Chapter 115: A Chance Encounter

I composed myself and went downstairs to meet Zhao Li. He handed me the car keys and said, “The tank is full. Take it and drive.”

I took the keys from him and smiled, “Then I won’t be polite—I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

“Eat what meal? You have to specify first. Don’t be like last time when you said you’d treat me, only to buy two lamb skewers on the street and call it a day!”

I patted Zhao Li’s shoulder and laughed, “If you think two skewers are too few, I’ll buy you four next time.”

“That’s really ripping off!”

“Just kidding. Recently I’ve been helping a friend manage the bar, so I’ve been pretty busy. Once the bar reopens, I’ll invite you over for a drink.”

“That sounds better! … It’s getting late. I have to go home and cook dinner. I’m off then.”

Before leaving, I asked him, “Have you married Pan Xiaoyun?”

“Yeah, last month.”

“Zhao Li, you’re something else! You quietly married Pan Xiaoyun without even telling me to attend the wedding!”

“I did plan to invite you, but Fangyuan said it wasn’t necessary. He said you were afraid to return to Suzhou.”

Zhao Li’s words reminded me of myself a month ago. Back then I was immersed in my love with Li Xiaoyun and had strong aversion to my unpleasant past in Suzhou. But if Zhao Li had invited me, I would have overcome my reluctance and attended the wedding, because it was Zhao Li’s first marriage, a significant milestone in his life!

…

After Zhao Li left, I drove the little Auto Prince he left behind toward the bar. The bar had already opened for business, but apart from the staff, it was still cold and empty. This emptiness made me realize how arduous the task of transforming the bar would be.

I chose a relatively secluded corner to sit down and took out my laptop from my handbag, preparing to draft a temporary closure announcement. I planned to renovate and upgrade the bar within three days.

Since it was Saturday, the bar gradually saw some customers. After a while, CC and Rob came too, and finally I had time to go out and grab something to eat.

Walking on the street where all the streetlights were already on, I felt lost and as if I had been rejected by this big city because of my sense of failure. I had never felt so inferior before.

I had a simple dinner of fried noodles and porridge at a roadside food stall. I ate without tasting the food, while occasionally luxurious cars passed by, crushing the unmelted snow with a creaking sound, like noise grinding against my heart. In pain, I couldn’t help but wonder why this world insists on artificially dividing people into different classes.

Aren’t all people equal with just a body and a soul? Who dares to be more noble than others? And who deserves to be more noble?

…

After finishing this simple dinner, I returned to the bar and found that Jian Wei’s red CTS was parked in front of it. Surprised, I entered the bar and indeed saw Jian Wei and Yanyan sitting in a corner. They weren’t chatting but just drinking and listening to CC singing on stage.

Yanyan noticed me first and waved, saying, “Zhaoyang, come sit over here.”

I nodded and approached them. I instinctively wanted to sit beside Jian Wei, hesitated for a moment, and then sat beside Yanyan. I asked, “Why are you here?”

Yanyan said, “I asked Jian Wei to accompany me to check on you, to care about your career and life.”

“Thank you so much for your concern.”

Yanyan glared at me and said, “Zhaoyang, speak properly, don’t be hypocritical.”

Jian Wei also added in a displeased tone, “What, you’re not happy to see me at your bar?”

“Of course I’m happy. Once you’re here, you’re a customer…” I consciously positioned Jian Wei as a customer.

Jian Wei nodded, seemingly agreeing with the customer role I assigned her, and took a sip from her drink.

Yanyan, as if deliberately, said to both of us, “You two keep chatting. I need to go to the restroom.” Then she left her seat.

Jian Wei and I sat facing each other, trying hard to find a topic to avoid embarrassment. But there was no topic left between us to entertain ourselves, so we sat in silence restlessly.

Finally, Jian Wei broke the silence. Looking around the bar, she asked me, “Have your friend’s debts been paid off?”

“Yeah, they have. Thanks.” I replied politely.

Jian Wei didn’t acknowledge my thanks but continued, “Then who lent you the other 500,000?”

“Also a friend.” I replied evasively.

“Which friend?”

I replied discontentedly, “A friend is just a friend. Do I have to name them specifically for you?”

Facing my discontent, Jian Wei didn’t show any emotional reaction. She remained calm and said, “It’s your ex-girlfriend, right?”

Hearing the word “ex-girlfriend” suddenly, I instinctively thought Jian Wei was referring to herself. I stared at her, thinking she had messed up her logic. After a moment, I realized she meant Mi Cai. Until now, she still believed that I had broken up with Mi Cai when I left Suzhou, not knowing that Mi Cai and I had never actually started anything.

Since Jian Wei had already guessed, I didn’t hide it anymore and nodded, saying, “Yes, the remaining 500,000 was handled by her.”

After getting the answer, Jian Wei didn’t speak anymore. She then somewhat absentmindedly listened to CC singing on stage.

At this time, Yanyan also came back. She sat down beside me again, looked at me, then at Jian Wei, and said, “You two have just been sitting there like idiots without talking?”

“We’re done talking. Didn’t you hear?” I replied.

“Oh… this is kinda boring! Zhaoyang, why don’t you go up and sing a song? It’s been a while since I last heard you sing.” Yanyan nudged me.

“I don’t feel like singing today.”

Jian Wei coldly said to me, “Are you acting too cool to perform?”

Yanyan chimed in, “Zhaoyang, it’s true that women have those few days every month when they don’t feel like doing anything, but men too? That’s something new!”

I had no mood to joke with Yanyan and chose to remain silent, not bringing up the topic of singing again.

Jian Wei looked at me and said discontentedly, “If you won’t sing, I will.” Saying that, she got up and walked toward the performance stage.

After she said a few words to CC, CC handed her the microphone and went to help her adjust the singing equipment.

Finally, I lit a cigarette after Jian Wei left, because she disliked me smoking in front of her.

Jian Wei chose a song, “Thousands of Words,” performed by Faye Wong. As soon as she started singing, applause erupted from the audience. I even heard someone say, “This bar is awesome! Beauties are flocking here to sing. I’ll definitely come here often from now on.”

I felt helpless about this. Whether it was Jian Wei or Mi Cai, they were both just coming here for fun. If they were actually the bar’s resident singers, I wouldn’t have to worry so much about branding the bar, because the beauty effect was the easiest to spread and to create a sensation.

Jian Wei hadn’t finished singing her song when suddenly there was another commotion in the crowd. I turned my gaze toward the entrance of the bar and to my surprise, it was Mi Cai who had arrived.

At noon, she had told me, “I might come if I feel like it.” Judging by her arrival today, her mood must have been pretty good, or maybe it was because it was the weekend. Anyway, she came, and thus coincidentally met Jian Wei who was singing on stage!