Chapter 046: A Narrow Encounter Between Foes

Just as Lin Huiyin was roaring in anger, Zhang Zhilong and the beautiful teacher Tao Bo remained lost in deep aftertaste, savoring a certain flavor for the first time, filling the mischievous youth with pride.

Lin Yu quietly slipped away. As he walked out of the restroom, he suddenly remembered the passing of Wong Jim in 2004, prompted by thoughts of “The Bund.” At the same time, a poem from Reader’s 23rd issue in 2005 crossed his mind, telling the love story of Huang Yongyu and Zhang Meixi—“Fondly Remembering That Day’s Smile”:

Fondly remembering that day’s smile,
As if enchanted, tinged with pity,
Joys unnumbered, applause for you,
A thousand expressions animated,
You are marvelous, a wild youth.

This was Wong Jim’s most famous poem, his swan song, and Lin Yu’s favorite lines in his previous life! The remembrance brought a gentle sorrow to his heart—a tribute to his idol. Wong Jim would, without surprise, pass away in 2004. At this moment, Lin Yu resolved to work harder; if he gained the strength, he would certainly go to Hong Kong to meet his idol.

Feeling a bit down, Lin Yu paid no heed to the insults hurled by certain women outside the restroom as he opened the door. Words like “pervert” and “sick” entered one ear and exited the other.

Walking down a corridor brighter than the main hall, Lin Yu began to adjust his mood. The carpet was deep red, evoking the atmosphere of Bloody Mary. On the walls, covered with gray-toned wallpaper, hung a few scattered, half-nude oil paintings—passion emanated everywhere.

From the hall, melodious accompaniment and lively singing drifted in. Lin Yu raised his head and exhaled, gradually dispelling his negative feelings.

He never expected that, even after living two lives, he could still be moved by minor incidents in life, stirring odd emotions.

“Maybe I’m still half mature, half passionate—a blend of both,” Lin Yu sighed inwardly, listening to the delightful singing as he walked.

“She really sounds like Stefanie Sun... Is this the legendary Ye Ruoshui? Not bad at all!”

The singing girl looked familiar to Lin Yu, as if he had seen her somewhere in his previous life, but the memory was hazy and elusive.

With a smile, Lin Yu offered his comment and entered the hall, discovering nearly a hundred people had gathered. Many were seated at the bar, legs propped on crossbars, watching the performance, and every booth was filled.

Now that the savage policewoman had appeared, who knew what madness might ensue? Lin Yu decided to bid farewell to Wang Yan and quickly leave. Both brothers had found companions; he’d just find a hotel for the night, then visit Zhang Chao the next morning.

But as Lin Yu slowly made his way to his booth, he found Wang Yan already flushed and babbling nonsense, coaxed by the female office worker into drinking.

“I will wander through the vast sea of people in search of my one true soulmate. If I find her, I am lucky; if not, it is fate, nothing more. You—you... are my soulmate!” Wang Yan laughed drunkenly, clutching Lin Yu’s arm, slurring his words, appearing utterly deranged. The line was actually from Xu Zhimo’s letter to Liang Qichao. Wang Yan had learned it, intending to give it to his first love, but the girl had never given him the chance.

“If you don’t want to keep him company, then just leave!” Upon seeing Wang Yan’s disheveled state and the three vodka glasses on the table, Lin Yu was furious.

“Oh, handsome! I got this kid drunk because of you. We’re out to have fun, aren’t we? He’s still a virgin—how am I supposed to enjoy myself?” The office worker elegantly sipped her drink and continued, “How about this? You both keep me company tonight. That way, everyone has a good time.”

“I’ll give you one minute to disappear from my sight!” Lin Yu’s face darkened, his energy rising as he saw his brother being toyed with.

“How about I give you two thousand yuan tonight? Clearly, you’re students, dressed plainly—must be from ordinary families.” The office worker, unwilling to give up, pressed on, though she was already standing.

“Two thousand yuan could buy you ten gigolos—they’d surely satisfy you.” Lin Yu sneered and added, “I’m a taekwondo expert, and I hit women. If you keep pestering, be prepared for the consequences!”

“Hmph! You little brat, what’s so great about you?” The office worker frowned, snorted, and left in displeasure.

Difficult to nurture both petty men and women—having been rejected, the office worker secretly harbored resentment toward Lin Yu and immediately began plotting revenge. But as she reconsidered, she wondered why she should leave, so she returned and headed for another booth.

Watching her sway toward the bar entrance and then turn back, Lin Yu supported the half-kneeling Wang Yan, helping him up and preparing to leave.

He looked carefully—the thirty thousand yuan on the table was gone. The office worker hadn’t brought a purse or anything and had left empty-handed, so she couldn’t have taken it.

That meant Zhang Zhilong had likely taken the three bundles of pink bills when he went to the restroom.

“No wonder he could win over Tao Bo so quickly...” Lin Yu had already guessed what happened in the restroom; he suspected the teacher Tao Bo had been swayed by Zhang Zhilong’s money.

With Zhang Zhilong’s imaginative flair, pretending to be a rich second-generation youth with thirty thousand yuan was easy.

With pursuers behind, Lin Yu could no longer care about Wang Yan’s whimpering, directly supporting him toward the bar’s entrance.

Wang Yan was tall and sturdy, with dark skin and genuine bulk—his body fat was probably under ten percent. Supporting him was harder than moving a corpse.

Wang Yan had many good qualities: he acted like a big brother, was loyal, and had a commanding presence. But he cared too much about saving face—an excessive pride that Lin Yu knew would be his fatal flaw if left unchecked.

He had certainly been provoked by the office worker, forcing himself to down those vodka shots.

“Damn it, may all lovers in the world be long-lost siblings! If I can’t find a partner, no one else should either...” Suddenly, Wang Yan blurted out.

In that instant, the two brothers became the focus of the entire bar, even distracting Ye Ruoshui, causing her to miss a note.

“So embarrassing...” Lin Yu wanted to knock him out then and there, but after considering, refrained. Supporting him, he walked out.

“Just like my previous life—back then, we often ended up drunk as mud, needing to be carried home.”

Thinking of those chaotic, dispirited days, Lin Yu didn’t feel depressed. On the contrary, the promise of a bright future filled his heart with hope.

But just as he was lost in reminiscence, stepping out the bar’s entrance, he saw a large group of youths approaching from the opposite side—around seventeen or eighteen in all.

All about twenty years old, some wearing only black vests, arms adorned with dark blue tattoos—clearly troublemakers.

Yet what caught Lin Yu’s attention were three familiar faces among them: his classmate Lin Lie, Hu Rongqiang’s son Hu Bin, and Zhang Hongkai, whom he had knocked out with a kick earlier in the evening, now following the leader, bowing and scraping, chattering non-stop.