Electronic Nezha

Chapter 142 Coffee
The "Heavy Industry Cafe" has a very peculiar decor style—the lighting is supposedly warm-toned, but it's actually dim; the decor is supposedly rustic, but it's basically just untouched hardware store shelves; there's a sign on the bar that says "Coffee 30 a cup," and no other price list or explanation. Anyway, even if I really wanted to drink coffee and walked in, seeing this setup, I'd probably just pretend to ask for directions and leave...

The dolphin looked around and said, "We've gone a bit too far in trying to cover this up. Would anyone dare come here?"

Shark asked Hao Hao, "Let me test you, what if a customer wants a caramel macchiato?"

Hao Hao said, "Make him some milk foam."

"Would you like an iced Americano?"

"Add some ice."

"Would you like some Blue Mountain coffee?"

"Have not heard."

Want to drink 'cat poop'?

"No cat."

"You'd really let people drink cat poop if you had a cat?"

Hao Hao fell silent, seemingly struggling with his thoughts.

The shark said speechlessly, "This really suits you. I feel like even a real idiot could do it."

Ma Chaoran said, "What do you know? This is the routine of trendy cafes. If the taste isn't good, they'll go for something abstract. I've already thought of the advertising and promotion—to let coffee return to its essence and let us have a simple chat."

The shark said, "Have you been a reporter too much?"

Hao Hao said to me somewhat anxiously, "Brother Feng, just let me follow you. What's the point of staying here? I can't do it."

Just then, a short, stocky man walked in through the door. The smell of alcohol wafted out before he even arrived. Despite the cold weather, his down jacket was open because it was unzipped. It was Zhang Biao. He must have drunk quite a bit, but wasn't completely drunk. His bulging eyes widened as he walked straight to the bar, slamming his fist against it with a loud thud, and demanded, "Where's the boss?"

The dolphin whispered, "The thugs are here."

Actually, everyone in this room except for Shark was someone Zhang Biao knew, but firstly, the lighting was dim, and secondly, Zhang Biao didn't notice them; he was just pounding on the bar.

Hao Hao had been staring intently at Zhang Biao ever since Zhang Biao came in, his eyes filled with both anger and sharpness. He had been bullied by Zhang Biao and had even fought back, but those were before he was old enough to think for himself, so he shouldn't have such strong emotions.

Shark reminded Hao Hao, "Idiot, that person is calling you."

Hao Hao walked back to the bar and asked, "Is there something you need?"

Zhang Biao glanced at Hao Hao through his blurry, drunken eyes and said, "Still a pretty boy. Is this shop newly opened? Why didn't you tell me?"

Hao Hao asked, "Why should I greet you?"

“Because this area is under my jurisdiction—” Zhang Biao said impatiently, “You don’t seem like someone who can make the decisions. Here’s what we’ll do: give me 1000 yuan first, and then I’ll talk to your boss.”

Hao Hao stared straight at him and said, "What if I don't give it to you?"

Zhang Biao chuckled coldly, "Trying to get me to fight you? Don't let your size fool you, I'm not afraid of you." He let out a burp and said, "Besides, I'm too lazy to fight right now. If you don't give it to me, I'm going to throw up—I throw up right here every time I finish drinking. Calling the police won't help. You're doing business, you can't just not let your customers in, can you?"

The dolphin remarked, "Last time I saw him, he was a thug; this time, he's turned to extortion."

Hao Hao said menacingly, "If you dare to vomit here, I'll make you eat it back!"

Zhang Biao glanced at Hao Hao and said, "Kid, you look familiar."

I exclaimed anxiously, "Oh no, we'd better not let that bastard figure it out." I poked the shark and said, "It's your turn to make a contribution."

Shark stood up helplessly, covered his face with one hand, and walked behind Zhang Biao, saying, "Do you know me?"

Upon hearing those words, Zhang Biao instinctively shuddered. He turned his head and saw a burly man, which brought back unpleasant memories. He blurted out, "I know him!"

Upon hearing this, Shark raised his right hand high. Zhang Biao, seizing the opportunity, quickly stacked his two hands together to shield his left cheek.

