PROLOGUE

“WenWen!” a girl with long and wavy hair bellowed across the bar. She waved her arm to get her friend’s attention. “WenWen! Come here!” she raised the cocktail in her hand.

With a faint smile on her face, Kelly walked towards her friend, who was seated in front of the bar owner. This bar had always been their spot. Back in College, Kelly and her friends performed here to earn some extra cash and to potentially make it out as a band. Most rock bands nowadays had performed here when they were still unknown. Sometimes, to show gratitude, some artists play here for free to help the owner gain new customers. Some of Kelly’s friends who actually debuted were still performing here once a month. Since the location was large, the area was split; more than half of it was a big concert hall and tables and chairs could be moved, and at the very end of it was the bar section.

“Zixuan,” Kelly called her friend as she tapped her shoulder. “How’s it going?”

“What do you mean ‘how’s it going?’ You’re the one who begged me to have a drink on a Monday. A Monday!”

“Qiang, please, whiskey on the rocks. Double.” She looked at the bar owner. 

The bar owner fixed her big, puffed up curly hair and said, “how many times do I have to tell you to call me Sara?” She then started pouring the order.

“So, what’s the deal?” Cici looked at Kelly.

Kelly sighed. “Work. Work is just too much lately.” Kelly started to take off her leather jacket, exposing the white crop top she was wearing. She placed her jacket on the counter and then sat on the seat next to Cici.

“The best legal counsel I know is having a hard time?” Sara joined the conversation. “At my age, I know a lot of lawyers,” she chuckled. “So what’s got you worried, kid? And aren’t you supposed to be in your hometown?”

“Yeah, WenWen. What’s up?”

Kelly sighed heavily as she closed her eyes. “Last week and today was just terrible.”

“How come?” Cici asked.

“There’s a new director there from a completely separate department, right?”

“Okay?”

“So, Ning Jing briefly told me that she’s like a niece to her and for me to take care of her and help her with whatever she needs.” Kelly sipped the drink Sara placed in front of her. “So, I do. I even came back from my vacation for this.”

“Wow,” Sara said. “I wouldn’t even do that! Why would you do that? You still have to go on vacation.”

“When was the last time you closed this bar and had a vacation?” a girl who was carrying a bass case asked as she sat down next to Kelly.

“Oi, Zhao Meng, you’re not included in this conversation. You’re too young for this.” Sara said. 

“I’m older than these two!” she bellowed as she po