The rain is overcast and there is no sunshine, and I am sad and crying. The breeze brings wine and joy.
"Your orders."
Xue Jiuyue did not hesitate when it came to Mr. Qiu's matter.
"You know, Qiu Nian likes Yi Yi. My wife and I also like Yi Yi very much and hope that they can be together. If Yi Yi doesn't dislike Qiu Nian, then try to bring them together. Of course, the premise is that you have to go with the flow. If Yi Yi doesn't like Qiu Nian, we can't force her no matter what."
"Don't worry, Xiao Nian is my brother, I will do my best! I feel that Yi Yi also has feelings for Qiu Nian, I will try my best to create opportunities for them, but the specific process will be left to them until they have achieved their goals."
Xue Jiuyue had the confidence to say this. She had tried to test the waters several times before by saying that she was introducing a boyfriend to Lin Yiyi, but she was always met with a cold stare.
"I feel relieved when you say that! I'm old now, and I don't have many things to think about. Holding a grandchild is one of them, hahahaha..."
Unlike the relaxed Mr. Qiu who could laugh heartily, Ke Yike was still struggling with his bread when he had some free time. Previously, as Zhou Ying had said, he had temporarily put it aside, and new inspiration had indeed emerged, but it only brought him one step closer to success.
Ke Yike's frown attracted Zhou Ying's concern, "Are you still thinking about it?"
"There's nothing I can do. It's so uncomfortable being stuck there."
"Didn't I advise you to let it go for now?"
"I released it, but it still didn't achieve the expected effect!" Ke Yike was depressed, his face darker than the sky.
"That means you haven't relaxed enough! How about this, tell me all your thoughts. I may not understand them, so just think of them as archives. Then, completely stop thinking about them. Maybe go out and have some fun! Once you've completely rested, come back and look at what you can't remember. If there's anything you can't remember, I'll remind you. It will definitely have unexpected results!"
Zhou Ying's voice, like toffee, was as soft as the drizzle outside the window, curing all of Ke Yike's difficult and complicated illnesses.
"Okay, Ying'er, I want to..."
Ke Yike had an idea in mind for Zhou Ying, but as soon as one thought faded, another arose. Especially for Ke Yike, everything he did was guided by the Moon. Where could he go to relax? Would Sister Yue be there?
The drizzle is silent, like a gentle sob, yet it drips with the most painful force upon the trembling soul. The broken leaves and the stagnant waters, the entire world unable to withstand the constant lashing, whispers a chilling chorus of unending grief.
Mei continued to speak calmly, but her tears were like the drizzle outside the window, silent and endless.
Taking advantage of the gap, Li Jingzi handed over another tissue and asked softly, "Sister Mei, have you thought it through? Are you really planning to divorce?"
"At that time, I really gave up!"
"So, you regret it now?"
Thinking temporarily held back her tears, "It's not that I regret it. You know me. I don't need that kind of love that's given away! If he really doesn't love me anymore, I'll give him freedom!"
"You still think he doesn't love you now?"
"If he still loves me as you just said, then I'm still a little unwilling to accept it. I can't bear to lose to others!"
Regardless, Li Jingzi managed to pull Mei Rugu out of her despair over love, but this was only the beginning. "Why don't you understand? You didn't lose to others, you lost to yourself!"
"How come he didn't lose to anyone else? He even drafted a 'Promise' for Xiaoyue to pursue her openly!"
"Is that so? What's the agreement?"
Li Jingzi pondered for a little longer than Mei Rugu's story before she slowly spoke: "Actually, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing!"
"Isn't that a bad thing? Lan, I'm already in the cooling-off period after my divorce. From now on, it's up to you to help me adjust my mindset and face the life of being single."
"Until now, I still stick to my judgment. Mr. Qian just has nowhere to put his love. I have told you this before. Since you have not made any changes, or have not had time to make changes, it may not be a bad thing for Xiaoyue to absorb Mr. Qian's love now! For example, Mr. Qian's feelings are the Yellow River, and you are the sea, and your marriage is the river channel! Originally, Mr. Qian's feelings were running along the river channel to the sea, but now the river channel is blocked, and there is a new river channel next to it, so the river water will of course change its flow. Fortunately, Xiaoyue looks like a new river channel, but it is actually a dead end. Mr. Qian's river water has no response there, so in the end it will most likely return to the previous river channel. But what I am worried about is that, as of now, Xiaoyue will not give Mr. Qian a chance at all, and she will definitely not agree to Mr. Qian's so-called agreement!" Li Jingzi explained again without getting tired of it.
