Does something like ‘Casual’ really exist in this world?”
You Que didn’t know, but that cup of wine was already placed in front of him. The pale blue liquid shimmered under the light, casting a dark and exquisite glow. The deeper it went, the darker it became, like an ocean deep enough to drown a person.
To be honest, You Que didn’t really want to drink this thing that was suspected to be poisonous. His right hand, with its well-defined knuckles, rested on the black lid of the sieve cup, idly grazing the table. The dice inside clinked against each other, making a crisp sound.
“What if it upsets my stomach? Are you going to pay for it?”
Sanya froze for a moment upon hearing this. He placed his hands on the edge of the table, his silver-gray hair sliding silently from his shoulders, evoking the image of a soft, cold-blooded creature that thrived in the shade. “Your Excellency, this is a special brew I made just for you. Are you really not going to drink it?”
You Que was puzzled. “Special?”
Sanya’s tone held an implied meaning. “Think of it as a token of thanks for your help that day.”
You Que, belatedly realizing that Sanya was referring to the incident where he had intervened during the scam, paused for a moment. It was the first time in his life that he had heard the word “thank you” from someone else’s lips, and it left him momentarily stunned. Even the motion of shaking the sieve cup gradually slowed.
You Que raised his eyes to look at Sanya, his fingertips lightly tapping the sieve cup, and he spoke a low word: “Guess.”
Sanya thought for a moment. “Five sixes?”
He had just watched You Que sitting alone, playing with the dice for a long time, and each time, it was a six that came up.
Upon hearing this, You Que flipped his wrist, lifting the lid. On the table, five dice were neatly arranged, and as expected, all were showing sixes. “Your luck’s not bad,” he remarked.
Sanya smiled slightly. “Your luck is even better, after all, not everyone can roll sixes.”
For You Que, shaking the dice wasn’t difficult; what was difficult was guessing the numbers inside someone else’s sieve cup. He gathered the dice together again and noticed that Sanya was dressed simply. He couldn’t quite understand why someone like him would work in such a chaotic place, so he suddenly asked, “Do you work here?”
Sanya nodded. “Do you think this place is not good?”
You Que spoke honestly. “It’s very messy.”
Gambling addicts, drunks, and perverts all gathered together, making it a den of monsters that devours zergs without spitting out the bones.
Sanya slightly tilted his head, looking unconcerned. “It’s not that bad. After all, it was on my first day here that you helped me.”
You Que’s voice was cold as he spoke, “You don’t actually think all the zergs here are good, do you?”
His tone changed too quickly. Sanya froze for a moment upon hearing this, but before he could react, You Que moved as quickly as lightning, accurately grabbing a “claw” that had been hovering near his pants pocket. He twisted the zerg’s wrist, the force so strong that it made a crisp crack of breaking bones.
“Ow! Ow! It hurts! Let go, let go!”
The one You Que had grabbed was a female zerg passing by from behind. He hadn’t expected this male zerg to be so strong, and no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t break free. He shouted urgently, his voice high-pitched, “Who the hell are you?! Why are you grabbing me? Just because you’re a male zerg, does that make you so impressive?!”
The bar’s music was deafening, and most of the zergs were busy drinking and dancing, but a few were drawn to the noise and looked over. Fei Wen had been on the second floor. Upon noticing the commotion below, he immediately rushed down, bringing a few of his enforcers to push through the crowd. When they arrived, they saw You Que firmly twisting the female zerg’s arm, and he furrowed his brows, asking, “What exactly is going on?!”
No one in the entire Saint Lieux would dare to cause trouble on his turf!
You Que spoke ambiguously, “Boss, I think the security of this bar might need some improvement.”
After speaking, under the gaze of many eyes, You Que reached into the female zerg’s shirt pocket and pulled out two exquisitely crafted wallets. Then, he reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a shiny collection of rings and necklaces, along with a few pills of a mind-altering, addictive drug. These items were tossed onto the bar counter, producing a series of sharp, jingling sounds. There were at least twenty or more of them.
From the crowd of onlookers, someone suddenly shouted in surprise, “Hey! Where did my ring go?!”
As soon as the words were spoken, it immediately stirred up a commotion. The other customers hurriedly looked down to check their belongings, and exclamations of surprise followed one after another:
“Hey! My ring is gone too!”
“My wallet’s missing!”
Sanya lowered his gaze: So, it’s a thief.
Fei Wen’s expression immediately darkened.
The female zerg panicked upon seeing this, cold sweat dripping down his back as he desperately struggled. “You… you… who told you to go through my pockets?! Let go, now!”
You Que didn’t like to meddle in others’ affairs, but after traveling far and wide for so many years, he’d been beaten, cursed at, but never stolen from. Even thieves had their pride. This female zerg had been unlucky enough to pick the wrong target today; he could only blame his poor skills.
”Let go? Fine.”
