Chapter 3 The Troubled Son of the Tan Family
When Song Ni softened her voice, it was as gentle as flowing water, like a hidden stream in the mountains, gurgling with a seductive charm. The bartender couldn't stand it and took a step back, not having time to remove his gloves. He raised his hand and squeezed his numb earlobe. It turned out the girl in front of him was looking for the boss. The bartender, with professional courtesy, immediately became wary. He had seen all sorts of people in the bar, but he had never seen anyone like Song Ni. She looked innocent and harmless, yet she could captivate someone without a sound. Who knew what other intentions she might have. He knew he couldn't get involved with such a person. So, he put on a polite smile. "I'm sorry, we employees have no right to know the boss's personal whereabouts."
Hearing this, Song Ni knew she wouldn't get anything from him. She wasn't discouraged; instead, she found it interesting. Tan Zheng... Song Ni took a sip of her wine, and she remembered. Tan Zheng was the person rumored in social circles a few years ago. The unruly son of the Tan family, who played with racing cars as if his life depended on it. Many people in this circle drifted in a world of pleasure, but few dared to play with something so dangerous. Thinking of this, Song Ni raised her eyebrows. How could an unruly race car driver suddenly retire at the peak of his career? Would such a person also be arranged for a blind date by his family?
She took another sip of wine. It tasted really good. Song Ni thought that it was different for someone who played race cars to own a bar. Not only was this bar unique, but even the people inside were so well-trained. Song Ni knew her alcohol tolerance and didn't overindulge. She propped her chin with one hand and slowly began to observe. The second floor had private rooms, so Song Ni moved to a spot with a better view and observed carefully. There were a total of four private rooms. The windows of the other three were tightly shut, but only one was completely open. Song Ni had excellent eyesight; she could even see the wisps of smoke swirling inside. She disliked the smell of smoke and was about to look away when she saw a hand resting on the window of that private room, with a lit cigarette between its fingers. For some reason, Song Ni looked at it a few more times. Although her position wasn't as good as the private rooms, it was the best spot on the first floor. She tilted her head back and squinted. The light was dim, and smoke swirled around fingertips. The person's hand was large, and she could almost see the bulging veins on his hand. The veins were prominent, like dragons lurking in the deep sea, exuding power and dominance, sexy and dangerous.
The cigarette was burning down, but the person made no move. Song Ni thought that smoking and drinking were probably ways for many people to relieve their worries. She didn't look any further, but as she lowered her head, she felt a sense of being scrutinized. Vaguely, Song Ni felt that this strange feeling came from the private room she had been staring at for so long. That was understandable; she had been looking for so long, it was not surprising that someone inside had noticed. Song Ni didn't look up again, but the image of that hand reappeared in her mind. She wondered if the cigarette had finally burned the person.
Song Ni had come today with only a glimmer of hope. Even Song Jing could only find a few pages of information on Tan Zheng. If she were to investigate, she probably wouldn't find anything. It didn't matter if she couldn't see him, but she had to do something. So, Song Ni took every opportunity to pester the waiters, asking about Tan Zheng's whereabouts. In half an hour, she had asked almost everyone. As expected, she learned nothing. However, Song Ni didn't care. With the way these people kept their mouths shut, this matter would definitely reach Tan Zheng's ears. This was the effect she wanted. She was waiting for Tan Zheng to come and find her.
However, Song Ni didn't wait for Tan Zheng; instead, she was approached by a few eager men. Song Ni was wearing a small white dress and always had a faint smile on her face. Sometimes she sat properly, and sometimes she playfully crossed her legs, like a little white rabbit that had stumbled into this place. Alcohol, lights, plus men's so-called protective instincts, most men had been looking at Song Ni for a long time. The boldest one finally stepped forward, holding a glass of wine. "Miss, can I buy you a drink?"
Song Ni shook her high-stemmed glass, its beautiful color mesmerizing. Although her lips curved into a smile, her eyes held endless indifference. The man in front of her had a look of caution, the coaxing unique to those dealing with a little white rabbit, and the pity ignited by men's inherent weaknesses. Song Ni had seen too much of this and found it boring. "I'm sorry." After rejecting one, there were still several others, all arrogantly believing that their tactics and routines were enough to deal with a well-behaved girl like Song Ni. When one man attempted to make a move, Song Ni's expression turned completely cold, and she directly splashed the wine in her glass onto his face.
Suddenly, the area became chaotic. The man, having been humiliated by Song Ni, naturally refused to let it go. But Song Ni, far from taking the man seriously, lifted her chin, her face full of pride. "Make another move, and I'll cripple your hand." The man, provoked, raised his hand, enraged, and intended to hit a woman in front of everyone. Song Ni was not afraid, maintaining her relaxed and proud demeanor. She was completely confident in her ability to ensure her own safety. However, before Song Ni had to act, the bar security guards had already intervened, stopped the man, and escorted him out.
After this commotion, the men who had been coveting Song Ni understood. The little white rabbit in front of them was not a real little white rabbit. On the second floor, in the private room with the completely open window, Ding Jing watched the scene unfold downstairs with a smile and said to the man sitting on the sofa, "Brother Tan, that young lady is quite interesting. I heard she came to find you today. Aren't you going to meet her?"
Tan Zheng, hidden in the darkness, narrowed his eyes and looked through the smoke at the girl in the white dress on the first floor. The image of the photo his mother had shown him flashed in his mind. Quiet, sensible, obedient, and sweet. The adjectives his mother had used had at most half a connection with the girl downstairs, who was crossing her legs and drinking glass after glass.
Tan Zheng withdrew his hand, poured himself a glass of wine, and remained silent. Ding Jing didn't say anything more, but it was the first time he had seen a woman come to the bar to see Brother Tan. His gaze kept involuntarily falling on Song Ni.
Song Ni liked to drink occasionally, but only when she had a friend to accompany her. Staying alone in a bar for so long was a first for her. The more she thought about it, the more boring it became. Was Tan Zheng really not here today? It was this late, and she was too lazy to go back to school. She took out her phone and called Qin Yang to pick her up. Qin Yang was quick, and Song Ni didn't have to wait long before she received the call. "Nini, I'll be there in ten minutes."
Song Ni hung up the phone, downed the last sip of wine, and got up to leave. For some reason, she suddenly looked up at the second floor. The hand was still resting on the window frame, but there was no longer a cigarette between its fingers. Song Ni lightly tapped her chin with her finger, lost in thought, and intended to go upstairs. However, a waiter stopped her. "Miss, the private rooms upstairs are all occupied."
Song Ni raised her eyebrows and pointed to the private room with the completely open window. "I'm looking for your boss." The waiter's expression froze for a moment. He hadn't said the boss was in that private room, so how did this young lady know? Damn it, the boss had specifically asked not to be seen, and now he might be blamed. "Miss... the boss is not here today."
Seeing his reaction, Song Ni let out a cold snort. She had just been trying her luck, a bluff, and unexpectedly, she had actually bluffed him out. So, Tan Zheng was in the bar today, hiding upstairs and watching a good show?
(End of Chapter)