Chapter 78

She said she was going out for a walk to clear her mind, but with nowhere particular in mind, Jiang Sisi simply headed to Black Pool Bar.

It was ten o’clock at night, at Black Pool Bar.

Jiang Sisi wore her signature Silver Mask. The bar counter wasn’t very high, but she sat on it anyway, leaning against the wall with a glass of wine in hand, one leg dangling and swinging idly.

She glanced around the room. Even though the guests wore masks, Jiang Sisi could accurately identify almost everyone, but most of the guests had no idea who she was.

Everyone around knew the Silver Mask belonged exclusively to the Black Pool Boss, so they spotted her right away and came over with friendly smiles to chat her up.

The Black Pool Boss was widely known for being a great conversationalist; she could chat with just about anyone.

A faint smile played on Jiang Sisi’s face beneath the mask as she remained perched on the bar counter, casually making conversation with the guests.

The bartender emerged from the back kitchen and slapped Jiang Sisi on the back. “Boss, can you please mind your image a little? Isn’t it better to sit on the high stool?”

Jiang Sisi shot him a glance. “I’ll give you one chance to say that again.”

The bartender surrendered in an instant. “Fine, fine, you’re the boss. You can sit wherever you want. Be my guest.”

The guests burst into laughter.

Jiang Sisi laughed too. She hopped down from the bar counter and settled onto one of the high stools nearby.

The bartender mixed another drink for Jiang Sisi. She took a sip and frowned. “Why is it sweet?”

“It’s fruit wine,” the bartender replied coolly. “You can’t taste the alcohol anyway, and it won’t get you drunk. Fruit wine’s fine; anything stronger would just be a waste.”

A Ze watched them from the side, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

The bartender said, “I heard you took on a variety show recently? Didn’t you just finish shooting a movie that needs editing? Can you even handle all that?”

Jiang Sisi let out a long sigh. “I can’t. I’m exhausted.”

The bartender asked, “Then why take the variety show? You hoping to make a few extra bucks?”

Jiang Sisi replied, “They had a solid proposal. It piqued my interest, so I took it. Got a problem with that?”

The bartender tsked. “Boss, you should be honest with yourself.”

Jiang Sisi gave him a look that said, If you say anything you shouldn’t, kiss this month’s bonus goodbye.

The bartender ignored the threatening glare and continued, “A while back, you cleared up those rumors for your new movie’s female lead during that livestream. I watched it—truly spectacular. Who knew you were such a good person?”

Jiang Sisi glared at him.

Pretending not to notice, the bartender gossiped on with unrestrained enthusiasm about the person in question. “Her name’s Leng Xiang, right? Isn’t she that pretty little thing who got drunk here a few months ago and nearly got taken advantage of?”

“Boss, you’ve got skills. You actually reeled her in. She seems pretty proud, though she is gorgeous…”

“You’re into her, aren’t you? That’s why you took the variety show. I watched the stream the other day too—that vibe between you two? Tsk, tsk, tsk. You know what they’re saying online about you?”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

Jiang Sisi: “What are they saying?”

The bartender slapped the counter excitedly. “They’re all saying you’re a match made in heaven, perfect for each other.”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

The bartender said, “So, are you two actually together?”

Jiang Sisi paused for a moment before replying faintly, “No.”

The bartender’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No?”

Jiang Sisi: “Really not.”

The bartender stroked his chin thoughtfully for a bit, then asked, “So, can I go after her?”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

Jiang Sisi kicked him squarely in the butt. “You dare?”

The bartender clutched his injured backside, looking utterly aggrieved as he muttered under his breath, “I was just saying… why get so fierce?”

“The girl’s still single. You won’t let me chase her, but you won’t make a move either, and now you’re doing a variety show with her… Aren’t you just stringing her along?”

Jiang Sisi was at a loss for words.

She searched her conscience. Was she stringing Leng Xiang along?

She hadn’t meant to. She just wasn’t entirely sure yet.

And now wasn’t the right time.

The doorbell jingled at the entrance as the server opened the door for someone coming in.

It was a woman in a long black dress, cradling a fluffy bundle in her arms. She confirmed her VIP Gold Card with the server, her gaze lingering over a row of black masks.

Jiang Sisi glanced at her, immediately set down her glass, and bolted toward the back kitchen.

The bartender noticed her panicked rush and eyed the incoming woman curiously. “Boss, what’s wrong? See a ghost?”

Jiang Sisi was lost for words.

She had chatted with Leng Xiang for so long as the Black Pool Boss, even listened to her confessions. If Leng Xiang found out she was the Black Pool Boss…

She might get tossed off the top floor of the upstairs hotel by an enraged Leng Xiang.

Jiang Sisi decisively instructed the bartender, “Leng Xiang doesn’t know I’m the Black Pool Boss. Watch what you say.”

Feeling that wasn’t secure enough, she added a threat. “If she finds out, forget about your bonus for the whole year.”

The bartender: “???”

He looked utterly baffled.

Leng Xiang worked with Jiang Sisi on a movie for months and is now doing a variety show with her. Anyone with eyes can see those two have feelings that aren’t so pure. And she still doesn’t know Jiang Sisi is the Black Pool Boss?

What the hell?

…

Leng Xiang stood at the entrance of Black Pool Bar, holding Xiangxiang.

