Kill Me In The Last Minute (GL) - Chapter 5

After getting off the car, Zhang Sinan strode into the barbecue town with his long legs. He glanced around at the bustling shops filled with rising steam and his eyes landed on a storefront sign that read “Yulin Tavern.” Outside the door were two small banyan trees, growing poorly and bent too much, with thick branches spreading out. As he walked closer, he could faintly hear music playing inside. It was a familiar song — he remembered that on Children’s Day, Liu Yiqing had asked him to buy a music album, and this song was one of the tracks.

He stepped into the tavern and waved off the waiter who came over to greet him. Right away, Zhang Sinan spotted Liu Yiqing sitting by the window at a table for four. She looked like a pretty doll, resting her chin on her hand and staring out the window, waiting for something.

Liu Yiqing noticed him and turned her head, just meeting Zhang Sinan’s eyes. Zhang Sinan calmly looked away and walked over.

Seeing the dust on Zhang Sinan’s red and black plaid shirt and his black undershirt, Liu Yiqing thought the phrase “travel-weary” suited him well.

“Let me guess, you got sent here again by the boss?” Liu Yiqing said casually.

Zhang Sinan shrugged, admitting it. Indeed, as soon as he left the old apartment block, the boss had sent a text — “We’re at Jingzi Barbecue Town, Xiao Si, come quickly!”

“What are you standing there for? Sit down,” Liu Yiqing said, pulling him out of his thoughts as she leaned back on the sofa with her legs crossed.

Zhang Sinan sat opposite her, his gaze often drifting to the girl across the table who was attracting many curious glances.

“Did you win?” Liu Yiqing asked, arms crossed, looking at him.

A faint pride showed on Zhang Sinan’s cold face. “When have I ever lost?”

Liu Yiqing leaned forward, her youthful face showing a hint of annoyance. “Did you go to the underground casino on New Street again?”

Zhang Sinan leaned in too. His eyes, full of countless stars, reflected Liu Yiqing’s face. He lied calmly, “I went to Pioneer Street.”

Liu Yiqing caught his breath — a faint smell of tobacco mixed with sweat reached her. She shrank back a little, then leaned back on the sofa. Her racing heartbeat began to slow as she raised her voice, “You better be telling the truth!”

“Boss, the cigarettes are here!” The boss ran into the tavern, smiling as he slapped Zhang Sinan’s shoulder. “I was just about to ask when you’d show up. Finally, you’re out of the underground casino. Did you almost blow the dealer away again?”

Zhang Sinan gave the boss a look to shut him up.

“Oh, oh, did you see that guy who lost at betting last time and wore his underwear on his head? That guy wasn’t around this time, right? Let me tell you, he’s…” The boss didn’t notice Liu Yiqing’s face darken.

Zhang Sinan instinctively glanced at Liu Yiqing, who was staring coldly at him, making his heart shiver.

“Boss, here’s your cigarette.” Liu Yiqing said calmly, cutting off the boss’s endless talking. She had already thrown away the last cigarette.

The boss quickly handed over a cigarette and lighter. Liu Yiqing picked up a cigarette and pretended to light it but never actually did, which almost made Zhang Sinan and the boss laugh.

“What’s so funny?!” Liu Yiqing glared at them.

Zhang Sinan took the cigarette and lighter from her hand.

“Zhang Sinan!” Liu Yiqing stood up in displeasure and reached to grab them back.

Zhang Sinan leaned back casually, lit the cigarette properly, and took a drag. Then he looked up at the “boss,” who was about to get angry, and said lightly, “Seventeen years old and trying to smoke like an adult? Forget it.” With that, he flicked the cigarette to the floor and crushed it, ignoring Liu Yiqing’s red-faced frustration.

Zhang Sinan handed the cigarettes and lighter back to the boss and said coldly, “You two smoke in secret from now on. If our boss sees you, I won’t go easy on you.”

“But…” The boss hesitated, meeting Liu Yiqing’s fierce gaze. His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. He looked at Zhang Sinan, who raised his eyebrows at him.

With a loud screech of the chair, Liu Yiqing sat back down, fuming, “You two big men are so annoying!” She couldn’t help but be upset. Then she pointed two fingers at Zhang Sinan and said seriously, “Listen up. In two months, I’ll be an adult. After that, neither of you can control me! I’ll do whatever I want, and you have no say.”

Zhang Sinan shrugged, and the boss gave up too.

“Also, Zhang Sinan, you better explain about the underground casino.”

The boss silently stood aside.

“Alright, I did go there,” Zhang Sinan admitted calmly.

“I’ve told you so many times, that’s under Chen Sheng’s control!” Liu Yiqing said angrily.

“Boss, don’t be mad! I’m keeping an eye on him for you! Oh, and when I went to buy cigarettes, I saw an idiot with dyed blonde hair. You wouldn’t believe how dumb she is. I’ve never seen anyone so stupid in my life…” The boss imitated Mu Bai’s expression while playfully punching Liu Yiqing’s shoulder.

Seeing Zhang Sinan stay silent, Liu Yiqing got even angrier. She turned and cut off the boss again, “Yeah, yeah, just an idiot. I have two idiots around me right now! By the way, boss, where were you before coming to the bridge?”

“Well…” The boss scratched his head awkwardly, “I went to a spa.”

Luckily, there was nothing on the table, or Liu Yiqing would have thrown everything at him. She was furious, “You two really are joined at the hip!” Then she looked at Zhang Sinan, “One goes gambling,” and at the boss, “One goes chasing girls! Do you even care about me?”

“Do you know? To get into the Helian gang, I had to talk the dock manager’s ear off, and not one of you gave me a drink!”

“The Helian gang?!” The boss lit up with excitement, “You mean we can join the Helian gang now?!”

Liu Yiqing said proudly, “Of course, who else but our boss is the Little Phoenix of Nanling?”

“What do the people over there say?” Zhang Sinan asked.

“What else could they say? We’ll just go to the ferry terminal tomorrow morning to find the person in charge.”

“Aren’t there SWAT officers patrolling the ferry terminal?” Zhang Sinan asked, confused.

“Xiao Si, didn’t you watch the news? The SWAT officers stationed at the ferry terminal were ordered to withdraw. Now, there are only some plainclothes patrol officers there,” Citou explained.

Zhang Sinan looked at Liu Yiqing with some worry. He knew her plan to enter the Helian gang was more complicated than Citou’s simple explanation.

Just then, the barbecue arrived. The three of them ate quickly and ordered some drinks. After they were full, Citou let out a long burp and lit a cigarette.

Liu Yiqing, meanwhile, had already fallen asleep, her head resting on the table. Zhang Sinan gently took the cup from her hand.

“Hey, I think I can’t walk,” Liu Yiqing mumbled, grabbing Zhang Sinan’s sleeve.

Zhang Sinan smiled without realizing it.

Five minutes later, Zhang Sinan was carrying Liu Yiqing down an empty street. She clung to him tightly, like a spoiled child, resting her head on his shoulder. Citou staggered behind them. It was already 1:30 AM, and there were very few cars on the road.

Zhang Sinan felt the heat from her body on his back, maybe because of the alcohol, he was starting to sweat.

“Zhang Sinan…” Liu Yiqing’s breath brushed his neck, her soft voice carried a hint of a scolding tone, “Don’t go to underground casinos anymore.”

Zhang Sinan gave a half-hearted “Mm.” His ears turned red without him noticing.

“The knives in the Chen Sheng gang don’t spare anyone. It’s dangerous, you know…” Liu Yiqing whispered, still sounding like she was lecturing him.

“Those paper-thin things can’t hurt me,” Zhang Sinan said with a smile.

They passed a bridal shop. The white custom-made wedding dress in the window caught Zhang Sinan’s eye, and he stopped. A memory played in his mind like a movie. He finally turned away with a more determined look and kept walking.

“You fool…” Liu Yiqing tightened her arms around his neck and pressed her face closer to his.

Zhang Sinan felt his breathing quicken.

