Yang Manyun lady has always been the one in the family least optimistic about her coming out to start a business and open a shop, so this shop of Qiao Ling’s has been open for almost a year and a half, her own mom only came to take a look on the day of opening, usually simply wouldn’t come over.
So Qiao Ling would be so astonished.
If not making a fuss it’s fine, once making a fuss, messy things come together like a pile!
Her palm came out with a layer of sweat, grabbed at her hem, obviously became even less confident in front of her mother: “Mom, how come you came.”
“What do you say?” Yang Manyun was already worried, now seeing with her own eyes daughter being made things difficult by a customer and scolded, even more concerned and then confused, couldn’t help but scold lightly: “Go look in the mirror, already almost thin like a monkey, just by one look can tell you’re not eating properly, if I don’t rush over to feed you, I’d be afraid you’ll starve to death outside.”
Qiao Ling looked at old mom’s hand carrying an insulated bucket, instantly complicated, stammered: “I didn’t… I eat quite a lot.”
As she grew up, she also learned like same-age people to report good news not bad news to home, furthermore what she’s doing now is something family doesn’t support, so even more doesn’t want to let them catch sight of her messy side.
She hopes to let parents acknowledge she can handle things alone, and now…
Qiao Ling glanced at Chen Kuang still standing next to her, face even more couldn’t hang on.
When Yang Manyun reached the shop entrance she just happened to see daughter being made things difficult, she walked step by step closer, looking around the empty shop, not caring there was a third person, worriedly said: “Say, this shop has only been open how long and already no customers.”
“You still always say money is enough to use, all day guarding an empty shop what do you eat with?”
“Your dad and I raised you in the palm of our hands this big, not to watch you go into society and be scared by that kind of low-class hoodlum gangster.”
Hearing hoodlum gangster these words, standing to the side Chen Kuang suddenly recalled just now those few curse words, inexplicably looked away, lowered his head using index finger to rub his nose bridge.
“Back then how did you make a military order with us, said relying on hammering silver you definitely can make a name for yourself, and the result?” Yang lady was still earnestly advising.
Chen Kuang’s sense of existence was too strong, Qiao Ling’s skin was already thin, truly couldn’t stay any longer being embarrassed by old mom, almost stomped foot, acting spoiled begging: “Mom—! Say two less sentences.”
“You still know how to feel embarrassed, should have listened early to me and your dad, find a proper job, isn’t that better than…” Yang Manyun’s scolding was almost finished, turned head to look at Chen Kuang, especially seeing the tattoo on his arm, asked Qiao Ling: “This is?”
“Ah, just the neighbor downstairs…” Qiao Ling hurriedly looked up to glance at Chen Kuang, seemed to be saying with her eyes: Big brother no matter what grudge or hatred hold it for now, settle my account later okay T-T
I really don’t want to lose all face in front of my mom, begging you.
Yang Manyun politely withdrew her gaze, let out a breath like: “Oh, neighbor ah.”
Chen Kuang was quick-witted, in this mother and daughter’s few sentences of information already guessed all the situation.
Originally because of insomnia and irritability getting crazy, the temper had to pause here too, seeing her being made things difficult by customer and then being scolded by family, he also wasn’t interested in adding fuel to the fire anymore.
Making such a fuss, his sleep environment for this afternoon half-day was probably guaranteed.
Since the goal was achieved, the rest can be talked about later.
Chen Kuang slightly nodded to Yang Manyun, counted as politeness to unfamiliar elder, also didn’t say anything more to Qiao Ling, just in the end lightly glanced at her once then stepped directly out of the handmade shop, downstairs back home.
After Chen Kuang’s back figure completely left, Yang Manyun leaned close to daughter, looked at the door asking one more question: “Looks quite handsome eh, really neighbor?”
“If not then what?” Qiao Ling puffed up cheeks, looked sideways: “You also think he looks good?”
Not saying other things, mother and daughter’s taste really is quite consistent.
