Late-Night Snack

Yang Chu was caught by Fish Head Xu, who helped him stay upright. With something to lean on, he managed to keep his feet.

"Chu-zai, what the hell happened here..."

Fish Head Xu's crossed eyes darted over the blood-soaked scene, and he couldn't stop himself from trembling. He hurriedly helped Yang Chu toward the Toyota. "Forget it, Chu-zai. Let's get out of here first."

He dumped Yang Chu into the passenger seat, then hurried around to the driver's side, started the car, made a U-turn, and sped away.

"Brother Xu—"

After they'd driven for a while, Yang Chu slumped bonelessly in his seat. He turned his head and looked at Fish Head Xu, whose face had gone pale and whose hands were still trembling slightly on the steering wheel, then called softly to him again.

"Chu-zai, don't tell me anything."

Fish Head Xu swallowed and cut off Yang Chu before he could continue. "I didn't see anything. I don't know anything."

"Brother Xu, I'm saying you should find somewhere up ahead to drop me off."

Yang Chu turned his gaze away from Fish Head Xu. His eyelids drooped as he calmly watched the night road beyond the windshield, illuminated by the headlights.

When he'd left Fish Head Xu earlier and gotten into the car with Black Skin Sha and the others, he hadn't expected to see Fish Head Xu again. He didn't want his troubles to drag Fish Head Xu into them, but he hadn't expected Fish Head Xu to follow them in his car.

Now that Black Skin Sha and the others were dead, and several strange killers who seemed immune to pain had appeared, Yang Chu really had no idea how much trouble he was in for.

After hearing Yang Chu, Fish Head Xu fell silent for a moment. Then, a little while later, he suddenly blurted out, "Whoa, Chu-zai, are you kidding me? You look like you're about to kick the bucket.

Listen, you're soft and delicate, and it's dangerous to be alone at night. There are perverts everywhere around here. Last year in Tuen Mun, there was one who went after men as well as women."

As he spoke, Fish Head Xu shook his head, putting on an exaggeratedly disdainful, mocking expression. "Look at you. Hah. I'd better take you to a doctor first."

"No need to see a doctor, Brother Xu."

Hearing Fish Head Xu say this, Yang Chu didn't say anything more. He just slowly closed his eyes, and a rare hint of a smile appeared on his face.

"Let's find somewhere to get a late-night snack."

Night had fallen deep, and the lights had dimmed in many parts of Hong Kong Island.

But around Nathan Road, the streets were still awash in neon.

Taxis waited outside the nightclubs for fares. Glamorous women in heavy makeup and successful men throwing caution to the wind came and went.

At Man Wo Food Stall on Woosung Street, off Nathan Road, Yang Chu and Fish Head Xu sat facing each other. Their small table was piled high with all kinds of late-night snacks.

There were grilled oysters, clams with vermicelli, stir-fried beef ho fun, grilled squid skewers, Taiwanese herbal pork ribs, oyster omelets, "bombs," Thai volcano ribs, "Snow Ice Lady," and a huge seafood platter. The variety was endless.

A 1.5-liter bottle of mineral water sat beside Yang Chu. He dug straight in, shoveling all kinds of food into his mouth.

"Here it is, here it is—steamed grouper."

The greasy, middle-aged owner came out of the stall carrying a tray in both hands and set a steamed grouper on their table. He wiped his hands on the apron tied around his waist. Watching Yang Chu eat at a breakneck pace, he looked surprised, though he couldn't stop smiling.

"Brother Cheng, thanks for all your hard work."

Fish Head Xu looked at the owner beside them and raised the bottle of water in his hand in greeting.

"This is nothing." The greasy middle-aged owner laughed and shook his head. His eyes fell on Yang Chu, who was still polishing off the food, and he couldn't help exclaiming in admiration. "This young man really is the biggest eater I've had since I opened the place."

"He's young," Fish Head Xu said with a laugh. "Back when we were in our twenties, a bunch of us would come to your place at night and eat up all your stock."

"Haha, enjoy your meal."

The middle-aged owner smiled, glanced at Yang Chu again, then went back inside the food stall to carry on working.

"You've known him for a long time?"

After the owner had left, Yang Chu pulled some tissues from the table and wiped his hands, asking casually.

The food stall where he and Fish Head Xu had come tonight was the same place where they'd had their first late-night meal together and gotten into a fight with a group of young punks.

"Yeah. Back then, whenever a bunch of us finished work at night, we'd come here to eat." Fish Head Xu rocked his head, sounding rather nostalgic. "Over the years, a lot of people have settled down and started families. Big Brother and the Big Brother's status and wealth have changed, too. They can't just eat at roadside stalls with us like they used to..."

"Ah Xu—"

Just as Fish Head Xu and Yang Chu were reminiscing, a pleasant voice suddenly called out.

Yang Chu raised his head and looked toward the voice. A stylishly dressed, sexy-looking woman in her mid-to-late twenties stood in the street outside the food stall.

"It really is you, Ah Xu!"

The attractive woman carried a small purse. When she saw Fish Head Xu, she seemed delighted. She hurried over to their table, sat down beside him without the slightest hesitation, and slipped her arm around his.

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

Fish Head Xu looked rather uncomfortable as the attractive woman clung to him.

"I was hungry, so I came for a late-night snack." The woman reached across the table as if she owned the place and picked up a shrimp. Tilting her face toward Fish Head Xu, she said, "You haven't come to patronize my business these past few days. I can barely afford my late-night snacks anymore."

"Patronize you?!" Fish Head Xu pulled her arm away and shouted, "Lady, last time Cobra's men chased me with knives! If Chu-zai hadn't helped me, you'd have to visit me in the hospital just to see me."

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

The woman put down the shrimp and gently tugged at Fish Head Xu's arm again, her face turning woeful.

Fish Head Xu seemed completely unable to deal with her. He said helplessly, "Forget it, forget it. I'm not going to nightclubs anymore anyway."

"Brother Xu—"

The woman called out again in a coquettish voice.

Just then, a young man in a waiter's uniform came running over from the street and called to her, "Sis, Snake Brother wants you back. He says he's brought in a big spender to support you."

"Got it." The woman dropped her coquettish expression and answered with some annoyance. Then she turned to Fish Head Xu and spoke gently. "Brother Xu, I'm leaving. Remember to come support me when you have time."

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

"So you two have a thing going on?"

After the woman had left, Yang Chu finished a bite of fish and smiled at Fish Head Xu.

He'd already figured out that the woman was probably why Fish Head Xu had been chased with knives last time.

"What do you mean, we have a thing going on?!"

Embarrassed by Yang Chu's look, Fish Head Xu slapped the table and shouted, "Hurry up and eat! I'm exhausted, and I want to get home and sleep."