My Wife Is Going To Great Lengths/Putting In A Lot Of Effort To Turn Me Gay - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Is That Possible?!

Xu Zhi watched Qi Yaoyao’s expression shift—one moment triumphant, the next biting her lip in deep thought, all while continuously glancing her way.

Although Xu Zhi didn’t understand her intentions, Qi Yaoyao’s face practically read: I have something I want to do, why don’t you proactively ask me about it?

Xu Zhi would never ask, knowing it couldn’t be anything good.

A customer arrived. Xu Zhi took the order and turned to open the ice machine compartment. While scooping ice, she thought to herself: I will hand in my resignation to the boss tonight when I get home.

Xu Zhi was already very familiar with the bartending process; every step was executed methodically.

She held the jigger between her fingers, and whether pouring spirits or mixers, the dosage was exactly right, precise by feel alone.

Qi Yaoyao watched Xu Zhi squeeze lemons and shake the cocktail shaker.

The lighting behind the bar was less dazzling than the dance floor booths, and the stable light fell on Xu Zhi’s clean, attractive brows and eyes.

Qi Yaoyao propped up her chin, watching her mix the drinks with lowered eyes. The process was fluid and clean, completely free of unnecessary clutter or slowness.

Xu Zhi: “Your Gin Fizz is ready, please enjoy.”

The carbonation from the soda water, added last, fizzed slightly through the ice in the cup.

“This cocktail is so pretty,” Qi Yaoyao suddenly said. “The glass is cute too. Zhizhi, mix me one like that~!”

Xu Zhi met Qi Yaoyao’s gaze briefly, said nothing, and silently turned to mix a drink for her too.

When adding the gin, Xu Zhi reduced the amount of the base spirit, as she always did.

This young lady had just come from a banquet and had already been drinking. If she mixed different alcohols, she would easily get drunk.

While Xu Zhi didn’t particularly care if Qi Yaoyao got drunk, she instinctively felt that avoiding her intoxication would save her a lot of trouble.

The previous customer took their drink and left.

Qi Yaoyao propped up her chin, watching Xu Zhi mix, leisurely swinging her feet. She asked, “Why do you add a slice of lime when there’s already fresh lemon juice in it?”

Xu Zhi didn’t answer immediately, feeling annoyed underneath.

But since her leverage was in the other party’s hands, she didn’t leave Qi Yaoyao waiting too long. She said, “Maybe for aesthetics.”

“You added mint leaves too. Is that also for aesthetics?”

“Mm.”

Xu Zhi finished the drink, placed a napkin beneath the cup, and pushed it toward her.

Qi Yaoyao asked again, “Why do you put a napkin underneath? The customer just now didn’t get one.”

“She took it away; she didn’t need it. You’re sitting here drinking, and the melting ice might cause water to gather.”

“Oh, I see.” Qi Yaoyao picked up the pretty, saucer-shaped glass, carefully admired the bubbles and the green lime slice inside, then pushed aside the mint leaves with her straw and took a small sip.

Xu Zhi stood behind the bar, watching her drink, and remained silent.

Qi Yaoyao blinked her eyelashes, looking at her. “Aren’t you going to ask me if it tastes good?”

Xu Zhi: “Everyone’s tastes are different.”

“I think it tastes quite good. I like the sweet and sour flavor.” Qi Yaoyao praised it first, then said, “But Xu Zhizhi, did you only put in a very, very small amount of alcohol?”

Xu Zhi was noncommittal.

Qi Yaoyao lightly raised her willow brows, a hint of accusation in her tone. “It tastes good, yes, but the alcohol flavor is too weak. It tastes completely like juice. It’s a cocktail, an adult’s drink. Is this the concentration?”

“This cocktail is naturally low in alcohol,” Xu Zhi said. “Because the base spirit is only gin; the rest is sugar, lemon juice, and soda water. If you ordered a ‘Intoxication,’ it contains four types of base spirits, and one glass would knock you out.”

Qi Yaoyao smiled, watching her talk eloquently. “Is that so.”

Xu Zhi had long known that this young lady’s eyes were beautiful, and they were even more captivating when she smiled.

She wasn’t used to making eye contact with someone so striking, so she immediately looked away and grabbed a rag to wipe the bar counter.

Qi Yaoyao held the stem of the glass, slowly sipping her drink while watching Xu Zhi wipe the bar.

A beautiful person is beautiful, even when wiping a table.

Qi Yaoyao suddenly grew curious and asked, “Zhizhi, why did you come here to be a bartender? Is this your hobby? Do you want to become a very famous, accomplished bartender in the future?”

Xu Zhi: “No.”

Qi Yaoyao: “Then you’re doing it for…?”

“To earn money.” Xu Zhi didn’t find this reason embarrassing. She finished wiping the counter and turned to wash the rag at the sink.

Qi Yaoyao waited for Xu Zhi to walk back, then continued to ask, “So, are you short of money?”

“There is no one in this world who isn’t short of money,” Xu Zhi said, avoiding the topic of her family’s debt. “Greed is bottomless.”

Qi Yaoyao said matter-of-factly, “I’m not short of money~~”

“That’s your family’s money.”

“My family’s money is my money. I’m my mom’s only daughter, the future…” She was about to blurt out her true status but looked at Xu Zhi and stopped herself for some reason. She just said, “Anyway, I’m very rich.”

Xu Zhi: “I know.”

Qi Yaoyao was surprised. “How do you know?”

Xu Zhi looked at her with the gaze one reserves for a low-IQ silly girl. Didn’t she already show off her little private stash when she came to deliver the compensation money? How could I not know.

