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"What, David Yu? I messed up your business, huh? I saw you scamming this pretty lady and couldn’t stand it. Upset? If you’ve got a problem, come at me! Heh heh—" Leon Longhair stared right back at David Yu, refusing to back down.
Leon Longhair looked every inch the bandit, and his eyes were way bigger than David Yu’s. When he glared, his whole face radiated menace. David Yu knew Longhair wasn’t easy to mess with, so he just took a deep breath, sulking, and tossed his cigarette onto the floor. He snapped at Longhair, “Longhair, I’m just trying to earn a living here. I wasn’t scamming this lady! I really did see Simon Bai at dusk!”
The pretty girl immediately got excited and asked David Yu, “Mr. Yu, you—you really saw my father? Where is he now? Take me to him right away! If you can find my dad, I’ll pay you the full 20,000 yuan for your trouble!”
David Yu glanced at Longhair, then at the pretty girl, hesitating before saying, “Uh—Miss, I’m not trying to fool you. Your father, Simon Bai, really is here in the Mai Zayan Special Economic Zone, and he’s fallen so far he’s shining shoes to get by. If you trust me, I’ll help you find him! Mai Zayan isn’t that big—a little time and we’ll track him down!”
Longhair snorted and said to David Yu, “Hey, baldy, I’m not trying to ruin your business, but you’re way too greedy—charging 20,000 yuan just to find someone in this tiny place! You think this little beauty’s money is that easy to earn?”
David Yu’s face turned red and he quickly argued, “Th-this was agreed between me and the lady. If we’re both okay with it, what’s it got to do with you?”
Longhair glared at him, annoyed. “It’s got nothing to do with me, sure. But I just had drinks with Simon Bai, and I consider him a friend now. Seeing you try to rip off a friend’s daughter—I can’t let that slide!”
“Huh? You—you just had drinks with my father?! Is that true?” The pretty girl pressed Longhair for details as soon as she heard this.
“Of course it’s true! My buddy here can back me up! The three of us were drinking together, and your dad got so drunk we had to help him to the hotel to rest. If you don’t believe me, you can come with us right now—he’s at the hotel, sleeping it off. See for yourself—I’m not lying!” Longhair pounded his chest as he promised.
The pretty girl saw Leon Longhair’s fierce look and got a little scared, so she turned to Shawn Young. He looked gentle and classy, and she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. Her cheeks flushed, and she nervously asked, “Um—sir, is what he said true?”
Shawn Young nodded and said, “That’s right! Your father just had a few drinks and is resting at the Harmony Inn. If you trust us, come with us and you’ll see for yourself.”
“Oh! Could you take me to see my father by yourself? I’ll pay you the labor fee!” The pretty girl decided to trust Shawn Young.
“Uh—sure, but why not let my friend come too? He’s the one who helped your dad to his room! He actually knows better than I do which room your father’s in!” Shawn Young was puzzled and asked her.
“I—I’d really prefer if you took me yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you! Is that okay?” The pretty girl glanced nervously at David Yu and Leon Longhair, her eyes anxious, then pleaded with Shawn Young.
Shawn Young had no idea why she insisted on him alone, but Leon Longhair leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Heh heh—Mr. Shawn, this chick’s afraid of getting tricked. She doesn’t know the area and worries if I take her to the hotel, I might try something funny! But she likes your looks—if anything did happen, at least you’re handsome, so it wouldn’t be a total loss! Haha—”
“Uh—no way! Don’t say stuff like that—” Shawn Young blushed and protested.
“Heh heh—don’t doubt it. Let me ask her, I bet she won’t let me or David Yu take her to the hotel!” Longhair grinned at Shawn Young and whispered.
With that, Longhair turned to the pretty girl and said, “Little beauty, my buddy here knows your dad is resting at the Harmony Inn, but doesn’t know the exact room. I think I should take you up—I don’t want your labor fee!”
Sure enough, the pretty girl shook her head, glanced timidly at Longhair, and said, “Uh—I think I’ll pass for now!”
David Yu immediately volunteered, “Miss, I know the Harmony Inn well. Let me take you—just pay me whatever you think is fair!”
But the pretty girl shook her head, opened her purse, took out five yuan, and handed it to David Yu. “Mr. Yu, I’m really sorry to trouble you. Here, take this five yuan as a little compensation! I still hope this gentleman will take me to my father alone.”
Longhair winked at Shawn Young, his face saying, "Heh heh—I knew it would turn out this way."
David Yu snatched the five yuan without hesitation, glared at Longhair, then walked over to Shawn Young and sized him up. Finally, he gave Shawn a thumbs up and grumbled, “Damn! Being handsome really is something—girls trust you, and you even stole my labor fee, you bastard!”
“How was I supposed to know?” Shawn Young shrugged helplessly, glancing at David Yu—then suddenly noticed a strange, eerie bluish-grey aura between David Yu’s eyebrows!
"Ah! That’s a sign of being possessed by something supernatural! Has this guy been taken over by some kind of spirit?!" Shawn Young recalled what he’d read in the Codex of Ascension and thought to himself.