You Que obeyed and released him. The female zerg, now free, panicked and rushed toward the exit. However, he barely took a few steps before being stopped by the bar’s enforcers. They grabbed him by the collar and slapped him hard several times. “Are you blind?! How dare you steal on our turf! Get over here! Let me show you how we deal with thieves!”
The bar was a gray area; unless absolutely necessary, they would never call the police. The female zerg was dragged into the small back room, and once the door slammed shut, the scene inside was completely cut off. No one knew what happened.
Fei Wen quickly instructed a few bartenders to gather the scattered valuables on the counter, verifying and returning them to the customers who had been robbed. Apologies were given, and their bills were waived. Only then did he turn his attention to You Que.
Fei Wen furrowed his brows, feeling that this male zerg’s identity wasn’t simple. “Your Excellency, may I ask, did you also have something stolen?”
You Que took the wallet from his pants pocket and slapped it directly onto the bar counter. “No, he didn’t have the chance to steal it.”
Fei Wen was momentarily caught off guard. “In any case, thank you for helping catch this thief. Tonight’s drinks are on the house, as an apology from our bar.”
After saying this, he glanced at Sanya, who had somehow made his way behind the bar to prepare drinks. He was a bit puzzled as to when Sanya had gotten there. Just as he was about to speak, Sanya interrupted him first: “Boss, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of this gentleman.”
The implication was clear—leave.
Fei Wen was momentarily stunned, even more confused. He looked at You Que, then at Sanya, and it seemed like he finally understood something. Sensing the situation, he turned around and left, saying, “Alright, I’ll leave it to you then.”
Sanya waited until Fei Wen had gone upstairs before turning back to look at You Que. “In the past few days, many of our customers have lost their belongings. We thought it was just an accident, but it turns out there’s a thief. Thankfully, you caught him.”
You Que opened his wallet, pulling out a fifty-star coin and placing it under the cup as payment for the drink. “I told you, this place is very messy.”
Sanya pushed the coin back. “Your Excellency, this drink is on the house. We don’t charge for it.”
You Que saw that Sanya wouldn’t accept the money, so he had to take it back. The drink was mixed up in a chaotic manner, and if he really paid for it, not only would his conscience hurt, but Sanya’s conscience would hurt too.
Seeing that You Que didn’t drink the alcohol, Sanya pushed the cup toward him. “Aren’t you going to try it?”
You Que lifted his eyes to look at him, silent, his light amber-colored pupils resembling amber, exuding a depth and mystery that seemed to have accumulated over millennia.
Sanya spoke seriously, “If it makes you sick, I’ll compensate you.”
You Que raised his hand to adjust his mask. “Are you sure?”
It was rare for You Que to find a quiet place to drink and chat. If he scared the other zerg away, he would feel a bit regretful, though the female zerg in front of him didn’t seem like the type to be easily frightened.
Sanya: “I’m sure.”
You Que was silent for a moment upon hearing this, then finally raised his hand to remove his mask. His face, which could only be described as ugly, was fully exposed to the air. Not only was it covered in pockmarks, but there was also a swollen scar on his right cheek, which, in the dim light of the bar, added an unsettling touch.
Sanya was stunned.
“Pfft!”
Fei Wen had been sitting upstairs watching the scene unfold. Unexpectedly, when he saw You Que take off his mask, he was so shocked that he spit out his drink. He never would have imagined that this male zerg, who looked so proper, would be so ugly once the mask was removed!
Female zergs from the south were famously fond of beauty, and 99% of them were appearance-conscious. Sanya, on his first attempt to strike up a conversation with a male zerg, had his hopes dashed as soon as the mask came off. How unlucky!
Fei Wen, enjoying the drama, continued to sneak peeks through the railing. He had thought that Sanya would turn around and leave, or throw the drink in the male zerg’s face, but to his surprise, the other just carried on as if nothing had happened, continuing to stand by the bar and chat.
Sanya stared at You Que’s face, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. “What happened to your face?”
You Que resorted to the excuse he had used a hundred times before. “It’s from an injury, an allergic reaction.”
Sanya subconsciously glanced at the drink on the table. Unlike other female zergs who would have been flustered, he simply asked, “If you’re allergic, can you still drink?”
It seemed like he shouldn’t be drinking, after all, male zergs were generally considered valuable, unlike female zergs who fought on the battlefield, their lives as cheap as grass.
However, You Que simply picked up the glass of light blue liquid from the table and drank it all in one go. He didn’t comment on whether it tasted good or not, nor did he show any emotion. He only murmured, “You’re quite bold.”
His throat was a bit hoarse.
Across the crowded and noisy dance floor, Gu Yigu and John had already started looking for You Que, and they were only about ten meters away from the bar.
You Que didn’t want Sanya to know that he was with those two con artists. He took out a star coin and placed it on the bar, then put his mask back on and said, “I have something else to do, I’ll be leaving.”
