Chapter 67 Two Male Pilots
"Have you finished organizing the beverage purchases for next month? There are also two bartender interviews; please remind me of the deadlines."
"The purchase order is ready and you can review it at any time. As for the bartenders, we've selected two young people with unique styles who aren't bound by traditional flavors, as requested. However, their salary expectations are quite high..."
"No problem, salary is negotiable, as long as the work is done well enough."
As Zhou Qiao came downstairs talking to someone, she immediately spotted the two handsome male pilots sitting at the bar. With a smirk, she handed them the documents in her hand and said, "Sweetie, just put them on my desk later. I'm going to go chat with someone."
The person next to him nodded, took the documents, and turned to leave.
"Hey! Captains, why are you sitting here drinking? Is something on your mind? Come on, tell me."
Zhou Qiao spread her arms and patted the two men's shoulders lightly. Gu Xing was startled, turned around, and saw that it was an acquaintance, so he waved.
"Boss Zhou, I haven't seen you since I came in. You've been busy the whole time. It seems business is booming lately," Gu Xing said with a smile.
There was an empty stool nearby, so Zhou Qiao casually sat down and spun around in the chair. "It's alright. I have to thank you for patronizing this place, otherwise my bar would have gone out of business sooner or later."
"Wow, going out of business? No way! Your bar is the best around here. I'll introduce more of my colleagues to come and have fun. I guarantee Boss Zhou won't go out of business," Gu Xing said.
The "Freedom" bar features a modern and minimalist design, creating a sophisticated feel. The lighting is predominantly warm-toned, with minimal changes between 7 PM and 11 PM, maintaining a cozy atmosphere. However, at midnight, a dazzling rotating ball of light and rhythmic music take center stage, offering a completely different experience.
The bartending style here is closely related to the bartender herself. She prefers to give bartenders more freedom to improvise, enhancing communication with customers and serving them a unique drink. The single bottles are just regular items; the main focus is on the bartender's distinctive skills—these are considered part of the secret menu.
Not to mention the diverse range of dishes, which is a popular spot for many. Many dishes that were originally taken off the menu were brought back due to customer suggestions. They had so many opinions that at least a quarter of the thick suggestion book was about food.
Zhou Qiao once wondered if she had opened a restaurant. She respected her customers' suggestions, and the bartenders and chefs were carefully selected. The singers who performed here included those she had chosen herself, those voted on by customers, and those who actively sought her out for collaborations.
She's only 28 years old, and she runs the bar very well on her own, even giving her investors a good share of the profits. Saying it's going bankrupt is just a lie; she's the kind of person who's going to open branches!
"Thank you so much, Captain Gu! Captain Xiang, please come often too," Zhou Qiao said with a smile. "By the way, Song Ning paid for your bill today. She said..."
Xiang Yun was quite surprised. He didn't expect Zhou Qiao to tell Xu Songning about his visit to the bar, and he was even more surprised that Xu Songning would pay for their meal.
Gu Xing raised his eyebrows and kept making "yo-yo-yo" sounds.
Zhou Qiao paused deliberately for a few seconds, and seeing the curious looks in their eyes, she continued with satisfaction, "She said, Captain Xiang, don't refuse, just treat her to dinner next time. Since you're Song Ning's good friend, I'll give you an extra 20% off, isn't that generous enough?"
"Pfft! This meal is never going to end." Gu Xing laughed and punched Xiang Yun.
Xiang Yun smiled and raised his glass to Zhou Qiao, "Thank you, Boss Zhou. Xu Songning... I'll thank you again in person."
"Then you must remember how kind Song Ning was, Captain Xiang." Zhou Qiao blinked.
She's been very busy these past few days, and before she could even take a break, she was called away again.
Gu Xing had originally asked Xiang Yun to be the driver, but since Xiang Yun had also been drinking, neither of them could drive. They called a designated driver to pick them up, and the others didn't linger. They said goodbye and left.
"Got a cigarette?" Gu Xing leaned casually against Xiang Yun and touched his coat pocket.
It was completely empty.
"I've quit." Xiang Yun slapped his hand away. "If you dare to smoke again, I'll tell on you."
"Damn it! That's not fair of you. I don't dare smoke a single cigarette at home, not even during flights. I finally got the urge, and you didn't even give me a chance." Gu Xing squatted down by the roadside, feeling frustrated.
The designated driver hadn't arrived yet, and the night wind was chilly, carrying a coolness that wasn't present during the day.
Standing under the streetlight, Xiang Yun looked up and saw mosquitoes flying towards the lamplight like moths to a flame, tirelessly and without looking back, even if they would be burned to death.
He stared for a few seconds, then his eyes got tired. He closed them, rubbed the highest point of his nose, and felt a bit like smoking.
A cigarette was offered to Gu Xing, and his eyes lit up instantly!
"Damn, you really did have some in stock!" Gu Xing stood up with a grin, patting his thigh that had gone numb from squatting. "Where's the lighter?"
Xiang Yun took a bite of a cigarette, reached into another pocket, and then stopped.
"No way?!" Gu Xing exclaimed in despair, grabbing Xiang Yun's arm and shaking him. "You can bring cigarettes but not a lighter?! What's the difference between that and taking a dump without toilet paper?"
“Be civilized, or the difference will be too great,” Xiang Yun said slowly, slapping his hand away again. He moved the cigarette between his index and middle fingers, held it gently, and shook it.
"Forget it, I don't really want to smoke anyway. I'll smell like alcohol and cigarettes later, and people will dislike me." Gu Xing flicked his finger, accurately flicking the cigarette into the trash can.
Pilots face immense pressure. While flying, they hold the lives of hundreds of people in their hands, unable to afford a single mistake. Their nerves are constantly on edge. Once on the ground, ordinary forms of entertainment are barely worthwhile for them.
The loud drumbeats in a bar might be too stimulating for the average person, but they can actually help soothe their mood.
Smoking and drinking are also ways to vent emotions. Xiang Yun has always been very self-disciplined and rarely touches cigarettes or alcohol. However, when the pressure becomes too much to bear, he can only succumb to the sword hanging over his head and indulge in it occasionally.
Gu Xing was the complete opposite of him, advocating for living in the moment and doing whatever was fun and energy-consuming, while also taking Xiang Yun, that dull guy, along along.
Releasing stress appropriately is a good thing for them, because it would be truly fatal if they only realized they were in a bad mood after they got to heaven.
The designated driver arrived, and the two got into Gu Xing's car, its pearl white body standing out even in the darkness.
Xiang Yun leaned back in his seat, relaxing his body. Looking at his car's understated paint and extravagant interior, he thought of his other car. "Where's your flashy Ferrari?"
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