Volume One, Chapter Six: Turmoil on the Ice Rink

Sister Yuzhu’s face turned bright red in an instant.

Kang Youwei, with his signature mischievous smirk, asked me if I had enjoyed that piss last night.

"You damn punk, looking for another beating, are you?" My brother stepped up, shaking his fist threateningly at Kang.

Kang let out a dry laugh.

Noticing that Yuzhu and I were sharing a lunchbox, my brother pulled out a hundred-yuan note and handed it to her. "It's tough for everyone when you're away from home. You look like an honest girl; take this to pick up some things you need. Don't worry about paying it back until you get your wages."

Yuzhu thanked him profusely, and I gave my brother a thumbs-up. He rolled his eyes at me before turning back to Kang.

"Hey, you punk, Zeng Jing is from your hometown, right? You two seem pretty close. Do me a favor and pass on a message: I’m taking her out for a late-night snack tonight."

"Chen Chunsheng, are you crazy?" Kang’s eyes widened. "Do you know who she is? Are you not afraid her husband will hack you into nine pieces?"

"What are you thinking? Ah Hui got transferred to Group Five, and isn't Zeng Jing the supervisor there? Don't I need to treat her to a meal?"

My brother replied, then told Yuzhu to wait for him at the factory gate after work with me, saying he’d take care of her affairs while he was at it.

And so, when work ended that evening and the sky had turned dark, Yuzhu and I waited for him at the factory gate as instructed. But when my brother and Kang arrived, Kang told us that Zeng Jing was busy and couldn't make it. Instead, Kang suggested we go to the skating rink near the market, promising to cover everything, including the sweet soup afterward. His reason was that he’d won quite a bit of money the night before, thanks to me.

"At least you’ve got some conscience," my brother agreed happily.

We headed to the market, crossed the road, and entered the skating rink located at the edge of an open lot. Inside, the dim rink was filled with deafening, rhythmic music. A large, rotating disco ball hung from the iron frame above the central platform. Men and women on skates whizzed around the platform, a dizzying blur of motion.

Kang bought our tickets, and we strapped on our skates. Once on them, Yuzhu and I were stumbling all over the place, barely able to stand. My brother and Kang helped us to a corner with a railing, gave us a quick lesson, and then glided off, blending into the surging crowd.

Yuzhu gripped the railing, watching them glide effortlessly, and muttered, "They’re so amazing."

I wasn't about to be outdone. After following my brother’s advice to lower my center of gravity and practicing back and forth for a while, I managed to glide a decent distance.

"Xiaohui, you’re amazing too!" Yuzhu said happily, though she still didn't dare let go of the railing.

"Sister Yuzhu, try letting go," I suggested. She shook her head repeatedly, saying she was afraid of falling.

"Then take my hand, Sister Yuzhu. I’ll lead you." I reached out.

Yuzhu nodded and tentatively took my hand. I began to lead her forward step by step. Suddenly, some reckless person zipped past us like a gust of wind. Yuzhu panicked, tripped over her own feet, and let out a startled cry as she fell backward!

I reached out to catch her, but my own center of gravity shifted, and I tumbled down with her! Gritting my teeth, I lunged behind her as I fell, trying to cushion her impact. But I was a second too late; before I could wrap my arms around her, Yuzhu fell heavily on top of me, her body pressing down on my hands.

For a moment, the breath was knocked out of me, but my hands felt a fullness and softness I had never experienced before...

When Yuzhu pushed herself up and our eyes met, we both looked down at my hands...

"Xiaohui! You!" Yuzhu quickly rolled off me and turned her back.

"Si... Sister Yuzhu... I didn't mean to..." I was terrified she would be angry.

After a brief silence, Yuzhu handed me a one-yuan note behind her back and told me to go buy some water. I knew she was trying to ease the awkwardness, so I quickly took the money and headed to the front desk outside the rink. On the way, I looked at my palms, recalling the sensation... it was beautiful. If I could kiss her, wouldn't that be sheer heaven? I knew the thought was lewd, but it was the most honest feeling in my heart at that moment.

When I returned with the water, I saw from afar that two people had appeared in the dim corner where Yuzhu was. She had taken off her skates and was standing with her arms crossed, leaning against the railing. The two shadows were blocking her, seemingly interrogating her. Yuzhu kept shaking her head, her expression clearly panicked.

Anxious, I moved closer. Just then, a spotlight swept over Yuzhu’s face. She saw me, but she shook her head even more vigorously, signaling me not to come closer.

As the light hit them, I realized with a jolt that the two men blocking her were none other than the guys from the "motorcycle gang" the night before! Yes, the flat-topped man who drove and the long-haired man with the steel pipe! I couldn't be mistaken.

My heart tightened, and I quickly kicked off my skates. Just then, the long-haired man reached out toward Yuzhu. She fumbled in her pocket. It was clear he was robbing her! Seeing the panicked, lost look on her face, I steeled myself, grabbed my skates, and charged over without a second thought!

The two men noticed me approaching and turned around. Only then did I see the long-haired man brandishing a gleaming knife!

"Damn it! Finally found you, you little brat!" he cursed, raising the knife.

I didn't flinch. I swung the skate directly at his face!

*Thump!*

"Damn!" The long-haired man clutched his face and crouched down. The flat-topped man, likely surprised that I would attack despite the knife, stood frozen. In that split second, I rushed up and kicked him hard to the ground!

"You're really looking for death!" the long-haired man yelled as he tried to stand. I didn't wait for him to raise the knife again; I grabbed the skate and slammed it into his face with all my might!

*Thump!*

"Damn..." He crouched down again.

I raised the skate to strike again. I had learned from a lifetime of brawls: it’s not about what’s in your hands, but who is fiercer, who is willing to go further. Only when they fear you will they stop bullying you!

But before I could strike again, my brother and Kang emerged from the crowd and pulled me back. When they saw the two men, they cursed, "Oh no," stripped off their own skates, and dragged Yuzhu and me toward the exit.

I asked why we were running—I wasn't afraid of anyone in a fight! My brother hissed at me to shut up, dragging me out of the rink while scanning the pitch-black open lot like we were facing an army.

"Stop them! Stop them!" a roar came from the long-haired man behind us.

I finally understood why my brother was running. As the man shouted, a dozen men in floral shirts jumped off a row of motorcycles parked on the left side of the lot, blocking our path with murderous intent!

The leader was a man with a buzz cut and dark skin, in his thirties or forties. On his right arm, tucked into his pocket, was a long, centipede-like scar. He hunched his shoulders and stared coldly at us, like a wolf closing in on its prey.