"Is Xiaoyue really as reliable as you say?"
"Sister Mei, besides believing it, do you have any other options? Or maybe you can go back and apologize to Mr. Qian yourself?"
"Then I would rather die!" Mei Rugu said hatefully.
Her attitude puzzled Li Jingzi. "Sister Mei, besides the underlying reasons behind your current situation with Mr. Qian, you two lack communication. I've been trying to persuade you to put aside your so-called dignity and pride and have a proper talk with him."
"Lan, after all this time, do you think I'm a person who cares about face?"
"It is precisely because you are not that I am confused."
Mei Rugu bit her lip lightly, and after a moment's pause, she said softly, "I'm not afraid of the whole world looking down on me, I'm just afraid of him looking down on me."
"So, you want to compete with Mr. Qian?"
"No!" Mei Rugu denied it first, then explained, "My mother taught me since I was little that if something comes too easily, I won't cherish it enough. I love Lao Qian, so I've been deliberately keeping my distance and staying clear-headed. Besides, I love him, and I don't want to become a vassal in love."
"You just don't have confidence. How can true love mean looking down on others? If you're confident enough, why would you deliberately keep your distance?"
Mei Rugu couldn't deny it, so she changed the question, "It's too late to say anything now. The key is what should I do?"
"wait!"
"wait?"
"Yes, wait! Wait for time to settle all the unpleasantness between you in the past few years, wait for time to shake up your former romance again, wait for money to release the so-called love and then look back to find the true meaning of life."
Mei Rugu still had some objections to Li Jingzi's statement. "Am I just going to be so passive? Like a commodity waiting to be picked or discarded?"
Li Jingzi didn't answer Mei Rugu's question, but insisted on her own opinion: "No matter what you think, since you are unwilling to follow my advice, the best way right now is not to do it. Just wait! Wait until everything is back on track, or until you think it through, let go of this relationship, and start a new life! Anyway, haven't you already prepared for this worst-case scenario?"
Unlike before, when Li Jingzi always brought Mei Rugu a good mood, whether long or short, this time, despite all her efforts, Li Jingzi could only give Mei Rugu a general direction. The rain continued to fall, without stopping...
The continuous rain drops silently through a long night, leaving behind a clear morning to awaken the hope in everyone's heart.
Ke Yike spent the entire morning convincing Zhou Ying and Lin Yiyi, and even found time to contact Qiu Nian. By the time Xue Jiuyue showed up, he was fully prepared.
"Ahem, Sister Yue, your coffee and croissant!"
"Thanks."
Seeing that Ke Yike didn't leave, Xue Jiuyue asked again, "What's wrong?"
"Sister Yue, didn't I mix a glass of wine for you that day?"
"Um, you want a bonus? Is it time for payday today?"
"No, no, there's a cocktail competition tonight for entertainment. I've signed up. Do you want to go with us? Ying'er, Lin'er, and Qiu Nian will all go."
"Oh? Where is it? Are there many people?" Xue Jiuyue was a little hesitant.
"It's a bar that's a music mecca for the entire Southeast China region. Many singers come here because of its reputation. There are performances every day and competitions every month. There's also a bartending competition every month. Last month I was third place. Although there are a lot of people, I can reserve a booth so I don't get squeezed or disturbed."
"Well, I'll support you tonight!"
After dinner, Xue Jiuyue and his group set off.
The distance was not far, only about 10 minutes' drive. Because they would be drinking in the evening, Xue Jiuyue booked a business class car for everyone to go together, and agreed to call to pick them up in the evening.
