Chapter Nine: An Encounter at the Bar

Jade Belt River, the great waterwheel, Bar Street.

Nine out of ten visitors to Lijiang come here seeking a romantic encounter.

A glass of cocktail, a guitar tune, several red lanterns—all stir the hearts of countless young men and women.

Aside from a few noisy, bustling dance bars, most establishments here are quiet bars, where resident bands perform. The usual instruments are guitar, hand drum, and electric keyboard, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The performers are often attractive young men and women, each with a distinctive personality, making the place all the more lively.

Chen Tianyu and Liu Zichen both favor peace and quiet, so naturally they chose a quiet bar to sit in. The prices weren’t exorbitant, but certainly not cheap, so they ordered cocktails costing a few dozen yuan each, blending in with the local custom.

Liu Zichen took a sip and couldn’t help but wrinkle her brow. “This tastes awful... it’s really strange.”

“Cocktails are made to look good, not to taste good. Who ever told you they were delicious?” Chen Tianyu was quite at ease. “I ought to order something else; cocktails seem to be intended for ladies.”

Liu Zichen smiled. “I never stopped you.”

“New to the place, I’d better not drink too much.” Chen Tianyu shook his head. “Sometimes people get drunk without drinking; just being here is intoxicating enough.”

He glanced around, curiosity brimming. It was only seven or eight in the evening; the bar wasn’t crowded yet, the band hadn’t begun, and only a few instruments sat near the bar counter. Under the dim lights, besides their table, only one young woman in the corner was absorbed in her phone.

She seemed to be waiting for someone, hadn’t ordered anything, and had her back to Chen Tianyu, so her face was unclear.

The bar’s sound system played soft music; clearly, the nightlife had yet to truly begin.

The two sat contentedly, exchanging occasional conversation. As more guests arrived—couples and singles alike, all quite young—the limited tables soon filled up.

With the crowd came liveliness. The band seized the moment, aware of the perfect time to take the stage. Three young men, all dressed in rock attire, entered and began preparing their instruments, checking the cables, and testing each one with practiced ease.

The background music faded, replaced by the steady, resonant beat of the hand drum. The drummer varied his technique, keeping the rhythm brisk; even with only one instrument, it didn’t feel monotonous. Soon, the guitar strings and keyboard chords joined in, perfectly timed. Applause erupted throughout the bar, no shouting, just well-mannered guests.

Chen Tianyu murmured, “This isn’t quite what I imagined.”

Liu Zichen glanced at him. “What did you expect?”

“What happened to the promised romance?” Chen Tianyu said, a bit disappointed.

Liu Zichen laughed and teased, “You’re wicked!”

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The band sang a few current popular songs; applause occasionally broke out, but overall, the performance was unremarkable.

Finding it dull, the pair were about to leave when Chen Tianyu, just rising, suddenly sat back down. He gestured for Liu Zichen to be quiet, and she, puzzled, sat as well.

“See who just arrived?” Chen Tianyu whispered. Seated side-on to the entrance, Liu Zichen turned slightly and immediately understood.

“Wait, is it really him?!” She was surprised. “Has he been following us?”

Chen Tianyu shook his head. “Doesn’t seem like it. Didn’t you notice he hasn’t spotted us?”

Liu Zichen glanced covertly at the corner by the entrance. Two young people, a man and a woman, were deep in conversation, oblivious to their surroundings. Their attention was focused; the chat was intense, no sign of looking around. The girl with her back to them was the fashionable woman from earlier, waiting for someone. The young man who had just arrived, dusty and travel-worn, was the photographer they’d met by chance in the Three Pagodas Reflection Park.

Liu Zichen nodded and sipped her cocktail. “You’re right. He’s probably here for a romantic rendezvous... Still, we barely know him; perhaps we’re just being overly suspicious.”

“Not necessarily.” Chen Tianyu shook his head. “I trust my instincts, but what I find most curious is that you’re normally warm and never judge people by appearances, yet these past few days you’ve been unusually wary.”

Liu Zichen paused, then said, “Really? I’ve noticed it myself... Maybe it’s intuition, hard to explain.”

“What kind of intuition?” Chen Tianyu asked, intrigued.

Liu Zichen considered carefully. “Well... it’s just that every time this photographer looks at me, his eyes seem to show more hostility than with others. Maybe it’s just my imagination.”

“Hostility?” Chen Tianyu suddenly understood. “No wonder you left me baffled at Lashihai. So that’s the reason.”

“What kind of person feels hostile toward a beautiful woman?” Chen Tianyu mused aloud, deep in thought.

He raised his glass and said slowly, “Looks like I need to meet him...”

“Hey, don’t... I was only mentioning it,” Liu Zichen hurriedly stopped him.

“Relax, I know my limits.” Chen Tianyu winked at her. “Curiosity killed the cat—especially me.”

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The two young people were engrossed in conversation when an inconsiderate guest pulled up a chair to their table.

The man kept talking, but the woman, more sensitive, turned and stared wide-eyed at the intruder.

The man sensed something was off and finally paused.

“Hey, what a coincidence! We meet again,” Chen Tianyu said, acting casual.

“You... who are you?” The photographer squinted, his eyesight evidently poor and the room dim. “Wait, oh, it’s you—3057?” He wasn’t sure how to address Chen Tianyu and used his WeChat ID.

Chen Tianyu laughed. “That’s right. And you’re XSU.”

The young man was straightforward. “Oh, my name is Xiao Su. Glad to run into you here.”

Chen Tianyu nodded. “I’m Chen Tianyu. Is this your girlfriend?”

Xiao Su quickly shook his head. “Just a friend, Xiao Li. We just met... This is Chen, whom I met in Dali.” He introduced them.

