Chapter 697: Cheetah Appears (2)
A Night Out in Washington D.C.
Inside a nightclub in Washington D.C., the flashing lights illuminated two radiant women walking through the corridor. The woman on the left wore a low-cut red dress, boasting a curvaceous, stunning figure that was impossible to look away from. The woman on the right wore a slightly more conservative black outfit, but her face was finely chiseled like a marble sculpture. Paired with her indifferent gaze, elegant demeanor, and tall stature, she looked like an ancient Greek goddess who had wandered into modern society.
Diana was uncomfortable in the atmosphere of lights and indulgence. She frowned.
"Why are we here? You never used to like nightclubs."
"That was then, this is now."
Barbara placed her hands on her hips and dramatically tilted her head back. "I'm a queen!"
She burst out laughing.
Diana chuckled as well, leaning in to whisper as they walked.
"You still haven't told me what happened. Such a massive change in one month—you didn't get plastic surgery, did you?"
"Plastic surgery takes at least three months to recover."
"Then what is it?"
"A secret. I'll tell you later."
Barbara snapped her fingers at the bartender. "A whiskey, on the rocks." She glanced at her friend and added, "And a glass of plain water."
She seemed to be a regular here. The manager immediately approached their table to greet them as soon as they sat down.
"What kind of show would you like tonight? I'll have it arranged right away."
"Strippers? Do you have any?"
"Unluckily, Connes had a family emergency and couldn't come tonight. But we have a new New Zealand male model, over six-foot-three. Want to try him?"
Barbara waved her hand dismissively. "Forget it. I'm not interested in chicken meat."
The manager, looking disappointed, quickly excused himself and left.
This exchange left Diana completely baffled.
Strippers!
Male models!
Chicken meat!
What was all this?
Barbara lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke, tilting her head back. This action sent the hearts of the nearby men racing, leaving them feeling excited and dry-mouthed.
Diana frowned.
"When did you learn to smoke?"
"I always knew how. I just didn't dare before, afraid people would call me a bad girl. Now it's different."
Barbara reached out and licked her crimson lips. "I'm not a girl; I'm a Huntress."
Diana was speechless.
A slightly overweight middle-aged man, unable to control his inner urges, ordered a martini from the bar. He approached them with what he thought was a suave demeanor.
"Ladies, may I buy you a drink?"
Barbara turned her head, scrutinized him from head to toe, and slightly curled her lips. Her look, arrogant yet slightly wild, further stirred the man's heart.
"Do you want to buy me a drink? Or do you want to sleep with me?"
The middle-aged man was taken aback, then quickly amended, "I just want to ask you for a dance."
"A dance? Ha!"
Barbara chuckled, embarrassing the man. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Barbara suddenly said,
"Fine, I actually need a dance partner. But..."
She gestured with her finger toward a young man with short hair nearby, who immediately rushed over.
"Beautiful lady, how may I serve you?"
Barbara pointed at the middle-aged man and smiled, "He wants to ask me to dance. Do you think I should accept?"
"Absolutely not. A girl as perfect as you should find an excellent dance partner, like me."
"Okay!"
Barbara picked up her glass, sipped her whiskey on the rocks, and said casually,
"Then kick him out, and I'll dance with you."
"You won won't be disappointed, my Queen."
The young man bowed courteously, then walked up to the middle-aged man with a sinister grin. The middle-aged man's face changed, and he immediately yelled,
"What are you doing? I warn you..."
Before he could finish, he was struck hard in the abdomen, nearly vomiting the alcohol inside him. He was a ruthless man, though, and immediately spun around with a low blow. The move was fast and vicious; one could almost hear the sound of bones breaking.
The surrounding patrons gasped, some unable to watch.
Barbara held up her glass and laughed loudly.
"I hate this guy! Whoever throws him out, I'll go home with them tonight!"
Boom!
The crowd cheered. Several strong young men rushed out, glaring fiercely at the middle-aged man. The fight started, with the group wrestling like wild animals fighting for mating rights.
The scene became chaotic and extremely lively.
Barbara sat back, watching the whole thing excitedly. Occasionally, she would raise her glass and cheer for the young men who performed well.
The duel turned into a mob, quickly escalating into a bloody conflict. The situation was out of control, yet strangely, the people around them weren't panicked; they were screaming and shouting like maniacs.
Diana stared blankly, a thousand questions swirling in her mind. She couldn't understand any of it.
The old Barbara was a simple, kind girl. Though her appearance was unremarkable, her heart radiated the brilliance of humanity, which was why they became friends.
Now, she was completely changed—seductive, wild, and using her beauty to recklessly toy with others, showing no mercy even when someone was being beaten until they bled.
The current Barbara felt like a beast.
"Enough!"
Diana suddenly spoke up. "Stop this, Barbara. That man is going to die."
Barbara pouted unhappily and signaled the bartender. The bartender quickly nodded and, along with a couple of bouncers, stepped in to separate the brawling crowd.
Diana was confused again, unable to help but ask,
"You... you guys..."
"I own one-third of this nightclub."
Barbara smiled softly, her eyes flashing with pride and delight. She then opened her purse, pulled out a gold-inlaid black card, and placed it in front of her friend.
"This is for you. Come and play anytime you want to relax. My treat. You should bring Mr. Shaw along; I haven't seen him since we last parted. I miss him a little."
Diana was silent. She glanced at the black card, then at her unfamiliar friend. Doubts rose involuntarily.
Is this really Barbara?
How could she be a completely different person after only a month?
After downing two whiskeys, Barbara was in a playful mood and invited Diana to dance. When Diana politely refused, Barbara charged into the dance floor alone, swaying her body under the lights.
As her clothes moved, glimpses of her skin flashed into view. The surrounding men crowded around, forming a tight circle with her at the center.
Barbara didn't care. She freely enjoyed her moment as Queen. As for those men...
Hmph!
She wasn't interested in garbage.
At ten o'clock, Diana left the nightclub and headed home.
The city under the cover of night felt a little more lonely and a little less hectic. Looking at the sparsely populated road, Diana inexplicably thought of Luke.
"I wonder when he'll wake up."
"Perhaps I should go see him."
The thought quickly vanished. Linda was at the base; it wasn't the right time to go.
"That hateful man!"
Diana clenched her fist, sighing softly. She walked alone along the road shrouded in night. As she passed a park, a figure dressed as a homeless man emerged from the corner. He held a dagger, his face ferocious as he yelled,
"If you don't want to get hurt, hand over your money."
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