Li Yaru was instantly furious, wishing she could tear Li Yixiang limb from limb. “I knew that bastard would cause trouble! Zizhuo, don’t tell my mom yet. She’ll only panic more. I’m going to the restaurant to get the truth from Uncle.”
Fan Zizhuo stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
Li Yaru didn’t want to drag Fan Zizhuo into this, but on second thought, having a man by her side was helpful, so she didn’t refuse. The two hurriedly took a taxi to Tsim Sha Tsui.
……
Wangzhen Restaurant stood on the bustling Jordan Road, but today, the usually lively entrance was deserted.
The wide doors were blocked by four or five Gangsters in floral shirts and jeans, arms tattooed with dragons and tigers, looking fierce and forbidding, not letting anyone in or out.
Inside, the restaurant was packed with these men. Uncle looked like a pitiful chick, dragged up by force.
Aunt was clutching the little boy who once tried to sneak a bite of Li Yaru’s birthday cake, both trembling in a corner.
Passersby avoided the scene, afraid to get involved.
Li Yaru’s heart raced as she exchanged glances with Fan Zizhuo. He shook his head, signaling her not to go in.
Fan Zizhuo said, “Let’s go to the Police Station first. These guys are lawless— they’d kill or burn without a second thought.”
“Calling the police is useless. They won’t help us.”
Li Yaru had no faith in the police. Just thinking of those useless officers at the Police Station made her bite her lip in anger.
In these times, running a small business was tough— not only did you have to pay protection to the Underworld, but you also had to keep the authorities happy.
Both sides were untouchable, leaving honest folks stuck in the middle.
The two hid behind a fishy-smelling delivery truck, discussing what to do. In their anxiety, a miserable scream rang out from inside the Restaurant.
Li Yaru shivered, her bright face turning pale. “Oh no…! I have to go in. I’m afraid Uncle will give up the restaurant to pay his son’s debts!”
Fan Zizhuo didn’t stop her. The girl in a blue spaghetti-strap dress dashed off, her slender legs full of strength.
Li Yaru’s guess was right.
Li Rongsheng, in tears, was trembling as he held a pen— just seconds away from signing the Transfer Deed.
“Don’t sign, don’t! Are you crazy!” With Fan Zizhuo’s help, Li Yaru burst in and rushed over, snatching the contract away in a flash.
She was truly furious, slapping her uncle hard across the face. The whole room of Gangsters was stunned, not even seeing where this fierce little girl had come from.
“My dad is still lying in the hospital! And you’re selling the Restaurant behind his back! How could you do this to him? He’s your own brother!”
Li Rongsheng, bewildered from the slap and weeping, looked utterly lost. “Ah Rou, Ah Rou… Uncle…”
“Hey, hey, where’s this little girl from, so unruly? Don’t you see we’re doing business here?” The Gangsters’ leader slapped the table with a thick, black hand, the blade on the table clanging menacingly.
Fan Zizhuo had already been restrained by two thugs, his arms twisted painfully behind his back. “Ah Rou! Don’t be reckless!”
Li Yaru only then realized the trouble she’d caused. She looked at Fan Zizhuo with worry, her eyes turning red.
Then she glanced at the blood-chilling machete on the table— fear rising. This man was about to chop off Uncle’s hand to force him to sign the Transfer Deed.
“Biao-ge, that’s Li Rongliang’s daughter.” A lackey whispered in the man’s ear.
“Boss Liang’s daughter? Well, well, well.” Biao-ge handed the pen to Li Yaru. “Sign for your old man, pretty girl.”
Li Yaru didn’t even want to look at the man’s scarred face, which made her sick. She muttered, “No way.”
This Restaurant was her father’s life’s work. To buy it, their family still owed Shenghui Bank a million.
Biao-ge sneered, stroking his chin. What a spicy girl. He told Li Yaru to turn her face, but she refused.
A lackey grabbed her hair to force her, but Li Yaru kicked his shin. The thug, enraged, was about to hit her when Biao-ge stopped him.
The man stood up slowly, examining Li Yaru like a rare treasure. His wolfish gaze swept over her—he had a premonition that this girl was worth more than the whole street.
“Do you know how much your cousin owes our boss, little sister?”
Li Yaru didn’t care to know. “No matter how much, it’s Li Yixiang’s debt. If you want your money or a hand chopped off, go find Li Yixiang. We’re not even from the same father— why should my family pay his debt?”
Biao-ge grinned, amused by her sharp logic and feistiness.
Just as he was about to speak, Aunt wailed from the corner, “You heartless girl! Your cousin’s life is at stake and you’re pushing him into the fire—”
Li Yaru ignored her, her face cold and unmoved. If she cared about her cousin now, who would care about her father, her mother, her siblings later?
Their whole family depended on the restaurant for a living.
Biao-ge dug at his ear, and a lackey gagged Aunt.
Biao-ge lit a cigarette and spoke to Li Yaru in a “businesslike” tone. “Your cousin mortgaged this Restaurant to our casino, borrowed two million, and hasn’t repaid a cent in a year. Now, with interest, it’s over three million. Here’s the Land Deed, and here’s the Loan Note stamped with Wangzhen Restaurant’s seal.”