The cat was a big, fluffy lump nestled in her arms, tilting its little face up at her with adorable mews.

Xiangxiang: “Meow woo.”

Leng Xiang: “…”

It was a long story, but in short, when she had packed up to head out, Xiangxiang had clung to her leg, refusing to let her go.

She felt a bit troubled. Why is this cat so clingy?

Leaving the cat alone at home didn’t feel right.

Plus, Jiang Sisi had told her that afternoon that Xiangxiang lacked a sense of security and couldn’t be left alone.

Leng Xiang relented.

Standing at the entrance of Black Pool Bar, Leng Xiang gave Xiangxiang one last set of instructions.

Leng Xiang: “Once we’re inside, it’ll be crowded and chaotic. Don’t run around everywhere. Stay good, and I’ll take you in, okay?”

Xiangxiang: “Meow woo…”

Leng Xiang pointed to a pet store in the nearby corner. “If you’re not good, I’ll leave you there with a bunch of big dogs.”

Xiangxiang: “Meow woo QAQ!!”

Having finished her warnings, Leng Xiang pushed open the little wooden door of Black Pool Bar with Xiangxiang in her arms. The wind chimes hanging at the entrance tinkled softly.

She wore a black long dress with spaghetti straps made of cotton and linen, her smooth, fair shoulders exposed, her slender arms graceful. She had layered a long black coat over it, which draped around her lithe figure.

Her brows were arched like willow leaves, her eyes peachy, with subtle water-pink eye makeup and a touch of blush. Her long hair cascaded down, slightly curled at the ends and a bit tousled, giving her a unique beauty.

The only thing was the fluffy unidentified creature in her arms, drawing frequent glances.

Inside the door was another world.

Black Pool Bar wasn’t large; one could see to the back at a glance.

Leng Xiang showed her VIP Gold Card to the server at the entrance. The server respectfully handed her a black mask.

She took it, put it on, and headed to the bar counter with Xiangxiang in her arms.

It wasn’t quite ten-thirty yet, and the guests in Black Pool Bar were mostly drinking, their conversations a low murmur.

Leng Xiang settled onto a high stool, placing Xiangxiang on the bar counter.

A few guests spotted the pretty cat and reached out to pet it, but Leng Xiang stopped them.

Leng Xiang smiled faintly. “Sorry, it’s shy.”

The bartender had spotted her and meant to greet her, but his gaze was drawn to the fluffy mass on the counter.

Once he realized what the fluffball was, he nearly screamed internally.

Isn’t this the boss’s cat? Princess Xiangxiang, who gets toted everywhere?!

How is it with Leng Xiang?!!

Suppressing his inner shriek, the bartender pretended to know nothing and greeted her calmly. “Long time no see. Where’d you get the cat?”

Leng Xiang said, “It’s someone else’s. I’m cat-sitting for a few days.”

She asked, “Do you have cat food here?”

Cat food in a bar?

The bartender: “…We do.”

Black Pool Bar wasn’t your average bar; they actually stocked cat food—not just that, but toys, beds, litter, everything.

The bartender diligently rummaged under the bar counter for his boss’s cat’s food. Jiang Sisi had brought Xiangxiang here before, so they kept some on hand.

He poured out the cat food into a small bowl and set it in front of Xiangxiang.

Xiangxiang sniffed the bowl, stuck out its little tongue for a lick, and then ate with relish.

Once finished, the bartender mixed a low-alcohol fruit wine for Leng Xiang and slid it over.

The deep blue drink shimmered with a bewitching hue under the lights.

Leng Xiang looked at the glass, a touch of nostalgia in her eyes.

She had drunk this before.

Leng Xiang glanced around. “Your boss isn’t here today either?”

The bartender put on an inscrutable, profound expression. “Yeah, she’s not.”

Leng Xiang said, “But when I came in, I saw someone sitting here, seemed like they had a Silver Mask on.”

The bartender: “…”

How to explain this?

Leng Xiang said, “Can anyone else use the Silver Mask?”

The bartender was starting to sweat.

If he slipped up, Jiang the Skinflint really would dock his bonus!

He had to make something up.

The bartender smiled. “Oh, that was our boss’s dad. He just left. He wears a Silver Mask too and drops by occasionally to check on business.”

Leng Xiang: “…Is that so?”

The bartender kept smiling. “Yeah, business is tough these days. Doesn’t want to lose money.”

Leng Xiang: “…”

Yeah, right. I totally believe you.

Xiangxiang finished some kibble, lifted its head from the bowl, its big eyes darting around before meowing at Leng Xiang.

Leng Xiang reached to pick up Xiangxiang, ready to head home.

Red Pool time was about to start, and it was a shame not to dance, but with Xiangxiang, she couldn’t let loose. Leng Xiang worried that if she danced, Xiangxiang might slip away unnoticed.

If Xiangxiang really went missing, she wouldn’t know how to explain it to Jiang Sisi.

Plus, the Black Pool Boss wasn’t around.

Leng Xiang said, “Since your boss isn’t here, I’ll head out first.”

The bartender sighed in relief at her departure. “Take care.”

But Xiangxiang meowed and leaped from her arms.

Before Leng Xiang could react, Xiangxiang jumped off the counter to the floor behind the bar and darted into the back kitchen.