"Boss, two bottles of soda."
Carefully, he took four coins from the pocket of his camouflage uniform and painfully set them on the counter.
He grabbed two glass bottles of soda from the freezer, skillfully knocked them against the corner of the wall, and with a bang popped off the caps. He guzzled them down, the icy soda flowing down his throat and into his stomach, driving away the restless heat and bringing cool relief. Strange, though—it always felt like soda in glass bottles was colder than soda in plastic ones.
After downing both bottles, Zhen Bei returned the glass bottles to the boss.
He stood at the entrance, watching the city's neon lights.
At dusk, as the lights first came on, headlights merged into a flowing river of stars. Men and women, young and old, cooled off by the river, while those with nothing better to do set up street stalls selling little trinkets.
Maybe some people thought it was too crowded and too noisy, but wasn't this exactly what peace and prosperity looked like?
He watched a cool, beautiful woman walk past.
"Tsk, tsk. This damned summer is scorching and beautiful. I like summer. Mm, barbecue smells so good."
The scent of grilled meat and seafood wafted over from the barbecue stall. Sadly, his pockets were empty; one penny could stump a hero. He hurried farther away lest he spend money recklessly. If he got back too late, the boxed meals would all be sold out.
Just as he was about to reach the bus stop, dark clouds suddenly filled the sky. Hadn't the moon been bright and the stars sparse just moments ago?
He shook his head and quickened his pace.
"The weather forecast is getting more and more perfunctory."
The Light Pillar in the park shone