If I squander all my fortune, will sleep finally come to me?

It was around eleven o’clock, though Bai Haonan had lost track of which bar he had wandered into, as he had already visited more than a dozen. He hadn’t even sat down when the singer on stage caught his attention. Who else could it be but Qiao Yingna? Wasn’t she a medical student, an intern at some hospital? How had she ended up singing in a bar?

Having downed seven or eight beers, Bai Haonan grew excited. So she wasn’t who she claimed to be either—what a fraud! He decided not to leave this time, choosing a spot at the bar close to the stage, making sure to sit where the rotating lights would shine on him. Perched on a high stool, he grinned at Qiao Yingna.

There must be thirty or forty bars, lounges, music spots, even small nightclubs on this street. If he hadn’t methodically checked each one, he would never have discovered this secret! Just as he sensed during the day, Qiao Yingna truly dazzled under the night’s stage lights.

She wore an exceedingly simple white dress, pure and unadorned, with a sleeveless, square neckline that revealed the upper half of her chest. Her smooth, fair curves were continually painted with the shifting colors of the lights. Bai Haonan’s special memory recalled seeing her in a similar gray dress during the day, and a lace home gown before; clearly, she understood her strengths well.

The memory that Old Chen treasured, Bai Haonan now squandered on these trivial matters.

Yet, even such a plain white dress couldn’t hide her brilliance; nearly every gaze in the bar was fixed on Qiao Yingna, just as Bai Haonan’s had been when he walked in.

He’d passed other bars earlier—blaring rock or party music, speakers cranked up as if electricity cost nothing; ordering a drink required shouting at the staff. But this place was different: the moment he entered, he was captivated by a uniquely clear voice. Her singing had such penetrating power that even the band behind her seemed transparent, all attention drawn to her song.

Qiao Yingna’s stage presence matched her attire—no flashy embellishments, just quietly standing, her eyes half closed, head tilted back as she lost herself in the music. She sang ordinary, popular love songs with no inventive arrangements, yet the atmosphere of the whole bar became tranquil and distant. Even Bai Haonan felt a touch of elegance.

When the song ended, Qiao Yingna opened her eyes slightly and saw Bai Haonan straightening up and discreetly waving at her. Her gaze was calm, seasoned, and she nodded almost imperceptibly before starting the next song.

Bai Haonan, well-versed in the scene, turned to the bar and sent flowers. A few hundred yuan a bouquet—he knew singers got a cut. Times had changed; ten bouquets plus a crown and scepter would be too much, but a gesture was easy enough. He thoughtfully ordered a glass of water for her throat, rather than a drink to make things difficult.

Qiao Yingna merely smiled and nodded in his direction.

Bai Haonan intended to stay until closing, but Qiao Yingna sang only three songs before leaving the stage.

He understood how things worked: she sang well and likely had to hurry to another venue during peak hours. So he downed his drink and hurried to wait outside. Sure enough, within five minutes, Qiao Yingna emerged with a light jacket, not at all surprised to see him. “Well, looks like we’ve got a pro here.”

Bai Haonan replied politely, “I’ve never hung out here before. Took a wrong turn at the first bar, so I decided to check them all out, get familiar with the place before having fun. Maybe I can carry your bag, or something?”

Qiao Yingna was already striding ahead, chuckling, “You really are a veteran. I don’t fall for that.”

Bai Haonan persisted, “No, really. I thought you were a girl with a story the moment we met. Fate brought us together, and meeting again tonight is an even greater stroke of luck. If you think I’m scheming, you’re selling yourself short. At least tonight, I can offer a bit of protection.”

Qiao Yingna’s laughter had a seductive edge in the night, “Oh, we live in a lawful society. Even clueless bar owners can handle trouble. I’m just a little singer; it’s not that complicated…” Her ordinary woolen jacket, meant to guard against the chill, mainly concealed her alluring stage outfit. The way the hem fluttered in the night stirred something in Bai Haonan he couldn’t quite describe.

Soon they reached another bar about fifty or sixty meters away. Qiao Yingna pointed at Bai Haonan to the tall doorman—effectively the manager. “He’s with me.”

Bai Haonan followed her into this more upscale bar, savvy enough not to freeload. He ordered a four-flavored fruit cocktail as a gesture, knowing one variety was mild and milky, suitable for singers. The manager reciprocated with a friendly discount, and everyone shared easy, knowing smiles.

This time, Qiao Yingna sang for nearly two hours, almost ten songs. Bai Haonan kept refilling his drinks—despite the discount, he spent nearly a thousand yuan. When Qiao Yingna finished, she frowned slightly, “With all this, I feel like a shill!”

It was past two in the morning. Bai Haonan nonchalantly helped Qiao Yingna with her jacket and walked beside her. “If I hadn’t met you, I’d still be drinking—maybe with some beautiful stranger, which would cost even more.”

Qiao Yingna had only sipped mineral water for her voice, laughing as she nodded to the bouncers she recognized, “I saw some pretty girls approach you—why didn’t you go?”

Bai Haonan replied deftly, “I was listening to your singing. You’re good!”

Qiao Yingna had already turned into a nearby alley, the dazzling nightlife dropping away within a few meters, replaced by the ordinary, slightly shabby threads of daily existence. “Compared to medicine, I prefer singing. I’ve been performing here since my freshman year. Interns aren’t allowed night shifts yet—only Xiao Fen, that honest girl, believes otherwise. You really don’t do right by her.”

Bai Haonan smiled, “I think this is precisely the best way to treat her.”

Qiao Yingna pouted in the darkness, “You two are really something!”

Bai Haonan said, “I’m just drifting through life, enjoying each day as it comes—drink while there’s wine, cherish what I’ve had…”

Qiao Yingna rolled her eyes and waved him off, “Alright, enough! I’ve sung all night, I don’t need you reciting lyrics to me. I don’t mind the *** and all, but you still can’t hurt Xiao Fen. Go do what you need to do, don’t spar with me.”

Bai Haonan clapped his hands, lighting up the hallway’s sensor lamp. “In this pitch darkness, you could use someone to look after you. I’m staying nearby these days anyway, so how about I escort you at night?”

Qiao Yingna retorted, “Did you consider you might spoil my romantic prospects? If you, this big lunk, keep following me, what if some patron wants to discover my talent or make me his protégé? You’d ruin my future.”

Bai Haonan felt a rare sense of matching wits, “No! I think I’ve got a good eye—haven’t embarrassed you, have I?”

Qiao Yingna sighed as she unlocked the door, “You’re just too sly…” She found the apartment dark, fell silent, and only after turning on the lights did she realize Chen Sufen really wasn’t there. She was surprised, “She trusts you this much?”

Bai Haonan was heartless, “She’s just naive…”

Qiao Yingna rolled her eyes dramatically, “You’re such a scoundrel! You wouldn’t force yourself on a weak girl like me, would you? I’ll call the police.”

Bai Haonan quickly recited a lyric he’d heard all night, “I give my true heart for true feelings!”

Qiao Yingna burst out laughing as she went to the bathroom to shower, emerging later wrapped tightly in pajamas. “I’m not joking—seriously, it’s impossible. Good night.”

Bai Haonan feigned disappointment as he made up the sofa, making Qiao Yingna laugh again. But she locked her bedroom door when she went in.

They both understood how things really were.