Golden dawn was still far away, causing even the onlookers to instinctively clench their legs, as if they could already hear the sound of cracking eggs.
However, the dark-skinned man remained in a state of severe unconsciousness. For him, the punch from Golden dawn felt like being hit by a speeding train directly on the head, undoubtedly causing a severe concussion. Therefore, at this moment, he showed little response to external stimuli.
Candice stomped her feet in frustration, seeming like she wanted to continue, but Golden dawn hurriedly approached and pulled her away. "Enough, enough, kicking him any further could be fatal."
With that, he quickly led the girl away from the scene. In a corner across the street, he bought a disposable phone with prepaid minutes and dialed 911 directly.
He reported that someone across the street was unconscious and soon a police car and an ambulance arrived. The police handled the situation swiftly, experienced enough to recognize it as an accident during a robbery.
Thirty minutes later, tranquility returned to the area. Golden dawn walked out of the alley with Candice and entered Mr. Fang's antique shop.
"You're injured, let me bandage you." When the dark-skinned man was robbing, his methods were too rough. Candice had some minor abrasions on her arms and neck, and her face was beginning to swell.
Candice didn't refuse. Soon, Golden dawn brought some adhesive bandages and Yunnan Baiyao. After simple treatment of the wounds and spraying the swollen areas with a spray, Candice quickly discovered the benefits of this peculiar-smelling spray. Her previously throbbing arm was no longer as painful.
"This medicine is really good. Where did you get it?"
"At the Chinese pharmacy on the corner. You have good taste; this medicine is particularly effective for injuries."
"Haha, really? Looks like I should buy two bottles next time and keep them at home. By the way, how did you end up here? I mean, weren't you living on the Brooklyn side before?"
With the injuries somewhat alleviated, Candice became more conversational.
"I'm not living there anymore; the rent is too high. I just moved here, and the owner of this shop is my relative, so I'm staying here temporarily."
Golden dawn chuckled in response. Candice then stood up and began to explore the shop. Outside the shop were displayed some high-quality imitations of porcelain. Although not antiques, they were still expensive. Candice seemed curious about these items, glancing from one to another.
"What about you? How did you end up here today?"
"It's because we're neighbors now. I live upstairs from the bakery on the fifth house to the right of your house. I work there now."
"Not at the Red Pony anymore?"
"No, you've seen how unsafe it is there. So Aunt Theresa suggested I work here!"
"So Aunt Theresa is your aunt?"
Golden dawn smirked, imagining the formidable image of the old lady wielding a Remington shotgun.
"Yeah! I came from New Hampshire to study in New York, but I only started working this year."
At this point, Candice's expression suddenly darkened, hinting at some unhappy memories. Golden dawn noticed but didn't inquire further.
Americans value personal privacy, so if someone doesn't want to talk about something, it's best not to ask, as it could easily cause resentment. However, seeing Candice's demeanor, Golden dawn speculated that it might be related to a family incident.
New Hampshire is a well-established economic powerhouse in the New England region of the United States. Despite its cold climate, its economic situation is quite good.
Looking at Candice, it was evident that she came from a middle to upper-class family. Her manners were refined, unlike those country girls who were rough and uncouth.
Golden dawn had seen her a few times at school. Girls like Candice always attracted a lot of attention. Although Golden dawn had a girlfriend at the time, it didn't stop him from appreciating a beautiful woman.
He remembered she used to hang out with another group of girls who, in terms of appearance and lifestyle, didn't seem poor. They must have been at least from the middle class.
In American social circles, it's quite evident; people from different backgrounds rarely mix. He never saw those girls eat in the school cafeteria at noon; they always drove off-campus to dine at upscale restaurants.
And she herself said she only started working this year, indicating that her family used to be well-off, not needing her to work for tuition and living expenses. But now she had to earn money for herself.
But now something might have happened in her family, but these were all Golden dawn's speculations.
"By the way, where are you from? Mainland, Taiwan, or Hong Kong?"
"I'm from the mainland."
"Oh! A red noble from the mainland?"
Candice smiled, wrinkling her nose, making a joke. Terms like "red second generation" and "rich second generation" were no secret, even abroad.
Nowadays, there are over a million students entering the United States for study annually, and among them, over 40% are Chinese, with over 70% of these being from the mainland.
Among these students, about 5% are those who truly earned scholarships, recommended by professors from China or obtained scholarships through exams. The rest are mostly self-funded.
And among these self-funded students, more than half come from either government officials' or wealthy families. Very few ordinary families' children come to study abroad on self-funding. Even if they do come to the United States, only a small portion would be seen on university campuses; most would be working in Chinatown.
So, you can almost imagine the situation in various universities in the United States. It's not an exaggeration to say that in some departments or subjects, nearly 50% of the students are Chinese.
These privileged and wealthy second-generation individuals, many of them drive BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, Porsches, rarely study hard, often fail courses, and indulge in various vices. They act recklessly on someone else's turf. In recent years, American newspapers often carry news about these troublemakers.
Speeding, fighting, gambling, and other such news sometimes even make it to the headlines in American newspapers, and American media has given them a unique nickname - "study garbage."
With the spread of American media, many Americans know about these rich kids from China.
"Don't joke. Have you ever seen a red noble working as a porter at a distribution center?"
Golden dawn shrugged and replied with a smile.
"Oh, when you put it that way, it does make sense!"
Candice stuck out her tongue, looking cute, as if gradually emerging from her previous gloominess.
"By the way, why didn't I see you after school started this year?"
Candice approached a globe and casually spun it, asking absent-mindedly.
"Hehe, I couldn't afford the tuition, so I applied for a semester off. That's why you saw me at the Red Pony."
"Oh! So you're just like me..."
As she said this, the girl's expression darkened again.
"Alright, it's getting late. I think I should go back."
Candice seemed to remember something, feeling a bit off and not wanting to continue the conversation. Golden dawn didn't insist on keeping her.
"Okay, I'll walk you back. Your place isn
't far from here anyway."
Candice didn't refuse, obviously still feeling a bit unnerved by tonight's experience.
Candice's workplace wasn't far from where Golden dawn lived, just the fifth shop to the right of Mr. Fang's antique shop, a bakery named Good Taste.
This bakery was quite well-known in the neighborhood. When Golden dawn used to live here, he would pass by this bakery every morning on his way to school, lured by the aroma. Sometimes, he would buy some meat pies or sausage rolls, which tasted really good.
The owner of this shop was also Candice's relative. During the day when she had no classes, she would work here and stay upstairs at night, also helping to manage the store.
"By the way, I must thank you again for tonight."
Before going upstairs, Candice turned to Golden dawn and said sincerely. Golden dawn smiled and shook his head.
"It's nothing, just what anyone would do."
"No, I mean it."
Candice looked at Golden dawn with sparkling eyes, neon lights flashing on the street. It seemed like Golden dawn could see some different emotions in Candice's eyes, and his heart suddenly beat a little faster.
Just as Golden dawn thought something might happen, a loud screech came from a distance, breaking the budding ambiguity.
"Goodbye!"
Candice's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, then she turned and entered the shop.
"Goodbye!"
Golden dawn waved to Candice inside the door, then reluctantly turned and walked away.