Ruan Qing was holding his crutch and standing next to the man, his head down without speaking.
They were about to reach the second floor, and after Ruan Qing apologized again, he used his crutch to exit the elevator. The man didn’t say anything.
The elevator door slowly closed, and Ruan Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
Ruan Qing, still leaning on his crutch, walked to the manager’s office door. Even though the door was open, he didn’t enter without permission. Instead, he politely knocked on the door.
“Come in,” a man’s gentle voice came from inside.
The office was not only occupied by the manager at this moment but also by several of the ‘Huayue’ security guards.
The manager was sitting on the sofa, and in front of him was a young man who was kneeling.
The young man had tears on his face, and he spoke in a trembling and fearful voice, “Manager, I made a mistake. Please give me another chance! I won’t do it again.”
Without even glancing at the young man, the man, who was addressed as “Manager,” casually signaled one of the nearby security guards.
The security guard in black immediately dragged the young man away, leaving only the sound of the young man’s distant sobs.
Once Ruan Qing could no longer see the young man, he took a step forward with his crutch and respectfully asked, imitating the submissive tone of speech, “Is there something you want from me, Manager?”
After taking a sip of coffee, the manager, with a smile on his face, spoke in a gentle tone, “Rose, you were two hours late today.” (T/N: Ruan Qing’s ‘bar name’ is Mei Gui which is the Chinese for ‘Rose’.)
Although the manager was smiling, there was a sense of danger about him that sent shivers down one’s spine.
That smile was no different from the one he had when he ordered the security guard to take the young man away earlier.
Ruan Qing remained composed, lowering his head and softly explained, “Manager, I can explain the reason for my lateness.”
Ruan Qing then slowly recounted the events and emphasized that he had rushed to work right after leaving the hospital.
Though Ruan Qing was using a crutch, it seemed as though the manager had just noticed it, as his gaze fell on Ruan Qing’s unsupported leg. He asked, “Did you hurt your leg?”
Ruan Qing nodded slightly.
The manager said, “Come here.”
One of the black-clad security guards had already stepped forward, prepared to check if Ruan Qing’s injury was genuine. However, the manager’s words were evidently directed at Ruan Qing, and the security guard quietly stepped back.
Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment, then approached the manager’s side.
“Sit.” The manager raised his chin slightly and gestured to the seat beside him.
Ruan Qing hesitated once more, but eventually took a seat beside the manager.
The manager smiled and said, “You’re no longer a newcomer; you should be aware of the rules at ‘Huayue,’ right?”
Ruan Qing nodded without any trace of guilt.
Taking leave or being late for reasons such as injuries depended on the severity of the injury and the hospital records.
His leg injury was undeniably real, and he could find the medical records on his phone. He had no fear of inspection.
After the examination, he could even request a shift change, like being scheduled for duty ten days later.
However, just as Ruan Qing picked up his crutch and was about to stand up to go over to the security guards for the examination, the manager spoke again, “Stretch out your leg.”
Ruan Qing hesitated, put down the crutch, and gently rolled up his trouser leg, raising his injured leg.
It made it easier for the manager to examine his leg injury.
Ruan Qing’s leg had already swollen and turned purplish, making it very noticeable.
“Stretch it further,” the manager said.
Ruan Qing obediently lifted it higher.
“Higher,” the manager urged.
Ruan Qing paused for a moment and lifted it higher once again, almost reaching the manager’s lower leg. It was certainly visible at this height unless the manager had nearsightedness.
As far as Ruan Qing remembered, the manager didn’t wear glasses, so he should see clearly at this height.
However, the manager still seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He directly reached out, restraining Ruan Qing’s leg and placing it on his own thigh. Then he bent down to examine Ruan Qing’s slightly swollen and reddened ankle.
Ruan Qing didn’t expect the manager to grab his leg directly and instinctively tried to pull it back.
However, not only did he fail to pull it back, but he also accidentally touched the wound on his ankle. The pain caused a layer of mist to form in Ruan Qing’s eyes, and his foot trembled slightly. He no longer attempted to withdraw his leg.
Ruan Qing was still wearing his shoes, but due to the manager’s actions, the shoes ended up on the manager’s leg. As a result, the manager’s black suit pants were stained with some dirt.
