Chapter 64: A Dream of Bygone Days
Chapter 64: A Dream of Bygone Days
Along the west shore of Yunlan Lake sat a cluster of old buildings.
Most were Western-style villas built over a century ago by the rich merchants of Yuncheng.
These merchants were mostly new-rich, without deep roots, so very few could pass down their family fortunes through the generations.
A century passed. The world changed shape.
The hustle and bustle of old times had long faded away, yet most of the villas remained intact.
These villas were once packed with all sorts of pubs, restaurants, grocery stores, and souvenir shops.
It was quite messy.
Later, after a unified city plan and makeover, they became part of the Yunlan Lake tourist area.
Visitors poured in here year after year.
Along two side streets and one main avenue gathered dozens of bars.
Unlike the wild clubs on Wanshou Road, these spots followed a music-focused route. Their customers were mainly the cozy middle class, romance-seeking couples, and tourists.
Bygone Days was one such artsy bar.
Though it wasn’t quite time for the nightlife to start yet.
When Gao Jing walked in, many customers were already inside.
There were couples in love.
Also, city workers easing off the day.
On the small stage, a long-haired singer in a T-shirt and jeans strummed his guitar and sang a touching folk song.
Bygone Days had a stylish decor, with artistic touches everywhere. The vibe was calm and relaxing.
Perfect for a chance romantic meeting.
Gao Jing paused at the door, his eyes quickly scanning the room.
Even though the lighting inside was dim, nothing missed his sharp gaze.
This wasn’t Gao Jing’s first time at Bygone Days.
The last time was after his break-up with his girlfriend. Zhang Hongyuan had dragged him here.
He said Gao Jing could find a new spark here.
Forget the pain of losing love.
But Gao Jing hadn’t been in the mood back then. Nor had he felt ready to play the romance game with another girl.
So he’d just downed two drinks, heard a few songs, and left.
Today was different.
He beelined straight for his mark.
Taking a seat at the bar, he told the bartender, “Scotch Whisky.”
Gao Jing remembered their Whisky was good.
The bartender nodded. He picked up a glass and bottle, quickly pouring a half-drink.
“Ice with that, sir?” he asked.
Ice or soda water helped soften the Whisky’s kick, more to most local tastes.
But it also dulled the rich flavor.
Gao Jing shook his head. He picked up the glass and took a sip.
The liquid flowed past his tongue and smoothly down his throat.
The mild burn it left nudged his blood to pump faster.
He felt a little warm.
He calmly undid the top button of his shirt. Then he turned toward the woman seated beside him.
Smiling, he asked, “Hi. Would you like me to buy you a drink?”
She’d been sitting at the bar when Gao Jing arrived.
The cocktail in front of her was nearly empty.
Her side profile was lovely. Her makeup was neat. Her outfit was trendy—a white Chanel summer dress.
It suited her well.
Her posture was easy, her long black hair draped loosely over her shoulders.
Like a well-fed cat.
Lazy.
Not wanting any disturbance.
At Gao Jing’s words, the woman in white frowned.
Because beside her glass stood a lighter, stamped with the “Bygone Days” logo.
It was a sign meaning “no chit-chat.”
The regulars knew it.
Gao Jing might not really know. Or he might pretend not to know.
Either way, it was the same.
She didn’t plan to answer him first.
But to fix things fast, she did turn around.
Ready to give him a clear no.
She’d met this scene before.
The crowd in artsy bars was usually more polite. No one usually pushed too hard.
Just then, her eyes met Gao Jing’s gaze!
The woman in white paused.
Gao Jing—his clothes, his figure, his looks—was beyond what she’d expected.
He made a strong first impression.
Especially his eyes. They were like bottomless pits, deep enough to drown in.
Hard to pull away from.
Even in the black of his pupils, she saw glowing flames!
“Umm…”
Almost not of her own will, the “no” on her lips shifted to: “Thanks.”
A hint of pink rose on her cheeks.
From Gao Jing came a feeling she couldn’t place. He felt very… dangerous.
But also wildly thrilling!
Almost by instinct, she pressed her lips together. Her throat suddenly felt dry.
The reserved defenses were crumbling.
Gao Jing smiled faintly.
He gestured to the bartender to serve the woman another cocktail of the same kind.
It was his treat.
…
The long night quietly passed.
Gao Jing woke from sleep, feeling mentally refreshed and physically invigorated.
All his restless anxiety had vanished.
He felt absolutely terrific!
The early light of dawn crept silently into the hotel room through the gap in the curtains.
This made it easy for Gao Jing to see the strands of long black hair scattered across the pillow beside him.
Without disturbing the woman beside him, he quietly got up and dressed.
He went into the bathroom to wash up.
By the time Gao Jing came out, the woman was still deeply asleep.
He thought for a moment, then opened the drawer of the computer desk nearby, taking out writing paper from inside.
He sat down and wrote a few lines on the paper.
He placed the written note on the bedside table and used something to weigh it down.
Gao Jing quietly left the room.
Only after a long while did the woman finally wake up.
She opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling above her.
It took several minutes for her to recall the events of the previous night.
She couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Such an experience was a first for her.
It felt a bit unbelievable.
Truly wild.
But she didn’t regret it, as it was mutually consensual after all.
She turned her head.
The result was that she saw no one beside her.
This was normal.
Not something to be surprised or disappointed about.
Huh?
The next second, she noticed the items placed on the bedside table.
It was a sheet of writing paper.
On top of it, weighing it down, was a Red Sandalwood bracelet!
Feeling puzzled, she turned and picked up both the note and the bracelet.
She turned on the bedside lamp. Written on the note, she saw: “Hello, I’ve extended the room reservation until 5 PM. Please rest peacefully. Also, a small gift as a token of my gratitude – thank you for your company.”
“Wishing you all the best, perhaps fate will bring us together again.”
The penmanship was excellent; every stroke flowed warmly through the words.
The slight resentment that had just begun to stir within the woman’s heart…
vanished instantly without a trace.
She felt it wasn’t a bad deal after all.
She placed the note beside her and played with the Red Sandalwood bracelet in her hand.
Though she didn’t know much about such trinkets.
From her perspective, this string of Red Sandalwood prayer beads was exceptionally beautiful, certainly no ordinary piece.
Such a man…
Leaning lazily against the pillow, she drifted back into memories once more.
It felt exactly like a dream.
A dream impossible to forget for a lifetime!