Chapter Thirty-Six: The Bar

  Xiao Xiao finished dealing with the two drivers, and suddenly thought of Little Fatty Lin Yi. Her chubby face and plump butt appeared in his mind. He thought that since he had already asked Li Wei once, why not let him help himself again, a buy one get one free deal, to ask Li Wei to help him get some information about Lin Yi, wouldn't that be great?

  Know yourself and know your enemy, you can win a hundred battles.

  Xiao Xiao excitedly pulled out a cigarette, just about to share his thoughts with Li Wei. Suddenly, a black lightning bolt flashed through his mind, as if a sharp knife had split his heart open. He suddenly felt that if he knew too much about Lin Yi's affairs, wouldn't his interest in her be greatly reduced?

  It's like having a device that can predict the future, and you learn from it what day you will die. You would immediately make plans, worry and take precautions, living in terror every day. In that case, it's better not to know.

  Xiao Xiao thought of her father's words, if life was all arranged like a script, it would be really boring. Those accidental, unintentional, and instantaneous bursts of creativity and ideas would also become meaningless.

  Entangled in the past, fearful of the future, if life is like this, it's really not romantic.

  Sighing softly at the thought, he put that cigarette in his mouth and decided to personally get to know the people around him little by little, growing up with them bit by bit.

  Xiao Xiao jumped onto her own bed, holding a cigarette without lighting it, lying on the bed with her eyes closed. In her mind, Lin Yi's tongue tip that was licking the cream off the pastry appeared again. If she could give him a little kiss, it would be so good, definitely sweet beyond measure.

  He smiled foolishly and listened to Li Wei typing away on the computer keyboard before falling asleep in no time.

  Xiao Xiao was sleeping in the dormitory, while Lu Teng and Wang Yong were sitting on the subway, both with a dazed look in their eyes, unsure of where they wanted to go next.

  It's already 8 o'clock in the evening, and the subway in Tianjing City has passed its peak hour for daily commuting. The clean and tidy carriage is almost empty with only a dozen or so passengers scattered around. The white walls and red seats still carry the lingering smell of hurried passengers.

  The subway sped by, leaving the shiny billboards behind, the forever-smiling stars on them disappearing in an instant. Just at that moment, the subway arrived at a new station. Not giving people time to be nostalgic, fellow travelers who were just accompanying each other suddenly went their separate ways.

  Lu Peng had gone to several musical instrument stores and tried out some equipment. He felt that a few electric guitars were pretty good, very much to his taste. However, the prices were a bit high.

  He only has living expenses now, and buying these equipment is far from enough. Where to get the money? Let Xiao Xiao and Xiang Bei raise funds together? This band was initiated by himself, he should prepare all these things by himself.

  Lu Peng sat on the smooth seat of the subway, thinking about these questions. The sound of the subway's wheels rolling over the tracks came to his ears, and this sound was very hasty.

  Wang Yong had no interest in music to begin with, and he never thought that he would be traveling the world selling musical instruments with Lu Feng. He was basically just a errand boy. Leaning against the subway seat, looking tired, he stretched his waist and looked at Lu Feng, saying: "Let's go to a bar for a drink."

  Lu Peng was very familiar with the bar, and after hearing Wang Yong's suggestion, he knew that he had also been tired of accompanying himself on a stroll, and it was simply hard work without merit. He smiled: "Okay, I'll treat you. Have you ever been to a bar?"

  Wang Yong was delighted to hear Lu Feng's invitation. He remembered that a few days ago, he had gone with fellow students from other universities to a Jing Huang bar near the subway station, and now the subway was just two stops ahead, so they might as well go there.

  Lu Peng and Wang Yong arrived at the station, got off the subway, and followed the sparse crowd out of the subway station.

  Two people walked out of the subway station, surrounded by a dazzling array of neon lights, various glowing fonts that blocked out the sky. The lights shone in all directions, a kaleidoscope of colors, leaving one bewildered. Even people's faces were illuminated to the point of being unrecognizable.

  "This way." Wang Yong stretched out his small, soft hand that had been tested many times in the mahjong hall to point out the road to Jing Huang Bar for Lu Feng. Although he had only come here once, his memory was absolutely not bragging, and he had already memorized this route firmly.

  Lu Peng and Wang Yong arrived at the Jing Huang Bar. The bar's facade was not large, it seemed that it was just a name that sounded good. There were many rock posters on the door of the bar, this was a rock music bar, very suitable for Lu Peng's taste.

  Lu Peng turned his head and looked at Wang Yong, smiling: "You little devil, have you figured out the hearts of us several classmates of yours?"

  Wang Yong's small round eyes didn't turn, but were filled with sincerity. He smiled at Lu Peng and said: "No way, often hanging out in casinos, it's hard to avoid getting used to observing people's words and expressions. However, we're classmates, so there's no need to waste that energy on guessing each other's thoughts. The prices here aren't expensive, the atmosphere is pretty good, suitable for us students." As he spoke, he let Lu Peng enter first.

  Lu Peng didn't think he would be so considerate, so naturally he took the lead and entered Jing Huang first.

  The basic setup inside Jing Huang Bar is similar to all other bars, with a bar counter, card seats and scattered tables. However, the decoration style has a youthful vibe, with bright lights and cheerful colors. Unlike some other places, there aren't many women showing off their cleavage and thighs, and the atmosphere isn't sleazy.

  At this moment, there are not many people in the Beijing Emperor Bar. People sit together in groups of three or five, drinking and speaking softly. A three-piece band is singing in the bar.

  Lu Peng and Wang Yong found a vacant table, ordered a few bottles of beer, and sat down to watch the band while drinking.

  This three-piece band consists of two males and one female.

  The lead singer is a man with blue hair, wearing a black T-shirt, standing on the stage, holding a microphone and looking at his companions.

  The lead guitarist is a woman, slender in build, with long pigtails hanging down to her waist. A red and white electric guitar slung diagonally, her long fingers clean and fair.

  The man with long hair scattered on his shoulders, waving drumsticks and beating the drumhead, stirring people's hearts, thumping loudly.

  The three of them looked like they were around eighteen years old, right in the midst of their youth, a time when they liked to rebel, loved freedom and dreams.

  Lu Teng saw them and suddenly thought of his former self, and the scene in front of him was indeed familiar.

  "So let's not cry, so let's not recall the past."

  The lead singer of the band held a microphone and started singing, covering Zheng Jun's "There is no banquet that doesn't disperse in the world."

  The lead singer's voice is hoarse and slightly sorrowful, carrying with it many regrets for past events.

  Lu Peng drank beer, savoring the bitterness in the wine, letting the scorching hot liquor burn his esophagus, listening to the band's song, touching the scene and emotions, recalling many past events in his mind.