It took Bai Hao mere seconds to subdue the masked man. Meanwhile, the fights involving He Zhong's group quickly reached their conclusion. Quanzi and Big Xiong finished off the last two men at the front. Bai Xiaohua swiftly defeated his remaining opponent and immediately moved to assist He Zhong, taking down the final black-suited assailant.
"Boss, are you alright?" Cold concern was etched across Bai Xiaohua's handsome face.
The gunshot wound was near He Zhong's shoulder, the crimson blood already staining his clothing. Yet, his rugged face remained remarkably composed. He pressed a hand over the injury and shook his head. "I'm fine. This little scratch is nothing."
Bai Xiaohua tore a strip from his own clothes and swiftly bound the wound. Quanzi and Big Xiong also gathered around He Zhong, their faces equally filled with worry as they lent a hand.
Shortly, the gunshot wound was temporarily dealt with.
He Zhong walked slowly to Bai Hao's side, offering a faint smile. "Thanks, brother."
Bai Hao responded with a wry smile of his own.
He Zhong's gaze shifted, his pupils instantly radiating a chilling, sharp malevolence, like icy blades aimed at the masked man on the ground.
The man clutched his mask with one hand, his stomach with the other, groans of pain escaping his lips.
Big Xiong stepped forward, hoisting the masked man up by the collar, his powerful right fist already raised.
"Hold it, Big Xiong." Seeing Big Xiong about to strike, He Zhong stopped him. "Take off his mask. I want to see which blind fool this is."
"Yes, Boss." Big Xiong complied, delivering a sharp slap to the man's face before yanking off the mask.
Upon seeing the man's face, He Zhong's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. "So it's you!"
The man's face was a mask of terror, his voice trembling. "I… I… it was…"
He Zhong cut him off with a cold snort. "Listen, kid. I showed you mercy yesterday. This is the second time. Remember: three strikes and you're out. If there's a next time, I'll make you disappear from this world. Understood?"
"U-understood," the man managed to nod with difficulty, his voice quivering.
Seeing this, He Zhong glanced at Big Xiong, signaling him to let the man go.
Big Xiong's bull-like eyes widened, clearly reluctant, but he obeyed, dropping the man unceremoniously.
"Boss, aren't we letting him off too easy? Let me teach him a lesson he won't forget," Quanzi sneered from the side, his stun baton already jabbing toward the man.
"Argh!" A final scream, and the man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
He Zhong had meant to stop him, but was a step too late. He could only shake his head resignedly. "After all, he has some ties to the Yan family. We have to leave some face, or we won't be able to operate on South Continent Star."
Soon, the black van was speeding along the deserted suburban road back toward Nanzhou City.
The traffic network within Nanzhou City was a complex, bewildering labyrinth. Skyscrapers stood shoulder to shoulder, each boasting its own distinctive architectural style, a dazzling spectacle.
As a poor country boy experiencing Nanzhou City for the first time, Bai Hao fully embodied the stereotype of "Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden." Though he had seen the city on screens in this era of highly advanced networking technology, being physically present was a completely different sensation.
The black van finally pulled to a stop on a bustling street corner.
Supported by Bai Xiaohua, He Zhong got out and walked toward a nearby freestanding, roughly circular five-story building. Its decor was opulent; the exterior wall was adorned with three large, artistic, and stylish characters: "Night Paris." The entrance was flanked by two imposing, thick golden pillars, exuding an air of grandeur.
In the morning light, Night Paris seemed desolate, as if still slumbering.
Bai Hao followed He Zhong and the others as they strode into the Night Paris entertainment club, headed directly to the third floor, and entered a spacious, luxurious private room.
Not long after, a voluptuous woman walked in.
"Sister Su," Big Xiong, Quanzi, and Bai Xiaohua all stood up respectfully.
The woman nodded and sat beside He Zhong. Glancing at his injured left arm, a worried expression appeared on her face. "Yichun, are you alright?" she asked softly.
He Zhong shook his head, grinning. "Don't worry, it's nothing."
The woman shot him an annoyed look, her tone tinged with reproach. "Nothing? Quanzi said on the comm that if the shooter's aim had been a little better, you'd be dead. Dr. Hua is already here. Go get that wound treated."
"Alright," He Zhong stood up, looking at Bai Hao with a smile. "Oh, I haven't introduced you yet. This brother here is Bai Hao, my lifesaver. Make sure he's taken care of properly." He turned back to Bai Hao. "Brother, I'll go deal with this wound first. I'll take you out to wash off the bad luck later."
Bai Hao quickly rose and nodded. "Brother Chun, your health comes first."
Soon, He Zhong and Sister Su left the VIP room, followed by Big Xiong, Quanzi, and Bai Xiaohua. Bai Hao was left alone in the room.
Leaning back on the plush, luxurious sofa, Bai Hao surveyed the opulent surroundings and inwardly sighed. The Central Sector truly was incomparable to Planet B5. Even an entertainment club was this grand.
