Twisted Dreams-Chapter 201 - 171: Yang Xiao

Imperial Capital, light rain drizzles.

The damp air seeps into the bar and into the man’s bones.

The man has long hair.

For men, long hair is the hardest hairstyle to pull off.

It can look messy, untidy.

But for this man, with the stunning beauty reminiscent of Yu Huatian from the Eastern Depot, the long hair gives him a kind of feminine grace.

Wearing a white suit, it’s quite flamboyant, yet it lends him an air of elegance.

He looks like a top host from East Sakura Country, the kind that frequently mingles with rich women at high-end parties.

The man’s name is Yang Xiao.

If it were a woman author smitten with infatuation, she would certainly depict this man as the owner of a chic boutique bar in a romance novel.

The identity of a bar owner suits him well, and indeed, he is within a bar.

Only... the bar is terrible.

The bar looks like it hasn’t been patronized in a long time, the lights are broken, the chairs are missing legs, and a layer of dust covers the tables.

Yang Xiao feels a bit cold, takes out an overcoat and drapes it over himself, then walks to the counter.

In such weather, he likes to have a cup of coffee and then savor a movie.

Yang Xiao opens a drawer, inside there’s only cobwebs, and a pitiful, dead spider.

He sighs, sits behind the counter, takes out his phone, searches for a movie he likes.

His favorite movies are the ancient Tokyo Hot series, though occasionally he changes his taste and watches some Woodpecker films or such.

Just then, urgent footsteps sound at the door.

Yang Xiao freezes for a moment.

How long has this wretched bar been closed, and there’s actually a customer?

He looks up and sees a man with a covered face, also noticing the dagger in the man’s hand.

The man growls fiercely:

"Hand over the money!"

Yang Xiao first shows a look of disappointment.

Alright, it’s a robbery.

Judging by the accent, it’s an out-of-towner.

Yang Xiao doesn’t want trouble, cooperatively raises his hands, appropriately showing a terrified expression.

The robber points the dagger at Yang Xiao’s head, while rummaging through the counter with the other hand.

Yang Xiao has no intention of disturbing the robber’s work.

Meanwhile, he ponders with some bafflement.

How can this world have so many idiots?

When doing shady business, shouldn’t one use their brain?

If one chooses to rob small and medium stores, the first choice should certainly be eateries and clothing shops.

If one feels they have only a dagger and doubt their own ability, thinking too many people at eateries and clothing shops makes them unable to act, one might as well try the appliance industry and tobacco and alcohol shops.

In the appliance industry and tobacco and alcohol shops, usually only the owner is home, acting as both sales and cashier, and at most it’s a husband-and-wife team.

A grown man with a dagger can absolutely hold the situation.

The most important thing is, the above four types of stores would definitely have ample cash flow.

If luck is good, one might even encounter a pushover who’s having a bad day.

So, why would this seemingly not-so-bright kid choose a half-dead little bar as a target?

He doesn’t even want to spend more time scoping out the place.

If he had been more attentive, he surely would have seen a pried-open lock lying on the ground.

That lock would tell him that for this half-dead little bar, he too is an intruder!

Yang Xiao hates these people who overlook their financial paths and personal safety, and just dive headlong into their work!

He guesses this outsider hasn’t even planned a getaway route after striking.

This is the Imperial Capital, buddy!

Just mentioning the scoping out of places, Yang Xiao feels a bit ashamed and indignant.

Who the hell would think there could be such a half-dead bar in the Imperial Capital where every inch of land is gold?

All regret from not scoping out the place properly!

Finding no money, the robber points the dagger against Yang Xiao’s neck, baring his teeth, muttering curses.

Looking as if Yang Xiao had wronged him, showing a hideous expression.

The gist is still demanding Yang Xiao hand over something valuable.

Yang Xiao considers himself different from these brutes who only rely on muscle for quick cash.

He is elegant, an admirer of film art, and occasionally an author of novels.

However, he shares one thing in common with that brute.

They both are adept at, and do not reject, using violence to solve problems.

Thus, the man’s limbs were twisted by Yang Xiao, his face turning a liver color, writhing and struggling on the ground.

Yang Xiao fears the fool’s screams may be too loud, causing unnecessary trouble.

He picks up the dagger, stuffs the wooden hilt into the robber’s throat.

The world falls silent.

The robber’s face is turning increasingly purple, likely not long till his end.

Yang Xiao muses whether he can arrange the site nicely, and frame the lock-picking on this fool.

After all, he would never bear the blame for sneaking into this run-down bar by picking the lock.

Yang Xiao drags the robber by the hair, hiding him under the counter.

He truly loves movies too much, especially the works of Teacher Aoi Sora, missing even a frame would be a loss.

Just as he’s engrossed in watching the movie’s climax, the door is pushed open again.

Yang Xiao is annoyed, who the hell is interrupting his immersive movie experience again!?

He sees him.

A man walks in wearing a black shirt, business trousers, and a round hat.

Yang Xiao narrows his eyes.

Instinct tells him this man is not simple.

His heartbeat quickens, his palms slightly sweating.

Yang Xiao unusually shuts the movie off, puts away his phone, smiling as he says:

"Welcome."

Li Yang glances around the bar, sees a leg outside the counter, inside should be a person lying down.

Of course, the leg’s owner has already suffocated to death.

Li Yang’s gaze lingers on the leg for a second before retracting, sits on a high stool, and says:

"Bring me two random drinks."

Yang Xiao smiles and nods, then turns around.

He opens the small fridge, finding enough half-bottles of spirits.

Then, using the mixing tools skillfully, he makes two drinks, pushing them in front of Li Yang.

Li Yang frowns.

This person can actually mix drinks other than martinis!

Yang Xiao suspiciously looks at Li Yang:

"Is there anything wrong with these two drinks?

I think my mixing skills are excellent."

Li Yang takes a cigarette from his pocket, puts it in his mouth, lights it with a lighter:

"I don’t like cocktails other than martinis."

Yang Xiao lightly touches his nose:

"I don’t like cigarettes either, because my perfume is very expensive."

Li Yang exhales a puff of smoke:

"I still quite like bartenders who can mix drinks other than martinis."

Yang Xiao takes off his coat, smiling as he says:

"But I don’t like men who smoke."

Yang Xiao suddenly makes a move, chopping his hand towards Li Yang’s neck.

Li Yang seems not to have reacted, the hand chop getting closer to the neck.

Yang Xiao’s mouth corners show a smile.

This move succeeded.

But then, he couldn’t laugh anymore.

Because, as the hand chop fell on the man in front of him, he was completely unharmed, even still puffing away.

As if a full-force strike from Yang Xiao was just a massage from a female technician to this man!

Li Yang doesn’t even lift his head, murmurs with a cigarette in his mouth:

"I don’t like people touching me."

After saying that, Li Yang stands up, grabs Yang Xiao by the collar, pulling his whole body over the counter.

Then, a tremendous force comes from Li Yang’s hand, he presses Yang Xiao’s head onto the counter.

Yang Xiao’s handsome face rubs against the filthy counter like a rag.