Wen Da and Qu Xiao looked around anxiously, waiting for a long time, but Yan Mu still didn’t come back.
Wen Da uneasily took a sip of his drink, his gaze constantly shifting toward the side door. “They’re not going to start fighting, are they?”
The two of them had long known that Young Master Yan had a love rival at school. Rumor had it that he was a school bully with poor grades, a bad character, and always skipping class. Wen Da and Qu Xiao didn’t even take someone like that seriously. A bad boy, always smoking, drinking, and getting into fights. Which girl would like someone like that?
There wasn’t the slightest chance of winning Young Master Yan!
And it turned out he was a guy just as handsome as Young Master Yan?! In addition, he had such good bartending skills that girls around 17 or 18 thought it was super cool! In that case, his poor grades didn’t even matter anymore!
Love rivals often clashed and got especially heated when they met. It was possible for a fight to break out.
Qu Xiao said, “It probably won’t happen. If there was a real fight, the security here would have already stepped in.”
Although Qu Xiao spoke with certainty, he still felt a bit concerned. “But… they’ve been out for so long. What could they be talking about?”
Just as he finished speaking, the side door opened. The bartender, with an air of aloofness that made him seem untouchable, passed by and gave a nod to Boss Qu with his cool and clear eyes.
Not long after, the side door was pulled open again, and Yan Mu finally returned. Wen Da patted Qu Xiao on the shoulder and gave him a push forward. Qu Xiao stood up and leaned toward Yan Mu and said, “I-I-I didn’t know Shin was your love rival at school. Just wait; I’ll fire him tonight. After all, it’s just a part-time job!”
A bartender was not as important as brothers!
Yan Mu didn’t show much expression, but when he heard how Qu Xiao addressed Jiang Zhihuo, he suddenly froze. “… What did you call him?”
“Shin, S-H-I-N,” Qu Xiao explained, “I don’t know his real name. That’s just what everyone in our bar calls him. I haven’t checked the contract, but I’ll have the manager take a look later.”
After saying this, Qu Xiao realized how foolish he sounded. Since they were love rivals and even went to the same school, Young Master Yan definitely knew his name.
Qu Xiao waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it; who cares what his name is? Starting tonight, there is no such a person in the bar!”
“There’s no need,” Yan Mu said as he ordered a cup of hot water. The edge of the cup was hot, a thin mist rising from the surface. “It’s not that serious…”
He paused for a moment and then asked, “You said his name is Shin?”
“Yeah.” Qu Xiao thought Yan Mu hadn’t heard clearly, so he spelled the name out again, “S-H-I-N. What’s wrong with the name?”
Yan Mu rested his knuckles on the edge of the cup, his gaze fixed on the other side.
Jiang Zhihuo had returned to the bar counter, focusing on his work. His long fingers expertly gripped the silver bar spoon, its design pressing on his fingers as he stirred quickly. He then lifted his left hand, hurriedly held the spoon to add syrup and cream, and finished by adding decorations and cherries.
The movements were so smooth and skillful. The amber-colored liquid shimmered with a subtle glow. In the shifting light, the color of the drink was clearly reflected on his hands.
Qu Xiao stared at Yan Mu for a while, but since Yan Mu didn’t seem to be answering, he was unsure what to do. “So, should I fire him or not?”
“No need.” Yan Mu said.
Qu Xiao: “Ah?”
“It’s hard to explain,” Yan Mu said, with the light reflecting from the cup, casting colorful patterns from the bar’s lights. He didn’t want to elaborate further and added, “Don’t talk about it anymore.”
He glanced back at the bar counter.
The indifferent bartender handed the cocktail to the customer in front of him.
The movements were elegant, and the cocktail was stunning. Each motion displayed a graceful skill. Many people even ordered drinks that were double in price just to be able to sit at the bar counter and take a video openly.
The name tag hanging on Jiang Zhihuo’s chest had four letters printed on it.
—Shin。
*
Jiang Zhihuo worked part-timed short shifts, a maximum of four hours a day, including a 30-35 minute break. During this break, he would slip out to find Yan Mu.
Since Yan Mu was already at the bar this time, it saved Jiang Zhihuo the time of going back and forth. After their kiss, he could also use his phone in the break room.
After finishing work, Jiang Zhihuo changed his clothes, looked at himself in the mirror, patted his cheeks, took a deep breath, and let out a long sigh of relief.
Although maintaining a cold and aloof personality didn’t require saying a word, holding it up for an entire evening was still exhausting.
He pushed open the changing room door, thinking about how he would soon have to engage in another round of mental sparring with the god of learning Yan, and felt a headache coming.
—If Yan Mu could forget about tutoring because of his part-time job, then losing this disguise would be worth it.
“Shin!” A man’s voice suddenly called out from the doorway, accompanied by a strong smell of alcohol. “I knew you’d be here. I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”
Jiang Zhihuo recognized the man—a middle-aged guy in his thirties and a frequent visitor at the bar. Every shift, he had seen him dressed in a suit, sitting quietly in the corner.
Jiang Zhihuo switched back into his aloof personality, his expression turning cold. He gave the man a polite nod, slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed for the door.
