Chapter 2, It Seems Like an Old Friend Has Come (2)

"Go to the Drum Tower." Jing Fuzhou put away the lighter, yet a faint shadow still lingered in his brows and eyes: "What was the name of that new person who joined the Drum Tower last time?"

"Brother Zhou, that little girl seems a bit off. Should we check on her?" Ah Yang looked at the person in the back seat, who was fiddling with a lighter, and after hearing this, nodded lightly and said, "Whatever."

The man fell silent again, the door to the room opened and closed, and she knew he had left

Because her arms were slightly leaning forward, and she happened to be sitting there, her fair and smooth back directly caught his eye. From this angle, it appeared as if her upper body was completely bare. Jing Fuzhou's gaze deepened, yet he did not approach, which prompted several women nearby to frequently lean in, only to be coaxed away by him.

"It's called Pear Blossom," A-Yang said, a hint of an enigmatic smile spilling from his lips. Jing Fuzhou understood but didn't pay much attention: "Did you touch it?"

Jing Fuzhou held a cigarette in his mouth, looking up at her. Her gaze was direct, not directed at anyone in particular, but aimlessly resting on the noisy crowd not far away. It was not loneliness, just laziness; the words in her mouth were already very familiar to her. When she sang them, there was clearly no emotion, yet it was inexplicably alluring

As that figure disappeared, An Yuan let out a sigh of relief without leaving a trace. She then felt fortunate; this man was much simpler than she had imagined.

Jing Fuzhou nonchalantly nodded, leaning against the back seat of the car with his eyes closed. The distinction between clean and unclean held no significance for him, as he never engaged directly in relationships with any woman. It is true that he led a debauched life, yet it is also not without reason to say he was clean. At least over the years, he had never allowed any woman to become pregnant, having taken all necessary precautions.

Most of the girls in Dream Death have their own flower names, for example, Lan Xiao is called Orchid. Occasionally, Jing Fuzhou, in a good mood, would go to the backstage to take a look; he actually quite enjoys the feeling of being admired and adored by the girls. What fills his ears are various flower names, which he cannot remember and is too lazy to remember. Sometimes when he gets out of bed, he does not even know what flowers he has trampled on.

In the abyss of time and years, gazing at the distant bright moon, I imagine your melancholy

Those slender, elongated eyes were still half-open, devoid of any expression. It was evident that her actions were not intended to please; they resembled more the casual assistance of a brother in the underworld. Jing Fuzhou, ever accommodating, took a deep breath and exhaled a ring of smoke into her face

He no longer asked, focusing intently on the confrontation. The space on the sofa was very small, and Pear Blossom's legs repeatedly bumped against the armrest. She could not distinguish whether it was pain or pleasure that caused her to cry out in anguish, while Jing Fuzhou seemed oblivious, increasing the intensity of his movements

The next day was Monday. An Yuan had agreed with the foreman to only go to sing at Dream Death on weekends. That evening, she stood in the parking lot as usual to pick up Lan Xiao, and as usual, she saw Jing Fuzhou. Following Jing Fuzhou was his personal bodyguard and assistant. An Yuan lowered her head to look at her toes, and in her peripheral vision, she knew that the bodyguard's gaze was fixed on her.

That subtle itch in my heart has returned

You watch from below the stage, while I perform the play you wish to see. In a past life, dear friend, the carefree you, do you still remember? Joy and sorrow, old age, illness, and death, cannot be described as legends. Whether it is the affection on stage or the self below, it is not just me and you

The teeth gently clamped onto the woman's earlobe, and Jing Fuzhou closed his eyes again. Her red lips pressed against the collar of his shirt, while her fair fingers had already slipped into his belt. The song wrapped around him, making him feel both secure and insecure at the same time. His large hand slowly pressed down on the smaller hand that still wanted to go lower on his abdomen. He stood up straight, and only then did he carefully examine the woman's face.

Such a charming face, yet her voice carries a slight huskiness, with Cantonese lyrics flowing gently. The audience below is preoccupied with their own affairs, paying no attention to her, and she is indifferent to those people as well, holding the microphone, speaking in a soft Wu dialect

It is unclear what she caught a glimpse of just now at the edge of the stage, but she exuded a certain lively charm. Jing Fuzhou's gaze shifted from her eyes to her lips, which were slightly upturned, their color pale yet bright. Removing the cigarette from his mouth, Jing Fuzhou licked his lips, feeling a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time, akin to an addiction, causing a slight tingling in his cerebral cortex

"Don't you like it?" Jing Fuzhou supported her shoulder and pressed her down to sit. Li Hua bit her lip and shook her head with difficulty: "No..."

The girl named An Yuan stood very properly on the stage. It was only then that he noticed not just her back, but the front of her dress also featured a deep V-neck design. The black, form-fitting fabric concealed all her allure. Her gaze was very cold, with her eyes elongated and slightly upturned, making her already slender eyes appear even more enchanting. Moreover, she happened to possess a good figure; there was no need for her to deliberately showcase it, as simply standing there was enough to captivate anyone's attention.

