The reply I received was one that set my heart racing, so I wandered through a tumult of emotions, unable to snap back to reality for a long while, until a thunderous applause erupted in the bar.
It turned out that CC and Robben had just finished their second song, demanded by an enthusiastic audience.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and focused on the voting status of the audience for CC and Robben.
Halfway through the voting process, I could already tell that today's "Voice of the Bar" would undoubtedly be Robben and CC, given the high-level performance they had brought to us, a rarity in bars.
I joined the audience in applause, feeling a pang of envy for Robben and CC. Beyond their romance, they shared music, and their recent renditions of "Late Summer" and "Winter Solstice" were a testament to that. The thought of finding one's soul in music with a loved one, free from worldly distractions, was an exquisite joy beyond riches.
In contrast, Mi Cai and I were struggling in the vortex of reality, while she basked in the dazzling light of life's splendor.
Perhaps this was the root of our ongoing struggle, for my inconspicuous driftwood presence beside her luxurious cruise ship made equality a difficult topic.
***
After the voting ended, Robben and CC returned to my side. I gave them a thumbs-up and praised, "The seamless transition between the two songs was brilliant, an impressive adaptation."
Robben, ever the epitome of cool, just smiled nonchalantly.
CC patted my shoulder and asked, "Did Mi Cai reply to your message?"
"She did."
"What did she say?"
"Can we keep some privacy?"
"Oh, now you want privacy… Fine, I'll be virtuous and let you lovebirds be."
"Good use of the word 'virtuous'!"
CC frowned and said, "Zhao Yang, do you think I'm being indecent by caring about you and Mi Cai?"
I quickly shook my head, indicating she wasn't.
CC spoke earnestly, "I know there's a gap in status between you and Mi Cai, but to me, that's not an issue. As long as you both have each other in your hearts, even if reality is as hard as iron, one day it will become soft and pliable!"
To me, CC's view was one-sided because before the iron could become soft, Mi Cai and I would have to endure the storm at the forefront.
So Robben was right when he said love is a war, but it's not just between Mi Cai and me; it's a war between our disparate statuses and reality.
***
Tonight's "Voice of the Bar," the perfectly in-sync duo of CC and Robben, unsurprisingly won the championship, earning a guitar as a prize and a somewhat hollow reward of a permanent 50% discount on consumption.
CC handed me the guitar right after receiving it, and I was thrilled. With this guitar, I could sing for my guests in my free time.
The three of us returned to the inn around 11 p.m., where Tongzi was still diligently manning the front desk, receiving guests.
Feeling a bit guilty, I said to him, "Go rest, I'll take over the inn tonight."
Tongzi smiled and replied, "No worries, I'm using this time to set up our online store… Brother Yang, take a look, are you satisfied?"
I leaned over the computer and encouraged him, "Looks great!"
Tongzi chuckled and then asked, "Brother Yang, when will our business pick up? I've been here for over three hours tonight and only one guest came. If I hadn't given him a 30% discount, he probably wouldn't have stayed!"
"It's indeed a tough time now, I'm trying to figure out a solution. Just get through this period… Go rest up, we'll continue the fight tomorrow."
Tongzi nodded, said goodbye to CC and Robben, and went to his room.
I sat down at the computer and asked the two, "How do you want to stay, one room or two?"
Robben instinctively said, "Two."
I looked at CC, surprised they weren't sharing a room yet.
CC smiled and said, "Two rooms."
I nodded, took their IDs, registered them, and said, "Go rest, I've got some work to do."
CC and Robben headed upstairs, and I finally had a moment to myself, lighting a cigarette for leisure.
Halfway through the cigarette, I pulled out my phone again, looking at Mi Cai's message, and after more than an hour, I replied, "Remember I once said I'd take you to a river of happiness and swim to the end?"
She seemed to be waiting for my reply, answering almost instantly, "Hmm… Does it still count?"
"When I find that river of happiness, it will count."
"Then you better hurry, so I can give you the best years of my life."
At that moment, I became acutely focused on the word "give," feeling its weight, so I didn't allow myself to bask in happiness for too long.
After finishing the cigarette, it took me a while to reply, "I will strive to find that river of happiness!"
"Good… I hope the sky above the river corresponds with the city of your dreams."
In my mind, I envisioned a crystal-clear city floating above a river of happiness, the two echoing each other, transforming into a brilliant rainbow that settled in my heart.
And I smiled…
***
The night deepened, and I lit another cigarette to ease my loneliness, immersing myself in the task of revamping the inn.
I browsed various travel websites, gathering insights from tourists' experiences in Xitang.
I believed in understanding and meeting customer needs as the foundation for business profits.
The most common complaint was tourists feeling cheated by unscrupulous businesses in Xitang, not only wasting money but also spoiling their mood.
Thinking counterintuitively, I quickly identified their needs, and a "Perfect Travel Package Plan" began to take shape in my mind.
My brain was a whirlwind as I typed my thoughts into the computer, and before I knew it, it was 3 a.m.
Looking at the freshly drafted plan, I exhaled deeply, sensing that this "Perfect Travel Package Plan" could revive our struggling inn.
Suddenly, my heart raced with indescribable excitement, chasing the breeze, the dawn, and the rainbow after the rain…
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan