03

"Xia Xia, you shamelessly only think about your Jianghuai South," Aila muttered. Before Xia Chan could retort, she immediately waved at a taxi that was passing by, "Hurry, get in the car"

Qingshi Road is a winding alley with numerous turns, inhabited by a diverse mix of people and various types of bars. Taxis find it difficult to enter, so Xia Chan and her companions got out at the entrance of the alley. The road, wide enough for two people, is flanked by blank spaces covered in incomprehensible graffiti. Above them, the tangled wires of the old residential area crisscross, while bamboo poles propped against the old wooden windows are used to hang women's underwear and children's diapers.

Her breath brushed against Xia Chan's face, carrying a faint scent of lemon freshness

Jiang Huainan has a slender figure, delicate features, and his eyebrows and eyes are more attractive than those of many girls, making him a typical male protagonist in a romance novel. His hair is always kept short, never reaching his ears, and his simple and casual style exudes a sense of laziness, giving him a strikingly handsome appearance. He excels academically and is well-liked by teachers, but only Xia Chan knows that beneath his handsome exterior lies a temperament that can be quite unpleasant, enough to make one want to throw a punch.

Jiang Huainan's eyes carried an indescribable sense of detachment as he furrowed his brows and said: "Hello"

No one knows how far the future is, yet the life we live in the present is undeniably real

When she came out after changing her clothes, a wave of musical fervor had already swept through the bar. The colorful lights and the wildly dancing bodies made one feel dizzy and disoriented, and that young man had already vanished. Xia Chan tugged at her short skirt that reached her thighs, inwardly cursing Gu Tong's taste in clothing, then took a few deep breaths, holding the tray as she glanced at the table number before making her way into the crowd.

Xia Chan made every effort to distance herself from them, hurriedly standing on tiptoe to look in the direction of Gu Tong and Jiang Huainan. However, amidst the dense, writhing crowd, the music and lights made her head spin, leaving her unable to find even a single familiar face to call for help

The youthful boy's carefree smile and his audacious gaze made Xia Chan lower her head, as she felt an inexplicable discomfort in her heart

As Ella entered the door, she was captivated by the painting on the wall: "Art, oh art, great art!" She widened her eyes, nearly embedding her face into the wall, leaning against it to study a hanging "Starry Night." Then, as if she had discovered a new continent, she exclaimed, "So cool," and skipped away to chat with the bartender at the bar.

"I have arrived." Jiang Huainan greeted simply as Xia Chan got into the passenger seat after opening the door. Xia Chan stared at him, lost in thought, and responded with a vague "mm." Jiang Huainan had already informed the driver of the address Xia Chan mentioned during their phone call, and the car headed towards Qingshi Road.

A week later, Gu Tong joyfully called Xia Chan to say that her mother was so angry that she temporarily did not want to take care of her. To celebrate this happy event, she decided to open the subleased bar on Qingshi Road on Saturday, grandly named "Liuliu Dashun," symbolizing that her path to making money would be smooth sailing. She also asked Xia Chan to invite her friends Jiang Huainan and Ai La to come over.

Under the interplay of light and shadow, Jianghuai South is accentuated with a tranquil demeanor. Xia Chan cannot help but admit that the occasionally gentle and attentive Jianghuai South is a lethal poison to her; in that fleeting moment, her heart is tightly gripped, beating irregularly.

"Axia, your cousin is over there; see if there is anything we can assist with," Jiang Huainan reminded.

Ella bounced over like a playful rabbit, her fitted dress straining against her slightly plump figure, appearing somewhat uncomfortable. She gave Xia Chan a big bear hug: "Xia Xia, my enthusiasm for you is like a fire, let us burn our way to Sister Gu's bar together!" Ella always liked to add an "ah" when she spoke, explaining that it made her words seem more substantial. She gave Xia Chan a big bear hug: "Xia Xia, my enthusiasm for you is like a fire, let us burn our way to Sister Gu's bar together!" Ella always liked to add an "ah" when she spoke, explaining that it made her words seem more substantial

In your life, there must be a certain type of girl who accompanies you throughout your entire youth, from the moment you first meet to the time of parting. You become accustomed to their presence just as you do to your own, and their significance is no less than that of the most beautiful things.

