The Quagmire of Desire: From Gambling Addict and Village Flower to Movie Queen

The smoke from the barbecue stall drifted under the streetlights, carrying the aroma of charcoal and cumin.

Li Chun had two tables moved together and invited everyone to sit down.

"Boss, bring me fifty lamb skewers, ten kidneys, and chicken wings and whatever else you like." Li Chun plopped down in the main seat, crossed his legs, and lit a cigarette.

Erhu poured wine for Li Chun and then poured a glass of baijiu for Xiao Hui: "Brother, those two moves you made just now were really ruthless. I admire you."

Xiao Hui didn't say anything, picked up his glass and downed it in one gulp, wincing from the spiciness.

Liu Yue sat down next to Xiao Hui and clung to his arm.

Her eyes were still red, but she had recovered. She took a tissue and wiped the blood off Xiaohui's face, saying, "Your elbow is cut."

"It's alright." Xiao Hui pulled his arm back, glanced at Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling, and asked, "Are my sister and the others alright?"

"What could possibly be wrong? It's you who's in trouble—"

Liu Meiling smiled, a cigarette dangling from her lips. "Little Hui, I've seen something today. You're usually so quiet, but when it comes to a knife, you're no pushover."

Sun Xiaoyan didn't say anything, but just picked up her cup and drank water, her eyes fixed on Xiaohui.

She noticed that Xiao Hui's fingers, which were gripping the knife, were still trembling slightly; it was a reaction to the adrenaline receding.

The lamb skewers were served, sizzling with oil.

Erhu eagerly handed Li Chun a skewer and then offered some to Xiaohui: "Brother, I'm impressed by those two stabs. Shenzi is usually so arrogant, but after you stabbed him, he didn't dare utter a sound and just ran away."

"They deserved it." Xiao Hui took a bite of the lamb skewer, his voice calm. "Anyone who dares to mess with my people will pay the price."

These words were spoken softly, yet they startled everyone present.

Liu Yue's face flushed red. She pressed herself even closer to Xiao Hui and whispered, "Honey, you're so good to me."

"Oh my, you're even calling him 'husband' now!" Liu Meiling laughed heartily. "Little Yue, you're quick on your feet."

Liu Yue ignored her and poured a drink for Xiao Hui.

Li Chun squinted at Xiao Hui, exhaling a puff of smoke: "Kid, that stab you did today has made you famous. From now on, no one in this area will dare to mess with you."

"Thank you, Brother Chun." Xiao Hui put down the meat skewers. "If it weren't for you and Brother Erhu here today, I might have been beaten to death by those guys."

"Stop talking about dying, it's bad luck." Li Chun waved his hand. "Since you call me brother, come to me directly if you need anything. I, Li Chun, may not be a good person, but what I say is what I say."

Erhu nodded quickly: "Yes, yes, Brother Chun keeps his word. From now on, Brother Xiaohui's affairs are my affairs."

Xiao Hui nodded and didn't say anything more.

After a few more rounds of skewers, the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Erhu's men started playing drinking games, and Xiaohui's classmates gradually relaxed and began chatting quietly.

Liu Yue's female classmate came over with a drink and whispered to Xiao Hui, "Xiao Hui, I'm sorry about what I said about your cousin earlier—"

"It's alright," Xiao Hui interrupted her. "It's all in the past."

The female student lowered her head, took a sip of her drink, said nothing more, and turned back to her seat.

Liu Meiling, a cigarette dangling from her lips, watched all this and suddenly laughed: "Little Hui, you're quite good at winning people over."

"What kind of people have I tried to win over?" Xiao Hui picked up a lamb skewer and took another bite. "I just think that you can't be too cowardly in your life."

"I love hearing that." Li Chun slammed his hand on the table. "Damn it, I hate those cowards the most. Look at my sister, how badly Erhu bullied her before, but she's stood up for herself now."

