Chapter 52: Brother Xiaofeng, Could You Come and Pick Me Up?
After a busy day, Lin Feng returned to his dormitory and glanced at his savings.
Balance: 63,000.
Aside from his daily wages, most of this sum was earned from commissions taken from the group of college students. Though his actions might be considered unscrupulous, the rates he offered were already the best in the area.
Usually, Aunt Zhang would cook communal meals, including rice, and the job provided physical exercise—it was an excellent opportunity. In recent days, even several graduates had come to ask if he was hiring.
For now, Aunt Zhang’s shop was running smoothly. Lin Feng had thought it over: after he left, he would leave Li Hao here to help out. After all, Chu Lingshuang's grudge was only against him personally; Li Hao, who had already been expelled, shouldn’t encounter much trouble.
He pondered whether to take Xiaonuan out for a walk to broaden her horizons, but a message from Xia Qingqing popped up on his phone.
“Brother Feng, could you come pick me up?”
It was already past ten o’clock at night. Xia Qingqing hadn’t returned home yet?
Lin Feng frowned and replied, “You’re not home?”
“No… I’m at Golden Times Bar. I drank a bit too much…”
Xia Qingqing sent another message right after.
“Never mind, sorry for bothering you. Brother Feng, you should sleep early. I’ll just get a cab home myself…”
Lin Feng’s frown deepened as he read her words.
Although he didn’t want to get entangled with Xia Qingqing, her energetic and optimistic nature had always attracted him somewhat. He regarded her as a younger sister.
He wanted to keep his distance, but letting her stay alone in a bar so late didn’t sit right with him. Moreover, her messages seemed to hint at some grievance.
A young woman drinking alone at a bar late at night—no matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t safe.
Since she had reached out to him, he couldn’t just ignore it.
Lin Feng typed a short message: “Stay there and don’t move. Wait for me!”
After sending it, he quickly put on his clothes and hurried out.
Golden Times Bar.
Xia Qingqing, tipsy, lay slumped over the bar, blurry-eyed, clutching her phone, barely able to make out the words “Wait for me.”
Her heart warmed instantly.
It felt as though someone cared about her, and her calm heartbeat suddenly raced…
She rubbed her cheeks excitedly, forced herself upright, and called out to the bartender, “Another cocktail, please!”
“Miss, you already seem drunk. Drinking more won’t be good for your health.”
A male voice sounded nearby—not the bartender in front of her, who was already preparing her drink.
She turned her head in confusion and saw a chubby man sitting beside her, whom she hadn’t noticed before.
He wore glasses, his broad face pitted and greasy, exuding the aura of a middle-aged man.
Seeing this, Xia Qingqing nearly retched.
She snarled at him, “Mind your own business! Why do you care if I drink?”
The man pushed up his glasses, smiling maliciously as he eyed Xia Qingqing. When the bartender brought her drink, he snatched it and downed it in one gulp.
Xia Qingqing was furious, cursing, “That’s my drink! Why the hell are you drinking it?”
Her head was spinning, her words slurred and shaky.
The man turned to the bewildered bartender and smiled, “Sorry, my girlfriend’s in a bad mood tonight. Put this one on my tab.”
“Who’s your girlfriend!”
With that, Xia Qingqing exploded, shoving the man aside and telling the bartender, “I don’t even know him!”
The bartender looked confused. Incidents like this happened often in bars, and it wasn’t really his place to intervene. Yet if trouble occurred inside, he had to step in.
He was about to ask further when the middle-aged man continued, smiling, “It’s fine, we’re just having a little argument. My name is Zhao Fei, and she’s Xia Qingqing, my girlfriend.”
He called out to her, “Qingqing, stop making a scene. Let’s go home and talk. I finally found you!”
Xia Qingqing couldn’t believe her ears.
The alcohol haze cleared somewhat, and she stared at Zhao Fei in disbelief.
He could call her by name—clearly, he must know her. The bartender, seeing this, decided not to get involved and walked away.
Suddenly, Xia Qingqing felt panic rising.
She wracked her brain but couldn’t recall anyone named Zhao Fei. How did he know her name?
Zhao Fei grabbed her shoulder, forcefully hauling her to her feet.
Xia Qingqing, weakened by alcohol, had no control over her body.
She could only let the man pull her up.
“Let go of me! I don’t know you! Zhao Fei? You’re nuts!”
Xia Qingqing struggled desperately, cursing as she did.
But her feeble resistance was like scratching an itch on Zhao Fei, barely making a dent in his round belly.
The commotion attracted the attention of several nearby patrons.
But their posture looked exactly like a couple in distress.
Especially as Zhao Fei kept his arm around her shoulder, apologizing to the onlookers with a smile, “Sorry, my girlfriend’s had too much. We just had a fight…”
Such scenes were all too common in bars, so no one stepped forward.
Thus, Zhao Fei dragged Xia Qingqing out of the bar.
Outside, the cool night air hit her, sobering her up considerably.
She pushed Zhao Fei away with all her might, stumbled to the large column by the door, and shouted angrily, “You’re crazy! Don’t touch me or I’ll call the police!”
Her trembling figure resembled a frightened rabbit.
Zhao Fei grinned, “I’ve been watching you for a long time, Miss Xia. You’d better come quietly.”
“Lunatic!”
Frantically, Xia Qingqing searched for her phone, but after a while realized it wasn’t on her.
They were now in a secluded corner by the bar entrance; everyone else was inside enjoying themselves, leaving the doorway deserted.
At that moment, her panic reached its peak.
She never imagined she would find herself in a scene straight out of a TV drama.
“Don’t worry, Miss Xia. As long as you behave, whatever you want, I’ll give you. The Zhao family has never lacked money.”
Zhao Fei chuckled, stepping forward, reaching to grab her slender wrist.
The next moment, a sharp male voice rang out behind him.
“I’d advise you not to touch her!”