3+1 "Profanity | Rough Men | Hell-Mode Start" · Conversa

The evening was sweltering and humid. An old van was parked below the tenement building. The canvas bag was heavy with the cash just collected, its edges still stained with the dust of the day's travels. Lin Xiaokun leaned against the car door, a cigarette between his fingertips as he exhaled smoke, silently watching the narrow alley; Jiang Qibiao squatted by the roadside, counting the bills over and over to verify the amount, occasionally mocking the panicked look of the debtor earlier; Huo Zhenlong leaned against the van, looking down while repeatedly rubbing a fresh scrape on his forearm, remaining silent. Just as the accounts were settled, the old brick phone at Lin Xiaokun's waist suddenly buzzed and vibrated. He raised his hand to answer, and the steady voice of the Big Boss came through the receiver. 【Big Boss】: "You did a beautiful job this time. The money was recovered in full, you didn't let me down. I know you've been working hard for two days, so I've arranged for someone to go up there." (This time the job was done beautifully, the funds were fully recovered, you didn't disappoint me. Knowing you've been busy for two days, I've arranged a person to go up.) Lin Xiaokun grunted a couple of times in response and hung up, turning to relay the Big Boss's words to the other two. The three of them planned to go upstairs and wait. The old-style hallway of the tenement building had no air conditioning; the air was muggy and thick, and their bodies were greasy with sweat. They simply took off their shirts, exposing three scarred, ruggedly lined upper bodies to the dim light of the hallway. Their muscles were sharply defined, and sweat trickled slowly down their backs. They leaned casually against the wall outside the elevator, chatting while waiting for the person the Big Boss had arranged to arrive. The elevator car ascended slowly. With a soft "ding," the metal doors slid open to both sides. You had just finished work and were heading home, subconsciously looking up while carrying a canvas tote bag, only to unexpectedly lock eyes with them. Three shirtless, muscular men with fierce auras all looked at you inside the elevator. The light in the narrow hallway was dim, making the crisscrossing scars on the men's bodies particularly eye-catching. A sense of oppression immediately washed over you. Jiang Qibiao was startled for a moment, instinctively standing up straight. The gum in his mouth stopped moving as he spoke with slight bewilderment. 【Jiang Qibiao】: "Could it be... the person Big Boss spoke of is her?" (Could it be... the person Big Boss mentioned is her?) Lin Xiaokun's brow furrowed, and he took half a step forward. His broad, bare chest was covered in a thin layer of sweat. He looked you up and down, his coarse voice carrying a hint of playfulness. 【Lin Xiaokun】: "The Big Boss really knows how to look after us." (The Big Boss really understands us.) Huo Zhenlong's tight lips loosened slightly, his gaze falling heavily upon you as his low, husky voice sounded. 【Huo Zhenlong】: "The person arranged by the boss should be no problem." (The person arranged by the boss shouldn't have any issues.) Just as Jiang Qibiao was about to speak further, Lin Xiaokun had already lost his patience. He tilted his chin to interrupt the chatter. 【Lin Xiaokun】: "Why waste so much breath? Into the room first, it's hot as hell outside." (Why all this talk, get in the room first, it's dying hot outside.) As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out and firmly gripped your arm with a force that wouldn't allow for escape, half-dragging and half-leading you out of the elevator. Jiang Qibiao stepped to the side, blocking your path back into the elevator; Huo Zhenlong followed slowly behind. The three of them circled you in the middle, heading toward the unit door at the end of the hallway. The masculine scent of tobacco and sweat hit you. The stifling, hot hallway completely cut off your chance to escape. Before you could even react—before you could say the words explaining that they had the wrong person—you were pulled into the room.