Chapter 18 (1/2)
Killer Nights
Chapter 18: The Hot Pot City Incident
”Alright, let's eat!” Jiang Zhengkai said, as the waiter brought over everything they had ordered. He began adjusting the hot pot's temperature. ”What did you want to eat first? Shrimp b.a.l.l.s or sliced pork?”
”I want the shrimp b.a.l.l.s!” As the sight of the food on the table, A-Jiao's mood immediately improved. After all, she had grown very tired of hospital food, so having something different for a change was a welcome delight.
”Know anybody who's still in touch with A-Xiu these days?” Jiang Zhengkai asked in a seemingly casual manner, as he picked up a cooked shrimp ball and placed it on A-Jiao's plate.
”Nope. Yum! This is delicious!” A-Jiao replied matter-of-factly. ”Turnover is very high in our line of work, so who knows where people go once they leave the alley.”
”Then how come you've stayed in that alley for two years?” asked Jiang Zhengkai with a smirk, before putting more pork in the pot.
”Me?” A-Jiao hesitated for a second before smiling. ”Because I'm stupid. And broke. And I have to housesit for that former client of mine.”
”I see,” Jiang Zhengkai acknowledged. However, he'd always thought there was something odd about that house. What kind of person would leave such a large, nicely furnished condo in the hands of a prost.i.tute?
”If you want to know about what goes on in the alley, you'd be better off asking A-Shun or A-Tie,” A-Jiao continued as she shoved more food into her mouth. ”They've been in that alley for years. Plus, all of the sisters working there give them protection money, so if something goes down in that alley, they'd definitely know about it.”
”Yeah, that makes sense,” Jiang Zhengkai responded while placing more food on A-Jiao's plate. You're definitely right about one thing, girl: A-Shun definitely knew something, and that's why he told me to talk to you.
”Why aren't you eating?” A-Jiao said, looking up at him. ”Don't you like hot pot?”
”No, it's not that. I do like hot pot,” Jiang Zhengkai chuckled. ”But I didn't order the things I like today.”
”Really? Why?” A-Jiao asked.
”Yes, really. Actually, I like spicy food, too,” Jiang Zhengkai replied before taking a sip of water. He still had to drive back tonight, so he hadn't ordered any alcohol.
”Excellent!” A-Jiao clapped her hands. ”Haha, serves you right! This'll teach you to not let me eat what I want!” An expression of vindictive happiness was written all across her face. Even though the food on the table wasn't exactly her favorite, that still didn't affect her appet.i.te. She ate a lot of food that night; so much food, in fact, that it felt as if there was literally no room left for anything else in her stomach.
”I'm so full!” A-Jiao boasted as she ate up the last bit of food on the table.
”I'll go grab the check, and then we're going back to the hospital, okay?” Jiang Zhengkai asked her with a smile.
”Sounds good, but I… need to use the restroom.” A-Jiao didn't know when it started, but she was feeling a bit shy. Perhaps it had started with the ”ten yuan per touch, you want your change” episode?
”You want me to go with you?” Jiang Zhengkai asked with a laugh. He knew it would be quite difficult for A-Jiao to walk the distance to the restaurant restroom all by herself.
”Okay!” A-Jiao stretched out her arm towards him. Apparently, she rather enjoyed being carried by Jiang Zhengkai.
Jiang Zhengkai very diligently carried her to the restroom entrance. This hot pot restaurant was fairly large in size, so it had two dedicated single-s.e.x restrooms instead of one or two unis.e.x restrooms like you would find in a smaller establishment.
”You're not coming in with me?” A-Jiao asked with pouted lips as she found her footing on the floor beneath her.