Taming the Beast

Chapter One

"Buzz, buzz, buzz..." The vibration of the phone echoed as Fu Wang turned to look at Song Xiaoyuan, signaling that his phone was ringing. Song Xiaoyuan pulled out his phone, just as the call ended. The call interface disappeared, and dozens of unknown numbers swiftly filled the screen. He glanced at it, unfazed, pressed the mute button, and casually slid the phone back into his pocket. Fu Wang noticed the smooth, almost practiced sequence of movements and suddenly understood something. He didn't ask any further questions and simply led Song Xiaoyuan into the bar. Song Xiaoyuan sat next to Fu Wang on a high stool by the floor-to-ceiling window. The bartender, a young man, approached with a smile and quietly asked what kind of drink Song Xiaoyuan preferred. "Our boss can customize drinks for customers. If you're worried it won’t suit your taste, you can always check the menu," the bartender said, kindly flipping the menu open. The menu resembled a leather-bound planner, and upon opening it, Song Xiaoyuan noticed that each drink had a handwritten description next to it, along with personal recommendations from the boss. Flipping through casually, he unexpectedly discovered a few cherry blossom petals on top of the delicate script. The petals still had visible color, likely added today. Song Xiaoyuan leaned his left hand on the table, his slender fingers lightly brushing the petals, and asked softly, “You can customize the drinks?” The bartender nodded. “Yes, based on your taste, mood, or the weather. Just give us a word, and our boss will try it.” Song Xiaoyuan didn’t answer verbally. Instead, he brought the fingers that had just touched the petals to his nose and sniffed, seemingly lost in thought. The person sitting across from him had shoulder-length black hair, a relaxed demeanor, and spoke softly, his lips gently parting as he spoke. His voice, as light as willow catkins brushing the air, had an almost hypnotic effect. The bartender, who had worked at the bar for nearly a year, had rarely seen someone so stunning it left him breathless. His beauty was striking and unpretentious. When silent, he exuded a coldness, like snow halfway melted. Behind the disheveled black hair, his almond eyes held a depth, like a silent lake, absorbing the light. The bartender found himself momentarily entranced by the androgynous side profile. Fu Wang, hands behind his head, comfortably leaned back in his chair. "Just ask for whatever you want; the boss here won't disappoint." Song Xiaoyuan lazily hummed in response, resting his hand on the table and absentmindedly flicking the cherry blossom petals again. He smiled politely at the bartender and said, "I'll have the cherry blossom drink, thank you." The bartender was momentarily stunned but quickly regained composure. "Okay, right away." Song Xiaoyuan didn't seem to notice the bartender's rude gaze, or perhaps he did but had grown accustomed to such attention, and it didn’t bother him. "I’ll have the usual," Fu Wang closed the menu and handed it to the bartender. "By the way, where's your boss? I don't see him." The bartender looked over at the bar. "The boss just went out with Lin Ge, but he should be back soon." "Lin Shenting? He’s here today too?" The bartender smiled. "Yes, Lin Ge even brought several bunches of cherry blossoms today. The petals in the menu were added by him." The bartender took the menu and left. Song Xiaoyuan, seemingly bored, turned around and leaned on the wooden table, inspecting the bar’s décor. Eventually, his gaze landed on the brightest spot in the room. Soft yellow light bathed the room, where a live band performed intently. The area around them had a slight step-down, with low stools arranged on the steps. Some customers sat quietly, holding their drinks, resting their faces on their hands, and gently swaying to the music. Before Song Xiaoyuan could pull his gaze away, Fu Wang suddenly asked, "Did you break up?" Song Xiaoyuan hummed and replied casually, "It’s been three months. It was time to end it." Fu Wang nodded. "Right. For you, three months is long enough. Good call, it should have ended sooner." "I never understood why you liked him in the first place." Fu Wang took the drink the bartender handed over, sipped slowly, and said with satisfaction, "Fang Haoyu, that guy—he’s only good for his looks. Bad temper, awful personality, always freeloading, and a mama’s boy. I’m not trying to be mean, but with all the boyfriends you've had, how has your taste gotten so bad?" Song Xiaoyuan glanced at him and found it somewhat amusing. "You have a lot to say. Why didn’t you mention this earlier?" Fu Wang raised an eyebrow and replied with some resentment, "I did, not just once. Didn’t you notice how you act when you’re in love? You fall too deep, and you stop listening to anyone. I’ve been your childhood friend for over ten years. But when I speak, it doesn’t hold enough weight, does it?" He straightened his arm and handed the drink to Song Xiaoyuan, signaling for him to try it. Song Xiaoyuan ignored the sarcasm in Fu Wang’s words, took the drink from him, and tasted it lightly. As soon as the drink hit his tongue, Song Xiaoyuan furrowed his brow slightly, about to complain about the whiskey Fu Wang had ordered—why was it sour with egg whites? Just as he was about to speak, he noticed a new customer arriving at the steps. Aside from the live band area and the steps, the rest of the bar was dimly lit. The new customer emerged from some dark corner, casually holding a drink and sitting at the highest step. The customers nearby noticed the newcomer and instinctively turned to take a look. After seeing him, they couldn’t help but turn back, covering their faces, and looked again, whispering to their friends. As they talked, they stole glances at the man, but the man seemed unfazed by the whispers. He lowered his drink, leaned back slightly, crossed his long legs, and immersed himself in the band’s music. He seemed particularly interested in the drummer, only watching the drummer among the five band members. His fingers moved in sync with the rhythm, clearly enjoying the music. Song Xiaoyuan also glanced at the drummer but wasn’t interested. His gaze returned to the man, observing him again. But as soon as he did, their eyes locked. He was caught in the man’s unflinching stare, lost in the deep eyes framed by long lashes. “What’s wrong? Spaced out?” Fu Wang, noticing that Song Xiaoyuan hadn’t returned the drink, leaned over and patted him. “What are you looking at?” He followed Song Xiaoyuan’s gaze and saw the man sitting casually on the steps, sipping his drink and swaying to the rhythm. "Lin Shenting?" Song Xiaoyuan turned back. "Do you know him?" Fu Wang frowned. "I just met him. To be honest, not well. He’s a friend of the bar owner’s. He’s been studying abroad and only came back in the last year or two." Fu Wang took the drink from Song Xiaoyuan’s hand, sipped it, and after smacking his lips, said, "What? Are you interested? Forget it, I’ve heard that when he was abroad, he had a girlfriend. They say he might be straight. Don’t waste your time on a straight guy." Song Xiaoyuan didn’t respond. He continued staring at Lin Shenting for a while, then took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, and placed it between his pale lips. Seeing Song Xiaoyuan remain silent, Fu Wang added, "Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I have good judgment. Trust me, this guy’s not right for you." Song Xiaoyuan’s gaze was distant, the cigarette held lightly between his lips. He thought back to when their eyes had met, feeling like he’d been caught by some unseen predator. The cigarette remained unlit, but Song Xiaoyuan took a deep breath, pulled it from his lips, and placed it on the edge of Fu Wang’s almost empty glass. He whispered, "It’s just for fun. I don’t care. I want to sleep with him. You have to help me." This version is more polished and natural, maintaining the narrative's essence and emotional depth while adhering to the nuances of English expression. If you'd like further changes or focus on specific areas, let me know!