186 First meeting in Beijing (1/2)
”He's here?”
”Yes.”
”Xue's life is saved?”
”For now.”
”That's good, that's good.”
An old man released a long sigh.
”Grandpa, how about I invite him over to see you tomorrow?”
”That's fine. Speaking of it, even my life was saved by him. I ought to thank him properly. You should greet your Uncle Su first; don't steal his guest away from him,” the elderly man said, smiling.
”Okay, I will speak to Uncle Su first.”
Beijing's night view was rather beautiful.
After packing for a little while, Wang Yao went to find Ying.
”What requests do you have?”
”Could I trouble you to bring me around? This is my first time in Beijing,” Wang Yao said, smiling.
”Sure,” Ying responded.
The two of them slowly drove out in one car.
They first went to see the famous ten-kilometer street, Beijing's central street connecting the east and west, and the number one street in China. Many famous buildings were situated around it. The car was moving slowly, and Wang Yao wound down the car window to look outside. The lights were bright, making it seem almost like daytime. Meanwhile, the cars were all lined up, and the street was bustling.
The number one street—it was an eye-opening sight.
Following that, the young lady named Chen Ying brought Wang Yao for a tour around the rest of Beijing.
Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, the Great Hall of the People—all these things that frequently came up on television, he went to visit.
”Right, tomorrow, I should go and visit Second Aunt.”
Wang Yao felt that since it was rare for him to come to Beijing, he ought to visit his second aunt whom he hadn't seen in years.
”Where else would you like to go, Mr. Wang?”
”Anywhere is fine.”
”Then how about I bring you to a street around Houhai?”
”That's fine. The host leads while the guest follows, after all.”
Thus, Chen Ying brought him to the famous Houhai Bar street to look at the various bars and inns.
”Should we go in to take a look?”
”Sure,” Wang Yao replied, smiling.
Following Chen Ying's lead, the two of them entered one of the more famous bars.
One single door separated the silence from the loud excitement. In the bar, the excitement was unusual.
”One more song!” They could hear people shouting the moment they entered the bar.
Over here, most of the people were youths. Although it was still in April and the weather could barely be considered warm, those who came were wearing relatively little clothing. In fact, the clothing could even be said to be revealing. Some girls sat on the stage at the bar covered in heavy make-up.
”Handsome man, would you like a drink?”
A lady with dyed yellow hair and could barely be considered beautiful saw Wang Yao and offered him a drink. She plastered herself onto him. Wang Yao quickly retreated.
”My apologies, thank you.”
”Oh, how shy!”
”This way please.” Chen Ying saw the scene and laughed. She gestured for Wang Yao to follow her to the side where there were tables with less people around. The lady did not follow them.
”Welcome, would you like a drink?” The moment they sat down, a waiter came up to take their orders.
”Water please,” Chen Ying said.
”Me too.”
”Sure, wait a moment please,” the waiter replied, stunned. ”How interesting, coming to a bar to drink plain water.”
Those who drank water in a bar were uncommon because naturally, even water was not free.
Wang Yao sat there observing the people around them. Some were vigorously shaking their bodies while others were doing bar dances. There were also those drinking morosely in a corner. Here was a place to vent and let loose, and Wang Yao felt truly out of place in here, like a crane amidst chickens.
”Let's go.”
After the water was served, Wang Yao smiled at Chen Ying and said. He did not take even a sip.
”Sure.”
Chen Ying got up to settle the bill.
”Would you look at that. The lady beside that young man. Beautiful.”
”Coming to the bar and letting the girl pay. He has some methods.”
”I'll go hit them up.”
A man, thick with the smell of alcohol, swaggered in front of Wang Yao.
”Hey man, you're quite capable!”
”Please excuse us,” Chen Ying said. There was a faint smile on her face, and it revealed her two dimples.
”Hey lady, your smile is really beautiful. It's just like a classmate I once knew. Let me try to recall, hmm…” Even as the man was speaking, he suddenly fell onto the floor with a loud thump, landing on his buttocks. The alcohol in his cup had spilled out, splashing onto his face.
”Who?!” As he got up, looking around, he found that everyone was looking at him, and the girl and guy had long left. He was left standing there like an idiot.
”Okay, they're gone, let's continue drinking.”
”Right, drinking.”