583: Chapter 583 Familiar Taste 583: Chapter 583 Familiar Taste The masked bar was situated at the intersection of the Eastern and North Districts, also a bustling area.
The masked bar had been established for five years, initially just as a distinctive bar.
Over time, it had evolved into one of Donglin City’s unique bars.
It was said that the masked bar had gone through a few owners’ hands before it finally stabilized three years ago.
In these three years, the masked bar had much expanded its scale and developed its own secret rules.
Of course, there were those who tried to break these secret rules, but their ends were always miserable.
As time passed, these secret rules truly became an unspoken iron law that no one would dare to challenge and that everyone would earnestly adhere to.
Indeed, it was for this reason that the masked bar’s business was booming more and more, frequently expanding its facade.
Despite not being cheap, customers still flocked in daily like waves.
One must not underestimate this masked bar, someone had calculated that the bar’s annual income could reach over a hundred million, certainly not inferior to a reasonably sized company.
“This is the masked bar, it looks like a haunted house.
If people didn’t know any better, they might think they’ve entered one,” Tangyu said after taking a look.
“Giggle, I thought it was a haunted house my first time here too, but this is just the masked bar’s style.
Let’s go inside,” Zhao Yaya said with a laugh.
Coming out to play really improved her mood, as if she had been let out of a cage.
At the entrance of the masked bar stood two rows of security guards, eight in total, each with a ghastly, green-faced, fang-bearing appearance, playing the role of little demons, which did look rather off-putting.
The eight guards checked Tangyu and the others before letting them enter the bar.
Once inside, the rich atmosphere of the bar hit them immediately.
Bars have always been excessively licentious places, filled with sin and noise, where one can freely release passionate energy, and are also favored by many young people.
Of course, bars are also the most chaotic mix of good and bad.
So, those who can run a bar generally have some power and background.
Without some abilities, one truly couldn’t carry on with this work.
In bars, fights and scuffles were as common as a meal.
If you couldn’t control the scene, how could you expect customers to come?
Most of those who come to the bar just want to let loose and have fun and wouldn’t want to stir up trouble.
Regardless of the place, a stable environment is the key to retaining customers.
And, in this respect, the masked bar did an exceptionally good job.
At least, no one with the guts of a bear or leopard dared to cause any trouble here.
If they did, their fate would be anything but pleasant.
Due to its expansion, the masked bar now was divided into four main halls, each with a large area.
These four halls also developed their own unique themes.
“Come on, let’s go to the Bull Demon Snake Spirit Hall,” Zhao Yaya suggested.
The Bull Demon Snake Spirit Hall was comparable to a larger bar.
Inside, it was noisy, and the dance floor was filled with men and women wearing different masks, dancing passionately.
Due to lighting, you could only make out people’s silhouettes, and with masks, it was nearly impossible to see clearly at all.
You couldn’t tell if someone was beautiful or not, and most people wore voice-changing masks, so you couldn’t even make out their voices.
At most, one could discern someone’s figure, the only unreliable clue to whether someone was a beauty or a hunk.
Of course, it was precisely because of this that those who lacked confidence in their own appearance gained quite a bit of it here.
This was one of the unique features here and an important reason many pursued it.
Tangyu and his group ordered four drinks at the bar.
Tangyu began to scan the surroundings; most people were dancing around the dance floor, and some bold women were even dancing passionately on a small stage, including dancing on a pole—of course, all wearing masks and with unclear faces.
A bunch of masked guys surrounded the girls excitedly shouting.
There was no rest area here; apart from the bar, there was only the stage and dance floor.
Many men and women embraced, slow dancing together.
The masked bar also offered simple one-night-stand booths, with a row of such booths in each corner of every hall.
From time to time, couples emerged from these rooms.
Those who came here for such thrills were generally fast and decisive, having their fun and leaving without a trace.
This mode was very popular with many lonely men and women.
These days, not only men felt lonely; women were empty too.
Everyone had their needs, and the masked bar could very well satisfy these people in a seemingly harmless manner, allowing them to boldly face such matters.
It had to be acknowledged that the person who could manage to run the masked bar, and run it so well, indeed had a sharp business sense.
After finishing their drinks, Zhao Yaya pulled Guo Momo and Lin Feifei along, saying, “Let’s go dancing; it feels like I haven’t moved for ages.”
Guo Momo indeed hadn’t danced for a long time, and with the atmosphere stirring her, she felt an urge to dance.
If she hadn’t been wearing a mask, she certainly would not have danced, but now disguised, she could cast aside her identity and indulge in a bit of rebellion.
Every person has a rebellious streak deep inside, even the most introverted and gentle women have a wild side.
Whether you can coax that side out of them depends on whether you can truly let them lose their inhibitions, and a mask did a splendid job of facilitating that.
“It’s been a long time since we danced, it feels like I’ve almost forgotten how,” Guo Momo nodded and agreed.