And it looked quite obvious.
Manager Shi seemed not to have noticed anything unusual, carefully examining Ruan Qing’s ankle, even using his thumb to gently rub the area.
As if he was checking if Ruan Qing’s injury was real.
Perhaps it was because Manager Shi was afraid of hurting Ruan Qing; his touch was very light, and his movements were very gentle, carrying a hint of ambiguity.
It was as if he was flirting.
Manager Shi was clearly not the type of person who did physical work; his fingertips were not rough, and touching gently did not cause pain. It was the warm and gentle sensation that came from him, making Ruan Qing uncomfortable again.
As he flinched, he accidentally bumped into Manager Shi’s hand, once again causing pain in his foot.
“Ah,” Ruan Qing winced, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, his reddened eyes welling up with tears once more.
He bit his lower lip, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.
Manager Shi raised his head, looking at the delicate features of the person before him, and in a gentle tone, he asked, “Did I hurt you?”
Ruan Qing nodded slightly, and after nodding, he hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, “Manager, the doctor said my ankle sprain is somewhat serious, and I can’t engage in strenuous activities for a while.”
“So,” Ruan Qing cautiously continued, his tone laced with some caution, “can I reschedule my shifts and performances for ten days from now?”
Manager Shi couldn’t help but chuckle, releasing Ruan Qing’s foot. “What do you think?”
Although Manager Shi still had a smiling demeanor and there was no change in his tone, it gave off a feeling that his request couldn’t be refused.
Clearly, he did not agree with Ruan Qing’s proposal.
Ruan Qing was not a fool and understood that taking leave or changing shifts was not possible. He had to give up.
Ruan Qing gently withdrew his foot and picked up the crutch beside him. “Manager, then I’ll go to work now.”
After saying that, he stood up and seemed to be leaving, even at a somewhat faster pace.
Because when Ruan Qing turned around, he did not see Manager Shi reaching out, as if wanting to hold him.
However, since he had already stood up, he missed it.
Manager Shi gave a casual glance to the security guard next to him, and the security guard immediately blocked Ruan Qing’s way.
Ruan Qing looked at the security guards blocking his path and had to stop in his tracks.
In fact, ever since the manager personally inspected his foot injury, Ruan Qing had a bad premonition in his heart.
In Wang Qing’s memory, this manager, although he always wore a gentle smile, was actually very ruthless in his methods. He showed no mercy to those who violated the rules and didn’t like anyone getting too close to him.
Moreover, even though he was just a manager, within ‘Huayue’, he was a higher-up, and even honored guests would politely address him as the manager. Clearly, this person was not as simple as just a manager.
But this kind of person personally inspecting his foot injury, not to mention not caring if he dirtied his pants with his shoes, and now even refusing to let him leave, was a terrible turn of events.
This manager’s character was truly awful, and if he gave Wang Qing the chance to climb into bed, Wang Qing wouldn’t pass it up, let alone go willingly.
Ruan Qing slightly tightened the crutch in his hand, and his fingertips began to turn white.
But there was no trace of anything unusual on his face. He turned to look at the manager and respectfully asked, “Manager, is there anything else you need to instruct me?”
Just as the manager was about to speak, a knock on the door interrupted them.
The manager’s smile changed, and his eyes narrowed for a moment, showing a hint of displeasure, but he quickly returned to normal.
He looked at the person at the door and said gently, “Come in.”
The person at the door respectfully addressed the manager. “Manager, it seems there has been an incident with Mr. Chu, and you may need to go and handle it.”
The manager paused for a moment, stood up, and gave Ruan Qing a brief glance. “Stay here, I’ll be back.”
After the manager said this, he headed towards the door, and the security guards in the room also followed. In a short time, the office was left with Ruan Qing alone.
After everyone had left, Ruan Qing also left the office, using his crutch. There was no intention of waiting for the manager to return.
The rules of ‘Huayue’ were set by the manager himself, and no one dared to violate them except him. Even the bar’s patrons were not exempt.
Ruan Qing was only dressed in the uniform of a waiter today, so no one would bother him. Even if someone dared to touch him, the bar’s security guards would immediately stop the guest, and that guest would pay the price for breaking the rules.
