SWNOVELXO Chapter 2: Chapter 1
Zhong Hai City, Western China, May 28, 2024
At night, at the farmers market located in the western region of Zhong Hai City, there were numerous pedestrians and noisy vehicles passing by indifferently. Vegetable leaves and dirty water were scattered all over the ground. There were a huge number of different faded shop signs, and a few single-colored neon lights would turn on from time to time. There were workers returning home, children finishing school, old people buying groceries, and many tired passersby from the journey, making the gray and dusty sky look more and more depressing.
Perhaps within a metropolitan city like this, that region was the stain that people most despised, a region known for its unkempt streets, lack of basic services and a reputation associated with crime and poverty. It was a place that residents considered undesirable, an uncomfortable reminder of the inequalities they preferred to ignore.
Standing by a wall near an intersection was a woman who looked out of place. Unlike the civilians who wore ordinary second-hand clothes, she had a bearing that did not belong in this environment: her impeccably tailored business suit with black trousers, shiny brown shoes, a perfectly pressed white long-sleeved shirt and a matching black tie suggested success and sophistication. She stood out even more because of her expression of calm superiority and the way she smoked, with slow movements, while she observed with apparent indifference the other passersby, immersed in the daily struggle of this modest-looking place. It was as if her distinction created an invisible chasm between her and the others, a contrast that was as strange as it was impossible to ignore.
The woman had her hair tied in a loose braid with a fringe that reached just below her eyebrows and two longer side bangs that framed her face. Her eyes, dark as obsidian but with a golden glint reminiscent of the sunset, along with a mature and attractive face, caught the eyes of everyone who crossed her path. It is a pity that no matter how good she looked, the men walking down the street did not dare to approach her; her distant gaze, combined with an icy aura that seemed to erect an invisible barrier, prevented even the most daring from daring, because the young woman gave the impression of being unattainable.
Three years had passed since her return to China, a period in which little had changed on the surface, except for one or two significant incidents that, although discreet, left a deep mark on her life. One of them was an unexpected meeting with an old friend, which made her reflect on her past and her decisions. The other, a work challenge that, although difficult, allowed her to prove her worth and consolidate her confidence. It was a pity that there had not been more visible progress, but she was not going to cry over spilt milk. She has experience and patience, and she knew that with those two virtues, anything is possible.
"Old Li, it's time for you to pay back what you agreed to two days ago!" A sharp male voice suddenly appeared from the side.
The woman looked to the side. The three men approaching her looked no older than 20 and were dressed like gangsters, with their hair standing up, silver chains, holey jeans, scruffy faces and a cigarette in their mouths.
Old Li was a fried snack street vendor right next to the young lady. Similarly, due to the heat, he didn't have much business and was sitting in his seat with a worried expression.
"This…" Old Li showed a bitter expression: "My young master, please be patient. In this hot weather, how can I pay without any business…"
"Listen, Old Li, don't accept even an inch after being given an inch. If it wasn't for Big Brother Feng protecting you, this stand of yours would have been destroyed long ago," a henchman said in a threatening tone.
The bully called Senior Brother Feng seemed extremely pleased, he patted his henchman and said, "Today's protection fee, you can choose to pay it or you can choose not to pay it. Anyway, I must get the money. Otherwise, I will smash your stall right now!" With that, he picked up a sausage skewer, took two big bites, and threw the rest onto the ground.
Old Li was stuck without a way out and tightly gripped the small stack of notes in his pocket, considering whether or not to spend it like that. The money was meant for his wife to see a doctor, how could he bear to use it as a "present" for these rascals!?
"I'll pay for it." The woman next to Old Li's stall suddenly came over and took out a few bills from her pocket, which was five hundred dollars. She handed them over and said indifferently, "This is all I have. Old Li is already getting on in years and is in urgent need of money. You two should accumulate some good karma."
The little hoodlum squinted his eyes and laughed, then took the notes and passed it to his henchman behind, "Yang Ji, you want to pretend to be a good person, but you haven't paid your own protection fee!"
