The customer's anger seemed to intensify after Mr. Xián's punch, his face purpling with rage. "You think you're tough?!" the customer snarled, taking a step forward. But before he could launch another attack, a loud voice boomed from behind him.
"That's enough! Get out of my bar, now!"
The customer spun around to face the speaker, a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression. The manager's eyes blazed with authority as he strode towards the customer.
"You're causing a scene and disturbing our customers. I won't tolerate this kind of behavior in my establishment. Leave. Now."
The customer's anger faltered in the face of the manager's firm tone. He glared at Mr. Xián, but the manager's presence seemed to cow him. With a final snarl, he turned and stormed out of the restobar, the door slamming shut behind him.
The manager turned to Mr. Xián and nodded. "Thank you for handling the situation, Mr. Xián. I apologize for the disturbance."
Mr. Xián nodded graciously. "No need to apologize. The customer was being unreasonable."
As the door swung shut behind him, the atmosphere in the restobar slowly returned to normal.
Mr. Xián's expression softened slightly as he turned to Zǐ Chén. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.
Zǐ Chén nodded, still in shock. "Y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Mr. Xián."
Mr. Xián's gaze lingered on Zǐ Chén for a moment before he nodded and turned to leave. As he walked away, Zǐ Chén couldn't help but notice the way Mr. Xián's shoulders seemed to command respect, and the way his eyes seemed to gleam with a quiet intensity.
The manager turned to Zǐ Chén and his coworkers. "And make sure to keep a closer eye on the customers. We don't need any more trouble tonight."
*****
As the night wore on, Zǐ Chén's shift finally came to an end. He clocked out and bid his coworkers farewell, thanking them for their help during the chaotic evening.
His manager nodded in approval. "Good job tonight, Zǐ Chén. You handled the situation well, despite the customer's behavior."
Zǐ Chén smiled slightly, feeling a sense of relief that his shift was over. "Thanks, manager. I'll see you tomorrow."
With his apron hung up and his belongings gathered, Zǐ Chén walked out of the restobar, joining the bustling night crowd on the streets.
Zǐ Chén headed to the nearby bus stop. The cool night air hit him, and he took a deep breath. He checked the bus schedule and waited for his bus to arrive.
When the bus pulled up, Zǐ Chén boarded it and found a seat near the back. The bus rumbled along the crowded streets, stopping at lights and picking up passengers along the way.
As he gazed out the window, Zǐ Chén's mind wandered back to the events of the night – the customer's anger, Mr. Xián's swift intervention, and the way he'd punched the customer with such precision.
Zǐ Chén couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions – gratitude towards Mr. Xián for saving him, but also a sense of wonder about Mr. Xián's mysterious nature. Who was he, really? What was his story?
As the bus approached his stop, Zǐ Chén gathered his thoughts and prepared to get off. He wondered what the future held and whether he'd see Mr. Xián again.
*****
Zǐ Chén walked into his apartment, dropping his bag on the floor. His mother, who was cooking in the kitchen, turned around and smiled.
"Hey, kiddo! How was your day?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
Zǐ Chén shrugged, taking off his shoes. "It was okay, ma. Just a bit of drama at work."
His mother raised an eyebrow. "Drama? What happened?"
Zǐ Chén hesitated, unsure how much to share. But his mother's concerned expression made him open up. "There was a customer who got angry and tried to cause trouble. But Mr. Xián stepped in and handled it."
His mother's eyes widened. "Mr. Xián? Who's that?"
Zǐ Chén leaned against the counter, launching into the story of how Mr. Xián had intervened and punched the customer. His mother listened intently, her expression a mix of concern and admiration.
When Zǐ Chén finished, his mother nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like this Mr. Xián is quite the character. You're lucky he was there to help."
Zǐ Chén smiled, feeling grateful for his mother's understanding. "Yeah, I guess I am."
His mother nodded sympathetically. "Okay, that's enough for now. You've had a long first day at work, and you must be starving. Come eat something, and we'll talk more about it later."
Zǐ Chén smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He was indeed hungry, and the aroma of his mother's cooking was enticing.
"Thanks, ma. I'm famished," he said, taking a seat at the table.
His mother served him a steaming bowl of noodles and vegetables, and Zǐ Chén dug in gratefully. The flavors exploded on his tongue, and he savored each bite.
As they ate, the TV played softly in the background, and the apartment was filled with the warm, comforting atmosphere of home. Zǐ Chén felt his tension melt away, grateful for the peacefulness of the moment.
*****
As Zǐ Chén lay in bed, he couldn't shake off the thoughts of Mr. Xián. He replayed the events of the day in his mind, from the customer's outburst to Mr. Xián's swift intervention. He couldn't help but wonder what had driven Mr. Xián to act so decisively.
Zǐ Chén tossed and turned, his mind racing with questions. Who was Mr. Xián, really? What was his story? Why did he seem so mysterious and yet, so confident?
As the night wore on, Zǐ Chén's eyelids grew heavier, but his thoughts remained with Mr. Xián. He felt a strange sense of fascination with the man, and he couldn't explain why.
Just as he was starting to drift off to sleep, Zǐ Chén's mind conjured up an image of Mr. Xián's piercing gaze. He felt a shiver run down his spine, and his eyes snapped open.
It seemed that Mr. Xián had left a lasting impression on him, and Zǐ Chén couldn't help but wonder what the future held.
*****
Zǐ Chén arrived at the restobar for his shift, feeling a mix of emotions. He was still thinking about Mr. Xián and the events of the previous day. As he clocked in and changed into his uniform, he couldn't help but scan the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mr. Xián.
But as the hours passed, Mr. Xián didn't appear. Zǐ Chén tried to focus on his work, taking orders and serving customers with a smile. However, his mind kept wandering back to Mr. Xián.
Was he okay? Would he come back to the restobar? Zǐ Chén couldn't shake off the feeling that he'd never see Mr. Xián again.
The restobar was busy, but Zǐ Chén's thoughts remained elsewhere. He wondered if he'd ever learn more about Mr. Xián's mysterious past.
As the night wore on, Zǐ Chén's coworkers noticed his distraction. "Hey, Zi, everything okay?" one of them asked.
Zǐ Chén forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm good. Just a bit preoccupied."
His coworkers nodded sympathetically, but Zǐ Chén knew he needed to focus. He took a deep breath and refocused on his work.
Then Suddenly...