The Tidal Wave is an average middle-class bar in the city of magic. Its decoration and hostesses are nothing special. But the advantage is that the owner seems to have some backing, so the location of the Tidal Wave is excellent. It’s the only bar on two or three surrounding streets – the scarcity makes it valuable. So even though everything about Tidal Wave is average, after ten o'clock at night, the night owls start to trickle in, making this small bar buzzing with excitement.
Bai Junyi works here, as a glorious…security guard. He comfortably nestled in the corner couch, the deafening music and the DJ's frenzied shouts couldn't disturb his rest. With a face of languor, Bai Junyi always looks like he just stayed up all night but hasn't fully woken up yet. After a month’s work, he discovered this prime location. At this time, the security captain and the duty manager should be busy patrolling and welcoming guests. They wouldn't come here, so Bai Junyi can slack off peacefully.
"Hey, little Bai, you're slacking off again. Be careful not to get caught by Zhou and have your salary deducted," a woman in a fiery red mini skirt came over swaying her hips, speaking to Bai Junyi with a playful laugh.
Bai Junyi grinned and answered, “Sister Fang, this is called stealth watching. I have to be in a place where nobody can see me to better detect potential fights. I am dutifully performing my duties.”
Sister Fang flirtatiously rolled her eyes at Bai Junyi, "I heard you were a soldier before, you got kicked out for being lazy like this, didn’t you? Just look how lazy you look."
After saying this, Sister Fang walked away, swinging her hips. As every minute of delay could cost a customer, which for Fang who depends on commissions for living, was unforgivable.
Watching the retreating figure of Sister Fang, Bai Junyi chuckled at himself self-deprecatingly. A soldier, huh? Truly, it's a term worth reminiscing about.
Standing up and stretching, Bai Junyi yawned and headed for the restroom. He had had a few beers during dinner, so it was his third toilet trip within the hour.
At the bathroom door he ran into another young guy in a security uniform. This lad was strong and nimble, and at eighteen or nineteen, he was very young. When Bai Junyi first came, he noticed the boy sneakily admiring the ladies while patrolling.
Seeing Bai Junyi coming, the youngster grinned maliciously, "Brother Jun, how many times have you been here? Are you physically weak and have kidney deficiency? If so, I have a family secret, it will make you as strong as a dragon and ferocious as a tiger."
Bai Junyi glared at the young man impatiently, "Get lost, I am known as 'Steady Little Jiro', physically weak and kidney deficient? What are they?”
With these words, Bai Junyi didn’t wait for the grinning youngster and went straight to the restroom.
The restroom of any bar sees the most number of condoms disposed of – there is no contender.
Every cubicle is filled with all kinds of noises. Sometimes, if you're unlucky and there’s a queue, you have to wait outside. Occasionally, watching a man and a woman walk out of the cubicle, two strangers lock eyes and share a tacit laugh, and then the shift handover is completed. Bai Junyi has seen plenty of such scenes.
Entering the restroom, he casually glanced around. Sure enough, all four or five stalls had wooden doors tightly shut. Without having to bend down, he could see four legs under the stalls - a pair clad in high heels, the other in leather shoes.
The soft background music in the room did not affect Bai Junyi from relieving himself. Having comfortably finished urinating, he was pulling up the zipper of his pants when he bumped into a man.
A moment before the collision, Bai Junyi's eyes, initially lazy, instantly became sharp and fierce like a jungle predator. His body tensed, ready to strike. However, in the next split second, he relaxed, his gaze returning to its previous laziness as though he had just woken up. Despite this sudden change, the man who bumped into him stumbled back several steps.
"God damn it, are you blind?" the man blustered. Bai Junyi looked up to see a middle-aged man in an ill-fitting, albeit expensive-looking, suit. The man was short, and he was holding up a woman who seemed too weak to stand on her own, her face obscured by long hair.
Bai Junyi responded with a smirk, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
"Humph!" the man grunted in annoyance. This was Fu Dajun, and he glared at Bai Junyi who had the looks of a simple white-collar worker, failing to hide his disdain. "Kid, you're lucky that I have urgent matters today, or else I'd have Zhang Tao fire you!"
Zhang Tao was the owner of Langchao Bar, whom Bai Junyi had only met once on his first day at work. Seeing this stranger casually naming the boss, Bai Junyi decided not to provoke him further. After all, he was just a security guard; he wasn't in the position to challenge anyone.
In the meantime, the woman in Fu Dajun's arms let out a soft whimper, clearly uncomfortable. She dazedly asked, "Where am I? I feel so hot and unwell. I want to go home!"
As she lifted her head, Bai Junyi was struck by her stunning beauty.
He would admit that he had seen many gorgeous women; seductive, pure, adorable, myriad variations. It's been a while since he was easily captivated by a woman's appearance, but this girl before him was undeniably breathtaking.
The moment Bai Junyi saw this girl, he made a decision. He couldn't allow someone with the grace and charm of a blooming flower to be exploited by this apish man before him.
Furthermore, the girl's flushed complexion seemed abnormal; although it was October, her cheeks were red, and a thin layer of sweat gleamed on her skin. Her slightly confused and dazed expression was reminiscent of someone who had lost their soul, thereby adding to Bai Junyi's resolve to prevent her from being taken advantage of. It would be a blatant waste if this handsome man did not make a move!
The girl's sudden utterance also startled Fu Dajun. Guilty and embarrassed, he glared at Bai Junyi and roared, "What are you looking at, get lost! A pathetic security guard like you disgusts me. Go away, don't block my way!"
As he spoke, he tried to help the girl and move forward. To him, this girl was a surprised reward that evening. He had even paid a high price for a pill that cost more than ten thousand yuan. Despite its exorbitant price, its effect was evident. Even if using this pill could shorten his life by ten years, he was perfectly willing to exchange that for getting this girl, not to mention a mere ten thousand yuan.
Just as Fu Dajun thought that Bai Junyi would retreat, Bai Junyi stepped forward, blocking his way. Laughing, he said, "Let go of her; let me handle this."