Yang Ji frowned at them and gave them a look of genuine confusion and replied, "I don't have a job here so I don't even have the obligation to pay you."
"Well, I'm not an unfriendly person, everyone should cooperate. I protect your businesses and you pay me money actually… Wait, what did you say?" The little bully trailed off, not entirely sure he had heard correctly.
"I don't work here," Yang Ji replied indifferently as he took out another cigarette and lit it, taking a puff of smoke "I don't have a food stand"
"Then what the hell are you doing here!" said the little duck impatiently.
Yang Ji shrugs indifferently, "I'm a friend of Old Man Li and his daughter, I come to visit them when I have free time from work."
Yang Ji smiled at them with a dull look and then added, "I work at Situ Rose's bar. If you have a problem with me paying you protection money that I don't even need, you can consult my boss."
The little bully and his minions froze upon hearing the name "Situ Rose". They clearly knew Yang ji's boss judging from the bitter looks they gave her. Seeing that they couldn't get any benefit from her, the little bully and his minions gave up, left and strutted off to other stalls, causing them pain.
Yang Ji just gave them another dispassionate look as She thought cowards and took another drag of smoke from his cigarette.
Old Li's eyes were already red, he looked bitterly at Yang Ji, "Little Yang, why are you bothering? You're always helping me pay off those bullies, how can I allow this to continue…
Yang Ji smiled at Old Man Lin, this time it was a little genuine, "Old Man Li, don't say that. When I first arrived and wasn't used to life here, I probably wouldn't even have a friend to talk to if it wasn't for you. The least I can do is return a bit of the kindness you gave me."
"Little girl... What should I tell you..." The old man seemed to understand that he could not convince Yang Ji and could only sigh.
Yang Ji didn't care and laughed, it was a bored but sincere laugh. As if the previous extortion didn't affect his mood, She took another puff of smoke from his cigarette and said, "By the way, how is your wife's illness?"
Old man Li's eyes were filled with gratitude: "This is all thanks to you for giving me the money to operate on my wife. Now she just needs to have a few more check-ups, take some medicine, and then she will be fine."
"Oh, that's a relief. I wish you a speedy recovery." Yang Ji nodded with a passive look.
Old Li let out a bitter laugh: "Little Yang, the money you lent me will definitely be returned, if I can't return it all before I die, my daughter will still be holding the debt… Alas, if it wasn't for me, that 100,000 dollars of yours could definitely be invested for yourself. You wouldn't need to come here to pay off my debts for me and suffer the harassment of those bullies."
Yang Ji simply gave him a passive glance while smoking her cigarette and replied softly., "A wise person once told me that one act of kindness triggers another." He looked wistfully at the sky and added, "The first thing I did after hearing that was to scoff, but after witnessing a series of events based on that phrase, I realized how important it is for people to be supportive of each other. Besides, I also had someone important to me, so I would have felt just as bad if the same thing happened to your wife."
"Little Yang..." Old Li said, he could only stare with red eyes at the young girl who had helped him and did not know what to say.
Seeing Old Li genuinely expressing concern for herself, Yang Ji unconsciously revealed a slightly bitter expression, if only he knew
After night fell, Yang Ji walked back home while listening to music from his headphones.
"Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation... And little girls from Sweden dream of silver screen quotation... And if you want these kind of dreams it's Californication..." Yang Ji hummed softly as he walked to his apartment.
It was a medium-sized apartment that had been in operation for who knows how many years and was in poor condition, but thanks to her the apartment underwent a complete renovation. The monthly rent was 5000 dollars but well, for Yang Ji it was more than affordable.
Yang Ji's house had luxurious furniture, mostly branded items that only the rich could afford. There was a king-sized bed, a huge wardrobe, very comfortable sofas and a 65-inch smart TV, a sophisticated kitchen and a luxurious bathroom. This luxury was due to Yang Ji's hard work, who had invested 3 years in his well-paid job that allowed him to customize his home according to his preferences. Overall, his apartment was in stark contrast to the other, humbler ones in the building, reflecting his effort and unique style.
