Chapter 15

Shen Kuo dealt with Chen Yueqin, stepping through the cold, silent moonlight. He turned through a few winding, narrow alleys and arrived at the entrance of a shabby little shop.

The lock on the shop door was loosely latched. He pushed the door open, and the quiet night air was pierced by a sharp “creak.”

The ceiling was lit with cold white fluorescent bulbs, casting dim and faint light. The narrow room was filled with all kinds of various discs, and several burlap sacks were haphazardly tied up and piled in the corner.

As Shen Kuo walked in, he knocked over a stack of CDs, creating a loud “clattering” noise.

A young man wearing a black tank top was bending over to organize the burlap sacks. Hearing the noise, he turned around and saw Shen Kuo, his face lighting up with surprise. “Brother Shen, what brings you here?”

“Just came to have a look,” Shen Kuo replied, covering his nose and trying to suppress the urge to sneeze.

“Hey, I just got some new goods in. Feel free to sit down.”

The young man’s name was Zhong Kai, and he was around the same age as Shen Kuo. Due to family circumstances, he had dropped out of school years ago and was now running various small businesses. He could often be seen among the street vendors under the overpass, always trying to get Shen Kuo to join him in some shady dealings.

“Brother Shen, what’s up? How come you have time to visit me?” Zhong Kai asked.

Since they were childhood friends, Shen Kuo didn’t beat around the bush. “I want to do business with you, make some money.”

Zhong Kai raised an eyebrow, curious. “Weren’t you running a nightclub with Wu Qiang and the others? What’s the deal? Is the nightclub not making money?”

“It’s not that. It’s making good money,” Shen Kuo’s expression grew cold. “But I’m planning to pull out. After I sell my shares, I want to do business with you.”

“Why?”

It wasn’t like Shen Kuo to walk away from a profitable business.

“They’ve done some shady things,” Shen Kuo said in a low voice. “I’ll find evidence and make them pay the price.”

Zhong Kai had heard rumors about the fire on Entertainment Street. Wu Qiang was a thug, and the fire was probably connected to him. As Shen Kuo’s childhood friend, Zhong Kai naturally supported him in pulling out and staying away from those lowlifes.

“But Brother Shen, doing business is tough. You’ll be out early and back late. You still have school, and you might not have enough time.”

Shen Kuo grabbed a chair and sat down, lighting a cigarette casually. “I’ll drop out after this semester.”

“What?! Drop out?”

Zhong Kai stared at Shen Kuo’s silent expression and suddenly felt uncertain. He had always wanted Shen Kuo to drop out and join him in doing business, but Shen Kuo had never agreed before.

Shen Kuo was different from Zhong Kai. Zhong Kai had dropped out of school because he couldn’t focus on his studies.

Shen Kuo not only liked studying but was also very intelligent. His grades were among the best, and even though his work often interrupted his studies, his academic performance was still top-tier.

Now that he suddenly said he was dropping out, Zhong Kai couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“Is it because your father’s condition worsened again? If you need anything, just ask me!”

Shen Kuo paused for a moment and then said only a few words: “I want to make some money.”

“You’ve been making money all along, haven’t you?” Zhong Kai pressed further, not letting go of the topic. “Besides, your father’s medical expenses are covered by the compensation, there’s no need for you to drop out.”

“It’s too slow. It’s not enough,” Shen Kuo lowered his gaze, shaking his head. “I’m too poor.”

So poor that even looking at her for another second felt like an offense.

Not worthy.

Zhong Kai had known Shen Kuo for ten years. Even though his family wasn’t well-off, he had always been confident because he worked hard, and everything he wanted, he earned with his own hands.

But this was the first time he saw such faint confusion and self-doubt in Shen Kuo’s eyes.

There was only one reason Shen Kuo could be confused.

Zhong Kai looked at him in disbelief. “Could it be… you’ve fallen for some girl?”

Shen Kuo casually picked up a CD, the movie Happy Together starring Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung.

His eyes were lowered, his long lashes trembling slightly, but he didn’t respond.

In the afternoon, Lu Yan went to Entertainment Street to find Shen Kuo, intending to persuade him to return the one hundred yuan he had given her brother.

Shen Kuo worked hard, and one hundred yuan wasn’t a small amount to him.

The underground nightclub that had burned down was still in ruins. The stairwells and exterior walls still bore the black marks of the fire. It was a relief that no one had been hurt.

Although Lu Zhen had tricked Shen Kuo into singing a duet with him, it was clear to anyone with eyes that the fire was closely related to the nightclub across the street.

The police had investigated several of the nightclub’s partners, including the largest shareholders, Wu Qiang and Zhao Shen. However, despite their suspicions, there was no evidence, so they couldn’t do anything.

The arsonist knew full well that there was limited space to evacuate in the basement, and any mistake could result in significant casualties, yet they were indifferent to it. Their malicious intent was clear.

The mastermind behind the fire must be brought to justice and face the law.

As Lu Yan thought this, she suddenly saw Shen Kuo’s tall figure entering the nightclub across the street. Before she could call out to him, he had already disappeared inside.

With no other choice, Lu Yan followed him into the nightclub.

Lu Zhen’s nightclub was a more casual business, but this one was a legitimate operation. Its facilities were of a higher standard, the venue was large, and the decorations were more luxurious.

Because of the fire, business at this nightclub had boomed. There were many young men and women dancing on the circular floor, and in the center, there was a band performing on a raised stage.

Lu Yan had heard from Qi Yuhuan that Shen Kuo had shares in this nightclub, so it wasn’t surprising for him to visit often.