“Looks indeed not bad, but…” Yang Manyun recalled that tattoo on Chen Kuang’s body, glanced at daughter, reminded: “At one look doesn’t seem like a steady person, you better stay a bit far away.”
“If want to find a partner, I and your aunt can find you a better one.”
Qiao Ling covered ears refusing to accept nagging words: “Aiya I don’t want to date, I just want to properly open the shop and earn money now, you all don’t worry.”
Yang Manyun’s eyes were full of helplessness, walked to the table and opened the meal box, no longer speaking: “Alright, put away this messy stuff, hurry and eat.”
Qiao Ling obediently went over to clean the table surface, pouted her mouth and mumbled, still added one sentence: “Thank you, mom, mom worked hard.”
Yang Manyun sighed, every time daughter acted pitifully spoiled like this, both husband and wife just couldn’t do anything about her.
…………
Chen Kuang opened the door and entered home, after his whole body unloaded strength, the heavy feeling of lacking sleep came crashing in like a mountain pressing down.
He threw the key, staggered in with disordered steps and threw himself into the bed.
“……”
Upstairs also didn’t have ding ding dong dong noise.
Finally quiet.
He lay flat for a while, turned over, his brows furrowed.
Although the environment was unprecedentedly quiet, but for some reason, in Chen Kuang’s head kept circling around that mother and daughter upstairs.
Middle-aged woman’s nagging towards that girl upstairs inexplicably drilled into his ears and couldn’t get out.
【Raising you so big isn’t to see you being made things difficult by hoodlums.】
【Shop only opened for how long and already no customers.】
He used his palm to cover his face, the light was blocked, but couldn’t block in his mind that small face full of grievance and embarrassment while being scolded.
Incomparably vivid.
With the impression Qiao Ling gave him, in the shop if there was even one less customer, she would secretly wipe tears right?
Let alone proactively shortening business hours for the sake of a downstairs neighbor’s sleep.
After a moment, Chen Kuang opened his eyes like recognizing his own bad luck, rolled his abdomen to sit up, took his phone and dialed a call.
The other side dawdled for a while finally picked up, also like not awake yet, voice dragging lazily: “What’s up Kuang ge ah, in broad daylight you’re not sleeping…”
Chen Kuang impatiently rubbed his hair getting up, slipped on slippers: “Bar key is at your place?”
“It is, yesterday it was my turn to close the shop…” that side holding the phone was about to fall asleep.
“I’ll come find you to get the key, where is your house.” He grabbed the T-shirt on the sofa, changed into it in three seconds.
That side froze for a few seconds, dumbfounded: “Brother… you going to the bar at this time for what ah.”
“To sleep.” Chen Kuang sighed, grabbed his toiletries bag and went out the door: “Don’t ask, wait for my call.”
…………
After finally coaxing mom away through soft words and hard tactics, full and satisfied Qiao Ling temporarily forgot the gloom of being threatened by the malicious male customer, past one o’clock in the afternoon there weren’t new customers coming, she couldn’t help but think of just now black-faced, aggressive-appearance Chen Kuang charging in.
Qiao Ling polished the silver bracelet in her hand, mumbling in her heart.
That posture just now, definitely was once again being annoyed by the noise here and came to settle accounts right.
Busy dealing with mom, didn’t have time to communicate with him.
Main thing was also didn’t have his contact method.
Should she now go downstairs to ask him?
But if he happened to be asleep, and she knocked on the door again, wouldn’t that be disturbing again.
In case it caused a second disturbance… would Chen Kuang directly pull her into his house and tear her apart and eat her…
While thinking like this, Qiao Ling linked it to certain yellow-colored manga, her small face turned red, she grabbed the silver polishing cloth to cover her face: “Aiyo…”
Annoying, what are you thinking.
She thought about that time when Chen Kuang stood in front of her.
Once again being scolded and cursed at by him, that look had her feeling he was handsome.
Thinking back and forth, she decided not to disturb for now, and would go downstairs to knock on the door in the evening to ask.
