In a corner of the bar, a group of young men and women sat huddled together.
"Zeng Nan, aren't you going to have a drink with me?" One of the boys, adorned with a collection of silver earrings that stretched from the top of his ear to the lobe, shot a displeased look at the girl sitting across from him. His outfit was garish, in sharp contrast to her simple elegance.
"I don't drink!" Across from him, the only girl in the group dressed in a modest, white long-sleeve shirt and blue-and-white jeans, her face framed by soft, delicate features, her skin a rosy hue that made one almost yearn to bite into it.
The boy, not easily dissuaded, retorted, "Come on, Zeng Nan, you're a class officer. Aren't you supposed to be more social than this?"
"I really don't drink," she replied flatly, her expression calm and unyielding.
The boy's irritation grew, and with the alcohol coursing through his veins, he lashed out angrily, "You're really being disrespectful..." But before he could finish his sentence, a green-haired companion beside him clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Shut up, Ding Lu," the green-haired boy muttered in a low tone, his face apologetic as he turned to Zeng Nan. "Sorry, he's had too much to drink."
"It's fine," Zeng Nan said, brushing her hair from her forehead, her demeanor calm. But then, without warning, she grabbed a glass of wine and threw it at Ding Lu, drenching him in the process. "So, you want to drink, do you? Then let's drink until you're satisfied!"
"Fuck!" Ding Lu, soaked with the drink, cursed loudly, standing up in a rage, ready to strike. But before he could do anything, the green-haired boy quickly grabbed him, forcing him back into his seat.
Despite being physically restrained, Ding Lu's mouth didn't stop, spewing insults. "Zeng Nan... daring to throw wine at me..." His words, laced with venom, continued, but the green-haired boy struggled to maintain control over him.
Zeng Nan's expression darkened further as she reached for a nearby bottle, prepared to hurl it at him. Just then, a girl with heavy makeup and zombie-like lips intervened, her hand fast and her voice dripping with complaint. "Zeng Nan, seriously? He's drunk, can't you just let it go? Maybe apologize, and we can call it even."
"Why should I?" Zeng Nan snapped, shaking off the girl's hand. "He started it. He deserves it! If I didn't stop myself from smashing that bottle on his head, that would have been too kind!"
"You're being unreasonable," the zombie girl countered, but Zeng Nan coldly interrupted her. "He insulted me, and I won't forget it. Do you think he's really drunk? If you hadn't dragged me here, I wouldn't have set foot in this place. I don't want to associate with garbage like him." Her face twisted in disgust as she glared at Ding Lu.
"Well said!" A loud, obnoxious voice called from behind, followed by a mocking laugh. "I didn't expect to meet such a hot and fiery girl here. Haha, looks like my luck's really turning today! What do you say, little girl? Come sit with big brother for a while. If you've been wronged, tell me, and I'll take care of it for you!"
On the other side of the room...
"Boss, White Tiger took less than a year to establish the White Tiger Gang and replace the long-dominant Flying Sky Rat gang in South City. Imagine how powerful he must have been!" Monkey said, admiration evident on his face.
"Powerful? He was taken down, wasn't he?" Xiang Ri replied with a self-deprecating tone.
"That's different, boss," Monkey responded earnestly. "He was betrayed by his own people. If not for that, no one could have matched his strength. You don't know, but back then, he chased down hundreds of men, running across seventeen streets all by himself..."
Xiang Ri's face remained impassive, though a slight smirk played on his lips. It felt strangely satisfying to hear someone recount his old glories firsthand, even if those glories were now nothing but memories.
Monkey paused, his face suddenly thoughtful. "Hey, wait a minute... Boss, I remember your last name is also Xiang, right?"
"Indeed," Xiang Ri replied, his mind momentarily stirred. "I know what you're thinking, Monkey. I can tell you this: White Tiger was my older brother."
Xiang Ri's thoughts shifted as he seized the opportunity to reveal his "true" identity to Monkey. He'd eventually have to settle accounts with those traitorous rats anyway. This revelation would spare him the need for excuses when the time came to deal with them.
"Ah???" Monkey was genuinely stunned, but his excitement quickly turned into a tremor that shook his entire body. "Boss, you mean you're White Tiger's brother?" No wonder! No wonder the boss possessed such incredible strength—he must have had such a powerful older brother! It all made sense now, explaining why the boss had reacted so intensely when I mentioned the 'White Tiger Gang' earlier, even breaking off a corner of the table with sheer force.
Thinking of this, Monkey couldn't help but feel a rush of exhilaration. He had become the little brother of the idol of the entire city's underworld!
"Don't get too excited just yet, Monkey," Xiang Ri interrupted, noticing the other's dazed delight. "For now, only you know about this. Don't go spreading it around, got it?"
"Understood, boss. I won't say a word, I swear!" Monkey nodded with determination, deeply moved by the trust his boss had shown him. Then, remembering something, he added, "Boss, that guy's brother is at the bar. Should I get someone to deal with him?"
Xiang Ri knew exactly who Monkey meant, but it wasn't the right time. "No need. This isn't so simple. If I wanted him gone, I would've already taken action. And don't you think taking him out like that would be too easy on them?"
"So what are you suggesting, boss?"
"Recruit more people for now. There's going to be a showdown in the South District soon. When that happens..."
A sudden crash of shattering glass from nearby interrupted Xiang Ri's dark musings.
Zeng Nan turned around to see a young man with a refined appearance, wearing glasses, accompanied by several unsavory-looking individuals. Her brow furrowed immediately. "You're no better than they are!"
"Well, well, looks like this little girl has some spice to her. The hotter, the better—just my type!" The young man removed his glasses, wiped them with a white handkerchief, and then put them back on.
"Go find your mother!" Zeng Nan spat venomously, showing no fear of the tattooed thugs surrounding her. However, her companions were far less courageous. One by one, they began to shrink back, and even the previously 'drunk' boy with the earrings began to sober up and retreat.
The young man, clearly taken aback by her sharp tongue, found himself growing more amused. Grinning lecherously, he remarked, "Find my mother? You're not bad looking yourself. I bet your mom's a real looker too. Maybe you and your mom want to—"
Before he could finish, Zeng Nan seized a half-full bottle of wine and hurled it at him.
The young man dodged just in time, but the bottle smashed on the ground, splintering into pieces and spilling alcohol everywhere.
Nearby, some patrons who had been there to unwind were startled by the commotion and turned their attention to the scene. However, upon seeing the tattooed men, they immediately fell silent, clearly aware that these were not people they could afford to mess with.
"This little girl's got some guts!" The young man sneered, his anger rising. "It looks like you think nobody can handle you, huh? Well, let's see about that!" Just as he was about to lash out, a voice suddenly interrupted.
"Do you have a death wish, causing trouble on my turf?"
The young man's face darkened, already irritated, but now with someone else stepping in, he was ready to curse them out. But upon realizing this was not his territory, he swallowed his words and turned to face the new arrivals.
From a distance, two figures were walking toward them. One was a young man with a disdainful air, sporting a dark stubble, while the other had a hand wrapped in thick bandages, looking frail and injured.
"Boss Monkey, it's Boss Monkey!" Some of the onlookers immediately recognized one of them and quickly cleared the way, stepping aside.
"What's going on here?" Before they even got close, Monkey's commanding tone rang out, instantly taking charge of the situation.
Xiang Ri couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Monkey certainly knew how to put on a show. Just as he prepared to assess the situation further, his gaze froze. His attention was caught by the girl in the center of the crowd. "You? What are you doing here?"