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Chapter69
Shao Qi stared momentarily at the hand on his arm, then shifted his gaze to Zhou You's face. Abruptly, he pinched Zhou You's cheek, remarking, "Ah, you're so obedient!" He rubbed his fingers, enjoying the sensation.
Zhou You's eyes widened, and though his lips didn't move, Shao Qi heard in his mind, "You're courting death!"
As Miss Meng Xi seemed about to crash into them, Shao Qi suddenly sidestepped, pulling Zhou You with him, adeptly avoiding her and watching as she tumbled to the ground.
Even in a fall, she looked graceful. Her high-split dress was in disarray, revealing a long, pristine leg and a hint of her bosom, enough to make any man's mouth water.
Two men approached, one trying to shove Zhou You aside, growling, "Kid, mind your business or I'll beat you!"
"I'm just a passerby, minding my own," Zhou You replied, preparing to leave. But the man blocked him, sneering, "You look like a sellout. Hand over your wallet, and maybe I'll let you and your sugar daddy go."
Zhou You stared at the man's pointing finger, grabbed it, and with a gentle twist, a crisp snap echoed. The man's finger was broken, eliciting a scream more piercing than a pig's slaughter.
With a swift kick, Zhou You sent him flying and beckoned the other, "Come here!" Seeing Zhou You's resolve, the man whistled, signaling a group of hidden men to surround Zhou You and Shao Qi.
Zhou You's attire looked rather rustic, even compared to these thugs. But Shao Qi, looking every bit the affluent man, was their primary target.
Noting their drawn guns, Shao Qi scoffed, "You dare confront me with these trashy firearms?" He snatched one, and within seconds, dismantled it with nimble fingers.
Zhou You, not in the best of moods, grabbed one thug, "You've been tailing us, right? If it's a robbery, just say so. Why all the theatrics? Aren't you tired?"
Tossing the thug into a tavern's wall, Zhou You effortlessly kicked the others away, then turned to the fallen beauty, "Don't you agree, miss?"
Xu Meng Xi sobbed, "Thank you for your help, kind sir."
"No, I didn't save you. I just dealt with a few robbers." Zhou You had no intention of hitting a woman, especially one with such poor acting skills.
Patrolling guards arrived, weapons raised, demanding, "What's the commotion? Brawls are prohibited in the inner city. Offenders will be arrested!"
Shao Qi conversed briefly with the guards. The moaning thugs, along with their weapons, were dragged away. Such scenes were common on these streets, and passersby hardly batted an eye.
Zhou You, feeling considerably better, said to Shao Qi, "Let's go, I'll treat you to a drink."
Since his retreat, Zhou You hadn't taken a sip of alcohol. While he wasn't addicted to drinking, stepping onto the bar street made him feel a slight itch for it.
"You look like you're craving it. Doesn't Captain Li offer you any drinks?"
"The convoy is in a rush, and no one dares to touch a drop of alcohol. Getting drunk in the wild can be fatal," Zhou You explained.
Xu Mengxi caught up with them, pointing to a resplendent nightclub ahead and said in a coquettish tone, "Gentlemen, that's where I work. It's the best bar on this street, with the strongest drinks and the most enchanting performances. Would you like to visit?"
Zhou You wasn't picky about which bar to visit. Considering this woman had just put on a show with those two thugs, he was surprised she had the audacity to approach them again.
"Alright, let's go there then," Shao Qi decisively said.
"Ye Qingcheng" is a renowned nightclub at the Jiangnan base. Rumors suggest it's backed by the city lord, with some even saying he's the main investor. Those who cause trouble here never end up well.
Once inside, they opted for a booth and ordered the priciest drink available. Food and fruits were quite affordable, which made drinks reasonably priced too. Many patrons frequented the place to enjoy delicious food, exquisite drinks, and watch enchanting performances; every penny spent was worth it.
Xu Mengxi hovered around them, pouring drinks and making small talk, but neither man showed interest. She was frustrated to the point of wanting to throw a glass. She had her eyes set on Shao Qi from the start, but he seemed to have a lover. That’s why she involved some thugs she knew to get rid of his companion. Little did she know the other man was also quite skilled.
Zhou You halted her pouring hand, calmly stating, "Miss, you're disturbing us." This successfully annoyed the beauty, causing her to leave.
Shao Qi chuckled softly, thinking, "Zhou You adapts so quickly. He looks so innocent, but he's quite cunning."
Pointing to the singer on stage, he remarked, "Look, that singer is the famous Huang Yunhan, one of Chen Jingzhou's mistresses."
"I remember the name. Wasn't she famous a decade ago?" Zhou You recalled the singer because an old friend used to be a fan. He was surprised she remained popular.
"You really only know about the pre-apocalyptic world. Have you been in retreat this entire decade?" Shao Qi was surprised that his casual remark hit the nail on the head, given the world's upheaval in these years.
Soon after, Xu Mengxi took the stage for a dance. Wearing an even more revealing dress, her sultry moves caused adrenaline surges in the men, who cheered and jeered without restraint.
"Impressive that someone as innocent-looking as you can watch such a dance without flinching," Shao Qi gave a thumbs up.
Zhou You was already in his thirties. Despite being out of touch for a decade, he had experienced much in his first twenty years. Having trained in espionage, even if a beauty danced close to him, he'd remain unfazed.