Chapter 041: Phoenix Bar

The seaside city in autumn was already cool, and by midnight, the chill deepened. As the night wore on, the temperature continued to fall; though breath did not quite turn to mist, it was not far off. In principle, the emergency department of the city’s central hospital should not be dark at night—after all, emergencies can strike at any hour—but in reality, not a single light was on.

Thus, the three brothers who had raced here at breakneck speed found themselves swallowed by endless, inky darkness. All around, apart from the blackness, there was nothing but their own shadows for company.

They were not running wildly out of fear of being chased by the night patrol, but because Zhang Chao had been grievously injured and hospitalized, and Dai Peng was detained at the police station. Their hearts were heavy with frustration.

They had known each other since high school, more than two years now, and in that time the five brothers had weathered countless fights, both minor and severe. Broken bones and bloodshed were nothing new, but never before had an incident been so grave.

Otherwise, neither Wang Yan nor Zhang Zhilong—who were not keen drinkers—would have found themselves nursing gloomy drinks in the dead of night.

In fact, apart from Wang Yan who was absent, Zhang Zhilong was the only one among them who had not joined the fray. The sense of impotence gnawed at him, so he drank more, hoping to drown his troubles.

“I’m just a useless second fiddle—like a man who can’t get it up. When it matters, I just shrink away. Pathetic.” Bent over with his hands on his knees, Zhang Zhilong cursed himself, then straightened and kicked the flowerbed by the emergency entrance.

“Damn! I’m no better. Snuck off to chase girls, didn’t get anywhere, and missed the whole mess! If I’d been there, maybe Zhang Chao wouldn’t have gotten hurt!” Wang Yan clenched his fists, brimming with frustration.

Seeing his companions so downcast, Lin Yu lit a cigarette, took a slow drag, and sighed deeply. “I’m useless too. No excuse.”

“Give me one!” Zhang Zhilong, seeing Lin Yu exhale smoke, felt the urge himself—he was the heaviest smoker among them.

Clamping a cigarette in his mouth, Zhang Zhilong patted Lin Yu’s shoulder in consolation. “You’re not useless, Third Brother. Really. Everyone else was terrified—only you kept your cool.”

After finishing his cigarette, Lin Yu habitually flicked the butt away, then suggested, “This place is awful—dark and freezing. Let’s head back to the city.”

“If we could, we’d have gone already! We waited half an hour for a ride out here an hour ago—didn’t see a single soul. Looks like we’ll have to spend the night here,” Wang Yan explained, resigned.

Zhang Zhilong, meanwhile, lit another cigarette as soon as he finished the last, puffing away until the darkness around them seemed thick with smoke, as if something otherworldly might emerge.

Dressed only in a shirt, Lin Yu felt the night wind cut like ice water; he doubted he could last the whole night like this. Still, he wanted to try his luck at the hospital gate. “Let’s go see if we can catch a ride. If we do, drinks are on me tonight.”

Knowing the others were in low spirits, Lin Yu decided a night out at the bar might help them all. He also hoped alcohol might numb his own pain.

“A bar?” At the mention of the word, Wang Yan and Zhang Zhilong—both restless souls—perked up instantly, their imaginations ignited.

After all, they were just seventeen or eighteen, not yet weighed down by the worries that troubled Lin Yu.

Money was tight for all of them, and so by the autumn of 2002, none had ever set foot in a bar—the kind of place that, compared to game halls or internet cafés, seemed a world apart.

They pictured a place where beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails flowed; where live bands played, singers performed, dancers took the stage, and bartenders dazzled with their tricks. They imagined the legendary white-collar women who drank to forget and sought excitement.

Compared to Dai Peng, Wang Yan and Zhang Zhilong had little luck with women, but now the prospect stirred them to eager anticipation.

At this moment, Wang Yan—who was somewhat conservative—suddenly asked, “Third Brother, have you been before? Is it really like they say? I heard from Lin Lie in your class that there are loads of lonely women and call girls, a great place for a wild night.”

He left unsaid what he’d also heard: that bars were chaotic, a den of snakes and dragons. Not wanting to seem timid, he kept that to himself—he was very proud, after all.

“Of course I’ve been—and I know all the tricks. I guarantee you’ll lose your virginity tonight. Well, for Zhilong, given his looks, it might be a bit tough…” Lin Yu grinned mischievously.

“What are we waiting for! Even if there’s no ride, we’ll walk!” Wang Yan exclaimed, bursting with excitement. Often mocked by Dai Peng for his lack of experience, he was determined to make a breakthrough tonight.

“I’ll show them I’m not a loser… With my looks, picking up a girl shouldn’t be hard, right?” Wang Yan lost himself in wild fantasies.

By now, Lin Yu and Zhang Zhilong, unimpressed with his self-admiration, had already walked a dozen meters ahead, nearly vanishing around the corner.

With nothing to lose, they tried their luck at the hospital’s main gate—and, to Lin Yu’s delight, spotted a Xiali taxi idling by the curb. Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a new path opened before them.

Since his rebirth, Lin Yu had found that, no matter how turbulent things seemed, there was always a glimmer of hope beneath the surface.

But upon getting in, Lin Yu realized this was the very same taxi he’d taken earlier. He recognized the bald driver with whom he’d struck up a conversation, and shook his head in silent resignation. The driver, familiar with the area around the central hospital, had kept quiet and waited for another fare—not exactly the most honest tactic.

In his previous life, Lin Yu’s temper would have flared at such a trick, and he’d likely have beaten the driver up. But now, living his second life, his outlook had changed.

He understood that a city’s civilization and harmony were not only defined by its storied past, its ambition, its passion, or its political, economic, and cultural prosperity, but also by the countless stories of ordinary people.

And most ordinary people lived in quiet misery: in their youth, they’d climb bravely toward their dreams, only to realize, after countless setbacks, that most would never change their fate—or that of their children.

Here was this taxi driver, still out hustling at midnight instead of home with his wife—not an easy life.

The coastal highway was nearly empty; the bald driver pressed the accelerator to the floor, and soon they arrived at the city’s bar district.

At this time, the city’s economy was just beginning to grow, and this future “Bar Street” had barely five decent establishments.

Lin Yu knew that in a few years, the street would be lined with bars as far as the eye could see, neon lights flashing at night, with gaudily dressed women in scanty skirts and heavy makeup lounging at every entrance. It would become not only the city’s largest nightlife district, but also a favorite haunt of foreigners—black, white, and brown, all mingling on the street.

“To that Phoenix Bar up ahead,” Lin Yu directed, choosing the place that looked the most stylish and well-decorated.

Once out of the car, Wang Yan and Zhang Zhilong exchanged wild shouts and dashed straight for the entrance.

Lin Yu paid the fare, hands in his pockets, and followed with a smile.