****
Zi walked behind the bar, greeting his coworkers with a nod as he started prepping for the evening's service. As he polished a glass and arranged the bottles, he couldn't help but notice the curious glances from his colleagues.
Nán Yòu, one of the bartenders, leaned in and said with a grin, "Hey, Zi, everyone knows you were with Mr. Xián last night. Spill the tea!"
Zi's face turned bright red as he felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. He tried to play it cool, "What's going on, Nán Yòu? Why are you being so nosy?" he asked, trying to deflect the attention.
But Nán Yòu just chuckled and said, "We've got eyes and ears, Zi. We know you're quite the social butterfly. So, what's the story with Mr. Xián?"
The other bartenders started to snicker and whisper among themselves, their eyes fixed on Zi. He felt like he was under a microscope, and his embarrassment grew with each passing moment.
Just as Nán Yòu was about to press Zi for more information, their manager, Manager Lǐ, appeared behind them, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Hey, what are you guys doing? Back to work," he said, his voice firm but amused.
The bartenders quickly scattered, returning to their stations as Manager Lǐ turned to Zi. "Zi, can I talk to you for a minute in my office?" he asked, his expression neutral.
Zi's heart skipped a beat as he wondered what Manager Lǐ wanted to talk to him about. Was it related to his work performance or something else? He nodded, wiping his hands on a towel before following Manager Lǐ to his office.
As they walked, Nán Yòu called out, "Good luck, Zi!" with a mischievous grin. Zi shot him a warning look, but Manager Lǐ just chuckled.
*****
Zi sat down in Manager Lǐ's office, feeling a bit apprehensive about what was about to be discussed. But instead of launching into a serious topic, Manager Lǐ smiled and said, "Thank you, Zi."
Zi's confusion was immediate. "Thank you for what, Manager Lǐ?" he asked, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.
Manager Lǐ leaned back in his chair, a warm expression on his face. "For taking care of Mr. Xián, of course. I've been trying to get him to partner with us for a long time, but he's been hesitant. But just this morning, he finally signed the proposal."
Zi's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, congratulations, Manager Lǐ!" he said, trying to process the information.
Manager Lǐ nodded, his smile growing wider. "I know it's because of you, Zi. Mr. Xián's change of heart didn't happen overnight. I'm grateful for your influence on him."
Zi felt a flush rise to his cheeks as he looked down, feeling a mix of emotions.
Manager Lǐ's expression turned sincere as he leaned forward. "Zi, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Whether it's related to work or...anything else, I'm here to help. You've been an invaluable asset to our team, and now, with Mr. Xián on board, we're looking at some exciting opportunities."
Zi nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Manager Lǐ. "Thank you, Manager Lǐ. I appreciate your support."
Manager Lǐ smiled. "You've earned it, Zi. Just remember, we're all rooting for you here."
Zi's face warmed up again at the subtle implication, but he just smiled and nodded, feeling a sense of relief and appreciation for Manager Lǐ's understanding. " I'm Going back to work sir. "
Manager Li Smiled " Go Ahead. "
*****
As Zi walked out of Manager Lǐ's office, he spotted Mr. Xián sitting at his usual table, looking elegant as ever. However, Zi noticed that Mr. Xián didn't have a drink in front of him.
Curious, Zi turned to Nán Yòu, who was busy mixing a cocktail. "Hey, why hasn't Mr. Xián ordered anything yet?" Zi asked, trying to keep his voice low.
Nán Yòu raised an eyebrow. "He hasn't ordered anything. Manager Lǐ just told us to take good care of him, but he's been sitting there for a while without ordering."
The other bartender chimed in, "Yeah, Zi, you're the one who's closest to him. Why don't you go take his order?"
Zi felt a flutter in his chest at the suggestion, but he nodded and made his way over to Mr. Xián's table. "Mr. Xián, welcome back. Can I get you something to drink tonight?" he asked, trying to sound professional.
Mr. Xián's eyes sparkled as he replied, "I'll have my usual drink, please. And...would you like to sit with me and have a drink again?" His voice was low and smooth, and Zi felt his heart skip a beat.
Zi hesitated, feeling a bit torn. He wanted to spend time with Mr. Xián, but he also had responsibilities at work. "Sorry, I need to focus on work," he said, trying to sound apologetic.
Mr. Xián smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Okay, I understand. Maybe another time?" he said, his voice gentle.
Zi nodded, feeling a sense of relief mixed with a hint of disappointment. He quickly prepared Mr. Xián's drink and delivered it to his table, trying to maintain a professional demeanor despite the flutter in his chest.
As he walked away, he couldn't help but sneak a glance at Mr. Xián, who was watching him with a warm smile. Zi's face warmed up, and he quickly looked away, focusing on his work.
*****
As Mr. Xián finished his drink, he walked over to the counter and ordered another one. Zi expertly mixed the drink and handed it to him, their fingers touching briefly as Mr. Xián took the glass.
"What time do you get off work?" Mr. Xián asked, his eyes locked on Zi's.
Zi checked the schedule quickly. "I'm scheduled to get off at 10 PM," he replied, trying to sound casual.
Mr. Xián smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, good. I'll wait for you," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Zi felt a flutter in his chest at the suggestion, but he tried to play it cool, nodding slightly as he went back to work. Mr. Xián's words lingered in his mind, and he couldn't help but wonder what he had planned.
As the evening wore on, Mr. Xián sipped his drink, his eyes occasionally drifting to Zi as he worked. He glanced at his watch, the time reading 9:30 PM. A small smile played on his lips as he calculated the remaining time until Zi's shift ended.
Mr. Xián's gaze returned to the bar, his eyes locking onto Zi's figure as he expertly juggled multiple orders. The gentle hum of conversation and clinking glasses filled the air, but Mr. Xián's focus remained on Zi, his anticipation growing with each passing minute.
*****
Mr. Xián glanced at his watch again, the time now reading 9:35 PM. A subtle smile spread across his face as he thought to himself, "Only 5 minutes to go."
As he gazed at Zi, who was busy serving another customer, Mr. Xián's smile turned wry. "Why does time move so slowly when I see you?" he murmured to himself, his eyes never leaving Zi's figure.
The anticipation was building, and Mr. Xián's patience was being tested. He took a sip of his drink, his eyes still fixed on Zi, waiting for the moment when his shift would end and they could finally spend some time together.
*****
As the clock struck 10 PM, Mr. Xián stood up and walked over to the counter, his eyes locked onto Zi. "Let's go home," he said, his voice low and gentle.
Zi's coworkers were shocked, their eyes widening in surprise as they exchanged thrilled glances. Nán Yòu whispered, "Wow, Mr. Xián is really something else!"
Zi hesitated, "But I need to clean up first," he said, gesturing to the bar.
But before he could finish, one of his coworkers yelled out, "No, no, just go home! We've got this!" The other bartenders chimed in, waving their hands in agreement.
Mr. Xián smiled, his eyes never leaving Zi's face. He reached out and gently took Zi's hand, leading him out of the bar. As they walked out into the night, Zi felt a rush of emotions, unsure of what the rest of the evening had in store for him.