After entering the bar, Luo Ben, CC, and I found an empty corner to sit down. We ordered some beers and, while A Feng was busy organizing the event, the three of us started chatting again.
As we talked, CC glanced at her watch, interrupting my conversation with Luo Ben, and said, “Mi’er flew directly from Beijing to New York at nine this morning. She should be arriving soon, right?”
I calculated the time. If she had arrived at Beijing Capital Airport at nine in the morning, then Mi Cai might have already left in the middle of last night.
The schedule was so tight. It seemed like Wei Ran hadn’t lied to me—Mi Cai indeed postponed a lot of work matters to find me.
Looking at it positively, it was enough to prove how much Mi Cai cared about me. But thinking negatively, I, someone who hasn’t achieved anything, had once again become a burden to Mi Cai.
CC nudged me and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
I snapped back to reality, took a sip of beer, and replied, “Nothing much.”
CC stared at me and said, “I just said Mi’er is about to arrive in New York. Aren’t you going to show some concern?”
I nodded slightly to indicate that I cared, but found it difficult to express my feelings in words. I turned to CC and asked, “Hey, expert in emotional psychology, what should I say that would be appropriate?”
“Don’t say anything unnecessary. Just a simple ‘honey’ or ‘sweetheart’ will do.”
“Is that okay?”
CC nodded in confirmation.
I nudged Luo Ben, who was quietly smoking nearby, and asked, “Ben, how do you usually call CC?”
Luo Ben glanced at CC and replied, “I just call her CC.”
I tapped the table and said to CC, “See? Even your Luo Ben doesn’t do it. Don’t force me.”
CC insisted, “Luo Ben is a bad example. You absolutely cannot take him as a reference.” She then gestured for me to take out my phone.
I pulled out my phone from my pocket, but before I could react, CC grabbed it from me. She quickly typed a message and sent it, then handed the phone back to me and took a sip of her beer, smiling, “See for yourself.”
I checked the sent messages on my phone screen and saw the following message glaring back at me: “Sweetheart, have you landed yet?”
Pointing at CC, I said, “Can’t I have a little dignity left?”
“Maybe Mi’er actually likes you precisely because you’re not pretentious!” She smiled again with a charm that could kill, and added, “I’m really curious how Mi’er will reply!”
“You’re truly my sister!” I said, throwing a cigarette into my mouth, lighting it with a bit of frustration, and placing my phone aside.
Luo Ben, who had been watching the stage the entire time, suddenly leaned over and whispered to me, “When she replies, remind me. We’ll analyze it together.”
“Screw off, this has nothing to do with you!”
…
A Feng’s “Bar Idol” event had already begun. I heard that whoever won the final round would not only receive a valuable guitar but also enjoy a 50% discount for future visits to the bar.
I was really tempted because I really needed a guitar right now. Plus, the 50% discount was extremely attractive. After all, I was planning to live in Xitang permanently, and I suspected that A Feng was just using the discount as a gimmick—since most visitors to Xitang wouldn’t stay long enough to take advantage of it.
I secretly laughed to myself, thinking that if I really won first place, A Feng would probably be furious!
The event’s rules were very simple. Anyone who was interested and confident enough could go on stage and sing. The audience members acted as judges, each holding one vote, which they could cast for their favorite performer. The singer with the most votes at the end would be crowned tonight’s “Bar Idol.”
Soon, a girl dressed very extravagantly took the stage and started singing “Super Bang” by Ai-Lin Day.
The atmosphere reached its first peak with the explosive metal music. It was likely that this girl was arranged by A Feng to warm up the crowd. The customers were clearly into it, cheering loudly, which also showed that A Feng was a bar owner who really understood how to manage the atmosphere. This was evident in many small details around the bar.
After the performance, the audience kept applauding. This girl had indeed started off strong, and many customers voted for her.
I nudged CC and asked, “Want to go up and perform?”
CC shook her head and laughed, “No way. I’m too old. Didn’t you see how that girl was dancing? Her waist was almost broken!”
“We’re already here. Why not give it a try? Nobody said you have to dance and sing at the same time, right?”
CC looked at me suspiciously and asked, “Zhao Yang, are you being a bit too enthusiastic about this event?”
Slightly embarrassed, I smiled and said, “Sis, I really want that guitar. It might not be top-tier, but it’s good enough for regular use.”
“Zhao Yang, how pitiful you are! Playing music for so many years and still not owning a guitar!”
I recalled the guitar that Jian Wei had thrown into the river and the one I had returned to Mi Cai. Although both were great guitars, fate had been cruel to me, and I couldn’t enjoy them. After a while, I said to CC, “Please help me out. Buying a new guitar is quite expensive right now…”
“But I can’t guarantee that I can help you win that guitar, unless…”
I hurriedly asked, “Unless what?”
“Sigh! If Mi’er were here, that guitar would be yours for sure. Who doesn’t love a beautiful girl? Plus, her singing skills are really amazing…”
I interrupted CC, “Can we stop making fun of us?”
CC showed no remorse and replied, “No, we’re making fun of you. Who told you to act like a child having a tantrum when you’re in love, and even ran away to Xitang alone!”
Before I could defend myself, Luo Ben, in his usual inappropriate timing, leaned over and asked, “Has Mi Cai replied to your message yet?”
Though annoyed, I still glanced at my phone, which was still lying quietly on the table. Compared to Luo Ben, I was more curious about how Mi Cai would respond when CC had sent her a message calling her “sweetheart” on my behalf.
As I was lost in thought, CC patted my shoulder and said, “When Mi Cai replies, I won’t help you send another message. If you can call her ‘sweetheart’ on your own and willingly, I’ll help you win that guitar. Deal?”
I imagined myself calling Mi Cai “sweetheart,” and I shuddered. I seemed to strongly dislike such overly affectionate words. Deep down, I still mostly saw Mi Cai as the high-and-mighty CEO of Zhuo Mei, making it hard for me to associate that word with her.
Just as I was about to refuse CC’s offer, my phone on the table suddenly vibrated. Before I could even see who the message was from, Luo Ben had already grabbed it and, after glancing at the screen, calmly said to me, “It’s a reply from Mi Cai.”
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