After all, he counted as helping her out of a predicament at that time, basic thanks still had to be said.
However, what Qiao Ling thought was good, when it was almost eight in the evening and she found time to go downstairs to knock on the neighbor’s door, she knocked two or three times and there was no sound inside.
Chen Kuang wasn’t there.
“Doesn’t make sense ah… at this time isn’t he just about to go to work.”
She remembered cousin brother’s bar’s business hours, usually opening around seven or eight in the evening, this time should be exactly when Chen Kuang was going out.
Qiao Ling suspiciously pressed her ear against the door panel, quietly listened for a while, confirmed there was no sign of life inside, the shop upstairs still had customers making things, she could only go back first to continue working.
She didn’t know if it was really being shocked by Chen Kuang’s angry appearance, or because she lost face in front of him, she was anxious to use a proper posture to improve the other party’s impression of herself.
This time it was Qiao Ling’s turn to urgently want to establish communication with Chen Kuang.
However, things didn’t go as she wished, for three days in a row she went downstairs at different times to knock on the door, not once was there a response.
At first, she thought Chen Kuang was deliberately not opening the door, but gradually she realized maybe there was simply no one inside the room.
Qiao Ling held fruit standing at the door, feeling a little lost, thinking to herself.
He couldn’t really have gotten so angry he left home, right?
Or maybe he was annoyed by her to the point of simply never wanting to see her again.
If it continued like this wouldn’t she never be able to find Chen Kuang, helpless, she could only use cousin brother’s connection.
“What do you want Chen Kuang’s phone number for?” Once the call connected, the other party really did ask this sentence.
Even if she disliked how nagging he was, Qiao Ling could only tell him all about her relationship with Chen Kuang, including the cause and effect.
“What!? So before the day I called you to go to the bar he already knew you!!” Qiao Jing was astonished, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier!”
Qiao Ling was still standing at Chen Kuang’s doorway, stomping her foot and arguing with the other party: “I didn’t know he was your love rival ah! If I knew how could I give him the chance to play me!”
“He already finds me annoying!”
Qiao Jing: “……”
Next time don’t use the word ‘play,’ little sister.
“Alright, stop asking, right now I want his phone number, hurry and give it to me.” Qiao Ling thought again, scratching at his door panel asking: “Has he been going to work normally these past few days?”
“Yeah, I only have his WeChat, no phone number.”
Qiao Jing also didn’t hide it, “I was wondering why he’s been acting weird these past few days, running to the bar to sleep. Turns out it was because of your place.”
Qiao Ling was stunned, “…He’s sleeping at the bar?”
Qiao Jing said: “Yeah, for several days in a row, he even volunteered to stay and close the shop. Later I asked and found out, this bastard simply slept directly in the bar.”
“You say how arrogant he is, just doing whatever he wants. Opened a bar, not a hotel!”
“But the manager didn’t say anything, so I could only endure it.”
After complaining, Qiao Jing paused, “But he really does seem to have sleep problems, like he’s sick or something.”
“While working he almost fainted, scared all the customers. After going to the hospital for a check, it was sleep deprivation plus low blood sugar.”
“What!?” Qiao Ling’s heart thudded hard, “He… almost fainted??”
“Yeah, but he’s a big grown man, what could really happen, don’t worry.” He comforted.
Qiao Ling pressed her lips together, unease and guilt surged in her heart, “Then give me his WeChat.”
Qiao Jing hesitated for a moment, “Anyway, you two don’t have much of a big deal between you, how about your brother goes and talks to him instead, don’t bother tearing at each other.”
“He looks so fierce, and you’re bad with words, I’m afraid he’ll bully you.”
Qiao Ling didn’t let him interfere in her own matters. In the end, this call ended without a result. Qiao Jing said he’d push her his WeChat after hanging up, but that was just coaxing her, he never gave it.
Although she didn’t know how the sleeping environment at the bar was, it definitely couldn’t be as comfortable as sleeping in bed at home, probably just making do on the sofa.
