Chapter 1: The Bar

Late spring brought a gentle night breeze.

It was already midnight, but Fog Islet Bar, not far from the center of M City, buzzed with its usual energy.

Lu Jia pushed open the door, and seductive blue tones spilled out from the gap.

She wore a shirt dress paired with minimal makeup, a British-style double-shoulder bag slung over her arm. From head to toe, she screamed “good student,” a vibe that didn’t fit this kind of place at all.

The shifting dim lights fell on her calm face, revealing no trace of awkwardness from stumbling into the wrong spot.

Lu Jia looked up at the dazzling lights and, with practiced ease, wove past a few women to take her usual seat at the bar.

“Hey, Little Lu’s back. Still haven’t found that dream reference model of yours?”

The bartender—or rather, the store manager—pointed to the new drink menu on the counter. “What’ll it be tonight?”

Lu Jia set down her bag. “The usual, one Mojito.”

She had been coming to this bar for over half a month straight.

The original bartender was off on a honeymoon with her girlfriend, so the store manager had been handling things during this time.

The first time she ordered, it had been Lu Jia’s very first visit to a bar in her life.

Her forced composure crumbled instantly in front of the store manager, who—exuding worldly charm—propped her chin on her hand and asked with a teasing smile if someone had tricked her into coming.

After all, her innocent little white rabbit look was impossible to miss. Just two minutes in, plenty of patrons’ eyes had drifted her way.

Back then, Lu Jia had only replied with two words: “Looking for someone.”

She wasn’t even sure what kind of person she was looking for.

Lu Jia was a senior in M University’s Printmaking Major. It was already April, and her graduation project loomed.

Her thesis theme was Drunk Night, capturing the hazy pleasures of a spring night.

The series consisted of three pieces. The first two— a woman drinking alone and another staggering toward the bedroom—were already drafted and finalized.

But the last one, the woman sprawled drunkenly on the bed, didn’t even have a confirmed line draft.

She had sketched over thirty versions and discussed them several times with her advisor, but none satisfied her. They lacked that seductive allure, that erotic atmosphere.

Her advisor, exasperated by the questions, finally left her with one line: “Art comes from life.”

Lu Jia pondered it for a while and ended up at Fog Islet that very night.

The bar catered exclusively to women and was near M University, famous for its art programs, so most patrons were women who liked women.

The odds of someone here… maybe… agreeing to her request should be higher.

She wanted to find a woman to sleep with.

Observe the reactions, then use them in her line drafts.

But after half a month, not only had she not found a suitable candidate—she had downed nearly twenty Mojitos.

The store manager raised an eyebrow and gestured toward a booth on the right, deeper inside. “We’ve got a new guest tonight who fits your description perfectly. Want to go say hi?”

Lu Jia had heard lines like that countless times before. She took a sip of her drink without much hope and glanced over.

Just one glance.

Lu Jia’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the lime slice hooked on her glass rim.

It was a woman with graceful curves and long hair.

She wore a wine-red gown, her features exquisitely alluring, beautiful peach-blossom eyes brimming with emotion.

From figure to aura, she was almost identical to the protagonist in Lu Jia’s painting.

Lu Jia blinked, steadying herself in disbelief, and looked again.

Still a perfect match.

The sweet liquor spread across her tongue and teeth, its faint alcoholic bite grounding her—this was no illusion.

It was as if the woman from her painting had stepped into reality, right there within reach.

Lu Jia didn’t know how to react.

The woman’s gaze seemed to turn her way just then. Lu Jia’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly gulped down more wine to avoid eye contact.

In tilting her head back, she missed the slight arch of the woman’s brow.

“So, what do you think? Does she match?”

The store manager had seen Lu Jia’s line drafts and knew the protagonist well. She spoke eagerly: “She’s been here a while. If you don’t go over, I was gonna call you.”

Lu Jia steadied herself and breathed out a single word softly. “Yes.”

She looked back now, staring openly—rather rudely.

The beautiful woman’s gaze had shifted away. She sat in the nearby booth, flanked by young women on both sides. They looked intimate, but not quite flirtatious.

An enigmatic vibe.

For her graduation project, Lu Jia had studied plenty on eroticism lately—from body language to expressions—and figured she had a decent grasp.

The woman seemed affectionate toward her companions but never crossed into improper touches.

Not like the blatant kissing from other booth couples or the casual hugs during drinking games.

She simply held her glass, clinking it leisurely with the others.

