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Around 9pm along a clean and crowded road in the city, a black luxury car could be seen making its way towards the entertainment district in B City. This area was where most of the best and exclusive entertainment bars and clubs could be found. As a result this area was always lit up and alive in the late hours of the day when most people were already tucked away and in dreamland.
Yan Ran could not help looking out of the dark tinted window of the limousine as the vehicle smoothly flies across to the designated meeting place. The city has certainly changed a lot in the five years of her absence. They passed many high rise buildings and shops that she could not recognise. However, the city still had not lost its beauty. She especially loved it at night when most people were at home and there was less traffic.
Like any other big city anywhere, B City was cursed with traffic jams that could cripple the city for hours after normal work hours. As a result some people preferred working late while waiting for the traffic jams to clear than being stuck in these traffic jams for hours.
However, during later hours like this one, it was relatively easier to move from one place to another. Yan Ran used to love this city so much that she would have never chosen to move away for so long. Unfortunately, now it has become a painful reminder of the best and worst times of her life. A deep sigh escapes her unintentionally and attracts the attention of the beautiful girl sitting next to her.
"What, already regretting allowing me to guilt trip you into coming out with us tonight?" she asks her friend.
"Oh so you know that you manipulated me right!" Yan Ran pretends to protest.
"Of course I know. How else can I get a homebody like you to go out?" Ying Yue asks jestingly.
"How can you be so proud of your shamelessness?" Yan Ran pretends to be shocked.
"You should thank me for helping you enjoy your youth. I'm just doing my national duty as a loyal citizen.
Yan Ran rolls her eyes so much that she almost feels dizzy.
"How can this be even called national service? You are crazy." She asks in despair.
"Imagine if all those young people who idolise you were to find out that their idol's life is as dry as week-old bread, wouldn't they feel cheated? I'm just doing my job as a good friend by helping you actually get a life."
"He he he, I never knew you had become so thick skinned and conceited. Who do you take after?"
"As you know dear friend, it's a family trait that runs strongly in our genes. I don't have to tell you how thick skinned or conceited the two people in my family are." Ying Yue counters.
Just like that, the lightness in the car vanishes fast as Yan Ran remembers of their meeting with the others.
"Yan Ran, are you okay? I know that I sort of cornered you today but you know that I would never insist if you really felt strongly about this, right?"
Yan Ran sighs again and then stretches her arm to pat Ying Yue's shoulder in a reassuring gesture.
"I know, I know. I don't blame you at all. Although I would rather hide, I have always known I was bound to meet him again at some point."
"Yes my dad told me the best way to remove a sticking plaster is to do it quickly and decisively." Ying Yue agreed.
"Only your dad could say something like that," Yan Ran says dryly.
"Yeah you know my old man." Ying Yue agrees.
"But seriously Yan Yan it's great to have you back. I have missed my best friend."
Yan Ran feels touched and a bit of moisture shows up unannounced in her big eyes making them shine like stars.
"I have really missed you too," she says and sniffs a little.
Ying Yue draws closer and hugs her, pressing her tightly to her.
"Don't you dare ruin your make-up or I will kill you, I swear." Ying Yue threatens Yan Ran trying to lighten the mood.
The way Ying Yue can change topics can truly leave one with whip lash.
Yan Ran laughs but quickly sobers up again.
"Do you think your brother will be okay having me here?"
Ying Yue feels torn. If she tells Yan Ran the truth she would feel guiltier than she is right now. On the other hand she knows her brother will never properly move on until he knows the truth. The problem is, it is not in her place to decide how Yan Ran decides to handle her affairs. She can just offer her advice.
"Wei Lan is a big boy. He is alright now I guess. He even has a girlfriend." Ying Yue says with a frown showing her distate.
Yan Ran feels like she has been stabbed by a giant knife on the softest part of her heart. However, she has learnt how to hide her feelings well. She has had five years to practise.
She gives her friend a thin smile.
"Well, I'm glad. He deserves to love and be loved back."
Ying Yue does not point out that Yan Ran had also loved him very much and he had loved her back. She knows it will only hurt her friend. Now is not the time to get heavy-handed. Slow and steady does it.
"Okay enough of the heavy stuff. Are you ready to party the night away?"
Ying Yue looks like she is dismissing the issue but she can tell her friend is getting sadder the more they keep discussing the issue.
"No, I am not. The thought of it makes me feel even more exhausted than I am. Can you just find me a nice little corner where I can drink in peace, please?"
"No way, sis! You are not allowed to dress like this so you can spend the night growing roots on your bum. Tonight, we have to dance until our legs become shorter."
"Noooo! Someone help me please!" Yan Ran pretends to attempt fleeing and Ying Yue giggles like young girl.
"Today you are my prisoner. You are not getting away from me."
"Uncle Tang, take us to the land of fun!"
