Xu Zhi: “…………”
Xu Zhi rubbed her forehead, helpless. “Are you not bored?”
It was so rare to see Xu Zhi frustrated, how could this be boring? Qi Yaoyao was delighted that her plan had succeeded. She swung her feet, happily took another small sip of the drink, and was about to talk to Xu Zhi again.
However, a server came with drink orders from the booth customers.
Seeing that Xu Zhi was about to get busy, Qi Yaoyao stopped bothering her and pulled out her phone to scroll through social media.
—”Sister Know, B332 needs another case of beer, please.”
Xu Zhi: “Mm, get it yourself.”
Qi Yaoyao paused her scrolling, immediately turned, and saw the owner of that familiar, slightly chay (saccharine/fake-innocent) voice.
The person was taking a case of beer from behind the bar and happened to look over as well.
Their eyes met.
Qi Yaoyao didn’t look away. Her beautiful willow brows rose, and she stared directly at her for a full ten seconds.
Zhao Chuchu tightly gripped the tray and the beer, diverting her gaze to the person diligently mixing drinks behind the bar.
But Qi Yaoyao wasn’t done.
Qi Yaoyao obviously turned sideways, holding her glass, sipping through the straw, and keeping her eyes locked on Zhao Chuchu.
Zhao Chuchu felt goosebumps under the scrutiny. She sat uncomfortably, enduring it for half a minute, but finally couldn’t take it anymore and said, “Sister Know, I’ll take the beer over first, then check on other customers. Ring the bell when you’re done mixing.”
Xu Zhi was measuring vodka with a jigger and responded without looking up, “Okay.”
Qi Yaoyao watched her leave, then withdrew her gaze, pinching the straw, and grumbling unhappily to Xu Zhi.
The music in the bar was loud.
Xu Zhi didn’t hear her.
Qi Yaoyao immediately grew displeased and raised her voice: “Xu Zhi!”
Xu Zhi sealed the shaker tightly, shook it vigorously up and down, and looked at Qi Yaoyao. She raised one eyebrow, signaling her to state what the problem was.
Qi Yaoyao pouted, “I’m unhappy~”
Xu Zhi said, “Who annoyed you this time?”
No one seemed to have approached her just now.
Qi Yaoyao looked at her: “Guess.”
Xu Zhi wasn’t interested in playing guessing games. After shaking the drink, she poured out the melted ice water from the empty glass, then strained the well-mixed liquid from the shaker into the cup.
“Xu Zhizhi!!” Qi Yaoyao saw that she was ignoring her and genuinely got angry. She threatened, “If you ignore me, I’m going to ring the bell!”
Xu Zhi: “…”
Xu Zhi was truly defeated. She looked up. “I still have work to do. Can we guess after I’m done?”
Qi Yaoyao narrowed her eyes threateningly: “N-o.”
Xu Zhi had no choice but to mix drinks while chatting with the young lady. “Did I annoy you then?”
Qi Yaoyao: “No! It’s your colleague! The one just now, the girl who moved the tables with you before!”
“What did she do to you?”
“It’s not what she did to me, it’s what she did to you! Didn’t you notice the strange way she looks at you? Always staring, smiling, and biting her lip. Ew, looking at a colleague like that is so weird!”
“The bar lighting is so dark, how can you see so clearly?”
“It’s true, she does it!”
During this brief exchange, Xu Zhi had already finished mixing three drinks. Cocktails shouldn’t be left for too long, as melting ice affects the taste.
Xu Zhi pressed the bell.
Zhao Chuchu quickly rushed over, placed the drinks onto the tray one by one, confirmed the corresponding booths, and then turned to leave.
Xu Zhi watched her and said, “What was strange about the way she looked at me?”
Qi Yaoyao said, “It’s not strange now, but it was just now! She’s only pretending now because I was staring at her. Doesn’t that prove she has something sneaky going on?”
This was utterly illogical.
Xu Zhi didn’t want to argue with her, but she also didn’t want her to run off and ring the bell in anger. She could only continue to work while vaguely chatting with her. “What sneaky business could she have with me? In a bar, there are more people with sneaky intentions toward you. Have you looked at how the surrounding customers are looking at you?”
“I don’t know them, so I don’t care about their stares.” Qi Yaoyao reasoned, “She’s different. She’s your colleague, and she works with you every day.”
