Volume One, Chapter 19: The Sting Within My Heart

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Xiaoya Fu pushed me into a nearby private room.
The lights were off inside, with only a faint glow filtering through the curtains, everything dim and shadowy.
I was shoved down onto the sofa, and before I could say a word, Xiaoya slapped me hard across the forehead without any courtesy.
Dizzy from the blows, I hastily raised my arms to block her.
“Sis, stop hitting me!”
“Do you even know Han Feng? Are you really hanging out with him?”
Xiaoya demanded angrily.
“He plays guitar, he’s a good guy, and he used to be a big shot in the underworld. Yeah, he just got out of prison.”
I told her everything I knew.
“Do you know why he got caught?”
Xiaoya often hung out with small-time thugs, and her tone suggested she had heard some underworld stories.
“No, I don’t.”
I shook my head vigorously.
Eight years ago!
There was a sensational case that rocked the entire county. Han Feng burst into someone’s home with a gun. He shot the man’s knees, shattering them and leaving him disabled for life.
After she finished speaking, Xiaoya shot me a sharp look.
My heart turned cold, sweat breaking out on my forehead.
Han Feng was that ruthless—no wonder Xiaoya was so frightened upon hearing his name.
“He says he was framed,” I stammered.
“You believe whatever he says?”
Xiaoya, frustrated beyond words, slapped me again, making stars dance before my eyes and a burning ache fill my nostrils.
“Sis, I just want a friend, I want to find a way out.”
I mustered the courage to speak my heart.
“University is the only way out for you. Don’t try to blend into this underworld. A loser like you would only be schemed against and bullied in society,” Xiaoya said with utter contempt.
“I can’t get into college anymore.”
My voice was a soft whimper.
“What did you say?”
Xiaoya raised her voice, glaring at me as if trying to pierce through my fragile soul.
“I only took the exams for one day, only have results for two subjects. There’s no way I can get into any university.”
I closed my eyes, bracing myself for her wrath.
The room fell into an eerie silence.
Xiaoya didn’t hit me but began to sob quietly.
Panic surged within me, and I quickly opened my eyes.
She sat there dazed, her gaze vacant, tears streaming down her face.
“Sis, please don’t cry.”

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My heart ached deeply. I wanted to hug her but dared not, so I gently took her hand.
“You’re such a damn fool. Do you really want to live like a worthless loser? Sigh, I foolishly hoped you’d go far away, like I had left this cursed place.”
Every word from Xiaoya was like a sharp needle, piercing my heart painfully.
She hit me, scolded me, humiliated me!
But she was the one who truly cared.
“Sis, it’s not that I don’t want to try. The second day of exams, I was kidnapped and taken to a small forest dozens of miles away. By the time I got back, everything was too late.”
I choked back my tears as I explained.
Xiaoya was stunned!
She turned away, shaking my shoulders forcefully, shouting for me to tell her what happened.
I recounted the whole ordeal—that it was arranged by Shaohu Qin.
I held back the part about Lili Xu slipping laxatives into my porridge.
I wasn’t afraid to offend Lili, but I couldn’t bear to let Xiaoya suffer the same pain.
“Qin Shaohu is scum, less than a pig or a dog. I swear I’ll make him pay with his life.”
Xiaoya clenched her teeth so hard they clicked, rising irritably and pacing the floor with fists clenched.
Her loss of control was terrifying to watch.
“Sis, don’t take risks.”
I pulled her down and said solemnly, “I will get revenge on Qin Shaohu. He must pay.”
“Relying on that cripple Han Feng?”
Xiaoya tilted her chin toward the door.
“No, I’ll do it myself. I’ll ruin his reputation so badly he’ll wish he were dead.”
I gritted my teeth in anger, trying to look like a tough street thug.
“Qin Shaohu is trash. It’s not worth it for you to mess with him.”
Xiaoya didn’t agree. “You’re the unlucky one; just endure it! Repeat the year — you’ll make it next year.”
I had just escaped the burden of heavy studies and didn’t want to repeat a year.
But Xiaoya’s words made me hesitate.
“Alright.”
I nodded, not wanting to disappoint her.
My phone rang, but before I could answer, the caller hung up.
It was Han Feng, just a ringing alert.
“Did your family buy you that phone?”
Only then did Xiaoya notice I had a phone, though she wasn’t surprised.
Given our family’s financial situation, buying me a phone wasn’t difficult.
But I didn’t hide it.
“Han Feng bought it with his money.”
“Why are you using his money? If he really latches on to you, it’ll be hard to get free.”
Xiaoya grew anxious again.

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“Sis, don’t worry. I know my limits,” I quickly assured her.
At that moment, a knock came at the door, and Xiaoya went to open it.
Standing outside was a young man, the KTV supervisor.
Xiaoya’s prolonged absence from her post had annoyed him. With a stern face, he ordered her to go attend to the customers on the second floor.
Xiaoya hurriedly agreed, then punched me lightly as she turned back, reminding me to be careful.
She gave me her phone number to contact her if needed.
I felt an indescribable joy.
After all, even my father and Lili Xu didn’t know this number.
Han Feng had credibility. The commission from this room’s bill was credited to Xiaoya’s name.
Following the front desk’s directions, I went to a private room on the second floor.
Han Feng was there, leaning on crutches, holding a microphone, swaying his head, singing passionately without a care in the world.
The coffee table was adorned with several fruit plates, half a table of beer, and—surprisingly—two flamboyant girls.
I cautiously sat down, took a sip of beer, and nibbled on some fish-skin peanuts.
Han Feng finished his song and turned around, clearly displeased.
“Are you all dead or what? Didn’t you see my brothers came? Hurry up and serve them properly!”
“Brother Feng, don’t be mad. They didn’t know you were family,” one girl said with a forced smile, quickly moving toward me. Her heavy perfume was overwhelming, and I instinctively recoiled, alarmed.
I had never seen such a scene before.
My heart ached because it reminded me of Xiaoya.
When she was in the private room, was she like these two girls—without dignity, enduring insults and humiliation?
“Hey, kid, why are you dodging? Don’t tell me you’re still a virgin?”
The girl wriggled closer, her eyes shining as if I were prey.
“Stay away from me. I’m not used to this,” I panicked, refusing.
“Get lost!”
Han Feng barked at the girl, then sat beside me, flashing a wicked grin.
“Bro, you don’t understand women. The nicer you are to them, the more they take you for granted.”
“Brother Feng, I’ve never really been in a relationship,” I said awkwardly, scratching my head.
“Ha! I’ll teach you some tricks.”
Han Feng warmly threw his arm around my shoulder.
“There’s a saying: ‘Bad boys get the girls. When the time comes, don’t hesitate—take their bodies first, then you might win their hearts.’”
Suddenly, I felt Han Feng was even more of a rogue than I had imagined, and deeply sinister.