The restaurant's neon sign hummed overhead, casting a gaudy glow on clattering dishes, sizzling woks, and chatter of patrons.
"Meow…! Meow!" The scruffy black cat purred as Xiao Xuan rubbed its fur.
Long Mingxia's eyes shone with delight as Xiao Xuan gently stroked the cat's fur. The waitresses' disapproving glances only made her smile brighter, like a challenge accepted. She loved how Xiao Xuan's gentle nature shone through in this moment.
"Xuan'er, you can't seriously keep this filthy creature. It's a health hazard!" Zhou Yating warned, trying to pry the cat from Xiao Xuan's arms. His firm but gentle grip on the cat's scruff belied his calm demeanor, as he stood up to Zhou Yating's criticism.
"Of course, what if it has lice? Look at its fur…filthy and untrimmed," Another waitress chimed in.
Xiao Xuan's eyes narrowed, his grip on the cat tightening. "Mind your own business, Zhou Yating."
Long Mingxia's gaze drifted to the cat, now purring contentedly in Xiao Xuan's arms. She sensed a deep connection between them, as if the cat understood Xiao Xuan's compassionate heart.
"Eww…it reeks of fish!" Another waitress exclaimed, scrunching her face.
"Young master, where did you find this black cat?" Lok asked, her voice laced with disdain. "Get rid of it; black cats bring ill luck."
Long Mingxia's eyes locked with Xiao Xuan's, and she saw a spark of connection, like a secret shared.
"This black cat is a rare breed, one of a kind," He replied, his voice calm and confident.
As Xiao Xuan took a quick look around the restaurant and inquired about its status quo from the chefs, Zhou Yating turned to Long Mingxia. "Have you attended to the customers upstairs?"
Long Mingxia shook her head, "It is Lok's turn to attend to the customers."
"Sure, but you could have attended to the customers since you were free at the moment…" Lok turned and grunted.
Zhou Yating's eyes flashed with anger, her voice low and menacing. "You think you're better than me, Long Mingxia? I'll show you your place." She threatened and went away at the sight of an incoming customer.
Long Mingxia ignored Zhou Yating and Lok, focusing on the sensation of her skateboard beneath her feet. Her mind already wandering to her dance practice later.
The more she listened to Zhou Yating's drama, the more her anger simmered. How could a thirty-year-old waitress be infatuated with a twenty-one-year-old college student? Didn't she have enough chaos in her private life, with the boss, customers, and waiters wrapped around her fingers.
Zhou Yating's eyes narrowed as she watched the subtle interactions between Long Mingxia and Xiao Xuan.
"That little lowlife thinks she's succeeded, doesn't she?" Zhou Yating muttered to Lok, her voice laced with venom. "But I'll show her her place."
Long Mingxia's thoughts drifted, and she recalled customers mentioning Zhou Yating's past marriage to a wealthy factory owner. Her attention snapped back to the present as Lok appealed to Xiao Xuan.
Lok's lips curved into a saccharine smile as she sidled up to Xiao Xuan, her tone dripping with honey.
"Xiao Xuan, darling, you can't take this cat to greet your father…. This cat needs a bath, food, and grooming. It's clear it hasn't been taken care of." Lok was the one who called the cat 'unlucky'.Xiao Xuan hesitated for some seconds and nodded, and Long Mingxia sensed his uncertainty and gratitude.
"Then, I am leaving this cat in your care. Take care of it."
At that moment, the cat jumped from his arms and headed to Long Mingxia's direction. The cat, now at her feet, seemed to sense her turmoil, nuzzling her hand with a soothing purr.
"Mischievous creature," She whispered, scooping up the cat with a smirk.
"Long Mingxia, I never expected Xuan's cat to be friendly with you," Lok said, surprise etched on her face.
Long Mingxia met Lok's gaze, a sly smile spreading across her face.
"Why not? After all, it's always been my cat. Oh, pardon my rude manners. Meet my lovely cat, Bo."
Lok's eyes widened, disbelief written across her face.
"What?!"
Xiao Xuan: "…?" [astonished]
As Long Mingxia stroked Bo's fur, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. "Why can't the cat be friendly with me? Bo, this is Wang Lok, my colleague, and that's Nie Xuan, the boss's son."
The cat meowed, as if acknowledging the introduction. Long Mingxia's shift had ended, and she bid farewell, skateboard in hand.