The bar's name is quite long—"I'm Going Fun with the Breeze!" Arriving early, there weren't many customers yet, so Xue Jiuyue took the opportunity to take a look around. The bar is quite large, approximately five to six thousand square meters. In the center is the main stage, surrounded by a dance floor, and beyond that are scattered tables and booths. A dazzling array of drinks fills the surroundings or is displayed on shelves in the center, serving as partitions. The psychedelic lights shimmer and reflect the colorful liquor in bottles of various shapes, creating a dazzling effect. Even without a single drop of alcohol in hand, I'm already a bit tipsy.
The bar is self-service, with a per-person fee. The ingeniously displayed drinks are both decorative and available for guests to enjoy. Of course, some expensive, premium bottles are only available in limited quantities at the bar. To prevent overdrinking, guests can leave by following a two-meter-long, ten-centimeter-wide painted strip at the entrance without stepping outside the markings. Half of their admission price will be refunded.
As Ke Yike described, this bar is truly a Southeast Asian music mecca. It also offers live streaming. Every night, the ranking of singers and bands in monthly competitions is determined by online and offline audience voting. Both online and offline audiences can tip their favorite singers or bands, using drinks sold in the bar. Tips also count toward votes at a certain rate. If a tipped singer wins, a portion of the winnings, proportional to the tip amount, is returned to the guest's account and can be used to offset ticket purchases or purchase drinks.
Every summer, the bar organizes an annual competition for top performers from the monthly competition. This annual competition not only features competition but also performances by special guests and singers. It has now become a renowned music festival in Xialin City—the "Sahuaner Music Festival," a time for young people and music lovers to have fun and revel.
The bartending competition Ke Yike was entering was also held monthly. Unlike music competitions, the judges were merely spectators. The top three drinks from each competition became merchandise for sale within the bar. Bartenders received a share of the sales revenue based on their placing, with the top-place winner receiving half, and the proceeds were settled monthly in cash.
Each month's new award-winning drinks, along with previous ones, form the bar's menu. These drinks can be used as additional purchases or as tips for singers. The prices of the drinks on the menu are agreed upon by the bar and the bartenders based on cost and a fixed gross profit margin. A last-place elimination system ensures only eighteen drinks remain on the menu. It's said that the current sales champion emerged from a bartending competition a year ago, and the bartender's monthly dividends alone cover their daily expenses. Ke Yike won third place last month, and the dividends are a nice bonus, so Xue Jiuyue and the others had to show up today to show their support.
The competition begins at 9 PM. An hour beforehand, each participating bartender is invited backstage to prepare a single drink for each customer to sample. To ensure fairness, each bartender draws a number backstage, which is then used to name their creation. After tasting, customers can vote for their favorite creation using the number on their mobile phones. To ensure customer participation, the restaurant will offer additional discounts on tickets based on customer participation.
While the bartenders were still mixing drinks, a singer began to warm up the crowd. The band's lead singer tonight was a pretty girl who bore a resemblance to Lin Yiyi. Her voice was clean and ethereal. One of their original songs, "Immortal," was captivating both in tune and lyrics.
“There is a mountain in front of me
A cloud appeared in the mountains
Sounded vaguely
There are gods above the white clouds
Gods and fairies
My lost childhood
There is a mountain in front of me
A cloud appeared in the mountains
As if remembering
There are gods above the white clouds
Gods and fairies
Suddenly sighing over these years
Who wrinkles my blue sky?
Who covered my clear eyes
Who breaks the flying self
Who broke the string of my dream
Can't recognize the face in the mirror
I can't remember the vows I made
Quietly become the most hated self
Do you have the courage to move forward in the dark?
Gods and fairies
I kneel before you
Can you tell me
The distant horizon
Is there still a nirvana after the fire?
There is a mountain in front of me
A cloud appeared in the mountains
I still remember
There are gods above the white clouds
"Gods and fairies"
The lyrics fit her voice characteristics very well, unfolding a childhood picture hidden deep in everyone's heart. In sharp contrast with the powerful music, it tells the vicissitudes and loss of reality, triggering memories and reflections that bombard the listeners' tear glands.
Xue Jiuyue's emotions were similarly resonating with the music, moving her to tears when the notes were gentle, and waving her hands when they reached their peaks. She sat in a booth facing the stage, flanked by Zhou Ying and Lin Yiyi. While the crowds weren't as intense as she'd imagined, she felt the same piercing music and the liberating passion. Xue Jiuyue felt a newfound sense of freedom, breaking free from the constraints of the past and soaring unfettered until the drinks for the competition were served.
