My Wife Is Going To Great Lengths/Putting In A Lot Of Effort To Turn Me Gay - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Zhizhi!

Although Qi Yaoyao walked in the center, she was the most awkward. She whispered, “Do we really have to dress this ‘formally’…”

In the afternoon, her two friends had pressed her about why she wouldn’t go to the bar.

Qi Yaoyao certainly wouldn’t admit that she had been repeatedly frustrated and embarrassed in front of Xu Zhi. She vaguely refused to give a reason.

So, she had been coerced into putting on makeup and a dress and ended up here…

Du Yangfang said, “Of course. Last time, because we weren’t dressed ‘formally’ enough, that female bartender looked down on us as students and bullied us!”

Julie, hearing Du Yangfang bring this up again, quickly looked at Qi Yaoyao’s expression. Seeing that she didn’t react much, she cautiously tried to defend Xu Zhi: “Actually, she didn’t really bully us; she just couldn’t remember the WeChat ID…”

Qi Yaoyao originally didn’t want to get involved in any topic related to Xu Zhi, but hearing Julie say this made her angry. “How do you know if she genuinely didn’t remember or pretended not to?”

Julie was about to speak.

Qi Yaoyao continued, “She just didn’t want to give it to you! Even if she remembered, she wouldn’t give it!”

Julie became awkward, looking at her carefully: “Yaoyao, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so angry?” It seemed like the person who hadn’t gotten the WeChat wasn’t her, but Qi Yaoyao herself…

Qi Yaoyao reacted as if a sore spot had been poked, immediately glaring furiously. “Am I angry?!”

She turned and asked Du Yangfang, “Am I?”

Du Yangfang gave a slight cough and said no.

“Exactly. How could I possibly be angry over such a small thing.” Qi Yaoyao looked back at Julie and commanded, “You are not allowed to go find that bartender tonight!”

Julie nodded.

Qi Yaoyao added, “Show some backbone!!”

Julie: “Mm-hmm.”

Qi Yaoyao was still not satisfied and said petulantly, “There are so many good-looking people in the world. Am I not better looking than her?”

“…” Julie whispered, “But you two aren’t the same type of good-looking…”

Qi Yaoyao: “Hmm??”

Julie quickly changed her mind: “Well, you are definitely better looking than her!” Her tone was very certain!

Because Qi Yaoyao insisted, the three chose a booth far away from the bar counter.

The bar was lively.

Strobe lights accompanied the pulsating DJ music.

Qi Yaoyao forbade Julie and her friends from talking about Xu Zhi, but after the drinks arrived, while Du Yangfang and Julie chatted about all sorts of topics, Qi Yaoyao frequently glanced towards the bar counter.

She watched Xu Zhi mix various beautiful cocktails, saw which customers she spoke a few words to, and if she smiled while talking.

Young, handsome guys came over to chat them up, inviting the girls to dance.

Du Yangfang readily agreed, and Julie also picked a pleasing girl to get friendly with.

Only Qi Yaoyao was disinterested, finding neither the men nor women engaging.

She let her friends go play. She held a cup of non-alcoholic drink and looked toward the bar again.

She thought: As soon as there’s no one there, I’ll go over.

But there were too many people asking Xu Zhi to mix cocktails.

Qi Yaoyao never found an opportunity.

The bar owner’s “eyes and ears” learned that the honored guest had arrived. He hurriedly cut short his dinner engagement and rushed back to the bar to see Qi Yaoyao.

Qi Yaoyao saw him and asked, “Is Know Jie the only bartender in your bar?”

“Of course not,” the boss said, a smile plastered on his face, being especially attentive. “It’s shift rotation. She only works here until 8:30 PM.”

Qi Yaoyao: “In other words, she gets off work at 8:30 PM?”

“Yes, yes.” The boss remembered Qi Yaoyao’s previous request and asked, “Do you need her services?”

“Services?” Qi Yaoyao subconsciously retorted, “What kind of services do you offer here?”

The boss realized immediately that the young lady had misunderstood and hurriedly explained, “We are a legitimate bar. I mean the services of mixing and bringing drinks to you.”

“Oh…” Qi Yaoyao thought for a moment and said, “Then ask her to mix a cocktail based on my current mood.”

“Your current mood is…”

“Unhappy.”

“…” The boss wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead and gave a dry chuckle. “Miss Qi, you do love to joke. I’ll have her come over.”

Qi Yaoyao: “No need. Just tell her exactly that, and don’t tell her that I’m the one who ordered the drink.”

The boss: “…Ay, alright. Should I have it sent to this table?”

