Late-night Snack

Fish Head Xu grabbed Yang Chu, providing him with support so he could barely stand.

"Chu Zai, what on earth happened here..."

Fish Head Xu's cross-eyed gaze darted toward the bloody, mangled scene. His body couldn't help but tremble, and he hurriedly helped Yang Chu toward the Toyota. "Forget it, Chu Zai, let's get out of here first."

After shoving Yang Chu into the passenger seat, Fish Head Xu scrambled around to the driver's side, started the engine, made a U-turn, and sped away.

"Brother Xu—"

After driving for a while, Yang Chu slumped against the seat like a man without bones. He turned his head to look at Fish Head Xu, whose face was pale and whose hands were still shaking slightly on the steering wheel, and called out softly again.

"Chu Zai, don't say a word to me."

Fish Head Xu swallowed hard, cutting off whatever Yang Chu was about to say. "I didn't see anything, and I don't know anything."

"Brother Xu, I mean, find a place up ahead and drop me off."

Yang Chu withdrew his gaze from Fish Head Xu, his eyelids drooping as he calmly watched the night road illuminated by the headlights through the windshield.

When he left Fish Head Xu earlier to get in the car with Black Skin Sha and the others, he hadn't intended to see Fish Head Xu again; he didn't want his own troubles to drag the man down. He just hadn't expected Fish Head Xu to follow behind in his car.

Now that Black Skin Sha and his men were dead, and with those strange killers who seemed to feel no pain appearing, he truly didn't know how much trouble lay ahead.

Fish Head Xu remained silent for a moment after hearing Yang Chu's words, before suddenly shouting, "Wah, Chu Zai, are you kidding me? Look at you, you look like you're about to kick the bucket.

Let me tell you, a delicate guy like you is in big danger out here alone at night. There are perverts everywhere; there was one in Tuen Mun last year who didn't just go after women—he went after men, too."

As he spoke, Fish Head Xu shook his head, feigning disgust and mockery. "In this state, heh, I'm taking you to see a doctor first."

"No need for a doctor, Brother Xu."

Hearing these words, Yang Chu said nothing more. He slowly closed his eyes, a rare, faint smile appearing on his face.

"Let's find a place to have a late-night snack."

The night was deep, and the lights in many parts of Hong Kong Island had already dimmed.

But around Nathan Road, the neon lights still blazed.

Taxis waited for passengers in front of nightclubs, while glamorous women in heavy makeup and successful men living reckless lives moved in and out of the venues.

At the Man Wo Food Stall on Woosung Street, Nathan Road, Yang Chu and Fish Head Xu sat across from each other, the small table in front of them covered in various midnight snacks.

There were grilled oysters, vermicelli with clams, stir-fried beef noodles, grilled squid skewers, Taiwanese medicinal pork rib soup, oyster omelets, "burning bombs," Thai-style volcano ribs, shaved ice, and a massive seafood platter—a dizzying variety.

With a 1.5-liter bottle of mineral water by his side, Yang Chu used his hands to shovel the food into his mouth.

"Coming, coming, steamed grouper."

The greasy, middle-aged owner walked out from the stall holding a tray with both hands and placed the steamed grouper on their table. He wiped his hands on his apron, his eyes widening in surprise at Yang Chu's rapid eating speed, though his face remained wreathed in smiles.

"Brother Cheng, thanks for the hard work."

Fish Head Xu looked at the owner, raised his water bottle, and gestured toward the greasy middle-aged man.

"What hard work is this?" The middle-aged man shook his head with a laugh. His gaze fell on Yang Chu, who was busy devouring the food, and he couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration. "This kid is the first customer I've ever had who can eat like this."

"He's young, that's all." Fish Head Xu laughed it off. "Back when we were in our twenties, a whole group of us would come to your place at night and eat you out of stock, too."

"Haha, enjoy your meal."

The middle-aged man chuckled, glanced at Yang Chu once more, and then turned back into the stall to continue his work.

"Known him for many years?"

After the owner left, Yang Chu pulled some paper napkins from the table to wipe his hands and asked casually.

This was the same food stall where he and Fish Head Xu had eaten their first late-night snack together, the place where they had once gotten into a fight with a group of thugs.

"Yeah, back in the day, whenever our group finished work, we'd come here to eat." Fish Head Xu bobbed his head, feeling a bit nostalgic. "Over the years, a lot of people have started families, and the status and wealth of the Big Brothers have changed. It's impossible for them to sit at a roadside stall like we used to..."

"Ah Xu—"

Just as Fish Head Xu was reminiscing with Yang Chu, a pleasant voice suddenly rang out.

Yang Chu looked up in the direction of the sound and saw a beautiful woman, about twenty-six or twenty-seven, standing on the street outside the stall, dressed in stylish and sexy clothing.

"It really is you, Ah Xu!"

The woman carried a small bag and seemed pleasantly surprised to see Fish Head Xu. She trotted over to their table, sat down next to him without any hesitation, and reached out to hook her arm through his.

"Aiya, Jenny, what are you doing here?"

Fish Head Xu looked quite uncomfortable being latched onto by the woman.

"I was hungry, came for a late-night snack." The woman reached out with practiced familiarity, picked up a shrimp from the table, and tilted her head toward Fish Head Xu. "You haven't come to support my business in days; I've barely been able to afford my own late-night snacks."

"Support your business?!" Fish Head Xu pulled his arm away and shouted, "Big sister, last time I was chased and hacked at by Cobra's men. If it wasn't for Chu Zai helping me, the only place you'd be seeing me is in the hospital."

"I'm sorry, Ah Xu, I didn't know they would target you like that."

The woman put down the shrimp and gently tugged at Fish Head Xu's arm again, a look of grievance appearing on her face.

Fish Head Xu seemed completely helpless against her. With a sigh of resignation, he said, "Forget it, forget it. Anyway, I'm not going to that nightclub anymore."

"Brother Xu—"

The beautiful woman called out again, sounding as if she were acting spoiled.

Just then, a youth dressed in a waiter's uniform came running from outside the street, shouting toward the beautiful woman, "Big Sister, Snake Brother told you to head back. He said he's invited a big spender to support you."

"Got it." The beautiful woman reined in her spoiled expression and replied with a hint of annoyance, then turned to Fish Head Xu and said softly, "Brother Xu, I'm heading off first. Remember to come look after me when you have time."

With that, she stood up and swayed her slender figure as she walked out of the food stall.

"Something going on between you two?"

After the beautiful woman had left, Yang Chu finished a mouthful of fish and asked with a smile, looking toward Fish Head Xu.

He had already gathered from what he heard just now that the reason Fish Head Xu had been chased and hacked at last time was likely because of this woman.

"What do you mean, something going on?!"

Fish Head Xu felt a bit embarrassed and annoyed by the look in Yang Chu's eyes; he slapped the table and shouted, "Hurry up and eat! I'm exhausted and want to get back early to sleep."