There are a total of five bartenders participating in the competition tonight. Although Ke Yike has made a lot of improvements compared to before, Xue Jiuyue immediately recognized his work in terms of color and taste.
"It's number 4."
"Sister, are you sure?"
"Sure!"
"Wow, work No. 4 is really good. Look at its colorful and sparkling colors. It is sweet and fragrant when you take a sip, and the right amount of sourness sets the mood. The aroma of wine, flowers and fruits blend perfectly, and the aftertaste is long and the fragrance lasts for a long time. It's really good. I'll choose No. 4." Qiu Nian praised loudly and winked at Xue Jiuyue and the others.
"Yeah, it's true that work No. 4 is more worthy of appreciation and is better." Xue Jiuyue was the first to understand Qiu Nian's intention.
"Yes, I chose number 4..."
Everyone understood each other tacitly and raised their voices together.
Soon, the results were announced, and Ke Yike, living up to everyone's expectations, took first place! There was a segment where bartenders took the stage to receive their awards, and Ke Yike took the stage. Wearing a simple black long-sleeved shirt, dark blue jeans, and some barely-worn white sneakers, Ke Yike looked incredibly cool. His appearance drew applause and cheers. He raised his slightly delicate face slightly, pressing his textured lips with his right index finger. His narrow, slender eyes evoked a touch of melancholy beneath his dashing handsomeness, as alluring and intoxicating as the drinks he mixed.
"Ahem..." Taking advantage of the silence brought by clearing his cough, Ke Yike began his acceptance speech. "Thank you to all the friends here tonight for recognizing my work. Thank you everyone! Special thanks to Sister Yue for coming with me." He struck a basketball pose again, crossed the crowd on the stage and pointed in Xue Jiuyue's direction. Amid Xue Jiuyue's panic, he slowly added, "Ying'er, Lin'er, and Xiaonian, you gave me inspiration! Thank you—my family! This glass of wine is called love, sweet as honey and light as water, intoxicating without even realizing it! I hope everyone can enjoy "love", enjoy tonight, let's all get excited together!"
The powerful music was stirred up by Ke Yike's passionate speech, and the crowd began to boil. Xue Jiuyue couldn't resist the temptation, and with the blessing of the "left and right protectors", she stood up and swayed with everyone.
Many people come to "Let the Breeze Have Fun": some love music, some come to unwind, some hope for a romantic encounter, and some simply come for a drink. They drink to their heart's content, drink endlessly, drink until they're intoxicated, drink to dispel their sorrows... They say "drinking to drown your sorrows only makes them worse," but when Mei Rugu is truly in such a state, is there any other solution besides drinking?
Amidst the clamor, Mei Rugu's table was strikingly quiet. Xue Jiuyue caught a glimpse of this abrupt corner through a forest of arms and waists.
"she?"
Xue Jiuyue kept her distance from Mei Rugu! It's not that she hated her, but after all, she had hurt herself before, so she couldn't say she had any good feelings towards her.
Driven by curiosity, Xue Jiuyue took a few more glances. Mei Rugu propped up her face with one hand, trying to keep herself from falling flat on the table. Her short hair was disheveled, a few strands still clinging to her face. Her unfocused, dazed eyes made Xue Jiuyue feel like she was just a shell, like the empty cups before her.
"Sister Yue, thank you very much for coming to support us today! You are my lucky star! I toast to you!" Ke Yike, who had returned from the stage, picked up a glass of "love" and toasted Xue Jiuyue.
"It's everyone's credit. Let's drink together! Cheers!" Xue Jiuyue also raised the glass.
"Cheers!"
…
Happy as always, Xue Jiuyue couldn't help but glance in Mei Rugu's direction. Mei Rugu was still as preoccupied with the wine glass in front of her, but now there were several more men around her, ready to make advances on her. One of them had already reached out to touch her face and smoothed her hair. But Mei Rugu ignored him, still reaching for the wine glass that was held far away.
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