"Brother Jun, you're so biased! We're Pink Ladies too!" Two girls pouted in mock protest when they saw Zhang Xiaojun serve the "Pink Lady" cocktail to Cheng Ping.
The two girls were Wu Yuqi, also a server like Xia Yunjie, and Liu Ke, a greeter. Both were fairly attractive with decent figures, but they fell short compared to Cheng Ping.
Zhang Xiaojun chuckled and said, "Of course, all the ladies here are Pink Ladies!"
As he spoke, he poured several more "Pink Lady" cocktails and served them to Yan Jie, Wu Yuqi, and the other women.
Receiving their cocktails, the girls batted their lashes playfully at Zhang Xiaojun, drawing envious and jealous looks from the men in the bar. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaojun, basking in the attention, shot another glance at Xia Yunjie, his eyes gleaming with smugness.
Watching Zhang Xiaojun's polished demeanor and his knack for charming women, Xia Yunjie finally understood why Cheng Ping had said so many women flocked to the bar because of him. Handsome, high-earning, adept at sweet talk, and a master of show-stopping bartending tricks—what woman wouldn't be drawn to him? As for the occasional smug glances Zhang Xiaojun cast his way, Xia Yunjie simply ignored them. Jealousy or envy didn't even cross his mind. He wasn't competing for women or vying for the spotlight. His focus was on doing his job well, earning money, and cultivating his inner peace.
Cheng Ping raised her glass in a toast to Zhang Xiaojun, took a sip, and gave him a thumbs-up, praising, "Brother Jun, your cocktails are getting better and better!"
Zhang Xiaojun smiled proudly, just about to respond with modesty, when Cheng Ping handed her glass to Xia Yunjie with a playful smile. "A-Jie, you haven't tried Brother Jun's cocktails yet. Have a sip—it's really good!"
Zhang Xiaojun's expression stiffened slightly at her words, and a flicker of jealousy flashed through his eyes.
Though the women working at bars were generally more open in their behavior, sharing a drink with a man or even crossing arms for a toast was commonplace. However, Cheng Ping was an exception. While she could joke, flirt, or toss a coy glance, she rarely engaged in physical intimacy or shared drinks. In Zhang Xiaojun's year-plus tenure at Blue Night Bar, he had never seen her do such a thing. This restraint only fueled his desire to win her over. Cheng Ping's playful but reserved attitude on the surface only made Zhang Xiaojun more determined to conquer her.
Xia Yunjie, unaware of these dynamics, was briefly surprised when Cheng Ping handed him her glass but quickly accepted it with a smile. "Really? Then I'll have to try it."
With that, Xia Yunjie took a sip from the glass.
As Xia Yunjie drank from her glass, Cheng Ping, though fully aware that she had done it to deter Zhang Xiaojun, couldn't help but blush slightly. Zhang Xiaojun, on the other hand, felt his irritation deepen and asked with feigned politeness, "A-Ping, is this the friend you mentioned yesterday who started working here?"
"Yes, his name is Xia Yunjie. A-Jie, this is Zhang Xiaojun—Brother Jun, one of the stars of our bar and very popular with customers," Cheng Ping said with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Brother Jun. I'm new, so I'll be counting on your guidance!" Xia Yunjie extended his hand politely.
"Sorry, I just washed my hands," Zhang Xiaojun replied without shaking hands, feigning an apologetic tone.
Bartenders, who needed to maintain cleanliness, might seem justified in such a response. However, given that the bar hadn't officially opened yet, anyone more perceptive could sense he was intentionally slighting Xia Yunjie. In truth, that was indeed Zhang Xiaojun's intention.
Most of the staff at the bar were aware of Zhang Xiaojun's feelings for Cheng Ping. Observing this interaction, they picked up on the underlying tension, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Young men, especially at this age, cared deeply about saving face. Would Xia Yunjie retort? Would he escalate the situation? Or perhaps slam the table in anger?
To everyone's surprise, Xia Yunjie merely shrugged, smiled indifferently, and withdrew his hand.
"What a pushover," many thought.
But Cheng Ping knew better. A man who had intervened to stop a thief couldn't possibly be a coward. Xia Yunjie likely chose to de-escalate out of consideration for his job and her position. After all, she had recommended him. Causing a scene on his second day would only reflect poorly on her. Only Xia Yunjie himself knew the truth—he simply didn't care enough to engage with Zhang Xiaojun.
Zhang Xiaojun, mistaking Xia Yunjie's indifference for weakness, smirked and continued, "Guidance might be too strong a word. In this business, it's all about being sharp and knowing how to please customers. But you seem pretty green—just graduated, right?"
The others, watching Zhang Xiaojun "mentor" the newcomer, were thoroughly entertained. Wu Yuqi and the other women, already charmed by Zhang Xiaojun, admired his suave demeanor even more. In contrast, Xia Yunjie appeared awkward and unpolished.
Cheng Ping frowned slightly, about to speak, but Xia Yunjie responded straightforwardly, "Yes, I just graduated this year and still have a lot to learn."
"Then you really owe A-Ping a big thank-you. Nowadays, even college grads struggle to find jobs, and technical school grads have it even harder. It's better to work in a bar like us," Zhang Xiaojun said smugly.
Zhang Xiaojun had every reason to feel proud. With a monthly salary of 8,000 yuan, he was among the highest earners in Jiangzhou. Though his words were truthful, his tone made it clear he was belittling Xia Yunjie.
"Of course. If not for A-Ping, I wouldn't have found this job," Xia Yunjie replied matter-of-factly.
Cheng Ping's face darkened further, both annoyed at Zhang Xiaojun for openly mocking Xia Yunjie and frustrated at Xia Yunjie for being oblivious to the insult, answering so earnestly it made him look even worse.
Most of the staff found the exchange amusing rather than offensive. They perceived Xia Yunjie as inept and timid, while Zhang Xiaojun's confident demeanor shone even brighter.
Zhang Xiaojun's goal was to humiliate Xia Yunjie and make it clear that he was the true "alpha" of the bar. Satisfied with his success, he was about to press further when Shao Lihong's voice rang out from the staircase.
"A-Jie, come to my office. Also, Li Jie, starting today, A-Jie is a formal employee. His salary will match A-Ping's."
Li Jie managed the bar's finances.
After speaking, Shao Lihong nodded slightly at Xia Yunjie before heading upstairs.
Zhang Xiaojun's smug expression froze instantly. The rest of the staff, including Cheng Ping and Yan Jie, turned to Xia Yunjie in shock, as if seeing him for the first time.
Most of the staff knew Shao Lihong's preference for women and her distaste for being alone with male employees. Yet here she was, not only summoning Xia Yunjie but formally ending his probation on his second day and matching his salary with senior staff like Cheng Ping.
More shocking was the nod she gave Xia Yunjie before leaving. It was unheard of for her to treat a male employee with such respect.
Could Shao Lihong have suddenly developed an interest in men? If so, Xia Yunjie had achieved the impossible—changing the orientation of a woman who only liked women.
Compared to this, Zhang Xiaojun's suave demeanor seemed utterly insignificant.
Meanwhile, Xia Yunjie remained calm, politely greeted his colleagues, and walked upstairs.
The staff watched his retreating figure, then turned to Zhang Xiaojun's now-awkward expression. For a fleeting moment, they felt as though Zhang Xiaojun's earlier antics seemed clownish, and Xia Yunjie's reserved demeanor had been deliberate, not cowardly.
Of course, this impression was fleeting. Xia Yunjie was still just a waiter, while Zhang Xiaojun remained the bar's star flair bartender with a high salary and reputation.