You are really no match for me [Fighting] - chapter 4

“Hey, hey, Yu, I’ve got something I wanna discuss with you.”

Even the greasy bangs and oversized black-and-white mask couldn’t hide Xiaobai’s sleazy look. His mechanical right eye stayed fixed in place, while his left one swiveled around erratically—anyone could tell he was scheming something.

“What is it? Do you have to say it now? I want to go home and change clothes.” Jinyu loved the thrill of fighting, but she hated the stench of sweat and machine oil that clung to her afterward. Normally, she carried spare clothes so she could shower and change right away, but today she could only wait until she got home.

“Xiao Yu, since you’ve decided to be a fighter… how about letting me be your manager?” Xiaobai blurted, then hurriedly added, “I used to manage fighters, you know. I’ve got loads of experience, trust me! I can definitely make you famous. With me pulling the strings, I guarantee you’ll be the most popular fighter out there.”

Jinyu thought of Gao Xisheng. As her manager, Gao had handled everything perfectly—she’d never had to worry about a thing. But this guy in front of her…

She looked Xiaobai up and down: about 175 cm tall, skinny, a bit hunched, like some malnourished shut-in. His ridiculously long, unkempt bangs hid both eyes, his face was half-covered by an oversized black mask, and he wore a huge black T-shirt with gray sweatpants. On his feet was a pair of hideous sneakers so blindingly mismatched in color they could offend both gods and men.

Catching the open disdain in Jinyu’s gaze, Xiaobai instantly wilted, shoulders collapsing as his confidence drained away. He stammered, “I-I-I…”

“Tomorrow,” Jinyu cut in, “show me you’re actually capable of being a manager.”

Xiaobai’s eyes went wide before he let out a howl like the husky Jinyu kept at home. “Awoooo! Xiao Yu, I knew you wouldn’t abandon your brother! Hahaha, just you wait—I’ll prove I can make you shine!”

“Careful you don’t smash one of those bottles,” Jinyu warned flatly.

Xiaobai had pulled her aside into the storage room after the match, whispering his proposal. But this place was lined with shelves packed full of liquor. Just from the English labels, Jinyu could tell they were worth a fortune.

Realizing where they were, Xiaobai quickly reined in his movements, though the goofy grin stayed plastered across his face. “Trust me, choosing me is the right call. Don’t let my sloppy look fool you—back in the day, I was a pretty big-name manager.” He puffed up proudly.

“Can’t believe it though,” he continued smugly, “you being such a hidden gem of a fighter! If only I’d gotten close to you earlier. But hey, it’s not too late—now that I’ve got you, it’s only a matter of time before you’re a star.”

“What nonsense is this guy spouting?” Jinyu thought. She remembered clearly how, when she first arrived in this world, this same guy had looked down on her.

Catching himself, Xiaobai scrambled to cover, “I mean, when I first saw you in the ring—when you knocked King Kong flat! Anyone who saw that move would fall in love with it.”

“Well, you’re not wrong about that,” Jinyu admitted with a tilt of her head.

Xiaobai’s eyes gleamed red with excitement. “Then it’s settled! Tomorrow—I’ll show you what I, Bai Hanqing, can do!”

And off he went, mumbling to himself. Jinyu thought wryly: So this guy’s the real one playing the pig to eat the tiger? Then who was that timid, shrinking softie I saw yesterday?

When she stepped out, two others were waiting—Boss and Brother Ding.

“Boss, Ding, you wanted me for something?”

The boss rubbed his hands, grinning obsequiously. “Xiao Yu, Uncle’s got something to talk to you about. Why don’t we head to my office? Ding can patch you up on the way.”

“Isn’t Brother Ding a mechanic? He can treat wounds too?”

“Your Brother Ding was a doctor first,” the boss explained, “but when cyborgs started replacing people, being a doctor didn’t pay anymore, so he switched to mechanics.”

Ding gave a polite nod. “Miss Jinyu, the work overlaps more than you’d think. Please, allow me to tend to your injuries.”

Jinyu nodded with a polite smile. “Then I’ll trouble you, Doctor Ding.”

Instead of the boss’s office, they went to Ding’s operating room.

The boss was the type who loved showing off—one of those “has some money but not a nouveau riche” types. He wanted to flaunt his wealth but still look tasteful. The result? His office screamed “I’m rich and cultured,” but in reality, the mismatched decorations were tacky and graceless. To someone like Jinyu, raised with an eye for classical aesthetics, it couldn’t have looked more vulgar.

