sure what the consequences would be, so I could only act like a desperate criminal, hoping to avoid their retaliation.
I gripped the shattered bottle neck tightly, pressed it against the man's head, and said with bloodshot eyes, "I can tolerate you showing off and acting tough with me today, but you can't mess with my woman... If you do, I'll take your life."
I yelled at my accomplices who were about to attack, "The weapons I have don't discriminate. If you don't want things to escalate, get the hell back!"
No one dared to step forward… My hand, gripping the wine bottle, was already sweating. If Cao Xue didn't arrive soon, I couldn't guarantee how the situation would develop. And at this point, I was at my limit! The situation was clear: if they dared to make a move, I would be either dead or seriously injured… I had no idea how long my reckless spirit could deter them, but I didn't regret it… I wouldn't allow anyone to hurt Ye Zhi in front of me, because she was perfect to me and held a very important place in my heart.
...
With each step they took forward, my fear grew stronger, and before I knew it, I was breathing heavily... Just then, the bar door was kicked open, and Cao Xue, whose arms were covered in tattoos, rushed in with two even more burly men.
Cao Xue glanced around, then pulled out a baton from his waist and yelled at the people present, "Do you all know me? If you do, step back. If you don't, come at me and try!"
The group exchanged glances, then retreated together to the bar area...
This is Cao Xue. Relying on Cao Jinbo's reputation, he's a well-known figure in the ancient city area... As soon as he arrived, the situation was instantly brought under control, but I was so exhausted that I had to lean against the table to stand up... Ever since I faced imprisonment for fighting last time, and then after being surrounded and beaten by a group of people in that small county town of Luxi, I've been terrified of fighting. This fear comes from the depths of my heart, and only those who have truly experienced it can understand.
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