Chapter Forty-One: Let's Talk When We Meet

“Yes! Wonderful! I knew you’d help me, little brother!” Zhao Kewen clapped her hands in delight, her childlike gesture immediately drawing the attention of those around us.

“Come on, sis… I’m hardly a professional. Who knows if I’ll end up being more of a hindrance than help? Don’t get too happy just yet… The way you’re acting, I’m worried you’ll end up crying your eyes out!” Watching Zhao Kewen bouncing with excitement made me a little embarrassed. This wasn’t even a matter of confidence anymore; it was a question of whether I had the ability to do a good job at all.

“My tears have all dried up by now, there’s nothing left to cry about!” Zhao Kewen shot me a look.

After our noodles arrived, we both dropped the subject of the bar’s opening, each lost in our own thoughts as we finished eating. Once we were done, Zhao Kewen quickly got up, paid at the counter, and waved for me to hurry up and follow.

Perplexed, I matched her pace, but she sped up even more, as if she had something urgent to do.

“Sis, where are we going?”

“We need to overhaul your image immediately, and then put into action the plan I taught you for picking up girls!” Zhao Kewen said with an air of determination.

I nearly choked—she was actually serious about finding me a girlfriend!

With no choice, I followed Zhao Kewen as she dragged me through a nearby shopping mall, looking here and there. Under her stern command, I tried on endless shirts and pants, my arms soon laden with bags until she finally smiled in satisfaction.

Exhausted, I finally returned to my little room—never before had I so longed to simply go home. Seeing the pile of shopping bags filled with clothes on the floor, my head began to ache.

“There’s not much time today. Starting tomorrow, you’re to walk around where there are crowds. Don’t come back until you’ve found a girl you like!” Zhao Kewen issued her order with righteous conviction.

I was speechless. The way she said it, it sounded like I was being sent out to lure unsuspecting women, and she managed to make it sound so upright and moral. Who could ever understand what went on in her head? If a woman’s heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea, then hers is the anchor that pins it there.

“Why not go to bars or clubs? There are more women there…”

“No way. The kind of women who frequent bars and clubs—never mind what kind of people they are—you’re nowhere near ready to handle them. With your innocence, you’d be eaten alive!” Zhao Kewen considered for a moment, then explained logically.

Damn, am I really that hopeless? I hated myself for even asking. I should have known better than to invite trouble.

“So, it’s best to look for someone sunny, full of youthful energy—they’d suit you better.”

“Sis, are you really this anxious for me to find a girlfriend?”

“I’ll never be happy myself, that’s a given. But you’re my brother, so of course I have to think about your happiness. Seeing you muddle through each day with no sense of urgency—if I don’t step in now, you’ll end up a lifelong bachelor!” Zhao Kewen pressed her hand to her forehead, giving me a look that said I was beyond hope. Then she added, “Of course, if you really end up with no one, I could consider taking you in myself… If the goods don’t sell, maybe internal consumption is the way to go!”

“Stop it, sis!” I pointed to my chest. “I think my heart’s going to split open!”

“All right, all right, you take care of yourself. You’re old enough now to start using your head!” Seeing my dejected face, Zhao Kewen stifled a laugh and comforted me, “Honestly, little brother, except for not having money, you’re actually quite outstanding in every other way.”

“Sis, let’s talk about your bar instead.” I waved it off, wanting to drop the subject. It was just too depressing; another minute and I’d start feeling like a burden on society, drowning in negativity.

“I’ve already settled on the location for the bar, patched things up with all the right departments, gotten the paperwork and licenses sorted out, and contacted all the key staff. Everything’s ready except for the final push!” Zhao Kewen said with confidence, making a fist in encouragement.

Hearing her, I couldn’t help but see her in a new light. Clearly, this wasn’t just a whim for her; she’d been planning for a long time. All the groundwork was done, just as she said—only the finishing touches remained.

“So by your account, all we’re missing are equipment, the venue itself, interior design, and the band—everything else is settled?”

“Of course,” Zhao Kewen nodded with a self-assured smile.

“Have you decided on a name for the bar?” I asked.

“Not yet… Maybe you could come up with one?” Zhao Kewen rested her cheek on her hand and asked for my opinion.