“But it’s okay. Tomorrow I’ll find my uncle in the Helian gang. With him around, the Chen Sheng gang won’t dare mess with you…” Liu Yiqing’s lips were almost touching Zhang Sinan’s neck. Her warm breath made his body tense.

He didn’t say anything for a moment.

“I miss the old days, watching you play guitar for me…” Liu Yiqing whispered near his ear, her sweet voice hoarse from the alcohol.

Zhang Sinan’s heart raced. He quickly set her down, holding her shoulders so she wouldn’t fall. Looking at her dazed face, he calmly said, “You drank too much.”

“You’re the one who’s drunk…” Liu Yiqing staggered, swaying as if she saw two Zhang Sinans in front of her. She laughed, “Don’t deny it, you’re trying to do magic tricks on me…”

Zhang Sinan looked at her silly smile and couldn’t help but smile too. “If I really knew magic, I’d turn you into a black swan and put you in the pond outside to live happily.”

“Why a black swan? Wouldn’t a white goose or a little duck be easier? Little ducks are white and cute, running around like pig trotters,” Citou, drunk, leaned against a streetlamp, laughing loudly.

Zhang Sinan smiled helplessly. Suddenly, Liu Yiqing jumped up: “Loves barbecue and chives!”

Before Zhang Sinan could react, Liu Yiqing hooked her arms around his neck and said, “What’s next?”

Zhang Sinan looked at her—her delicate face, usually mischievous eyes now heavy with drunken charm and softness. Her lipstick had faded, leaving a natural red like a rose ready to be picked.

Unconsciously, Zhang Sinan was mesmerized. He could count her eyelashes clearly.

Suddenly, Liu Yiqing’s eyes brightened sharply. Zhang Sinan thought she had sobered up. She pulled her arms back, and Zhang Sinan felt the empty space around his neck.

Liu Yiqing suddenly covered her mouth, looking sick, and ran toward an alley. Zhang Sinan hurried after her but saw her leaning against the wall, vomiting. She motioned for him to stay back. Zhang Sinan wiped his forehead and thought, “So cute when she’s hopping around like that…”

A minute later, Citou saw Zhang Sinan alone by the street; Liu Yiqing was nowhere in sight. Suddenly more sober, he caught up to Zhang Sinan, surprised: “Boss? Where’s the boss?”

Zhang Sinan pointed to the alley where Liu Yiqing was still vomiting.

After she finished, Liu Yiqing seemed clear-headed again. She came back between the two men and took a tissue from Zhang Sinan.

“You really are a thoughtful subordinate. Thanks,” she said, making Zhang Sinan feel like they’d just witnessed a dramatic personality change.

“Boss…” Citou pointed toward the alley, “Someone’s being robbed.”

Liu Yiqing and Zhang Sinan looked and saw two men stealing a briefcase from another.

“Don’t just watch, draw your swords and help! Let those two feel the power of the Helian gang!” Liu Yiqing took the lead, dragging Zhang Sinan forward.

When they arrived, Zhang Sinan quickly chased the two thieves away. Liu Yiqing and Citou helped the man who’d been robbed—he was drunk. When he saw Liu Yiqing, a sleazy smile appeared on his face as he grabbed her wrist, refusing to let go.

“Such a pretty girl, how much to go out with me…”

Liu Yiqing struggled, but suddenly a hand covered the man’s. The man looked up, and it was Zhang Sinan. He hadn’t noticed Zhang Sinan’s cold expression, sharp as a dagger, which made him nervous.

Quickly, Zhang Sinan twisted the man’s hand painfully. The man howled.

After apologizing to Liu Yiqing, the man limped away, holding his sore wrist, cursing loudly, “What kind of mess is this…”

At that moment, someone approached.

“Miss? Or mister? Whatever, looks like I’m having a good night…” The man was still drunk when a shadow lunged at him and stabbed him in the abdomen.

The dagger was quickly pulled out, bl00d dripping from its tip.

Then a cigarette fell to the ground, rolling near the man. He looked at the cigarette, his eyes clearly changing.

The shadow covering the man’s head quickly retreated, leaving him trembling in a pool of bl00d, eyes wide in shock.