Xu Zhi said casually, “Mm, so?”
Qi Yaoyao secretly pouted, adjusting the position of the straw in her glass. She felt sullen, but her eyes suddenly sparkled with a cunning idea—Wait, I can ask the bar owner to move that person to another position!
As long as she stops hovering around Xu Zhi with bad intentions…
Wait a minute.
Qi Yaoyao paused, suddenly realizing: Why should I get her moved?
Just as Xu Zhi said.
There are all kinds of customers in the bar. Xu Zhi is so good-looking; many customers must look at her strangely. Is Xu Zhi really so oblivious that she hasn’t noticed?
Definitely not.
It’s just that Xu Zhi is aloof and doesn’t chat.
Customers give up after facing a cold shoulder once or twice.
But she is different.
She and Xu Zhizhi have a staunch, life-and-death friendship!!
Xu Zhizhi paying attention to her is only natural~~
Qi Yaoyao had completely forgotten she had blackmailed Xu Zhi with the bar job. Thinking this, her mood brightened. She happily swung her feet again, watching Xu Zhi.
As long as Xu Zhizhi keeps herself pure, a place of entertainment like this can’t corrupt her.
She is like a lotus blossom emerging unstained from the mud.
“There is no ‘so.'” Qi Yaoyao figured it out, smiling. The straw left her glossy, lipstick-coated lips. Feeling good, she jumped off the high stool and turned away.
Xu Zhi thought, Her mood changes so fast. She looked up and heard three “DONG DONG DONG” sounds nearby.
Even before Xu Zhi started her shift tonight, Qi Yaoyao had already asked the bartender where the “bell” was.
The three unusual bell chimes caused the original BGM to stop. The lights, which had been pulsating with the music, suddenly became frenzied. After shaking wildly with intense drum beats, they converged into a beam of white light, falling upon Qi Yaoyao, who was holding the hammer.
Wearing her pink halter dress and with exquisite features, she happily spun around twice on the spot, illuminated by the spotlight and holding the hammer high.
The atmosphere instantly went from silent to boiling, with deafening cheers!!
Soon, people from the bar came to confirm Qi Yaoyao’s identity.
Before long, the news was relayed to the stage, and through the microphone, the good news was announced to the customers: all drinks for the next hour would be paid for by Miss Qi.
Under the commotion caused by the live band’s drums, cheers erupted from the booths again and again. The bar atmosphere was instantly pushed to a climax, loud enough to feel like it could lift the roof!
Qi Yaoyao was happy and turned to look at Xu Zhi.
Xu Zhi looked at her, pursed her lips, and took a deep breath.
Subsequently, the bar’s drink orders surged like a bursting dam.
All the bartenders rushed to work, and several servers were temporarily transferred from the private rooms to help.
Qi Yaoyao skipped back to the bar, but found that Xu Zhi wouldn’t even look at her, only focusing on rushing back and forth behind the counter. Qi Yaoyao called her several times but got no response.
Qi Yaoyao realized that Xu Zhi was angry.
But wasn’t this a good thing?
Couldn’t Xu Zhi get a lot of commission?
At this point, several young people came over to order drinks and greet Qi Yaoyao. They thanked her for the free drinks and asked if she was alone, enthusiastically inviting her to drink and play games with them.
Some even tried to squeeze next to her and touch her.
Qi Yaoyao hated overly familiar people the most, especially now that Xu Zhi was ignoring her. She was doubly irritated. Her beautiful, sharp gaze went straight to the harassers. “I don’t need company!”
Qi Yaoyao said, “Get lost quickly, or you’ll have to pay for your own drinks!”
The few people were stunned. Those who had followed them, wanting to meet Qi Yaoyao, also backed down, only placing their orders before leaving.
But because someone was buying drinks, more and more people flocked to the booths. Soon, the bar counter was densely crowded with customers placing orders.
At this time, there was no way Qi Yaoyao’s calls to Xu Zhi would be answered.
Her voice was completely drowned out!
Qi Yaoyao sulked. She glanced at the time on her phone. There were fifty minutes left until 8:30 PM. She tossed her credit card to the bar manager, grabbed her bag, and, protected by her two bodyguards, easily moved against the crowd and left the bar.