Shark countered with a swift move, covering his face with his right hand while his left hand delivered a solid blow to Zhang Biao's right cheek.

"Snapped!"

"You lied!" After hitting the person, the shark turned around and ran outside... Dolphin and I tried our best to suppress our laughter, and Ma Chaoran let out a "ho" before covering her mouth.

Zhang Biao spun around in place like a top, covered his face, looked blankly at the door and then at Hao Hao, and cried out in a tearful voice, "I was beaten in your shop, you have to give me an explanation!"

Hao Hao said, "Okay, come out with me, I'll explain." Then he walked out.

"Let me tell you, this matter won't be settled for less than ten thousand yuan!" Zhang Biao didn't think much of it and followed behind Hao Hao.

"Let's go take a look," I said. I always felt that Hao Hao was acting strangely.

Next to the coffee shop is the old neighborhood where I live. It's past nine o'clock at night, but the old neighborhood, which is mainly inhabited by the elderly and students, is already quite quiet. The places without streetlights seem even more desolate.

Hao Hao was heading further and further away from the area, and Zhang Biao felt uneasy. He called out, "Hey!"

Before he could finish speaking, Hao Hao suddenly turned around, grabbed Zhang Biao by the neck, and slammed him against a tree.

Zhang Biao tried to struggle, but he was as helpless as a sick cat pinned down by a Siberian tiger. He shouted, "Nice! If you make a move, it won't just be ten thousand yuan!"

"I'll kill you!" Hao Hao tightened his grip, and Zhang Biao's eyes rolled back in his head.

The dolphin, Ma Chaoran, and the shark that had slipped back all stared in astonishment at the scene before them.

"Hao Hao!" I called out.

Hao Hao turned around, his voice trembling with emotion, and said, "Brother Feng, I remember now! This scumbag beat up my mom! I'm going to avenge her!"

I didn't understand what he meant at first. Did he remember this? He didn't even have the mental capacity of a three-year-old before, so how did he remember these things?

But now is not the time to ask that. At this moment, Zhang Biao seemed to be experiencing fear as well. He hissed, "I've beaten up a lot of people. Who is your mother?"

That sentence broke our defenses.

Hao Hao grabbed Zhang Biao with one hand and clenched his other fist, shouting at me, "Brother Feng, I have to land this punch!"

Hao Hao's punch, theoretically, would be fatal no matter where it landed.

The dolphins were looking at me, and Hao Hao was looking at me too.

At that moment, I gritted my teeth and said, "Fight!"

Hao Hao unleashed a punch that exploded on Zhang Biao's head, creating a crater in the tree and tearing off a large chunk of Zhang Biao's scalp. Blood instantly drenched Zhang Biao's head, turning it into a grotesque mess.

"This punch wasn't a misplaced one; it's a warning to you: if you dare do anything bad again, I'll kill you!"

Zhang Biao must have been in countless fights throughout his life, but this was probably the first time he had ever felt threatened by death. He clutched his head and howled.

The dolphin and shark quickly ran over, picked up Hao Hao, and left the place.

We returned to the coffee shop. Hao Hao's eyes were bloodshot, and Ma Chaoran used a napkin to wipe the blood from his hands.

Shark poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Hao Hao, saying, "Calm down, bro."

Hao Hao took a sip, his expression froze, and he swallowed it with his neck stiff, just like when he was still a fool and ate an orange with the peel on.

"It tastes awful," Hao Hao said.

Dolphin said, "Do you know why so many people love to drink coffee even though it's so bitter? Because life is like coffee, full of bitterness."

Ma Chaoran rolled her eyes at him and said, "We're short of someone to write for our public WeChat account. Want to give it a try?"

Hao Hao knew everyone was trying to comfort him, and he said, "Thank you, I'm fine now." He said to me, "Brother Feng, I'm sorry, I've caused you trouble."

I pushed him into a chair and said, "What exactly happened? What did you remember?"

Hao Hao was lost in thought for a moment and said, "I've wanted to tell you about this for a while now—I had a dream."

(End of this chapter)