"Get lost!" The moment the man approached with his drink, trying to initiate a conversation in what he thought was a gentlemanly manner, the woman, without even looking up from her glass, spat out a cold, cutting word through clenched teeth.
The man, initially full of confidence, was taken aback by the woman's blunt dismissal. After a brief pause, he tried again. "We're all here to have fun. Instead of sitting alone, how about we…"
Before he could finish, her piercing gaze froze him mid-sentence. Her eyes were stunningly beautiful yet carried a chilling sharpness that struck fear into his core.
Feeling a sudden coldness creep over him, the man forced an awkward smile before retreating.
Once he was gone, the woman returned her attention to her drink.
She was drinking whiskey mixed with Sprite. While whiskey is a strong liquor, the addition of Sprite sweetened it, making it deceptively easy to drink. By the time someone realized they were tipsy, they'd likely have already overindulged.
Xia Yunjie didn't count how many glasses the woman had consumed, but he knew it was a lot. If she kept going, it was only a matter of time before she got completely drunk.
By 2:15 a.m., the bar was empty. The woman was the last to leave, but only after Sister Yan had to nudge her awake from where she had slumped over the table. Staggering to her feet, she wobbled unsteadily out of the bar.
"Good job tonight, everyone. Clean up, and we're done for the day," the boss announced as she descended from upstairs, glancing around before giving the dismissal.
With that, everyone got to work tidying up. Around 2:30 a.m., Xia Yunjie stepped out of the bar.
The midsummer night in Jiangzhou offered a rare, refreshing coolness. Parting ways with Cheng Ping, as they lived in different directions, Xia walked alone.
At 2:30 a.m., the streets were nearly deserted. The streetlights cast long, stretching shadows across the road, creating a seemingly endless path. Alone in this unfamiliar city, Xia couldn't help but feel a pang of bittersweetness, relieved at having secured a job yet acutely aware of life's struggles.
Life is truly no picnic.
"Hey, Red Hair, check out that chick leaning against the lamppost over there. She's got a killer figure!" Across the street, a green-haired thug pointed at a woman slumped drunkenly against a lamppost, licking his lips.
"Damn, you're right. Not just good—she's smoking hot! And she's a mature beauty!" Red Hair exclaimed, moving closer. His eyes practically glowed at the sight.
"Holy crap, she's the real deal. Looks like we hit the jackpot tonight. A freebie with a classy milf," Green Hair said, rubbing his hands in glee.
"What are you waiting for? Move it!" Red Hair barked, shoving Green Hair with an impatient grin before bending down to lift the unconscious woman.
"I think you'd better ask for her permission first," a calm voice interrupted as a shadow loomed over them. A young man had appeared, blocking Red Hair's path.
"What the hell? Trying to steal our prey? Get lost!" Red Hair snarled, glaring at Xia Yunjie. Seeing that Xia was plainly dressed and alone, his eyes filled with malice.
Xia's expression darkened. Not wanting to waste words, he grabbed Red Hair's arm and effortlessly tossed him three to four meters away. Red Hair hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Green Hair, who had initially wanted to help, froze in fear as he watched Xia handle his companion like a rag doll. Without a second thought, he turned and fled. Red Hair, stunned and in pain, scrambled to his feet and followed suit.
After watching the two thugs flee, Xia turned to check on the woman leaning against the lamppost. To his surprise, she was the same sophisticated and aloof career woman he had noticed at the bar earlier.
"Hey, miss, wake up!" Xia gently shook her shoulders.
The moment he touched her, the woman collapsed like a puppet with cut strings, her arms instinctively wrapping around Xia's neck as her head rested on his shoulder, a soft snore escaping her lips.
Xia steadied her back against the lamppost. But as soon as he let go, she began sliding down again, nearly hitting her head on the pavement. Startled, Xia grabbed her, only for her to fall into his arms once more.
Holding the softly snoring woman, her mature, alluring presence enveloping him, Xia felt a headache coming on.
She was too drunk to wake up without help, but using mystical techniques wasn't an option unless absolutely necessary. Besides, as the saying goes, "a drunken sleep solves a thousand worries." Perhaps letting her rest until morning would be best; she might wake up with her troubles resolved and no need to seek solace in a bar again.
Having decided, Xia resolved to find a nearby hotel for her to rest.
However, a search of her belongings revealed that she didn't have her bag, likely left behind at the bar. No ID, no money—not even a phone to contact her family or friends.
"Guess I'll have to take you in for the night," Xia muttered. Spotting a taxi approaching, he hoisted the woman into his arms and flagged it down.
The middle-aged taxi driver gave Xia a thumbs-up after hearing the destination. "Kid, you're something else. Back at your age, I hadn't even experienced women yet. But you've already figured out the best kind—mature and juicy! Man, I'm envious."
Xia could only sigh, realizing the driver had mistaken them for a wild couple who had just left the nearby bar.
As the taxi made its way to Deya Community, elsewhere, Bald Qiang was rudely awakened by a phone call.
"What the hell, Little Six? Do you have water for brains? It's the middle of the night!" Bald Qiang barked after checking the time.
Little Six was one of his pickpockets.
"Boss, I… I just snagged a bag," came Little Six's trembling reply.
Bald Qiang, sensing unease in Little Six's voice, sat up, his irritation fading into curiosity. "A big score? How much?"
"N-not much… just a few hundred yuan," Little Six stammered.
"Goddammit, you woke me for a few hundred yuan? Are you messing with me?" Bald Qiang roared.
"I-I'm scared, boss," Little Six confessed, still shaking.
"What's there to be scared of? It's just a few hundred yuan. Did you forget the rules on your first day?" Bald Qiang snapped.
"But… but the bag belongs to Qin Lan!" At the mention of the name, Little Six's voice trembled even more.
"Qin Lan? You mean Deputy Chief Qin Lan of the City Public Security Bureau? You moron! Stealing from her? Are you trying to get us all killed?" Bald Qiang shouted, cold sweat forming on his brow.
Little Six, clearly panicking, replied, "Boss, I didn't know! She was drunk when she left the bar, so I took the chance. If I'd known, I wouldn't have dared! What should I do now?"
After pacing a few times, Bald Qiang decided. "Take the bag to the police station reception. Say you're a good Samaritan who found it. Just return it and leave."
"Brilliant, boss! Why didn't I think of that?" Little Six exclaimed, relieved.
"Of course, I'm the boss for a reason," Bald Qiang said, though inwardly he felt a twinge of pride.
"But, boss, just thinking about going to the police station makes my legs weak…"
"Get lost! Don't tell me you want me to deliver it myself?"