Sanya propped himself up with one hand and vaulted over the railing, leaping directly from the second floor. He landed without making a sound, his movements swift and agile, reminding You Que, seated not far away, of a feline predator.
Sanya gestured for the round-faced bartender to attend to other guests and took over the station himself. He approached You Que and began mixing a drink, his tall, slender figure enveloped in the bar’s dim and ambiguous lighting. Only the graceful movements of his wrists were visible, seemingly more practiced than before. “Your Excellency,” he said, his tone casual yet tinged with familiarity, “I thought you wouldn’t come tonight.”
You Que fixed his gaze on Sanya’s movements, noticing the antiseptic bandage on his hand. “So, is this why you’ve been hiding upstairs?”
Because he didn’t come, you decided to stay upstairs?
Sanya’s movements paused at those words, his silver eyes gleaming as they fixed steadily on You Que. “Please don’t say it like that,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “As if your absence would keep me upstairs. I was merely on a break.”
You Que suddenly realized that his earlier remark sounded almost flirtatious. Without betraying any reaction, he smoothly shifted the topic. “So, is your break over now?”
Sanya replied, “Just ended.”
As they spoke, Sanya had already finished preparing a glass of light blue, high-proof alcohol. He placed the drink gently in front of You Que, subtly sliding aside the untouched iced tea. “Your Excellency, give it a try,” he said.
You Que didn’t move.
Sanya chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, there’s no syrup in it this time.”
It was obvious that Sanya had been practicing—this drink was clearly stronger than the last one. However, the ice cubes inside had been shaken into shards, and the original gradient layering had turned murky. Strictly speaking, it was still a failed attempt.
You Que glanced around the area and, seeing that no one nearby was paying attention, gestured toward the inside of the bar. “Can I go in and take a look?”
Sanya raised an eyebrow slightly. “You want to come in?”
Though he didn’t know why, he still stepped aside to make some room. “Of course.”
Just as he was about to open the counter door, You Que had already vaulted in with practiced ease. Now standing shoulder to shoulder with Sanya in the cramped space behind the bar, he glanced at the mess of bottles scattered across the countertop. “What did you use to make that drink just now?”
Sanya wondered to himself, Does You Que think I’m trying to poison him? But he still pointed at a few bottles on the table. “These ones.”
You Que picked them up one by one, examining each bottle, quickly deducing what Sanya had been trying to make. Taking out a stemmed glass, he added a layer of crushed ice and began recreating Sanya’s drink. His movements were precise, so much so that he barely needed a jigger. There were no flashy gestures while he shook the drink, but his efficiency and elegance were captivating.
The mint-blue liquid flowed steadily into the glass, each layer darker than the last. Under the glow of the lights, it formed a stunning gradient, almost mesmerizing in its beauty.
You Que sliced a piece of lemon and perched it delicately on the rim of the glass. Holding the drink with his slender fingers, he extended it toward Sanya. “Try it.”
“…”
Sanya couldn’t shake the feeling that You Que was showing off something. He took the glass slowly, his fingers lingering on the crisp, cool color of the drink, clearly appreciating it. “It seems like you came in here to compete with me for the job,” he said, half in jest.
It was meant to be a playful remark, but to his surprise, You Que actually glanced at him and responded seriously, “Do you hire bartenders here?”
“…”
Sanya froze for a moment at the question. “What did you say?”
You Que realized his question might have sounded a bit strange, but when it came to survival, pride wasn’t much of a concern. He awkwardly cleared his throat, lowering his voice as he asked again, “Do you hire bartenders here?”
Given that Sanya’s skills were so lacking and he could still work as a bartender, there was no reason You Que couldn’t do the same, right?
It took a moment, but Sanya finally understood. “You’re looking for a job?”
In Saint Lieux, this was an extremely rare sight. Male zergs would always rack their brains trying to marry beautiful, wealthy females who could support them, never thinking about wasting their energy on finding a job. Only those in dire financial situations would take on work, and such examples were few and far between.