But the manager himself was clearly not bound by the rules at all. If he wanted to do something, no one would stop him, and besides, even Ruan Qing would happily deliver himself.
Ruan Qing would have to be a fool to wait for him.
And this was not considered going out of character for him.
Because for Wang Qing, there were two things that were most important. One was to earn more money, and the other was to graduate from university smoothly, completely breaking free from the past, and living an ordinary life.
Staying in this office wouldn’t bring in any money. After all, Ruan Qing hadn’t clocked in for work even now.
Not clocking in was equivalent to coming here for nothing tonight, and Wang Qing would definitely not be happy about it; he made some money every night by delivering drinks.
So Ruan Qing going downstairs to clock in right now wouldn’t make him go out of character.
After clocking in, going to work was also quite logical.
Ruan Qing limped down to the first floor and arrived at the employee time clock area, where he placed his fingerprint.
“Ding! Clock in successful.”
The first floor was the bar’s lobby, and it’s very lively at this moment. The lighting was dim, flickering, and many people were drinking, while many others were dancing in the center of the dance floor, creating a very lively atmosphere.
On the side of the bar was the performance stage.
It’s called a performance stage, but in reality, it’s just a platform a little higher than the crowd, like a runway.
The platform was quite long, but it’s not even a meter wide.
Right now, there were several people dancing and performing on the platform, surrounded by a packed crowd, and the atmosphere was very high.
Moreover, on the large screen next to it, the performance of the people on the stage was being shown, making it convenient for those who couldn’t see from the back.
The people dancing on the platform were performing some provocative dances.
Only the third type of employees would dance and perform to attract customers, which meant that the people on stage were all providing “special services.”
Ruan Qing just felt suffocated by watching.
He absolutely must find the culprit within three days!
Absolutely!
Just as Ruan Qing was preparing to deliver drinks, a crisp voice sounded behind him.
“Rose? What are you doing here?”
“Aren’t you and Linglan partners? Just now, something happened on Linglan’s side, so your performance got scheduled for tonight. You should hurry up and get ready.”
Ruan Qing: “?”
Ruan Qing was holding his crutch and standing next to the man, his head down without speaking.
They were about to reach the second floor, and after Ruan Qing apologized again, he used his crutch to exit the elevator. The man didn’t say anything.
The elevator door slowly closed, and Ruan Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
Ruan Qing, still leaning on his crutch, walked to the manager’s office door. Even though the door was open, he didn’t enter without permission. Instead, he politely knocked on the door.
“Come in,” a man’s gentle voice came from inside.
The office was not only occupied by the manager at this moment but also by several of the ‘Huayue’ security guards.
The manager was sitting on the sofa, and in front of him was a young man who was kneeling.
The young man had tears on his face, and he spoke in a trembling and fearful voice, “Manager, I made a mistake. Please give me another chance! I won’t do it again.”
Without even glancing at the young man, the man, who was addressed as “Manager,” casually signaled one of the nearby security guards.
The security guard in black immediately dragged the young man away, leaving only the sound of the young man’s distant sobs.
Once Ruan Qing could no longer see the young man, he took a step forward with his crutch and respectfully asked, imitating the submissive tone of speech, “Is there something you want from me, Manager?”
After taking a sip of coffee, the manager, with a smile on his face, spoke in a gentle tone, “Rose, you were two hours late today.” (T/N: Ruan Qing’s ‘bar name’ is Mei Gui which is the Chinese for ‘Rose’.)
Although the manager was smiling, there was a sense of danger about him that sent shivers down one’s spine.
That smile was no different from the one he had when he ordered the security guard to take the young man away earlier.
Ruan Qing remained composed, lowering his head and softly explained, “Manager, I can explain the reason for my lateness.”
Ruan Qing then slowly recounted the events and emphasized that he had rushed to work right after leaving the hospital.
Though Ruan Qing was using a crutch, it seemed as though the manager had just noticed it, as his gaze fell on Ruan Qing’s unsupported leg. He asked, “Did you hurt your leg?”
Ruan Qing nodded slightly.
The manager said, “Come here.”
