Aeri knew what she was doing at this point. Every weekend had a very repetitive routine: Get up at some late hour, have coffee, do chores, and waste time until 5pm, and then she’ll pack up her old battered guitar (fondly named Seymour) and go out into the night, heading into the more dodgy part of the familiar city. The lit up hanzi signs glared at her, their words ranging to promoting late night restaurants to sensual clubs filled with promises… if the price was right. She wasn’t focused on any of these though, opting to stare out the window of the bus until the last stop, where the lights outside flickered and unidentified shadows lurked in your peripheral vision. 

But she knew what she was doing. She knew that she had to walk past three alleyways, turning onto a dodgy looking street, with junkies and dealers meeting up under the dim lights. She ignored them, going straight for the one warm looking sign on the road, the sign promising a good cup of coffee with good live music.

Once she stepped through that door and breathed the familiar scent of coffee beans with the slight burn of liquor, she relaxed completely. Aeri was home. Sure, 烫杯Cafe (Tang Bei Cafe) didn’t seem like much, but out here in China it was as close to a home as she was going to get. Her one roomed apartment didn’t quite feel like home.

“宝宝(Baobao), hello!” The owner, an older woman named Suchin, greeted her with a bright smile. The inside of the cafe was a lot more welcoming, matching the woman’s personality, from the warm coffee colored walls with orange and red designs, to the soft plush chairs and old oak tables in between them that gave the old coffee shop a homey, warm feeling, even with it’s sparse furniture and decorations. 

Aeri smiled back, “Hello Nainai, how are you?”

Suchin clicked her tongue, “Fine, but disappointed.”

“And why is that Nainai?” She asked, already knowing the old woman’s answer.

“You’re so young and talented and pretty, Baobao,” The older woman sighed, “Why don’t you ever bring a boy to meet me? Are you ashamed of your old nainai?”

“Because I don’t need a man, Nainai!” Aeri laughed, putting down her guitar and picking up a rag to wipe down the tables. “We’ve been through this before, I’m content being on my own right now.”

Another sigh. “If you say so, but the minute you change your mind, you let me know! I know some nice older women down at the senior center who could set you up with their grandsons.”

Aeri paused for a minute, looking over at the old woman cleaning cups.

“What?” Suchin asked, catching Aeri’s stare. 

 “... Nainai I work at the senior center! That’s how I met you.” She reminded, continuing her chore. 

“Yes,” Suchin waved her off, “But you don’t know my friends. I play Mahjong with them every week.”

Actually, Aeri did know her friends. She helped Grandpa Li with his sudoku every so often while Nainai and her friends were playing. Grandpa Li was a very nice man, always accompanying a grandmother by the name of Meng Jun who usually won the mahjong games. The young girl sighed, adjusting her hair in its beanie before going back to work, shaking her head as the older woman bustled about. She wasn't going to argue, Suchin was as stubborn as a mule, much like most of the older women at the senior center. Once all the tables had been tidied up and the familar and welcoming scent of brewing coffee had filled the cafe's every nook and cranny, Suchin went over and flipped the "Open" sign over and allowed the alluring aroma to filter out, hoping to draw in customers. When Aeri first saw her nainai do that, she immediately panicked, after all, the cafe was on a pretty dingy part of town, but much to the blue haired girl's surprise, only people with huddled coats and looking lost wandered in, finding comfort in the well lit shop on the dark street. 

Nowadays, Aeri even helps bring people in, playing Seymour and occasionally singing when she felt like it to help create the relaxing atmosphere that Tang Bei strived to have. She played from open to close, taking hour or so breaks to fill orders. It wasn't usually very busy, but the nights she played it did get a few more than usual, particularly young, good looking men. Nainai would always urge Aeri to go and flirt, find a man, but each time the young girl would just laugh and shake her head, and tonight was no exception. Soon closing time rolled around, going a bit later than usual due to a man who was determined to get Aeri's number.

"Would it really be so painful to just go on one date with me?" The taller gentleman asked as she packed up her guitar. Adjusting her beanie again, Aeri sighed.

"It wouldn't." She admitted, "But I still don't want to. Nainai, I'm leaving, will you be alright?" She called to the back, and Nainai's head popped up from behind the counter. 

The old woman waved her off, "Go go! You, young man! Help an old woman, will you?" She insisted, giving Aeri a chance to get away. Aeri mouthed a very grateful word of thanks before disappearing, reminding herself to bring Suchin something special as a gift of thanks. In her thoughts of trying to think of something worthy of her nainai, she collided with something. More like someone, a woman to be specific, with short curly hair and wide eyes. 

"Oh!" Aeri yelped, finding both her and the other young woman almost on the ground, however while Seymour was safe, the bag in the woman's hand was not. 

-“I’m so sorry, ma’am!", She started, getting on her knees, "Please let me help you with your things--”

“You’d help an old woman?” Was her reply, and Aeri couldn't help but look up in confusion. The other girl looked absolutely serious, and so Aeri assumed it was because Aeri looked so young and she must be older than percieved. 'Everyone I meet is so pretty, what do these people use on their skin to make them look so young...?' She thought, before stuttering out, “Of course, why wouldn’t I? It would be rude to not do so.”

“Most young people don’t think so.” The other woman huffed, starting to help pick up her own things, tossing them into a bag.

Aeri couldn't help but chuckle, “Well, I’m not most young people, I guess.” She thought it was just proper manners to be respectful to really anyone older than you, as long as they were respectful and not condscending back. Aeri could have an attitude when people treated her like she was stupid and not as an equal.

“I appreciate that." The other girl smiled, "Call me Granny!” Aeri blinked at the other woman, who was probably anticipating an introduction, but Aeri was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that this girl who couldn't be pushing 40 even with plastic surgery just told her to call her 'granny'. It'd be rude to refuse, after all, she did knock her over, so she heeded the request.

 “Okay…? I’m Aeri.” She politely said, and Granny pursed her lips.

“I think I like Fen Lan better. It suits your hair!” She gestured to Aeri's dyed locks, and Aeri smiled. At least she didn't rudely stare and ask why she would do that to her hair.

“Of course Granny.” Before she could say anything else, though, Granny's phone rang, causing the girl to fumble before unlocking and answering it.

“Yes yes, Hannie I’m coming! Oh, goodbye, Fen Lan!” She hurried off, bowing in apology and in goodbye as she rushed off in some direction, leaving Aeri in awe of what just happened to her.

 “B-bye Granny!” She waved, even though the girl was probably out of earshot. Aeri sighed, shaking her head and laughing to herself. "What a funny girl..." She said to herself, resuming her walk to the bus stop. She did have to get home, after all.

Meanwhile, 'Granny' was running towards her own location, talking rapidly into her phone, “Hannie, if we ever run into that pretty girl I just saw, Fen Lan, we’ll have to introduce you to her!” She said, nodding to herself as she checked her watch and adjusted her bag, never slowing her pace.

The person on the other line groaned, “Granny, no.”

“Don’t talk to me that way!! Just wait till I get there!” She scolded into the phone, before hanging up abruptly and pursing her lips. "I do hope we meet again, Miss Fen Lan, you might just be what's missing..."
 

Yoooo everyone, finally got this chapter up! I had it all outlined, but I just was not inspired to write lately, but I'm back on the high horse and getting it going!
I hope you enjoyed "Baby Blue" and if you did, please leave a comment or subscribe, you know, those things that authors like for you to do! (i'm no exception, hehe). Okay, see ya~
Dannie