…
Qi Yaoyao left in a huff. Xu Zhi finally looked up from her busy work and glanced at her retreating back.
Jim, who was temporarily assigned to help, also saw the scene. Holding his tray, he asked confusedly, “Sister Know, that was the God of Wealth! Why did you make her angry and drive her away?”
Xu Zhi rarely swore, but couldn’t help it. “God of Wealth my ass. Rich idiot.”
Jim was even more confused. “Sister Know, are you worried about her money? Come on, rich people’s money grows on trees. Isn’t it a good thing that she’s willing to spend? Your commission must be huge tonight.”
Xu Zhi didn’t reply again. She just handed him a Long Island Iced Tea and carried two cases of beer. “C22.”
Jim immediately said, “Got it!”
…
It was stuffy outside the bar.
Qi Yaoyao was in a terrible mood, and yet someone still came up to chat with her.
Qi Yaoyao spun around and snapped at her bodyguards: “Chase them away! Are you just getting paid to do nothing? Didn’t you see him blatantly harassing me? Shoo them, shoo them all away!”
The two bodyguards saw that she was acting like she had taken dynamite. They didn’t say a word, nervously carrying out their task.
After that, let alone people, not even a fly dared to enter within three meters of Qi Yaoyao.
Qi Yaoyao was annoyed. She turned back and said, “Call me at 8:27 PM! I’m getting in the car first!”
“Yes, Miss.” The bodyguards immediately set alarms.
Her girlfriends had just finished a session outside and were heading back to the mansion to continue their party.
Qi Yaoyao had refused several invitations.
Sitting in the luxury car now, she glumly scrolled through her group chat history. She was angry and thought: Why am I not out shopping, getting a new manicure, or eating and having fun with my sisters? Why am I here getting the cold shoulder from Xu Zhi?
Is she asking for it?
She won’t transfer to No. 1 High School either! What does Xu Zhi’s earning potential have to do with her?
They can all go to hell!!
Just then, Julia tagged her in the group chat.
Julia: [@Yaoyao Big Miss Baby, we’re only missing you! Gu Sencheng even asked about you tonight. Said he’d pick you up if your schedule isn’t convenient~]
Qi Yaoyao immediately turned off her phone, pretending not to see it. She then turned it back on and looked at the time at the top of the screen.
7:46 PM.
There were over forty minutes left until 8:30 PM.
This is the last time!
If Xu Zhizhi still doesn’t get the hint… her patience is limited!!!
“Miss, it’s 8:27 PM.”
“I know, I know!” Qi Yaoyao had been staring at her phone, waiting for every second to pass since 8:20 PM. She didn’t need the bodyguards to remind her.
Qi Yaoyao got out of the car and walked into the bar.
The manager saw her return and immediately smiled obsequiously, returning her credit card.
Qi Yaoyao took it, put it back in her bag, and walked toward the bar counter.
The free drink time was over, and the bar counter was empty now.
Qi Yaoyao saw her blue cocktail right in Xu Zhi’s hand. She was about to clear it away only at this moment, but maybe that was wishful thinking and it was for another customer.
Xu Zhi saw Qi Yaoyao walk back. She slightly raised the light blue cocktail in her hand and said, “I thought you weren’t coming back.”
Qi Yaoyao glanced at the time on her phone, 8:30 PM.
Qi Yaoyao: “Is that my drink?”
Xu Zhi: “Mm.”
Qi Yaoyao immediately seized the opportunity to complain. “I still want to drink it, and you were going to pour it away?”
Xu Zhi thought: The ice has melted, how can you drink it? She said, “I’ll mix you another one.”
Qi Yaoyao raised an eyebrow. “It’s 8:30 PM already.”
Xu Zhi: “Working overtime for the God of Wealth is only right.”
Xu Zhi certainly wouldn’t quibble with Qi Yaoyao about breaking her promise and ringing the bell at this critical moment. The other party came back right on time, and it was likely to pick a fight. If she didn’t cooperate, it wouldn’t just be about mixing one overtime drink.
Soon, Xu Zhi finished mixing the drink and asked her, “Do you want to drink it here, or take it away?”
Qi Yaoyao pouted. Most of her anger dissipated due to Xu Zhi’s words and attitude. “You’re off work, why would I stay here?”
Xu Zhi wasn’t surprised. She poured the ice and cocktail into a disposable paper cup and handed it to her.
