"Am I supposed to poke a condom?!" Hai Youyu, eager to become a grandmother, cleaned her room while searching for any trace, muttering, "Where did this darn girl put everything?"
She found various interesting items but not a single contraceptive.
Unaware of all this, Hai Baihe couldn't bear being outside for more than a few minutes. The August sun was scorching, making her feel like she was melting. She had to change her plans temporarily. She went to a familiar beauty salon for a spa treatment and got her hair cut before rushing into the department store to shop.
She bought the latest lipstick shades, summer handbags, a few mini skirts, and when she got tired, she went to a café to have a coffee and check on Song Mu, who couldn't leave the house due to a leg injury.
Song Mu expressed envy and frustration, "I also want to go out and have fun..."
"Be good, stay at home and rest." Hai Baihe sent her a voice message, "I'll come to your place in a couple of days to see you."
"You have no idea how miserable I am. I can't eat all sorts of things, and my mom won't let me go out. I'm getting so bored!" Song Mu complained, "I'm not even handicapped. Why are they being so strict? I'm starting to get depressed."
Hai Baihe shut down her endless complaints with one reason, "If you don't heal properly, you'll have scars that will make wearing skirts look terrible."
"....Oh." With that, Song Mu's chattering came to a sudden halt.
After finishing her shopping, Hai Baihe returned to her apartment. A few weeks ago, it was a mess, but now the cleaning lady had tidied everything up. The clothes thrown on the bed were washed and neatly folded into the wardrobe. The sheets and beddings were clean and carried the scent of sunlight, awaiting their owner's return.
She put down a pile of paper bags, first thing she did was turn on the air conditioning, then rushed into the bathroom to take a shower. The hot weather made her sweaty and uncomfortable.
After showering, her pores tightened from the stimulation of the cold air, making her feel refreshed. She roughly dried her hair and started thinking about where to go out that evening.
Maybe she should go to Zero Degree Bar. Although the name was cliché, the bands performing there were eye-catching, and the drinks were good too.
With the decision made, she changed her clothes and put on makeup. She opened the newly purchased eyeshadow, a deep blue like the sea, and added a layer of sparkling silver glitter on top. It would create a shining effect resembling the deep sea and stars when she glanced around.
With such mesmerizing eyes, people would pay little attention to the color of her blush or lipstick.
However, she still spent five minutes choosing the shade of lipstick and finally settled on YSL 109, using a discontinued color to make others envious!
Besides clothing and makeup, the choice of accessories was also crucial. Hai Baihe particularly loved stocking bands. Today, she chose a black lace bow version, a special accessory worn on her thigh. Sometimes it hid under her skirt, and other times it revealed itself with her movements, creating scenery that invited imagination.
Fully prepared by seven o'clock, Hai Baihe's apartment was not far from Zero Degree Bar. Considering the severe consequences of drunk driving, she decided to walk there.
Familiar streets, familiar shops, familiar drinks... huh? Hai Baihe looked at the suddenly transformed entrance of the bar in shock, as if she had encountered a similar situation in Huyang Township.
Looking around, she breathed a sigh of relief. She
had overreacted. The bar probably just changed its name. The new name was... Huayang Nianhua, one of the famous movies directed by Wong Kar-wai. Just the name itself carried the Hong Kong atmosphere of the last century.
Upon entering, she noticed that the interior hadn't changed much in terms of layout, but there were several changes in decor. Previously, Zero Degree Bar had a cool rock atmosphere, but now it exuded a nostalgic and warm ambiance. The warm-toned dim lights and lush plants, along with typewriters and record players used for decoration, gave the bar a tender and sentimental vibe.
Even the background music was "Yearning for a Smile" by Tony Leung, creating an atmosphere of longing and the anticipation of spring breeze.
Observing curiously for a while, Hai Baihe sat at the bar counter, finding a familiar bartender. "Hi, has the owner changed? I haven't been here for half a month, and everything looks different."
The bartender smiled when he saw her, "You came? The owner has changed for a while now, but he only appeared recently." He placed his fair and slender fingers on the counter. "Still the same order?"
"Has the owner changed but not the drink menu?" Hai Baihe was willing to accept and challenge new things. "Do you have anything fresh?"
The bartender handed her the drink menu, "On the contrary, the owner seems to be nostalgic."
Hai Baihe flipped through a few pages and realized he was right. Just look at the names of the drinks: Margarita, Bloody Mary, Manhattan, Coastline, Tequila Sunrise, Pretty Woman... they were all classic options with no innovation.
"I don't feel like choosing anything," Hai Baihe said, disappointed that these classic cocktails were nothing new. "I'll stick with what I used to have, whiskey on the rocks."
The bartender shrugged, "Drinking strong liquor so early, aren't you afraid of getting drunk too soon?"
"In that case, while the owner isn't here, make me a drink called Minus Ten Degrees." Hai Baihe suggested. Minus Ten Degrees was one of Zero Degree Bar's signature cocktails. It was said to be the creation of the previous owner, although it felt a bit disloyal to order an old drink at the new establishment. She genuinely had no desire to try the other cocktails on the menu.
"Alright, don't tell the owner." The bartender, clearly a cunning person, winked at her and prepared a glass of ice-blue Minus Ten Degrees.
