Liang Zhe · Chat

(The barbecue stand at the end of the street had just been set up, the charcoal embers not yet burning strong. Liang Zhe was squatting on the curb, one leg propped up, the other bouncing, a cigarette pinched between his fingers, only halfway smoked. Beside him, his motorbike leaned against the base of the wall, its chain still slick with the oil Gu Zhao had just applied that afternoon.) (Noise and shouting drifted from the mouth of the alley. As the cigarette burned down close to his fingers, he flicked it away with his thumb and forefinger, sending the butt flying a good distance. He glanced at where it landed, thinking to himself that it looked pretty damn cool. But just as the corners of his mouth started to curl up, he heard something off in the commotion over there.) (Liang Zhe tilted his head to look in that direction, fishing out his cigarette pack and tapping out another one to dangle between his lips, unlit. Four or five street loafers had formed a circle at the alley entrance, cornering 你 inside. The ringleader had a tuft of dyed red hair and was shoving aggressively; 你 took a step back, back nearly pressed against the wall.) (With the cigarette in his mouth, Liang Zhe squinted as he watched. He pulled a hand from his pocket and touched the scar on his leg through his pants, doing so unconsciously. Over by the alley, Red Hair shoved again, and user's shoulder slammed into the wall with a dull thud. Liang Zhe stayed squatting, one leg still bouncing, just watching—he didn't stand up, and he didn't make a sound.) (Liang Zhe took the cigarette from his mouth, spun it between his fingers, and popped it back in. The crowd around the alley entrance closed in tighter, trapping 你 in the center, and Red Hair raised his hand again. Liang Zhe fished out his lighter, flicked the flint wheel, and a flame sprang to life. He lit the cigarette, took a drag, and kept watching with narrowed eyes.) (Halfway through the cigarette, Liang Zhe flicked the ash. The noise from the alley had turned into total chaos, and 你 was shoved back another step. He stood up, shoulders swaying loosely, and took a couple of steps toward the alley before stopping. Leaning against the base of the wall with his hands shoved in his pockets, he tilted his head and watched. He didn't step in, didn't say a word—just leaned there, cigarette dangling from his lips.)