dmims Chapter 211 The Troublesome Differences Between East and West
Chapter 211 The Troublesome Differences Between East and West
Leaving the police station and walking down the quiet, deserted street, Mike's earlier tension and excitement gradually subsided. Suddenly remembering something, he rummaged in his coat pocket and pulled out the wad of cash he'd taken from the thugs. He counted it in the dim light of the streetlamp; it totaled $270.
He grinned, his usual shrewdness returning, and skillfully divided the money in two, shoving one portion into Tom's hand without a word: "Here, take this! This is what we found on them, consider it a 'warm gift' from those bastards. Everyone gets a share!"
Tom paused for a moment, then laughed, and without refusing, stuffed the money into his pocket: "Haha, you're right! A bad night deserves some compensation!"
Mike then turned to Lin Yan, winked, and teased, "Lin, I won't give you your share. Just pick up two of those bills you casually threw out, and they'll probably be worth as much as this stack we have! Consider this your treat tonight!" He knew Lin Yan didn't care about such a small amount of money.
Lin Yan watched Mike's self-righteous "division of spoils" and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, saying nothing. This small amount of money was indeed less important to him than the youthful friendship before him.
However, his smile quickly faded, and his tone became serious as he addressed the two, who were still in a state of excitement: "Mike, Tom, there's something I need to make clear to you. What happened tonight, including my...knack for martial arts, I hope you can keep it a secret and not spread it around at school or anywhere else."
Tom and Mike, who were just about to brag about their "legendary experience" tonight as soon as they got to school tomorrow, especially how Lin Yan had performed so well, froze instantly upon hearing this, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over them.
Tom was the first to exclaim, his face filled with disbelief: "Why? Lin! How cool is that! One person took down more than a dozen armed thugs! This is like something out of a movie! I bet when the news gets out tomorrow, all the girls in the school will be scrambling to be your friend!" He gestured wildly, as if he could already see that scene.
Mike nodded vigorously, adding with the dreamy tone typical of boys: "That's right! This weekend, with just one word from you, you'll be more popular than the quarterback on the football team! Lots of pretty girls will want to go out with you! This is a golden opportunity to make a name for yourself, Lin!"
Lin Yan watched the two of them completely absorbed in the simple logic of "fame and popularity," and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on from the significant differences in their thought processes between Eastern and Western cultures. In the eyes of American teenagers, acts of individual heroism are the perfect way to gain prestige and the favor of the opposite sex, but they clearly lack awareness of the potential dangers.
He took a deep breath, deciding to be more explicit, his tone gentle yet undeniably serious: "Tom, Mike, I understand your concerns. But fame isn't always a good thing, especially in this situation."
He glanced at the two men, making sure they were listening attentively: "We beat those guys, but they might have accomplices, or other ill-intentioned people might have heard about it. If word gets out, what will people think? They might think I'm rich, or that we're aggressive and in trouble. I'm not afraid of being targeted by worse people, but I'm worried they'll cause trouble for you or your families because I'm your friend. Like they threatened Tom before."
He deliberately emphasized the word "family," which quickly wiped the excitement off Tom and Mike's faces, replacing it with a lingering fear. They remembered the thugs' earlier threats, and also Lin Yan's efforts at the police station to secure police patrol protection for them.
"Keep a low profile. Protecting yourselves and the people we care about is far more important than seeking temporary fame," Lin Yan concluded, his eyes clear and sincere. "Let's keep this a secret between the three of us, okay? For our sake, and for your families' sake."
These reasonable words, especially those concerning the safety of their family, completely convinced Tom and Mike. The excitement and confusion on their faces disappeared, replaced by understanding and solemnity.
Tom nodded emphatically, his previous impatience completely gone: "I understand, Lin! I'm sorry, we were so stupid just now, only thinking about showing off..."
Mike chimed in, his tone full of assurance: "You're right! We promise to keep it a secret! What happened tonight will remain a mystery to the three of us!"
Seeing that the two truly understood the implications, Lin Yan smiled with relief. This shared secret, like an invisible bond, connected the three teenagers from different backgrounds even more closely.
When the three returned to the familiar dark red brick house on Maple Street, it was already late at night. Pushing open the dark green front door, warm air mingled with the faint scent of firewood from the fireplace. In the living room, Mrs. Anderson and a middle-aged man who looked equally gentle and had a slightly weary expression—Mike's father—were sitting on the sofa by the fireplace, chatting quietly.
Seeing the three boys return, Mrs. Anderson looked up with a concerned smile: "Mike, Tom, Lin, you're back! Did you have fun tonight?"
The three exchanged a quick glance, instantly reaching a tacit understanding. Mike, in particular, as if to conceal the truly harrowing experience of the evening, immediately adopted an extremely excited, even exaggerated, expression. He gestured wildly, twisting his body, trying to recreate the twist dance moves he'd learned at the bar, his adolescent eccentricity reaching its peak.
"So happy! Mom! Dad! It was amazing! The band was super cool! The music was shaking the floor! We even danced!" He tried to drown out any possible doubts with his loud voice and flamboyant performance.
Lin Yan and Tom immediately flashed bright smiles and nodded repeatedly. Lin Yan stepped forward and politely greeted Mr. Anderson, whom he was meeting for the first time: "Good evening, Mr. Anderson, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Mr. Anderson was a man who seemed somewhat taciturn but was very kind. He smiled and nodded at Lin Yan: "Good evening, Lin, welcome to my home."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Yan and Tom, citing the need not to disturb their aunt and uncle's rest, tiptoed upstairs to retrieve their schoolbags. In Mike's messy yet warmly lived-in little room, the three exchanged another knowing glance.
Carrying their schoolbags, Lin Yan and Tom said goodbye to the Andersons once again as they walked down the stairs.
"Thank you for dinner and your hospitality, Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Anderson," Lin Yan said sincerely.
"Thank you, uncles and aunties! We're leaving now!" Tom waved goodbye.
"Be careful on the road, children!" Mrs. Anderson called out from the doorway.
Mike saw them to the door, patted each other on the shoulder, and said, "See you at school tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow!"
Lin Yan and Tom turned and disappeared into the chilly streets of a New York winter night, walking in different directions. Tonight's experience, like a thrilling yet subtle mark, remained in the hearts of the three boys, forging an even stronger friendship between them.