One of the black-clad security guards had already stepped forward, prepared to check if Ruan Qing’s injury was genuine. However, the manager’s words were evidently directed at Ruan Qing, and the security guard quietly stepped back.
Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment, then approached the manager’s side.
“Sit.” The manager raised his chin slightly and gestured to the seat beside him.
Ruan Qing hesitated once more, but eventually took a seat beside the manager.
The manager smiled and said, “You’re no longer a newcomer; you should be aware of the rules at ‘Huayue,’ right?”
Ruan Qing nodded without any trace of guilt.
Taking leave or being late for reasons such as injuries depended on the severity of the injury and the hospital records.
His leg injury was undeniably real, and he could find the medical records on his phone. He had no fear of inspection.
After the examination, he could even request a shift change, like being scheduled for duty ten days later.
However, just as Ruan Qing picked up his crutch and was about to stand up to go over to the security guards for the examination, the manager spoke again, “Stretch out your leg.”
Ruan Qing hesitated, put down the crutch, and gently rolled up his trouser leg, raising his injured leg.
It made it easier for the manager to examine his leg injury.
Ruan Qing’s leg had already swollen and turned purplish, making it very noticeable.
“Stretch it further,” the manager said.
Ruan Qing obediently lifted it higher.
“Higher,” the manager urged.
Ruan Qing paused for a moment and lifted it higher once again, almost reaching the manager’s lower leg. It was certainly visible at this height unless the manager had nearsightedness.
As far as Ruan Qing remembered, the manager didn’t wear glasses, so he should see clearly at this height.
However, the manager still seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He directly reached out, restraining Ruan Qing’s leg and placing it on his own thigh. Then he bent down to examine Ruan Qing’s slightly swollen and reddened ankle.
Ruan Qing didn’t expect the manager to grab his leg directly and instinctively tried to pull it back.
However, not only did he fail to pull it back, but he also accidentally touched the wound on his ankle. The pain caused a layer of mist to form in Ruan Qing’s eyes, and his foot trembled slightly. He no longer attempted to withdraw his leg.
Ruan Qing was still wearing his shoes, but due to the manager’s actions, the shoes ended up on the manager’s leg. As a result, the manager’s black suit pants were stained with some dirt.
And it looked quite obvious.
Manager Shi seemed not to have noticed anything unusual, carefully examining Ruan Qing’s ankle, even using his thumb to gently rub the area.
As if he was checking if Ruan Qing’s injury was real.
Perhaps it was because Manager Shi was afraid of hurting Ruan Qing; his touch was very light, and his movements were very gentle, carrying a hint of ambiguity.
It was as if he was flirting.
Manager Shi was clearly not the type of person who did physical work; his fingertips were not rough, and touching gently did not cause pain. It was the warm and gentle sensation that came from him, making Ruan Qing uncomfortable again.
As he flinched, he accidentally bumped into Manager Shi’s hand, once again causing pain in his foot.
“Ah,” Ruan Qing winced, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, his reddened eyes welling up with tears once more.
He bit his lower lip, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.
Manager Shi raised his head, looking at the delicate features of the person before him, and in a gentle tone, he asked, “Did I hurt you?”
Ruan Qing nodded slightly, and after nodding, he hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, “Manager, the doctor said my ankle sprain is somewhat serious, and I can’t engage in strenuous activities for a while.”
“So,” Ruan Qing cautiously continued, his tone laced with some caution, “can I reschedule my shifts and performances for ten days from now?”
Manager Shi couldn’t help but chuckle, releasing Ruan Qing’s foot. “What do you think?”
Although Manager Shi still had a smiling demeanor and there was no change in his tone, it gave off a feeling that his request couldn’t be refused.
Clearly, he did not agree with Ruan Qing’s proposal.
Ruan Qing was not a fool and understood that taking leave or changing shifts was not possible. He had to give up.
Ruan Qing gently withdrew his foot and picked up the crutch beside him. “Manager, then I’ll go to work now.”
After saying that, he stood up and seemed to be leaving, even at a somewhat faster pace.
Because when Ruan Qing turned around, he did not see Manager Shi reaching out, as if wanting to hold him.
However, since he had already stood up, he missed it.
Manager Shi gave a casual glance to the security guard next to him, and the security guard immediately blocked Ruan Qing’s way.
