Chapter 2672: South City Tonight Has Rain 34

After that night, the regulars at Lin Island Bar spread the news by word of mouth, and everyone learned of a new development.

That usually aloof boss unexpectedly took the initiative to contact the customers who had prepaid for top-ups, not only refunding the prepaid fees in full but also adding three complimentary services; moreover, sharp-eyed observers saw the boss leaving the back door that night after midnight holding someone in his arms, suggesting the appearance of a real boyfriend.

The group chat buzzed with excitement, and the regulars eagerly speculated what kind of charming person could melt this iceberg.

Only the informed Yuan Qiu held the two projects recommended by Xie Linzhou and smiled without speaking.

Deep autumn in South City has ended, and the coldest winter of the year is about to begin.

The bar during the day is neither as noisy and bustling as at night nor completely deserted; with a few friends pushing the door open, it becomes a warm, leisurely little world.

Usually, if Jin Chen came during the day, he would also mix a few drinks for customers.

So there are always regulars who want to try their luck; just as they enter, they happen to see Jin Chen also coming in through the front door, putting away his umbrella.

The customer raised a smile to greet him, but his gaze landed on Jin Chen, froze, and he scanned the boss from head to toe.

The group chat had previously joked that the boss of Lin Island was the ancient Greek god who governs black, white, and gray, and his wardrobe seemed to contain only those three colors.

But what happened today? The man who entered had his hair carefully styled, wore a light-colored blue cotton-linen shirt with an artistic vibe, paired with fitted white straight-leg pants and canvas shoes, a backpack on his shoulder, looking fresh and clean, utterly like a college guy.

Not only the sporadically seated customers in the bar, but even the staff noticed the boss's unusual outfit, leaving them stunned.

Bartender Xiao Chen jerked his chin back into place, still a bit stunned, stammering, "Boss… good morning."

Jin Chen nodded as usual, "Good morning."

Having said that, he went straight to the central bar to prepare.

After Jin Chen went around to the bar, Xiao Chen immediately slipped away to the staff area, lowering his voice to gossip with the equally shocked coworkers.

"Good heavens, what's up with the boss today? This outfit makes him look at least five years younger!"

Another staff member whispered, "…The boss isn't actually old; it's just that his usual aura is too strong and he dresses too maturely and steadily, making us subconsciously overlook that he's actually young."

"…Seems so."

Not long after, the bar's door was pushed open again.

A man in a black lapel coat walked in; the light struck his handsome, somewhat aloof face, making him look so good it was dazing, the mature man's charm pleasing to the eye.

"Is there some secret fashion show happening at Lin Island today…"

The customers who had just been hit by the boss's looks now saw this man and could barely take it in.

Xie Linzhou entered and saw Jin Chen busy behind the bar.

He casually found a seat in the lounge area, sat down, waited patiently, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the tabletop, his mood pleasant.

An attracted customer couldn't help but go over and strike up a conversation, smiling and asking, "Sir, I haven't seen you around much; do you come here often?"

Xie Linzhou gave a slight nod, his gaze vaguely drifting toward the bar, and replied gently, "Well, sort of."

He casually remarked, "I've heard your boss often gets confessed to?"

The customer laughed at that, saying, "No kidding, but things have quieted down a lot lately. The main reason is that the boss is really hard to approach—like an iceberg—so many people have hit a wall and gradually learned to back off."

"Is that so?" Xie Linzhou curled the corner of his mouth, stood up, and said, "Then I'll give it a try."

The customer blinked, then kindly warned, "Hey, friendly heads‑up: the boss has a boyfriend! It's all over the group chat—don't go making a fool of yourself."

Xie Linzhou turned his head, gave him a light smile, and said, "No problem."

Hearing that, the customers went: "???"

They watched Xie Linzhou stride confidently toward the bar, all shaking their heads in bewilderment, able to foresee the scene where this outstanding‑looking man would be flatly rejected.

But thinking that even someone this good‑looking could hit a wall, they oddly felt a sense of comfort.

Xie Linzhou leaned lazily, elbows on the smooth countertop, torso slightly forward, watching Jin Chen wipe the tools behind the bar.

"One Rain Night Lighthouse."

As Xiao Chen happened to pass by, he heard the drink name, frowned, looked up at the menu on the wall, and said, "Sorry, sir, we don't have that drink."

No sooner had Xiao Chen finished speaking than Jin Chen behind the bar said, "We can."

Xiao Chen looked at his own boss, bewildered.

"We can? How can we? What's a Rain Night Lighthouse? Is it some secret house‑made cocktail the boss invented?"

"I've never heard of it before!"

Jin Chen turned to wash his hands; water droplets fell from his long, slender fingers and were wiped dry with a soft cloth.

Xie Linzhou followed those beautiful hands until Jin Chen was ready to start mixing, then he found something to say, with a hidden meaning.

"Boss, you look a bit like the handsome guys I used to sponsor." He tilted his head slightly, studying Jin Chen, "Especially that aloof attitude."

Jin Chen's hand motion paused; he didn't respond, silently turned to get the base spirit.

But if you look closely, you can see a thin blush spreading over his fair ears, as if he were struggling to keep a cool expression yet couldn't hide his embarrassment.

Jin Chen lifted his eyes, glanced quickly at Xie Linzhou, then lowered his lids, focusing on the shaker in his hand, and replied somewhat flustered in a low voice, "It's me, Boss Xie."

His voice grew even softer, "We've met before."

Xiao Chen: "……"

He felt like an outsider who had wandered onto some weird set, completely unable to understand what riddle the two were playing, and could only drift off in a daze, his head full of question marks.

"Ah, it really is you." Xie Linzhou's smile deepened, his eyes becoming even more undisguised.

The Rain Night Lighthouse was quickly mixed; Jin Chen wiped the glass dry with a soft cloth and smoothly pushed the cup toward Xie Linzhou, saying, "Boss Xie, your drink is ready."

Xie Linzhou reached out to take it; his fingertips seemed to brush Jin Chen's fingers unintentionally, then hooked back.

He lifted the cup, his tone relaxed and mature, "No need for such formality; you can call me brother."

Jin Chen pursed his lips, as if unaccustomed to the address, and unconsciously lowered his head slightly, the motion revealing the fair skin of his neck above the shirt collar and his ears reddening further.

He fell silent for two seconds, then, using a volume barely audible to the two of them, softly called, "Brother Xie."