Chapter 13
Once I was seated properly, Shangguan started the car, driving at a moderate speed this time. Throughout the entire trip, I kept watching him, hoping to find the right moment to say something, but he kept his face expressionless the whole time, making me too afraid to speak up. That look of his really gave off the feeling that one wrong word and I'd be a dead man.
Because my attention had been so focused on Shangguan, it wasn't until more than ten minutes had passed that I realized this wasn't the road back to Red Forest. There were more and more cars, growing increasingly lively—this was clearly heading toward the downtown area.
"Where are we going exactly?" I asked, puzzled. That question shouldn't get me into trouble, right?
Shangguan didn't answer, but his expression flickered with something strange, as if... he'd felt relieved. No, I must have been seeing things.
Getting the cold shoulder, I didn't dare ask again. Fine, whatever. I figured he wouldn't sell me out anyway.
After another ten minutes or so, the car stopped in front of a magnificent entrance. Above the door hung a large sign with silver letters on a blue background: Wawa Bath Center.
The name was a bit funny, but even if you'd only spent one day in N City, you'd be familiar with the "Wawa" brand. Wawa Convenience Store, Wawa Supermarket, Wawa Beauty Center, Wawa Travel Agency...
In N City, you could see the word "Wawa" everywhere, covering everything from food and clothing to housing and transportation. Of course, the entertainment industry was certainly not left out—this bath center being a prime example.
Although I'd never been here, I'd long heard its reputation. They say it was both the most平民化 and most extravagant place in N City. It was called平民化 because you could walk in with just thirty yuan and enjoy a nice hot spring bath, while it was considered extravagant because it featured nearly every entertainment amenity you could imagine.
Massage, dining, karaoke, gambling—truly everything was available here. But of course,前提 was having money. Not to mention, a full massage treatment alone would cost over ten thousand yuan, and that was for absolutely basic service.
How did I know all this? Okay, fine, I'll admit—I learned all this just today. While I was at work, the two guys behind me wouldn't stop talking about this place, saying they'd definitely come here to have a good time once they got their bonuses. But after calculating their bonuses, those two concluded they'd only be able to afford half a visit.
When someone唠叨 these things behind you for eight whole hours, it's impossible not to remember.
I looked at Shangguan suspiciously, wondering if he'd overheard that conversation between those two guys, mistakenly thinking I was interested in this place too?
Still confused, I obediently got out of the car. As soon as I walked through the main entrance, a tall, skinny guy came charging over like a locomotive.
"Haha, Shangguan! You actually brought Yi! Hurry, hurry—Yilin and the others got so excited when they heard Yi was coming. I've been nearly smothered to death by them."
With that, he grabbed me and rushed toward the elevator. I followed in a daze, and after thinking it over, I figured he was probably that Chen Zhongyang I'd met before, but I couldn't be sure. I glanced at Shangguan, but his expression was still unreadable.
"So, uh, how's your girlfriend doing?" I试探性地 asked, since that girl had really shaken me, so I remembered her well.
I was just trying to confirm his identity, but Shangguan's face darkened, and Chen Zhongyang wrapped his arm around my neck, saying阴森地: "Hey kid! You've been learning bad habits! Don't even think about it—Xiao Ting is about to marry me, so you should look elsewhere!"
He was choking me, and inside I was protesting loudly: "I was just asking how she was!" But at least that confirmed his identity.
"Hmph! Is a man's girlfriend something you can just casually ask about? Don't think just because you're cute you can show off everywhere. Even if I agreed,嘿嘿, Yilin and the others wouldn't!"
He said this with an expression like a skeleton that had just bitten me to death.
But... who was Yilin?
Before I could think further, the elevator had already reached the fourth floor. Chen Zhongyang pulled me into the third room on the left. As soon as we entered, I was immediately blinded by the cigarette smoke, followed by piercing screams.
"Yi..."
"Yi!"
"Yi ya!!!"
Each scream grew more shrill, each more full of amazement, followed by suffocating hugs and the pungent smell of perfume. By now my head was completely spinning. I could feel countless hands touching my head and face.
"Oh my god, it really is Yi!"
"Still so cute~"
"The skin is still so good, so envious~"
"Aiya, what should I do, I want to take a bite~"
Am I in hell? What kind of creatures were these people? I felt like I was going to faint. I could only protect my face and desperately dodge, but those hands were like octopus tentacles— no matter how I dodged, I couldn't escape. No matter which direction I fled, at least two hands would attack me.
And what really made me want to spit blood was that while I was being attacked, Chen Zhongyang was standing旁边幸灾乐祸: "Aiya, our Yi is still so popular, so jealousy-inducing. Xiao Wei, if you want to take a bite, go ahead—this guy is still unclaimed, you can use him freely哦."
"Sigh, cute things really are popular these days. Even our handsome Shangguan can't compare to Yi. Aiya, should I go to Korea for some plastic surgery to make myself cuter?" A strange voice joined in beside me. Though I couldn't remember who it was, judging from the words, this guy must have known me before.
"Plastic surgery won't help! Our Yi has natural beauty. Remember how even after three days without washing his face, he was still white like tofu? You? Even if you got surgery, could you surpass tofu?"
This third guy was even meaner, nearly making me spit blood.
Not sure if it was their刺激, but the hands touching me grew even more frantic. By this point, my eyes had adjusted to the room's lighting, and I finally realized that the countless tentacles I'd imagined were actually just three girls' hands.
"I really want to take a bite." A girl with a cute face said. If she were wearing a school uniform, no one would doubt she was a student, but her words really made my back crawl.
"Hey hey, don't bite me, or I'll get angry." If I got bitten by a girl like this, I'd be laughed at for the rest of my life.
My serious warning was met with roaring laughter. Chen Zhongyang stood旁边阴阳怪气地 said: "Yeah, don't bite Yi, otherwise Xiao Wei you're eating tofu. You seem to hate tofu, don't you?"
More laughter erupted. My face turned red from embarrassment. As for the girl called Xiao Wei, she was totally unruffled. She嘿嘿laughed twice, looking at me with ill intent, her gaze really like a snake sizing up its prey.