When she tilted her head back, her neck gleamed white and slender. Lu Jia noticed a faintly silvery rose pendant dangling just below her collarbone.

The tassels fell into her deep V-neckline, right at the edge of her pronounced cleavage.

After half a month here, guided by the store manager, Lu Jia had gained some savvy.

This woman handled the distance effortlessly—not putting on airs of aloofness, but moving with complete poise.

Could she… really ask her?

“Why haven’t you gone over yet?”

Seeing no move from Lu Jia, the store manager tsked and shook her head.

She finished mixing the Margarita in hand, winked at Lu Jia, and stepped out from behind the bar with it.

“What are you doing?”

Lu Jia asked, surprised, a vague premonition stirring.

The store manager arched a brow. “Aren’t you shy? Big sis is helping you out. If it works, you owe me one.”

Lu Jia didn’t get a chance to stop her.

She watched helplessly as the store manager carried the drink to the woman, exchanged a few words, then pointed back at her spot.

Alcohol rushed to her head, her ears burning hot.

Lu Jia couldn’t look away and met the woman’s eyes head-on. The woman smiled at her, nodding slightly.

Even more alike, Lu Jia thought.

Striking features with undeniable allure, and that smile—a perfect match.

Lu Jia vaguely recalled forcing a stiff smile in return.

When the store manager sauntered back, she finally gathered her thoughts. “What… did you say to her?”

The store manager shrugged casually. “Told her you think she’s gorgeous, specially ordered her a drink, and want to get to know her.”

Lu Jia fell silent.

Way better than her own scripted lines, and less abrupt.

Much safer than blurting out, “Can we sleep together?” and risking a punch.

“She got this for you—says it’s in return.”

The store manager slid a Long Island Iced Tea across with efficient flair, adding kindly, “Go easy; this one’s strong.”

Lu Jia’s fingertips brushed the chilled glass, still cool from the ice.

“Okay, thanks.”

It was her first time trying anything besides a Mojito. It wasn’t bitter—slightly sweet, tasting just like iced tea.

Unwittingly, she drank over half. The aftereffects crept in.

Her mind wandered as she stared at the gently rippling surface. Then the store manager drawled, “Little Lu, if you don’t go introduce yourself soon, she’s leaving.”

Lu Jia whipped her head around.

Sure enough, the woman had risen gracefully, the other girls in the booth waving goodbye.

Her grip tightened on the glass. Lu Jia threw back the rest of the Long Island Iced Tea.

If she didn’t go now, the chance might be gone.

But… this was her first time approaching someone with this ask.

Even half a month ago, stepping into the bar, she had steeled herself mentally.

After so many disappointments, though, and suddenly spotting this near-perfect match, Lu Jia hesitated.

Would that woman really agree to try it with her?

She didn’t know.

But in half a month, this was the only guest who fit so well. She didn’t want to let it slip.

Lu Jia’s tolerance was poor; the booze hit fast and hard, eroding her restraint.

“What’s up?”

Sheng Shubai eyed the girl blocking her path, brow lifting. “Hey, little sister, want to exchange contacts?”

She was in town for a few days on business, recommended by a friend. She wasn’t looking to expand her social circle. She hadn’t even taken numbers from the booth girls tonight.

But this one? She fit Sheng Shubai’s tastes perfectly.

Sheng Shubai’s lips curved. Seeing the girl hesitate without speaking, amusement sparkled in her eyes.

Earlier in the booth, she’d glanced over on impulse, intrigued.

Too student-like—genuine innocence, not faked.

She clashed with the vibe here, yet sat alone at the bar, impossible to ignore.

In C City, Sheng Shubai might have approached for a chat.

But this was just a business trip—no chance of a repeat. Regretfully, she’d looked away.

Then this soft, obedient-looking girl sent over a drink, making the first move.

They’d traded drinks already; no harm in chatting.

Sheng Shubai dangled her phone. “I scan you, or you scan me?”

“Not adding friends.”

A soft murmur.

Her clear voice was laced with drunkenness, the ending drawn out unwittingly.

A beam of light hit where they stood, shifting to a brighter hue.

Sheng Shubai saw it then: not just drunken haze in her eyes, but her ears peeking from her hair were flushed red.

Classic little white rabbit—Sheng Shubai’s favorite type.

Patiently, she leaned in. “Then what do you want, blocking my way?”

Lu Jia lost herself in the woman’s stunning face—more alluring and lively than her painting’s protagonist.

Drunk haze muddled her senses. She murmured:

“I want… to do it… with you…”