After entering his house, Yang Ji took out his earphones and looked at the calendar hanging on the wall. He checked the date, suddenly remembered that it was the anniversary of something important, and with a flash of anxiety, he headed to the bathroom.
In less than five minutes she took a hot shower and came out of the bathroom naked. Her skin was a healthy white color, her well-proportioned body was not very striking, but it was very feminine and had a special charm, she was slim and toned with wide hips, strong legs, a flat stomach and a medium bust that was not large but not small either.
Yang Ji walked to the wardrobe opposite the bed and placed her hand on her chin as she looked at the neat pile of clothes. After a few moments of thought, her eyes fell on a red and black cheongsam, a garment she often wore on special occasions. She ultimately chose it, thinking of the elegant formality required that evening, as well as the touch of tradition that this dress evoked, so rooted in her cultural heritage.
After leaving his house, Yang JI walked towards the most prosperous street in the western region, which was also the only respectable street in the shabby western region, called "Bar Street".
Nightlife, partying and pleasure-seeking were everywhere, there were colourful skirts and all kinds of different perfumes. As soon as you entered the street of bars, the atmosphere of the city took over.
The neon-lit sign of the bar was not considered dazzling, the bar that could only be considered medium-sized contained a mysterious air, bright colored lights in the shape of a rose were decorated on the sign
After crossing the door of the bar, Yang Ji familiarly moved to the side of the counter, choosing a corner to sit down.
"Big Sister Ji, you're here." The young waiter wearing a vest noticed Yang Ji and smiled warmly. At the same time, he poured a glass of orange juice decorated with a slice of falcon. "Big Sister Rose has been waiting for you for a long time."
Yang Ji smiled at her and then took a sip from the glass, "Well I hope I didn't make my boss too angry, it was my day off so I took some time to visit some friends."
"Not angry, Not angry." Little Zhao smiled, it was as if the few pimples on his round face were smiling at him as well. With an imploring tone he said, "Big Sister Ji, when you have time, please teach me. What kind of method did you use that you even managed to hook up with our Big Sister Rose? You know, if the people from Zhong Hai who were interested in our boss were to line up, they could line up from the western region to the sea. For so many years, he had never seen the boss so infatuated with any other person, let alone a woman. However, today, just the question of whether you are here had already been asked no less than 5 times…"
Yang Ji sighed helplessly "Don't talk nonsense, there's nothing going on between Rose and me…"
Little Zhao had an expression of 'I won't believe it even if you kill me', then he sighed, "Geez… Big Sister Ji, to be honest, this cold attitude of yours is too high, to be able to hook up with a world-shaking beauty like our boss. Who knew that the only one here who isn't attracted to the boss is the one who has the most reason to do so? Maybe you should consider stopping playing the ice queen. Which man or woman wouldn't stay with her every day? There's only you, who comes alone when there's work and even lets a beauty wait for you. Otherwise, why do people say that things that can't be obtained are the best? This phrase is suitable to be used on women…"
Yang Ji raised an eyebrow, "That sentence is not entirely true, especially considering that I am also a woman"
Just as Little Zhao had a saint-like expression at the romance and exaggeration, a charming yet dignified and intelligent voice appeared behind him: "Little Zhao, how many more times do you think they can cut your salary?"
As if he had been shocked by an electric shock, Little Zhao was dumbfounded. Once he regained his senses, he immediately stood aside and pretended to mix drinks, as if nothing had happened, but the cold sweat on his forehead betrayed the fear in his heart.
Wearing an elegant modern qipao, her thighs were vaguely displayed through the slit on the side of her leg, which released an arousing sex appeal. Furthermore, her plump breasts and exquisite waist matched well with that smooth, porcelain-like face that looked like a meticulous work of art. Atop her shoulders were strands of light violet hair. This was a young girl with an appearance as if she had stepped out of a painting, as she leisurely walked towards Yang Ji.
With a subtle smile and his eyes shining slightly, Yang Ji turned his gaze towards the lady, shedding his usual detachment, and uttered sincerely, 'Rose, you really are beautiful. Happy birthday!'