"Lip, calm down," Debbie pleaded, her voice trembling and on the verge of tears as she followed him out of the Alibi Room. Seeing Lip like this terrified her.
"I'm calm. We're going home. Fuck Kevin, and fuck Frank!" Lip roared, practically radiating heat from his anger.
Debbie flinched, scared of this version of Lip. She gritted her teeth and summoned the courage to speak again. "How is this calm..."
"Shut up. Let's go!" Lip cut her off viciously, not letting her finish.
Debbie's heart skipped a beat. She didn't dare say another word, biting her lip and lowering her head as she silently followed him.
Just then.
Having driven all over town to buy dinner and appliances—including a flat-screen TV—Steve was on his way to the Gallagher house when he spotted Lip and Debbie. He decisively spun the wheel, pulled over to the curb, and hit the brakes. "Debbie? What are you guys doing here?"
Hearing the voice and seeing Steve, Debbie instantly relaxed. She ran up to the car. "Something happened. We were just heading back. Can you give us a ride?"
Steve smiled. "Of course. Get in."
Debbie opened the door and immediately saw the pile of appliances in the back seat. She gasped in surprise. "Whoa, Steve, why did you..."
Steve shook his head with a smile. "Just picked them up on the way. Hop in, dinner's getting cold."
Debbie was overjoyed. "Thank you, Steve."
"No problem."
Debbie got in. Lip hesitated for a split second, then followed. Seeing the appliances, his anger subsided slightly. He raised an eyebrow and remarked to Steve, "You really paid a high price just to bang Fiona."
Look at that. Such a smooth talker. It's a miracle he's lived this long without getting beaten to death.
Steve gave a faint smile, too lazy to engage with Lip's bullshit, treating his words like a fart in the wind.
Back at the Gallagher house.
Steve got out of the car. Still ignoring Lip completely, he hoisted the massive flat-screen TV onto his shoulder and walked toward the house.
Inside, seeing Fiona still stony-faced on the sofa, with Carl and Ian sitting in silence, Steve announced cheerfully, "Guys, new TV is here!"
Hearing this.
Carl and the others looked at Steve in unison.
Carl laughed happily. "Cool!! That's a huge TV!"
Ian stayed silent.
Fiona, however, sprang up—almost jumped—with a look of shock on her face. Her tone dripped with obvious displeasure as she interrogated Steve, "What did you do?"
Facing Fiona, Steve's simp side took over. He couldn't get angry. He just smiled. "The kids need a TV."
"We don't need it!" Fiona declared decisively, her eyes wide and slightly uneven.
Ah!
That damn, stupid pride.
Carl panicked. "I need it!!"
Lip, having flopped onto the sofa, shot Steve a look of disdain.
Steve saw it, ignored it as usual, and smiled at Ian and Carl. "Ian, Carl, there are some smaller appliances in the car. Help me bring them in."
Hearing this.
Carl happily ran outside.
Ian didn't move. He looked up at Fiona, waiting for her signal.
Fiona scratched her head in frustration, glaring at Steve. "Steve, we don't need these things."
Steve's temper was truly saintly. He kept smiling. "Don't need a microwave either? Fiona, it's just a small gesture. Don't be stubborn."
Steve spent a good while gently persuading her.
Finally, Fiona relented. "Just this once. Don't buy anything else in the future."
"Okay, okay, okay," Steve nodded repeatedly.
The scene was honestly hilarious.
He spent a fortune buying a bunch of stuff, and then had to beg Fiona to accept it.
Steve's simp attributes were truly formidable.
Fifteen minutes later.
The six Gallaghers and Steve were all sitting on the sofa, eating dinner and glued to the TV.
The picture of harmony.
Fiona and Lip acted as if their previous resistance had never existed.
What a shameless pair.
---
In a filthy, dilapidated house somewhere.
Frank snorted the last of his stash. High as a kite and utterly satisfied, he rolled over and fell into a deep sleep.
In other corners of the house, a bunch of junkies were doing much the same.
---
Dex Restaurant.
Bianca's colleague polished off her bowl of braised beef noodles, wiped her mouth feeling unsatisfied that it was over, ate a few pieces of fruit, and checked the time.
Getting late. Couldn't delay any longer, or work would suffer.
"Bianca, come on, give me your car keys. I'm heading back to work," the colleague smiled and held out her hand. "You have fun. If you can't get up tomorrow and need a sick day, tell me in advance, I'll cover for you."
The implication was painfully obvious.
Bianca was instantly speechless. "What are you talking about? Don't be ridiculous!"
"Hehe," the colleague smirked, then urged her. "Keys. Hurry up. I'm going to be late."
Bianca hesitated. "...I'll go back with you."
"I don't want to go back with you," the colleague knew Bianca too well and laughed immediately.
Bianca: "????"
"Come on, hurry up."
Just like that, after a few rounds back and forth, Bianca handed over the keys.
The colleague stood up, popped a strawberry from the fruit platter into her mouth, and sauntered off.
Bianca watched her go, feeling a bit flustered.
Just then.
Vivian rushed over to Bianca's side, whispering with a grin, "The Boss is almost done. Just wait a little bit. I'll go hurry him up."
Bianca suddenly felt like she'd walked into a trap. It felt like everyone—her colleague, the waitress—was pushing her toward Dexter...
Terrifying.
"Ah, no, no, no. I haven't finished eating yet," Bianca panicked even more and quickly made an excuse.
"Okay, take your time then. No rush," Vivian replied with a smile, then walked straight toward the kitchen without turning.
Bianca: "..."
Why is this happening?
In the kitchen.
"Boss, you have a few orders left? Bianca's colleague just left. Bianca is waiting for you to go to the movies," Vivian said mischievously.
Dexter heard this and immediately retorted with a laugh. "You've been eavesdropping? Didn't know you were such a gossip."
"I'm looking out for you," Vivian replied righteously.
"Yeah, yeah. I have two orders left. Maybe I just won't make them," Dexter joked.
Vivian took the bait and gasped. "Ah, that's not good."
Dexter couldn't stop laughing. "Alright, get lost. I'll be done in a sec."
"Hehe," Vivian giggled. She didn't linger, leaving the kitchen to keep an eye on Bianca.
About ten minutes later.
Dexter cleaned up and walked over to Bianca, smiling. "Sorry for the wait."
Bianca: "...Wasn't waiting for you."
"Mmh. Then let's go to the movies," Dexter smiled.
Bianca bit her lip, nodded, and stood up.
The two quickly left the restaurant.
Inside the restaurant.
Veronica and Vivian stood side by side, watching Dexter and Bianca leave.
"They look good together, don't you think?" Vivian asked.
Veronica nodded. "Indeed."
"That chick is hot," suddenly, Mickey appeared and dropped a comment out of nowhere. "Dexter got lucky."
Vivian: "..."
Veronica was amused. "Haha, Mickey, be careful the Boss doesn't beat you up."
"More like I'd beat him up," Mickey said stubbornly, turning toward the kitchen. "I'm going to wash dishes."
---