"I have to take my leave since my shift is over." She removed the waiter's apron. As she clocked out, she grabbed her skateboard, eager to trade the restaurant's chaos for the freedom of the streets.
She whispered, "Oh Bo, you need a good shower and some nice food. I got supplements for you; you've become frail and weak lately, what's happening to you…"
Bo meowed in response, and Long Mingxia smiled. As she exited the restaurant, the evening air invigorated her. She mounted her skateboard and skated through the busy streets like the wind, eager to release her pent-up energy through dance.
It was thirty minutes past five in the evening and the city streets pulsed with energy, cyclists weaving through pedestrians, vendors calling out their wares, and motorists honking horns. Amidst the chaos, the evening air vibrated with energy as Long Mingxia's sneakers squeaked in sync with the pulsating music as she spun and leaped alongside BGB in the vibrant street, surrounded by the aroma of street food and the hum of passing cyclists.
The BGB dance group hoarded the street stage, blasting electropop beats that drew in the crowd. With the first beat, they burst into energetic movements. The group's simple outfits glowed under the flashing lights, their breakdancing moves a testament to their high-energy style. Their smooth 6-steps transitioned into series of intricate footwork patterns.
As they danced, Long Mingxia's worries faded. She lost herself in the rhythm, her feet moving in perfect sync with the others. As the music pulsed through her veins, her feet seemed to barely touch the ground, her movements a cathartic release of emotions, her soul soaring with every leap. Her dance was a fusion of elegant freezes and dynamic power moves. She dropped down into a baby freeze, holding the pose with ease. Passersby gathered, mesmerized by their synchronized moves. Their cheers and applause energized her.
"One more…!" The crowd pleaded, and Long Mingxia grinned, announcing their performance schedule.
"If you want to see more of these, please, support us and bear in mind that the BGB dance group is always live in this street on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, thank you."
The crowd slowly dispersed while some hung around to chat with the pretty girls in the dance group.
"We didn't make much today," One of the dancers grumbled.
"How much did we make?" Long Mingxia asked, taking off her sweater and adjusting her headband.
"Eleven Huacoins and five Yunbits," The dancer replied, showing the notes and coins gathered.
Long Mingxia's eyes drooped, her shoulders slumping as she recounted the money in the cookie tin. That wasn't up to what they expected. They danced in different streets and they came to try out the street they were in.
"We need to try out different streets to earn decent cash." She said to the dancer with a forced smile.
"Share the money among yourselves and rest as much as possible because tomorrow will be a hectic day," Long Mingxia stated. "We will try out this street, Fifth Street and Eleventh Street tomorrow, did you upload the videos of yesterday's dance?"
The dancer showed her phone to Long Mingxia, "Yeah, we only got three likes, no share, and no comment. About today's money, what about you? You are not going home empty-handed, are you?" Her voice cracked in the end.
Long Mingxia chuckled, "Ning'er, I am okay. I work in a restaurant, have you forgotten?"
Afterwards, Long Mingxia discussed their earnings and plans with her dance group.
They debated taking on secondary tasks, like backup dancing, to supplement their income.
"We should consider backup dancing in concerts and shows; it pays more and offers exposure." A teenage boy recommended and majority of the dancers consented.
Long Mingxia also agreed with the boy's opinion. Compared to street dancing, dancing in concerts and shows paid more and fetched connections.
"Madam Sabrina is my classmate's relative. She is planning to invite us to her son's birthday party. Her son returned from France few days ago and he has some connections with most of the big wheels. She wants us to perform in her son's party. I think that is a good start, right?" The teenage boy asked. Madam Sabrina's invitation to perform at her son's birthday party presented a promising opportunity.
After thorough analyses and arrangements of schedules, the dancers bid themselves goodbye and went their separate ways. It was ten minutes past seven in the evening and the setting sun painted the sky with hues of crimson and gold, the scent of street food wafting through the air as Long Mingxia admired the view.
'Such a lurid sunset…' She thought with an earnest smile but then her tummy grumbled. She was faced with the unremitting demands of hunger.
Her pulse quickened, her cheeks warming as she caught sight of Xiao Xuan waiting at the bus stop. Their eyes met, and she felt her cheeks flush, she found herself melting like butter. Naïvely, she turned and walked away in the opposite direction, struggling to keep her emotions in check.
