I went home for New Year's Eve to go on a blind date.

My mom had arranged it, saying the girl came from a good family and was good-looking.

I drove over in my domestic-brand car.

When I arrived at the hotel, my date and her group of girlfriends were already there, dolled up in designer clothes from head to toe.

Compared to them, I looked pretty plain.

The moment they saw me, one of her best friends sneered, unable to hide her disdain.

“Aria, is this your blind date? Why does he look like a migrant worker?”

“Seriously, with that look, I bet he doesn’t even have a hundred bucks on him.”

The others burst into laughter and instead of defending me, my date—Aria Johnson—joined in with a scornful smile.

“Right? In this day, there are still people driving domestic cars. He has no shame.”

I didn’t get angry. I smiled calmly and said, “Ever heard of the ARQUUS car?”

——

If they hadn’t been so rude, I would’ve just brushed it off.

But I couldn’t ignore this kind of mockery.

My mom had begged me to come, insisting this girl was worth meeting.

But looking at her now, sure, she was good-looking, but she couldn’t even see past the surface.

“What, giving your cheap car a fancy name to sound cultured?” another girl scoffed.

“Just look at you. You probably can’t even afford this meal. How did your mom think you were good enough to go on a blind date?”

“Do yourself a favor and get lost,” Aria said, waving me off. “I have no interest in someone like you.”

I was stunned. I’d barely sat down and she was already telling me to leave?

I’d driven all the way over, hadn’t even taken a sip of water and now I was being insulted like this?

Suppressing my anger, I looked her in the eye and asked, "I’m guessing you’re Aria Johnson, the one Aunt Mary introduced me to?"

“I haven’t even introduced myself yet and you’re already dismissing me like I’m some scammer. What is this, some kind of setup?”

Her face changed instantly.

I’d clearly struck a nerve.

She hesitated, her voice faltering.

“What do you mean scammer? I don’t get what you’re saying.”

“It’s a blind date. If you don’t like me, fine. But is it normal to mock someone for being ‘poor’ the moment they walk in?”

“You think just because you showed up, I have to like you? You should take a long look in the mirror.”

Her voice rose with each word, spittle flying.

So, this was the so-called soft and kind girl my mom had praised?

“Alright, alright. I’m poor. You’re a princess. Got it,” I said, nodding. “But then, Princess, could you kindly return the red envelope my mom gave you?”

“My mom told me before I left, if the date didn’t work out, make sure to get the red envelope back.”

Actually, my mom hadn’t said anything. I just simply couldn't stand her.

No sooner had I finished speaking than one of her friends stepped in, arms crossed.

“Samuel Robert, right? I’ve seen your info. After high school, you went out of town and disappeared. No one even knows what you do.”

“We waited here for so long, why shouldn’t we keep the red envelope?”

“You’ve seen her. You drank the water. And now you want the red envelope back? Dream on.”

I was stunned.

Is this what they call "good girlfriends" in modern days?

They were demanding money this blatantly. Were they here for a blind date or just to cash in?

That red envelope contained 10,000 dollars.

My mom worked hard to save that money and I hadn’t even had a proper conversation before they started mocking me.

Now it was just gone?

I chuckled coldly.

“With that kind of hustle, you ladies are making more than professionals out on the street.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Aria and her best friend flew into a rage.

“Mr. Robert, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you calling us prostitutes?”

I curled my lips into a faint smile.

No need to answer, some things are better left understood in silence.

But my silence only fueled their anger. Impatience flared in their eyes.

“Mr. Robert! Let me make one thing clear,” Aria snapped.

“If you don’t apologize right now, I guarantee you won’t walk out of here unscathed!”

“Exactly,” her best friend chimed in.

“You’re a petty, narrow-minded loser. What makes you think you can come here and talk down to us? Take a good look in the mirror before you speak.”

“And don’t even think about asking for that red envelope back. It’s ours now. If you know what’s good for you, leave.”

Their words were absurd. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You call me poor, over and over. Fine. But if I’m really so broke, why are you clinging so tightly to my money?”

I paused, then let the next line cut like a blade.

“Actually, I take back what I said earlier. Compared to real prostitutes, you two aren’t even worth that much.”

“At least they offer a service. You? You went straight for the cash without even trying to pretend.”

Then I held up my fingers, mocking them with a mental calculation.

“A single blind date nets you 10,000 dollars. If you’re lucky, maybe you get a free meal too. This is a solid gig, it’s faster than robbing a bank.”

Aria Johnson and her friend stood frozen, speechless, their faces pale.

There’s a saying. ‘Evil is best dealt with by evil.’

So today, I’ll be the one to dish it out.

“You can’t outtalk me and you definitely don’t dare to fight me. So, here’s my advice, hand over the money.”

I took a step forward, lowering my voice.

“What’s wrong with you girls? Playing scammer in broad daylight, don’t you feel even a shred of shame? What would your parents think?”