Xia Chan embraced back without any hesitation, only to find that she could not lift Ai La, and complained, "You have gained weight again," which earned her a flurry of punches from Ai La. After finally breaking free from Ai La's violence, Xia Chan smiled and said, "Alright, let's go find Jiang Huainan"

Yet it is precisely this Jiang Huai Nan that has captivated Xia Chan, to the point of madness. When it comes to matters of the heart, who can articulate them clearly? There is only one place in her heart, and it has long been occupied by Jiang Huai Nan, leaving no room for anyone else

The crowd in the center of the hall was as packed as sardines in a can, and Xia Chan buried her head, pushing forward against the tide of people, dodging left and right while shouting "Make way." She had not advanced very far in her daze when she collided with a thick wall of flesh, the pungent smell of alcohol mixed with the stench of sweat overwhelming her.

"I am sorry, I am sorry." Xia Chan instinctively retracted her hand and smiled apologetically at the plump man in front of her, then changed direction and attempted to leave.

Gu Tong's bar is among them. Xia Chan and the others had a hard time finding No. 319 according to the address provided by Gu Tong. Outside, a glazed plaque that looked like a broken wooden board was engraved with the character "zero." As soon as Xia Chan entered, she was startled by a lifelike half-human-high plaster statue of Van Gogh at the entrance.

As soon as the car stopped, before Xia Chan could say anything, Ella kicked her inside with one foot, and then her body, infused with a youthful aura, lunged forward. After providing the address, Ella rested her heavy head on Xia Chan's shoulder, squinting her eyes: "I'll take a nap, wake me up when we arrive"

Xia Chan nodded, thinking that both Ella and Jiang Huainan were guests, and it would not be appropriate to make them work like laborers. She then clasped her hands behind her back, took a step forward, and followed the person called Chengzi towards the partition.

"Alright." Gu Tong's eyes sparkled with a smile that radiated joy upon seeing a handsome man. A server with short chestnut hair happened to pass by, and Gu Tong reached out to take the plate from her hands and handed it to Xia Chan, instructing, "There are many guests today, help me out for the day, and I will treat you all to a meal another day. Chengzi, you take her to change clothes first."

Gu Tong, dressed in a black V-neck long dress, stood with her hands on her hips, pointing and gesturing busily. With keen eyes, she spotted Xia Chan and her face lit up with a hint of joy: "The little brat finally arrived." She walked straight towards Xia Chan in her high heels, and upon seeing Jiang Huainan, her eyes brightened: "Handsome Jiang is here too."

As her gaze swept over to the left side of the bar, Xia Chan furrowed her brows. She noticed a boy in a dirty shirt who had been staring at her intently. The boy had medium-length hair, distinct facial features, and a certain three-dimensional quality reminiscent of a Western male model. His eyes appeared particularly deep and shadowy under the dim lighting. He lounged lazily in the large leather sofa, one leg carelessly propped up on the coffee table in front of him, which already had seven or eight empty beer bottles on it

"I will go together." The young man beside me suddenly spoke up

Xia Chan tilted her head slightly in surprise. Jiang Huainan effortlessly took the tray and walked beside her. The orange indoor lighting was just right, casting fragmented light and shadow on Jiang Huainan's profile.

Standing at the roadside in front of Ella's house after finishing her call with her, Xia Chan called Jiang Huainan to join them. Just as she put her phone back in her pocket, Ella had already finished packing and rushed downstairs, smiling and waving vigorously at Xia Chan from across the street, causing a faint smile to appear on Xia Chan's lips

"Is this little sister new here? She is quite cute." The lecherous hand pinched Xia Chan's slender arm, and the skin contact made Xia Chan feel a wave of nausea in her heart

Xia Chan wanted to bypass the wall of flesh, but a malicious hand grabbed her.

Xia Chan tilted her head, still in a daze, while Jiang Huainan's dark eyes sparkled with a bright smile as they met hers. Xia Chan, feeling guilty, averted her gaze and awkwardly followed behind him, saying, "Alright."

"Ah, our Fat Brother doesn't buy into apologies. Come on, beautiful, have a few drinks with us, and we'll let this matter go." With their retreat blocked, a young man with dyed blonde hair leaned in closely, his hand unceremoniously brushing against Xia Chan's shoulder.

Xia Chan tilted her head and couldn't help but laugh at the furry head on her shoulder, suppressing the thought of chatting with her. By the time the two arrived at the Jiang family's residence, Jiang Huainan was already waiting by the roadside.