Lin Feifei shook her head and replied, “Momo, you and Yaya go dance; I just can’t be bothered.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be such a killjoy, Feifei.
It’s rare for us to come out and have fun.
A little movement is good for the body, right?
Plus, no one will recognize us.
Let’s go, it’s more fun if the three of us dance together.
Oh, and good guy, can you dance?
Come join us; it’s better if four people dance together,” Zhao Yaya urged.
Unable to stand up to Zhao Yaya’s pleas, Lin Feifei grudgingly agreed.
With a wry smile, Tangyu shook his head and replied, “I can’t dance at all, not one bit, I hadn’t even finished watching.
You go ahead and dance; I’ll just watch you.”
“Let’s go, let’s go, even Good Guy Brother knows he can’t dance, so we’re off to have fun.” Zhao Yaya dragged Lin Feifei and Guo Momo toward the dance floor.
Tangyu ordered another drink, the cocktails here were indeed well-made, albeit a bit pricey.
But who cares, it’s rare to come out for a drink, might as well treat oneself even if it’s expensive.
“Hmm.” Tangyu’s gaze suddenly landed on a figure about three meters away, sitting nearby.
A man who had been there drinking had blocked his view before, but now that the man had left, Tangyu noticed.
That hair, that figure, and the scent emanating from her body—all gave off a familiar aroma.
Yes, it was indeed a familiar scent.
“Sister Min.” A thought flashed through Tangyu’s mind, instantly recognizing to whom the scent belonged—no doubt it was Fang Min.
Observation had always been one of Tangyu’s strengths, and so was his sense of smell, so he was absolutely certain that he was not mistaken; this woman wearing a mask was Fang Min.
Thinking this, Tangyu was somewhat taken aback; Sister Min actually came to a masked bar alone to drink sullenly, and judging by her demeanor, she seemed to be a regular.
Was Sister Min here to drown her sorrows because she felt down, or was it for some other reason?
On this point, Tangyu was also somewhat puzzled.
Having finished the drink in his hand, Tangyu saw Sister Min still sitting there, sipping her drink, and could feel a sense of sadness emanating from her.
Tangyu stood up and walked over, sitting next to Fang Min while watching her.
It took a while for Fang Min to turn her head and look at Tangyu.
Beneath the mask, Fang Min’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, as she felt the person in front of her seemed a bit familiar, with a familiar air about him, though she was not sure if she actually knew him.
Fang Min shook her head self-mockingly, laughing inwardly, “Am I going crazy thinking about Tangyu?
How could he possibly come to a place like this?
Yet, this person does share quite a few similarities with Tangyu; this feeling is very much like him.”
“Beauty, drinking alone?” Tangyu initiated conversation, not wanting to reveal his identity just yet, so he pretended not to recognize Fang Min, curious about why Sister Min would come here alone to drink.
Fang Min said, “What, are you offering me a drink?”
“Heh, now that the beauty has spoken, I’m indeed honored.
Please bring this lady a drink of her choice,” Tangyu said with a smile, gesturing to the server.
Soon, a drink was delivered to Fang Min.
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Fang Min’s glass was just about empty, so she unceremoniously took the new drink, tasted it, and then looked at Tangyu, “Are you here drinking alone as well?”
“Yes, alone,” Tangyu nodded.
“Oh really, then we’re both fellow travelers on this road of hardship.
You really remind me of a friend of mine, both in appearance and aura,” Fang Min said.
A stir went through Tangyu’s heart, knowing that the friend Sister Min was referring to must be himself, but she clearly had not recognized him.
She must also firmly believe that he wouldn’t be at a place like this, right?
“Oh really, what a coincidence, you remind me of a friend of mine too.
But beauty, can I be nosy?
Which friend do I resemble?
Your boyfriend?
Or an ex-boyfriend?” Tangyu asked.
Fang Min let out a light laugh and replied, “Why didn’t you guess husband?”
Tangyu nearly choked, laughing, “How could that be?
I feel like you don’t look like a married woman.
Don’t tell me, it’s really your husband?”
Fang Min shook her head, “Just a joke, of course not my husband.
I’m indeed not married.
If it were my husband, that would be great, but unfortunately, it’s not.
I don’t even have the fortune to be his wife, not to mention the qualification to be his girlfriend,” her words were tinged with obvious heartache.
A stir went through Tangyu’s heart; he finally sensed Sister Min’s love for him.
Sister Min had fallen for him, which explained why she came here to drink alone.
At this realization, Tangyu couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt; he really didn’t want to see Sister Min sad.
“What’s wrong with you?” Seeing Tangyu’s distressed look, Fang Min couldn’t help asking.
Tangyu then snapped back to the present, “Nothing, just remembering some things, sorry.
Heh, so you mean to say you like that man who resembles me?
But he doesn’t like you?
That’s why you are sitting here drinking alone, right?” Tangyu asked.