Volume One, Chapter 36: I Kneel

Staying at home only led me to spiral into dark thoughts. The more I dwelled on my misery, the more bitter I felt, so I finally agreed to go out.

I tidied myself up and headed out, meeting Han Feng in front of the small park. He looked remarkably different today, dressed in a thin gray suit, a red shirt underneath, and a golden tie, his hair combed into a flawless style. From the waist up, Han Feng actually looked quite dashing. It was a pity, however, that his crisp suit trousers were still tucked up, creating unsightly, regrettable folds.

Catching my gaze, Han Feng looked full of confidence. "Once I have some money, I’ll get a high-end prosthetic, toss these crutches away, and walk as swiftly as the wind."

"That shouldn't be too hard to achieve, Brother Feng," I said, nodding perfunctorily.

"Brother, you seem like you’ve got something on your mind," Han Feng noted, sensing that something was wrong and asking with concern.

My nose stung, and I choked up. "My dad was hit by a car. He's in the hospital right now."

"Is it serious?"

"They saved his life, but he’s going to be paralyzed." I didn't hide the truth. Thinking of my father confined to a wheelchair felt like a heavy stone pressing down on my heart.

Han Feng fell silent for a moment, then patted my shoulder. "Buck up, brother! You've just stepped out of school; you aren't meant to carry such heavy responsibilities at your age. Just strive to make yourself strong!"

"I know, it’s just that I feel..." I struggled to spit out the last two words, "...lonely!"

"It’s alright, you’ve got me! We’ll always be brothers." Han Feng patted his chest. His words brought me a sense of warmth, and I gently wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Actually, my mother’s situation is even worse. She doesn't even recognize her own son, and the hospital costs are ten thousand a month. I saved up a million for her back then, but it’s almost gone. It’s nerve-wracking."

I was surprised; I hadn't realized Han Feng was under such immense pressure. He was a disabled man, yet he bravely took on such heavy burdens. If he could do it, I, a man with a sound body, had no excuse to remain despondent. I had to shake off this terrible mood and force myself to become strong.

As the streetlights flickered on, the city lit up with thousands of homes. We hailed a taxi and returned to the Night Beauty KTV.

Right at the entrance, I ran into Brother Zhuang and two other thugs again. They looked at me with mocking expressions.

"Haha, Zhou Yan, you useless piece of trash, are you here to pay the bill for us brothers again?" Brother Zhuang sneered at me with malicious intent, and the other two punks bared their teeth in wicked grins.

At that moment, I finally realized something. Fu Xiaoya was lonely, too. The relationship between her and these thugs didn't even qualify as "fair-weather friends." Otherwise, why would Brother Zhuang pick a fight with me time and time again? They didn't hold Fu Xiaoya in any real regard, either.

I was in a foul mood and couldn't be bothered to engage with them, so I lowered my head and followed Han Feng inside.

Brother Zhuang, however, stretched out his arm to block our path, shouting arrogantly, "Zhou Yan, hurry up and take the money out of your pockets and kneel down to serve it to us!"

"Get lost!" Han Feng was incensed. His low roar sounded like a beast escaping its cage, and even I trembled at the sound.

Brother Zhuang was stunned, then grew annoyed. "Oh, ho! You crippled bastard, you dare to meddle in our business? Do you want us to break your other leg, too?"

Brother Zhuang raised his fist to threaten Han Feng, while the other two thugs cracked their necks and closed in.

This was too much bullying!

My eyes burned with heat. The long-suppressed anger erupted, and I stepped in front of Han Feng, shouting, "Come on then! Hit me first! As long as you don't kill me, you won't have a good end!"

"Damn, the coward's temper is growing!" Brother Zhuang curled his lips in disdain. He looked down on me from the bottom of his heart and ordered, "Pin Zhou Yan down and make him kneel. Knock his teeth out first, then we'll see if he keeps talking tough."

Just as I thought a brutal beating was inevitable, three burly men walked out from inside. The leader was none other than Chu Hailong. He scanned us as we were about to clash, his expression dark and inscrutable.

Brother Zhuang’s face changed in an instant. He broke into a fawning smile, bowing and scraping as he called out, "Brother Long!"

"Hailong!"

Han Feng’s address made Brother Zhuang jerk his head around, his mouth twitching violently.

Han Feng pulled me aside and complained, "Your subordinates are truly imposing. Not only did they block me from entering, but they also wanted to break my other leg. Is this the way your KTV treats guests?"

Chu Hailong turned his head coldly and asked Brother Zhuang and the other two, "What are you things? You dare claim to be my men?"

Brother Zhuang’s face turned bright red instantly. Beads of sweat as large as peas seeped from his temples, running down his dark, flushed skin into his collar. He wiped his face frantically, swallowed hard, and bowed, fawning as he explained, "Brother Long is always so busy, day and night, it’s no surprise you don't remember small fries like us. But we always follow your orders!"

"Oh." Chu Hailong nodded, then ordered in a cold tone, "Then kneel down and apologize to Brother Feng, and slap yourselves."

The three of them were completely bewildered, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"Damn it, hurry up!" Chu Hailong urged impatiently.

Terrified, the three of them shivered and knelt down with mournful faces. I felt my heart pounding, but there was an indescribable sense of gratification.

"Brother Feng, we’re sorry. We were blind and offended you. Please forgive us." The three thugs kowtowed repeatedly, slapping their own faces so hard that blood began to trickle from the corners of their mouths.

"Brother Feng, are you satisfied?" Chu Hailong sneered repeatedly.

"Very good. One should follow the rules; it saves from tarnishing the reputation of the Yihe Hall."

"I’ve done what I promised. You must do the same," Chu Hailong reminded him with ill intent.

"I’ve always been a man of my word." Han Feng’s expression remained unchanged.

Chu Hailong took his two men, got into the black SUV parked nearby, and left the KTV. This left Brother Zhuang and his cronies kneeling on the ground, unsure if they should get up.

"Remember this: my name is Han Feng. From now on, you are not allowed to cause trouble at this KTV, and you are never to bother my brother Zhou Yan again. Otherwise, I’ll kill you," Han Feng said in an icy tone.

"Han Feng?" Hearing the name, all three of them were terrified and nodded frantically.

I wanted to spit on them, but I didn't. I just gave them a look of pure contempt before following Han Feng into the KTV.

I thought Han Feng was here to sing, but he walked down the corridor and arrived at the general manager’s office. He didn't even knock; he pushed the door open and walked right in. I followed, feeling anxious. You don't mess with someone who owns a KTV; they usually have some status in the underworld to keep the place under control. Causing trouble here would surely result in being dragged out.

However, it wasn't what I expected!

There was only a middle-aged man in the office, wearing a crisp suit, his hair slicked back, a smile on his face. Seeing Han Feng enter, he hurriedly offered a fawning greeting: "Welcome, Brother Feng!"

Han Feng walked straight over, sat behind the desk, lit a cigarette, and asked, "Everything is ready?"

"Of course! Please take a look, Brother Feng." The middle-aged man quickly pulled a business license from a folder, bent over, and handed it to Han Feng across the desk.

Night Beauty KTV.
Legal Representative: Han Feng.

I was stunned. I rubbed my eyes hard to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

Han Feng glanced at the license, tossed it onto the table, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Manager Peng, what is the current status of Night Beauty KTV?"

"Eight permanent staff, thirty part-timers. There is half a year of rent remaining, the current supplies will last seven days, and we just settled the employees' wages for last month yesterday," Manager Peng recited immediately.

"That's it?" Han Feng furrowed his brows and slammed his cigarette butt onto the desk.

"Damn it, this is a total mess!"