At one of the central round booths, several men were drinking. Lu Yan instantly recognized them as some of the nightclub’s shareholders. One of them, a man with a scar on his face, was named Wu Qiang, and the man sitting next to him was Zhao Shen. It was said they were not good people.

When Wu Qiang saw Shen Kuo approach, he waved his hand at him. “Xiao Shen, come sit here.”

Shen Kuo walked over, and the woman next to Wu Qiang, wearing a glittery mini-skirt, immediately made room for him. She also poured him a full glass of beer and handed it to him.

Wu Qiang shouted, “You’re late, you need to drink up!”

A faint, insincere smile appeared on Shen Kuo’s face as he took the glass and drank it in one go.

“That’s the way to do it! I love dealing with straightforward people like you, Xiao Shen! Come on, little girl, pour him another!”

The woman in the glittery dress poured several more glasses of wine for Shen Kuo, and he didn’t refuse, drinking each one as it was offered.

The men around them clapped and cheered.

They enjoyed getting Shen Kuo drunk, partly because he still looked like a student, and they liked to tease him, and partly because once someone was drunk, they would speak more freely.

Lu Yan watched as Shen Kuo seemed to be enjoying himself with them, and she realized that she couldn’t rely on him to catch the arsonist.

She actually understood, though. After all, this nightclub had shares in it. People were like that—they pursued profits and avoided trouble.

Just as Lu Yan was about to leave, she suddenly heard Shen Kuo say, “Brother Wang, the fire at the nightclub across the street was done quite beautifully.”

Her steps faltered.

It was unbelievable. Shen Kuo actually said that.

Wang Qiang’s eyes revealed a hint of caution as he poured him another drink. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Shen Kuo lifted his glass and lightly clinked it with Wang Qiang’s. “Brother Wang, there’s no need to hide it from me. That Lu Zhen came after me, snatched the opening spotlight from us. I hate him too.”

Wang Qiang gave Shen Kuo a sharp look. Seeing that he was somewhat tipsy, he relaxed a little and said, “That Lu Zhen brought it upon himself. Relying on his old man’s money, he dared to go up against us. If we hadn’t been lucky, he’d have burned to death in there.”

At this point, Lu Yan’s hand clenched into a fist.

Just then, a waiter came up to her and asked if she wanted something to drink.

Lu Yan pulled the hood of her sweatshirt up, raised the collar, and nonchalantly slipped over to a single seat next to them, ordering a cocktail.

Shen Kuo poured Zhao Shen a drink and, smiling, asked, “What’s Brother Zhao’s opinion on this?”

Zhao Shen, not very bright, had drunk a few cups and began boasting, “I’m the one who set the fire, huh. I did it to teach them a lesson. I wanted everyone on this street to know that if you go against us, you’ll end up with nothing!”

The glass in Lu Yan’s hand suddenly slipped and crashed to the floor with a loud “clatter.”

Fortunately, the nightclub was noisy with music and people, so no one noticed. Only Shen Kuo, glancing in her direction, turned his head slightly.

Wu Qiang immediately splashed Zhao Shen’s face with alcohol, shouting, “What are you talking about? You’re drunk! What does the fire at Lu Zhen’s nightclub have to do with you? Stop spouting nonsense!”

Zhao Shen, after having wine splashed on his face, became much more sober and laughed awkwardly, saying, “Yeah, I was just talking nonsense, just talking nonsense!”

Lu Yan stood up, ready to leave. She needed to quickly report what she had just heard to the police—the arsonists were Zhao Shen, Wu Qiang, and their group.

However, at that moment, a young man walked up to Lu Yan and asked, “Hey, pretty lady, how about a dance?”

“No dancing, no dancing. I need to go home,” Lu Yan said, pulling up the collar of her jacket and turning to leave.

The young man didn’t seem ready to give up easily, persistently saying, “So early to go home? That’s no fun!”

“Uh, because I have something to do at home,” Lu Yan replied, hoping to leave quickly before Wu Qiang and the others recognized her.

“You can still play a little before leaving,” the young man insisted, grabbing Lu Yan’s slender wrist, clearly trying to be more forward.

Wu Qiang noticed the situation at the neighboring table and instructed his men, “Go check what’s going on. Things are tense lately—don’t let anything happen.”

“I’ll go.”

Shen Kuo was the first to stand up, striding towards Lu Yan.

—

Lu Yan frowned, struggling to break free from the young man’s grip. She didn’t want to cause a scene, so she lowered her voice and said, “Let go!”

The young man seemed drunk, clinging to Lu Yan and not letting go. Just then, a hand landed on his wrist, pulling him away from Lu Yan with force.

The young man, frustrated, shouted at Shen Kuo, “Hey, first come, first served. I was the one who noticed this girl first.”

If it had been any other day, Shen Kuo might have snapped his hand, but right now… he didn’t want to make a big scene. So, he casually wrapped his arm around Lu Yan’s shoulder, pulling her close to him, and said coldly—

“Sorry, she’s mine.”

Lu Yan looked up in surprise at Shen Kuo. His face was dark, his eyes sharp, and there wasn’t a trace of expression when he said those words.

Seeing this, the young man, though reluctant, could only back off awkwardly, realizing he couldn’t continue.

Lu Yan, like a small quail, curled up in Shen Kuo’s embrace as he led her out of the nightclub.

Just then, Wu Qiang’s voice came from behind, “Shen Kuo, wait a minute. This girl… she looks familiar.”