Right now, I didn't dare take out my phone to type anything—she might see the WeChat message she'd just sent me. So I pointed toward the restroom, signaling that I needed to go. Jiang Qingqing understood and said, Hurry back. I'll wait for you.
My only goal in going to the bathroom was to log out of WeChat. If Jiang Qingqing sent me another message, I might not be so lucky next time.
On the way, I quickly pulled out my phone and logged out of WeChat before ducking into the restroom.
Even though Jiang Qingqing was wearing a mask, her figure was impossible to miss. In just the few minutes I was gone, a group of men had already gathered around her. She seemed annoyed—though whether it was genuine or an act, only she knew. When I returned, one guy was pressuring her to drink. The moment she saw me, she stood up, wrapped her arm around mine, and pressed herself against me, as if declaring to the other men that she was taken.
Two of them looked pissed—probably a little drunk—and cursed under their breaths before turning to hit on other women. Jiang Qingqing clung to my arm and whined, Why were you gone so long? These guys were forcing me to drink. It was scary! I took out my phone and typed: The restroom was crowded. Had to wait in line.
The heavy bass of the music thundered through the hall, the atmosphere at its peak. The first time I'd been to a club like this, the noise had been overwhelming—I'd felt like my heart was about to explode. But I'd gotten used to it.
I pulled her toward the restroom. She understood my intention and pinched my waist hard—really hard.
She didn't resist, though, and let me lead her. On the way, we ran into the group of men who'd tried to buy Jiang Qingqing drinks earlier—the ones she'd rejected. Their leader was a fat, greasy guy with a face full of pockmarks. He looked like he could play Pigsy from Journey to the West without makeup. A thick gold chain hung around his neck, the epitome of a nouveau riche douchebag.
Clearly still bitter about being rejected, the guy reached out to grope Jiang Qingqing's chest as we passed. She smacked his hand away and snapped, What the hell is wrong with you?
That set him off. You fucking bitch! he roared. Say that again!
I figured this guy was used to throwing money around—probably thought his designer clothes and gold chain meant any woman would jump at his offer. But Jiang Qingqing wasn't having it. She pointed right at his face and shot back, I said you're sick! If you want a woman, go pay for one! Stop being a creep!
The moment those words left her mouth, I knew she was pissed.
The insult seemed to hit a nerve. The guy snarled bitch again and suddenly slapped her across the face. I hadn't expected him to actually hit her—by the time I reacted, it was too late. The blow landed hard, leaving bright red fingerprints on her cheek.
At that moment, I completely forgot I wasn't supposed to speak.
Pure rage took over. I grabbed a beer bottle from a nearby table and smashed it over the guy's head.
CRACK!
The bottle shattered on impact, glass flying everywhere. The guy howled in pain, clutching his head as he crumpled to the ground. But I wasn't done. Fueled by fury, I growled, You hit her? Then I gripped the broken neck of the bottle and stabbed it into his stomach.
Broken glass is sharp. The moment it pierced his gut, he screamed like a stuck pig.
Everything happened too fast. His friends finally snapped out of it and piled onto me. Outnumbered, I was quickly pinned to the ground, my mask ripped off.
By now, Jiang Qingqing had definitely recognized my voice.
The fat guy clutched his bleeding stomach and snarled at his lackeys: Linzi, get the car—take me to the hospital! Feng, Long—break this bastard's legs! I want to see him crippled!
The commotion drew a crowd. The music cut off, and soon, Miik's manager—a guy named Xu—showed up.
The fat guy seemed to be a regular. The moment he saw Xu, he wailed, Brother Xu! This little shit stabbed me with a bottle! I'm gonna cripple him tonight!
Still pinned facedown, I heard Xu ask what happened. The fat guy spun a bullshit story, claiming I had attacked him unprovoked.
Then Jiang Qingqing spoke up: He hit me first!
Xu cut in, You're bleeding like a pig. Get to a hospital.
The fat guy, voice trembling with pain and rage, insisted, Not until I see this bastard's legs broken!
That's when I snapped. Even with my face pressed to the floor, I spat, Go ahead, try it. If you don't kill me today, you'd better watch your back every time you step outside.
Xu suddenly hmm'd in recognition. Let him go, he ordered.
His lackeys immediately released me—clearly afraid of Xu.
When Xu saw my face, he frowned. You? Then he helped me up. At first, I was confused—but then I remembered. Last week, when Yan She brought me here, he had come over to toast us. He must've remembered me from then.
I called him Brother Xu. He nodded and told me not to worry—he'd handle this.
The fat guy, seeing us talk, interrupted, Brother Xu, you know this kid? He attacked me! I'm not letting this go!
Xu leaned in and muttered something to him—too low for me to hear. But whatever he said, the fat guy's face went pale with fear. He immediately waved his lackeys to help him to the car and fled without another word.