Part 3
“Um… this one… [Love at First Sight] is perfect for this gentleman. If it’s his first time drinking, we can swap out the gin.”
“Thank you, but gin is fine. Don’t swap it. I’ll take that one.” Chu Yang agreed immediately. He pulled up his payment code and turned to Zhou Ningyu. “Should we get a booth? Or a private room?”
This “Love at First Sight” was pink on top and blue on the bottom. The combination was fresh and beautiful, giving off the vibe of a first love.
Zhou Ningyu was amused by his question. “You even know about booths? You’ve been to a bar before?”
“Not yet. I saw it on the menu.”
Chu Yang: “Okay.”
After placing the order, the waiter immediately grabbed a walkie-talkie and muttered something toward the back before returning to the sink. “I’ve called the mixologist. He’ll be right out. Please wait a moment.”
Zhou Ningyu acknowledged him and leaned toward Chu Yang. “So? You really haven’t been before?”
Chu Yang also leaned in and whispered, “I haven’t. I saw it on the menu.”
“Oh… why so quiet? Scared of being overheard?” Zhou Ningyu didn’t think Chu Yang was the type to be embarrassed about being a first-timer. He wasn’t like other boys who were obsessed with “saving face.”
“Yeah. Scared of being targeted,” Chu Yang said very seriously.
“Hahaha, don’t worry. You can trust my tolerance for alcohol. Once we’ve had enough, I’ll have my assistant pick us up.”
Chu Yang: “…”
Zhou Ningyu asked the waiter again, “Do you have host services here?”
“We do…”
Tsk. He was glancing at Chu Yang again.
Zhou Ningyu looked at Chu Yang. “What do you think?”
Chu Yangâs finger twitched. “Are… are you and your assistant in a relationship?”
Zhou Ningyuâs expression froze for a second. She had asked “what do you think” meaning did he want to hire a host, and she never expected him to pivot to that.
However, she didn’t hide anything and teased back, “We aren’t in a relationship. Why? Did you really get jealous when he served me food?”
“I didn’t.” Chu Yang let out a genuine sigh of relief. As long as they weren’t dating, it was fine. From ordering male models yesterday to wanting a host today, Chu Yang had been a bit worried they would fight or have a falling out. It was a good thing the assistant hadn’t come along.
Zhou Ningyu looked at him meaningfully. “He’s more of a… bed partner.”
Chu Yang: “???”
“Wow, which beauty wants a drink from me? To make up for my tardiness, Iâll give you a complimentary drinkâ” A blond mixologist emerged from the back, talking to himself. He froze mid-sentence when he saw Chu Yangâs face. “No! Two complimentary drinks!”
He stared at Chu Yang for several seconds before suddenly reaching out and taking Chu Yangâs hand. “Beautiful, tonightâs drinks are on me.”
He leaned in as if to kiss the handâ
Chu Yang instantly pulled his hand back. Even if the guy was a foreigner, it was very clear which way he swung.
He pressed his lips together, his dark lashes like ink, yet they couldn’t hide the spark in his eyes. His gaze turned sharp. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I’ll pay for my own.”
“I insist, I insist.” The mixologist spoke with a bit of an accent. He unbuttoned his top shirt button and brought out glasses and ice. “Don’t blink. These two are my specialties!”
Zhou Ningyu gave Chu Yang a look.
Chu Yang: “…I’m looking forward to it.”
It was a very flashy display of skill, especially when the mixologist was shaking the shaker. He did it for a long time, and through his shirt, one could see the sturdy, explosive muscles of his arms.
The final results were indeed impressive. One was fiery and suited Zhou Ningyu perfectly; Chu Yangâs was pink and delicate, with a “first love” feel. The mixologist even garnished the glass with two small pink flowers.
Zhou Ningyu chatted with the mixologist and the waiter for a bit. As they talked, they kept steering the conversation toward Chu Yang. She smiled helplessly and looked at Chu Yang, only to find him lost in thought. His slender finger was traced against the side of the glass, catching droplets of condensation.