The man, reeking of alcohol, followed him closely and asked, “Off work?”
Jiang Zhihuo: “Mhm.”
The man’s gaze roamed up and down on Jiang Zhihuo and said, “You are quite good-looking like this too.”
After getting off work, Jiang Zhihuo changed into casual clothes, a T-shirt, jeans, and a bag. His look was simple and clean.
Jiang Zhihuo: “Thank you.”
The man followed Jiang Zhihuo through the bar’s main area, and just before he pushed open the door, the other person suddenly grabbed his wrist. “Shin, you aren’t old, right? 18? 19? You’re just a part-timer here, aren’t you? Your salary isn’t high, is it? How about coming with me?”
He held up a finger to indicate a number. “I’ll offer you this amount. I’ll see you once a week, and the rest of the time is up to you.”
Jiang Zhihuo’s brows twitched.
Are you kidding me?!
Is this person out of his mind???
Jiang Zhihuo was genuinely offended. He had to exert a great deal of effort to restrain himself from striking the man. It wasn’t a good thing to get into a fight in front of the bar; no matter what, the one who threw the first punch would always be at a disadvantage.
Jiang Zhihuo maintained his character, freed himself from the man’s grip, and said calmly, “Sir, you’re drunk.”
“I’m drunk.” The man said with a smile, gradually releasing his pheromones. “Even when I’m sober, I still think this way. I’ve had my eyes on you for a while already. I know you’re an alpha, and so am I. It wouldn’t be a loss coming with me.”
The pheromones of an alpha came with a certain aura. Although some people nearby noticed the situation, the two people didn’t make too much noise. Since there were pheromones, others didn’t dare to approach. They didn’t want to provoke an alpha.
Perhaps because he used to be an alpha, Jiang Zhihuo was unaffected by the pheromones. “There are omegas in the bar. Please show some respect.”
The man scoffed; his tone was disdainful. “It’s just an omega.”
Jiang Zhihuo: “……”
Damn it, where did this idiot come from?
If he had to talk to this idiot again, Jiang Zhihuo couldn’t guarantee he’d be able to control his fists.
Without looking back, Jiang Zhihuo tried to push open the door and leave. Seeing this, the man reached out again to grab him. Jiang Zhihuo had already noticed the other person’s movement out of the corner of his eyes. If the man touched him, Jiang Zhihuo would certainly grab his forearm and throw him to the ground.
However, the man’s movement suddenly came to a halt.
—A much stronger and more dominant pheromone pressed from the outside.
The windchime hanging on the doorframe jingled as a cold, clear face appeared in front of them. Yan Mu firmly gripped the man’s wrist, his fingers pinching the other party’s wrist. No matter how hard the man struggled, he was in vain.
He pinched so hard that it hurt, making the man release more pheromones, angrily shouting, “Who are you?!”
Yan Mu didn’t answer; his oppressive gaze locked firmly onto the man. Alphas also have ranks, and this man couldn’t even compare to Yan Mu. Before long, the man couldn’t hold any longer; his legs went weak, and cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Yan Mu slightly loosened his grip, and the man, as if finding a huge hole, pried his wrist free and fled in a panic.
Jiang Zhihuo was quite surprised when he saw Yan Mu. “What are you doing here?”
Yan Mu calmly placed his hand in his pocket, gently clenched it, and then quickly unclenched. His forearm twitched slightly from the pain spreading from his palm.
“Time is almost up.” Yan Mu said without changing an expression.
Jiang Zhihuo pressed on the screen, glanced at the time, and smiled, saying, “Indeed.” After a brief pause, Jiang Zhihuo continued, “Thanks for earlier.”
Jiang Zhihuo could have handled the situation on his own, but it wasn’t a good thing for him to release pheromones. If a fight had really broken out, it would have caused unnecessary trouble for him. Jiang Zhihuo was always clear-headed and had no hesitation in thanking even a love rival who helped him.
Yan Mu responded with a simple “Mhm.” and walked with Jiang Zhihuo in the direction of their residence.
‘Xiang Yao’ was located on a busy street in the west district, where people were constantly coming and going, making it difficult to find a spot to kiss. In order to avoid any sudden heat, Jiang Zhihuo reached out and gently pinched Yan Mu’s forearm.
The light had been too dim by the side door earlier, and it wasn’t until now that Jiang Zhihuo noticed a frightening red mark on Yan Mu’s hand. He had no idea when it appeared, but it stretched from the wrist upward, covering nearly half of his forearm, which was extremely noticeable.
Jiang Zhihuo was shocked. “Oh my god, friend, what happened to your hand?!”
“It’s nothing.” Yan Mu said.
He tried to pull his hand away, but Jiang Zhihuo held onto it, saying, “It’s nothing? What do you mean? What did you do to have such a large bruise?!”
Yan Mu: “It’s not a bruise.”
“Then it’s an allergy? What are you allergic to? Alcohol? Allergic to alcohol and still going to the bar? That’s pretty bold. We need to go to the hospital.” Jiang Zhihuo said, pulling Yan Mu toward the hospital direction.
