In the cramped space, the dim lights cast a soft, faintly mysterious glow, bathing the whole place in a hazy wash of color.
The counter was the heart of the bar. Its old wooden surface bore the marks of age, while a few decorations and old photographs hung on the surrounding walls. A distinctive blend of alcohol, old wood, and faint tobacco smoke permeated the air.
The patrons were a varied bunch. Some drank with their heads lowered, while others talked quietly, but when the confrontation between Ye Hua and Yue Chen began, everyone's attention was involuntarily drawn to them.
Two young people beside the counter whispered to each other. The young man murmured, "Look at those two women. Things seem pretty serious. We're in for a show."
At a nearby table, several middle-aged men were drinking, their conversation gradually shifting to Ye Hua and Yue Chen. One man wearing a hat said, "That black-haired one looks like trouble. Are they about to fight? Perfect. We needed some entertainment with our drinks." His friend nodded in agreement, repeatedly glancing their way.
Behind the counter, the bartender secretly watched the exchange while carefully preparing drinks. He murmured to a nearby patron, "Little arguments happen here all the time, but something like this is pretty rare. She actually threw her drink right in the other woman's face."
As the conversation continued, some patrons grew increasingly interested. A few even stopped talking to concentrate on Ye Hua and Yue Chen's exchange. Though they couldn't hear every detail, the obvious tension between the two women was enough to make them speculate about their relationship and what they were discussing.
"I should've left you in that dump back then."
Anger blazed in Yue Chen's eyes, and her tone betrayed utter displeasure and contempt. She gripped