The chauffer, who has been with the family since they were kids, is startled to hear his name being called. He smiles, seeing his young mistress laughing so heartily. Although she would never admit it, losing her best friend that year had been just as hard on her as it had been on her brother. After Yan Ran left, her laugh had been more restrained and she never made any other very close friend. There was always a trace of sadness in her eyes.
Uncle Tang is happy to see her being a little like the old days. He always thinks that his young mistress was never made to endure the hardships in this world. It is a pity that the world does not care. Maybe having her friend back will bring back that lightness of heart that she had lost five years ago.
They finally reach their destination. The club is housed in a multi storey building right in the middle of the entertainment district. Uncle Tang drops the girls off by the entrance of the building with instructions to pick them up later. He knows they will be drinking and he had insisted on picking them up instead of letting them hire a driver. He always feels a sense of responsibility for the two kids since he helped raise them up.
Ying Yue whispers in her friend's ear that this club is actually one of her brother's projects. What she did not tell her is that, he had been to so many bars and clubs after she left that one day he had been inspired to own one. This surprises Yan Ran a little as the Jin family had never delved into the entertainment business before she left.
Ying Yue holds Yan Ran's hand and they walk in without needing to produce identification cards. Their entrance attracts a lot of attention of course firstly because of their identities and mainly because of the way they look. Yin Yue is clad in a short black Versace dress that hugs her body tastefully in all the right places. She had persuaded Yan Ran to wear an equally short dark red Chanel dress that shows off her tiny waist, great shoulders and amazing legs.
At first Yan Ran was not too sure about it but after looking at herself in the mirror she admitted to herself that she did indeed look good. The colour is perfect for her skin tone. She had decided that she would get more outfits in this colour.
She has on matching gold and ruby tear drop earrings, a necklace and a bracelet. Her hair is held back by a hair band showing off the earrings, and then left to drop to her waist in cascading waves of curls. The two girls look gorgeous. Although Yan Ran is a star, she does not have to worry in places like these since a lot of famous people also come to have fun here. Moreover security at these upmarket places was tight.
Yan Ran is checking out her surroundings as it is her first tim here.
The building is not too special from the outside but as they enter, her jaw drops at the set up. The club has several floors all overlooking the main dance floor on the first floor. The first floor has a giant mirror ball and smaller chandeliers that are hanging from the 80 or so-foot-high ceiling. Lasers and undulating spotlights also contribute to the not so modest atmosphere of the place.
A small bar is located at the rear of the dance floor and the DJ booth is actually located on the dance floor. There are several other bars on the other floors she learns from Ying Yue. The second floor bar area has windows that open onto and overlook the main dance floor. Ying Yue tells Yan Ran that on the fourth floor there is another bar that features glass walls overlooking the main dance floor as well and has a chill out lounge. Yan Ran takes note because she knows she will definitely need it. A swimming pool is located on the third floor. This club is indeed made for the young and rich. It could house up to three thousand people but management were instructed to allow only two thousand five hundred per night. Still admittance to the club was in demand.
As the two friends head towards the bar, they immediately spot Shin Lin who is already on the dance floor. Although Shin Lin loves to dance, he has no sense of rhythm whatsoever. Yan Ran realises with great amusement that, instead of improving in her absence, Lin has actually got worse, if that is even possible. Whenever she looks at him dancing, he looks like a person wriggling in pain instead of enjoyment. The cool thing about it is Lin does not even care and Yan Ran loves him for it. As his friend, she would never point it out or laugh at him openly especially in front of strangers. As he turns around he notices them and leaves the crowd and walks towards them.
He cat whistles showing them his appreciation of their appearances. He gives them both air kisses and leads them to the bar.
"Took you girls long enough. I almost thought you had dumped me," he shouted to be heard over the loud music.
"You know us girls need our time to spruce up and do our thing. What do you think?" Ying Yue turns around showing off her perfect figure to Shin Lin.
Shin Lin moves in a circle around her, one hand on his chin looking contemplative.
"Umm-m barely passable," Shin Lin gives his verdict jokingly which earns him a glare and a soft slap on his shoulder from Ying Yue.
"You are just jealous, I know," Ying Yue returns in mock annoyance.
"Jealous of what? Your body? " Shin Lin further banters. "I would look much better than you in that dress. Right, Yan Yan baby?" It earns him another slap and a knock on the head from Ying Yue.
Yan Ran just giggles as she the two friends banter. Some things never change.
"Take it back before I knock you out. I promise you…"
"Ran? Ran, is that you!"
Yan Ran turns around and her eyes immediately widen in surprise and she jumps into the arms of an attractive man who has long hair that must have come out of a shampoo advert.
"Liang! Oh my goodness, it's good to see you again. It has been so long," She squeals in delight.
"Seven years to be exact. How come you just fell off the edge of the earth?" he queries.
She is about to reply him when she feels the hackles on the back of her neck rise. She tries to resist the urge to turn but it makes her feel jittery so she admits defeat and turns around.