Chapter seven
You imply I become your thug? Part 2
As I entered the store, I marveled at everything in three dimensions. It was no wonder, considering I had never been to such a large and extravagant place before. My eyes glittered with a deeper meaning. "It will take some time to wash away my previous mentality and accept this new reality," I sighed quietly to myself.
The grocery store had everything people needed for life, and they sold it all in one place. What was even more incredible was that they had almost everything sealed. I looked around, surprised by this. I imagined this store would easily swallow up even a million yuan without a trace. However, I wasn't here to appraise the shop; I was here to find something that might interest me.
As I started to explore, I noticed three girls, and, of course, they noticed me too. When our gazes met, the supposed leader beckoned me over. Since I knew them from my class, I decided to entertain their absurdity. I had always known that people like them wouldn't have anything good to offer, except maybe trouble.
"You are Guang Fang, right?" the leader sneered, looking at me with disdain, just like a government official looking at a criminal. She clearly thought I was a good-for-nothing pea brain, and perhaps I should be grateful that she even recognized me.
"Sister Fen, why bother with this nuisance," the girl on the right of Toa Fen said persuasively, while the girl on the left timidly avoided making eye contact with me.
Toa Fen was a girl known to everyone as the daughter of one of the top company owners in Suzhou city. Her family's company produced gadgets. This wild girl had a possessive nature, treating even a living person as her toy for fun. Her crazy temperament was nothing short of peculiar. She loved to be obeyed and honored by others, basking in the desired glory of being a leader. Toa Fen was inherently domineering, and it was not a question of her faking it; it was simply how she had treated people all her life.
She regarded me with amusement, as if I were her disobedient toy providing endless entertainment. The girl to her right, whom I recalled as Lan Mei, acted as her spokesperson. Lan Mei was diligent in her chatter, but her harsh attitude seemed contrived rather than innate. On the other hand, the girl on the left, Boazhai Dayu, was as timid as a mouse. She appeared to be the group's servant, devoid of any rights to speak, and likely protected from bullies in exchange for serving the boss. Boazhai Dayu was cute, but she struggled to meet anyone's gaze, perpetually bowing in misery.
"Lan Mei, everyone has a purpose. Just like a toy, no one is useless. The usefulness, however, can vary between general and specific," Toa Fen declared with the air of a spoiled young madam. She always believed she could never be wrong, exuding an unwavering confidence.
"Yes, sister Fen, I was blind to it. I didn't realize," Lan Mei obediently admitted her mistake. She quickly understood her predicament and humbly pleaded, briefly refreshing her memory that she was not the one in charge here.
"What do you want?" I finally broke the silence, hoping that engaging with them from the beginning had not been a mistake. In truth, watching the two of them act made me feel queasy.
Upon hearing my direct and fearless question, Toa Fen assumed a domineering tone and replied, "Fu Wei is such an eyesore, and I want you to handle him for me. Rest assured, I'll protect you and ensure you gain practical benefits." As she spoke, Toa Fen sported a smug smirk, displaying her wild eyebrows. Her self-centered and unreasonable behavior made me wonder what kind of hell hole she had escaped from to end up here.
"So you're suggesting I become your thug?" I responded impassively, suppressing my urge to put on airs.
"Yes, that's precisely it. It will save me future troubles if you understand it that way," Toa Fen flatly declared, exuding a sense of control. She seemed confident that I would never disappoint her.
I glanced up and noticed the hidden cameras scattered around the grocery store. Nevertheless, I proceeded towards Toa Fen, causing her to falter momentarily before regaining her composure.
As I got closer to her, I noticed her unique bobbed hairstyle, with the left side neatly tucked in, accentuating her wild eyes. Although her eyes now displayed a hint of unease due to my unpredictable actions, she would have been perfect if only she had worn a welcoming smile. But that didn't matter at this moment—she had offended me. With my height towering over hers, I unintentionally invaded her personal space.
It was a somewhat peculiar and intimate situation, but to any observer, it could easily be perceived as intimidation. Seizing the opportunity, I gently but firmly grasped her ears and pulled them upwards, causing her to emit a slight groan of pain. Lan Mei and Boazhai Dayu hurriedly intervened to stop me. However, were these two really a match for this bully? Regardless, I paid no heed to Lan Mei and Boazhai Dayu, who was like a timid mouse, and locked eyes with Toa Fen, a wicked smile playing on my lips.
Relaxing my mind, I carefully articulated my words, saying, "I work for no one, and no amount of reward could influence that." After a pause, I added with a fierce gaze, "Don't come around me yapping and wasting my precious time." I made sure each word was audible to the wild cat before walking away.
Just as I left, Toa Fen stood there, completely transfixed. Her face turned red, and her heart beat rapidly. It seemed that this was the closest contact she had ever had with a guy, as if she could release hot spurting steam at any moment. Looking at her petite figure now, I felt no resentment, only a sense of unease and cuteness.
"I have to teach that loser a lesson he'll never forget. How dare he get close to sister Fen like that!" Lan Mie exploded with anger, gritting her teeth. Even as she spoke, Toa Fen seemed distant, lost in her own daydreams. In desperation, Lan Mie hurried forward to catch up with me, but Toa Fen quickly held her back.
"Sister Fen, why don't we teach him a lesson?" Lan Mei asked, sounding confused.
"Forget about him," Toa Fen flatly replied, as though she didn't care. In that moment, she had regained control of her demeanor.
After leaving the grocery store, I stood before a gray mahogany door, clutching a wrapped package enclosed in a designer plastic shopping bag. With a gentle knock, I tried to calm myself.