In that case

In the midst of their lively meal, Old Zhang Four came over. “Zhang Pa, I need a word with you.”

Fatty called out, “Want a drink?”

Old Zhang Four waved him off and pulled Zhang Pa aside to the roadside. “That guy is Wang White-Eye—damn, turns out he’s a deputy district chief.”

Zhang Pa understood immediately. “You want me to keep your dogs for you?”

“It’s not that I want to trouble you—I really have no choice. They said they’re coming again tonight. They’ve got their eyes on me now. If I don’t get rid of the dogs, Wang White-Eye won’t let it go.” Old Zhang Four grumbled, “Seriously, what’s a high-ranking official got against a couple of dogs?”

“You’re slandering the shining image of our public servants. How can you just make up nicknames like that?” Zhang Pa replied.

“I didn’t make it up—everyone at the district office knows. Actually, loads of people in the city know his ‘great’ name.” Old Zhang Four sighed. “Please help me look after the dogs.”

“Why not just get them licensed?” Zhang Pa asked.

“Even licenses won’t help me now,” Old Zhang Four said. “The dogs are still in Fatty’s basement. Look after them for me, will you? I can’t trust anyone else.”

“Don’t make it sound so nice. It’s just because I’m not afraid of getting bitten, right?” Zhang Pa said.

Old Zhang Four grinned. “Same difference.”

“Are the police coming later?” Zhang Pa asked.

“Probably. When the boss gives an order, the poor beat cops have to run themselves ragged. If they don’t sort this out, there’s no way to report back.”

“Serves you right, showing off all the time,” Zhang Pa teased.

“It’s not about showing off anymore. It’s about keeping those two lives safe.” Old Zhang Four clasped his hands in a pleading gesture. “I’m counting on you.”

“What if they search Fatty’s place?” Zhang Pa pressed.

“If they really find them, there’s nothing I can do.” Old Zhang Four sighed again. “If it comes to that, maybe you could keep them for a while… or just take them. They’re yours.”

Zhang Pa quickly waved his hands. “No way.”

“I’m just saying. Would I give away my own sons?” Old Zhang Four paused, then added, “But with the police station watching, trouble could come at any time. Sigh.”

“Everything is fate. Don’t overthink it. Come back and drink,” Zhang Pa said.

Old Zhang Four refused. “Forget it, I’m heading home.” He turned and left.

Back at the table, Fatty asked, “What was that about?”

“Same thing as earlier today.” Zhang Pa didn’t want to explain in detail. What if word got out?

Fatty said, “It’s a mess, that’s for sure.”

They kept drinking, carousing until after eleven. During that time, Nianpao brought up the script, but since there were too many people, Zhang Pa told him to wait until tomorrow.

So the next morning, Nianpao and Fatty arrived bright and early.

As they went upstairs, they saw the door to the neighboring apartment open. Fatty glanced in and asked, “Got new neighbors?”

“Just moved in,” Zhang Pa replied. “You two are here so early—are you out of your minds?”

Nianpao spotted the guitar, picked it up, and strummed a little. “How much did this set you back?”

“Expense claim?” Zhang Pa shot back.

“Get lost.” Nianpao set the guitar down. “Lu Yiyi and the others read the script and thought it was interesting. So, we need to do a read-through. These next few days, we’ll tidy up the place Dazhuang rented, and as soon as it’s ready, we’ll start. Sound good?”

“You don’t need to ask me.” Zhang Pa shrugged.

“Of course I do,” Nianpao insisted. “You’re the scriptwriter. We need you to finish the script, and we’ll also have group discussions—anyone can make suggestions, and we’ll vote on whether to change things. Is that okay?”

“Perfectly fine,” Zhang Pa agreed. “Anything else?” He was anxious to get to work.

“One more thing—Zhang Baihong’s gone back to the capital,” Nianpao said. “She wanted to see you before she left, but since you’re so tight-lipped, and she’s an actress, of course she wouldn’t say anything either.”

“What would she want with me?” Zhang Pa asked.

“She just wanted to let you know she probably can’t help with your web series. But she said when her movie comes out, you have to go see it—she’s got an important supporting role.”

“Forget it,” Zhang Pa replied. “The last time I went to the movies was when the school booked a theater for a patriotic film. For me, going to the movies is a luxury I can’t afford.”

“No wonder you can’t get a girlfriend,” Nianpao scoffed.

“Is that all?” Zhang Pa asked.

Fatty interjected, “What do you mean, is that all? Grab your computer and come to my place. If you don’t, what about the dogs?”

Zhang Pa was a bit annoyed, but after thinking for a moment, he said, “How about bringing the dogs up here?”

“Why bother? My place has everything, and now there’ll be a computer too. Just bring it over and start working.” Fatty looked around. “You’ve got nothing here but junk. Nowhere to put a computer anyway. Let’s go.”

So off they went, each carrying a piece of equipment—tower, monitor, camera, keyboard—to Fatty’s place.

Fatty lived alone in an apartment over a hundred square meters. With Zhang Pa joining, it didn’t feel crowded at all.

Zhang Pa went home to grab his things, loaded his documents onto a USB drive, and headed back to start work.

The advantage of working at Fatty’s was that once the door was shut, the two dogs had plenty of space to roam. To avoid trouble, Zhang Pa took them upstairs with him, letting the big dogs act as his bodyguards while he worked.

As he was working, Wang Baihe called, asking if he was home.