Sanya tapped the rim of his glass lightly, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. “Why don’t you find a female zerg as a partner? That way, you wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of working so hard.”
You Que raised his hand to adjust his cufflinks, pretending not to notice the teasing in Sanya’s words. “I don’t mind, but as you saw at the restaurant earlier, they all ran away from me.”
As he spoke, an idea suddenly came to him. “How about I work as a security guard here? It might actually work out well.”
With that ugly face of his, You Que had scared off quite a few females. If he worked as a security guard in the bar, the effect might be similar to that of a door god—but the real worry was that he might scare off the customers too.
Sanya didn’t respond. He took a sip of his drink. At first, it tasted quite mild, but after a few seconds, a sharp, lingering spiciness rose from his throat, leaving only the refreshing coolness of mint and a hint of sweetness behind. It was a hundred times stronger than the drink he had made.
Sanya gently swirled his glass, as if deep in thought. After a moment, he looked up at You Que. “Do you really need this job that much?”
In truth, You Que had only mentioned it casually and hadn’t really expected to find work at the bar. He opened the cabinet door and stepped back outside the bar area, his uncertainty reflecting in his own words. “Maybe.”
Does a thief really need to go out and work?
But if they had a job, could they still be called a thief?
You Que’s money had already run out, and without another source of income, he would have to resort to stealing again. Otherwise, if he couldn’t pay his rent, he would be kicked out and would truly become a beggar.
A thief was always somewhat “more respectable” than a beggar…
Seeing this, Sanya fell silent for a moment, as if recalling something. He placed his glass on the bar and said, “Please wait a moment, Your Excellency.”
With that, he turned and ascended to the second floor.
Fei Wen and Kevin had been sitting on the sofa, watching the scene below with barely concealed curiosity. Unexpectedly, they saw Sanya heading upstairs, and one of them teased, “Hey, Sanya, weren’t you in a hurry to go downstairs just now? Why did you suddenly run back up?”
The second floor housed an office, and Sanya ignored their teasing. He simply pushed open the door and went inside. When he came back out, he was holding a paper contract. “Nothing much,” he said nonchalantly, “Just hired a new employee for the bar.”
Fei Wen’s eyelids twitched at the mention of a “new employee”, and an uneasy feeling suddenly crept into his mind. “New employee? Who?”
Sanya flicked his silver-gray ponytail behind him, his movements sharp yet tinged with a hint of laziness. “Someone you know,” he replied casually. “The male zerg downstairs.”
Fei Wen was so shocked that he instinctively sat up straight on the sofa, unable to hold back a sarcastic remark. “Damn it, this is a den for criminals, not a charity organization. That male zerg looks so ugly, he’ll scare all the customers away! Do you think every zerg is as bold as you?”
Sanya flicked the contract with his fingers, casually slipping one hand into his pocket as he began to head downstairs. “But his drinks are actually quite good.”
Fei Wen thought to himself, What does he mean, his drinks are good? That’s just an excuse. He was about to stop him, but was restrained by Kevin and the others, who placed their hands on his shoulders. “Forget it, it’s just adding another employee. It won’t cost much.”
Fei Wen was only worried about his eyes being subjected to the “torture.” “Damn it, you guys have no idea how ugly that male zerg is. If he’s in front of me every day, I might as well go meet the Zerg God tomorrow!”
Kevin looked slightly surprised and instinctively glanced downstairs. “No way, really?”
Fei Wen rolled his eyes. “Otherwise, why do you think that male zerg always wear a mask?”
Meanwhile, Sanya had returned to the bar with the contract in hand. You Que, unsure of what had happened upstairs, was idly rolling a few dice in his hand when he asked, “What’s that you’re holding?”
Sanya directly pushed the contract in front of him. “You were looking for a job, right? Our bar happens to need another bartender. This is the employment contract. If you’re willing, you can start tomorrow.”
