Chapter 5: Memories of the Bar

"So, what's the urgent matter that you needed to see me for?"

"The Other Shore, have you heard of it?"

Without answering directly, Hao Zi shouted back at Ye Rong. It was clear that he was a regular at this bar, as many people greeted him, and he didn't hesitate to leer and grope at the scantily clad women passing by.

"Why would you even ask me that? I just created an account this afternoon and have already set up a character in-game."

Hao Zi had played a couple of games with Ye Rong before, but he was more partial to Western fantasy-themed games, and had usually shown little interest in games with an Eastern Hero theme.

"Wow, didn't expect you to be that quick."

Hao Zi withdrew his gaze from the voluptuous woman and returned to his normal expression.

"But you definitely didn't participate in the beta test, did you?"

"No, I thought you weren't interested in this type of game. Why are you so enthusiastic this time?"

Hao Zi's face was smug, as if participating in The Other Shore's beta test was an incredible achievement. This made Ye Rong extremely curious, as Hao Zi's previous attitude was quite the opposite, and he wondered what changed.

"Haha, I just went in with some friends for a casual look, but I was immediately attracted to it. I dare say, the moment The Other Shore was launched, there was no doubt it would be the game of the year!"

Hao Zi slammed his cup down on the table as he spoke with conviction.

"During the beta test, I reached level 60 and joined a guild with a group of friends. Now that the game is officially live, we're planning to make a big splash. What do you say, want to join us?"

Instead of answering, Ye Rong refilled his glass with gin, as Hao Zi looked hopefully at him.

Three years ago, Ye Rong and his friends had ruled various games, savored youthful joys, and reveled in their lives. Back then, Ye Rong was still a student in the ivory tower.

When he stepped into society, his family's massive changes forced him to grow up quickly, and his mental state had gone through a complete transformation.

While Hao Zi, born into a wealthy family, could spend his days hanging out in bars and gaming without any life pressure, Ye Rong could not. He had to earn money in The Other Shore, and prove to others that he was not a useless individual who could only rely on receiving government aid to survive.

"Hao Zi, ask someone else. I don't think I'll have time to join your guild."

Ye Rong threw down his cup in a somber mood, turned to leave, but Hao Zi quickly grabbed him.

"Hold on! Even if you don't join us, there's no need to leave so soon. We haven't seen each other in such a long time, and I have a lot to catch up on."

"Do you remember Liu Yi Yi? I heard her father's company went bankrupt and they had to seize their mansions. You wouldn't have believed it back then!"

Liu Yi Yi was one of the brightest stars among the girls in Ye Rong's school; she came from a wealthy family and always had a luxurious car to pick her up after school. She had a stunning face, and an even hotter body, with long legs that were rumored to be 98 centimeters long, driving countless guys crazy.

Ye Rong had only caught a few glimpses of her from a distance, even before his family had had their changes, the gap between them was wide.

Who would have thought that the proud, breathtaking beauty from his memories would have suffered such unexpected reversals? Life truly was stranger and bloodier than fiction.

The two chatted sporadically, quickly finishing several rounds of drinks and getting slightly tipsy.

"By the way, do you still keep in touch with Bai Jia Hui?"

Upon hearing this name, Ye Rong's face turned white instantly and tightly clenched his glass. There was no trace of drunkenness left in his face.

How could he forget that woman, Bai Jia Hui? He would never forget everything she had done to him.

"I heard she's back in the country. She called me a few days ago to say she wanted to get together with all the old classmates."

Hao Zi continued drinking and talking without noticing Ye Rong's expression.

"I thought, since you guys had a thing before and haven't seen each other in so long, reminiscing about the past could be good..."

Bang!

The glass shattered as Ye Rong stood up abruptly and stormed out of the Sound Wave Bar, ignoring Hao Zi's shouts from behind him.

After running a short distance from the noisy bar and letting the night wind blow across his face, Ye Rong's head finally started to clear up.

"Damn, I'm so useless. It's been years, and I still can't control my emotions when I hear her name."

Ye Rong shook his head in self-mocking and couldn't hide the bitter smile on his face.

Thunk!

An empty Coke can on the side of the road was kicked hard, slamming into the wall. It seemed as though Ye Rong managed to vent some of his pent-up frustration with that kick.

"Forget about that bitch, let's go home and level up!"

The memories with Bai Jia Hui had been sealed away by Ye Rong; if not for Hao Zi's reminder, he'd almost have forgotten her name.

The magnetic rail trains on Weirong Street, this remote area, were no longer running, so Ye Rong had to rely on his own two legs or take a civilian taxi flying car to get home.

Ye Rong tightened his collar and waved down a passing taxi flying car.

Staying alone for too long in a place like Weirong Street was not safe, and being robbed on the streets was almost inevitable.

The Thunder Lizard CC60 was a popular flying car model five years ago. By now, it had become the preferred car for taxi flying cars.

It had a smooth flight, minimal turbulence, and could fly in various weather conditions. With its relatively low price, it was the natural choice for flying car rental companies.

With a square-faced middle-aged driver behind the wheel, the Thunder Lizard CC60 was flown silently after Ye Rong provided his destination.

Flying at an altitude of 175 meters and a speed of 280 mph, Ye Rong leaned back into the high-quality imitation leather sofa. Even this outdated Thunder Lizard CC60 had a price tag of around 65,000 yuan, which was unaffordable to him.

A flying car of their own was almost every teenage boy's dream and an irresistible temptation.

Although the cars were much more expensive than conventional cars, they had less impact on air pollution, so they paid much fewer taxes.

In less than 15 minutes, the Thunder Lizard CC60 arrived at Ye Rong's residence in the Sea King District and landed smoothly.

The 45 yuan fare alone was 20 times the cost of a train ride!

Ye Rong muttered a curse under his breath, watching his remaining balance on his ID card decrease by a few more digits.