Sanya picked up the coin and returned it to him. “Your Excellency, I’ve already said, you don’t need to pay for the drink.”
You Que replied, “It’s for your tip.”
After speaking, You Que didn’t look back and left the bar. The surrounding lights were dim, and in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished into the dance floor.
Sanya stared at the coin in his hand for a moment, then reluctantly opened a drawer and placed it in the cash register. At that moment, Fei Wen finally came downstairs from the second floor. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, “Sanya, who was that male zerg just now? Do you know him?”
Sanya told the truth, “I don’t know him.”
He truly didn’t know him; he didn’t even know the name of that male zerg.
Fei Wen’s face twitched. “It’s best if you don’t know him. That male zerg was so ugly, I thought you had taken a liking to him.”
Sanya was studying the cocktail tools on the bar, trying to recreate the drink from earlier. Hearing this, he looked up at Fei Wen, his expression barely concealing a hint of sarcasm. He coldly said, “If beauty only brings lust and plunder, it’s better to remain ugly forever.”
Fei Wen couldn’t help but think of his past. After a moment of silence, he spoke, “The past is behind you. Don’t dwell on it. You killed that male zerg, first losing your military rank, then getting thrown into Blackstone Prison. It really wasn’t worth it.”
”Faeus was right. For the rest of your life, just live as an ordinary female zerg. You’re so beautiful, finding a male zerg to marry here shouldn’t be hard. Those noble lives might not even be as comfortable as ours.”
The southern female zergs are known for having the most beautiful wings in the world, once regarded as a gift from the Zerg God. This has attracted countless covetous eyes. However, their tribe is few in number, and once they lose their wings, they can no longer fly, making them a rare and coveted treasure.
Sanya once served as a General in the Third Army of the Imperial Capital. Although his family had fallen from grace, it didn’t mean he couldn’t carve out a bright future. However, during a mission, he inadvertently offended a powerful male zerg from the Imperial Capital. The male zerg secretly had his wings forcibly removed in a hospital. Afterward, although Sanya killed the male zerg, he was sentenced to death and thrown into Blackstone Prison.
The northern leader, Faeus, once owed Sanya a favor. He promised to set him free and gave him a new identity to live on.
Fei Wen felt that Sanya didn’t need to dwell on the past any longer. His first half of life had already been ruined by that male zerg; did he really want his second half to be shattered because of it?
Hearing this, Sanya slowly withdrew his gaze and continued to study his drink. “I know.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to this small town.
Fei Wen was about to say something when he suddenly noticed Sanya pouring a light brown syrup into the ounce glass. Quick as a flash, he stopped him. “Why are you pouring so much syrup? Just one spoonful is enough!”
Sanya paused, slowly furrowing his brows. “Is this syrup?”
Fei Wen was speechless and a little choked up. “If you don’t know how to make cocktails, you can ask Kevin and the others. This kind of high-end syrup is very expensive. Just a small spoonful is enough.”
Fei Wen spoke, then directly snatched the bottle from his hand and screwed the cap back on.
Sanya had an inexplicable bad feeling. He picked up the glass that You Que had just finished drinking, dipped his fingertip into the residue on the side of the glass, and brought it to his lips. He lightly licked it—
It was sickeningly sweet.
On the other side, You Que and Gu Yigu had already wandered down to the ground floor of the apartment building. The night wind was sharp and cold. He remained unusually silent the entire time, lowering his head to light a cigarette. The small flame flickered briefly, and the pale smoke, before it could fully form, was blown away by the wind.
This cigarette was of poor quality, harsh to inhale, but the advantage was that it was cheap.
Gu Yigu and John had been joking around for a while, but when they reached the bottom of You Que’s building and were about to part ways, it was only then that Gu Yigu suddenly remembered something and said to him: “By the way, You Que, I told my uncle about you needing to retake your ID photo. He’s on duty next Tuesday, so make sure you wear something neat when you go over for the photo.”
You Que nodded, signaling that he understood.
Gu Yigu teased with a playful tone, “I saw you chatting with that pretty bartender earlier. Did you set your sights on that female zerg?”
You Que frowned, shaking his head and flicking the ash off his cigarette to indicate that he hadn’t.
Gu Yigu finally sensed something was off, his gaze turning peculiar as he scrutinized You Que. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
You Que furrowed his brows even more, his voice low as he countered, “What do you want me to say?”
His voice was hoarse and raspy, like a broken gong. You Que, clearly aware of the issue, immediately shut his mouth after speaking.
John, surprised, asked, “You… You Que… How did your voice… become like that?”
You Que: “…”
That drink was way too sweet, too cloying.
If You Que had just taken his time with the drink, sipping slowly, he wouldn’t have ended up choking on that half-cup of syrup, rendering him unable to speak. He was used to spicy liquor and harsh-smelling smoke, but it was the first time he realized how unbearable sweetness could be.
That drink was certainly a flavor unlike anything he had ever tasted in his life…
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