Doce Torres de Jade

Capítulo 23

"Take it off again! Take it off again!..."

"I'm 30!"

"I'm 50!"

...

Xu Haibing was horrified by the outrageous and frenzied scene and could no longer sit still, so he got up to leave.

"Where are you going?" A woman's hand with sharp, silver-gray nails slapped heavily on his shoulder from behind.

Xu Haibing turned his head and gasped again.

A blonde woman with blue eyeshadow and a crop top was standing quietly behind him, blowing smoke rings at him.

Xu Haibing flicked away the smoke and was about to leave when the blonde woman snuggled up to him, saying, "Stay with me."

"I'm sorry, I'm here to see someone." Xu Haibing said in a panic, trying to avoid him.

"It doesn't matter who you find, it's all the same when the lights go out!" The blonde woman pulled him back to his seat and sat down in his lap as she spoke.

Xu Haibing stepped aside again, and the blonde woman finally sat down across the table, somewhat annoyed. She gave the waiter a disapproving look and asked, "What, you have a girlfriend here?"

What does "girlfriend" mean?

"It's just an old flame."

"Oh no, it's a female online friend."

"Do you know her?"

"We agreed to meet here for the first time."

A waiter came over and placed two glasses of orange juice on the table. The blonde woman picked up one glass and touched it to the other. Seeing that Xu Haibing didn't move, she leaned forward and brought the orange juice to his lips.

Xu Haibing turned her head away and pursed her lips.

As the blonde woman handed out the drinks, she said, "It's on me. There's no sleeping potion here. Drink it and I'll help you find her. I know her..."

Xu Haibing reluctantly took a sip, but then immediately took out a handkerchief and used it to blow his nose, spitting into the handkerchief.

The blonde woman scoffed, "With your timid, spineless gait, you're probably not her type. These days, women all like men with all three certificates—a university degree, a divorce certificate, and a release certificate from prison. How many certificates do you have?"

"Me? I don't have any credentials."

Aren't you afraid she'll betray you or ruin your life?

Xu Haibing forced a confident demeanor: "Heh, why would she want to trick me or harm me? I brought nothing but sincerity. Besides, I'm a man; even if I were kidnapped, I wouldn't be easy to sell. I met her just to satisfy my curiosity; I found it interesting. Think about it, two living people stepping out of the so-called virtual world, actually meeting and talking together, turning the virtual into a tangible reality..."

"Oh? You're planning to touch her?"

"Oh no, no, don't lead me astray..."

An even greater wave of heat rose from the other side of the stage. "I'll pay 100!" A spectator stuffed two banknotes into the dancer's bra, causing a commotion.

Xu Haibing's heart suddenly skipped a beat, feeling something touch his body. He held his breath and glanced down—

A foot clad in black stockings reached out from under the bar and was teasing his crotch.

Xu Haibing twisted his cheek to confirm that it wasn't a dream, then quickly shifted his body and squeezed his legs together.

The blonde woman drank her orange juice as if nothing had happened.

"Hmm...it seems she won't be coming, so I won't wait any longer. If you really know that netizen with the username 'Silk Stockings,' please tell her that I've kept my appointment..." Xu Haibing said, getting up to take his leave.

"Why can't you keep this to yourself? Let me tell you the truth, I am her... She asked me to wait for you here. She wants me to take you to her place to meet her." The blonde woman lazily stood up and gestured with her chin to follow her.

At this moment, the stage and the surrounding area were in an uproar and in complete chaos.

The spectators, some disheveled and others well-dressed, climbed onto the stage to stuff money into the dancers' waistbands. Their faces, contorted with shouting, looked almost ferocious under the blue light.

"Take it off! Take it all off!..."

"I have 200!"

"I'm a fool!"

...

Wow--!!!

Amidst the explosive screams, Xu Haibing followed the blonde woman away from the grotesque dance hall filled with demons and monsters, emerging from another small doorway concealed by Seven Wolves spray paint.