Qi Yaoyao complained: “It’s not pretty at all this way!”
“I’ll put it in a pretty glass for you next time.”
Qi Yaoyao looked at Xu Zhi. Seeing that she was holding out the drink and waiting, she was finally satisfied. She took the cup, gave a humph, and took a tiny sip.
Xu Zhi was relieved that she was willing to drink it, thinking that at least she wouldn’t cause any more trouble.
Qi Yaoyao followed Xu Zhi into the changing room, but within moments of entering, she started whining about discomfort. “Zhizhi, Zhizhi…”
Xu Zhi was about to change her clothes. She turned to look at her and saw her constantly squinting and blinking uncomfortably.
Xu Zhi asked, “What’s wrong?”
“My contact lenses feel terrible.” Qi Yaoyao’s eyes were slightly red. She kept blinking and squinting. Since one hand held her bag and the other held the cocktail, she couldn’t free her hands. “Help me take them out.”
Xu Zhi wouldn’t dare casually touch something that goes into the eye. “I don’t know how.”
Qi Yaoyao looked distressed. “Hurry, Zhizhi, help me! I’m going blind!”
Xu Zhi: “You won’t go blind. You can still joke.”
Despite saying that, Xu Zhi hesitated and walked in front of Qi Yaoyao. “How do I take them out?”
“Just pull my upper and lower eyelids o-pen. Poke the surface of the lens with your fingertip, then gently pinch the edge with your index finger and thumb, slightly arching it toward the center, and it will come out. It’s very simple.”
Xu Zhi: “…”
Since it involved her eyes, Xu Zhi felt it was tricky and complicated, certainly not simple. But seeing tears welling up in Qi Yaoyao’s eyes, she had no choice but to try. “Tell me if you’re uncomfortable.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Xu Zhi led Qi Yaoyao to the locker cabinet, where the overhead light was brighter. She told Qi Yaoyao not to move, fixed her stance, and then raised her hand to try.
They were face to face, very close.
So close that Qi Yaoyao could smell the alcohol on Xu Zhi, as well as the faint scent of hand soap remaining on her fingers.
Those slender fingers were really beautiful—the joints were evenly proportioned, and the nails were trimmed short, round, and cute. She was a very refreshing, clean person who paid attention to personal hygiene.
Qi Yaoyao didn’t know why, but her face flushed. She looked closely at Xu Zhi, whose breath mingled with hers.
There was a noticeable height difference between them. Xu Zhi slightly lowered her gaze while taking out the contact lens, her brows tightly furrowed, her expression serious and nervous. Her gaze was so focused, as if she only had eyes for her.
Qi Yaoyao heard her heartbeat quickening, thump-thump-thump, and couldn’t help but hold her breath slightly.
Although Xu Zhi felt like she was facing a great enemy, removing the contact lens wasn’t as hard as she thought.
After removing one, the other side was quickly taken out too.
Without the colored lens blocking them, her dark, moist eyes stared straight at Xu Zhi. The slightly reddened circles around her eyes, whether due to discomfort or makeup, looked exquisite and pitiful. When she bit her lip, she looked even more innocent and captivatingly teary-eyed.
Xu Zhi suddenly realized how close they were and immediately retreated backward.
But the changing room was small, and her movement was large. She instantly backed into the wall behind her.
Xu Zhi had nowhere to retreat but felt Qi Yaoyao’s gaze sticking to her like glue. She looked away unnaturally, cleared her throat, and asked, “Where should I put these contact lenses for you?”
“In my bag. I have a special case.”
Xu Zhi finally reacted and took the paper cup containing the drink from her hand. “You put them away yourself.”
“…Oh.” Qi Yaoyao was obedient.
…
On her way home, Xu Zhi was very annoyed.
She should have just let Qi Yaoyao take them out herself from the start.
Xu Zhi didn’t know why, but the image of their posture, distance, and that gaze kept popping up in her mind. Whenever she thought of it, she felt prickly heat on the back of her neck and discomfort all over.
Her heart rate was strange, too.
She was overthinking things.
“Ding-a-ling—” A bicycle bell rang behind her, urging her forward.
Xu Zhi suddenly snapped out of it, looked up, and saw the light was indeed green. She quickly pedaled to follow the non-motorized vehicle group across the road.