Song Yan sat on the roadside curb, a white thin cylinder held loosely between his pointer and index finger. Thin trails of grey smoke wafted around him, disappearing into the cool night air.
Yu Ning stood beside him, her own cigarette burned down to a stub. She took one last huff before extinguishing it.
"Don't your parents nag you to stop?" Yu Ning raised her brows, staring down at him.
His bleached buzzcut was growing out, the dark roots making him look more boyish than usual. Under the glow of the streetlights, the specks of freckles littered across his nose and cheeks were more visible.
"They do," Song Yan muttered, staring at the asphalt. "But what can they really do?"
Yu Ning reached down and lightly flicked the side of his head. "Be thankful that they care."
"What about you? You go through a pack a day, you freaking chain smoker!" he exclaimed, looking up with an expression of being wrongly accused.
He rubbed the spot she had flicked, though his eyes held no real heat.
"I didn't hit you that hard," she laughed, the sound bright against the distant hum of the bar.
Song Yan gave her a cheeky grin before his expression shifted to one of mild impatience. "How long does that girl need to use the washroom...?"
Yu Ning glanced back at the bar entrance. People were still streaming in and out, the bass of the music muffled but constant. "I'll go in and get her if she isn't out in two minutes."
As she spoke, her dress swayed gently in the breeze. Looking at Song Yan sitting comfortably on the edge of the curb, she instinctively rested her palm on his shoulder, using him like a human walking cane, while she checked her phone with her free hand.
A few notifications were from Li Wen.
[Li Wen: I'm down with the flu. Exam season has finally taken me out...]
[Li Wen: *Sad Emoji*]
[Li Wen: Manager He says he's found someone to cover my shift!]
Yu Ning clicked her tongue, typing a reply with her left hand.
[Yu Ning: You've abandoned me.]
Li Wen immediately sent a stream of exaggerated, dramatic messages in response.
A smile appeared on Yu Ning's face as they bantered back and forth.
Across the street, a black two-seater Mercedes turned into the narrow lane.
Qing Jue stepped out of the car, followed by Yuan Feng. A few strands of dark hair hung loosely over his eyes.
He wore a crisp white button-up and black trousers while Yuan Feng was dressed in a denim jacket and dark jeans, looking every bit the carefree socialite.
"Hurry and get what you need from the shop," Qing Jue muttered, his voice laced with mild annoyance. "I can't believe you made me drive all the way here just to buy a gift for your girlfriend."
"She said the scent was limited edition and the sale ends today!" Yuan Feng countered quickly.
Seeing the silent look on Qing Jue's face, he added, "Look, they have some incredible scents here. Pick something for yourself while we're at it."
The two tall men disappeared into a quaint brick building. Inside, the air was thick with the calming aroma of tea leaves. The interior was minimalist and clean, and the staff immediately guided them toward the limited-edition displays upon Yuan Feng's request.
While Yuan Feng agonized over additional candle scents for his girlfriend, Qing Jue drifted away, his eyes catching a uniquely designed bottle.
Its handle was an abstract, rounded shape, resembling unfinished clay bent at odd angles. He picked up the sample and took a slow whiff.
A clean, complex aroma filled his senses, it was a gourmand blend of tea leaves, patchouli, and saffron, grounded by the familiar warmth of sandalwood.
He took the bottle to the cashier without a second thought.
As they exited the store, Yuan Feng caught a glimpse of a warm, amber glow at the end of the street.
"Bro, isn't that the bar you invested in? The one that just opened?"
Qing Jue glanced at the two-story building. A steady stream of people flowed in and out, and the sound of muffled laughter drifted toward them.
"Mm," he responded.
They walked toward the car parked opposite the bar. Just as Qing Jue reached for the door handle, Yuan Feng paused.
"Let's take a look inside, bro. Just for a minute!"
Drawn in like a moth to a flame, Yuan Feng was halfway across the street before Qing Jue could even object.
"Tsk." Qing Jue frowned, but he followed.
Just a few paces ahead, he spotted a silhouette. A girl was standing on the curb, leaning her palm casually on a tall boy's head as if he were a piece of furniture. Both were preoccupied with their phones, tucked into their own little world.
Strolling forward he walked past Yu Ning and Song Yan, into the crowded bar, not sparing them a second glance.
"Hey, it's been more than two minutes," Song Yan muttered, swatting his hand at Yu Ning's leg to get her attention.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Yu Ning realized he was right. She squeezed back into the bar, navigating the humid heat of the crowd until she reached the bathroom. She knocked firmly on the door.
"Shu Hua? You okay in there?"
A meek, panicked voice rang out from inside. "Ning... do you have a spare pad?"
Yu Ning fumbled through her bag and slid an unopened pack under the door. "Why didn't you just text me?" she asked, checking her phone for any missed messages.
"My phone died! I left my portable charger with Song Yan," Shu Hua cried out in despair.
Yu Ning leaned against the wall to wait.
Above her, the speakers blasted upbeat music, the rhythm pulsing through the floor as people swayed and danced in a blurred sea of motion around her.
Just then, a familiar scent drifted through the heavy air of the bar, cutting through the scent of alcohol and people.
She whipped around.
The chaotic scene seemed to slow down in front of her.
A familiar face was navigating the crowd toward her. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar in a casual manner, and his glasses hung loosely from the center of his shirt.
As he moved through the dim, flickering light, his gaze abruptly locked onto hers.
Surprise flickered across both their faces.
He came to a halt in front of her, that familiar, easy smile spreading across his lips.
"Oh," he spoke gently, his voice low enough to vibrate under the music. "It's you."
Caught completely off guard, Yu Ning returned a soft smile.
She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could utter a word, the bathroom door swung open.
"Ning Ning, let's go!"
Shu Hua didn't wait for an explanation. She grabbed Yu Ning's arm and dove straight into the thick of the crowd, dragging Yu Ning along like a tethered kite.
Yu Ning tried to swerve around to offer a quick goodbye, but she was already being swept toward the exit by a mortified Shu Hua.
Once they burst out into the cool night air, Shu Hua immediately lunged at Song Yan, tearing the jacket right off his shoulders.
"Hey—!" Song Yan started to protest, but his voice died when he noticed the small red stain on Shu Hua's white pants.
"Let's head back. Now," Shu Hua muttered, her face flushed with embarrassment as she wrapped the jacket around her waist to hide the stain.
In silent agreement, the three of them hurried back toward the subway.
Yu Ning couldn't help but glance back at the glowing amber lights of the bar one last time.
The man had walked outside, his hands shoved casually in his pockets as he watched the trio disappear into the night. A small, contemplative smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Ning Ning," he murmured under his breath, testing the weight of her name against the wind.