Returning to the Miracle Nightclub, Chu Ge noticed that the storefront had actually been renovated. When he had come before, the facade was dilapidated, with some missing colored lights, and the club looked like a shabby place. It was understandable since the core business inside wasnât aimed at the general public. There was no need to make the signboard too eye-catching; being low-key was the way to go.
When Zhang Xiaoren was in charge earlier, he did the same. Zhang Qiren didnât consider doing any renovations after taking over.
However, upon coming this time, Chu Ge saw a magnificent storefront. From a distance, it looked radiant and colorful, and the cheongsam-clad hostesses were standing outside with welcoming smiles. It gave a sense of elegance and class to anyone who saw it.
âThey stopped holding back?â Chu Ge muttered in surprise. âIsnât this too ostentatious? Could it be that theyâve completely transformed it inside and turned it into a more open and welcoming place?â
Moon Shadow had no expression on her face and went straight inside.
The interior hadnât changed much; it was still a classic ballroom. Soft music was playing, and couples were embracing each other on the dance floor. It was still early, and everyone was behaving properly. There was no trace of the ambiguous chaos from that day, let alone the special performances of the midnight show.
Moon Shadowâs slightly tense mood relaxed a bit. She called a waiter, requested a table, and sat across from Chu Ge. The seating arrangement was different from the coupleâs seat that he had sat in with Qiu Wuji that day. They were facing each other, straightforward and open.
Chu Ge also felt comfortable. Going out with a friend should be like this. He didnât understand why it always ended up with ambiguity when going out with Qiu Wuji⦠Perhaps ambiguity only existed in his own heart?
The prices were still high. Following his usual habit, Chu Ge only ordered two bottles of beer and a plate of peanuts. He didnât care how the waiter looked at him; they could look however they wanted.
In theory, Moon Shadow was the one treatingâ¦
But the girl looked at the prices, and her eyes were still fixated, as if she hadnât come back to her senses. Poor her, she had been struggling underground for several months, and she hadnât touched anything from the upper class⦠she had no money.
She thought that now that she had a formal job, she could treat her acquaintance to a drink or two. If she had known, she wouldnât have come here. Street stalls would have been much betterâ¦
Chu Ge opened a bottle and filled both his and Moon Shadowâs glasses. They raised their glasses and clinked them together. Chu Ge smiled and said, âSince weâre acquaintances, I offer this cup to bid you farewell from Nanjiang.â
Moon Shadow snapped out of her thoughts and nervously held the seemingly invaluable wine glass. She whispered, âThank you.â
They both took a sip. Chu Ge said, âFrom the looks of it, the Miracle Nightclub seems to have washed away its past and become a legitimate establishment. You shouldnât have any regrets either. Bid farewell to the past, embrace a new life. In the eyes of us writers, this is called a circle, a happy ending.â
âPerhaps,â Moon Shadow smiled. âI donât have any particular attachment to other things, nor do I want to delve into the past of the Zhang family. If those harmful things can truly stop from now on, itâs good.â
Chu Ge sincerely said, âYou have a very pure character. Relative to everything, the current team is probably the best place for you.â
Moon Shadow raised her glass. âThank you, Chu Ge and Sister Qiu, for taking care of me.â
They drank another glass. Chu Ge actually felt that if there was nothing special happening here, he could leave. It wouldnât be good to spend too much time alone with Moon Shadow. After all, it was necessary to avoid any suspicion between a man and a woman, and there wasnât much to talk aboutâ¦
There were certain things that everyone was avoiding and not talking about, so there was even less to say. It was a bit awkward, in fact.
Chu Ge drank his wine while his eyes wandered around, considering how he could leave politely and gracefully as soon as he arrived⦠But then, while his gaze wandered, he saw a familiar face.
Right at the adjacent table, Zhu Mengmeng was talking to a handsome young man.
Chu Ge became nervous. How did he not notice her here before⦠If Zhu Mengmeng were to report this, even jumping into the Nanjiang River wouldnât wash away his troubles!
Moon Shadow asked curiously, âWhatâs wrong?â
âNothing, nothing. I just saw someone I knowâ¦â
Moon Shadow followed his gaze and seemed to understand. She said maturely, âYour ex-lover? Donât worry, I wonât tell Sister Qiu.â
Chu Ge sighed helplessly. âNow, who is her ex-lover, who would tell Sister Qiu? Can you please get it straight firstâ¦â
Moon Shadow , âHuh?â
Chu Ge looked at her dazed expression and didnât know how to explain to her. Subconsciously, he discreetly shifted his attention to eavesdrop on what Zhu Mengmeng was doing.
âCanât we get back together? I miss youâ¦â Zhu Mengmeng said.
