"Old Li, I came for the half-month’s pay and commission you owe me. Settle up, and we’ll be even."
Su Jin sat across from Old Li in his former office, smartly dressed and smiling.
"You’ve got the nerve to show your face?" Old Li slammed the desk and stood. "You ruined me, Su Jin! Wang Yuntong dumped all his anger on me. Business has ground to a halt, and that thug practically tried to extort me!"
"What’s that got to do with me?" Su Jin shrugged. "Don’t put it all on me. If you have what it takes, you eat; if you don’t, you eat shit. Was I wrong to step in and help someone?"
"Help someone?" Old Li thrust out his neck, face red. "How can you be so shameless? You just had to show how brave you were, didn’t you? Is this your first day out in the world?"
"You can’t afford to cross Wang Yuntong, and neither can I. Could Xiaojing? She came from the countryside. What choice did she have but to give in? I’m telling you, you’re the only fool here."
"If you’d kept evidence of what he did, I would’ve stood firm beside you. But you had nothing and still acted tough... Stop drinking my tea!"
Su Jin took a small sip. "Why keep going on about it? It’s over. Just pay my wages and commission."
"What?" Old Li was so angry he nearly blacked out. "You brought the business to a standstill and put me through this, and you still want your pay? Have you no conscience?"
"Who gave a graduate from a lousy university a job? Who first took you to a karaoke club for entertaining clients? Where’s your gratitude?"
Old Li slapped the back of one hand against his other palm as he ranted.
"It was so simple. Fine, you hit him without keeping evidence. Why not spend some money, apologize, and settle it? I’ve trained you all these years. Don’t tell me you don’t have a few hundred thousand saved."
"You’ve got the nerve to bring that up?" Su Jin raised an eyebrow. "I really don’t have savings, and you know why."
"The company’s entertainment budget never included me, and those club visits weren’t reimbursed. I paid out of my own pocket to do company business. At those prices, how could I save anything?"
"It’s all your fault. You should’ve corrupted me with money sooner. Then I wouldn’t have had to live as such an upright man."
"Have you forgotten what you did?" Old Li sprayed spittle in his excitement. "We covered your expenses for the first two years. You know why that stopped."
"The client had already taken a cab home, and you were still there ordering women—and two at once! Why would I pay for that?"
"Wouldn’t I bring clients again? When new girls arrive, shouldn’t I try them out for the clients first?" Su Jin replied lightly.
Old Li turned pale and took a step back, pointing at him. "Where did you go for training? Have you lost all shame?"
"Come on, Old Li. Business is business. Don’t play the old friend with me, you capitalist. How many years have you been exploiting me?" Su Jin narrowed his eyes. "After all this time, you should’ve promoted me. Why am I still out chasing sales?"
"How could I promote you when you’re so good at it?"
"Aha! There’s the truth. I knew it! You finally said what you really think!" Su Jin pointed at him excitedly.
"That’s right!" Old Li glared. "I treated you like a workhorse and got three people’s work out of you. I loved it. So what?"
"Fine, you’ve got nerve." Su Jin gave an angry laugh. "Don’t think I don’t know about your dirty business. That young secretary you hired last year was under your desk giving you a blowjob. Playing games where people could see, were you? I saw her. She was going at it like the Lipstick Cart Titan. Weren’t you afraid of catching something?"
"When your wife came to check up on you, I covered for you! I saved your reputation. And I understand—you’ve seen your wife’s face. More folds than a scallion pancake..."
"I’ll strangle you!" Old Li roared, humiliated, and lunged at Su Jin.
Su Jin pushed him casually back into his chair. Old Li seemed to realize his thin arms and legs were no match for him. In the end, he silently lit a cigarette.
Su Jin took out a cigarette and lit it too.
For a time, the two smoked in silence.
Then a faint noise came from the corridor outside.
The office was well insulated, but Su Jin’s hearing had grown sharp enough to make out the voices.
"Mr. Wang! Manager Li really isn’t here today. If you need him, I can get in touch..."
"Move. I have something to discuss with your Manager Li."
Su Jin tapped the desk and looked at Old Li. "The man surnamed Wang is here. Is he really trying to extort you?"
"How do you know he’s here?" Old Li looked up, annoyed.
Su Jin did not answer. He set about clearing the desk.
He sprang up and swept the documents and decorations to the floor. Then he shouted, "Li! Pay me what you owe today, or I won’t let this go! You want me dead? Let’s see which of us dies first!"
The office door was pushed open at once.
A potbellied, greasy-faced middle-aged man froze in the doorway.
It was Wang Yuntong.
The moment Wang recognized Su Jin, his face twisted. "You little bastard! So you’ve finally shown yourself!"
Veins rose on Su Jin’s neck. He pointed first at Wang, then at Old Li. "You... did you and Old Li wreck my home together? Listen to me, Wang. If the two of you want to kill me, I... I..."
His eyes searched the floor. He grabbed a glass trophy and charged at Wang.
"I’ll kill you first!"
Old Li found a burst of strength and threw himself at Su Jin, tackling him to the floor.
"Mr. Wang, go! Leave this little bastard to me!"
"Fine! Well done, Old Li... You little bastard, you dare attack me? Just wait!" Wang’s jowls shook as he hurried out of the office.
"Fuck, I’ll slap the hell out of you!" Old Li swung a wild hand at Su Jin’s face.
Su Jin gave him a gentle nudge with his leg. Old Li rolled sideways and landed on the floor.
Sitting on the floor, Su Jin grinned. "He’s gone, Old Li. Were you really going to hit me?"
"Don’t think I’ll thank you for this!" Old Li snapped, pointing at him.
Su Jin held up his payment code. "Pay my wages and commission. The company accounts take too long. And give me a carton of cigarettes, or I’ll go bring Wang back."
Old Li grumbled, scanned the code, and sighed at the ceiling. Then he pulled a carton of cigarettes from a drawer and hurled it at Su Jin.
"Get out! I never want to see you again!"
"Old Li, to tell the truth, I missed you this past month..."
"Get out!"
...
Wang Yuntong stormed down the stairs of the office building.
"Liu? Get some men together. That little bastard I told you about last month has shown up and threatened me again. If I don’t cripple him, I might as well quit!"
"...Yes, here. Bring plenty of men, and hurry!"
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