Infinite Ebullience
Chapter 1023 - 6: Encounter with Black Long Straight

Chapter 1023: Chapter 6: Encounter with Black Long Straight

Tang Zheng grabbed the gangster’s wrist, squeezed hard, crushing his hand bones, and threw him out with momentum. The unfortunate fellow rolled on the asphalt road surface like a high-speed falling sandbag. If it wasn’t for his helmet, he would have been dead for sure!

Feeling the weight on the seat behind him lighten, the gangster in front panicked and tried to accelerate, but then a large hand grabbed his back and pulled with great strength, dragging him down.

Buzzing, the out-of-control motorcycle shot forward and crashed into a curb tens of meters away.

The pedestrians cheered and then saw the young man actually lift the gangster, still struggling to escape, over his head, and then, with an ax-throwing dunk, slammed him violently to the ground.

The gangster lost consciousness instantaneously, slumping on the ground like a lump of mud.

After kicking the gangster’s head to ensure he hadn’t suffered any fatal injuries, Tang Zheng let out a sigh of relief. He had been angry earlier and might have been too rough. If the gangster had died, he could have been charged with excessive defense.

With the danger eliminated, the unconcerned bystanders all gathered around, spontaneously applauding Tang Zheng’s righteous act, with various shouts of approval and praises.

In their eyes, this young man’s face was calm, as if he had done a trivial thing, completely poised, while the girls constantly took pictures, suddenly realizing Tang Zheng’s cool expression was very photogenic, like an ancient fierce general who could command troops and behead admirals in the midst of an army.

Tang Zheng was just in a bad mood because he looked past the crowd and saw the middle-aged woman who had her bag snatched quickly run to the gangster who had been thrown off. She retrieved her bag and necklace and then hurriedly left without saying a word to the young man who had saved her possessions.

"Sorry, excuse me!" To avoid trouble, Tang Zheng didn’t want to deal with the police and squeezed out of the crowd.

"Good deeds without seeking fame, good job young man." An elderly man smiled and gave a thumbs-up as he looked at Tang Zheng’s retreating figure.

"Eh? Where’s the victim? She left? Not even a word of thanks?" someone noticed the missing middle-aged woman.

"Clearly, she’s petty-minded, worried that the man would ask her for a reward."

Tang Zheng ran for a dozen meters and caught the No. 18 bus. He crossed the platform and boarded, only to remember at the coin slot that his wallet was still in his sportswear, which he had torn off earlier.

The bus driver’s gaze swept over, making Tang Zheng, who wouldn’t even change color in front of his mother, feel the utmost embarrassment, thinking about getting off.

"I’ll lend it to you!" Along with a crisp voice, a girl with black long straight hair wearing jeans and a down jacket stepped forward. Her delicate, fair fingers pinched two coins and dropped them into the coin slot.

"Thank you, I’ll pay you back later." Tang Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and then furrowed his brow, "Hmm? Is that you?"

"You dropped your card!" Tao Ran said casually, pulling a bank card from his pocket and handing it back to Tang Zheng.

"It’s not mine." After Tang Zheng spoke, however, he noticed the girl showed no sign of compromise and slapped the bank card against his stomach.

"I have given it back to you already." The black long straight-haired girl walked towards the back of the bus. She had kept the bank card just to find an opportunity to return it to Tang Zheng. She hadn’t touched any of the money on it, not even knowing how much was there, because she never considered keeping this pie that fell from the sky.

"I’ve told you it’s not mine." Tang Zheng followed her, trying to put it back in her hand, but was stopped by what Tao Ran said next.

"Are you pitying me?" The black long straight-haired girl raised her chin and looked straight into Tang Zheng’s eyes.

It was a pretty cheek, coupled with moist red lips, full of fresh natural charm, like a burning white lotus in the stream, a pity that the dim and lightless blind left eye completely ruined this beauty, causing anyone who saw it to feel a sense of regret.

Tang Zheng suddenly realized the girl was tall and, even in faded canvas shoes that had seen better days, she stood as tall as his lips. If she were to wear high heels, she would certainly be his equal in height.

Tao Ran’s silhouette was definitely that of a beauty, and paired with Tang Zheng’s tank top, the pair immediately attracted the entire carriage’s attention, and the passengers subconsciously stayed quiet to listen to their conversation.

"I didn’t mean that!" Tang Zheng smiled wryly, finding Black Long Straight to be quite proud.

"Thank you. I saw what happened just now. You’re a good person, but I don’t need help," Tao Ran rarely snapped at people. Calling it pity was just her way of throwing Tang Zheng’s words back at him. She had been waiting at the platform for the bus when she witnessed everything the young man did.

"Alright, I apologize." Tang Zheng didn’t want to hurt a girl’s pride, so he pocketed the bank card, "Where are you headed? I can take you."

For some reason, looking at Tao Ran’s indifferently calm aura, Tang Zheng felt his mind relax, soothing like flowing water, and unconsciously wanted to be with Black Long Straight a bit longer.

Tao Ran remained silent, only the tightening of her fingers around the armrest betraying her troubled heart. Had Tang Zheng kept pestering her at the supermarket, she would have thought that guy harbored ill intentions. But since their last encounter, he had vanished, and this chance meeting was nothing more than ships passing in the night...

