Chapter 62: Come On, Let's Play

Mu Lin sipped his drink, waiting patiently.

If Guo Lei said he'd be here, he'd be here.

All he had to do was wait.

Amid the throbbing music, Mu Lin heard an incredibly familiar laugh. He turned his head and saw Zhao Ling'er. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and she was wearing a crop top under a leather jacket, paired with denim shorts and over-the-knee black stockings. She looked stunningly youthful and vibrant.

'Well, well. So the girl has a side like this, huh? I wonder if Divine Doctor Zhao's blood pressure would spike if he found out.'

'Still, no need to write someone off completely just for being here. Life is short, after all. She's just having a little fun.'

'Besides, Zhao Ling'er has incredibly high standards. It's not like just any common man could lead her astray.'

Mu Lin averted his gaze and stopped looking.

'My business here today is quite dangerous. It's best if no one finds out I know Zhao Ling'er.'

'For safety.'

'Zhao Ling'er is just a nurse. I shouldn't drag her into this.'

Mu Lin only glanced at her from time to time out of the corner of his eye. If Zhao Ling'er got too close, he would move farther away.

He tried his best to avoid any contact with her.

One of the girls with Zhao Ling'er, finally tired from dancing, pulled her aside. "Let's go get something to drink!"

Zhao Ling'er was happy to oblige and agreed cheerfully, turning to walk toward the bar.

The two vibrant young women instantly drew everyone's attention.

Greedy eyes roved over them; they were simply too alluring.

The girl pulled Zhao Ling'er to the bar and said, "Two drinks!"

This girl was Hu Xi, one of Zhao Ling'er's high school classmates. After graduating, Zhao Ling'er had started studying medicine under her grandfather, while Hu Xi had been accepted to medical school, beginning a grueling, decade-long course of study.

Since it was the weekend, she had invited Zhao Ling'er out to relax.

Zhao Ling'er added, "Just a simple sweet wine is fine!"

She couldn't hold her liquor very well. Besides, if her grandfather caught her coming home smelling of alcohol, he would surely chew her out.

She also hadn't dared to wear this outfit straight out of the house. She usually wore a baggy overcoat on top and only took it off after she arrived.

"Ling'Er, that's no way to have fun! It's not every day we get to go out. Live a little!" Hu Xi urged with a grin, feeling a little disappointed.

Zhao Ling'er hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no, I can't. I still have studying to do when I get home tonight. Grandpa is going to quiz me in the morning."

Mu Lin overheard and thought that being Divine Doctor Zhao's granddaughter sounded pretty rough.

'It reminded him of being taught by his master as a child. Back then, all he ever thought about was playing, too. It wasn't until after he'd made a complete fool of himself that he finally buckled down and started studying hard.'

When Hu Xi heard Zhao Ling'er had to study, she remembered that her own assignments weren't done either and hastily put her glass down.

Mu Lin finished his beer. A waitress walked over, placed another glass in front of him, and cleared the empty one away.

Zhao Ling'er's beauty had caught the attention of many.

It had been difficult to approach her while she was dancing, and anyone who got hit in the process would have only themselves to blame.

But now that Zhao Ling'er was sitting down with a drink, the wolves were finally plotting their approach.

A moment later, two men walked up to them. "Hello, beautiful!"

Zhao Ling'er glanced at the two men. 'One is big and burly, and the other has a brutish face. Neither of them are nearly as handsome as Brother Mu.'

So she said, "Sorry, I'm tired! Could you please just let me have some quiet?"

Hearing that she was tired only seemed to excite the two men further. They grinned and said, "If you're tired, why not go across the street and get some rest?"

The hotel was right across the street; their meaning was painfully obvious.

The two were in perfect sync, their intention practically shouting itself.

Hu Xi thought, 'I came here to relax and dance, not to get mixed up with scumbags like you.'

"Back off, or I'm calling security!"

The bar's dance floor was divided into three sections—left, center, and right—with two dedicated corridors between them for security patrols.

If any disturbance occurred, security would immediately arrive to put a stop to it.

If security was unable to stop it, enforcers hidden in the back of the bar would emerge to prevent the situation from escalating.

This was rarely necessary, as the place was Wu Long's property. His reputation was formidable on both sides of the law, so very few people would dare to stir up trouble here.

Even the occasional argument was usually resolved quickly before security even arrived.

