No Escape

Ever since Feng Jun had grasped the weed, the changes to his appearance and physique had been considerable. But no matter how much he changed, his general outline could not be altered.

The girl had only come to Hongjie Club to have some fun the day before yesterday, but she still had some impression of the waiter who had served her.

She had her doubts, which was why she asked. Feng Jun merely smiled and shook his head. "You must have remembered wrong."

The girl stared at him for quite a while before slowly shaking her head. "My memory isn't that bad. You really don't remember me?"

How could Feng Jun possibly forget her? Strictly speaking, though, the one who had left the deepest impression on him was the girl in yellow who had barely made a move.

That girl had also been nearly 1.7 meters tall. She wore a light yellow short-sleeved top and a light yellow princess skirt that reached her knees. Her long hair flowed around her, and her features were picturesque. She was breathtakingly beautiful, yet fresh and refined, making people feel she could be admired from afar but not profaned.

It was all about temperament—that was the feeling... Well, even without considering her temperament, she was still stunning enough to topple kingdoms.

What made her even more remarkable was the youthful vitality she could not hide.

Even with Liu Shuming's broad tastes, he had not dared to disrespect the girl in yellow. He had only tried to get handsy with her companions, only to be beaten up by all four girls.

Feng Jun thought highly of himself, but even he could not help feeling inferior before that girl.

He knew very well that a girl like that was not someone he could possess—well, at least back then, before his strange encounter, he had not been qualified to possess that beauty.

Even if he had possessed her, it would only have been temporary. It could never have lasted.

Faced with the girl's question now, he pulled himself out of those musings and smiled faintly. "Sorry, you must have remembered wrong. I've never met you."

The girl looked at him for a long while before nodding hesitantly. "Fine. No matter what, you saved me today. Could I ask you for a favor now?"

Feng Jun pondered for a moment, then nodded. "As long as it isn't too complicated, I don't mind."

Honestly, his reply was rather mood-killing. She was, after all, a girl in her early twenties, and her looks could rival Little Li's, yet he actually put on an air of being too busy.

The girl's expression changed slightly. She clearly felt insulted, but she did not hold it against her savior. "Come with me to the police station and file a report. Not only did you save me, you're also a witness."

"File a report?" Feng Jun sucked in a breath. "How much money was in your bag? They won't even open a case if it's less than two thousand."

He was being polite by saying that. The two-thousand threshold was for a completed crime, while this had only been an attempt!

The girl patted her handbag and declared proudly, "This bag alone is worth twenty-eight hundred. What do you think?"

So she was a little rich girl. Feng Jun thought of how his new phone had only cost 2,699, and he could not help feeling... well, that sort of way.

Of course, he would not stoop so low as to envy a little girl. He simply smiled. "They were after money, not the bag. That won't count."

It was true. Thieves these days were truly detestable. When he had been struggling to make a living in the south, he had encountered thieves on a long-distance bus as well.

Back then, he had worked for more than twenty hours straight and had been rushing back. He had dozed off on the bus, only to get robbed.

He had lost more than five hundred in cash, but what upset him even more was that his suit, worth over three thousand, had been slashed open and could no longer be worn.

His heart had ached so badly then. If he could have negotiated with the thief, he would rather have handed over that five hundred. Fine, it was my own fault for sleeping and getting robbed, but could you please spare my clothes? I only had that one decent outfit to keep up appearances.

If this little girl had really been robbed, the handbag would basically have been an accessory. The thief cared about the valuables inside, and the police might not count the bag itself.

But the girl shook her head and said confidently, "Hmph. Even if I don't file a report, I can still catch that guy. It's just better to follow the proper procedure."

Feng Jun stared at her in astonishment. "So the things in your bag really weren't worth two thousand?"

The girl's face reddened slightly. "There's far more than two thousand in my bank card, and there's also my phone... Say, has no one ever told you that your way of thinking is strange?"

Feng Jun blinked and slowly shook his head. "I already helped you. I won't be a witness. I'm busy."

After saying that, he turned and walked away. "I'm very sorry."

"Hey," the girl called after him. "You there, I can pay you!"

Do you think I can be bought with money? Feng Jun snorted inwardly. You really underestimate people.

Still, his footsteps paused for a moment before he hurried away—there was nothing he could do. When you were poor, your resolve did not amount to much.

At around eight the next morning, Feng Jun was training his pushing strength at Hongjie Club when several people entered through the main doors. Before long, a face appeared above him. It was yesterday's girl, and two police officers stood beside her.

The girl looked down at him, a smug smile curling her lips. "Did you think I wouldn't be able to find you?"