“I’ve got better things to do. If you don’t return the money right now, I’ll call the police and let them deal with you.”

The second I mentioned the police, panic washed over their faces.

“No, please. Don’t call the cops! We don’t have the money anymore!”

“What?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Then where did it go?”

I remembered clearly, my mother had handed the red envelope to them in person.

I saw it with my own eyes.

“It’s gone. We handed it over already...” Aria’s voice quivered.

She was clearly intimidated now, shrinking back like a cornered animal.

So, I was right. My mother had been scammed.

Who asks for 10,000 dollars as a meeting gift for a blind date? That’s not matchmaking, it’s extortion.

Yet my mom, bless her heart, actually believed it.

“To whom did you give the money?” I asked coldly.

“To... to Tiger Brother,” she whispered.

Tiger Brother?

Just from the name alone, it reeked of trouble.

“Tiger Brother? Is he your boss?” I asked, eyes narrowing.

Aria nodded and shockingly, her face lit up with admiration.

“Yes. Tiger Brother is the biggest gangster in Brooklyn. We’re just outsiders following him to make a living.”

I nearly choked.

“What year do you think this is? And people are still walking around calling themselves gangsters? Do they have a death wish?”

Apparently, that struck a nerve.

“Watch your mouth!” Aria shouted. “Don’t you dare insult my Tiger Brother. He is my idol!”

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

An idol? Seriously?

What kind of twisted values are girls growing up with these days? Worshipping underworld thugs? What is this, a bad crime drama?

“Alright then. Since the money is with your so-called Tiger Brother, I won’t waste any more time arguing with you two.”

They started to move toward the exit, thinking they were off the hook.

But just as they turned, I added coldly—

“Not so fast. Call your boss. Tell him to bring my money back. Now.”

“That’s my mother’s hard-earned money. And I’m getting it back, today.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the two of them froze, their faces pale with disbelief.

“Are you insane?” Aria looked at me in shock.

“You want to go after Tiger Brother for money? Do you have a death wish?”

“He’s not someone you can mess with,” her friend added, stepping in.

“He’s powerful, just a flick of his finger and you’re done for.”

I let out a lazy stretch, completely unfazed.

“I don’t care who Tiger Brother is.”

“All I care about is getting my mom’s money back. Got it?”

Her friend’s expression turned serious.

“Mr. Robert, take my advice. Drop it. Even the police wouldn’t dare against him.”

“In all of Brooklyn, no one’s ever walked away with money once it’s in his pocket.”

I waved dismissively and pulled out my phone, holding it out to them.

“Enough stalling. Call him. Now.”

Aria and her friend exchanged a nervous glance. Hesitantly, they took the phone.

“You asked for this,” Aria muttered, trembling.

“Whatever happens next, don’t blame us.”

I gave a silent nod. Aria typed in the number with shaking hands.

The moment the call connected, I snatched the phone back.

“Hello, Tiger Brother?”

“I hear you took 10,000 dollars from me.”

“You’ve got twenty minutes to get to the restaurant you own. One second late and you’ll regret it.”

Before he could respond, I hung up.

Aria stared at me, dumbfounded.

“You... You actually dared to talk to Tiger Brother like that? Are you crazy?”

“If he really shows up, you won’t even have time to regret it!”

I sat down on the sofa, calm as ever and began peeling an orange.

“If he comes, perfect. I was worried he wouldn’t.”

The truth is, I’d been stationed at a military base for years and rarely had time to return home.

This leave was only approved because I’d just won second-class merit in the army-wide martial arts competition and the commander himself had signed off on it.

Otherwise, I’d still be on the training field right now.

“Mr. Robert, when Tiger Brother arrives, don’t say we didn’t warn you,” Aria said nervously.

“He’s got a temper. If you provoke him, all the three of us are dead.”

The moment his name came up, Aria’s entire demeanor changed.

It reminded me of how she acted the moment we first met, cocky and dismissive.

It made me realize something.

When you stay too low-key, people treat you like a doormat.

If I hadn’t stepped in today, who knows how many others they would’ve scammed?

My sense of justice began to burn.

Before I left, my commander had reminded me. “Avoid conflict with the locals during leave.”

But I believe a true soldier never turns a blind eye to injustice.

I’m confident the leadership would understand.

The seconds ticked down. Twenty minutes nearly passed.

Then, right on cue, Tiger Brother arrived.

A dozen gleaming black Maybachs pulled up in formation at the restaurant entrance.

At the front was a bald, middle-aged man, swaggering in with an air of dominance.

Behind him, a row of men in black suits followed. tall, stone-faced and clearly trained.

From a distance, the group looked like something straight out of a gangster film.

Before I could say a word, Aria Johnson and her friend rushed over to him like loyal subordinates.

“Brother, he’s the one who called you earlier!”

“He said if you didn’t show up, he’d tear this place apart!”