Jian Jing encountered Zong Ye again at the tail end of the year.
It was Christmas Eve, and everyone was busy.
Golden Crow had a Christmas Eve book fair, opening at 5 PM and closing at 2 AM. The fair not only featured Golden Crow's recommendations for the year but also had a lounge area where coffee and desserts were served.
Without a doubt, this was the perfect spot for bookworms to have a date.
Jiang BaiYan's studio was hosting a cocktail party, inviting some business partners to drink wine, chat, and build relationships in hopes of more collaboration opportunities in the coming year.
Ji Feng... was on duty.
Jian Jing decided to go shopping alone.
She first went to the book fair to support Golden Crow, attracting many fans asking for autographs.
As the crowd grew, Kang Mu Cheng worried her wrist would hurt from signing too much and quickly asked her to leave.
Jian Jing didn't hesitate, putting on a hat and slipping away in disguise.
The streets were festively decorated, with newly adorned Christmas trees everywhere. The music of "Jingle Bells" played in both Chinese and English, the same melody echoing all around.
All the stores had launched Christmas specials, finding creative ways to make money.
Jian Jing was tempted by a makeup set, even though she already had all the shades. The packaging was just too cute, with reindeer and snowman caps.
"I'll just buy one to get into the spirit," she told herself, happily purchasing the most vibrant Christmas red.
Applying it to her lips, her originally cute Christmas look instantly gained a touch of sultry allure.
Since she had gone to all this trouble, it would be a shame not to visit a bar with this hour's worth of makeup and hair.
Jian Jing wasn't picky, randomly entering a roadside bar, sitting at the counter, and ordering a mojito.
The typical choice for young girls, it attracted quite a few eager glances.
But one person was the quickest, almost instantly spotting her and coming over to sit down.
"Miss Bunny."
"You?" Jian Jing was surprised, then quickly glanced around. "Is it too late for me to leave?"
Zong Ye laughed heartily. "No, no, I'm off duty today."
Jian Jing raised an eyebrow. "You get days off?"
His lips curved downward slightly, as if helpless, but his eyes still held a hint of amusement. He drawled, "Every job needs time off."
Jian Jing pursed her lips, clearly unimpressed by his mysteriousness.
However, she couldn't deny that from the beginning, his secrets had always been intriguing.
"Well then," Jian Jing said, "are you here to have fun today?"
Zong Ye: "Obviously."
"Then let's play a game," she said nonchalantly. "Do you dare?"
Zong Ye chuckled, hinting at something: "Miss Jian, compared to back on Mermaid Island, you've certainly learned how to handle people better now." He paused, emphasizing, "Especially men."
Jian Jing: "If you don't dare, forget it."
"When a lady invites, of course I'll oblige," he asked. "What do you want to play?"
Jian Jing rested her chin on her hand: "Nothing too brain-intensive, let's just bet on luck." She said, "We'll guess about the next customer who comes in. Number of people, gender, or other characteristics - whoever guesses more accurately wins."
Zong Ye readily agreed: "What's the stake?"
Jian Jing said: "One question, or one drink."
Zong Ye: "Deal."
Jian Jing took out her phone, opened a memo page, then set a 30-second timer on her watch. "Let's begin."
They looked at the entrance for a while, then lowered their heads to type.
After 30 seconds, they showed their screens simultaneously.
Zong Ye had written: Two girls, heavily made up, not over thirty
Jian Jing had written: Two girls, one sweet and spicy, one innocent, the former better off financially, the latter shyer, possibly her first time at a bar
At that moment, customers passed through the narrow alley at the entrance, revealing the answer.
They were two young girls, one with a high ponytail, wearing a tight sweater dress and long boots, exposing a strip of snow-white thigh, seemingly impervious to the cold. The other had brown curly hair, wearing a coat and sneakers, looking much more reserved.
"Come on," the bold girl pulled her friend, squeezing up to the bar counter and ordering skillfully, "A tequila, darling, what do you want?"
The girl in sneakers said, "Uh, I've never been here before... Do you have soda water?"
"One soda water, and a plate of mackerel and chicken rolls, I'm starving," the girl said.
Jian Jing wiggled her fingers at Zong Ye: "I won."
Sitting at the bar counter was a fair-skinned beauty in her prime and a charming male fox spirit, undoubtedly the most eye-catching spot in the entire place. Other patrons inevitably gathered around, creating a noisy atmosphere.
Zong Ye stood up, placing his hand on her back as they retreated to a corner while talking: "How did you guess?"
"You saw the shadows too." The neon lights at the entrance had cast the shadow of one of the girls, allowing them to guess they were female.
As for why there were two, it was simple. On a night like this, girls rarely came alone, and since the shadow lingered for a moment, it was likely waiting for a companion.
If there were more than three people, given their positioning, it would be difficult to cast just one shadow, so two was most fitting.
"Why did one never come before... She lingered for quite a while." Jian Jing said, "It's already past 10 PM, peak time for nightlife. Hesitating for so long probably means one was reluctant to come, and her friend was persuading her."
"What about their appearance?"
"Just a guess. One wanted to come, so she'd definitely dress up. One didn't plan to come, so she'd be more conservative," she said. "Ready to pay up?"
Zong Ye chose a small round table in the corner to sit down: "Of course."
These small tables were very small; when an adult man and woman sat opposite each other with their elbows on the table, they could almost kiss. But Jian Jing had no other choice, so she hooked a high stool with her toes and gracefully took a seat.
"Well then, I'll ask," she said with a smile. "How old are you?"
Zong Ye couldn't help but be surprised, clearly not expecting such a simple question. But he didn't let his guard down, smiling: "What's the significance of this question?"
