Chapter 62
Chi Yu took three days off.
Inspiration was fleeting, and he needed to get the draft done. Three days was the longest leave he could get from the bar owner.
“Little Chi, think carefully. If you take three days off, the bar will deduct half a month’s salary,” the owner threatened.
Chi Yu’s face held an indifferent expression: “Okay.”
The owner was displeased: “What kind of attitude is that? The bar is incredibly busy every night. Is it appropriate for you to take such a long leave at once? The money deducted from your pay will, of course, be used to pay someone else. Someone else will be covering your shift.”
Chi Yu remained expressionless: “Okay, boss.”
The brush, dipped in paint, moved smoothly across the canvas. Chi Yu closed his eyes, trying to recall the moment that had moved him that night, but he kept getting distracted.
He couldn’t help but think of that man’s face.
Jared.
Probably not his real name.
No one knew better than those who spent every day in a bar that there was no true love in such places.
Alcohol, music, atmosphere, hormones. Everything stemmed from impulse and the search for excitement, completely unrelated to genuine feelings.
Yet, he couldn’t help but think of Murong Jing, as if he were poisoned.
He poured all his emotions into his brush, spending day and night in the studio for three whole days.
On the fourth day, he didn’t bother grooming himself, digging out the ugliest outfit from the depths of his wardrobe before heading out to work.
His slightly long, light blue hair hung down, covering his beautiful and captivating eyes.
People surrounded him, entangled with him, all for his appearance. He wanted them to give up on their own.
Chi Yu took a taxi to FISH BAR. He was a bit late, and the bar had already opened.
Sam, standing at the door, glanced at him disapprovingly and gestured for him to hurry in and help.
The warmth inside enveloped him. Chi Yu took off his down jacket, casually tied his hair back with a rubber band, and walked towards the bar.
Allen was chipping ice, the small knife making a soft scraping sound against the ice ball.
He mixed drinks all night, but didn’t see Murong Jing.
At two in the morning, the guests dispersed, and the noisy bar finally quieted down.
“The dance floor is empty, what are you looking at?” Allen rinsed the cocktail shaker and asked casually.
Chi Yu then realized that he had indeed been anticipating Murong Jing’s appearance all night.
“I was wondering why the boss didn’t come tonight,” the young man pursed his lips and said stubbornly.
“The boss?” Allen chuckled, “Someone recently inquired about buying the bar. The boss is probably busy with the transfer.”
“Is that so,” Chi Yu lowered his head to clean the bar counter, his tone flat.
FISH BAR was located in a bustling downtown area and business was good. It was normal for it to change hands. For the small employees like them, who the boss was didn’t make much difference. If they got along, they’d continue working. If not, they’d find another job. For Chi Yu, it naturally mattered even less.
After cleaning up and getting off work, Chi Yu put on his dark red down jacket and was about to walk out of the bar when he met a familiar pair of eyes.
“I’m late,” the newcomer apologized with a smile. “Where have you been these past few days?”
Murong Jing was wrapped in a shiny black down jacket, his red Porsche 911 parked by the street.
His heart skipped a beat for no reason. Chi Yu looked away, trying to steady his voice: “We’re closed for the night. Come back tomorrow.”
“Is that an invitation for me to come tomorrow?” The man curled his lips, a sly glint in his eyes.
Chi Yu forced himself to turn around: “I’m off work.”
The next evening, it was Chi Yu’s turn to open the bar.
Walking from afar, he saw a figure pacing back and forth outside the bar. His first thought was whether it was Jared. However, as he got closer, he realized it was his childhood friend, Murong Cheng.
Skillfully raising the rolling shutter door, he led Murong Cheng inside and found him a seat. After mixing a few drinks, he felt a familiar presence nearby.
The young man looked up, meeting the man’s narrow eyes.
“I came early today.” The man’s eyes were filled with determination, like a predator looking at its prey, full of aggression.
Chi Yu lowered his eyes to hide his amusement: “What would you like to drink?”
“Whatever you feel like making.”
Whiskey with two extra shots of lemon juice, shockingly sour. Murong Jing frowned after just one sip.
With a smile in his eyes, Chi Yu walked to the other side of the bar.
Murong Jing followed him: “You did that on purpose?”
He tilted his head back and finished the alcohol in the glass in one gulp: “Another one.”
This time, he was given a glass of something so bitter it was hard to swallow.
Tequila mixed with soda water, without…
Murong Jing narrowed his eyes, “You’re doing this on purpose.”
Chi Yu didn’t deny it.
He walked back to Murong Cheng.
Murong Cheng seemed to have met someone and was now lovesick. Despite his low alcohol tolerance, he had come to the bar to drown his sorrows.
“Was that guy harassing you just now? Doesn’t security here do anything about that?”
Having only had a few sips of a bubbly drink, the fair-skinned young man’s cheeks were already flushed.
Who was he talking about? Jared? Chi Yu brushed his hair back, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
“It’s fine. That kind of person only has a three-minute attention span. He won’t be back in a couple of days.”
He was saying this as much to Murong Cheng as he was to himself.