Knock, knock.
A sudden rapping at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Bai Hao started to rise to answer it, but the door opened before he could. A woman walked in. She appeared to be in her late twenties, with delicate, pretty features and a tall, striking figure. A captivating smile graced her face.
"Hello. Sister Su sent me," the woman said, her hands holding a tray laden with a fruit platter, two plates of nuts, a bottle of amber-colored liquor, and a pot of clear tea.
She placed the tray on the custom glass table before Bai Hao. "I wasn't sure what you'd prefer to drink. This is a bottle of ZO35 and a pot of Spring Snow tea. If you don't like them, I can bring something else," she said softly with a light smile.
"No need, tea is fine," Bai Hao replied with a smile. He didn't understand the "ZO35" she mentioned, but judging by the exquisite bottle, it seemed like a rather high-end liquor. However, he had no interest in alcohol.
The woman nodded. Bending down, she retrieved a tea set from beneath the glass table. First, she rinsed the cups with scalding hot water, then carefully poured the tea, her movements fluid and graceful.
Watching the woman bow slightly as she poured, Bai Hao felt a sudden dryness in his mouth—not from thirst, but from the alluring, partially revealed scenery of her décolletage.
"Please." The woman's smile never wavered. With practiced ease, she finished preparing the tea and handed a cup to Bai Hao with both hands.
"I'll serve myself," Bai Hao said, taking the small cup and taking a delicate sip. The tea felt smooth on his palate, leaving a lingering fragrance.
"How is it? Does it taste alright?" the woman asked softly, rising and seating herself directly beside Bai Hao.
Bai Hao caught a faint whiff of perfume from her direction. "It's delicious," he replied hastily.
The woman smiled faintly. She picked a nut from the tray, peeled it deftly, and brought the kernel to Bai Hao's lips.
Bai Hao was momentarily stunned. Truth be told, he was utterly unaccustomed to such attentive service. On Planet B5, he had never enjoyed anything like it—not because such places didn't exist, but because he lacked the financial means. Most of the repair shop's income was funneled into the mecha model and the Black Phantom he co-owned with Yin Ya. What little remained after daily expenses left almost nothing for extravagances. Visiting so-called high-end entertainment venues required heaps of money, something he couldn't afford to squander.
After a few seconds, Bai Hao slowly opened his mouth, a trace of awkwardness on his face.
The woman placed the nut kernel in his mouth. She selected another nut from the plate and began peeling it slowly. "Is this your first time in a place like this?" she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Bai Hao made an affirming sound and nodded.
The woman chuckled lightly, carefully placing the newly peeled nut into Bai Hao's mouth. "How old are you?" she asked next.
Bai Hao chewed the crisp kernel, swallowed, and answered honestly, "Twenty."
"Oh," the woman said, pouring him another cup of tea. Her tone shifted slightly, a playful smile touching her lips. "Still a fledgling, then?"
"What?"
"A virgin, right?"
Bai Hao frowned slightly upon hearing this. While being a virgin wasn't a big deal, being asked so directly by a woman in this setting felt somewhat embarrassing.
The woman covered her mouth with a light laugh, seemingly already knowing the answer. She teased, "It's quite rare for someone associated with Brother Chun to still have their cherry. Would you like me to find a sister to help you with that? Night Paris offers a complete service for virgins, guaranteed to satisfy you."
"N-no, that's not necessary," Bai Hao replied, his face flushing with awkwardness. It wasn't that he didn't have such thoughts, but he placed some importance on this particular "first time." He couldn't just casually give it away. Deep down, he harbored an extravagant, almost hopeless dream: his first time should belong to Su Shi'er, the Empire's number one female mecha pilot he dreamed of marrying.
"Heh, men being lustful is just their heroic nature. What, don't you want to?" The woman blew a soft breath near Bai Hao's ear, whispering.
Bai Hao felt a warm, moist fragrance drift past. The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. Sister, are you trying to seduce me?he thought.
Seeing Bai Hao remain silent, the woman giggled, popped another nut into his mouth, and pressed herself closer against his arm, speaking coyly, "Little brother, sister was just teasing you. Don't be mad, okay?"
Bai Hao felt a trickle of internal sweat. He rubbed his short-cropped hair, masking his discomfort. Truthfully, under the woman's attentions, his nerves had been stretched taut. It couldn't be helped—he was an inexperienced fledgling who hadn't even had a girlfriend, let alone been with a woman. The woman's mix of seduction and coquettishness was simply more than he could handle.
...
In the private room, the woman chatted with Bai Hao in a somewhat ambiguous tone for a while. Then, she switched on the KTV system, pulled Bai Hao up, and started singing. Unfortunately, Bai Hao was tone-deaf and possessed no musical talent whatsoever. After gamely mumbling along for a few lines, he retreated to sit quietly and listen to the woman sing. Her name was Zhao Lu, and she had a lovely voice. She sang quite well.