You Que’s movements faltered, his gaze filled with uncertainty. “A contract?”
Sanya nodded. “An employment contract.”
You Que thought to himself, What a coincidence. I just said I wanted a job, and now Sanya hands me a contract. He furrowed his brows slightly, his skepticism apparent. “Is it really that easy to hire someone here? Doesn’t the boss need to vet candidates?”
Sanya casually made up an excuse. “I’m the boss’s relative. He asked me to handle it. So, what do you think? Are you interested in this job?”
“…”
You Que picked up the contract and scanned it. The terms were clear, and it even had a stamp, suggesting it wasn’t fake. A base salary of 6,000 star coins per month, plus commission—this was already a good offer in such a small town.
He looked up at Sanya, his voice low and hard to read, masking whatever emotions lay beneath. “Why are you helping me?”
They couldn’t really be called acquaintances; they didn’t even know each other’s names.
Sanya responded with a question of his own. “You’ve helped me before, haven’t you?”
“…”
You Que indeed needed the job and couldn’t refuse it. He folded the contract and put it away, glancing at Sanya’s worn clothes. “Are you sure you’re the boss’s relative?”
Sanya answered, “Distant relative.”
You Que didn’t question it, because Sanya didn’t seem to have the competence for the job. Aside from using connections, he couldn’t think of another reason. After a pause, he added, “…Thank you.”
Throughout his life, few had ever extended a helping hand to You Que, so when he finally spoke those two words of gratitude, they sounded unfamiliar and strange.
Sanya glanced at the drink he had made earlier. The ice had mostly melted, and the pale blue liquid was growing increasingly diluted. To his surprise, the male zerg hadn’t touched it. “If you really want to thank me,” Sanya suggested with a slight smile, “why not drink this glass? The ice has already melted. If it doesn’t taste good, don’t blame my skills…”
As he spoke, his voice suddenly trailed off, for the male zerg across the table had, at some point, removed his mask. A strikingly handsome face, breathtaking under the light, was revealed—so different from the previous grotesque appearance that it seemed worlds apart. It made one’s heart skip a beat, as if it couldn’t keep pace with the sudden change.
You Que’s features were deeply chiseled, giving him an alluring yet slightly sinister beauty. His single eyelid only added to the cold, distant air of someone you wouldn’t want to approach. He raised the glass Sanya had made and downed it in one gulp. Once the spicy sensation from the drink had subsided, he swirled the empty glass and commented, “It’s not as sweet as last time.”
It was hard to tell whether he preferred the sweetness or not.
Sanya couldn’t hide his shock. “Wasn’t your face having an allergic reaction earlier? How come now…?”
You Que replied casually, “It’s healed.”
He casually touched his face, seemingly unconcerned by the surprised gazes and whispers that followed the removal of his mask. With a self-deprecating smile, he asked, “It shouldn’t look as terrifying as before, right?”
Sanya was genuinely taken aback by how handsome this male zerg’s true face was. He stared for a while, still in a daze, before snapping back to reality. Even Kevin and the others upstairs, who had been peeking from around the corner, were frozen in disbelief. Kevin turned to Fei Wen, unable to contain his astonishment. “This male zerg looks this beautiful, and you actually thought he was ugly??!”
Kevin’s tone was filled with disbelief, as if Fei Wen needed to visit an eye doctor.
Fei Wen was still stunned, leaning over the railing to take several more looks. “He… he… He didn’t look like this before. How did he suddenly become so handsome today?!”
It took Sanya a few seconds to snap out of his own surprise. “Your Excellency, if your face was terrifying, then there wouldn’t be a single beautiful zerg in the world.”
You Que glanced at Sanya, about to say something, when suddenly a soft, shy voice interrupted him. “Your Excellency, may I have the honor of inviting you to drink a glass of wine?”
He turned toward the voice, only to see a female zerg who had somehow approached him unnoticed. He had a delicate appearance and was dressed well. In Saint Lieux, he likely wouldn’t have trouble finding a mate and might even stir some competition among lower-ranked males.
