Chapter 276
The three men exchanged glances after hearing Xu Ke’s words.
“Calling the manager will definitely get us punished. We can’t call the manager.”
“Exactly, if the manager finds out what we’ve done, we can kiss this job goodbye. Anyway, there are only three of them, and two are women. No matter what, we have to make them pay up. Once they bring the money, we’ll sweep up the shards and say the items were sold. Promotion and a raise are inevitable then.” As he spoke, the leftmost clerk’s eyes glowed with greed, determined to fleece these three people.
The three quietly communicated their intentions. Upon realizing their goals were aligned, they all targeted Xu Ke and his group.
“I know why you want to call our manager. I’m telling you, it’s impossible. Today, if you don’t pay, you won’t walk out of here. Let’s see who has more time to waste,” boasted the man in the middle, his face brimming with petty arrogance.
“Ha, you dare threaten me? I’ve swallowed a lot in my life, but I’ll never swallow threats,” Lin Mengyao declared while digging out her phone from her bag, her face full of rage as she prepared to make a call.
The three clerks opposite saw Lin Mengyao’s fierce demeanor and panicked.
“We can’t let her make that call, grab her phone!” The clerk in the middle reacted first, realizing Lin Mengyao’s intention. He shouted loudly and lunged at Lin Mengyao to snatch the phone, prompting the other two, eyes fierce, to pounce on her as well.
Just as Lin Mengyao dialed the emergency number, she saw the three of them charging at her with menacing faces. Her blood ran cold. Bai Ru, having never seen such scenes, reacted decisively, her eyes steadfast. She bit her lip and pulled Lin Mengyao behind her, stepping forward to shield her.
Despite Bai Ru’s courage, having never faced such situations, she was petrified as she stood before Lin Mengyao, closing her eyes and bracing for potential danger.
One, two, three. Bai Ru counted silently in her heart. On the third second, a man’s sharp scream pierced the air. Bai Ru opened her eyes to see the face of the middle clerk twisted in pain.
His hand was in Xu Ke’s grip, his entire arm twisted nearly 180 degrees and lifted up by Xu Ke. The clerk on the left fared slightly better, with his right middle finger clasped in Xu Ke’s hand, his arm wrapped around his neck and pinned under his elbow, rendering him immobile.
The worst off was the clerk on the right. Under Xu Ke’s foot, his cheek pressed against sharp crystal fragments, a single exertion from Xu Ke, and his face would be shredded to pieces.
“Let me go,” the clerk held by Xu Ke screamed, his face contorted.
At that moment, the call connected. Xu Ke tightened his grip, making the man scream, “Stop staring at me; focus on the call.” Xu Ke said indulgently to Lin Mengyao.
The police, upon answering the emergency call, were immediately alert upon hearing the screams from the other end. “What happened over there? Is there an assailant? How many are there, what weapons do they have, and where are you? How many victims?” The officer handling the report asked quickly and seriously.
Lin Mengyao snapped out of it, stirred by Xu Ke’s voice. She felt both safe and warm, despite the urgency of the questions. She responded swiftly, her tone calm and coherent, with a quick and clear speech.
Bai Ru snapped out of her daze, looking at Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao with admiration. Though she had studied abroad, she was always protected by a family-hired bodyguard, never witnessing such confrontations firsthand. This was her first close encounter with violence.
Even without seeing the fight unfold, she felt a surge of excitement and admiration. Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao, with one handling the frontlines and the other managing the aftermath, could only be described as “cool” in Bai Ru’s eyes.
“The police said they’ll be here soon,” Lin Mengyao reported after coordinating with the officer, shifting her gaze to Bai Ru. “I really appreciated what you did earlier. From now on, I’m officially declaring you my best friend. If you ever need anything, just ask, no need to be polite.” Thinking of how Bai Ru rushed to defend her, Lin Mengyao’s eyes sparkled with pure sincerity and affection.
Like children, the two girls, raised with rigorous family expectations, who missed out on normal childhoods and adolescences, now gazed at their newfound friend with unrestrained joy.
Contrary to the warm atmosphere around Lin Mengyao and Bai Ru, Xu Ke’s side was filled with cries of terror.
The two men in Xu Ke’s grasp kept talking, but the one under his foot dared not make a sound. The sharp crystal fragments pressed against his face, threatening to mar his skin if he spoke. Without having found a wife, he couldn’t risk ruining his face, thus remaining silent, the most obedient among the three.
“With the call done, there’s nothing left for you two here. Find a clean place to sit; standing in high heels for too long isn’t good for your feet.” Due to Bai Ru’s protective gesture, Xu Ke’s gaze softened towards her, although his eyes still retained some distance, his attitude was notably warmer than before.
Hearing Xu Ke’s suggestion, Lin Mengyao happily led Bai Ru to the only tidy spot in the store – the cashier’s counter!
Exactly behind the cash register were chairs. The newly bonded girlfriends sat hand in hand, like children, whispering secrets head to head.
Meanwhile, the clerk still in Xu Ke’s grip was relentless in making threats, “Do you know which crew I’m part of? Only fear would stop me from telling you. Let me go, or I’ll ensure you can’t stay in Shangjing!”
Seeing Xu Ke ignoring him, the clerk continued, “You may not believe me, but my brother is a big deal. If he finds out how you bullied me today, you won’t get off easy. Ever heard of the tiger bench? Know about the wooden donkey? A whip dipped in chili water? If you don’t release me today, my brother will make sure you experience all of it firsthand.” The clerk raised his voice menacingly.