Chapter 32: The Simple-Minded Youth's Endless Joy

"I... I don't have an older brother..."
Shen Meng had never witnessed such a scene before.
She stood all alone, so frightened that her face turned pale.
"Haha, no older brother?"
Waist Brother smiled faintly. "Then from now on... how about I, your Waist Brother, look after you? You may look like a bookworm, but on closer inspection, you're actually quite charming!"
"Big brother!"
Hearing this, a few little delinquents grew anxious. "Big brother... she hit us! Shouldn't you avenge us?!"
"Revenge?"
Waist Brother was used to these little troublemakers. Seeing Shen Meng with her black-rimmed glasses, obedient and honest, her skin pink and dewy—a student so adorable, how could he bring himself to hurt her?
"Remember, if you follow me, Waist Brother, you have to understand one thing. As people of the street, tattoos on Peppa Pig, but when you meet your own, never mess things up! I think this little girl is pretty good. Shake hands and make peace!"
As he spoke, Waist Brother reached out, about to touch Shen Meng's chest, licking his lips. "Little sister, from now on, just stick with your Waist Brother. With me around, I guarantee no one will dare..."
Before he finished, suddenly a billiard ball flew straight at his hand!
A crack.
The sound of bones breaking. Waist Brother staggered back several steps. Looking at his hand, a gash had split open, blood gushing out!
"Ahhh!! Who did that?!"
The pain arrived belatedly—Waist Brother broke out in a sweat, baring his teeth in agony!
"I did. Any objections?"
At the sound, everyone turned—Ling Qiu appeared before them!
Ling Qiu had one hand in his pocket, casually picking up a billiard ball and playing with it.
"Ling Qiu!"
When she saw it was Ling Qiu, warmth flooded Shen Meng's heart. She rushed over and instinctively hugged him.
Ling Qiu patted her head. "Don't be afraid. You should have told me about this."
"I... but I... didn't want to trouble you again..."
Embracing Ling Qiu, Shen Meng felt wrapped in warmth, a surge of security overwhelming her!
"Don't say silly things. In the future, if anything happens, tell me right away, understand?"
Shen Meng nodded vigorously, then realized she was hugging Ling Qiu tightly. She quickly let go, standing to the side with her head drooping, her cheeks as red as ripe apples.
"You dare lay a hand on me! Do you even know who your Waist Brother is?!"
Enraged, Waist Brother waved his hand. "Go! Get him!"
"Big brother! Don't!"
Unexpectedly, the little delinquents rushed to block him.
"You traitors?!"
Waist Brother shouted angrily.
The delinquents shook their heads quickly. "No, no! Big brother... you can't fight Ling Qiu! Even Skull Brother from Night Market Street doesn't dare mess with him!"
"What?!"

When he heard this, Waist Brother was stunned. He scanned Ling Qiu up and down, seeing nothing but a meek student.
"Nonsense! Trying to fool me?! This coward, and Skull Brother doesn't dare touch him?!"
With that, he slapped a delinquent across the face.
"Get him!"
Immediately, a group of tattooed youths raised their billiard cues and charged forward with loud cries.
"Close your eyes."
Ling Qiu spoke calmly.
This time, Shen Meng knew what to do and obediently closed her eyes.
Then...
She heard a series of thuds and cries of pain.
When she opened her eyes again...
All the street youths lay sprawled across the floor, bruised and battered, some missing teeth.
Ling Qiu didn’t bother to go too hard on them.
These clowns deserved a lesson, just enough to make them remember.
But...
Letting them go just like that felt like a waste of their "talents."
"You're called Waist, right?"
Ling Qiu walked forward, grabbing the battered, toothless Waist Brother.
"Ah! Big brother... please, don't hit me..."
These clowns were all paper tigers—pretending to be tough, but a little pain made them cower instantly.
"I won't hit you, but I'm not satisfied yet. What do you suggest?"
"Big... big brother... how about... I'll kowtow to you? Please, don't hit me!"
"No."
Ling Qiu said, "Plenty of people have kowtowed to me. It's boring. Your dance moves earlier were pretty flashy. How about this—dance for me, and I'll let you go."
"Dance...?"
Waist Brother thought he misheard.
"Yes, dance."
Ling Qiu pulled out his phone. "I'll play a backing track. Line up, same formation as before. Hurry."
This wasn't just Ling Qiu being bored.
It was because...
Shen Meng was timid. Even though Ling Qiu had taught them a lesson for her today, the earlier fright could leave a shadow in her heart.
So, to help Shen Meng truly let go, he had to let her see for herself that these guys were nothing but fools.
But...
Ling Qiu realized he hadn't downloaded any music.

Helpless, he opened the radio app on his phone.
Coincidentally... the station was playing a song.
"Alright, this will be your accompaniment. You have three seconds to start performing. One second late and I'll smash your faces."
Ling Qiu spoke indifferently, scaring the group into action. They hurried to line up, and despite their intense pain, began to sway awkwardly.
"Are you hungry or something? Put some energy into it—sing and dance!"
Ling Qiu picked up a billiard cue.
Seeing this, Waist Brother shivered and shouted, "Quick, quick! Sing and dance together!"
So a bunch of street youths in skinny pants and loafers started dancing like monkeys on the spot, singing off-key in unison.
"Wife!"
"Ah-ha!"
"Oyoyoyo, hey!"
...
"Pfft—"
At last, Shen Meng couldn't help herself and burst out laughing.
Hearing her laughter, Ling Qiu felt relieved, tossing the cue aside. "Keep dancing, don't stop."
He walked forward, gently took Shen Meng's hand, and led her out.
...
After a while, confirming Ling Qiu had left, Waist Brother slumped to the ground, groaning, "Oh... my hand..."
"Wife! Ah-ha!" The others kept singing and dancing.
Waist Brother grabbed a billiard ball and hurled it at them furiously!
"Ah-ha your grandmother's whistle, ah-ha! Stop dancing, you idiots! Aren't you embarrassed enough?!"
The group finally snapped out of it.
Waist Brother's eyes were bloodshot with rage as he glared at the exit. "That bastard... I'll make sure he dies!"
"But big brother... we can't beat him... he's too tough!"
"So what if he's tough?!"
Waist Brother fumed, "This time... I'll have my boss step in! Let's see if he can keep acting like a big shot!"
"Ah?!"
Hearing this, everyone grew excited. "Big brother, your boss... isn't he Bamboo Rat Brother, one of the Four Kings of Night Market Street? Even Skull Brother has to greet him politely!"
Waist Brother spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm. "This time... I'll make sure that Ling Qiu kid dies in Night Market Street!"