The flame drew closer, and in the slightly surprised gaze of Jing Fuzhou, she helped him light a cigarette

The pear blossom was originally meant to sleep, but before she could lie down, Jing Fuzhou had already entered the room. He spoke very little; since she arrived here, the words exchanged between the two of them could be counted on one hand. At that time, he had only asked her in the nightclub, "Are you going to Gulou?" She nodded, and the next day she was sent here, becoming the youngest canary in this place

An Yuan, however, turned around at that moment, lifting the hem of her dress as she returned to the backstage. The smoke rings in the air dispersed in solitude, and that sharp scent suddenly became aimless. Jing Fuzhou squinted his eyes, not thinking much, and lifted his foot to follow suit.

His gaze followed her as he put the cigarette back in his mouth. The girl, who had taken a few steps, stopped and then, without any warning, turned around and walked towards him

In the mundane world, everything seems distant and unclear, as if fate has separated you and me. The words of heartbreak are scattered like dots, and the sounds of wind and rain are continuous, reminiscent of an old friend returning...

Big eyes, a palm-sized face. This appearance seems to be quite popular recently; there are several women in the Drum Tower who look like this. Those who cannot achieve it naturally resort to cosmetics to transform themselves. Jing Fuzhou smiled, reached out, and grabbed a handful on the woman's chest, to which she giggled and leaned in again.

She is filled with a contradictory sense of beauty

An Yuan. Jing Fuzhou raised his eyebrows and turned to look, only to see a girl in a black long dress walking towards the stage with her back to him. The dress had an open back design, and because her back was straight enough, he could see the indentation along her spine, and even the dimples above her hips.

Upon opening his eyes again, Jing Fuzhou felt completely disinterested this time. He absentmindedly touched the woman's face, his voice still relatively gentle, yet tinged with a subtle impatience: "Be good, go back now"

Twenty minutes later, he picked her up and placed her on the bed. She cried and sobbed, stirring within Jing Fuzhou a sense of compassion and tenderness, or perhaps it was simply because she was so small that it evoked his feelings of pity.

On the thirty-third day, Jing Fuzhou saw An Yuan outside the parking lot

Upon entering the parking lot, Jing Fuzhou immediately saw her standing there. She resembled Cinderella after midnight, when the magic had worn off, and the allure she once possessed had vanished completely. She had become a person from another world, making him acutely aware that there was not a shred of possibility between them

I do not know how to express this feeling, perhaps it is called loneliness

The arrival of Jing Fuzhou at the Drum Tower brought joy to the women. Jing Fuzhou had never instructed them on how to coexist peacefully or avoid conflicts, yet they genuinely interacted like sisters, even establishing their own hierarchy, affectionately calling each other elder sisters and younger sisters day by day. He enjoyed this harmonious atmosphere, as it provided a deceptive sense of hypocrisy for men, at least satisfying his inflated vanity.

This is also her reason for deciding to enter the dream of singing to death

There was a hint of coldness in his eyes, and the woman playfully chided him before discreetly walking away. He also emerged from behind the curtain, took a cigarette from his pocket, and without lighting it, held it between his lips as he walked towards the front of the stage

However, this meager hope was completely shattered when Jing Fuzhou came out. The man, while putting on his clothes, casually glanced at her on the bed and asked, "What did you say your name was?"

Patting her back, Jing Fuzhou lazily spoke: "Go get a cover and help me put it on."

With a cigarette in his mouth, Jing Fuzhou threw the lighter from his pocket to her: "Light it for me."

Li Hua obediently walked over and hesitated before sitting on his lap. As the cigarette was lit, he mischievously blew the smoke towards her face. Li Hua coughed and frowned from the irritation, and in the next moment, Jing Fuzhou's hand wrapped around her waist, letting out a low laugh

Amidst the chaotic sounds, he heard someone shout, "An Yuan, it's your turn to go on stage"

The feeling of unbearable itchiness that had just been aroused in his heart faded as she approached. Jing Fuzhou stood there, watching An Yuan walk towards him step by step. She came to a stop in front of him, and his gaze fell on her chest without any gentlemanly restraint

She disappointed him, so he left. He left as if he would never return again

He lowered his head, and the woman's kiss gently landed on his chin and neck. He appeared disinterested, yet still cooperatively closed his eyes, his hand gently stroking the woman's back. With his eyes closed, the song became clear once again. He had spent some time in Guangzhou in his early years and had learned Cantonese; at this moment, as he listened intently, he surprisingly found that he could understand the lyrics being sung.

He only needed her once, helped her tuck in the blanket, and turned to enter the bathroom. The sound of water began, and Li Hua stifled her cries under the blanket, suddenly sensing a slight difference

In such moments, his voice remained as cold as ever, clearly treating this matter, and even the person before him, as nothing more than a game. However, Li Hua could say nothing; the layer of grievance in her heart was swallowed down as she stood up to open the drawer. Jing Fuzhou's gaze fell upon her face, and the disappointment in her eyes was so evident that it was disheartening

Today, she is wearing a light pink sweatshirt and the same slightly worn-out jeans. The tips of her white shoes are touching the ground, and as she counts to ten, Jing Fuzhou arrives from that direction with his subordinates.

