One Night with the Mafia Boss

Elena was only sixteen years old, yet the weight of life’s burdens had already fallen upon her fragile shoulders. Every morning, while other teenagers were still sleeping comfortably in their warm beds, she would put on her faded uniform and hurry to the convenience store where she worked part-time. Her duties included organizing shelves, mopping floors, restocking products, and sometimes carrying heavy boxes of drinks. Although the work was exhausting, she never complained because she knew that every cent she earned was essential for supporting her family. Elena’s family was extremely poor. Her mother had been paralyzed from the waist down after an accident and had been bedridden for years. She could not even perform basic daily tasks without assistance. After school every day, Elena would rush home to prepare dinner, help her mother clean up, and change her clothes. Seeing her mother grow thinner and weaker each day filled her heart with sadness. However, the person who truly pushed the family into despair was her father. Her father had once been a hardworking laborer, but he later became addicted to gambling and alcohol. Almost all the money he earned was spent on card games and drinking. Not only did he fail to support the family, but he also accumulated a large amount of debt. Creditors frequently came to their house demanding repayment, sometimes shouting insults outside the door for everyone in the neighborhood to hear. Whenever her father lost money gambling or returned home drunk, fear would immediately fill the house. “This is all your fault! If I didn’t have to support you, my life wouldn’t be so miserable!” His angry roar was often followed by the sound of bottles smashing against the floor, scattering broken glass everywhere. Elena would instinctively stand in front of her mother, terrified that he might hurt her. Yet despite her efforts, punches and slaps would still land on her small and fragile body. One day, after losing money and being pressured by his creditors, her father came home in a terrible mood. Her mother simply begged him to stop gambling, but her words were met with violence. Elena rushed forward to protect her mother, only to be shoved violently to the ground. Her forehead struck the sharp corner of a table, and blood trickled down her face. That night, she sat alone in a corner of her room and cried silently. She could not understand why other families were filled with warmth and laughter while her own home felt like a prison she could never escape from. Despite all these hardships, Elena never gave up hope. At school, she continued to study diligently. Her teachers were aware of her family situation and cared deeply about her. One day, a teacher asked her, “Elena, you work so hard every day. Why do you still insist on continuing your education?” She remained silent for a moment before softly replying, “Because I want to take my mother away from this place.” Those simple words brought tears to the teacher’s eyes. From that day on, Elena worked even harder. She attended classes during the day, worked at the convenience store after school, and cared for her mother at night. Only after finishing all her responsibilities would she sit beneath the dim light of a lamp and begin studying. Many nights, she became so exhausted that she fell asleep at her desk. Sometimes she felt hurt and left out. When her classmates talked about vacations, birthday gifts, and new smartphones, she would quietly lower her head. It had been a very long time since she had bought new clothes, and she could not even afford to replace her worn-out shoes. Yet whenever she saw the encouraging look in her mother’s eyes, she found the strength to keep going. Her mother would often hold her hand and say, “My child, I’m sorry. I’ve become a burden to you.” And every time, Elena would smile and gently shake her head. That night, after work, darkness had already fallen over the streets. Elena walked alone, her footsteps slow and heavy. The customer's harsh words kept echoing in her mind. Finally, she stopped by the roadside. The dim streetlights cast a pale glow on the cold pavement while cars passed by with a constant roar. She crouched down on the sidewalk and buried her face in her knees. The emotions she had been suppressing for so long finally broke free. Tears fell one after another onto the ground. “Why...” “Why am I trying so hard...” “Why is life still so difficult...” Her body trembled as she cried, yet she did not dare to make too much noise. Because she knew that even after she finished crying, when the sun rose the next morning, she would still have to go to school, go to work, and take care of her mother. But at that moment, she suddenly thought of her mother. Elena slowly lifted her head and looked at the distant city lights flickering in the darkness. She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. Although reality was still cruel, she knew she could not afford to give up.If you want a more emotional novel-style translation, I can make it sound more natural and literary in English. Just as Elena wiped away her tears and prepared to continue her journey home, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the silence behind her. “Hey, little girl, walking alone this late at night?” Several young men with dyed hair stepped out from a nearby alley, wearing unsettling smiles on their faces. Elena instinctively took a step back. “What do you want?” One of the thugs walked forward and deliberately blocked her path. “Relax. We just want to have a little fun with you.” “No. Move aside!” Elena turned to leave, but one of them suddenly grabbed her wrist. “Don't be in such a hurry, little girl.” His grip was like an iron clamp around her arm. Elena struggled desperately. “Let me go!” “Help!” But the street was deserted, and there was hardly anyone around. The thugs burst into arrogant laughter. “Go ahead and scream. Let's see if anyone comes to save you.” Fear slowly consumed Elena from the inside. She no longer had the strength to resist. Months of exhaustion, frustration, and pressure seemed to crash down on her all at once. In despair, she closed her eyes. Then, in the very next second— Crack. A cold sound cut through the night. The thug holding her wrist suddenly let out a scream. “AAAH!” Elena's eyes flew open. A large hand was gripping the thug's wrist with crushing force. The grip tightened slightly. The thug's face instantly turned pale from the pain. Then, with a casual flick of his arm, the stranger threw him aside. The thug stumbled backward several steps before crashing onto the ground. For a moment, the entire street fell silent. A tall figure now stood between Elena and the group of thugs. The man appeared to be in his twenties. He had a powerful build and wore a tight black shirt that revealed the outline of his well-defined muscles beneath the streetlights. But the most striking feature was the scar on the left side of his face. The scar stretched from the corner of his eye down to his cheek, giving him a cold and intimidating appearance. The thugs froze. “Who are you?” The man slowly raised his head, his sharp eyes sweeping across the group. When he spoke, his voice was low and icy. “Who gave you the courage to do this?” There was no emotion in his gaze, yet an invisible pressure seemed to fill the air around him. The thugs exchanged nervous glances. The arrogance they had displayed moments earlier had completely disappeared. “W-We were just joking...” “A joke?” The man took a step forward. “Does she look like she's laughing?” A cold wind swept through the street. Elena stared blankly at the stranger standing before her. “Run. I'll deal with them.” The man's voice was low and firm. Elena froze for a moment. “Th-Thank you, mister.” The moment the words left her lips, she turned and ran. She didn't dare look back. All she could hear was the wind rushing past her ears and her own ragged breathing. Behind her came the distant shouts of the thugs. “Damn it! Don't let her get away!” “Take care of this guy first!” Then came the sound of chaotic footsteps. Elena's heart pounded wildly in her chest. She ran as fast as she could. Her worn backpack bounced against her back while her shoes splashed through puddles on the road. Only after running through several streets did she finally stop. Leaning against a wall, she gasped for breath. He was just a stranger. Yet he was willing to face several thugs alone in order to protect her. Elena looked back down the street. The figures had long disappeared beneath the distant streetlights. Suddenly, she found herself worried about him. “Mister...” “Please don't let anything happen to you...” After whispering those words, she wiped away her tears and continued running toward home. Because her mother was still waiting for her. What she didn't know was that only a few minutes later, in that dark alleyway, the thugs who had been acting so arrogantly were all lying on the ground. Some were clutching their stomachs and groaning in pain. Others were curled up in the corner, too frightened to lift their heads. As for the scar-faced man, he stood there calmly. As though nothing had happened at all. He took a cigarette from his pocket but never lit it. His gaze slowly drifted toward the direction Elena had gone. The night wind stirred the edge of his clothes. The man remained silent for a long moment.