I stood there, frozen, watching Little Dad walk away like a total stranger.For a moment, I even doubted my own eyes—was that really him? Had I mistaken someone else for him?
Still reeling from the shock, I didn't have time to react before the blonde punk across from me suddenly lashed out with a kick.His foot slammed into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me and sending me to my knees.
Jiang Wei stepped forward, grabbed a handful of my hair, and yanked my head up. His face was twisted in a mocking sneer.
"Motherfucker. Aren't you 'Ma Shangfei'? So fly already!Why aren't you flying now? Where's all that cocky attitude from earlier this afternoon?!"
Looking at his punch-worthy face, I wanted nothing more than to land a hard fist right between his eyes.But I was outnumbered, completely cornered.One punch from me meant at least ten coming back.
As the saying goes, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.So I clenched my jaw and stayed silent, letting him do as he pleased.
Jiang Wei hadn't brought this many people just to scare me.Seeing that I wasn't putting up a fight, he didn't hesitate—just started slapping me.
Hard.
Out of everyone there, I was by far the weakest.Any one of those thugs—Jiang Wei included—could have taken me out on their own.
After a while, I stopped feeling the pain.I couldn't hear the insults anymore either.My whole body just… went numb.
Kong Lanlan stood nearby in her cropped denim jacket and tight, pale-blue shorts that clung to her upper thighs.With her cold eyes, handbag on her shoulder, and body posed in a perfect S-curve, she looked like she was striking a fashion pose rather than watching a beating.That intoxicating perfume of hers still hung thick in the air.
I had no idea how long this "slap game" went on.Eventually, they must've gotten tired.
Jiang Wei pulled out a pack of cigarettes and passed them around.
Then he said to the blonde punk:
"Biao-ge, appreciate you today.I heard a new place just opened on Lao Xin Street—fresh lamb spine hot pot, live-killed, super fresh.What do you say we go tonight and go hard? Bring out a whole case?"
The blonde took a long drag, like he was smoking something stronger than tobacco, nearly finishing half the cigarette in one breath.
"That's enough. Let's not overdo it.I've got stuff to handle later. Rain check."
Just like that, they completely ignored me and strolled off down the alley, chatting and laughing like nothing had happened.I even saw that blonde punk squeeze Kong Lanlan's ass on the way out—She gave him a flirty little smile in return.It was like she'd turned into a different person entirely.
I sat there alone on the ground for a long time.My face had gone completely numb—I couldn't even tell if I was crying.
Plop.
A warm drop of something slid from the corner of my mouth and splattered on the ground.A bright red splash bloomed on the pavement.
I moved my numbed lips and spat—A mouthful of blood.
Only then did I realize my mouth was full of it.
Once I regained a little feeling in my face, I forced myself to my feet and staggered out of the alley.
Looking up, I saw Little Dad.
He was standing across the street, casually eating an ice cream, as if he'd been waiting for me.
He was wearing the same outfit as before.That confirmed it—my eyes hadn't deceived me.It really was him back there.
A surge of anger and bitterness rose in my chest.I wiped the blood and tears from my face, stormed across the street, and asked coldly:
"That guy back there... was that you?"
He replied without a hint of hesitation, holding the ice cream out to me:
"Yeah. That was me.Come on, let's go get some food."
Hearing that, the fury I had kept bottled up finally exploded.
I slapped the ice cream out of his hand and yelled right there on the street:
"You saw what was happening—why didn't you help me!?I was getting the crap beaten out of me in there!Am I even your son!?"
He frowned slightly but kept his voice calm and steady:
"What was I supposed to do?You think the two of us could've taken on seven of them?One person getting beat up is better than both of us getting beat up."
I stared at him in disbelief.
I couldn't believe a father could say something like that to his own son.
Afterward, Little Dad took me to a noodle shop nearby and ordered a bowl of rice noodles.My face hurt so badly I didn't even know how to chew.It was the hardest meal I'd ever tried to eat in my life.
Little Dad, on the other hand, slurped his noodles down happily, smacking his lips between bites like we were in completely different worlds.
I could accept the beating.But his attitude? That I couldn't let go.
So I asked him again:
"Little Dad… why didn't you help me?"
"Why should I help you?"
"Because… you're my dad.Who else can I count on if not you?"
He looked at me seriously and asked:
"What if I was dead?
What would you do then?
Who would you turn to?"