“Mm.”

The bar had a new set of mixing tools, which Xu Zhi hadn’t used before, somewhat affecting her mixing efficiency.

This resulted in a constant line of customers at the bar counter these past few days.

Xu Zhi was slicing lemon wedges for garnish when she noticed the boss approach with the bartender taking over her shift.

Boss: “Know, let Kimi take over your work. You go mix a drink for a customer first.”

“What kind of drink?”

“She asked you to mix it based on her mood. She’s in a very bad mood right now.”

Xu Zhi: “…”

Although Xu Zhi had been bartending part-time for over two months, she had never spoken more than two or three sentences to any customer.

There was only one person who would use this kind of familiar, demanding tone.

Xu Zhi looked up.

The various booths were dim, making her dizzy with the chaotic bar lights.

The boss added, “In short, after you mix it, personally deliver it to the guest at table number 68.”

Sixty-eight. Xu Zhi had her direction. She looked over and saw a drinks menu standing on the table in front of that booth, and the fingers gripping the menu had glistening manicures on the nails.

In that instant, Xu Zhi couldn’t decipher her own mood. Although it was clearly trouble seeking her out, there was a strange, hidden sense of…

In any case, the young lady had indeed come.

Boss: “Know, Know? Did you hear me?”

“I heard you.” Xu Zhi retracted her gaze, placed the sliced lemon wedges on a plate, took one, and fitted it onto the glass as a garnish, then pushed it to the customer.

Regardless of happiness or unhappiness.

This age group shouldn’t be in this kind of place drinking alcohol.

Xu Zhi mixed a “Boundless Desert” using orange juice and a small amount of liqueur, placed it on a tray, and delivered it to the table.

Qi Yaoyao had been hiding behind the menu, secretly watching Xu Zhi. She watched when the boss relayed the message, and she watched when Xu Zhi mixed the drink.

When Xu Zhi brought the drink over, she put down the menu and pretended to be busy on her phone.

“Hello, here is the Boundless Desert you ordered,” Xu Zhi politely placed the drink on the table.

Qi Yaoyao looked up at her. “When did I order Boundless Desert? I don’t want this.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted it based on your mood?”

“My mood is not ‘desert’ at all.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want your WeChat ID!”

“…” Xu Zhi looked helpless, staring at her.

Qi Yaoyao’s deep, captivating eyes, however, looked exceptionally beautiful in the dim lighting.

And she was wearing makeup.

Her features were already pronounced, and with unique eyeliner drawn on, her eye corners were slightly red, looking teary but not quite—a captivating, pitiful look.

Qi Yaoyao stared at Xu Zhi with determination.

After staring back at her for several seconds, Xu Zhi said, “If I give you WeChat, will you stop coming over?”

Seeing that Xu Zhi was yielding, Qi Yaoyao immediately raised her eyebrows and pressed her advantage. “That depends on the situation~”

Xu Zhi: “…”

Qi Yaoyao looked at her and said, “But if you don’t give it to me, I’ll come every day! I’ll make it impossible for you to work!”

Xu Zhi sighed. “I can give it to you, but only after I get off work. I genuinely don’t remember my WeChat ID.”

“Fine~~” Qi Yaoyao got her way, and her mood brightened. She pointed at the yellow cocktail on the table. “Take your orange juice away. I want to drink that ‘Sun Never Sets’ from last time~”

Xu Zhi had no objection. She picked up the cocktail, placed it back on the tray, and turned to mix a new one.

Qi Yaoyao didn’t stay seated either. She grabbed her bag and closely followed Xu Zhi to the bar counter.

Xu Zhi used the same formula she had mixed for Qi Yaoyao last time, creating a low-alcohol “Sun Never Sets.”

Qi Yaoyao sat on the high stool, sipping her drink and happily swinging her feet slightly. She then said to Xu Zhi, “You can focus on your work. You don’t need to mind me. When it’s 8:30 PM, I’ll go add WeChat with you.”

Xu Zhi didn’t bother arguing and went to help Kimi mix drinks for customers.

The dance floor was lively, with songs playing one after another.

In the dim, flickering lights, various perfumes mingled. Subtle physical contact between people made the atmosphere easily heat up.

Du Yangfang and Julie were immersed in the fun, having forgotten all else.

Qi Yaoyao, however, kept her eyes glued to the clock above the bar, watching it tick by moment by moment. The “Sun Never Sets” was already gone, leaving only a pile of ice cubes in the glass.

Qi Yaoyao propped up her face.

Just then, a familiar figure walked by.