Ruan Qing looked at the security guards blocking his path and had to stop in his tracks.
In fact, ever since the manager personally inspected his foot injury, Ruan Qing had a bad premonition in his heart.
In Wang Qing’s memory, this manager, although he always wore a gentle smile, was actually very ruthless in his methods. He showed no mercy to those who violated the rules and didn’t like anyone getting too close to him.
Moreover, even though he was just a manager, within ‘Huayue’, he was a higher-up, and even honored guests would politely address him as the manager. Clearly, this person was not as simple as just a manager.
But this kind of person personally inspecting his foot injury, not to mention not caring if he dirtied his pants with his shoes, and now even refusing to let him leave, was a terrible turn of events.
This manager’s character was truly awful, and if he gave Wang Qing the chance to climb into bed, Wang Qing wouldn’t pass it up, let alone go willingly.
Ruan Qing slightly tightened the crutch in his hand, and his fingertips began to turn white.
But there was no trace of anything unusual on his face. He turned to look at the manager and respectfully asked, “Manager, is there anything else you need to instruct me?”
Just as the manager was about to speak, a knock on the door interrupted them.
The manager’s smile changed, and his eyes narrowed for a moment, showing a hint of displeasure, but he quickly returned to normal.
He looked at the person at the door and said gently, “Come in.”
The person at the door respectfully addressed the manager. “Manager, it seems there has been an incident with Mr. Chu, and you may need to go and handle it.”
The manager paused for a moment, stood up, and gave Ruan Qing a brief glance. “Stay here, I’ll be back.”
After the manager said this, he headed towards the door, and the security guards in the room also followed. In a short time, the office was left with Ruan Qing alone.
After everyone had left, Ruan Qing also left the office, using his crutch. There was no intention of waiting for the manager to return.
The rules of ‘Huayue’ were set by the manager himself, and no one dared to violate them except him. Even the bar’s patrons were not exempt.
Ruan Qing was only dressed in the uniform of a waiter today, so no one would bother him. Even if someone dared to touch him, the bar’s security guards would immediately stop the guest, and that guest would pay the price for breaking the rules.
But the manager himself was clearly not bound by the rules at all. If he wanted to do something, no one would stop him, and besides, even Ruan Qing would happily deliver himself.
Ruan Qing would have to be a fool to wait for him.
And this was not considered going out of character for him.
Because for Wang Qing, there were two things that were most important. One was to earn more money, and the other was to graduate from university smoothly, completely breaking free from the past, and living an ordinary life.
Staying in this office wouldn’t bring in any money. After all, Ruan Qing hadn’t clocked in for work even now.
Not clocking in was equivalent to coming here for nothing tonight, and Wang Qing would definitely not be happy about it; he made some money every night by delivering drinks.
So Ruan Qing going downstairs to clock in right now wouldn’t make him go out of character.
After clocking in, going to work was also quite logical.
Ruan Qing limped down to the first floor and arrived at the employee time clock area, where he placed his fingerprint.
“Ding! Clock in successful.”
The first floor was the bar’s lobby, and it’s very lively at this moment. The lighting was dim, flickering, and many people were drinking, while many others were dancing in the center of the dance floor, creating a very lively atmosphere.
On the side of the bar was the performance stage.
It’s called a performance stage, but in reality, it’s just a platform a little higher than the crowd, like a runway.
The platform was quite long, but it’s not even a meter wide.
Right now, there were several people dancing and performing on the platform, surrounded by a packed crowd, and the atmosphere was very high.
Moreover, on the large screen next to it, the performance of the people on the stage was being shown, making it convenient for those who couldn’t see from the back.
The people dancing on the platform were performing some provocative dances.
Only the third type of employees would dance and perform to attract customers, which meant that the people on stage were all providing “special services.”
Ruan Qing just felt suffocated by watching.
He absolutely must find the culprit within three days!
Absolutely!
Just as Ruan Qing was preparing to deliver drinks, a crisp voice sounded behind him.
“Rose? What are you doing here?”
“Aren’t you and Linglan partners? Just now, something happened on Linglan’s side, so your performance got scheduled for tonight. You should hurry up and get ready.”
Ruan Qing: “?”