An Yuan did not get up, but sat there removing her makeup. Jing Fuzhou quietly watched for a while, until she wiped off the eyeliner from her eyes, and the cigarette he held between his fingers had burned down to the end. The searing heat brought him back to his senses; he lowered his head to extinguish the cigarette, and after taking a deep look at her in the mirror, he suddenly seemed to lose interest and turned to leave

Behind the curtain separating the backstage from the front, a woman leaned close to him and spoke softly, her gentle words causing him to forget the strange feeling he had just experienced. As his hand glided over her slender waist, Jing Fuzhou casually kissed her earlobe, and when he opened his eyes again, the sound of singing had already filled the stage

Brother Zhou, you haven't had enough fun yet, how could I touch it?" A Yang paused for a moment and then said: "I did touch it a couple of times, but it's still clean, so you can rest assured, Brother Zhou.

Did Ah Yang deceive him? He was not interested in pursuing the matter further. It was just a woman; after all, damaging brotherly friendship was never a good thing. The car was driving smoothly, and he saw the starlight outside the window. Lingchuan was a good place, at least it had not been polluted by industrialization. By lifting his head, he could see the brilliant stars.

The flames flickered to life and then extinguished. Ayang was uncertain about his current emotions, opened his mouth, and awkwardly asked: "Brother Zhou, are we going to Gulou today or ... ?"

It seemed that she sensed his gaze; the girl named An Yuan slightly turned her head and glanced at him. Her eyes were light and airy, devoid of any weight, gliding gently past the bridge of his nose before turning back. Those slender eyes did not meet his, and Jing Fuzhou touched his hand, suddenly feeling an itch somewhere, yet unable to pinpoint exactly where.

If one must describe that gaze, it can only be said to be frivolous yet imbued with admiration

As he looked further down, he saw the large expanse of her fair skin at her chest. Enchanting light illuminated her figure, blurring the boundaries between black and white; she was entirely shrouded in shadow, with only the sound of her singing lingering in the air. Jing Fuzhou was unaware of how he managed to listen to the entire song. He saw her holding the hem of her dress as she descended from the stage, unlike others who would exchange a few playful words to solicit tips. She walked cautiously towards the audience, making him unable to resist the urge to assist her. Jing Fuzhou was unaware of how he managed to listen to the entire song. He saw her holding the hem of her dress as she descended from the stage, unlike others who would exchange a few playful words to solicit tips. She walked cautiously towards the audience, making him unable to resist the urge to assist her.

He is a man with a strong sense of time, which is a recent discovery of Anyuan. She has also found that, compared to those innocent female students, he seems to prefer her, who has enchanting features.

He seems to have a slightly different feeling towards her

With such laughter, Li Hua's face turned red. He threw the cigarette into the trash can beside the bed, and his palm pressed firmly against her lower back, bringing Li Hua's neck right to his lips. His kiss was neither rough nor gentle; he didn't even intend to go to the bed, but simply sat on the small sofa, leaving Li Hua already entranced by his teasing.

"Both are passersby, both have shared dreams, they should have been a pair. In youth, one is unaware in dreams, but upon waking, one must return..."

Turning her head slightly, An Yuan glanced at the edge of the stage, and Jing Fuzhou instinctively looked over as well, but found nothing there. Those who had taken drugs or not were swaying to the rhythm in the dance floor, lost in a drunken stupor as suggested by the name of this nightclub. An Yuan's gaze returned, though it wandered elsewhere, and when she spoke again, a faint smile graced her lips

"Pear blossoms." She heard her own delicate voice: "A tree of pear blossoms overshadowing the crabapple blossoms."

Eighteen years old, truly very young, so young that just by looking at her, one feels that she embodies endless possibilities

As he drew closer, Jing Fuzhou was able to see her face clearly. In that moment, he was slightly taken aback, recognizing her as the girl from the parking lot. Now, he was uncertain whether to refer to her as a girl or a woman. An Yuan remained silent; she was wearing high heels, yet they barely reached his shoulders. All her movements appeared somewhat clumsy, but she still raised her hand, and with a soft "pop," a faint spark ignited.

An Yuan experienced a slight miscalculation today, as the man who usually casts a glance her way passed by her without so much as a notice. She remained quietly standing there, not stealing another glance, as the car drove away, leaving a faint scent of exhaust in the air.

He never really enters the back room; most of the time, he just stands at the door, leaning against the door frame and quietly watching. Women who want to approach him naturally come over. As for the women he has set his sights on but cannot have, so far, there truly has been none. An Yuan sits in front of the mirror, his figure just right in the reflection, their eyes meet, and she calmly tilts her head to take off her left earring

After that, Jing Fuzhou did not come again. Occasionally, she heard that he had come, but he did not enter her room. However, Li Hua was not afraid, for she was the youngest here