Since then, all who have tasted this drink found themselves plagued by a curse, trapped in a torment where they could neither live nor die.
Xu Lingyin’s expression grew increasingly somber. Her sharp eyes bored into Chen Pingchuan as she said in a low voice, "Am I to understand this story as a threat?"
Faced with Xu Lingyin’s anger, Chen Pingchuan was uncharacteristically calm. "How could that be? I wouldn’t dare," he replied, his smile growing even more earnest. "I couldn’t be happier to serve you all!"
"This story is simply to give these drinks a sense of mystery! Today, since the young lady has made a request, I’ll bring out a true gem from my private collection—one that isn’t even on the menu. Please, drink to your heart’s content. It’s on the house!"
What a suck-up, just like all the other bootlickers trying to curry favor, she thought, growing more disgusted by his phony smile. It’s a real waste of that handsome face.
However, her good upbringing kept her from saying any of this out loud. Instead, she just nodded in satisfaction, giving his gesture a look of approval.
"You’re not bad," she said. "Don’t worry. If the opportunity arises, I’ll take care of you."
Xu Lingyin tossed out the empty promise effortlessly. It was a tactic that had always served her well.
Chen Pingchuan maintained his beaming smile. A moment later, a freshly mixed drink appeared on the bar.
"Please, enjoy. I call this one ’Dream Glow.’ I hope you like it."
Dream Glow’s appearance was similar to that of Ocean’s Heart, both possessing a dreamlike quality. It was served in an exquisitely designed stemmed glass, its body resembling a skyscraper soaring into the clouds, with sleek, modern lines. Under the bar’s mesmerizing, colorful lights, the liquid refracted a dazzling spectrum of colors, just like the ceaseless neon glow of a city at night. The red was as fiery as the bustling streets, the purple as mysterious as the unknown lurking in the city’s shadows, and the blue as cool as the serene night sky glimpsed between towering buildings.
The first sip enveloped the tongue in a fiery, stimulating sensation. Upon savoring it, one would find that "Dream Glow" was a microcosm of the Dream City itself. It held the worldly bustle of the streets and alleyways, the dazzling decadence of the commercial districts, and the quiet profundity of its artistic corners. More than that, it contained the colorful fantasies from the hearts of everyone chasing their dreams in the city. All these emotions and stories were blended into this single glass.
Everyone who drank it seemed to fall into a beautiful illusion, unable to return to their senses for a long while.
Watching the group of young men and women, Chen Pingchuan’s smile broadened. He hadn’t lied; the drink was indeed named Dream Glow. However, it had another name: Nightmare’s End.
For the first few days, those who drank it would feel as if they were in paradise. But after a few days, as soon as night fell and they drifted off to sleep, they would be swallowed by endless terror. The more exhilarating, wonderful, and blissful their waking hours were, the more terrifying their nightmares would become. The thresholds for dopamine and fear were equivalent. Once they tasted this drink, they would grow to fear falling asleep. Only by constantly drinking Dream Glow could they find a moment of peaceful slumber.
This drink was similar to certain recreational drugs from his past life, but its horrors were far, far worse.
Seeing the blissful smiles on their faces, Chen Pingchuan’s grin grew brighter.
Someone actually dared to get a drink from me, Chen Pingchuan, for free!
Tonight was a busy one for Chen Pingchuan. He hadn’t been this busy since his first day, and after a week of calm, he felt slightly out of sorts. Even though he had already enacted his revenge on these spoiled youths... they were still a real pain in the ass.
Soon, the group of young men and women, having drunk their fill, left the Ability User Bar in twos and threes.
Only then did Ren Shuangshuang, the proprietress, appear silently. Her face was full of apology, but the sharp glint in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. It was clear she loathed the group as much as he did.
"I’m really sorry," she said, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness. "I had Wei Xi bring you back. You know, although our bar has a bit of fame in Hantan City, for those people, it might only take a few words to shut us down."
"So..."
Before Ren Shuangshuang could finish, Chen Pingchuan cut her off.
"I know." His tone was calm yet imbued with undeniable resolve. "I understand your difficult position, but please understand my principles as well. I told you from the very beginning that if the rules were broken, I wouldn’t stay here any longer. The bartenders I’ve trained can handle things perfectly well with the secret recipes I gave you. They can make everything except for the few drinks only I can mix."
Hearing this, Ren Shuangshuang knew Chen Pingchuan had already made up his mind to leave. She took an anxious step forward, trying to persuade him to stay.
"Please don’t go..."
"Thank you for taking care of Wei Xi all these years. Consider my share of the profits a parting gift."
Seeing the indifferent look on Chen Pingchuan’s face, Ren Shuangshuang knew that further pleas would be useless. Even though he had increased her revenue dozens of times over, Ren Shuangshuang couldn’t bring herself to feel happy. She struggled to maintain her last shred of composure. Her lips parted slightly.
"Fine. If you need anything, please let me know. Since Wei Xi’s older sister isn’t around, I’ll be like a real sister to her."
"Mhm."
The conversation ended there. After Ren Shuangshuang left, Chen Pingchuan quickly packed his things. There wasn’t much to pack, just a few pieces of barware for mixing drinks. These metal tools had been custom-made at great expense, so of course he had to take them with him.
Just as Chen Pingchuan was about to leave, a timid female voice suddenly reached his ears.
"B-Bartender... H-hello."
He spun around, his gaze sharp as a blade, locking onto the source of the voice. A girl came into view. Her hair was slightly tousled, with a few strands scattered playfully across her forehead. She wore a pair of thick-framed glasses, and behind the lenses, her eyes sparkled with a lively intelligence. The unique aura she exuded was that of a classic, top-student type.
"What is it?"
Chen Pingchuan may not have realized how cold his tone was, but the girl across from him clearly did. She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze, her body trembling slightly.
Perhaps sensing the intimidating aura he was giving off, Chen Pingchuan quickly softened his demeanor, adopting a more approachable expression.
"What’s wrong, little beauty? Didn’t get your fill? Unfortunately, I’m out of ingredients. I showed you all earlier. If you want another drink, you’ll have to come back next time."