Quietly doing nothing, he seemed softer, yet he still maintained a sense of distanceâlike the moon reflected in a river, clear and cold.
She, like Chu Yuanzhou, was quite sensitive to Chu Yangâs emotions. She felt he had been acting a bit strange the past couple of days…
Zhou Ningyu: “What’s wrong? Is it boring?”
“It’s okay.” Chu Yang took a sip of his drink.
The mixologist took the opportunity to speak up. “Have you two eaten? Our sea urchin rice and eel rice are excellent.”
“Thank you, but we’ve already eaten.” Zhou Ningyu picked up her drink and signaled to Chu Yang. “Want to go outside for some fresh air?”
Chu Yang: “Okay.”
It wasn’t fully dark yet. The two sat at an outdoor table. There was a breeze, which felt quite pleasant.
Zhou Ningyu looked at him. “Do you have something on your mind?”
Chu Yang hesitated. “…A bit. Iâm having an issue with one of my roommates. Iâm wondering if I should move out.”
Or maybe just stay at home; winter break was coming up anyway.
Zhou Ningyu: “If it’s not your fault, you shouldn’t have to move. Or do you just dislike all of them?”
Chu Yang: “…Not really. I only dislike one of them.”
Zhou Ningyu: “Did this just happen? He didn’t… confess to you, did he?”
Chu Yang paused, then gave an “Mmh.”
“Confession” was a polite way to put it. What Lin Zhiheng did was stalking and a forced kiss. Just thinking about it made him angry.
But he certainly wasn’t going to tell anyone the details.
Zhou Ningyu: “Actually… with your looks and personality, it’s normal for people to like you. As long as he doesn’t do anything out of line, you can just ignore him.”
“Realistically, you don’t spend that much time in the dorm anyway. Just avoid him.”
Chu Yang remained expressionless, his long lashes lowered. His long legs were spread apart in a casual posture. Inside, several staff members kept glancing over, even coming out to wipe the tables and chairs multiple times.
Zhou Ningyu was right; it was impossible not to like someone like Chu Yang. His indifferent, nonchalant attitude was exactly what made people itch with desireâperverts would naturally target him…
So Zhou Ningyu added, “If he does anything you find unacceptable, tell the school or your brother immediately. You can’t be too careful.”
“I’ll order a few small hidden cameras online right now. You can put them on your desk and bedâdon’t let anyone know.”
Chu Yang didn’t expect those few words would lead Zhou Ningyu to think so far ahead, but he didn’t refuse.
Whether it was because it was getting later or because Chu Yang was sitting outside attracting people, the crowd gradually grew until all the outdoor seats were taken.
“Alright, let’s go back inside. Go check out the dance floor; it’s your first time, go see what itâs like.”
“Okay.”
The two walked back in together. To Chu Yangâs surprise, he ran into Pei Xilin. This was the first time they had met outside of a missionâa complete coincidence.
Translator’s Note:
Glossary of Terms:
- Dog (ç – GÇu): In this context, it’s a biting insult implying someone is a mindless lackey or someone who has lost their dignity to serve another.
- Love at First Sight (ä¸čŚéć – YÄŤjiĂ nzhĹngqĂng): A common idiom. The cocktail name is a direct play on this.
- Bed Partner (ĺşäź´ – ChuĂĄngbĂ n): A casual sexual partner or “friends with benefits.” Zhou Ningyu is quite modern and independent!
- Straight Man (ç´çˇ – ZhĂnĂĄn): Used here to describe Chu Yang’s perceived sexual orientation, often contrasted with the “Heartthrob” (čŹäşşčżˇ) trope.
Thanks for reading! See you in the next chapter.
Recommended Reads
![Enemies on a Narrow Road [Esports]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/enemies-on-a-narrow-road-214x300.jpg)
