Making More Friends

Racing?

What racing? I, Boss Li, don't even own a car... Li Yao hasn't even gotten himself a car yet. He uses shared bikes for trips within a kilometer, and takes taxis for trips beyond that!

"So environmentally friendly!" Li Yao laughed and said, "I don't race cars."

There's no Mount Akina in the provincial capital.

Jiang Zhiying smiled and said, "I meant the game, Tencent Racing. I downloaded it to play recently when I had nothing to do. I can't play the games that young people like to play these days, like Chicken Dinner or Arena of Valor, and match-3 games can only be played alone, so I found Tencent Racing to play. Do you want to play together?"

She looked at Li Yao expectantly.

Li Yao declined, saying, "I'm sorry, I haven't played Tencent Racing for a long time, so my driver's license should have been revoked."

Jiang Zhiying: "..."

Why don't you mention that you've sent your car in for maintenance?

If you don't want to play with me, then don't play. Why make excuses? Jiang Zhiying looked at Li Yao with great resentment. But honestly, this was the most tactful way Boss Li had ever refused. You didn't even see how he refused that Guo Changshi.

Guo Changshi was so angry he wanted to punch someone! Just as the atmosphere was getting tense, Chen Xi called out, "Boss, dinner's ready!"

The rich aroma of food wafted from the tavern, causing some regulars to involuntarily swallow hard. They chuckled and asked, "Is this a tavern or a restaurant? We're starving!"

Some people chimed in, "Why don't we just turn it into a restaurant?"

Chen Xi replied with a smile, "Then you should ask my boss."

He said that,

Deep down, I was quite proud: This is our specialty! Superb!

Li Yao rolled his eyes and replied, "Nobody said taverns can't sell side dishes!"

So why change the name of the restaurant?

and,

Putting the words "lost" and "alcohol" together already sounds like there's a story behind it. Do you think it's appropriate to put "lost" and "food" together?! What's wrong with that?

Did you eat too much and get confused, then you can't find your way? I've heard of people getting drunk from alcohol or tea, but I've never heard of people getting drunk from food!

Everyone burst into laughter at Li Yao's words, and the tavern was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

After everyone finished laughing, someone actually suggested, "How about a couple of side dishes?"

Lin Xiaoxi was displeased. "We can serve you food, but you might not be able to afford it!"

Do you think you can just casually try my sister Chen Xi's cooking? You should be grateful for the melon seeds and dried fruit I give you! Even Lin Xiaoxi thinks it's a waste to give Li Da Yao, that guy, Chen Xi Xi's cooking to him!

He should be the standard for garbage sorting in Modu! The drinkers and Lin Xiaoxi started arguing casually, but they were just having fun.

Although Lin Xiaoxi's words are not pleasant to hear, she is beautiful and has a lovely voice. All these factors combined give her a cute and cuddly vibe.

It's genuinely leathery! And I'm genuinely not angry!

Li Yao stood up with a smile and dusted himself off, "Have you eaten? Want to eat something together?"

Jiang Zhiying glanced over there, then at Li Yao, and finally smiled very ladylike, "I've eaten, so I won't disturb your meal any longer. I'm going back to my shop now."

As Jiang Zhiying left the tavern, she looked back. The tavern, decorated in a rustic style, was dimly lit, and a warm feeling spread through the darkening street. She saw Li Yao rubbing his hands as he went to the table, saw Li Yao and a little girl Lin Xiaoxi playing around, and saw Chen Xi wearing an apron and smiling as she watched them play.

That was such a wonderful time...

Like a vivid painting.

Jiang Zhiying wrapped a thin shawl around her shoulders; despite it being a hot late summer night, she felt a little chilly.

Some pedestrians on the street had blank expressions, while others walked and chatted with their lovers. All sorts of people revealed or hid their emotions. Through this corner alone, she seemed to see the entire human world slowly unfolding before her.

And she,

Alone and all alone.

She walked towards her own Beauty Salon, her mood becoming very low.

Sudden,

Li Yao's voice came from behind. "Wait a moment."

Jiang Zhiying turned around and saw Li Yao handing her several letters. "I've been running around a lot lately and forgot to give you these, my apologies! By the way, your sister is doing very well now."

Li Yao patted her on the shoulder. "Take care. If you're free, you can go to the Midnight Bar next door more often. I think you'll probably be hanging out with them a lot in the future. Make more friends, and life will be better."

Jiang Zhiying listened blankly.

This guy talks like a machine gun when he gets going!

After speaking, Li Yao turned and went back... Only then did Jiang Zhiying notice that Li Yao was still holding chopsticks in his hand, with a few grains of rice still stuck to them! Watching Li Yao's departing figure, Jiang Zhiying glanced at the Midnight Bar next to the tavern... She couldn't help but clench the envelope in her hand! Make more friends, huh?

It seems pretty good...

She thought for a moment, then put the envelope into her small bag and went into the Midnight Bar next door.

Not long after,

Midnight Bar, Big Sis Feng Li's signature greeting rang out from the bar. "Hey, you're here, little sister? You're Peugeot, aren't you!"

Boss Zhou Li chimed in, "She's got the air of elegance, huh? I bet..."

"Bang!"

After a loud thud of a forehead hitting the table, Qi Qi's cold and indifferent voice drifted out. "What do you want to say?"

Qi Qi is awesome! Qi Qi is powerful! Her terrifying aura scared Wang Meiling and Shuisheng Ge so much that they kept their heads down wiping their cups and didn't even glance at her!

Having never seen anything like this before Old He was upstairs coding.

Hearing the commotion, I thought someone was coming to cause trouble, so I ran to the stairwell. Seeing Qi Qi looking unusually downcast and Boss Zhou with his face pressed against the table, I ran back... The back-and-forth was as smooth as silk! Without stopping!

This Midnight Bar... is it toxic?!

Jiang Zhiying stood frozen at the doorway, unsure whether she should go in or not...

Finally, Qi Qi came over and asked, "Would the guest like something to drink?"

Jiang Zhiying pointed at Zhou Li: "Is he alright...?"

That sounded really painful! Qi Qi replied without even glancing at him, "He's used to it."

Jiang Zhiying: "..."

Thinking about what Li Yao had just said—that she would most likely be hanging out with this group of people from now on—she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Big Sis Feng Li pondered for a moment behind the bar before realizing what she had seen. She seemed to have spotted this girl during her recent trips to the Bagua Continent. She looked familiar! So she leaned closer and whispered, "From the Bagua Continent?"

Jiang Zhiying nodded with difficulty.

Big Sis Feng Li her hand. "Hey, we're all on the same side!"

Zhou Li immediately lifted his face off the table, revealing what he considered a rather wicked and arrogant smile, even the blood spurting from his nostrils was so distinctive. "Oh ho?"

"Bang!"

After completing the series of actions—a near-teleportation-like head-slam— Qi Qi clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Oh ho?"

Jiang Zhiying: "..."

These friends... seem alright? First update today, filling in another plot hole. It gets harder and more difficult to write at times like this. Phew~ I hope everyone enjoys reading.