Two burly men with fierce faces were patrolling on either side of the small door. Xu Haibing glanced at them and thought they looked familiar. He couldn't help but take another look, but he was immediately frightened by their menacing gaze and shrank back.

This is a shantytown crammed with simple, messy, and dilapidated houses.

On the muddy, murky path, the blonde woman walked ahead with her legs clad in black stockings, while Xu Haibing followed behind, looking uneasy.

At this moment, dark clouds hung low in the sky, and rumbling thunder echoed.

QQ Lost (Chapter 35(3))

"We're here, this is it." The blonde woman stopped in front of a small courtyard.

"Um, I... I just saw a public restroom over there, I'll go use it and be right back," Xu Haibing made up an excuse.

The blonde woman paused slightly, then said, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

Xu Haibing glanced quickly at the doorplate, then turned and left.

The blonde woman took out her key, opened a small window in the right-hand door, reached inside, pulled off the latch, and pushed the door open into the yard.

As she closed the door, she peeked out and stared at Xu Haibing's retreating figure one last time.

A dazzling flash of lightning illuminated her heavily made-up face...

Xu Haibing turned out of an alley and hid in a corner. Seeing that no one was around, he unzipped his pants and started urinating while typing a text message on his phone.

Thunder roared, and large raindrops mixed with urine pattered down, soaking the wall...

Xu Haibing rushed back in the rain, pushed open the gate and ran into the messy courtyard, wiping the rain off his hair and face.

"Lock the door shut," came a sweet female voice with a local accent.

Xu Haibing looked up and saw a country girl, without any makeup, wearing a blue floral-patterned jacket, leaning against the door of a small house on the west side of the courtyard, with thick black braids braided...

Xu Haibing suspiciously bolted the door and walked over step by step, carefully examining the girl in front of him who seemed familiar.

The girl smiled faintly: "Come inside, the rain is getting heavier."

Xu Haibing followed the girl into the house and looked around at the small but tidy room.

A window on the front wall of the cottage was blown open by the gust of wind, and rainwater rushed in. The girl was about to close the window, but Xu Haibing rushed over first, quickly glanced out the window twice, and then closed it.

"Please sit down. We just moved here and haven't had time to buy a stool yet, so please make do with the bed." The girl went to get the bowls and chopsticks.

Xu Haibing looked at the crop top and stockings draped at the foot of the bed, puzzled. She had just sat down on the edge of the bed when she felt something pressing against her bottom. Reaching down, she picked it up and saw...

What he was clutching in his hand was a fluffy blonde hood!

Xu Haibing couldn't help but ask, "You're the one who just...?"

"Yes!" The girl took out a bottle of red wine.

"Then you're just a... a..."

"Yes." The girl sat down on the other side of the bed.

"Your real name is..."

"Nizi." The girl picked up the dish cover from the folding table in front of the bed, revealing a birthday cake and several dishes.

Nizi filled two bowls with wine, picked up one, and said, "Brother, did I scare you just now? I know you're a decent person, but I was still worried because there are so few good people like you, so I deliberately tested you. Here, let me offer you this bowl of wine as an apology and to calm your nerves. Take a sip, and I'll drink it first as a sign of respect." With that, she tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Xu Haibing passively picked up the bowl, took a sip, and seeing Nizi cutting the cake, he said somewhat insincerely, "Oh, today is your birthday? You see, I didn't know beforehand, if..."

Nizi placed a piece of cake on a paper plate and handed it to Xu Haibing: "Actually, I didn't know beforehand. I only knew that I was turning 20 this year, but I didn't know which month or day I was born, so I've never celebrated my birthday before. Besides, my hometown is so poor that we can't even hold our heads up high, so how could we have the heart to celebrate a birthday... Since I met you online, I've felt that there is still sunshine, warmth, and affection in this world... So, I suddenly had a bright idea: the day I actually meet you will be my birthday from now on." She insisted that Xu Haibing eat the cake.