“A bar is always intertwined with love and release. And what is release, if not freedom? But has anyone ever truly tasted freedom? Every day we’re busy, working for our families, ourselves, our dreams—desire has long since buried freedom. And as for love—everyone hopes to encounter something pure and beautiful, but in the end, it’s just an illusion, and yet people are still drawn to it…” I thought for a moment, then said, “Perfect love barely exists, and freedom is even more out of reach in our world. The meaning of a bar is to let people feel these distant, illusory things, to let them release their burdens and believe in love. So…”

“Let’s call it The Far Shore!” Zhao Kewen interrupted excitedly.

I smiled and nodded, then shook my head. “The meaning’s right, but it doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. I’d suggest simply: The Other Side—The Other Side Bar.”

“Perfect! The Other Side Music Bar it is!” Zhao Kewen jumped up and down in excitement, praising me. “Little brother, you’re full of surprises after all!”

I looked at the nearly dancing Zhao Kewen, torn between laughter and tears. Even now, she couldn’t pass up a chance to tease me! Still, I felt a glow of pride—I needed to keep my mind sharp, to innovate and break through, to prove my worth.

After sitting in my room a while longer, Zhao Kewen left, saying she needed to finalize the paperwork for her new place.

Lying on my bed, I felt worn out. I’d been running around all day, buying this and that. Even though Zhao Kewen paid for almost everything, she insisted it was only a “temporary loan,” so I had no real reason to refuse.

I pulled out my new phone and checked the time—it was already past four in the afternoon. I didn’t feel hungry, so I decided to skip dinner. I happened to notice a few unread messages at the bottom of the screen, and assumed they were from my carrier, confirming my new SIM card.

Opening them, I found two were exactly as I’d guessed. But the third was from an unknown number. Since my new phone had no contacts yet, even if it was someone I knew, I wouldn’t recognize them.

“It’s been a boring day.” The message was simple.

“Even the most boring day is better than a thrilling one,” I replied. I had no idea who it was, but it was exactly what I wanted to say. Only after brushing close to death do you realize how lucky you are to be bored and alive.

“You finally replied,” came the next message.

“Sorry, I lost my phone earlier. Who is this?” I decided to ask directly—it was pointless to keep guessing.

“Su Xuefei.”

I was stunned. Staring at her name on the screen, I fell silent. I suddenly remembered our last text conversation, which hadn’t gone anywhere, except that she had mysteriously said she’d agreed to something.

“Oh, it’s you. Is there something you need?” If I hadn’t known who it was, I could have chatted all night. But once I did, I realized we didn’t seem to have anything in common, and could only manage small talk.

“Have you thought it over?”

“Thought what over?”

After I sent the message, I waited, but there was no reply from Su Xuefei.

Lying in bed, I wondered if I should nap, but worried that if I slept now, I’d be awake all night, alone and restless. That kind of loneliness, sleepless at midnight, sometimes felt like pure torment.

Just as I was hesitating, my new phone chimed with that unfamiliar notification sound again.

“What I mentioned before.” The message was vague.

I thought for a moment and understood what she meant, but I still couldn’t believe it was real. She, the untouchable goddess Su, was actually texting me, taking the initiative. Something felt off.

“I think you must be mistaken. Honestly, I was better off in high school than I am now—at least then I didn’t have to worry about food or rent. Now, I live in a shabby apartment, barely scraping by. Really, I have nothing. So if there’s any misunderstanding between us, let’s clear it up now, before it wastes your time.” I typed out a long reply.

It wasn’t that I was trying to push her away. After all, I was single—if the girl I’d dreamed about for years suddenly wanted to talk to me, why would I resist? I should be thrilled! If she wanted to be my girlfriend, I’d be over the moon. But however much of a failure I was, I still had a bit of self-awareness. I didn’t know what her life was like now, but with her talent and looks, she could never be an ordinary woman.

Even if, by some miracle, we became a couple, it would be nothing more than a fleeting joy. Once she saw the mess I’d become, the best I could hope for was that she wouldn’t despise me too much, out of consideration for our three years as classmates.

“Let’s talk about the rest when we meet,” came her swift reply.

“You’re coming to Yichun?” I was shocked—she wanted to meet face to face? For what? What was there to say between us?

“It won’t be long now.”