Chapter 062: The Internet Café Incident

Huang Juan moved out of the school that very day, and Yang Tian did as well. However, Chen Ming and An Qi only knew they had moved out to live elsewhere—they had no idea they were actually living together. To be precise, Huang Juan was too shy to tell An Qi and the others about it.

The place they chose was indeed rather secluded. Huang Juan slept soundly at night, while Yang Tian often lifted the curtain to check on her, covering her with the quilt again whenever she kicked it off in her sleep from the heat.

At Hongyu Internet Café—

“Boss, why are there no computers available again? What’s the meaning of this?” A few young men with yellow-dyed hair surrounded Zhang Zhi, shouting loudly. Among them was a man with a black dragon tattoo called Ah Gui, a well-known thug in the Xuefu Street area, referred to as Brother Gui.

“Don’t worry, Brother Gui. In a few days, I’ll be taking over the fast-food restaurant next door and setting up dozens more computers!” Zhang Zhi, a good-natured man, was happy his internet café was doing well, but when there weren’t enough machines and he had to deal with troublemakers like Brother Gui, he felt helpless.

“Damn it, you tricked us into buying memberships, and now we can’t even play. What’s your deal? Think you can take advantage of us? Listen up, Brother Bing is coming to play soon. If there aren’t any machines, he’ll smash your café to pieces!” Ah Gui grabbed Zhang Zhi by the collar and threatened him fiercely.

Zhang Zhi panicked. If Ah Gui was already so hard to handle, how much worse would it be with Brother Tian, who hadn’t even arrived yet? In his distress, he hurried to find Yang Tian, who was repairing a computer in the corner.

“Ah Tian, what do we do? It looks like Ah Gui and his lot are really going to tear up our café this time!” Zhang Zhi said anxiously.

“They wouldn’t dare. They’re just petty thugs—ignore them,” Yang Tian replied with a scornful smile.

“Oh, Ah Tian, you’re still a student; you don’t know how ruthless these gangsters can be. If they say they’ll smash the place, they’ll do it! Just last time, they wrecked a food stall on East Street—that place is still under renovation!” Zhang Zhi stomped his foot in frustration. With Yang Tian’s help, he’d managed to build up the café with great effort, and if these thugs destroyed it, he’d be heartbroken enough to want to jump off a building.

“Don’t panic. There’s a saying in the countryside: ‘You can’t stir up a storm in a wine cup.’ They’re nothing but minor hoodlums. With me here, nothing will happen,” Yang Tian said confidently.

“Stop boasting! I think I’d better call my old man and see if he can pull some strings. I’m telling you, this isn’t a joke. If things really get rough, just hide under a table. You’re still young—don’t get yourself hurt. I’m already a lost cause, so it’s no big deal for me,” Zhang Zhi said as he trembled, dialing his phone, all the while instructing Yang Tian. Then he went back to reason with Ah Gui and his crew.

“So, boss, have you got us any computers yet? Or are you just disrespecting Brother Gui and Brother Bing?” the little thugs surrounded Zhang Zhi again, threatening him menacingly.

“Don’t go too far!” Yang Tian stepped forward at once, afraid they might attack Zhang Zhi.

“Get lost, kid!” Ah Gui sneered, and his followers joined in with mocking laughter.

“Ah Tian, this has nothing to do with you—go away! Gentlemen, I’m really sorry, but there truly aren’t any computers available today. I promise, I’ll expand the café soon, and there’ll be more by next week!” Zhang Zhi, though furious, did his best to keep his temper in check. He quickly tried to usher Yang Tian away and pleaded with Ah Gui and the others. After all, Hongyu Internet Café was his life’s work—he couldn’t let these animals destroy it.

In desperation, Zhang Zhi handed Ah Gui a generous red envelope, probably containing over three hundred yuan. Seeing this, Ah Gui finally smirked and refrained from violence.

“Well, I just hope your little café lasts until next week. When Brother Bing arrives, if there aren’t any computers, he just might set the place on fire!” Ah Gui said with a sinister sneer, clearly fishing for more handouts.

“Then I hope you’ll put in a good word for me with Brother Bing,” Zhang Zhi replied anxiously, handing out red envelopes to the rest as well. He could have called the police, but the officers couldn’t be there every day to help him. It was best not to provoke the local toughs.

“Little punks, whatever they pocketed, they’ll spit every cent back out,” Yang Tian muttered coldly from the side.

“What are you mumbling about, kid? Looking for a beating?” Ah Gui swaggered toward Yang Tian.

“Brother Gui, he’s just a kid—doesn’t know any better. Please don’t stoop to his level! Ah Tian, go get some drinks for Brother Gui and his friends!” Zhang Zhi quickly shielded Yang Tian, apologizing profusely as he hustled him away.

Since the bribe was substantial, Ah Gui figured Zhang Zhi and his lot were scared enough, so he just put on a show of bravado and had no real intention of hurting Yang Tian.

Soon, a man swaggered in, decked out in flashy clothes and dark sunglasses, his slicked-back hair resembling the lead in the popular TV drama “The Bund”—though his face fell far short of the mark.

“Brother Bing!” Ah Gui and his crew snapped to attention and greeted him respectfully, then turned on Zhang Zhi, shouting, “Brother Bing’s here, and there are still no computers! What are you going to do about it?”

“Brother Bing, I’m terribly sorry—there just aren’t enough machines today!” Zhang Zhi hurried to apologize, almost in tears from anxiety.

“Brother Bing, why not just beat him and that little manager up, then go somewhere else?” Ah Gui suggested, sensing Zhang Zhi was easy to bully and hoping to scare him for more money.

But as Ah Gui pointed at Yang Tian with a sinister grin, Brother Bing suddenly froze, then broke into a delighted smile and rushed to Yang Tian, greeting him with utmost respect, “Brother Tian!”

Everyone was dumbfounded. Cold sweat broke out on Ah Gui and his crew. Brother Bing had just called that kid “Brother Tian”—who was this boy? They’d just been thinking of roughing him up—now they were doomed!

Zhang Zhi was equally astonished. How did this gang leader know Yang Tian?

“Brother Tian, it’s me, Zhou Bing! Don’t you recognize me?” Zhou Bing added quickly when Yang Tian remained silent.

“Zhou Bing, it’s been half a year. You’re back to your old ways? Didn’t you promise me you’d quit this life and become a decent person?” Yang Tian’s voice was stern. In truth, as soon as he’d heard the little thugs calling out “Brother Bing,” he’d suspected it was Zhou Bing, so he knew these punks wouldn’t be taking Zhang Zhi’s money.

“Brother Tian, I’m not a gangster! I work at an auto repair shop now—here’s my business card! The others are my coworkers; we just hang out together after work!” Zhou Bing replied nervously, quickly producing a brand new business card from his suit and handing it to Yang Tian with utmost deference.

Seeing this, Ah Gui and his gang grew even more frightened. This kid dared to scold Zhou Bing, and Zhou Bing was still so respectful—some of them were sweating in terror.

Zhang Zhi was even more bewildered, stunned in his heart. Yang Tian was becoming more and more unfathomable—was he really just a kid?

[End of the second update. As usual, please vote for recommendations!]