He said he was. She told him Wu Old Three would be coming over soon to temporarily stay in the big room upstairs—about a week, maybe ten days. She asked him to keep an eye on things and collect the rent.

“Doesn’t Wu Old Three have a place of his own?” Zhang Pa asked, curious.

“Why do you care?” Wang Baihe sounded impatient.

What is impatience? Impatience is when someone has no interest in you whatsoever. If a woman is impatient with you, it’s a sure sign she doesn’t like you.

Zhang Pa gave a wry smile. “What time is he coming?”

“What time? You’re at home all day anyway, what difference does it make?” Wang Baihe retorted.

“I need to go out and buy some things.”

“Oh, not this again,” she snapped. “Forget it.” She hung up.

Putting down the phone, Zhang Pa shook his head. “That crazy Wang woman is getting crazier.”

“Wang Baihe?” Fatty said. “Yesterday Da Wu and Tu Fei went job-hunting and saw her eating Western food with some guy wearing a Hermes belt.”

“Are they nuts, checking out people’s belts?” Zhang Pa said.

“They’re not normal. They stick together all day long—probably up to something.” Fatty replied.

Zhang Pa shook his head. “Wu Old Three wants to stay in the room upstairs—the one those two working girls used to rent.”

“Wu Old Three? Damn.” Fatty turned to Nianpao. “We should find a way to mess with him… or get him thrown in the slammer. Just seeing him irritates me.”

“Let it go,” Zhang Pa said. “Life’s hard enough.”

Fatty bristled. “What, you call this a conversation? How is life hard?”

“It just is,” Zhang Pa said. “I’m going to check things out.”

“Check what? Wu Old Three?” Fatty asked. “Ever roughed him up?”

“I’m a man of peace. Don’t talk nonsense with me,” Zhang Pa replied as he said goodbye to the two big dogs and walked home with his USB stick.

He was in the middle of working—typing furiously—when Wu Old Three arrived. More accurately, a car pulled up, and Wu Old Three and a young man, along with two workers, started hauling mattresses upstairs.

They made several trips, bringing in five mattresses and a pile of new bedding.

Zhang Pa opened his door, half working, half watching them move things until the car drove off. Then he went next door. “Wang Baihe said to give me the rent.”

Wu Old Three glanced at him, counted out five hundred yuan, and handed it over. Zhang Pa took the money and went back to work.

A little while later, two taxis pulled up outside. Five young women in their twenties got out, each laden with bags.

They stood on the street, making calls, until Wu Old Three came down, and in a moment, the whole group thundered upstairs.

Zhang Pa sighed inwardly: Another batch of southern-bound women selling their bodies.

The five girls each took a mattress, filling the room instantly. Not only was the space packed, but noise filled the air, their chatter carrying straight into Zhang Pa’s room.

He tried to endure, but couldn’t hold out. He grabbed his USB drive and headed back to Fatty’s.

The whole morning was spent running back and forth.

Fatty and Nianpao were playing online games. Seeing him return, Fatty asked, “Finished?”

“Wu Old Three brought five more girls,” Zhang Pa replied.

“Damn, I’m done.” Fatty quit the game and cursed, “I’ve got money, an apartment, youth and promise, but I’m still single—a lone dog. It’s so hard to find a girlfriend. Meanwhile, hordes of girls are volunteering to be prostitutes. I’m speechless.”

Nianpao said, “Don’t be so harsh. So what if they’re prostitutes?”

“What do you mean, ‘so what’? You’re a dirty old man. Don’t give me that crap,” Fatty snapped.

Nianpao retorted, “If you’ve got a problem with Wu Old Three, go deal with him. Why take it out on me?”

Zhang Pa interjected, “Enough, both of you. Shut up.”

Nianpao continued, “Don’t look down on those girls. Men are just as bad, always hoping to get lucky. You know how many guys wish they could be gigolos?” He added, “That’s society—mocking the poor but not the crooked. Even gangsters like Long Jianjun and Guo Gang can become representatives in the People’s Congress. So why make things hard for those girls?”

“No wonder women like you. Always sticking up for them—it’s a real skill,” Zhang Pa laughed.

“I’m just telling the truth,” Nianpao replied.

“I know you are,” Zhang Pa said, grabbing a computer and getting back to work.

Pressed for time, he skipped lunch again. After uploading his work around one in the afternoon, he rode his bike to the sports store.

Not knowing the prices, he withdrew another thousand yuan on the way, feeling acutely how quickly money vanished—a whole ten thousand gone in just a few days.

At the store, he asked for dance shoes and pants. With the clerk’s help, he bought a pair of loose sweatpants, a pair of tight dance pants, and dance shoes. He didn’t dare buy more—these things were so expensive! Over five hundred yuan for just three items. He skipped the top, planning to wear a T-shirt instead.

On the way home, Zhang Pa couldn’t help but feel emotional. He’d never worn such expensive clothes—what a luxury.

After staying home a bit, he packed up a box of books and left. The five girls next door were simply too noisy, laughing and chattering endlessly. Zhang Pa didn’t want to argue—he’d just endure it for a few days and rode his bike to the teachers’ college.

Even though he’d met the “Palace Mistress,” he still didn’t want her to see him selling books. Zhang Pa had visited almost every major university in the city, except the music academy—he’d never dared to go there.

Once again, he sat on the curb and sighed: I didn’t practice guitar today!

Not only had he skipped guitar, but after a day of running around, he hadn’t done any of Liu Xiaomei’s dance assignments either.