Hai Baihe also ordered some fries and fried chicken, "Is the owner from Hong Kong?"
"I heard so." With the bar not crowded yet, the bartender engaged in small talk with her, "The owner changed a little over a month ago. The previous owner was a good person. He said according to the contract, if he terminated our employment, he had to give us a month's notice or pay an extra month's salary. But the new owner said he wouldn't fire us and that we should just continue working as usual."
"A month ago? I was in the middle of final exams. No wonder I didn't notice." Hai Baihe licked the tomato sauce off her fingers. "What about that guy from the band? Does he still come?"
"He does. Money is everything," the bartender said. "But the Hurricane boys still come on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The owner said he wants to find a regular band. Oh, by the way, Linda and the previous owner left. They were together for a while, tsk tsk."
The Hurricane Band was a rock band composed of young and fresh members. They performed at the bar three times a week and
were paid per performance. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, it was Linda's turn to perform. Linda was an African-American female singer with excellent vocal skills, but Hai Baihe preferred the young members of the band.
Hai Baihe recalled, "What day of the week is it today?"
"Forget about which day of the week it is when you're on summer vacation," the bartender envied her university life. "It's Monday, so you'll get to see Zhuang Yijian, that guy."
Zhuang Yijian's name had a wuxia feel to it, but he was a rock singer. Well, he had the potential to become one in the future. Currently, he was the lead singer and captain of the Hurricane Band, performing at the bar to make ends meet like all the other struggling bands.
If Hai Baihe were to say it, she couldn't tell whether his singing skills were good or bad. But it didn't matter; she wasn't here to listen to music. She specifically timed her visit to see the Hurricane's performance because... Zhuang Yijian was handsome.
Although he had a slightly cold demeanor, looks were everything. She wasn't looking for a soulmate. Who had the patience to dig out someone's inner beauty?
If it were Liang Xiao... well, let's not think about that. The past was the past, and she couldn't enjoy a simple meal anymore if she kept thinking about it.
At eight o'clock sharp, the performance began. Nearly 80-90% of the seats in the bar were filled, and at least half of them were young girls, some even holding glow sticks with the band's name as if attending a concert by a famous star.
"As popular as ever," the bartender said with a beaming smile. "Zhuang Yijian has quite a fan following. Who knows, he might get scouted by an entertainment company one day."
On the stage, the handsome young man showcased his singing talents, captivating the audience with his passionate performance. Cheers erupted from the crowd, and girls threw roses from vases onto the stage.
Eating her fries, Hai Baihe suddenly felt that Zhuang Yijian wasn't as handsome as she thought. Plus, it was so noisy.
The bartender choked for a moment and pondered before finding an answer, "Do you have a new target? You don't like someone anymore, so the filter disappears."
Hai Baihe looked disappointed, and the bartender smirked. Leaning closer, he whispered, "As a friend who has known you for so many years, let me tell you a secret."
Hai Baihe cooperatively lowered her voice, "What secret?"
"The owner," the bartender said mysteriously, "is extremely handsome."
Hai Baihe's eyes lit up. "How handsome?"
"Extremely handsome!" The bartender sighed. "Once you see him, you won't be interested in little fresh meat like Zhuang Yijian anymore."
As if to coincide with his words, a commotion erupted in a corner. The bartender wasn't surprised. "The owner has arrived."
Hai Baihe glanced over... all she saw was a sea of people. She couldn't see anyone at all. "He's quite popular."
"A few days ago, a girl took a photo and posted it on Weibo. If you hadn't arrived early, you wouldn't have found a seat." The bartender reminisced about the previous owner, who was quite chubby. Sometimes, looks were everything!
The bartender chuckled and whispered, "Don't worry, you have a good seat. The owner will come over soon."
Hai Baihe took out her compact mirror and checked her makeup. Perfect,
flawless. She just needed to touch up her lipstick a bit. "I'll go freshen up. Hold my seat for me."
"I promise to complete the mission."
Hai Baihe went to the restroom to use the toilet and touch up her makeup. After thoroughly checking herself from every angle, she returned excitedly to see the handsome guy.
As soon as she approached, the bartender made a face and mouthed, "The owner!" He pointed to the man sitting next to her, watching the performance.
Hai Baihe sat back on the high stool, thinking about how to start a conversation, when the man turned to face her.
Their eyes met.
"Poof!" She sprayed her cocktail all over. Liang Xiao? Wasn't he an international criminal police officer? How did he become a bar owner? What happened in this past month?
Liang Xiao said, "...Life is full of unexpected encounters. I'm sorry, really."
Although she vaguely remembered Hai Baihe telling him which university she attended, his mind was focused on his target during the train ride. He forgot about it afterwards. Oh, what a coincidence, she was here too.
So, he shouldn't casually deceive young girls' feelings. He got caught this time. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to pay compensation, would he?
"What would you like to drink?" he asked. "I'll treat you."
Hai Baihe dragged her words, "You promised to treat me to a meal, but now it's just drinks? You're getting off too easy."
"Not at all. I'll still treat you to a meal, but tonight, drinks are on me too." Liang Xiao signaled the bartender to come over. "What would you like to drink?"