Chapter 156: The Darkened An Xia

A few people drank until the evening, and around 6 PM, Zhu Tingting walked into the bar carrying a guitar.

"Boss, you're here today too!"

Chen Jianhai curiously asked, "Why did you bring a guitar?"

Zhu Tingting smiled shyly, "I'm here to ask An Xia to teach me how to play."

Chen Jianhai was stunned, looking at Zhu Tingting's well-built, muscular frame, which hid his large muscles.

He couldn't imagine that this rough and burly Zhu Tingting had an artistic side.

"Didn't you recently enroll in an amateur Sanda class? Why did you switch to learning the guitar so quickly?" Chen Jianhai asked.

Zhu Tingting blushed and said, "The more skills you have, the better. I want to learn the guitar."

Seeing Zhu Tingting's embarrassed and shy demeanor, An Xia spoke up directly:

"Xiao Qin's birthday is coming up, and Tingting wants to play the guitar to confess."

Whoa! How romantic!

Chen Jianhai looked at Zhu Tingting in surprise.

"When is Xiao Qin's birthday?" Chen Jianhai asked.

"November 21st," Zhu Tingting replied.

Chen Jianhai said, "It's coming up soon. How's your progress?"

Zhu Tingting's face showed a hint of frustration. "Still not good enough."

An Xia spoke up again, "You're already amazing, Tingting. I've played the guitar for so many years and never seen anyone more diligent than you."

Chen Jianhai looked down and saw the purple blisters on Zhu Tingting's left fingertips, covered in calluses. It was obvious that he hadn't rested even after the blisters formed and continued practicing.

At first glance, it looked like a worm crawling on his fingertips. It was unsightly but commanded respect.

Chen Jianhai looked at Zhu Tingting and asked, "Where are you planning to confess?"

Zhu Tingting replied, "I want to do it at the hotel because that's where we met. It has sentimental value."

When talking about the confession, Zhu Tingting's eyes sparkled, and he looked like a brave knight, putting everything on the line for the one he loved.

"Today is Double Eleven. Did you buy her a gift?"

"Girls love gifts. You should buy some flowers and chocolates, and maybe a plush bear, and give them to her together," suggested one of the bar staff.

Zhu Tingting shook his head, "Xiao Qin doesn't like those things."

The bar staff were stunned. "No way! All girls love these little gifts."

Zhu Tingting shook his head again, "That's why Xiao Qin is special. She's really unique."

"She won't accept any of the gifts I give her. She even tells me not to waste money and to save my money."

"She's not a materialistic girl," he continued, "so I have to win her over with my sincerity!"

Seeing Zhu Tingting's determined look, An Xia couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Bro, have you ever thought about this:"

"She doesn't accept your gifts not because she's not materialistic, but because she doesn't care for what you're giving her?"

The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

Zhu Tingting's face darkened, "Impossible!"

"The gifts I give her are never less than four digits!"

Lu Bin, who had just arrived and didn't know who Qin Mengqiu was, quietly listened to the gossip.

"Maybe Xiao Qin is just a pure and simple girl who doesn't care about material things," Chen Jianhai offered his rare opinion.

After all, the staff he hired must be flawless!

"Exactly, exactly!" The bar staff nodded, their eyes filled with admiration for Qin Mengqiu.

Hearing this, Lu Bin and An Xia, both with romantic experiences, looked at the three of them with pity.

Ha...

People with such thoughts are either big fools or have never had a relationship.

Clearly, the three of them weren't fools, so they were three single dogs, and lifelong singles at that.

As for the boss... no wonder he smashed his phone!

Lu Bin lowered his head, pretending to be nonchalant to hide his sympathetic feelings, while An Xia sighed helplessly and said,

"...Have you ever thought that another possibility is she doesn't want to have anything to do with you, so she refuses your kindness?"

Zhu Tingting's pupils contracted, and his grip on the guitar tightened.

An Xia didn't notice Zhu Tingting's subtle change in expression and continued:

"A girl's materialism has nothing to do with whether she'll accept small gifts from someone she likes."

"If she likes you, even if you give her a candied hawthorn, she'll be happy."

"If she doesn't accept it, it means she doesn't want to owe you anything..."

"Enough!" Chen Jianhai interrupted directly.

"I asked you to teach guitar, not to teach stand-up comedy."

"Do your own job!"

Chen Jianhai kicked An Xia hard under the bar counter.

Although he had never been in a relationship, he wasn't stupid.

Zhu Tingting hadn't said a word, but his grip on the guitar was strong enough to break the fretboard.

He was impressed!

An Xia was usually a nice person, but he turned dark when it came to relationship issues!

Zhu Tingting was charging forward bravely,

and An Xia poured cold water on him.

Just because his own girlfriend ran away with her brother-in-law didn't mean he should hope others wouldn't be happy!

Chen Jianhai said to Zhu Tingting, "I think Xiao Qin is great. Keep trying!"

"No matter what the outcome, you have to give it a shot."

"What if you succeed!"

Zhu Tingting was silent for a moment,

then he smiled confidently,

"Yes! If I succeed, Xiao Qin will be my rightful girlfriend!"

"If I don't succeed, ..."

"I'll still be awesome and cool!"

Zhu Tingting's guitar practice time was limited to 6 PM to 9 PM.

At 9 PM, the poolside bar would be open for business, and Zhu Tingting would leave with his guitar on time.

He would never disturb the guests.

Chen Jianhai sat by the bar, looking at his phone with a heavy heart.

The curved screen was cracked like a spider's web, with the edges shattered, making the phone look pitiful.

Why did I act impulsively?!

Why smash the phone... why not a wine glass?!

The sound is crisp, it's satisfying to smash, and it saves money.

Since it was Double Eleven today, why not buy a new phone for himself?

Thinking about this,

Chen Jianhai opened the shopping app, typed in "phone," and started selecting one seriously.

Meanwhile,

the people on the island were also having a shopping frenzy at home,

everyone was racing against time, filling their shopping carts in the last few hours,

some even used calculators to figure out the discounts,

afraid of missing any part of the Taobao discount event.

Sigh...

"This is so complicated!" Chen Jianhai tried calculating for a long time but couldn't figure it out.

But the discounts were right there. Not taking advantage felt wrong, but taking advantage felt confusing.

Caught in the dilemma,

Boss Chen decisively exited the app.

The phone still worked, so he'd keep using it!

Just then, his phone rang,

"Xu Yong? Why is he calling me?!"

Chen Jianhai frowned at the caller ID and curiously answered the phone.

Brothers!! Sisters!!

It's Double Eleven! I'm going to place my orders now!!

I'll be back after shopping!

I hope all of you get your gifts accepted by your crushes,

and I hope all the girls receive small gifts from the ones they like,

And I wish you all receive little gifts in return~~~

Good luck!!!

You're the best!