Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Jiang Li pushed open the door of a cozy craft-beer bar whose décor leaned more toward quiet lounge than rowdy tavern.
Soft, shifting lights rippled across the counter while vintage jazz drifted through the dim hall, where knots of young patrons murmured over low square tables.
It was only seven in the evening, yet every seat was already taken.
Jiang Li guided Kakayan to two empty stools at the bar and handed her the drinks list.
"Just a little splurge," he'd said on the way here, but once inside he realized he'd miscalculated.
If you wanted to teach Kakayan about alcohol, you really should start with canned beer from a convenience store.
Not because Jiang Li was broke—this was simply the tried-and-true path from simplicity to luxury.
"Is it expensive?"
"About a hundred yuan a glass."
"A hundred...?" Kakayan's eyes widened. "That could buy—what—seventy-five mouthfuls of instant noodles!"
Jiang Li laughed despite himself.
He never should have told her that one yuan bought three mouthfuls of noodles.
Now every price tag triggered instant-noodle calculus.
The habit was common back on the continent of Aze, where folk often bartered without coin, but here it sounded downright silly.
"Can I help you choose something?"
The bar owner leaned over, smiling, and slid a fresh page between them. "First time here? What sort of flavor do you like?"
Jiang Li glanced up.
The woman was maybe forty, a touch of worldliness in her eyes, her wavy hair and red smile instantly memorable.
"Anything cheaper?" Kakayan propped her chin on the counter, as natural as any local.
Jiang Li was about to praise this rare frugality—
—until Kakayan added, "Preferably one that costs only a few mouthfuls of noo—"
The moment the syllable "noo-" left her lips, Jiang Li's eyelid twitched. He leaned across, clapped a hand over her mouth, and smoothly finished, "Anything under a hundred yuan will do."
The owner's lips curled upward, as if to say, What are you two love-birds playing at?
"Then how about this?"
She flipped the menu and tapped an entry with a manicured nail. "It's our standing offer—only one purchase per night."
Jiang Li followed the glittering nail and felt his brow jump.
Couple's set.
A secluded bar in a quiet alley understood the games young people played.
This gambit had been reeling in customers for years.
Shy first-timers could use it to break the ice; established couples could use it as an excuse for a date.
Regulars begat more regulars, who in turn dragged in fresh faces.
A fool-proof tactic—unless, of course, you were Jiang Li.
He glanced sideways.
Kakayan swung her long legs beneath the stool, humming as she studied the décor.
She couldn't read most of the menu anyway.
No other option came close in terms of value.
It was only a drink.
Back home they'd still sleep in their own beds.
"We'll take it."
He handed the menu back.
Kakayan tilted her head. "What did you order?"
"The value-for-money set."
She nodded sagely, rested her cheek on her hand, and began humming along with the background music.
Thinking the crisis averted, Jiang Li pulled out his phone, opened his analytics page, closed it, reopened it—repeating the cycle five or six times.
He wasn't trying to game the view count; same-IP refreshes were worthless.
He simply loved watching each number tick upward.
Clink.
The owner set a single, enormous glass between them.
"Whoa, that cup's special," Kakayan murmured, prodding Jiang Li. "Look, Jiang Li!"
He thought, What's so special about a glass? Then he noticed the size.
Calling it a glass was generous—it was practically a bucket.
No wonder the owner limited it to one per night.
Right then Jiang Li's right eyelid twitched.
A horrible realization froze him in place.
"Why are there two straws in one drink?" Kakayan asked.
The owner's interest ignited.
She leaned forward, elbows on the counter, smile widening.
"Little miss, there's a trick to this one."
She flicked the two straws to opposite sides of the rim and gave Kakayan a meaningful glance. "Our couple's set is designed for sharing, you see."
"Oh!"
Kakayan answered reflexively—then fell silent.
A second later, Jiang Li felt a booted foot shoot out under the counter.
The pointed toe connected squarely with his shin.
Sharp pain lanced up his leg.
"Hss—"
He bent to rub the throbbing spot.
Who could have guessed the couple's set poured both shares into the same vessel?
Before he could explain, Kakayan made a suspicious gulping sound.
Jiang Li looked up to find her lips clamped around one thick straw, cheeks hollowed as she took a deep pull.
Her eyes sparkled. "...Ahhh, that's actually good."
In the blink of an eye the liquid level had dropped.
Jiang Li stared at the wet straw opposite, then at the remaining drink, his face a picture of distaste.
"I've already drunk from this one," Kakayan declared, chin lifted, a beautiful smirk playing on her lips. "Order another for yourself."
He'd heard witches were cunning; if they wanted something, they'd find a way to claim it.
Today's evidence was conclusive.
Jiang Li's temple throbbed. "Didn't I tell you not to steal other people's drinks?"
Order another? With what money?
Everything else here cost a hundred yuan a glass—three days' food budget.
"Whoever grabs it first keeps it," Kakayan said, spreading her hands. "You haven't touched this one yet, so it isn't yours."
In her worldview, food belonged to whoever got it into their mouth first.
She had already marked this drink; Jiang Li was out of luck.
"Says who?"
Jiang Li's mouth twitched.
"I already drank from it!"
Kakayan saw the change in Jiang Li's expression and instinctively reached out to shield her cup.
Then she remembered—there was still a straw sticking up on Jiang Li's side.