The Bodyguard from Hell

While Lin Xiao was busy settling his luggage in the room, a flamboyantly dyed-haired punk walked into the hotel. For reasons unknown, this punk had a clash with the young couple. That impudent roar had indeed originated from this yellow-haired punk.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” the young man apologized, his voice low and laced with panic.

As for his girlfriend, her situation was far more distressing. Her face had gone an alarming shade of white out of sheer terror. She trembled behind her boyfriend, seeking refuge.

“Just a simple sorry and you think that’s it? Ha, are you courting death, kid?” The yellow-haired punk snarled.

“Then… what exactly do you want? I…” The young man mustered the courage to inquire.

However, before he could finish, a sudden, resounding slap from the punk interrupted him. The harsh imprint of a hand was now etched brightly on his face.

“What do I want? Have you grown tired of life, daring to speak back? Listen up, this is a brand-new designer shirt I’ve bought. Do you understand the value of a brand? Compensate me now.”

The three lackeys trailing the yellow-haired punk echoed the demand with smug grins on their faces, “Pay up, pay up!”

Having been slapped out of the blue, the young man appeared visibly dazed. Any courage he had managed to summon completely evaporated. His eyes flickered with a blend of fear and anger. His body tensed, but he didn’t dare to contradict the punks further.

It was clear that these men were nothing but thugs, and they had the number advantage. If he continued to defy them, he might end up severely beaten.

Observing the young man’s timidity, Lin Xiao subtly shook his head. Although he hadn’t taken the couple’s earlier mockery to heart, he wasn’t a saint who would repay evil with kindness, and thus, he had no intention of intervening at the moment.

“Are you fucking stupid? Didn’t you hear me? Pay up.” The yellow-haired punk, noting the man’s dazed expression, snapped impatiently.

“Just give them some money, think of it as being bitten by a dog,” suggested the woman hiding behind the man, her face pale with fear, whispering to the man.

Despite her low voice, the yellow-haired punk heard her. He instantly flared up, “Who the hell did you just call a dog? Are you begging for death? I swear I’m gonna beat you to death today.”

A flicker of panic crossed the young man’s face at the blonde punk’s reaction. He hurriedly bowed in apology, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, we’ll pay right away.”

“That little bitch dared to insult me, you’ll need to compensate for emotional damages too.” The punk sneered, clearly enjoying the man’s timid response.

“Yes, yes, I… I’ll pay you right now.” The man didn’t dare refute.

He pulled out his wallet, which contained about twenty bills of one hundred yuan. After a moment’s hesitation, he extracted five one-hundred-yuan bills, his face reflecting the pain of parting with the money, and handed them to the punk.

“Big brother, is this… is this enough?”

The punk remained silent but sneered at the man. However, his eyes were locked onto the young man’s wallet, radiating greed.

“You’re looking for trouble, huh? You have the audacity to pull out such a little sum?” While the punk kept his silence, his followers understood their leader’s intentions. They advanced, shoving the man roughly.

“Do you think you’re tossing coins to a beggar? What’s this little sum good for? You should hand over all the money in your wallet to our boss.”

“Hand over the wallet.”

The three hooligans cornered the man, smirking triumphantly.

“You’re… You’re robbing me. If you continue, I… I’m calling the police.” The young man clung to his wallet, his face strained with tension.

“Right, and let me tell you, I’ve got connections at the police station. You… you shouldn’t go too far,” the woman behind the young man chimed in.

Hearing the couple’s words, the hooligans’ expressions shifted. They glared at the pair menacingly, and the yellow-haired punk suddenly struck, kicking the man in the stomach. The young man let out a pitiful cry, clutching his belly as he crumpled to the ground.

“Call the cops? Got connections? Do you think I’m easily scared? I was going to let you off easy, just paying some money, but since you’ve chosen the hard way, don’t blame me for being heartless.”

The yellow-haired punk stepped on the man’s body, his face contorted with vicious delight.

One of the thugs arrogantly stood in front of the young man and grabbed the wallet from his hand. With a smirk, he presented it to the yellow-haired punk.

“Boss, for you.”

“Behave next time, or you’ll regret it,” threatened the yellow-haired punk, a satisfied grin on his face. He rifled through the wallet, pulling out all the money before casually flinging it back at the man’s face. “Guys, I’m feeling generous today. Enjoy yourselves at the Grand Fortune.”

“Thanks, boss,” they chorused.

“I’ve heard Grand Fortune has some fresh faces. We’re in for a treat tonight.”

The thugs hooted excitedly at this prospect, readying to leave. The robbed young man lay helplessly on the ground, too frightened to utter a word. His girlfriend was in even worse shape, shaking uncontrollably from fear.

Suddenly, the yellow-haired punk, who was about to exit the hotel, whirled around. His eyes locked onto a corner of the reception desk with a menacing glare.

“Seems someone has a death wish.”

The professionally dressed woman was trying to call the police, squatting down in a corner, but her efforts were ultimately seen by the punk.

Knowing she was spotted, she didn’t attempt to hide any longer. She rose to her feet, defiantly announcing, “You’re committing robbery, which is a crime. The police will be here soon. I advise you to return the money.”

“So, you called the cops? You’re asking for trouble.” The punk’s gaze turned venomous. But upon getting a good look at the woman’s face, his eyes lit up in surprise, his expression shifting to lustful admiration.

His eyes roved over her face, like a hungry wolf eyeing a deer. “Beauty, since you’ve made this request, I’ll return their wallet. But in return, all I ask is for you to spend the night with me. How does that sound?”

The other thugs echoed his sentiment with greedy, lascivious grins.

“What are you planning? I’ve already alerted the police, they’ll be here any minute.” Although visibly shaken, the office lady stood her ground and rebuked them.

“I beg you, sirs, please forgive my niece. She just started working in the city and she’s ignorant. Please let her go,” pleaded the proprietress, attempting to defuse the situation.

She pulled her niece aside, whispering urgently, “Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“Ignorant? Well, it’s about time someone taught her a thing or two. Just one night with me, and she’ll learn the ropes,” the punk sneered, moving closer to the counter and dismissing the landlady’s plea.

The beautiful woman blanched at the yellow-haired punk’s suggestive remarks, her chest rising and falling sharply in indignation.

Observing the punk’s behavior, Lin Xiao, who had been standing by without intervening, wore a frosty expression.

Nevertheless, the punk was oblivious to Lin Xiao’s presence. He leered at the woman, extending his hand towards hers. “Come, beauty,” he sneered, “Let’s go have some fun. I assure you, you’ll feel like you’re in heaven.”

Without warning, Lin Xiao seized the punk’s wrist, his voice icy. “That’s enough.”

The abrupt intervention startled the punk. But when he noticed Lin Xiao’s appearance, especially his threadbare attire, he could not suppress a disdainful smirk.

“What gutter did this beggar crawl out from?” he sneered, struggling to free his wrist from Lin Xiao’s grasp. “Do you have a death wish? Scram now or I’ll make sure you’ll regret it.”

Despite the punk’s efforts, Lin Xiao’s grip remained as firm as iron. No amount of struggling could loosen it.

Lin Xiao glared coldly at the punk, gradually tightening his grip on the punk’s wrist. His voice, although steady, carried an undercurrent of icy threat. “What if I refuse to let go? What would you do then?”

All the punk felt was a piercing pain shooting through his captured wrist, intensifying with each passing moment. The agony forced his features into an uncontrollable grimace.

“Let go, dammit, let go.” he bellowed. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Let me go, I said, let go.”

Despite the punk’s vehement struggles and shouts, it was all in vain. Lin Xiao’s grip remained unyielding, refusing to budge an inch.