"If you're more than ten years older or more than three years younger, we can stop talking," Jian Jing urged. "Answer quickly."
Zong Ye caught her hand, using their fingers to write the number: 31.
Jian Jing calculated, back on Mermaid Island, this guy should have been 28, so he wasn't that old after all.
Zong Ye: "Next round?"
"Alright."
However, the bar was full and had closed its doors.
"Looks like we need a new game," Jian Jing quickly thought of a new approach. "Still about those two girls, let's guess about their romantic encounters tonight, shall we?"
Zong Ye: "Shouldn't it be my turn to set the challenge?"
She graciously agreed: "Please."
"Which one that gentleman will choose to approach." Zong Ye casually pointed to a man in a suit.
Jian Jing observed the man's attire. He looked financially comfortable, his eyes bloodshot, occasionally pinching the bridge of his nose, likely under high work pressure. So coming here was probably just for relaxation and a change of pace.
"The one in boots," she quickly judged.
Zong Ye: "I choose the one in sneakers."
The answer was revealed.
The suited man chose the sweet and spicy girl, flirting with her.
Jian Jing said: "I won again. Second question, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Currently no romantic entanglements," Zong Ye answered. "Next challenge, you choose someone."
This time, Jian Jing changed the subject, pointing to a flashily dressed girl: "Who will she choose to join at their table?"
Zong Ye raised his chin: "The booth at two o'clock."
Before he finished speaking, the girl had already made her way through the crowd, smiling coyly as she greeted the man at the booth, then naturally sat down and poured herself a glass of wine.
Jian Jing pursed her lips: "Fine, you win."
Zong Ye smiled: "My question is - do you want me to kiss you?"
The question caught her off guard. Jian Jing opened her mouth, then closed it, laughing: "No." But she had to admit, she felt a bit electrified.
"Liar," he leaned forward, lightly brushing her lips. "Good girls should be honest."
Jian Jing shrugged: "Next question."
Zong Ye pointed to a man at the bar counter: "Who will he approach, left or right?"
"Neither," she watched the man for a moment, smiling slightly. "Me."
Sure enough, the man noticed Jian Jing's gaze, thinking he had a chance. He came over with his drink, asking gallantly: "Haven't we met before?"
Jian Jing: "I'm sorry, this is my first time here. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
"Well, making a new acquaintance is not a bad idea either." He looked at Zong Ye, and suddenly his gaze became intense. "This gentleman too, why don't we all have a drink together?"
Jian Jing was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.
Zong Ye spread his hands: "Sorry."
The man handed over his business card with great reluctance, saying, "This is my number. You can call me anytime."
"I'm afraid there won't be such an opportunity," Zong Ye decisively cut off the persistence, "If you don't mind, please." He made a gesture that clearly meant 'get lost.'
The man left, lingering reluctantly.
Jian Jing, buried in the crook of her arm, laughed so hard she couldn't lift her head. "Although... uh, I still won."
Zong Ye, ever gracious, said, "You ask."
"What's your most unforgettable experience?" she asked.
He pondered for a moment, then said, "Once, I stayed in an underwater hotel. I was the only person there, surrounded by schools of fish and coral reefs. The world became very quiet, and also very lonely. At one point, I felt as if I had already died, and perhaps my body would only be discovered decades later."
Jian Jing was a bit surprised. "How romantic."
"It was a bit, like a poem," he said.
Jian Jing asked, "Did you encounter any sharks?"
Zong Ye chuckled, "Of course not. It was very safe there."
"That's too bad," she laughed. "If you had encountered a mutant shark and escaped after a near-death experience, it would have been just like a movie."
Zong Ye said, "You're always experiencing adventures."
Jian Jing raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you long for an ordinary, stable life? Want to retire early and spend your days gardening and walking dogs?" She looked like a little girl who couldn't get her cake, full of disappointment. "That's so cliché."
"Life often presents us with difficult choices," Zong Ye played with the glass in his hand, water droplets falling onto his fingertips like tears. "A stable life wears down one's ambition, but Miss Jian, a life filled with constant danger can also be exhausting. From this perspective, you are undoubtedly very fortunate."
Jian Jing asked, "You know me well?"
"Not really," he said with a smile. "Just some simple deductions."
She asked, "What else can you deduce?"
Zong Ye said, "Not much."
"For example?"
He then said, "You've been a bit confused lately."
Jian Jing gave him a strange look that seemed to say, "Is this fortune-telling?"
Zong Ye gestured for her to listen further: "It's about love, but it's not a troublesome problem. You're just wondering, 'What should I do?' You want to follow your heart, but you find that's where the trouble lies - you're not clear about what your true heart's desire is."
"You're teasing me," Jian Jing took a sip of her drink, the sweetness lingering in her mouth, her lips and teeth feeling almost stuck together. "Everyone has such concerns at every moment. What we're most unclear about is what we want."
"That's not necessarily true," Zong Ye looked at her, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I'm very clear about what I want, at least at this moment."
"Hm?" Jian Jing was highly suspicious.
Surely he wouldn't say something as cliché as "I want to take you home," would he?
Zong Ye smiled, as if knowing her inner thoughts, and deliberately said, "We should go."
She extended her fair fingers, wiping off the lip print on the glass. "Why?"
"Before you came, I saw some interesting things," he said. "I originally wanted to watch the show, but after meeting you, the show doesn't seem so interesting anymore."
Jian Jing, however, blinked and looked around. "What show? I want to see it too."
Zong Ye shook his head with a smile and sat up straight. "Alright, since it's a lady's request. Let me count down, 3, 2, 1--"
"Bang!"
In the night, a gunshot froze the clamor of the bar.
The real show was about to begin.
