Late at night.
Inside the Seventh Sense Bar, the atmosphere was sizzling with excitement.
The music around was intensely beat-driven, and shadows danced wildly on the stage fitted with vibrating steel plates.
A shapely female guest sat on a high chair, speaking familiarly, "Brother Zhi, I want a Midnight Lover."
Behind the bar stood a bartender, dressed in the bar's uniform—a white shirt paired with a black vest. The shirt was casually unbuttoned at two places, revealing a white collarbone, with a naughty strand of short hair sticking out near his ear, and a very elegant neck line.
Sleeves rolled up to his elbows, with perfectly curved wrist bones, and forearms as pristine as snow.
He lounged lazily by the bar edge, listening intently to the guests' orders.
The woman's cheeks were slightly flushed because this bartender's appearance was truly eye-catching.
Rong Zhi lowered his head to write an order slip, long eyelashes slightly drooping, his voice lazily enchanting and husky, "Sure."
The guest immediately held her face with starry eyes glowing, "Brother Zhi, your voice is just too pleasing."
Rong Zhi pulled out a bottle of rum from the cabinet, twisted open the cap, poured the rum into an ounce cup, his slender fingers holding the cup, the liquid flowing into the shaker.
Rong Zhi grabbed the shaker, elegantly tossing it in the air, ice cubes producing a tinkling sound inside. He effortlessly and precisely caught the shaker while casually tossing it several times, a mesmerizing display for onlookers.
A slight arch in his eyebrow, he poured the prepared cocktail into a glass, smiling mischievously at the customer before him.
"Miss, your Midnight Lover is ready."
A red cherry was nestled in the amber liquid, like a girl's red lips, vivid and suggestive.
In his fox-like eyes, delicate light shimmered, misty as fog, looking even more alluring than the drinks.
The colleague coming on shift noticed the guests opposite seem about to swoon from Rong Zhi's charm, clicked his tongue, patting her shoulder, "Brother Zhi, tone it down next time, look at those women here, I feel they're seconds away from rushing up to tear you apart."
Rong Zhi finished writing the transfer log with a few swift strokes, lips curving, "Is that so."
Rong Zhi had been working at the Seventh Sense for almost half a year, during which time the influx of guests at Seventh Sense increased daily, especially females, who were drawn by Rong Zhi.
After work, Rong Zhi didn't go straight home.
It was now past two in the morning, she bought some night snacks from a stall, then rode her little scooter to Qingqu County Hospital.
Arriving at the ward.
Rong Zhi paused.
Soft voices came from inside the ward.
"Where's the Third Young Master? Didn't you say he's at the hospital?"
"How should I know, the housekeeper Lu said the young master is right here, never mind, we couldn't find him tonight, let's head back and come again tomorrow."
"If the old man weren't in a rush to see his grandson, would we have come all this way in the middle of the night..."
Rong Zhi stepped back, leaning against the wall, the hospital reeking of disinfectant mixed with the sweat of patients sleeping in the hallway, an acrid stench that twisted her brow carelessly.
The voices grew closer, the ward door soon opened.
The two people exiting immediately noticed her presence.
About seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed simply in a black shirt, buttoned meticulously to the top, dark trousers, feet in canvas shoes, with slightly long bangs draped over beautiful eyes.
Leaning casually there, exuding an air of defiance.
A strikingly attractive appearance that's impossible not to notice.
A man looking like a bodyguard in a dark suit instinctively blurted out, "Third Young Master?"
Rong Zhi carelessly lifted his gaze, expressionless, "Calling me?"
Yao Guang instantly smiled at him, courteously, "Third Young Master, I'm Yao Guang, the Rong Family's bodyguard, entrusted by Mr. Rong to bring you home."
Yao Fang took over the conversation, "You are the Rong Family's child who was lost eighteen years ago, we'll explain the rest on the way, now the old man is sick and wants to see you, please come with us first."
The tone was respectful, yet leaving no room for refusal.
Rong Zhi wasn't He Songzhi's biological child; this knowledge came three years ago before the Rong Family fire, Rong Zhi overheard it during He Songzhi and Rong Wei's argument.
Just soon after learning this, the Rong Family's sudden fire claimed Rong Wei, and left He Songzhi heavily injured and comatose, still unconscious today.
Rong Zhi then single-handedly took her brother Rong Fengmian from Luoxia Town to Qingqu County, one reason being to provide better treatment for He Songzhi, and another for Rong Fengmian's middle school education.
To act flexibly and avoid inconvenience, she cut her hair, while her dressing style didn't change. However, people around her seemed to mistake her for a boy.
And she was too busy to find her biological parents.
She expected the Rong Family to come searching but didn't predict it would be today. Nonetheless, she was already well prepared.