By what

The moment

The palette was austere: matte gray metal walls and ceiling that reflected no glare, exuding a cold, inhuman detachment. Lighting came from hidden fixtures, casting a soft, shadowless glow like surgical lamps—precise and restrained.

To the left stretched a full wall of glass cabinets, each sectioned off by reinforced bulletproof panes, displaying Ding’s “collection.”

On the top shelves: mechanical arms gleaming silver at the joints, fingertips detailed enough to mimic human skin; mechanical legs with roller-fitted soles.

The middle: a floating artificial heart, suspended in clear fluid, pulsing slowly, its network of vessels branching like trees.

The bottom: ominous “tools”—a coiled, barbed chain, a compact hydraulic hammer, and something that looked suspiciously like an energy gun.

To the right was a workbench cluttered with holographic blueprints. In the corner sat an antique phonograph, its black record frozen mid-play on Night on Bald Mountain. On the balcony, a solitary white plum tree bloomed faintly fragrant—the only living thing in the room.

Sight, scent, sound—all in harmony. Jinyu blurted out, “Now this… this is taste.”

Ding blinked, surprised she grasped his intentions so easily. “Hardly. Just dabbling, nothing more. Miss Jinyu is the true connoisseur here.”

Having endured a full day of the cyber-world’s bizarre aesthetics, Jinyu felt a spark of camaraderie upon meeting a fellow with actual taste. She made a playful hand gesture and grinned. “Oh, just a little. You’re too modest, Doctor Ding.”

The boss, a true outsider, was utterly lost in their coded exchange. He scratched his head. “What are you two talking about? Taste? This place is bare and cold. My office is much nicer—had a feng shui master arrange it!”

Jinyu exaggeratedly rolled her eyes at Ding and then pointed at the boss with a look of pure disdain. Ding hadn’t expected her to be so lively in private, and her over-the-top expression made him chuckle aloud.

The two laughed together while the boss fumed, flustered. “Hey, hey! We’re talking business here! Ding, Jinyu—quit fooling around! Get that wound treated. I’ve still got things to discuss with her!”

Jinyu

Ding drew a curtain. “Miss Jinyu, where are you hurt?”

“Check my back—feels like I scraped it earlier,” Jinyu said.

from

Jinyu didn’t hesitate. For a fighter, injuries were routine. Turning her back, she stripped off her clothes, revealing tight, sculpted muscles. She admired her abs and lean waist in the mirror—years of hard training, thankfully preserved. Otherwise, she’d have been devastated.

What she didn’t notice was Ding snapping his eyes shut, ears flushing scarlet as the blush crept down his neck.

His voice came out rough. “Just a small abrasion. I’ll disinfect it—you’ll need to bear with the sting.”

“No problem. I can take pain,” Jinyu said lightly.

Ding dipped a cotton swab into iodine and carefully dabbed her back before applying a medical dressing.

“This is absorbable gauze. Try not to shower for a few days. If you must, just wipe down with a towel.”

“Thanks, Doctor Ding.” Jinyu pulled her shirt back on, all smiles, and pushed the curtain aside.

The boss hurried forward, rubbing his hands. “Xiao Yu, when you first came to me, you said you only needed enough to eat. I gave you work as a cleaner, a place to live, even had Xiaobai walk you home… Now that you’ve made a name for yourself, you can’t forget Uncle, can you?”

Jinyu smiled politely. “Of course not. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. Just tell me what you need—I’ll do my best.”

The boss’s eyes gleamed. “This whole business runs on people challenging our fighters, and King Kong keeping the place afloat. Now that you’ve beaten him, the arena’s in danger! The gambling halls might collapse! You’ve gotta help Uncle out!”

Collapse, my ass, Jinyu thought. The place is packed every night. Now he’s got me as a living mascot. He’s lying through his teeth. But it wasn’t the right time to expose him. So she simply nodded. “Of course. But it’s late tonight. Let’s talk details another day?”

The boss beamed. “Good, good! That’s what I like about you, Xiao Yu—straightforward! Go rest. Xiaobai, take her home!” And off he bustled.

Xiaobai poked his head in. “Xiao Yu, shall I see you back?”

Jinyu nodded and waved at Ding. “See you, Doctor Ding.”

The door clicked shut, leaving the room quiet once more. Ding picked up a sprayer and misted the white plum tree. Instantly, its fragrance filled the workshop.