"Who's calling?"
"Oh, it's nothing, it's Little Berry and them."
After hanging up the somewhat inexplicable call, Jackie Welles decided to focus on his grand endeavor of wooing his girlfriend.
"Just a small work matter."
Leaning on the bar, Jackie once again immersed himself in the deep blue eyes of his Little Girlfriend, Misty, which seemed like a swamp, irresistible and easy to fall into.
"How's business lately?"
"It's alright, I guess. Anyway, you're the only living person I've seen in the past three days."
Misty shrugged, her tone a little helpless.
"Huh?"
Jackie's mouth slightly agape, feeling like he had asked a idiotic question.
"I don't know what's been going on lately, but fewer people are coming than before. Maybe Night City residents' mental health index has reached the passing mark. If so, that would be a good thing."
Misty's tone was calm, as if bad business didn't affect her much.
Of course, it didn't.
What kind of person is Misty? A local big shot in Night City who owns property.
Can her opening a shop even be called opening a shop? It's called playing around.
Bad business at the fortune-telling shop doesn't stop her from collecting rent.
"I'm telling you, I've learned a couple of tricks recently."
Jackie was truly happy when he was in a good mood. He bypassed the business topic, spread his hands, and began to act mysterious with Misty, as if to say, 'you'd never guess.'
"Hehehe, what is it then? Can you tell me?"
Misty cooperatively feigned amusement, propping her chin on her hand and squinting her eyes, letting out a bell-like laugh.
Beyond the initial passion, a couple's life requires mutual maintenance.
Whether Jackie's actions were truly funny or not, at least Misty's response was good.
Jackie, who prided himself on being a veteran in romance, was immediately charmed by her smile, and his half-baked tricks spilled out in a few words.
"Actually, it's nothing else, I just learned how to read palms recently, isn't that amazing!"
"Oh, really? Then I'll have to test your skill."
Misty, interested, extended her fair hand, offering it to Jackie.
"Alright, let me take a look right now."
Jackie seized the opportunity, taking Misty's slender hands in his, his two large eyes narrowed into slits, adopting the professional demeanor of a General Surgeon in an expert consultation as he examined Misty's hand.
Hmm, the skin is very fair.
Expert Jackie cautiously drew his conclusion.
But that wasn't enough. He then squeezed Misty's fingertips, rubbing her smooth palm, which felt like it had been dusted with talcum powder, and Jackie drew another conclusion.
Not only fair, but also very tender.
Of course, this conclusion could not be spoken aloud.
So Jackie made faces for a while, then said hypocritically.
"According to my observation, your fate indicates that you are suitable for marriage in the near future."
"..."
After a moment of silence, Misty silently withdrew her hand.
"Hey, don't! I was just kidding."
Jackie thought his joking had upset Misty, and quickly apologized after realizing it.
"I'm not angry." Misty shook her head. "It's just, Jackie, Mrs. Welles has never really liked me. It's not appropriate to talk about these things now."
This matter was practically ancient history.
Jackie's mother didn't seem to be very fond of Misty.
Partly because of Misty's overly avant-garde, psychedelic style, but more importantly, Mrs. Welles preferred Jackie's ex-girlfriend.
This hurdle had always been between them, and now that it was brought up, both felt a bit uncomfortable.
But after a moment of thought, Jackie chuckled.
"..."
"Just kidding."
"Huh?"
"Just kidding. My mom's little quirks are nothing. Don't worry, what kind of person am I now? I'm a big shot on the streets."
"Now I'm in charge of the Welles family, and my mom can't control me."
"Really?"
"One hundred percent true!"
Jackie thumped his chest, acting like the boss of everything, as if the guy who used to be grounded by his mom wasn't him.
"But Mrs. Welles is right behind you now."
Seeing Jackie's demeanor, Misty lightly tossed out a remark.
Hearing his mom's name, Jackie's heart instinctively skipped a beat, but he quickly realized Misty was joking.
How could his mom possibly be here?
"Hey, I wasn't scared as a kid! Even if my mom really came, I'd still say the same things!"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Welles, I didn't know you would come."
Misty looked behind Jackie as if there really was someone there, stood up rigidly, and kept signaling him with her eyes to stop talking.
Oh my god, no way!
He could say these things to himself, but if his mom really heard them, that would be trouble.
Seeing Misty's reaction, which didn't seem like a joke, and remembering Mrs. Welles's authority, Jackie's scalp tingled, and sweat broke out on his back. He quickly turned around.
But behind him, it was calm and peaceful, with no one there, only the tranquil streetscape outside.
He turned back again, and Misty's eyes had an 'I knew it' look, as she playfully spread her hands... "Ugh, today is really unlucky."
On his way back, riding his beloved "thunderclap," Jackie was filled with constant vexation.
Why was his luck so bad today?
He, Heywood's most passionate man, had been repeatedly thwarted. His flirting skills must have gotten rusty.
Jackie sighed repeatedly.
And it wasn't just bad luck in love; the road wasn't peaceful either.
Just as he reached the intersection, a black car sped past him. If he hadn't dodged quickly, he and his bike would have been pushed onto the shoulder.
"Damn it, rushing to the incinerator, are we?!"
Flipping a furious middle finger, displaying the quality expected of a Night City resident, Jackie cursed and grabbed the handlebars, preparing to restart.
But then.
"Whoosh~~~~"
A deafening horn blared, approaching rapidly from a distance.
Just by listening to the deep horn, one could tell that the approaching vehicle was massive. The trembling ground as it drew closer further confirmed this.
No way.
Jackie only had time to turn his head and look. The enormous semi-truck filled his vision from the right side of the road, and it was continuously getting larger.
First, the wind slapped against him, then the sensation of the Dump Truck's front bumper crushing his flesh, and finally, like an entire iron wall smashing into him, Jackie was violently thrown into the air by the brute force of the impact.
"F*ck!!!"
The lingering sound stretched, twisted, and distorted in the air, but then abruptly ceased as Jackie hit the asphalt and his vision went black... Had he died?
He didn't seem to be dead.
Because if he were dead, he shouldn't have any consciousness.
Then why could he still ponder whether he was dead or not?
But if he wasn't dead, then why was everything black before his eyes, unable to see anything?
The hood was yanked off, and the blinding fluorescent light from above made Jackie squeeze his eyes shut.
"Welcome to the Tyger Claws, Mr. Jackie Welles."
The light softened for a moment, and Jackie slowly regained his senses amidst gasps.
In the cramped basement, three Tyger Claws, covered in colorful tattoos and cheap combat cyberware, their glowing cybernetic eyes now fixed on Jackie, who was tightly bound to a chair with iron chains.
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