"Who wouldn’t be scared? But Miller isn’t someone to mess with. These two usually mind their own business. Although he’s just a gang leader, the way he can gather all the small-time hooligans in the city’s night market is no small feat."
Seeing Miller squinting his eyes, Qiao knew he was scheming. Qiao laughed; he was younger than Miller, with fewer wrinkles on his smiling face.
"Miller, I want someone from you, so I’d like to discuss it."
"If it’s these three people, I might not be able to agree."
Miller smiled faintly, not very fond of the bald man in front of him. Suddenly showing up and expecting no suspicions, only a fool would believe that. But this made him reconsider Gui Xiao and the other two, especially the one called Sky, clearly the leader of the trio. He had his eye on him but didn’t expect he’d attracted Qiao too.
"What if I insist on having these few people?"
Behind the bald man, his crew started to sway, staggering forward, grouping together with baseball bats, iron bars, and such in hand. It seemed like at Qiao’s word, they’d flatten the place.
Realizing things might go beyond mere spectating, onlookers began to disperse. Some timid ones had walked away when Qiao and his men arrived, the rest held a spectator’s interest and stayed put. Those too timid yet keen on the spectacle had found relatively safe spots with a good view, ready for a fight to break out.
"Qiao, this isn’t quite following the rules, is it?"
"I just want a few men, I’ll send them back in a few days. Not a hair harmed."
Qiao, hands in his pockets, his black leather jacket made him look imposing under the dim streetlights, gleaming.
Seeing their leader take charge, his followers began to cluster behind him.
Miller’s crew was small to begin with, against these arms dealers, the everyday street-corner hooligans could hardly keep up and got pushed to the back, around Miller.
The logic that a wise man does not court danger is universal.
Miller raised his hands helplessly, his signature move of licking his upper lip, always with a hint of malice.
Backing down meant keeping the peace, also calming the storm for now.
Mocking him, Qiao licked his own lips and took a few steps towards Miller, looking up, "I like your attitude."
Miller glanced at Qiao close by, then turned silently and left with his followers. Soon after they left, they returned. Such small disturbances couldn’t spoil their fun, especially here in their territory. No matter who it was or how powerful, breaking the rules here was like stirring a hornet’s nest, a touch on communal interests. Nobody dared make trouble here, of course, brawls happened, and they provided the stage, not smashing it but serving the public.
Qiao looked over his three companions from left to right, then back right to left, finally fixing his gaze on Gui Xiao,
"Hey, Man, heard you’re quite skilled, is that true?"
Hard to tell if that was praise or criticism, the man just chuckled, leaving no clue, only his shining bald head under the streetlight.
Gui Xiao knew the city inside out, every street, every bridge railing, every green grass carp under the bridges, and obviously knew well the man before him. Not to mention, could someone dealing arms in a national capital be trifled with? Yet, he normally stayed out of sight, and now he’s come to him.
"Don’t be nervous, I’m not here to save you, just need a favor. If you do it well, I’ll sort out Miller for you. If not, no big deal, as long as you’ve tried."
Chu Tianying sneered, how do you define trying? If things are done, that’s trying. Doing his bidding endlessly but failing, is that considered trying? Playing tricks, as if fooling anybody.
Noticing Chu Tianying’s disdain, Qiao turned and said, "We’re not the same, I’d rather not make an enemy of you. And you, you’re more formidable than he, I can’t beat you, even without me, you guys would escape."
Ye Tian frowned, "Then why come here, it’s thankless and just adds an enemy. We’re all mixed up here, aren’t you afraid he’ll trouble you?"
That Ye Tian understood. Whenever foreigners say ’fuck’, it’s never good, think along the lines of "damn," "son of a bitch," "shit."
When Ye Tian remembered about going to the cafe to meet Jenny, which he’d agreed to do earlier that day but forgot due to running into Gui Xiao. Thinking about checking in, but walking on the street, he saw the time was already midnight on the big clock hanging from a building ahead.
At this time, she would have left. Even if not, the cafe would be closed. Ah, forget it. I’ll find another time to apologize, maybe just invite her for another coffee.
The three men walked back to the hotel, each lost in their thoughts.
They talked all night; Ye Tian felt enlightened, still excited in his mind until the next morning.
According to the agreement, Ye Tian settled the matter for Gui Xiao, who had to spill how he’d eavesdropped on Ye Tian’s conversation. Though it ended in an unforeseen manner, the two who followed him into an extremely dangerous place did their duty, and the lack of physical altercation was purely accidental.
Ye Tian wasn’t wrong; Gui Xiao indeed had heard the two men’s conversation with his ears.
Chu Tianying was skeptical, thinking he was lying.
"Pssh, you think your ears are so sharp, hearing through ten meters while I was whispering? Cut the crap, don’t give me that bullshit!"