The hospital was only two stops away from where they were, so there was no need to take a taxi; it would only take ten minutes to walk.
Yan Mu didn’t cooperate, saying, “It’s not an allergy. Going to the hospital won’t help.”
Jiang Zhihuo: “Then what do you think this is?!”
Yan Mu lifted his eyes, glanced at Jiang Zhihuo’s finger pointing at the mark, and said coldly, “Don’t interfere with each other’s lives.”
Jiang Zhihuo: “……”
Seeing this, Jiang Zhihuo couldn’t help ignoring the remark. He grabbed Yan Mu’s wrist and pulled him; his tone was firm. “It’s about not interfering in each other’s lives, but you’re in this condition…”
Noticing that Yan Mu was unwilling to cooperate, Jiang Zhihuo came up with a somewhat reasonable excuse. “What if someone sees and says it’s from a fight with me?”
Speaking of fights, Jiang Zhihuo suddenly recalled the similar mysterious red mark on Yan Mu’s hand before. He asked, “The mark from before seemed to be the same as this one. What exactly did you do?”
Jiang Zhihuo’s touch wasn’t very hard, but the mark still hurt. Even the breeze felt like a knife against it, causing Yan Mu to inhale sharply and pull his arm away with a great reaction.
“Ah…” Jiang Zhihuo released his grip. “Sorry.”
“It’s always like this since I was young.” Yan Mu explained briefly, unwilling to say more. “There’s no treatment; it will get better within a few days.”
“……” Jiang Zhihuo was momentarily lost for words. Initially concerned about the injury worsening, he hadn’t expected it to be a condition. No wonder Yan Mu had been so reluctant to mention it.
Young Master Yan had access to medical care that was naturally better than an ordinary hospital. If he said it couldn’t be treated, and taking him to the hospital would indeed be pointless.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhihuo said awkwardly, “Oh, then, then, then shall we head back?”
Yan Mu responded with a simple, “Mhm.”
Jiang Zhihuo gently held onto Yan Mu’s elbow, maintaining physical contact, and remained silent throughout the walk.
It was a sweltering summer night without a trace of wind; the air felt thick and sticky.
A wave of pain broke out from his palm, as if countless tiny needles were piercing through the flesh. Yan Mu clenched his hand briefly before releasing it, trying to relieve the pain.
His action at the bar’s entrance had been completely instinctive. It was only later that he realized it might have been a bit reckless. Even though Jiang Zhihuo was in the process of differentiating into an omega, he wasn’t truly weak enough to need his protection.
If he really wanted to come up with an excuse for himself…
“Shin.” Yan Mu suddenly spoke up, “Why is it called that?”
“Ah? Well, it’s simply because it sounds nice.” Jiang Zhihuo tilted his head to look at him. “I originally wanted to be called -S-H-I-N-E- but it sounded too common, so I removed one letter.”
It was clear that this was a reason he had made up.
Yan Mu asked again, “Why did you tell me to not pursue Yujun?”
“What’s so strange about that?” Jiang Zhihuo looked puzzled. “Didn’t you say the same thing to me?”
“It’s different.” Yan Mu said.
“How is it different?” Jiang Zhihuo asked in response.
Yan Mu didn’t answer directly and said, “You’ve been asking about her everywhere lately.”
Yan Mu’s gaze was deep, as dark and dense as the night sky. Jiang Zhihuo smiled warmly and said casually, “That’s just how I pursue girls—it’s always so high-profile!”
Jiang Zhihuo raised an eyebrow, giving Yan Mu a look that perfectly matched the image of a school bully and love rival, with a hint of provocation.
It seemed like no further questions could be asked.
At that moment, Jiang Zhihuo frowned slightly, apparently having seen something. He pulled Yan Mu behind a utility pole and peeked out.
To save time, they took a shortcut. As two men, and both were alphas, the likelihood of encountering a danger on a night walk was relatively low. They were currently in a small street, surrounded by older residential neighborhoods and houses, in a demolition area connected in a grid-like pattern, forming a ‘well’ shape.
Jiang Zhihuo looked at the small alley at the corner.
Under the orange streetlight, two silhouettes were cast. Feng Zhi and Tang Anmiao passed by from the other end of the alley, engaged in cheerful conversation.
Yan Mu: “It’s ten o’clock.”
Jiang Zhihuo: “Yes, it’s so late. What are they doing out here?”
Jiang Zhihuo held Yan Mu’s hand and turned toward the alley where Feng Zhi and Tang Anmiao had passed.
Yan Mu didn’t ask, but Jiang Zhihuo continued to explain as they walked forward, “I never paid much attention before. I just thought Director Feng had a really good temperature; he never said a word to me, even though I skipped class.”
“Only realized when a senior started…” Jiang Zhihuo suddenly fell silent as Tang Anmiao dropped something. Feng Zhi helped her pick it up and turned to the side. Jiang Zhihuo quickly pulled Yan Mu by turning their backs and pretended to walk in the opposite direction.
Unnoticed, Jiang Zhihuo had planned to continue, but Yan Mu interrupted him and said, “Director Feng is in contact with all omegas.”