The handsome young man replied, âWeâve been broken up for two years. Is it still interesting to talk about this?â
Zhu Mengmeng asked, âDo you have a girlfriend now?â
âYou know about it, thatâs enough.â
âIs it that girl named Tingting on WeChat?â
The handsome young man was shocked. âHow do you knowâ¦â
Zhu Mengmeng calmly said, âBecause thatâs my alternate account.â
Chu Ge sprayed out the beer in his mouth.
Zhu Mengmeng seemed to sense something, turned her head, and her eyes widened. She frantically searched in her bag for her phone, seemingly wanting to directly call Qiu Wuji to catch them in the act.
Chu Ge helplessly said, âHey, you seem quite loyal to Qiu Wuji. How can you be so brazen yourselfâ¦â
âWhat do you mean by being brazen?â Zhu Mengmeng pointed at the young man opposite her with righteous indignation. âHeâs my husband!â
Chu Ge sprayed out his peanuts as well.
The young man looked displeased and asked Zhu Mengmeng, âSo, is this another one of your ex-lovers?â
It was all a mess. Everyone was each otherâs ex-lovers.
Finally, the two tables merged into one, and after explaining for a long time, they finally understood each otherâs relationships. Zhu Mengmeng still looked distrustfully at Moon Shadow and said, âHey, I will confirm with Qiuqiu. This little white flower, saying sheâs the neighbor, and Qiuqiu knows⦠Why do I have doubts when I hear it?â
Chu Ge helplessly said, âWhatever, Qiu Wuji definitely knows.â
Moon Shadow only just understood what was going on now. She stood up expressionlessly and said, âSince thatâs the case, Iâll leave first⦠Itâs not quite comfortableâ¦â
Chu Ge also wanted to bid farewell.
But then, Zhu Mengmeng lowered her voice and said, âWhether this little girl stays or not doesnât matter. But as for you, Chu Ge, did you really come here just to have a drink with your neighbor?â
Chu Ge felt there was an underlying meaning in her words. It didnât seem like she suspected him of trying to pick up girls; it felt like there was something else.
Moon Shadow also seemed to sense something. She paused in her movement of standing up and turned to look at her face.
Zhu Mengmeng felt a sharp sword piercing her cheek, making her uncomfortable all over. She also realized that this little girl was probably an ability userâ¦
She no longer concealed anything and whispered, âYou, Chu Ge, have special abilities, and this little girl doesnât seem ordinary either. So, did you come here not just to wait for tonightâs midnight reopening of the underground fighting arena?â
With a crisp sound, a crack appeared in the glass in Moon Shadowâs hand.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Chu Geâs expression also instantly became serious. âIs the information reliable?â
Zhu Mengmeng didnât expect that Chu Ge, who had always been friendly and smiling, would suddenly have such a grave expression. She stammered, âWh-what do you mean by reliable or not? The information was released three days ago, and all the regular spectators received it. Weâre just waiting for it to reopen tonight.â
Chu Ge whispered, âTo bring back the underground fighting arena, Zhang Xiaoren even went all out to renovate the establishment. Heâs really not afraid of death.â
Zhu Mengmengâs handsome husband finally confirmed that Chu Ge was indeed not her ex-lover. He leaned back in his chair, sipped his drink, and said, âWith the downfall of the Wang family, Zhang Qirenâs departure, and Lin Wuyangâs power being stripped away⦠Some people feel that they can now stride forward and seize the opportunityâ¦â
Chu Ge asked, âSo both of you used to be spectators?â
The handsome husband smiled faintly, âSupply exists where there is demand. These days, thereâs a lot of pressure, and there needs to be a release valve. Just like when everyone reads a short piece of writing online, they swarm to criticize and make it as offensive as possible. But when the truth comes out, the critics scatter, leaving the parties involved in a bloody mess, and nobody cares about the feathers left behind. Spectators⦠arenât we all?â
Moon Shadow slowly loosened her grip on the glass in her hand and looked down at the bubbling bubbles in her drink. Her black eyes emitted a faint ripple.
In the brightly lit Special Affairs Department of the Municipal Bureau, Lin Wuyang was answering a phone call.
âWuyang, this is against the rules.â
Lin Wuyang simply smiled gently, âWhen a new leader takes office, they always need to achieve something to show others⦠The weather has turned a bit chilly, so the director should rest at home. Let us handle this tiring task.â
The person on the other end said something, but Lin Wuyang calmly interrupted, âThe information was released three days ago, didnât the leader know? If the leader didnât know, itâs alright⦠Some people want to treat me, Lin Wuyang, like a nobody, but they will pay the price for /FanTranslations