Unable to refuse Xu Haibing's hospitality, he had no choice but to take a big bite.

Ni Zi watched with a smile, while Xu Haibing felt guilty under her gaze and stammered, "Look at me, I came empty-handed and didn't bring any gifts to congratulate you..."

"Your presence is the best congratulations I could receive... Sigh, with the crackdown on prostitution before the New Year, the boss came up with a novel idea: using the internet to solicit customers is both safe and convenient. But little did he know how many people would wantonly humiliate, ridicule, and insult him online all day long... That day, I didn't manage to get a single customer, and I was still online past 1 a.m. when I happened to run into you. At first, you didn't believe I was... After I told you the truth, you didn't look down on me or despise me. Instead, you cared for me like an older brother would for a younger sister, and you taught me... At that moment, I suddenly felt that someone finally... treated me like a human being..." Nizi choked up and couldn't continue.

Xu Haibing was at a loss: "Um, um, don't cry. I believe you'll... you'll change your ways... oh, start anew. Hey, you said... you said I did something behind your back?"

Nizi wiped away her tears: "I was just about to tell you. Suddenly, I received a call from an unknown number. Guess who it was?"

Xu Haibing asked blankly, "Who?"

Nizi exclaimed happily, "Peach!"

Xu Haibing asked blankly, "Oh?"

"My sister!" Nizi excitedly grabbed Xu Haibing's arms and shook them. "It's been three years! Taozi finally got in touch with me, and she finally stopped holding a grudge and called me 'older sister' again. We both cried our hearts out... I immediately thought that you must have secretly contacted Taozi behind my back, that you persuaded her to find me, right? Only you know my background, right? It must have been you!"

Xu Haibing, clueless, could only nod perfunctorily.

Nizi was incredibly excited: "At that moment, I suddenly felt like I had a purpose again, hope again, and a future again. So, I immediately rented this place, now I have a fixed address so I can keep in touch with my sister. Oh, and my sister also wants me to set up an email account on the computer so we can communicate. Big brother, do you know how to set one up? After dinner, could you help me get one at an internet cafe?"

Xu Haibing nodded mechanically in agreement.

Nizi dreamt happily, "I'll grit my teeth and endure it for a while longer. Once my sister graduates from teachers' college, I'll finally escape this hellhole and go to where she works. We'll open a beauty salon—no, wait, maybe a laundromat, a snack bar, or a sewing shop—and support and care for our paralyzed mother with our honest skills..."

Xu Haibing was somewhat moved by her sincerity. He filled her bowl with wine, added some to his own, and raised it, saying, "Your wish will come true. Come on, for you, your sister, and your mother to have a good life in the future, cheers!"

QQ Lost, Chapter 35 (4)

Tears streamed down Nizi's face: "...Big brother, thank you, thank you for helping me find my sister, for helping me find the meaning of my life... On behalf of my sister and mother, I am truly grateful to you from the bottom of my heart, and I will never forget your great kindness..."

Xu Haibing used exaggerated movements of tilting his head back and gulping down the liquor to cover up his fear and trepidation.

Nizi suppressed her sobs and picked up the bowl...

"Knock knock! Knock knock..." A rhythmic knocking sound rang out from outside the courtyard.

Nizi and Xu Haibing were both taken aback.

Nizi grew suspicious: "Huh, who's coming back now? Is it the deaf auntie who runs the stall in the east room? No, that doesn't make sense, no one needs to knock when they come back..." She suddenly noticed Xu Haibing avoiding her gaze uneasily, and her mouth dropped open in surprise: "...Could it be? You..."

The knocking intensified.

Xu Haibing suddenly stood up, grabbed Nizi's arm, and pulled her up.

"Thump!" A fruit knife slid out from behind his waist—

The fruit knife automatically pops out a shiny, sharp blade after landing!