Volume One, Chapter 9: The KTV Incident

I gave a bitter smile. Why was I worrying about Fu Xiaoya?

She had brought me so many humiliating memories and had even physically assaulted Yu Qingman. Even if Qin Shaohu had thrown her into prison, she had only herself to blame. Yet, I couldn't stop thinking about her embrace—so warm and real, as if it could heal every wound.

When I returned home, Xu Li noticed the bruises on my face. Feigning concern, she asked, "Xiao Yan, who hit you? Do you want to report it to the police?"

I shook my head bitterly, not telling the truth. "I was intercepted by a few people on my way home. They ran off as soon as they finished, and I didn't get a good look at them. Reporting it would be useless."

"Could it have been arranged by Xiaoya?" Xu Li's tone grew even more concerned, but the slight glimmer of excitement in her eyes betrayed her. She was clearly hoping that Fu Xiaoya had sent someone to retaliate against me.

"I don't know." I gave a vague reply, buried my head, finished my dinner, and went upstairs.

Lying on my bed, my whole body ached, and I didn't want to move a muscle. Qin Shaohu had hit me hard, but since the blows had landed on my body, my mind remained clear, allowing me to rethink my relationship with Yu Qingman. With no one to turn to, I was no match for Qin Shaohu. Continuing to date Yu Qingman would only bring me more pain. I had grown cowardly. I decided to give up on Yu Qingman for the time being. If we both managed to get into the same university, perhaps we could start over.

A knock at the door, and Xu Li entered. She was wearing a loose silk nightgown, holding a bottle of safflower oil, and smiling as she leaned over to help me apply it. Through the wide, semi-circular neckline of her gown, I saw the grandeur and depth of her chest. My face flushed, my heart raced, and my blood surged.

"No." I quickly turned my head, hurriedly took the oil from her, and thanked her, saying I could apply it myself. Xu Li smiled, didn't insist, and turned to leave.

I pressed my hand against my pounding heart, feeling a fear unlike any I had ever known. Xu Li was truly vicious. She wanted to use this method to drive me, a pathetic soul, out of this house. If I ever made any inappropriate move toward her, she would surely report me to my father without hesitation. If that happened, my father would call me worse than an animal and might even fly into a rage and beat me to death. This was no home; it was a den of tigers and wolves. I thought of Fu Xiaoya again.

She had encouraged me to go to university; she had hugged me and gently pinched my cheeks. Lonely as I was, I craved love and to be loved. Even that faint, firefly-like glimmer of warmth was enough to make it impossible for me to forget her.

The next two days, I continued to study hard at school, but I avoided contact with Yu Qingman, and I could see the disappointment in her eyes. In the end, I read the note she had passed to me. It contained a single line: "Zhou Yan, let's both get into Pingchuan University. I'll be waiting for you."

I did not reply. A classmate nicknamed "Monkey" had entered; he was working for Qin Shaohu, watching Yu Qingman’s every move and keeping a constant eye on me as well. He shouldn't be called Monkey; he was more like Qin Shaohu’s dog.

My worry for Fu Xiaoya grew increasingly intense, often waking me from my dreams to the point where I could no longer control it. I couldn't let anything else happen to her; I had to tell her. Even if she humiliated me or hit me in public, I would accept it.

That night, I took all my money and quietly left home. As if drawn by some unseen force, I arrived at the Night Beauty KTV on the town's main street. I knew Fu Xiaoya worked there, mainly selling alcohol for a commission. Looking at the dazzling neon lights above the KTV and the groups of ruffians hanging around the entrance, my steps faltered. This was no place for a student—it was a den of vice, and the prices were outrageously high. Remembering that Fu Xiaoya was inside, I paced in front of the entrance a few times before finally gathering the courage to walk in.

The hallways were filled with overlapping songs, mixed with the sounds of unrestrained roaring. I cautiously approached the front desk. The receptionist looked not much older than me, but she was dressed flamboyantly, possessing a certain bewitching beauty. Having seen countless people, she sensed that I was an honest student, betraying an unmistakable sense of restraint and timidity.

"Little brother, here to sing alone?" the girl asked with a smile.

"I... I'm looking for someone," I stammered nervously, my heart hammering violently, my palms sweating.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Fu Xiaoya."

Just then, a ruffian walked over, swaggering with a cigarette in his mouth, his hair dyed a striking granny-grey. I recognized him—he was one of the three who had beaten me into the hospital last time. They called him Brother Zhuang.

I panicked and turned to run. But Brother Zhuang had already spotted me. He lunged over, wrapped his arm around my neck, and growled, "You little brat, trying to run? I spent three days in detention because of you, and I was just planning to hunt you down. I didn't expect you to walk right into my trap."

I could barely breathe. Struggling with all my might, I shouted with bloodshot eyes, "Let go! I came to find my sister!"

"Right, almost forgot, you're Xiaoya's little brother." Brother Zhuang looked as if he had just realized it. "Then I won't hold it against you, but you have to treat me to an apology today and let me have a good night."

Without further ado, Brother Zhuang kicked open a nearby door, kept me in a chokehold, and shoved me inside. It was a KTV private room. In front of a circle of fabric sofas sat a few coffee tables.

On the screen opposite, images of beauties on the beach were playing, with lyrics scrolling below.

"Sit!" Brother Zhuang stood by the door with his arms crossed, ordering coldly. I knew I couldn't escape, so I sat down dejectedly, feeling completely flustered and helpless.

"How much money do you have in your pocket?" Brother Zhuang asked.

"One thousand," I answered truthfully.

"Holy shit, you're actually loaded. We're going to have a blast tonight." Brother Zhuang was very satisfied. He lunged over, rummaged through my pockets, snatched the money, and shouted toward the front desk. "Hey girl, bring us all the fruit platters and booze you've got, as long as it's under a thousand!"

"You're something else. Just wait," the girl at the desk giggled.

The money I had saved through frugality was being squandered just like that. I felt immense resentment but was powerless to stop it.

"Haha, put this tab under Xiaoya's name. It's her brother's money anyway," Brother Zhuang laughed triumphantly.

Once arranged, Brother Zhuang closed the door and ignored me. He started by making a couple of phone calls to invite his friends over. Then he went to tinker with the karaoke machine, humming to himself. I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles, desperate to pay and leave, regretting deeply that I had come here to suffer.

Bang!

The door was kicked open. Fu Xiaoya walked in, carrying a fruit platter and clutching several bottles of beer. She was wearing her KTV waitress uniform, yet it couldn't hide that unique, radiant beauty of hers, which seemed to light up the dim room.

"Sister!" I stood up awkwardly, my tongue tied, managing to spit out only one word.

"Why are you here?" Fu Xiaoya looked surprised, then immediately cursed: "You useless waste, do you have so much pocket money you don't know what to do with it? Coming here to squander it."

Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I was left speechless.

"Haha, this loser came looking for you. I caught him and brought him in here; he was scared stiff. He’s the reason we got detained and had to eat prison food for three days. He owes us some compensation," Brother Zhuang laughed.

"Compensate your mother's ass!" Fu Xiaoya's eyes widened in fury. She put down the things she was carrying and grabbed a beer bottle, intending to crack it open on Brother Zhuang's head.

"Sister, don't!" I shouted hurriedly.