"Tao Ran, you really think too highly of yourself. You’re just a blind grotesque, while he is a handsome man pursued by countless girls." With these thoughts, Tao Ran regained her indifference, her expression growing colder.

The warm and sunny afternoon sunlight streamed into the carriage, falling on Black Long Straight’s serene profile. Her skin appeared somewhat pallid, her slim figure backed by a proud spine, and her delicate waist only accentuated her ample chest. Suddenly, Tang Zheng felt an urge to kiss her.

Tao Ran naturally noticed Tang Zheng’s gaze. Part annoyance, part embarrassment, her cheeks flushed with a touch of redness.

Accustomed to a life of solitude and simplicity, Tao Ran suddenly felt out of place. With the sound of the bus stopping and the announcement of stations, she rushed off the bus.

"Hey? Wait, Master, I need to get off." It was only when he saw Tao Ran’s black hair dancing in the spring breeze, running a dozen meters away, that Tang Zheng came to his senses, shouting for the driver to open the just-closed door and chasing after her.

The passengers inside the carriage revealed benevolent smiles, their gazes following the couple, wishing them happiness.

"Forget it, why do I feel like a stalker?" Watching Tao Ran hurriedly walking away and chasing her for a few meters, Tang Zheng chuckled self-deprecatingly and stopped.

Wandering aimlessly for over ten minutes on the street, Tang Zheng was about to visit Xin Lan when he received a call from Xu Liangmao.

"What’s up?" Not often did the honest man call him, which piqued Tang Zheng’s curiosity.

"Are you free tonight? Let’s have dinner together. I’ve never properly thanked you." Xu Liangmao really wanted to express his gratitude to Tang Zheng, and also to smooth things over between Yu Manli and the Group Leader; if things continued this way, trouble was inevitable.

"Sure, and bring your twins along. I’d like to meet them too," Tang Zheng teased Old Xu, knowing his daughters were his treasures.

"Not tonight, I’ve sent them to their grandmother’s place," Xu Liangmao replied with a glum tone, the thought of his negligent wife causing him distress. They had talked several times, but it always ended badly; he knew she had long wanted a divorce. Her recent inaction was due to the money he had suddenly retrieved.

"Alright, let’s touch base later tonight." Hearing Xu Liangmao sigh on the other end, Tang Zheng quickly changed the subject, as the discord in Liang Mao’s family was well-known.

"Okay, at seven o’clock. Let’s meet in front of the Red State Hotel on Victory Road," Xu Liangmao said, then hung up the phone. He turned to the mature woman sitting opposite him, "I’ve made the appointment for you, but don’t do anything inappropriate, and make up with the Group Leader as soon as possible."

"Thank you." Yu Manli knew she would most likely be rejected if she invited Tang Zheng herself, so she opted for a roundabout strategy. She gave a wry smile, complaining to the miserable man, "I’m just afraid he won’t forgive me."

"The Group Leader is a good man; he’ll understand your difficulties," Xu Liangmao replied, then frowned. "I won’t come tonight."

"Why?" The mature woman feigned surprise, though she clearly understood Liang Mao’s hesitations—too honest to have frequented the Red State before—he was bound to feel out of place. "Don’t worry, just relax tonight."

"Doesn’t act like a man." On leaving Liang Mao’s place, the mature woman couldn’t help but badmouth him. Leading such a pathetic life, it would be a miracle if his wife didn’t give him trouble—were it not for their common history as Conquerors, she’d never have crossed paths with such a man given her usual lifestyle.

In the evening, standing on Victory Road and looking at the grand and lavishly decorated Red State Hotel in the distance, Tang Zheng furrowed his brow. According to Old Xu’s personality, he would never invite him to such a place.

"Tang Zheng, over here." Xu Liangmao got out of the taxi, looking nervous.

"Did Yu Manli ask you to invite me?" As expected, the honest man couldn’t lie, it was all over his face.

"Yes," Xu Liangmao admitted and quickly added, "She truly intends to apologize."

"Let’s go." Tang Zheng didn’t decline, knowing Yu Manli’s grudge wouldn’t go away if he did, always wary of him.

The Red State might have ’Hotel’ on its sign, but it was a high-end club with all sorts of entertainment facilities, where men and women could find their pleasure, living a life of debauchery. Of course, without a certain financial capability, one wouldn’t have the right to splurge here.

Six beautiful receptionists in split-side bright red cheongsams stood at the entrance. As Tang Zheng and his companion passed, they bent over with a welcome, their movements elegant and in unison, clearly well-trained.

Having clammed up, Xu Liangmao didn’t speak, afraid of embarrassment and musing whether the girls felt cold in only their silk stockings. It seemed that no job was easy.

Entering the lobby, a blast of warm air welcomed them. The front desk receptionist, upon spotting Tang Zheng, immediately showed signs of nervousness, abandoning a few customers and rushing over. The boss had given strict instructions with a photo in hand, to serve this important guest well.

"Sir, the VIP private room is ready. Please, this way." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)