When they heard Hu Xi threaten to call security, the two men looked embarrassed, held up their hands, and backed away from the girls.

"So annoying," Zhao Ling'er said, propping her chin on her pale, slender arm and staring into space.

"When you go out to have fun, you're always going to run into some weirdos. Just think of them as sick in the head and don't waste your time on them," said Hu Xi.

Zhao Ling'er pouted, clearly unhappy. "Okay."

The two men, who had been about to leave, heard what Hu Xi said, and their tempers flared. "What did you just say?!"

The burly man's hands moved faster than his brain; he suddenly grabbed Hu Xi's ponytail.

Hu Xi cried out in pain and was forced to stand up, moving her head to accommodate the height of the man's hand and relieve the pulling on her scalp.

"Let go!"

"You said I'm sick? Then let me tell you, I *am* sick! Fuck, I give you an inch and you take a mile! When I say I want to sleep with your friend, that's me doing her a favor!"

Hu Xi was in a panic, her mind filled with a single thought: 'Let go of my hair!'

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I was wrong! I shouldn't have said that!"

"Sorry, are you?" The man tugged on his belt, the buckle sliding free. "If you're sorry, then help me get my rocks off!"

To be fair, this was going a bit too far. Someone in the crowd spoke up.

"Hey man, why are you doing this? This is Brother Long's turf. If you make a scene, Brother Lei is going to hold you accountable."

The man just laughed. "Brother Lei? I *am* one of Brother Lei's men! Name's Baldy, from his Vegetable Knife Team!"

Hearing this, a collective chill went through the crowd.

No wonder security hadn't come. The man was one of their own.

They might police heaven and earth, but they'd never turn on one of their own.

It seemed there was no escape for Hu Xi.

Mu Lin thought, 'I can't just stand by and watch.'

He downed his drink and set the glass upside down on the table.

The waitress saw the gesture and knew Mu Lin didn't want another round. The rest of the money he'd put down was her tip.

It was a generous one, too.

But when she saw Mu Lin heading toward the commotion, the color drained from her face.

"Hey, don't go over there! Those are Brother Lei's men! You can't afford to cross them!"

Mu Lin said, "So I should just let that girl be humiliated in public?"

"So what if she's humiliated..." The waitress seemed to recall some unpleasant memory, her teeth sinking into her lip. "It's better than being dead."

Mu Lin sized up the waitress. She was dressed in a youthful, vibrant style and had a sunny appearance. He never would have guessed she had such a painful past.

"What are you looking at? You think I'm dirty?" The waitress's eyes immediately reddened.

Mu Lin said, "Sorry... I didn't mean that at all. I think you're actually very pretty..."

With that, he parted the crowd of dancers and strode forward.

"Come back!" the waitress cried out.

Did anyone who challenged Wu Long ever meet a good end? To be honest, she'd never seen it. They were either kicked out or they were killed.

By the time she thought to rush over and grab Mu Lin, the crowd of dancers had already closed in, completely blocking her path.

At that, her conflict ceased. He was just one more victim among countless others, not worth her pity.

As Mu Lin walked forward, he didn't even need to shove anyone. The crowd parted for him on its own.

'Let the idiot go get himself killed, just don't get in the way of our fun.'

That was the casual attitude they all shared. If a fight broke out right then and there to liven things up, that would be even better.

Hu Xi was miserable. She struggled to pull her head away from the man's stinking waist, but the big brute just kept trying to drag her toward him.

It was awful, just awful.

Zhao Ling'er grabbed Hu Xi's shoulders and pulled back with all her might. "Let her go! Let her go now!"

The surrounding patrons were all just watching the spectacle, more interested in the "live show" that was about to unfold.

The big man shot a sideways glance, then reached out his other hand to grab Zhao Ling'er.

"Since you care about her so much, why don't you join us!"

Zhao Ling'er refused to let go of Hu Xi, but as she saw the massive hand reaching for her, she covered her eyes in fear.

But the brute's advance wouldn't stop just because she had closed her eyes.

At that moment, Mu Lin reached out and blocked the man's hand.

"Since you're one of Guo Lei's men, why aren't you trying to earn a little good karma for your boss?"

The big man's eyebrow shot up. 'Well, look at this. Didn't expect to find someone with a death wish, daring to jump out and challenge me.'

"Kid, you're finished, you know that? You're so finished!"