For a long time now, she couldn't come to valid terms with her feelings. She liked and disliked him at the same time. Her heart fluttered and galloped whenever she set her eyes on him, but they weren't in the same social circle. She was just nineteen years old, an orphan and school dropout whose days blurred together in a relentless cycle of work and struggle as she fought to keep her head above water, while Xiao Xuan, he was just twenty-one years old, the blue-eyed boy and a brainy student in one of the city's best universities. The difference between them was vast, she was his father's employee and he would soon take over the restaurant in a little while.
[A blue-eyed boy – Someone who is highly favored, preferred, or indulged by someone in authority, often unfairly or undeservedly. Also, someone who is charming, attractive, or endearing.]
As she walked back home, her mind wandered to her interactions with Xiao Xuan. She remembered her first conversation with Xiao Xuan and he left her with a compliment that captured her heart.
'You're talented, Long Mingxia. Don't waste your potential.' She reminisced his soft smile and lingering gaze on her.
"There you are! I have been waiting for you?" An oleaginous voice rang out and Long Mingxia snapped out of her thoughts. She was in front of her apartment. Home sweet home?
"Good evening landlady, what brings you here?" She greeted politely. She knew why the landlady came to her place, what else could it be if not rents and complaints about her cat?
The landlady, her plump figure quivering, close-set eyes painted with a thick eyeliner, and grossly painted lips twisted in scorn, confronted Long Mingxia. Her nose, adorned with a small brown ring, scrunched up in distaste. Her oily hair was tied back in a short braid, revealing a prominent forehead.
"What is good about this evening, Long Mingxia? Your untamed pet stole my fish in the morning. You know what to do – pay me or return my fish." She growled, her voice dripping with malice.
"Before I forget, the monthly rent has been increased by fifty percent, it is no longer nine Huacoins per month but thirteen and half Huacoins per month!" She added, her yellowish teeth glinting in the dim light.
Long Mingxia's eyes widened, outraged. "What?! That's too much for this rundown apartment!"
Long Mingxia's rent had expired a week ago, and the landlady had increased the rents by fifty percent. The apartment's state was deplorable, but Long Mingxia had no choice. She always paid fifty-four Huacoins for six months but henceforward, she will be paying eighty-one Huacoins.
*** Note that in Huayun City, the currencies mostly used are 'Huayun Tokens' [HT] and 'Huacoins' [HC]. Another currency used is Yunbits [YB].
100 Yunbits [YB] make a Huayun Token [HT]
10 Huacoins [HC] make a Huayun Token [HT]
10 Yunbits [YB] make a Huacoin [HC] ***
"If you can't keep up with this new development introduced by me, find somewhere else and live in," The landlady added and Long Mingxia grimaced. "A lot of people have been asking me about this apartment and I won't hesitate to give it away if you can't keep up with the rents."
What was eye-catching about this apartment? If a downpour should take place, the apartment would fall to crumbles. Nonetheless, she handed over the rumpled banknotes and bronze coins, hoping that the landlady wouldn't notice the few Yunbits mixed in. The landlady counted the money, her eyes narrowing at the fact that the money couldn't amass to a significant sum in Huayun Tokens if converted.
For the time being, Long Mingxia would look for another apartment, one that would bring her peace and comfort. And she would leave the rundown apartment for the troublesome landlady, she could give it to whomever she wanted to.
The landlady's gaze lingered, heavy with disdain but Long Mingxia met it with determination.
"You are paying for two months?" The landlady raised an eyebrow. Long Mingxia nodded, relieved to have renewed her rents before her things were about to be thrown out of her apartment.
"What about the other four months?" The landlady pressed, her voice firm.
"I am broke at the moment, don't you get it?" She snapped at the landlady.
The landlady stood akimbo, utterly displeased, "Hey, no need to shout! What about my fish…#$!@..."
Long Mingxia sighed as she entered her apartment. The landlady could scream for all she care. She couldn't wait to live in a decent apartment with Bo. The thought of it made her heart swell.
"Meow…! Meow…" Bo's weak purr greeted her as she pulled off her sandals.
Long Mingxia cradled Bo, her voice barely above a whisper, "Don't worry, little one. We'll face this together. You're all I have."
The next day, Bo's vet visit drained her finances, but she reassured herself that her beloved cat's health was worth it.
As she attended to customers at the restaurant, Long Mingxia's mind whispered, 'Stay alive, create, escape'.