That one question left me speechless. I sat there, dumbfounded, staring at him, a strand of rice noodle still hanging from my lips…
Dad wiped his mouth and said, "Xiao Fei, remember this: in this world, you can't rely on anyone but yourself." Then his expression suddenly turned sharp. "But, debts must be repaid—blood for blood, money for money. Some accounts must be settled."
Just as he finished, the sound of a loud engine echoed nearby. A red SUV pulled up in front of the noodle shop. Dad snapped his fingers at me. "Time's up. Let's go."
I followed him out and climbed into the Jeep. Inside sat a group of big, muscular men with dark skin and tattoos. As soon as Dad opened the door, one of them greeted him with deep respect: "Brother Jun!"
I had never imagined Dad could be so impressive. Watching these intimidating tattooed guys treat him like royalty made me puff out my bruised chest in pride, despite my swollen face.
Once we were on the road, Dad asked, "Xiao Fei, where's that little punk who hit you? I'll take you over there right now to beat his ass."
I thought for a moment but realized I didn't really know. All I had was the name Jiang Wei and something he'd mentioned while beating me—something about a lamb spine hot pot place on Lao Xin Street…
"That's fine. Let's head to Lao Xin Street's lamb spine joint."
About ten minutes later, we pulled up to the newly opened hot pot restaurant. Dad led the crew around inside for a good while, but there was no sign of Jiang Wei. Back in the car, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. I'd finally had a chance to look cool and it had slipped right through my fingers.
Dad patted me on the shoulder. "Xiao Fei, remember two things: One, a wise man knows when to take a loss. Two, revenge is a dish best served cold. That little prick Jiang? Don't worry—he won't get away."
At first, I didn't quite understand what Dad meant by "letting you enjoy yourself a bit," until he brought me to the entrance of a flashy foot massage parlor. The neon lights glittered, and inside were young women with long legs, skimpy clothes, and flirtatious smiles. I stopped in my tracks. "Dad… why are we here? I… I'm still…"
"What? I had you when I was your age! What kind of man doesn't come to places like this? That thing in your pants is for walking or what? If you don't want to play, then wait outside."
His words hit me like cannonballs. Meanwhile, those sexy, sultry women behind the door kept pushing at the limits of my self-control. Watching Dad stride in confidently, I somehow found myself following him at a jog… like I wasn't even in control.
At the reception desk sat a chubby woman, lazily smoking a slim cigarette. When she saw Dad, her face instantly lit up, and she came over, wrapping herself around his arm. "Oh my! Isn't this Brother Jun? It's been a while! What brings you here today? And with a kid? Foot massage?"
"Massage, my ass. You think I came here for that crap? Same room as always. And Little Cui, too. This kid's my little brother. You get what I mean."
The woman grinned slyly. "Got it, got it. We've got plenty of girls. We'll take good care of your little brother."
My face flushed red with embarrassment. I wanted to dig a hole and crawl in. Sneaking a peek at the girls lounging on the sofa—long hair, red lips, and flawless skin—I thought, Damn… I'd be happy with any one of them…
After a few words, Dad pulled out two hundred yuan and stuffed it into my hand. "You don't need to worry about the big bills. That's tip money. Don't embarrass me!" Then he headed upstairs on his own, leaving me to be led by the chubby woman into a room on the first floor.
The room was dimly lit with soft pink lighting. Near the headboard sat an assortment of "protection" and "special supplies." I sat nervously on the edge of the bed, not knowing what to do, hands sweating, my mind racing with all kinds of thoughts.
A few minutes later, I heard the door click open. A graceful figure stepped in. She wore a light purple robe and, once she reached the couch, casually tossed it off—completely bare underneath.
I glanced up, and immediately jerked my gaze away in shock.
She wasn't the least bit shy. Tying up her hair, she walked over and began swaying her hips, dancing seductively. Her chest brushed my forehead again and again, filling the room with a sweet, dizzying fragrance. My heart pounded furiously, and my whole body felt frozen. Every drop of blood in me surged downward, a restless heat boiling up inside.
She kept dancing, but seeing I hadn't moved, she finally spoke up in a soft voice: "Big brother, aren't you going to take your clothes off? I've been waiting…"
That voice was like a thunderclap in my dazed mind, shattering the fog that had taken hold of me. That familiar scent in the air confirmed the sinking feeling in my gut.
I stared blankly for a few seconds, then slowly raised my head, my voice hoarse as I called out a name—
"Kong… Lanlan…!"