Chapter One: The First Encounter

The bell signaling the end of class finally rang. The teacher hadn’t left yet, but the students were already cheering. Amidst the joyful laughter, the girl by the window in the last row was especially noticeable. Her long black hair tumbled carelessly around her shoulders as she rested her head lazily on the desk, eyes closed, utterly at ease.

“Quiet, everyone!” the teacher at the podium called out loudly, trying to calm the students whose hearts were already restless with anticipation. Yet students are students; no matter how mischievous, they still feared the authority of their teacher. Those who quieted down sat obediently in their seats, though the room still hummed with whispered conversations. None of it seemed to disturb the girl at the back, who remained sprawled by the window as if in her own world.

“Tonight, everyone must attend evening study. I’ll be taking attendance personally,” the male teacher announced, delivering the news that made the students want to collapse in despair. No sooner had he finished than someone protested, “Teacher, we’re in our senior year. Can’t you give us a break? Evening study every day is driving us crazy. Don’t they say we need to balance work and rest?” The speaker was Wang Quan, the class troublemaker.

Though he had a reputation for mischief, Wang Quan was well-known around school—for better or worse. On the bright side: he stood at six feet tall, was very handsome, and his slanted bangs gave his sunny looks a hint of playful rebellion. Naturally, basketball was his way of showing off. On the downside: he didn’t do well in his studies and got into fights, but aside from those, there wasn’t much else to fault him for.

“You know you’re a senior? With your grades always at the bottom, you still have the nerve to talk to me about balancing work and rest? Aren’t you embarrassed?” the young, clean-shaven teacher retorted. He was considered quite handsome among the staff. Thankfully, he was clean-shaven, or else his face would surely have been bristling with anger—a comical sight to imagine.

Chastened, Wang Quan sat down immediately, not for any reason but to avoid having his mother called to school again. Seeing him silenced and awkward, the class burst into laughter, always eager for amusement at someone else’s expense.

“Class dismissed,” the teacher said, and strode out of the classroom in a huff.

Wang Quan walked to the back row and said to the girl, “Zhou Xiaoqi, I’m going to play basketball. Come cheer for me, will you?” The girl made no response, lying quietly on the desk as if she hadn’t heard him.

“Why are you so hung up on Zhou Xiaoqi, the ice queen, when there are so many pretty girls around? A man shouldn’t tie himself to just one tree. Look at all the girls who like you,” another boy teased, slinging an arm around Wang Quan’s shoulder and glancing at the surrounding girls, as if making sure Zhou Xiaoqi heard.

“Get lost, go hang out somewhere else,” Wang Quan shrugged off the arm and walked straight out of the classroom.

The students left in groups. Only then did the girl slowly open her eyes, squinting as if unaccustomed to the sunlight, and raised a hand to shield her face.

Night fell.

When most people hear the word “bar,” they imagine a place for young people. But “Future” was not a typical bar. Most of its patrons came alone, or to discuss business. It was unusually quiet, save for the melodious piano music—this tranquillity was exactly why Zhou Xiaoqi felt drawn to it.

“Brother Lingnan, make me a cocktail,” Zhou Xiaoqi said casually, settling at the bar.

“Xiaoqi, what brings you here? Don’t you have class?” The owner, Lingnan, was a man with stories of his own (which will be shared later). He and Zhou Xiaoqi were as close as siblings, often sharing the little details of life. Because of that, he looked after her with extra care.

“No reason. I just have class again tonight, so I snuck out. School has always felt neither here nor there for me—just something to make my family look good in front of relatives and friends,” Zhou Xiaoqi replied, her tone tinged with sadness but also a kind of detached indifference, as though the matter hardly concerned her.

“Here’s your cocktail. Don’t drink too much, though. Even if it’s not that strong, you’re still about to take the college entrance exam. Giving you a drink is already a crime,” Lingnan joked.

“Okay,” Zhou Xiaoqi replied, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Lingnan gazed at the girl before him, momentarily lost in thought. She was beautiful, having just turned eighteen—a rosebud about to bloom, with an air of aloofness that made her seem untouchable, though she was warm with him. Her long, straight black hair fell freely over her shoulders; her large, expressive eyes seemed to speak; she stood about five-foot-six, slender as if a breeze could blow her away. Lingnan couldn’t help but feel protective of her.

Zhou Xiaoqi took her cocktail and found an empty booth, reclining with half-closed eyes, utterly relaxed. The music brought back many memories. Lacking a sense of security since childhood, she often retreated to her own world.

Later, Zhou Xiaoqi would remember: tonight was the first time she met him. October 13, 2016. A day she thought would pass unnoticed, but which changed her life forever.

“Xiaoqi, this is my friend. All the other booths are full—would you mind sharing?” Lingnan’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

She opened her eyes and saw a man standing before her. He was about six feet tall, with a clean, close-cropped haircut, dressed in a suit. Many people wore suits here, but he made his deep blue one look particularly striking. He exuded the calm assurance of a mature man, giving an immediate sense of safety.

“Alright,” Zhou Xiaoqi replied.

“Cui Hao, you’ll sit with Xiaoqi for now. I’m a bit busy tonight, so I won’t be able to keep you company. If you need anything, just call a waiter. I’ll join you when I’m free,” Lingnan said quickly, then hurried off.

Cui Hao sat down without saying a word, making Zhou Xiaoqi—so accustomed to solitude—feel oddly uncomfortable.

“Um, maybe you could tell Lingnan I had something to do and left?” she said, getting up to go.

“If you leave like this, Lingnan will think I bullied you. He’ll come after me for sure,” Cui Hao replied, eyeing her with a hint of mischief. The girl in front of him wore a sweatshirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, looking utterly lost and out of her depth—he couldn’t resist teasing her.

His deep voice was the first she’d heard from him since he sat down. For some reason, her cheeks flushed red. Standing there, Zhou Xiaoqi felt awkward—neither able to sit nor leave.

Sensing her discomfort, Cui Hao said, “Sit down. When there’s a free booth, I’ll ask Lingnan to switch me.”

She sat, her face still burning. Grabbing the glass on the table, she downed the drink in one go. She drank so fast that the alcohol trickled from the corner of her mouth down her neck.

Cui Hao picked up a napkin and handed it to her, making her want to disappear from embarrassment. And yet, that wasn’t the worst of it.

“That drink was mine,” Cui Hao said with a wicked smile, flustering Zhou Xiaoqi even more.

She didn’t know what was wrong with her tonight—she just wasn’t herself. To cover her embarrassment, she said, “Thank you for the napkin. I’ll have Lingnan make you another cocktail.”

Cui Hao said nothing more. He picked up her empty glass, drank the last of what was left, and raised it slightly toward her, as if to say, “Now we’re even.”