The girl named Xiao Li smiled graciously. “Hello, Chen.”

“Hope I’m not interrupting,” Chen Tianyu asked.

Xiao Su replied, “We’re just chatting, nothing important. Chen, didn’t you stay in Dali longer? Your itinerary seems tight.”

“There aren’t many sights in Dali. I’m mainly here for Lijiang,” Chen Tianyu said mildly.

Xiao Su nodded. “True... Chen, care to join us for a drink?”

Chen Tianyu raised his glass and toasted them. “A pleasure!”

He glanced at Xiao Li, noting her cool demeanor, clearly not Xiao Su’s girlfriend. So he spoke frankly. “Would you mind stepping aside for a moment? A friend wants to meet you.”

Xiao Su looked puzzled but said, “Sure... Where’s your friend?”

“Follow me.” Chen Tianyu got up, and Xiao Su followed.

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“Oh, it’s you! I wondered who else you could know here.” Xiao Su laughed upon seeing Liu Zichen.

She extended her hand, and they shook.

“Nice to meet you, Monkey King,” she said meaningfully.

Xiao Su was embarrassed. “You saw right through me! I thought my costume was convincing, but I still gave myself away.”

“Well, since you admit it, shouldn’t you refund the extra I paid?” Liu Zichen said seriously.

Xiao Su hesitated, then scratched his head awkwardly. “I usually charge sixty... But if you really think it’s too much, I can refund you.”

Chen Tianyu patted his shoulder. “You’re honest. She’s just teasing you. Have a seat, I’ll buy you a drink.”

Xiao Su quickly declined. “No need, I don’t usually drink. I just didn’t want to be impolite.”

“Meeting several times on the road is fate. Why not sit and chat for a while?” Chen Tianyu smiled. “That park probably only had three visitors this year—us.”

The three laughed, Xiao Su relaxed and joined in, and they introduced themselves.

Liu Zichen took the opportunity to ask, “You seem pretty professional with your camera. Are you a photographer?”

Xiao Su shook his head. “I wouldn’t call myself a photographer. Your standards are too low. I’m just an entertainment reporter; my main job is shooting and scouting, so I love traveling... What about you?”

“Uh...” Liu Zichen was momentarily at a loss.

Chen Tianyu answered, “We’re both grassroots civil servants. I work in security, she’s an office secretary. We’re on annual leave, just traveling.”

“Civil service is great.” Xiao Su seemed to like them more, even a bit envious. Upon hearing they worked for the government, he became more talkative.

“It’s stable and relatively easy, but the tasks have become tougher these years,” Chen Tianyu said honestly. “The pay is average.”

Xiao Su nodded. “Your jobs are good. At least you don’t have to be out in wind and rain like me.”

Liu Zichen was curious. “So... what exactly do entertainment reporters do?”

Xiao Su was embarrassed. “I call myself a reporter to sound better. Actually, it’s what people call paparazzi. My work is pretty unconventional; my family hardly supports me.”

“Then why do it, if your family objects?” Liu Zichen regretted asking as soon as she spoke.

Xiao Su was unconcerned. “The best thing about this job is freedom. The reputation isn’t great, but I like it, and I enjoy travel and photography. It’s three birds with one stone. You may not know, but paparazzi come in many types: some dig up scandals and invade celebrity privacy, some scout talent on the street, and I’m just an enthusiast, harmless, though as you said, the pay is low.”

Liu Zichen smiled. “So you’re a conscientious entertainment reporter.”

Xiao Su didn’t pretend modesty. “You could say that. At least, that’s how I see myself.”

Chen Tianyu interjected, “You seem experienced. Have you been at it long? You look pretty young.”

Xiao Su laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I graduated junior college two years ago. I’ve been doing this less than two years, picked up a few tricks, but mostly muddled through.”

“That explains it,” Chen Tianyu nodded, saying no more.

Liu Zichen asked, “Did you come to Lijiang for work or...?”

“To be honest, I came to YN especially. You know, there are lots of film studios here, and it’s a romantic city, a holy place for rookie entertainment reporters. We all have to come pay homage.”

Liu Zichen covered her mouth, laughing. “Did you want to try being an actor, so you dressed up as Monkey King?”

Xiao Su admitted, “I did have that thought, but mainly I need to earn money.”

“Earning money? Well, considering you’re indeed strapped, I won’t ask for a refund.” Liu Zichen joked.

“Heh... Thanks for understanding!” Xiao Su put his hands together in a gesture of thanks.

Chen Tianyu teased, “You’re pretty impressive, brother. According to your own account, you haven’t been here long, yet you’ve already won the heart of a beauty. Truly a veteran.”

Xiao Su waved his hands, embarrassed. “Don’t misunderstand. Xiao Li and I just met. She’s here job-hunting; I happen to know some people in the industry and wanted to help her. Nothing more. Besides, I’m broke; been in YN two or three months, didn’t achieve much, spent almost all my money. How could I dare expect anything?”

Chen Tianyu nodded. “Judging by her style, her family’s quite wealthy. Not exactly a good match—there’s some difficulty.”

“That’s such an old-fashioned idea. Love is about feelings, not family background!” Liu Zichen objected. “If you really like her, I can help you. From what I see, she’s interested in you... Go for it, what are you afraid of? As they say: Don’t underestimate a young man’s poverty!”

Chen Tianyu smiled wryly. “You’re always giving wild advice.”

Liu Zichen retorted, “You men are all the same—willing but lacking courage!”

Chen Tianyu shrank back, and Xiao Su laughed. “I really envy you two... I’d better head back. Let’s chat again next time.” He saw Xiao Li glancing over impatiently, so he got up to leave, and Chen Tianyu and Liu Zichen didn’t try to stop him.