NOVEL NEXT Ch. 21
Chapter 21: Bartender
A faint gleam flashed behind Zhou Zheng’s glasses, carrying just the right amount of warmth and reliability.
“Looking for a part-time job? What a coincidence. I run a bar over on Jiefang West Road called ‘Twillight’. We’re just hiring part-time bartenders. I wonder if Student Bai would be interested?”
A bar?
A bartender?
Bai Lengci’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Bars were those kinds of places: dim lighting, mixed crowds, noisy music...
Just imagining it made her feel uncomfortable.
And bartending?
She knew absolutely nothing about it.
As if noticing the doubt and resistance in Bai Lengci’s eyes, Zhou Zheng quickly added with a smile.
“Don’t worry, it’s a proper quiet bar, the environment is peaceful. We mainly serve business people and guests who like quiet conversation. The music is mostly light jazz, not noisy at all. We value elegance and the customer’s experience.”
He emphasized the words “proper” and “quiet”.
“I don’t know how to make drinks.”
Bai Lengci pointed out the key issue directly.
Hearing this, Zhou Zheng’s smile grew even more relaxed. He waved his hand, his tone carrying a casual confidence of someone experienced.
“Bartending? That’s all just showy tricks.
Most of our guests—eight or nine out of ten—order classics, or simply straight whiskey, gin and tonic, those basic ones.
You just need to remember a few common recipes. Like gin + tonic water + lime is a gin and tonic, rum + coke is a Cuba Libre, vodka + orange juice is a screwdriver...
Very simple! If you really can’t, just follow what the guest asks, pour some base spirit, add a soft drink, stir it a bit—as long as the proportions aren’t too off, the glass is clean, and your attitude is good, nobody will complain!
The key is a good image, good presence, someone who can hold the atmosphere.”
His last words came with his gaze once again falling on Bai Lengci’s strikingly beautiful face.
The implication was obvious.
“The salary?”
Bai Lengci cut straight to the core.
What she needed most now was money.
“For part-time, it’s hourly. From 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., five hours. Fifty yuan per hour, paid daily. Tips are yours. On weekends or holidays when there are more guests, the hourly wage can go up by ten.”
Zhou Zheng reported the rate crisply.
This hourly wage, among Jiangcheng’s student part-time jobs, was absolutely generous, especially compared with the “slave contracts” she had encountered before.
Bai Lengci silently calculated.
Two hundred fifty a night, five days a week would be twelve-fifty.
If she also worked two days on weekends, that was seventeen-fifty.
Enough to cover her most basic living expenses for now.
As for the environment... according to Zhou Zheng, it was a “proper”, “quiet” bar.
“I’ll think about it. I’ll give you an answer tonight.”
Zhou Zheng smiled.
“Alright, what’s your number?”
“Brother Zhou, please give me your card. I’ll call you tonight.”
Immediately, Zhou Zheng took out a dark blue matte business card from a refined cardholder and handed it over.
“No.77, Jiefang West Road, ‘Twillight’. Student Bai is always welcome to come and check out the environment. I just hope you won’t stand me up.”
Bai Lengci accepted the card.
The design was simple, only the name “Twillight”, the address, and a phone number.
She glanced at it, then put it into her pocket.
“Mm.”
Bai Lengci nodded slightly to Cheng Jiajia and Zhou Zheng.
Without unnecessary pleasantries, she soon disappeared around the corner. Zhou Zheng’s gaze lingered on her graceful back for quite some time.
He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and then turned his gaze toward Cheng Jiajia beside him.
“Jiajia, back at school, how come I never heard you mention this... Student Bai?”
Cheng Jiajia was fiddling with her phone.
Hearing him, she lifted her head, her lips curving into a knowing, slightly mocking smile.
“What? Manager Zhou, are you interested in her? Watching you just now, introducing her to a job, you seemed awfully eager.”
Zhou Zheng chuckled, shaking his head, his tone carrying a kind of calm appreciation.
“The love of beauty is in everyone’s nature. Beautiful things always make people want to take a few more glances, learn a bit more. Student Bai’s temperament... is very special.”
He chose his words carefully. Instead of saying “pretty”, he used the more subtle and weighty “special”.
“Tsk~”
Cheng Jiajia gave a small scoff, shooting him a sideways glance, her eyes full of the meaning: “Don’t I know you?”
“You men are all the same. The moment you see a pretty face, you can’t walk straight. But...”
Her tone suddenly shifted, carrying a mischievous slyness, her voice lowered.
“I should remind you, Zhou Zheng, you’d better put away those little thoughts of yours. Bai Lengci—he’s a man!”
“A man?!”
Even though Zhou Zheng had seen a lot and considered himself well-practiced in self-control, he couldn’t help but raise his voice.
“You’re sure? That’s... impossible!”
In his mind instantly flashed that face of Bai Lengci, beautiful to the point of unreality, that slender frame, that clear, cool voice...
Though the voice was somewhat androgynous, that face!
“Absolutely true!”
Seeing his stunned reaction, Cheng Jiajia couldn’t help but laugh out loud, a bit smug.
“Same classmate, how could I mistake the gender? He’s a boy! Just... well, looks a bit ‘delicate’.”
She shrugged.
“A boy that pretty is indeed rare, right?”
Zhou Zheng took a deep breath, his expression twisted into something strange, with a hint of awkwardness at being fooled.
Finally, it turned into a helpless sigh. He touched his chin unconsciously.
“...Indeed rare.”
As if reading his mind, Cheng Jiajia leaned in closer, her smile mischievous, lightly bumping him with her shoulder, and teased in a low voice.
“What now? Disappointed because he’s a guy? Or could it be... Manager Zhou, are you planning to ‘go for a man anyway’?”
“Nonsense!”
“My orientation is perfectly normal! How could I possibly like men! You girl, you’re getting more and more outrageous!”
“Hmph!”
Cheng Jiajia pouted, folding her arms, raising her chin.
“Better be that way. I’m warning you, don’t get any funny ideas.”
The atmosphere froze awkwardly for a moment.
Seeing Zhou Zheng’s look, the little irritation she had felt at his excessive attention toward Bai Lengci instead faded away, replaced by amusement.
Noticing that Cheng Jiajia still seemed a bit sulky, Zhou Zheng once again put on a gentle, considerate smile. He slipped an arm around her shoulders, his voice softening.
“Alright, alright, my dear lady, it’s my fault, I shouldn’t have asked too much. Don’t be angry, okay? How about this—next week on my day off, I’ll take you to the seaside for a break. Haven’t you always said you wanted to go to the beach?”
“The seaside?”
Cheng Jiajia’s eyes lit up.
For someone long living in the bustling city, the allure of sunshine, sand, and waves was irresistible.
Her little mood was instantly replaced by anticipation, though she still pretended to be reserved as she asked, “Really? Which seaside?”
“Wherever you like. Sanya? Or maybe a quieter little island?”
Seeing her soften, Zhou Zheng quickly pressed his advantage.
“I guarantee you’ll have a wonderful time.”
“Mm... fine then.”
Cheng Jiajia finally couldn’t hide her smile, agreeing at last, though she still added pointedly,
“This was your idea as compensation!”
“Yes, yes, my fault, compensation is only fair.”
Zhou Zheng agreed with a laugh, holding her as they walked toward the elevator.
“Come on, let’s get lunch first, and plan the trip as we eat.”