But that burly man didn’t stop with just a few complaints, he continued, “You’re sorry? Is that all?”
His voice was as loud as thunder, making the old man tremble.
The old man quickly said with fear, “How about this, young man, I’ll clean it up. I’ll clean it up right away.”
He then pulled out a crumpled towel from a red bag. Though the towel was old and pilled, it was very clean.
As the old man bent down to clean the shoes, the burly man spat in disdain, moved his feet away and shouted, “What kind of rag is that? You’re using some old, filthy cloth to clean my shoes? Do you know how much these shoes cost?”
The old man, desperate, looked up and said, “Young man, this is my handkerchief. It’s clean, it’s not dirty. I’ve washed it thoroughly. I promise I’ll clean up your shoes.”
But the burly man wasn’t having it. “Clean? My ass! You either lick them clean, or pay me for the shoes. They aren’t that expensive, only a bit over two thousand. You can just give me two thousand.”
The old man almost broke down in tears hearing these words. Two thousand? Even two hundred was an enormous amount for him, let alone two thousand.
He stammered anxiously, “I… I… I…”
The burly man was clearly bullying him. The passengers were all angered by the scene, but no one dared to intervene. With his muscular build, scruffy beard, and a large scar on his face, it was obvious that he was someone involved in rough circles.
A woman tried to speak up but was met with a threatening glare from the burly man. “Do you have a death wish?”
No one dared to get involved after that, not wanting to get into trouble. The old man could only blame it on his bad luck.
“Old thing, you decide. Either pay me two thousand or lick my shoes clean,” the burly man said, crossing his arms and looking down at the cowering old man.
The old man was about to break down crying. His wrinkled face grew even more creased as he said in despair, “Young man, I-I don’t have that much money.”
“You have no money?” He sneered and said, “Well then, lick them clean!”
He kept muttering curses under his breath, “Damn bad luck!”
This type of bully thrived on trampling on others’ dignity to feel superior. In their eyes, others’ dignity was merely a tool that can be used to affirm their own status.
Faced with the choice between his dignity and the two thousand, the old man looked around desperately, but was met only with cold, indifferent eyes.
“Two thousand? Are you scamming him?” Just then, a voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
It was Sophie, who could no longer stand to watch.
She did not have an overdeveloped sense of justice, but she could not sit by and do nothing when seeing a bully mistreat the weak. The old man was pitiable enough. The burly man was truly stepping over the line.
She stood up and pointed at the burly man’s shoes. “Those shoes you’re wearing are probably from Spider King’s discount section. I’m guessing they cost around two hundred at most. And you dare to ask for two thousand?”
The burly man was surprised, turning to look at Sophie. Rather than being embarrassed or angry, he smirked with ill intent and said, “Oh? Are you sticking up for this old man, missy?”
He had noticed Sophie the moment she got on the bus. Scoundrels like him would usually pay extra attention to beautiful women. And one as beautiful as Sophie, of course would become the object of his interest as soon as he laid eyes on her.
So he was more than happy now that she had taken the initiative to speak to him.
Actually, bullying the old man was also to attract Sophie’s attention. As long as he could get her attention, he didn’t really care how. As for the old man’s dignity, it was nothing to him but a tool.
He kept his eyes locked on Sophie as he spoke, looking her up and down, as if he was going to undress her right then and there.
Sophie, revolted by his stare, huffed in disgust. She helped the old man up and said, “Mister, please get up. I’ll pay for you.”
She pulled out two hundred from her pocket and handed it to the burly man.
But the burly man got furious at the sight of the two hundred, sneering. “What’s this supposed to mean? I said two thousand, and you’re giving me two hundred? Are you insulting me?”
Sophie retorted, “Those shoes are only worth two hundred.”
She stood her ground defiantly and fearlessly.
The burly man was suddenly amused and nodded with a grin. “Alright, two hundred it is!”
Actually, his shoes were indeed only worth two hundred dollars and had come from Spider King’s discount section. Men like him, who were at the bottom of the social ladder, could never afford shoes that cost two thousand dollars.
But there was no way that he would admit that they only cost two hundred, of course. How degrading would it be if words got out.
As he reached out his hand, he didn’t take the money. Instead, he grabbed Sophie’s hand.
“Heavens!” The burly man stared greedily at Sophie’s hand and said with a grin, “Such soft and delicate hands!”
“What are you doing?” Sophie shouted, immediately trying to pull her hand away. However, the burly man’s grip was firm, and she couldn’t free herself.
The burly man smirked. “Didn’t you only give me two hundred? I’ll forget about the rest if you come with me. It’s so boring on the bus. Let’s get off and sort this out. You’re worth at least eighteen hundred.”
With that, his eyes started to roam over Sophie’s body again, making her feel sick.
“You creep!” Sophie raised her other hand to slap him, but the burly man grabbed it before she could reach his face.
His strength was overwhelming, and Sophie had completely lost any chance of resistance.