Xu Zhi remained silent. Qi Yaoyao remembered too, shrugged lightly, and said casually, “That was only the tip of my pocket money iceberg~”

Xu Zhi didn’t respond anymore.

At that moment, the stage lights picked up a new rhythm, and dynamic lights pulsed in sync with the DJ’s beat.

Qi Yaoyao frowned, found the noise grating, glanced over, and looked away.

Qi Yaoyao asked Xu Zhi again, “If you’re a bartender, do you get a commission on the drinks you sell?”

Xu Zhi: “Mm.”

Qi Yaoyao: “Is it per bottle or per glass?”

“Both.”

“Wow, but I’ve never seen you recommend drinks to customers!” Qi Yaoyao said. “When people order, you should recommend the expensive ones!”

Xu Zhi’s expression didn’t change. She said, “No need. People order based on their preference and financial capacity.”

“Oh, come on! You’re the one making money. Why do you care how thick their wallet is? Who’s as foolish as you?” Qi Yaoyao said, then looked around. “Does your bar have a big bell that, when rung, means buying drinks for the whole house?”

Hearing this, Xu Zhi immediately frowned and looked at her. “You better not.”

“No.” Qi Yaoyao rarely saw any other expression on Xu Zhi’s face and found it amusing. She was smug, arrogant, and eager to try. “Where is it? Where is it? I want to go ring it!!”

Xu Zhi looked at her—this image of a pampered, arrogant rich girl who knew nothing of the world’s hardships, dangers, or the difficulty of earning money. She sighed deeply, softening her tone. “Don’t do that. You’ll be targeted by bad people.”

“I’m not scared.” Qi Yaoyao looked at Xu Zhi with her beautiful, wide eyes. “You’ll protect me~!”

Xu Zhi immediately refuted: “Don’t count on it. They could drown me with their spit. I can’t even protect myself.”

Qi Yaoyao was unimpressed. “Well, I brought two bodyguards.”

“In this situation, ten bodyguards might not be enough. Do you know how many customers are here tonight? How many of them are men? You’re dressed so beautifully…”

Qi Yaoyao interrupted: “I’m beautiful even when I don’t dress up.”

“Fine, you’re so beautiful. What if many men with ulterior motives approach you, cheat you out of your money or affection, or even do something worse to you?”

Qi Yaoyao scoffed, completely unfazed. “Do I look like the kind of person who is easily fooled?”

Xu Zhi: “…” You don’t just look like it; you absolutely are.

“Relax, don’t worry! I’m not some naïve simpleton.” After saying that, Qi Yaoyao jumped off the high stool, looking left and right, searching for the legendary big bell that every bar was supposed to have in the dim, shaking light.

However, before Qi Yaoyao could find it, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Qi Yaoyao turned around in surprise, only to find it was Xu Zhi, who had somehow stepped out from behind the bar.

Qi Yaoyao asked, “Zhizhi, what are you doing?”

“Off work.” Xu Zhi said calmly, “I get off at 8:30 PM. Even if you rang the bell, the commission wouldn’t go to me.”

Qi Yaoyao had been determined to ring it tonight. Hearing Xu Zhi’s explanation, she immediately dropped the idea and smiled at Xu Zhi with curved eyes. “Then I’ll come ring it for you tomorrow!”

Xu Zhi: “I’m resigning tonight.”

“Don’t resign yet! Since you promised to treat me well, I won’t report you, right? You can totally keep earning money here.”

Xu Zhi was firm. “No, I need to focus on studying.”

Qi Yaoyao: “…”

Qi Yaoyao thought for a moment, tilted her head, and asked uncertainly, “Then what if I buy you a gift? A really expensive one, like a phone or a computer? Do you know how to drive? Oh wait, you’re not eighteen yet.”

“I am eighteen, a full eighteen.”

“Tsk~~”

Seeing her disbelief, Xu Zhi took a deep breath and said, “I’ll show you my ID card later.”

Qi Yaoyao’s thought process was different from Xu Zhi’s. Hearing her certainty, she excitedly said, “So you prefer cars, then? Do you have a favorite brand?”

“…” Xu Zhi felt her temple throbbing. She held the young lady’s handbag in one hand and her slender wrist in the other, feeling that everything about this situation was wrong.

Yet, this young lady was still chattering incessantly about buying gifts.

Xu Zhi suddenly stopped walking.

Qi Yaoyao was forced to stop with her, following both her steps and her words. “What’s wrong?”

Xu Zhi turned to look at her. “What, do you want to sugar daddy me?” (包養我嗎？ – Do you want to keep me/financially support me?)

Qi Yaoyao froze for a moment.

Xu Zhi thought this young lady would realize how contrived, sudden, and inappropriate her words and actions were, and would stop immediately. Instead, she saw her deep, captivating eyes instantly light up with stars, and she asked loudly, “Wow, is that possible?!”

Xu Zhi: “…”

Xu Zhi looked at her and articulated slowly, “N-o, it is n-o-t.”

Qi Yaoyao instantly became dejected. She made a sound of disappointment, then quickly glared at Xu Zhi and complained, “It’s not possible, so why did you even say it…”

Xu Zhi said, “I said it because I wanted to tell you not to do these unnecessary things.”

“It’s not unnecessary! I want to be friends with you. If you treat me well, I should treat you well. You need money, and I have more than I know what to do with, so I can give it to you!”

“I am not begging.”

“I wouldn’t give money to beggars; they’re all scammers.”

“…”

“Xu Zhizhi, Xu Zhizhi?”

“Stop talking. It’s noisy.”

“Hmph, you work in a place like this bar every day. Can I possibly be louder than this environment? Xu Zhizhi, you’re being too much! You just said you’d be nice to me!”