CHAPTER 48: WILL BE FIXED SOON!

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

Was I talking about something funny?

The uncle doesn’t seem to care about my expression and just keeps laughing. "Ah, here I thought it was something serious. So you’re just getting rejected by a girl? Why are you acting like the world’s ending?"

"Haa... Ahjussi, what do you know?" I muttered irritably and chugged another cup.

"Hey, kid, I’m twice your age. I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. A breakup is nothing. Once you get busy with your life, the memory of your breakup will naturally be pushed on the corner of your mind and be forgotten."

"Nothing, huh... so what can be considered to be something?"

"Alot. Like, waking up one day with no job, no money, and you have to fill in your stomach, and maybe your family too, and don’t forget about the bills too."

"Or getting fired just when your children is born and the hospital bill came out."

"Or have your whole pension money stored in bank for interest, but then you found out that money wasn’t insured and now the bank went bankrupt out of nowhere so now you become penniless."

I cut him quickly. "So it was all about money?"

"Of course. In this day and age, what could be more important than money? Aren’t you younger than me? Shouldn’t you love money than I do? I always heard my daughter talking that capitalism is power!"

They say it’s easier to pour your heart out to a stranger than to your own family or friends.

Tonight, I realized that was true.

I spilled my problems without caring how embarrassing it might sound. Because honestly, I probably wouldn’t see this uncle again once I sobered up.

Unlike with family or friends, where you have to face them again and deal with the consequences, talking to a stranger costs you nothing. No judging look, no sugarcoating words, no embarrasement, nothing!

"Haish, I thought we were meant to be because we never broke up even when our relationship turned into a long distance with me going to the military service. Turns out, it was all just a lie. She never thought me seriously and just played me the entire time. When I heard this from my friend, I thought he was the one who’s lying, but this noon, when I return to my university, I saw her clinging to another man’s arm."

"Even then, I still have positive thought about her, thinking it was just a close friend of her. Like, you know, the girly man every girl close with. But once I confronted them, she didn’t look embarrased or care I caught them and even went tighten her grip on the man’s arm. Then in front of many people, she dumped me."

"So that’s what happen." The uncle look disinterested then pointed at the bruises in my cheek. "Then what’s next? Did you get into fight with the guy your ex cling? Did you won?"

At his question, the tip of my ears turned red as I mumbled in a low voice as soft as mosquito. "No..."

"No?"

"No... I was brutally beaten-"

"Pfft!"

Another muffled snort sounded.

"Damn it, Ahjussi! I sincerely talk to you in hope for some comfort, yet, what I received so far was your ridicule laugh." I grumbled in annoyance.

"Because it’s funny. Haha, what’s the use of your eyes if you can’t gauge your opponent strength? What he looks like anyway?"

"Err, he looks taller than me by atleast dozens of centimeters. He also had robust physique. He likely went into gym."

"See, yet you dares to still going against him despite looking like a skinny monkey? If that’s not a stupid, I don’t know what to say." the shop owner spread his arms.

"Kkuh!" I desperately wanted to rebuke against his words, but ultimately, I was tongue-tied.

Yeah, what made me think I could take down a tough-looking guy like him?

"Ha... I’m so embarrased to even show my face tomorrow to the school. I don’t even dare to open my phone in fear my photos getting beaten was already spread through school forums." I sighed loudly, covering my face with palm.

As time went on, I continued my rambling shamelessly, "Actually, I left another detail. My ex said that her main reason dumped me was because I was impotent. Because I never touched her or going further at our physical relationship. Does it make sense? I was actually trying hold back my lust everytime we do it because I felt like the time isn’t the right yet. Yet, she didn’t feel treasured, and instead, I was getting dumped."

The shop owner stroke his chin, then said seriously, "Now that you said it, I think you’re also at a fault here."

"Me? Is it wrong for me hold back my lust? I know that I’m

"H-hi?"

I instantly regretted my stupid decision to startle him.

Suppressing the throbbing in my skull, I shot him a furious glare, then clamped my fingers over his mouth, effectively cutting off any further sound.

If Peter let out one more noise like that, I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t knock him unconscious just for the sake of peace and quiet.

"Geez, are gang leaders in this era all this cowardly and delicate? That scream of yours sounded like an old hag getting stabbed; it nearly ruptured my eardrums." I hissed, rubbing my temple.

Peter blinked his eyes at me.

"What? Aren’t you going to say anything? Did I break your larynx?"

He blinked again, this time faster, a high-frequency flutter that seemed to be trying to send a message.

"Cut the crap and start speaking. What’s the use of blinking at me like that? Are you imagining yourself a cute, little girl begging her brother for candy with cutesy eyes? You’re not! Your blinking just makes me nauseous, understand? So drop the act immediately!"

"Mmmph! Mmmhhhh!" Peter protested, the sound muffled by my hand.

"Ah..." I was momentarily stunned, mainly because the very obvious fact of my hand still clamping his mouth had completely slipped my mind.

Naturally, my legendary thick skin deployed instantly. I drew myself up and stated, with impeccable logic: "You know, if you’d just told me you couldn’t speak because my hand was over your face, this whole thing could have been avoided!"

I declared righteously, refusing to take any blame.

Peter’s eyes flashed with indignation, the look clearly saying: ’What a shameless bastard!’

But just as quickly, the brief surge of defiance vanished. His gaze dropped, and the familiar fear settled over his face once more.

I quickly unclamped his mouth and, without hesitation, pulled him toward the edge of the roof, giving him a clear view of the establishment below.

"Good. Now listen carefully. See that?"

Peter first wore a confused look, but then something seemed to click. His eyes became elated as though he had just seen a ray of hope, a change I didn’t miss.

"That’s the bar where Alduin’s staying, right?" I asked.

I saw Peter nod his head instantly.

"I don’t want to cause a scene. I believe you can take me inside quietly, right?"

"Yes," Peter replied without the slightest hesitation.

"Don’t even think about trying to alert the guards unless you want to end up the same as your pet," I didn’t forget to add, watching his face instantly drain of all color, turning from joyful to frightened.

"Let’s go." I patted his shoulder, then started dragging him down the side of the building into one of the quieter alleys.

Peter let out another frightened yelp during the descent, but thanks to the noisy streets below, his sound went completely ignored.

The moment we hit the ground, I didn’t waste time. "Move."

Peter still looked traumatized, but under my urging, he didn’t dare slack off. He moved quickly, leading the way.

We stepped out of the alley and headed straight toward the bar.

As we approached the entrance, one of the four Radhanian bouncers stationed outside spotted us. His gaze swept over us, then paused on Peter’s distinctive hunched posture and face. Recognition flashed across his eyes, and he quickly straightened up.

"Mister Peter!"

Peter gave a small nod in acknowledgment.

"This guy’s with me," he managed after a moment of hesitation, pointing a trembling hand at me.

The bouncer didn’t press for details or show any suspicion; he just offered a wide, professional smile. "Yes, sir. You may enter."

I followed close behind Peter, the smirk hidden beneath my hood, as we entered the bar smoothly and unchecked.

Once inside, my eyes instinctively swept the entire interior, performing a rapid threat assessment under the guise of casual observation.

As he turned around, Ren Haoyu was taken aback to see the woman from the previous night standing in front of him. She exuded a graceful aura that could make even the most composed men’s hearts skip a beat. However, for Ren Haoyu, the feeling was more of fear than awe.

’Does she finally recognize me?’ Ren Haoyu’s mind raced with fearful thoughts. He contemplated whether to kneel right there and then and beg for mercy. But before he could even make a move, the woman spoke up.

"Hello. I believe we’ve met yesterday night," she said straightforwardly, breaking the tense silence between them.