"Third Young Master, the old man can't be delayed, please hurry back with us."
Yao Fang saw that she didn't answer, frowned and urged her, secretly sneering in his heart, knowing she grew up in the backwoods, what's the use of looking pretty? Not a trace of manners.
Rong Zhi's fingertips moved slightly, switching the late-night snack from her slightly painful index finger, nodding, "Got it, wait for me a moment."
After speaking, she ignored the two and walked into the ward, closing the door.
...
Seventh Sense.
The corner where the light couldn't reach was somewhat dark, the deafening music slightly faded a bit, in the booth, two men sat side by side.
"Finished watching? Once we're done, we can leave." Jiang Gujun withdrew his gaze from the bar, "I really don't understand you, hurrying back from Shengge Island just to see that bartender?"
"Hmm?"
The man apathetically held an unlit cigarette between his lips, slouched on the sofa, looking relaxed, and laughed, "Can't I?"
He tilted his face, with a high nose bridge, leisurely tapping his left index finger at his brow, thick and long eyelashes slightly lowered, naturally smiling peach blossom eyes charmingly captivating, naturally affectionate.
The colorful lights illuminated his brows and eyes, revealing undeniable pristine elegance.
He had drunk alcohol, his voice was slightly hoarse with a lazy hint of a smile, the half-raised side profile lines like chiseled measurements, polished and exquisite from any angle.
Jiang Gujun thought, fortunately, he hadn't been in Beijing these years, otherwise just this look which even made him want to bow down underneath his suit pants, wouldn't the socialites be rushing over?
"Alright, why not." Jiang Gujun clicked his tongue, "Well then, tell me, what have you figured out?"
Bai Su slightly raised an eyebrow, carelessly turning a pure black lighter in his distinctly jointed hand.
'Snap.'
The cigarette unlit by his lips was lit.
Smoke swirled, haze concealed his expression, making it appear slightly mysterious.
"Long legs."
Bai Su's eyes deepened, lightly laughed, "Good figure, suitable for cheongsam."
Just as the words fell, Jiang Gujun was suddenly shocked, "I wasn't wrong in seeing that it was a guy, right? Are you that desperate now?"
Bai Su glanced at him, straightened up, extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray, casually said, "Let's go."
...
Yao Guang and Yao Fang waited outside the door for half an hour.
While waiting, Yao Fang even considered storming in to tie her up and directly take her to Beijing when Rong Zhi finally came out.
She went to talk to He Songzhi's attending doctor about the next treatment direction, and also paid a month's treatment cost, before leaving with Yao Guang.
Yao Guang sat in the front passenger seat, gazing at the boy in the backseat with his head down through the rearview mirror.
"The Rong Family is one of the Four Great Families of Beijing. Back then, the Rong Family was being attacked by the other two families together, Mrs. Rong was frightened into premature labor with you and the Second Miss, and in a moment of oversight, you were taken away..."
According to Yao Guang, back then the four big families of Beijing were at a stalemate, and two families conspired to take down the Rong Family, placing a mole, leading to disaster for the Rong Family, forcing Mrs. Rong into early delivery, the kids taken away by the mole without even seeing them.
Rong Zhi was the child that was taken away, based on age, she's ranked third, hence she is called Third Young Master.
Rong Zhi sat lazily leaning against the seatback, left hand resting lightly on her temple, the long sleeve slipped revealing a section of wrist bone, on the wrist bone was a Buddha Hand Bracelet wound five times.
Her eye tails tinged with a weariness that was barely visible, she nodded slowly.
Lazy and mischievous from head to toe, with a strong smell of alcohol, you can't tell what she's been up to.
Yao Guang's gaze deepened, pursed his lips without speaking.
This Third Young Master truly lacks the elegance and manners expected of the Rong Family.
The information they received stated that Rong Zhi lived in a remote village before she was fifteen, with poor academic performance, dropped out in first year of high school to work, and even about her gender, it was heard from others.
Qingqu County is quite far from Beijing, an eight-hour drive, the car window closed tightly, scenery whizzing by outside.
The car was silent.
Rong Zhi hadn't slept for two days, and the atmosphere in the car was too quiet, she closed her eyes preparing to sleep.
"Third Young Master." Yao Guang turned around, pulled out a blanket from the drawer and handed it over, "For you."
Seeing this action through the gap while driving, Yao Fang curled his lips.
Yao Guang's silly, trying to curry favor with a rascal young master who looks neither favored nor promising. Crazy.
Rong Zhi opened her eyes, took the blanket and draped it over her knees, slowly said, "Thank you."
"No need to mention it, Third Young Master."
Rong Zhi's lips slightly curved, carrying an elusive smile.