Him almost fainting meant he definitely wasn’t sleeping well.
If this keeps up his body would have problems… all her fault.
Qiao Ling couldn’t just sit and wait for death, so she decided after closing shop today to personally go to the bar to find Chen Kuang.
…………
At exactly ten in the evening, Qiao Ling closed shop and came to Epic Bar.
She still remembered how last time she swore she would never set foot here again.
That slap in the face really came this fast.
Qiao Ling glanced at the two sphinx statues guarding the entrance of the bar, clenched her teeth, and pushed open the black and gold door of the bar.
The moment the door panel was pushed open, a lively and bustling atmosphere of human voices roaring rushed toward her.
Qiao Ling swept a glance over, shocked.
It was practically at full capacity, the level of heat was even thicker than when she came last time.
It was already Saturday night, exactly prime drinking time, plus Epic was the most internet-famous bar in Binyang City Center recently.
This whole row of handsome guys and pretty girls sitting at the entrance were all waiting for seats.
It was her first time seeing a bar queueing for seats like a hotpot restaurant.
“Hello, may I ask, just one person?” The waiter quickly came up to greet.
“Ah, yes.” Qiao Ling answered while looking toward the bar counter in the distance. As expected, she saw that figure.
Tonight Chen Kuang was wearing a black shirt inside his bartending apron, sleeves rolled up halfway, muscles on his forearms still as eye-catching when shaking the shaker.
Although his face was still as calm as usual, the tight and rapid rhythm of his movements conveyed how busy tonight was.
Although his face was still as indifferent as usual, the tight and rapid rhythm of his movements conveyed tonight’s busyness.
Beside him, there was also a bartender wearing glasses.
The two people inside the bar counter were busily enjoying themselves, the finished drinks being carried out one by one by the waiters.
The bar counter seats had long been occupied by a whole row of beautiful female customers. The glances they threw toward Chen Kuang while drinking and chatting exposed the purposefulness of their visit.
“Sorry, miss, there are a lot of people today, you might have to wait a little while, but if it’s just one person it might be quicker to get a seat.” The waiter gave her a waiting ticket.
Qiao Ling had come for the sake of Chen Kuang, so she could only sit and wait.
However, she was still thinking too naively. After waiting for half an hour, when it was finally her turn to be seated, the waiter arranged her at a single table a bit far from the bar counter.
Qiao Ling looked at the drink menu, facing the waiter who was smiling and waiting, wanting to say something but stopping.
Yes ah, she was sitting down here, Chen Kuang was busy inside the bar counter the whole time, he wouldn’t come down to deliver drinks.
The two of them simply wouldn’t have any chance to talk.
Even though during this time she had looked toward the bar countless times, that person was so busy he barely even raised his head, simply didn’t know she had come.
Cousin brother just happened not to be in the shop today, she had no connections here, what to do.
Following that, as if a flash of inspiration struck her, she closed the drink menu and said to the waiter: “Uh, I’ve been here before, just go directly tell that bartender wearing a black shirt…”
“Say I want a glass of wine called Picking Faults,” Qiao Ling blinked, easing her shyness: “He’ll know.”
The waiter reacted for a moment, “Let Teacher Chen Kuang make a special cocktail called Picking Faults, right?”
“Alright, I got it, please wait a moment.”
Qiao Ling nodded, her gaze following the waiter drifting toward the bar counter.
The waiter walked into the bar counter. Chen Kuang was busy mixing drinks, tilting his head down to listen to what he said.
Somehow, her heartbeat sped up.
Because… she was anticipating Chen Kuang’s reaction.
Would he ignore it? Or—
In the next moment, after hearing the waiter’s words, Chen Kuang stopped the action in his hand, followed the direction the waiter pointed—looked toward her table.
The gazes of the two people, just like this, across a scene full of hustle and the fragrance of alcohol—
Crashed into each other.
Qiao Ling’s fingertips gripping her hem suddenly spasmed slightly.