Qi Yaoyao instantly perked up and shouted to Xu Zhi: “Zhizhi!”

Xu Zhi was draining the melted ice water from a cup. She poured the finished cocktail from the shaker into the glass, then looked at Qi Yaoyao who had called her. She raised a single eyebrow, signaling what’s the matter?

Qi Yaoyao didn’t speak. Seeing that Xu Zhi responded to the name “Zhizhi,” the corners of her mouth curled up. Her heart felt satisfied and subtly joyful.

See? That little mean girl can only call Xu Zhi “Know Jie,” but she not only knows Xu Zhi’s real name but can also call her by her nickname!

That’s the difference!!

At 8:30 PM, Xu Zhi got off work on time.

Seeing this, Qi Yaoyao immediately got off the high stool and followed closely behind her.

Xu Zhi was heading to the staff changing room and said, “Wait here for a moment.”

Qi Yaoyao refused: “No. What if you run away?”

Xu Zhi didn’t think there was any benefit to breaking her word and running away. Besides, a monk can run, but his temple remains.

However, she didn’t say anything. If the young lady wanted to follow, let her follow.

Qi Yaoyao entered the bar’s staff rest area, which was divided into a changing room and a simple pantry.

But the space was tiny.

Xu Zhi asked Qi Yaoyao to wait in the pantry, but Qi Yaoyao stared at her eagerly.

Xu Zhi: “You’re not going to watch me change, are you?”

“We’re both girls, it’s fine to watch,” Qi Yaoyao said, though she still turned her back. “Alright, alright, I won’t watch you. Honestly.”

Xu Zhi felt like she was dealing with a spoiled ancestor, even though her involvement with this person was minimal.

The only real involvement was saving her in the men’s restroom that night.

Which led to her drawing the attention of some gangsters.

But this person repaid kindness with malice, having her bodyguard move the tables in, then move them back, adding a ton of extra work for them.

Xu Zhi’s uniform was worn directly over her regular clothes. Since the air conditioning was on and the uniform was loose, she could dress this way.

She took off her uniform, put it in her locker, and then took out her phone.

She brought up the WeChat QR code page and held it out to Qi Yaoyao.

Qi Yaoyao, however, shook her own phone, which also prominently displayed a QR code.

Xu Zhi didn’t argue about who should scan whom. She stepped back, scanned her code, and sent a friend request.

Qi Yaoyao accepted and saw a common, cute cat avatar.

She clicked in to view the WeChat ID.

It showed: wxid-103223****434.

Qi Yaoyao: “…” It really isn’t Xu Zhi’s fault that she couldn’t remember this.

Xu Zhi saw the notification that the friend request was accepted and said, “I’m going back now.”

“Wait!” Qi Yaoyao rushed up to Xu Zhi.

In the small space, Xu Zhi caught a strong whiff of perfume and instinctively retreated two steps.

Qi Yaoyao didn’t notice Xu Zhi’s retreat. She simply snatched the phone from Xu Zhi’s hand and said, “Why don’t you change your WeChat ID?”

“I don’t want to change it. Give me my phone back. I’m going to be late getting home.”

“Late? Why so strict? Late getting home?” Qi Yaoyao lifted her beautiful eyes to look at her, testing the waters. “Who’s waiting for you to go back? Boyfriend? Girlfriend?”

Xu Zhi: “…Can’t it just be family?”

Qi Yaoyao smiled, then pouted. “Oh~ Family~ Hold on, I’ll help you change your WeChat ID. It’ll be quick!”

Xu Zhi took a deep breath, but ultimately, she could only stand there and wait.

Qi Yaoyao clicked to change the ID. She first entered xuzhi and then asked, “When is your birthday?”

“…October 2nd.”

“Good.” Qi Yaoyao thought, October 2nd. That’s a long way away. She entered “xuzhi1002,” clicked confirm, and handed the phone back to Xu Zhi, pointing at the new WeChat ID on the screen. “That’s your WeChat ID. It’s easy to remember now, right?”

Xu Zhi didn’t care whether it was easy to remember or not. She didn’t even look at it. She took the phone and walked out.

Qi Yaoyao: “Hey! Wait!”

Xu Zhi didn’t wait. Her mother had been very punctual getting off work these days, and she couldn’t be late getting home.

Qi Yaoyao was wearing high heels and couldn’t catch up to the quickly striding Xu Zhi. By the time she ran out, the person was already gone.

Qi Yaoyao pouted unhappily, but then remembered she had gotten Xu Zhi’s WeChat ID, and her mood lifted again.

She clicked on the avatar, entered the Moments, and started scrolling.