Erhu quickly smiled apologetically, "Brother Chun, please don't mention it. It was all because I was ignorant."

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about the past." Li Yan poured a drink to smooth things over. "Brother, when do you want to finalize the transfer of the card and mahjong parlor?"

"Get it done tomorrow, and have Erhu sign it." Li Chun stubbed out his cigarette. "From now on, that area will be my sister's territory. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will regret it."

Erhu nodded quickly: "Brother Chun, don't worry, I will definitely handle it perfectly."

Sun Xiaoyan quietly ate her skewers beside her.

She noticed that Xiao Hui's eyes were different from before; they held a calmness that came with experience.

"Xiaoyan, you have some too." Xiaohui handed her a skewer of kidneys. "You were scared just now, weren't you?"

"A little," Sun Xiaoyan said, taking the kidney. "But Xiaohui, you were really amazing today."

Xiao Hui smiled but didn't say anything.

Liu Meiling raised her glass: "Come on, everyone, let's have a drink. Let's put this behind us today and never mention it again."

Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together.

A night breeze blew by, the smoke from under the streetlights dissipated, and laughter rose from the barbecue stalls.

Li Chun took a sip of his drink, then suddenly seemed to remember something: "By the way, Xiao Hui, you're still in school, right?"

"Yes, senior year of high school."

"Then follow me from now on. Come sit at my sister's shop whenever you're free after school. It'll be good to have someone look out for you if anything happens." Li Chun patted Xiao Hui on the shoulder. "Even though I've killed people and been to jail, I'll never treat my own people badly."

Xiao Hui was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, thank you, Brother Chun."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yue's expression changed, but she didn't say anything; she simply tightened her grip on Xiao Hui's arm.

At the end of the barbecue, Erhu paid the bill and kindly lit a cigarette for Li Chun.

Li Chun, a cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced at Xiao Hui and said, "Kid, you enjoyed the drinks tonight. Call me if you need anything."

"Brother Chun, can I leave my number?"

Li Chun read out a string of numbers, which Xiao Hui saved to his phone.

Li Chun patted him on the shoulder: "Okay, I'll be going now. You guys should go home early too."

Xiao Hui nodded, and Li Chun left with Li Yan and Er Hu.

Only Xiao Hui, Liu Yue, two classmates, and Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling remained at the barbecue stall.

"Xiaohui, we should go back too," Xiaohui said cautiously. "We have class tomorrow."

"Let's go." Xiao Hui stood up, glanced at Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling, "Sister, you two go home first, I'll see my classmate off."

"Okay, we'll go back ourselves." Liu Meiling waved her hand, a cigarette dangling from her lips.

Liu Yue held onto Xiao Hui's hand tightly, refusing to let go: "I'll go with you to deliver it."

Xiao Hui nodded, and the four of them walked together toward the school.

Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling stood in front of the barbecue stall, watching Xiaohui's figure disappear into the night.

"That kid has really grown up." Liu Meiling exhaled a puff of smoke. "The first time I met him, he was just a student who hadn't even grown any hair yet."

"Yes," Sun Xiaoyan said softly, "Those two stabs today were terrifying to watch."

Liu Meiling put her arm around her shoulder: "Let's go home. We have a lot to do tomorrow."

The two turned around and walked towards Xiao Hui's house.

The smoke from the barbecue stalls gradually dissipated, leaving only a faint smell of smoke in the night air.

In the distance, Xiao Hui and Liu Yue walked side by side under the streetlights.

Liu Yue clung tightly to him, whispering, "Honey, you were so handsome back then."

Xiao Hui smiled but didn't say anything.

The sensation of the knife hilt still lingered in his mind.

That was the first time he had ever stabbed someone. The moment the knife pierced through, he heard Shen Yan scream in agony.

At that moment, he felt no fear, only an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

"If anyone bullies you in the future, I'll stand up for you," Xiao Hui said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yue couldn't stop smiling.