Sanya remained silent, simply focusing on cleaning the glasses on the table, his emotions hard to read.
You Que swirled the remaining liquid in his glass, his sharply defined features becoming even more captivating under the light. After a brief moment of thought, he pointed to Sanya and said, “Sorry, I’m having a drink with him.”
Sanya paused for a moment.
The female zerg, upon hearing this, glanced at Sanya, noticing his worn clothes. His tone couldn’t hide his disdain as he frowned slightly and said, “You want to drink with this bartender?”
You Que smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Seems like it’s my freedom to choose who I drink with, doesn’t it?”
The rejection was so clear that the female zerg’s expression turned to one of embarrassment and annoyance, and he could only awkwardly leave. Seeing this, Sanya finally stopped his actions, placing both hands on the bar as he said, “Your Excellency, I have to say, you made a wrong decision. If you had gone to drink with that beautiful female zerg, perhaps you wouldn’t have to work here now.”
You Que looked up at him, his eyes calm. “But I’m already drinking with you.”
You Que sat at the bar, and female zergs kept approaching one after another. Within just ten minutes, there had been no less than twenty attempts to strike up a conversation, but he rejected each one without exception. In the end, perhaps tired of it, he suddenly jumped over the bar and entered the behind-the-counter area.
The space at the cocktail station was narrow, so Sanya made some room for him. “Do you want to mix a drink again?”
You Que shook his head. “I don’t want to drink.”
He just wanted some peace and quiet.
Sanya could only continue tidying up the counter, washing the glassware. Seeing the drink he had made earlier still sitting on the counter, You Que reached out, picked it up, and handed it to Sanya. “Aren’t you going to finish it?”
You Que thought that since he had finished the drink that Sanya made for him, it would only be fair if Sanya finished his as well.
This drink had a high alcohol content, and mixed drinks were the quickest way to get drunk. Sanya couldn’t guarantee that he’d remain sober after drinking it. But when he saw You Que holding the glass with his long, graceful hand and bringing it to his lips, something stirred inside him. Without hesitation, he accepted the glass and drank it all in one go.
Soon, a faint flush spread across Sanya’s fair skin, and even his voice became hoarse. He wasn’t sure if he was truly drunk or pretending, but he squeezed into the narrow corner of the bar counter with You Que and asked, “Your Excellency, I realize I still don’t know your name?”
Eugene—this was the name on the ID card in You Que’s pocket. Technically, he shouldn’t reveal his real name, but for some reason, he slowly uttered two words: “You Que—”
His voice was deep, more intoxicating than the drink they had just shared: “I’m You Que.”
Sanya remembered the name: “I’m Sanya.”
You Que noticed Sanya’s braid, the silver-gray hair cascading down to his waist. He had never seen a man with hair so long. Curiously, he cupped a strand in his palm and asked, “How long have you been growing your hair?”
You Que’s hand was undeniably seductive, his long, slender fingers curling and twisting. The silver-gray strand of hair seemed to coil around his fingertip like a snake, smoother than silk. He gently caressed it for a moment, the teasing sensation seemingly traveling from the strand straight to Sanya, making him shiver.
Sanya’s body trembled, his breath faltering for a second, as though the braid were a sensitive spot for him: “Haven’t you ever seen a female zerg with long hair?”
You Que nodded seriously, “I’ve never seen one.”
He spoke, then gently tugged at Sanya’s hair, but suddenly, his fingertips were empty, and the strand of hair slipped away with a soft sound.
Sanya quickly pulled his hair back and took two steps back, looking at You Que. His gaze was sharp, like an animal defending its territory, filled with a dangerous edge. He lowered his voice, warning, “Don’t pull my braid.”
You Que remained silent. Under the light, he slowly opened his palm. Between his fingers was unmistakably a silver-gray strand of hair, whether it had fallen from Sanya or if he had taken it himself was unclear.
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