It was a little past six in the evening when Maya arrived with the food.
"Ethan, come to karaoke with me tonight," Maya said, sidling up to him.
"Huh?" Ethan looked puzzled.
Maya looked down, fiddling with her sleeve. "It's Saturday. Some classmates invited me out. I've never really been... I'm kind of nervous. So I thought maybe you could come with me. We're splitting the bill, and I'll pay for your share."
"Can't," Ethan shook his head. "I have business tonight."
Maya's face fell. "Oh... okay."
After dinner, Ethan said goodbye to his mother. With Wade behind the wheel, they drove towards Autumn's club in the West District.
Clubs like this weren't really open for business at this hour. Ethan wasn't in a hurry. He had Wade park the car across the street and settled in to observe.
When he saw Autumn herself walk through the club's main doors, everything clicked into place.
He also saw a steady stream of young, attractive women entering the club, all dressed to impress. It proved Autumn hadn't been entirely boasting that afternoon; the "quality" at her establishment was indeed high.
"Seven, let's go."
Ethan opened the car door and stepped out. Just then, he noticed a particular group of patrons approaching the club entrance. They looked very young.
Sure, rich second-generation kids came to places like this to spend money, but this group included both boys and girls.
And Autumn's club was a place where men came for one kind of "fun."
Among the group, Ethan spotted a familiar face.
Maya.
His expression instantly darkened.
He watched the group enter the club, then followed them in.
The club's entrance was styled in dark, oppressive colors. But once inside, it opened into a bright, spacious lobby. "Hostesses" in crisp white suits stood in two lines, chiming a synchronized "Welcome!" The one at the front stepped forward to escort Ethan to the elevator.
These "hostesses" were the room attendants, the ones who drank with you in the private rooms. Their services didn't extend further.
Unless, of course, you were handsome enough, generous enough, or charming enough. Then they might be willing to make an exception.
"Sir, our ladies are categorized at thirteen hundred, fifteen hundred, and eighteen hundred."
"Seven, you handle this. I need to check the room next door."
Ethan glanced through the window in the door of the adjacent private room. It was the group of young people. He could easily spot Maya sitting in a corner, her innocent face a mask of confusion and clear discomfort in this environment.
A girl wearing designer clothes sat beside Maya, taking her hand. "You'll get used to it after a few times, Maya."
"This... this place must be expensive?" Maya pressed her knees together tightly, her nerves obvious.
"Not really," the girl said dismissively, picking up a small bottle of beer from the table. "This is only like, a hundred bucks."
Maya's eyes went wide. "A hundred? I heard from others that beer at a normal karaoke place is only eight dollars!"
"That's piss-water," the girl sneered.
"This is too expensive..." Maya clenched her fists. She'd brought three hundred dollars for her share of the AA bill, thinking it would be more than enough. Now it seemed it wouldn't even cover a round.
"Relax," the girl said airily. "Maya, this is nothing. I know your family isn't well off. But look at me! My family's just average too. But these clothes I'm wearing? Over a thousand dollars each. And I make that money myself. Right here!"
The girl popped open the beer bottle. "I work here part-time. Just drinking, singing with people. I make over a thousand bucks a night. And I don't even pay for the drinks or the room! I'm getting paid to have fun! I think you could do it too. You'd probably make even more than me."
Maya was still processing this when the room door swung open.
Seeing who walked in, she started. "Ethan?"
The girl beside Maya frowned. "A friend of yours?"
Ethan's gaze swept the room. All young kids, faces still soft with youth. Except for two guys who looked to be in their early twenties.
He walked straight to Maya, his brow furrowed. "You came here to sing karaoke with your classmates? These are all your classmates?"
Maya nodded mutely.
Ethan turned his gaze to the girl beside her. "You brought Maya here?"
The girl was irritated by his tone. "What the hell? Who are you?"
The other kids in the room looked over. The two older guys stayed silent, just watching.
Ethan kept his eyes locked on the girl.
She stared back defiantly.
Suddenly, Ethan's hand snapped out, cracking sharply across the girl's face.
The sound made Maya jump.
The girl was stunned, momentarily frozen.
"You bastard—!" A guy nearby shouted, swinging a fist at Ethan.
Ethan caught his head with one hand, and with the other, snatched a beer bottle and shattered it over his head.
The move froze everyone else who had been about to rush forward. These kids had seen tough guys in movies, heard stories, but they'd never actually tangled with someone who moved with this kind of brutal efficiency. It wasn't that they never encountered it; they were just smart enough to avoid it.
Ethan stared at the girl. "I asked you a question. Cat got your tongue?"
The girl held her cheek, too scared to speak. She looked pleadingly towards the two older guys.
"Shit! Where did this little punk come from?!" one of the young men finally stood up and yelled.
Just then, Wade Qi pushed the door open and walked in. Without a word, he grabbed the yelling guy by the head and slammed it down onto the table.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
The sound of the young man's head connecting with the solid table echoed in the room. With each impact, the hearts of everyone present lurched.
Ethan didn't even glance in that direction, his focus still on the girl. "Talk!"
The girl flinched, words tumbling out. "Bro... I... I..."
"Just answer me. Yes or no?"
Terror filled her eyes. Her voice was a whisper. "Yes."
Maya, frightened by Ethan's intensity, tugged on his sleeve. "Ethan..."
Ethan looked at her. "Do you know what kind of place this is?"
Maya nodded, then quickly shook her head.
Ethan spoke to the girl again. "Tell her."
The girl hesitated.
Ethan picked up another beer bottle.
The girl hurriedly blurted out to Maya, "It's... it's for escort service."
Maya's face paled. She was naive, not stupid. She knew exactly what "escort service" meant. She looked at the girl in front of her, tears welling in her eyes. This was no different from being sold! If Ethan hadn't come...
The thought made her tremble even more, her hand shaking as it clutched Ethan's sleeve.
"It's okay now," Ethan said softly, patting Maya's head. Then he turned his attention to the other young man.
The guy was petrified, staring blankly, not daring to make a sound.
Ethan crooked a finger. The young man scurried over, bowing slightly. "Yes, boss? What do you need?"
"Who do you work for?"
"The floor manager here," the young man answered, his eyes darting towards the door as if expecting rescue.
"Shit! Who the hell has the balls to cause trouble at the Western Majesty?!"
The private room door was kicked open. Several large, bulky figures filled the doorway.
Wade didn't waste a second. He stepped forward, throwing a series of sharp, powerful hooks. The men crumpled to the floor before they could even finish their threat.