The man, after only two deliberately challenging drinks, had disappeared. Had he retreated in defeat? Chi Yu didn’t know.
He made a few more drinks at the bar, and his childhood friend Murong Cheng passed out at the counter. Having no other choice, Chi Yu had to ask the boss for leave.
He had expected to be refused, and was even prepared to resign on the spot if that happened. Unexpectedly, the boss was in a particularly good mood today and let him leave without much fuss.
After taking his childhood friend back to his place and sleeping until the afternoon, Chi Yu returned to the bar and seemed to understand the reason for the boss’s unusual kindness the day before.
FISH BAR had a new owner. Yesterday was the last day for the previous owner to handle the handover.
Today was the new owner’s first day. Walking into the bar, Chi Yu saw Murong Jing at a glance. This time, Murong Jing was standing behind the bar.
“The bar will close an hour early today. I’m treating everyone to a late-night snack,” Murong Jing announced. “Alright, let’s get to work.”
With that, he turned and walked towards the owner’s office behind the bar.
The usually tedious hours seemed to fly by. After the DJ finished the last song, the guests reluctantly dispersed, just as Murong Jing came in carrying bags of takeout.
Handmade Margherita pizzas, freshly made from Chi Yu’s favorite place nearby.
The staff cheered, gathering around. Sam, the closest, trotted over to take the takeout and unpack it, everyone grabbing a slice.
“This place is expensive. My girlfriend wanted to go last time, but we looked at the menu and didn’t dare go in,” someone said while eating.
“Really? The boss is really treating us well. Let’s all raise a toast, thank you, boss!”
“Thank you, boss!”
Chi Yu quietly nibbled on his pizza, and when he looked up, he met Murong Jing’s gaze.
Their eyes met. He smiled at the man.
After cleaning the bar, everyone got ready to leave.
“Chi Yu, wait a moment,” Murong Jing called out, emerging from the office.
Chi Yu walked back to the bar.
Only the two of them were left in the bar. Murong Jing closed the rolling shutter door, shutting out the early morning light and the hustle and bustle outside.
The colorful spotlights were all turned off, leaving only a few cold, dim lights.
“Sit,” Murong Jing gestured to the bar stool and went behind the bar himself.
Chipping ice, pouring alcohol into the cocktail shaker, the man’s movements were not skillful.
Chi Yu sat on the high stool, watching him mix drinks with amusement.
The lowball glass was only half-filled with alcohol, turning a pale crimson after pomegranate juice was added. Murong Jing brought the glass to him and lit the inside of the glass with a blowtorch.
Indigo flames danced in the glass, blending with the red alcohol at the bottom, the colors swirling wildly, beautiful as a dream.
The flames gradually died down. Murong Jing dropped a slice of lemon into the glass and sprinkled a pinch of salt on top.
“Try it,” he looked at Chi Yu expectantly.
“Are you getting back at me for those two special cocktails yesterday? If so, I don’t dare try it.” Despite his words, Chi Yu still picked up the glass and brought it to his lips.
The taste was smooth and velvety. The sweetness of the syrup balanced the bitterness of the alcohol, and the salt enhanced the sensitivity of his taste buds, making the overall flavor richer.
It was delicious.
The young man licked his lips, slowly finishing the entire drink.
“How is it?” Murong Jing asked with a smile, stepping out from behind the bar.
Chi Yu nodded.
“Describe it. What does it taste like?” The man sat down next to him, his long legs bent.
Chi Yu asked nonchalantly, “Want to know?”
Murong Jing: “Naturally.”
Chi Yu’s eyelids lifted slightly: “Try it yourself.”
A warm, tentative kiss landed, quickly spreading to every corner of the wilderness.
Clothes were shed one by one. Leaning against the cold marble surface of the bar, Chi Yu’s back shivered.
But he was soon enveloped in warmth.
Murong Jing’s breath was hot, his hands fiery as they held him. The young man clenched his teeth, but couldn’t help but let out a moan.
A scent thicker than paint permeated the surrounding air. His hands formed fists, nails digging into his palms, yet Chi Yu still couldn’t feel a shred of clarity, unwilling to stop himself from falling deeper.
After a tentative standoff, the assault became fiercer.
Like the intertwining bitterness of alcohol and sweetness of syrup, he was driven to the peak of pleasure, yet couldn’t help but tremble with pain.
Murong Jing held his back, gently stroking his spine. It seemed like comfort, but also like the prelude to further invasion. Chi Yu collapsed into the man’s arms, his eyes filled with allure, gradually going limp.
“Be with me, okay?” The man’s voice was huskier than usual, the upward lilt at the end incredibly seductive.
Chi Yu wrapped his arms around the man’s waist, burying his head in his neck.
He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. A sliver of sunlight pierced through the gap in the curtains, illuminating the tiny particles floating in the air with unusual clarity.
Not hearing his answer, the man’s fingers trailed lower down his spine.
Chi Yu was completely drained of the strength to resist.
“Okay,” he finally murmured, his voice thick with desire.
“Good boy,” the man finally released him, rewarding him with a kiss on the lips.
There’s no true love in a bar, but who can see clearly when they’re caught in the moment?