Feng Jun set down the barbell and slowly rose to his feet, speaking with a miserable expression. "Come on, it wasn't me who stole your bag... Do you really have to hold such a grudge?"

The girl stared straight at him and said seriously, "Yesterday, you mocked me for being poor."

"No." Feng Jun shook his head... Being hated by a woman, especially a petty woman, was truly deadly.

He denied it firmly. "I can't even afford a bag worth more than two thousand. What right would I have to mock you?"

The girl pressed on aggressively. "Then why didn't you want to be a witness?"

Feng Jun spread his hands helplessly. "I already told you, beautiful... I'm busy. I have to survive. I have to work."

"You're lying." The girl stared into his eyes, her large eyes unblinking. "Do you dare say you don't know Liu Shuming?"

A faint trace of smugness appeared in her eyes, like a teacher catching a student cheating.

In truth, she had put quite a bit of effort into finding him. By reviewing Skynet footage, she had identified him, then followed the trail to Hongjie Club.

There was no need to mention what happened next. She had finally remembered that she had visited this club the day before yesterday.

And the underling who had received her group was the very man who had stepped in.

Then her memories fully returned. She recalled that the man who had blocked her path also seemed to be from Hongjie Club. Though he had worn a mask, his general build could not have been wrong.

The one who had blocked her and the one who had saved her were actually coworkers. This matter... probably was not so simple, was it?

Feng Jun froze for a moment. Knowing he could not hide it any longer, he nodded readily. "I know him."

"He doesn't seem to have come in today." The girl glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Did he know I'd come looking?"

Your intelligence seems a little overdue on payment, Feng Jun thought helplessly, rolling his eyes. "His head was injured. Of course he couldn't come."

The girl paused before speaking again. "Fine, let's not talk about him for now... Did he commit masked robbery to give you a chance to play the hero and save the beauty?"

That imagination of yours needs some nourishment too, Feng Jun thought, feeling even more helpless. "You're not that beautiful, are you... Fine, he stole my reception assignment that day. Why would you expect him to help me? He's a club coach, while I'm just a waiter."

One of the female police officers could no longer stand it. She asked sharply, "Since you recognized him as Liu Shuming too, why didn't you tell the victim? And why did you refuse to testify? Do you know what the crime of harboring means?"

Feng Jun hesitated, then spread both hands and answered bluntly, "We're coworkers. I had to consider the company's image. Although the company hasn't treated me that well, the boss is fairly reasonable and thinks highly of me."

After a pause, he added, "Besides, Liu Shuming's crime should only count as attempted, right?"

The female officer snorted disdainfully and was about to speak when a voice sounded from nearby. "Oh? You came to our club in police uniforms."

The club employees and customers who had gathered around parted, and a glamorous, tall woman walked over.

It was none other than Zhang Weihong, the club's general manager.

The female officer knew Red Sister's reputation as well. With a touch of helplessness, she replied, "Red Sister, we're handling a case."

"Of course we support the police in handling cases." Red Sister wore a faint smile, but it was a formal smile, one that kept people at a distance. "But... wouldn't plain clothes be better?"

The request seemed excessive, but it fit the market's current expectations. Hongjie Club claimed to be a cultural company, but at its core it was still in the service industry. Service businesses hated it when police came knocking.

It was not only entertainment venues like KTVs, cinemas, and hotels. Even restaurants and antique shops did not want police arriving in uniform—who knew what rumors it might turn into once word got out?

The female officer raised her brows, seeming somewhat impatient, but she ultimately explained patiently, "Red Sister, this case involves retaliatory assault. Following proper procedures... is good for us and for the club."

There was clearly more left unsaid in her words.

"I understand." Red Sister nodded, then lifted her chin and said flatly, "Bring that bastard over."

Two burly men supported Liu Shuming as he appeared before everyone. Coach Liu's hair had been shaved into a half-bald, half-haired mess, and a thick layer of bandages was wrapped around his head. He looked utterly listless, like a defeated soldier.

"I've already restrained him," Red Sister said expressionlessly. "Our club will never go easy on ugly social evils, but we will not take responsibility for matters that aren't ours."

"That's good." The other officer, a man, nodded. Compared to his colleague, his manner was much kinder. "Thank you very much for your cooperation... We'll take him away now."

Red Sister hesitated before speaking. "Could we clarify the situation here first? Everyone should understand our company's responsibility in this matter... There's quite a lot going on at the club."

Only the famous boss of Hongjie would dare speak to the police like that. Anyone else would not have dared make such a request.