“Our boss is a loyal customer of Wangzhen. He doesn’t want to see it up close. If you sign the contract, everything stays the same. Your dad remains the Master Chef, and our boss will pay him forty thousand a month. How about it?”
Li Yaru stared at Li Rongsheng in disbelief, her voice trembling. “The Land Deed… Dad trusted you to keep it safe, and you— gave it to Li Yixiang? Didn’t you know he’s useless and always causing trouble?”
The whole Li family’s livelihood depended on this Restaurant, along with all the old staff who’d worked there for years…
Li Rongsheng covered his face and sobbed.
Li Yaru snapped, “Stop crying! Stop it!”
Biao-ge chuckled, his patience with the feisty beauty seemingly endless. “I have another solution, pretty girl. Our boss just opened a film company and can’t find a beauty like you. Why not act in a few films? The pay’s negotiable— shoot five or six movies for three million, and you’ll pay off the debt, save your dad’s Restaurant, and maybe become a star. What a deal.”
Li Rongsheng, suddenly hopeful, grabbed Li Yaru’s hand and begged, “Niece, dear niece, go make movies— then the Restaurant can be saved! You’ve always loved pretty clothes, right? As a star, you’ll have endless pretty dresses!”
Li Yaru pulled her hand away, a chill creeping into her eyes. “What kind of movies do you want me to make? Either stripping down or sleeping with a bunch of prostitutes and gigolos. Your family’s already harmed my dad— now you want to harm me too?”
Li Rongsheng hadn’t realized they meant adult films and fell back, dazed. He’d never wanted to harm his niece.
These days, Category III films were everywhere in Hong Kong Island, not only popular locally but also exported to Southeast Asia and Europe. Many actresses became famous this way.
The entertainment industry was controlled by the Underworld— sometimes you filmed whether you wanted to or not. Once in, there was no turning back.
Biao-ge’s eyes glinted lewdly. “Just take off a few clothes. Society’s open now—everyone loves it. You, pretty girl, with that body — big chest, big ass — what a waste not to show it—”
At the same time, Fan Zizhuo, sensing the thugs had relaxed their grip, broke free and rushed over to shield Li Yaru.
“Ah Rou, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.” His aching arm gently patted her back.
Li Yaru shook her head at Fan Zizhuo—he shouldn’t have jumped in now.
“Sister, is that your boyfriend? Not bad looking, so pale. Hey, pretty boy, why not act in movies with your girlfriend? Real couples on screen are the best… What’s with that look? Damn, a beauty like this and you haven’t even slept with her?”
The crowd burst into raucous laughter.
Though Fan Zizhuo was a gentle scholar, he still had a man’s pride. Seeing his beloved insulted, his eyes reddened with rage and he swung at Biao-ge, but missed and was kicked to the ground instead.
These weren’t ordinary street punks, but hardened gang members, used to knives and guns. Fan Zizhuo was no match.
The blows rained down on his thin frame, each one like a knife to Li Yaru’s nerves.
She realized there was no escaping this disaster now— no matter which gang this was, there was no way out. They didn’t care who owed what.
Either pay up, lose the Restaurant, or strip for the camera.
“—Stop it… stop! I’ll pay! I’ll pay!” Li Yaru took a deep breath, her face twisting with pain.
“Can’t you give us some time? Three million is too much— even raising money takes time.”
“You’ll pay for Li Yixiang?” Biao-ge raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
Li Yaru clenched her fists, raised her face, and gave a cold, beautiful smile. “If I can’t, I’ll go make movies.”
Fan Zizhuo was trembling, blood oozing from his mouth.
“But I have conditions.”
“Such a straightforward girl— any reasonable condition, I’ll agree.” Biao-ge was delighted.
Li Yaru’s soft lips moved, word by word: “Find that bastard Li Yixiang for me— I want to chop off one of his hands.”
Biao-ge smiled meaningfully. “You’re someone who gets things done. No problem.”
The gangsters scattered like birds. Biao-ge gave Li Yaru ten days— if she couldn’t pay, she’d go make movies.
The grand Restaurant hall was left in shambles, tables and dishes scattered everywhere, no one to clean up.
Li Yaru’s legs buckled as she stumbled to help Fan Zizhuo— both collapsed onto a bench.
Her bright black eyes were dull as she stared at her uncle’s family, speaking slowly, “From now on, the Restaurant belongs to my dad alone. Uncle, write a Transfer Deed and sign and stamp it.”
“You can mortgage the new house you bought for Li Yixiang in Cheong Kwan O, get a loan, and sell your car. Wire the money to my account within five days. I’ll figure out the rest.”
“I’ll check every account from these past years—whatever’s missing, you’ll pay us back to the last cent.”
“Why should we!” Aunt finally found her voice and scrambled up.
“You little wretch, little wretch— trying to eat us out of house and home— since when does a little girl like you run the Li family—”
Aunt shrieked, crawling over to grab Li Yaru’s hair, but Li Yaru caught her and slapped her twice, leaving her stunned. The little cousin howled in fear.
Li Yaru’s palm stung, her fierce look like a little leopard baring its fangs. “If you want my cousin back in one piece, do as I say. If not, I swear I’ll chop off his hand! Just watch me!”
Her dad was too kind— that’s why he got bullied and suffered this humiliation.