In any city, taxi drivers share a universal moniker: the Know-It-Alls. They navigate the arteries and capillaries of the metropolis day in and day out, their cabs serving as revolving doors for passengers of every gender, age, profession, origin, and dialect. The drivers, forever anchored behind the wheel, absorb the city's every secret through sight and sound, only to chatter incessantly about it to the next fare.

The taxi driver was a man in his early thirties, possessing a slightly pale complexion and small eyes that nonetheless sparkled with a perpetual, knowing amusement—a glint of cunning hidden within. He gave off an aura of approachability and talkativeness, yet there was a high probability he’d cheerfully take you on a scenic detour only to tack an extra fifty yuan onto the meter.

As soon as I settled in, the driver broke the silence: "Where to, boss?"

"Just drive forward for now," I replied casually. I was footloose now, without aim or anchor, drifting like pond scum on the waves—provided, of course, my pockets held cash, otherwise, my legs would be the only mode of transport, constantly crossing back and forth.

My accent marked me as a local, which seemed to steady the driver’s hands on the wheel; he drove straight ahead and then leaned in. "Young man, did something weigh heavy on your mind? Tell your uncle about it; maybe I can shine a light for you."

I managed a bitter smile. "Better you keep your eyes on the red and green lights, or we'll all end up in the dark."

The driver’s mouth worked like a perpetual motion machine; as long as there was a customer, the monologue wouldn't cease. "You have an interesting way of putting things. What’s got you down? Life is just a mouth, really—it brings you bitterness, it brings you joy. Just keep it busy; idleness is the end of everything."

His words had flavor, even a certain depth. Normally, I wouldn't mind trading barbs with him, but my mind was a complete mess; I just wanted to drown my sorrows tonight and had no energy for verbal sparring. So, I got straight to the point. "Master, where is there a bar that's open twenty-four hours?"

The driver’s energy instantly surged. He rattled off the names of several establishments. I knew that seasoned drivers like him usually had backroom deals with places of entertainment like hotels and restaurants, earning a kickback for bringing in customers. But I figured it was mutually beneficial, a sort of three-way win.

I asked for the general area and picked the closest one. I even playfully asked if he could knock a few bucks off the fare. Hearing that, the driver immediately launched into a litany of complaints, but I was only joking, just trying to pass the suffocating boredom. Soon enough, the bar appeared. I looked up; the sign read, "Lan Gui Ren Bar."

The ambiance inside was pleasant, the lighting soft and vaguely hazy. Since it was still early, the place wasn't crowded—maybe seven or eight people scattered in twos and threes. I actually preferred it this way; too many people killed the mood for drinking. I found a seat, ordered a bottle of straight vodka mixed with Sprite, and started drinking alone.

Out of professional habit, my eyes swept the room, constantly assessing the men and women bathed in the dim light. To my left sat a man and a woman, laughing together. One spoke in Mandarin, suggesting they weren't a couple, perhaps old classmates or good friends reconnecting after years. Behind them sat three other individuals, each alone at their table, looking burdened with thought—clearly people drowning their sorrows in alcohol.

Suddenly, I felt the distinct sensation of being watched. A jolt went through me—had I run into a colleague here?

I turned my head, and my vision cleared momentarily: a young, beautiful woman was looking over at me from across the room. Under the flickering lights, her features appeared and vanished. Her high, defined nose made her face strikingly noticeable, stunningly so. Her eyes held a subtle, luminous gleam, like those of a wildcat, brimming with a kinetic energy that unsettled the soul.

Her looks rivaled Xiao Xuan’s, yet she lacked Xiao Xuan's inherent sternness. While that wildness was captivating, it seemed to lack a certain refinement.

Seeing me look, the woman showed no shyness, offering a slight, almost ceremonial nod before downing a large gulp of hard liquor.

Music drifted through the air, entering the ear canals, striking the eardrums, while the alcohol accelerated the blood’s circulation, amplifying those tiny pulses into a strange euphoria, a subtle vibration.

I leaned back, eyes half-closed, watching the lights strobe, slowly letting myself unwind. Suddenly, I felt the cushion beside me dip, and a faint, subtle perfume wafted past my nose.

I looked over. It was the woman from before, now startlingly close. Her features were exquisitely drawn, her lips full and teeth brilliantly white—truly a rare stunner.

"Hello, may I sit here?" she asked softly.

Faced with a woman like this, I doubted any man could refuse, especially since her request was minimal—just a seat, and she was already occupying it. I had no grounds to refuse, let alone toss this beautiful woman off the chair.

"I'm Zhao Shiya. And you are?" the woman offered with confident ease.

"Wang Lei. Pleasure to meet you." I raised my glass and took a sip. Zhao Shiya delicately swirled a small measure of red wine in hers.

"I don't recall seeing you here before. You don't frequent this spot much, do you?" Zhao Shiya’s voice was sweet, yet not cloying, much like the red wine in her hand.

I nodded and took another large swallow. "Right, rarely. This is my first time."

Zhao Shiya's brow lifted, and she smiled. "That’s great. My treat tonight. Drink whatever you like."

I blinked. What was the situation? She was buying drinks upon first meeting. The scenario felt incredibly familiar, yet the roles seemed reversed. Usually, it was some lecherous man plying an innocent woman with alcohol. Had I stumbled into a massive stroke of luck tonight, an absolute role reversal?

Zhao Shiya caught my expression and burst into happy laughter. "Hahaha, you’re overthinking again, aren’t you?"

Her unrestrained demeanor provoked me deeply; it felt both like a tease and an insult. I took another large swig and exhaled the fumes. "Overthinking is a basic right any man has when faced with a beautiful woman."

"Beautiful?" Zhao Shiya looked at me. "You think I’m beautiful?"

Her expression was genuine, yet devoid of innocence; it reeked of experience. This confirmed her unusual nature.

Drawing on the alcohol, I leaned in until my face was only a few centimeters from hers, stopping short. During this entire maneuver, she showed no fear or attempt to pull away. Instead, she smiled sweetly, gazing intently at me, allowing me to admire her features.

Up close, I saw she was indeed a woman of impeccable beauty, her face nearly flawless, utterly without a hint of self-consciousness.

A woman who knows no shyness—what kind of woman could she be?

There were many answers, but none of them appealed to me, so my interest gradually shifted elsewhere.

"What is it you do for a living?" My tone carried a distinct professional edge, much like how a farmer always smells faintly of earth, or a businessman carries the scent of dirty money—you could tell my occupation just by the way I spoke.

Zhao Shiya’s smile lingered, deepening the mystery in my heart. What was the origin of such a stunning woman who clearly didn't know the meaning of bashfulness?

She then raised her glass and made a practiced, easy gesture to invite a toast. After a light sip, she said, "Officer, it's a pleasure to meet you. I hope you’ll come visit Lan Gui Ren again when you have time."

The realization hit me like a physical blow, and I felt an immediate flush of shame for my earlier behavior. I quickly raised my own glass and downed a heavy gulp. Under the haze of alcohol, I felt more relaxed; the awkwardness diminished as the alcohol concentration rose. I managed a smile. "I truly was blind to your stature. I suppose I owe myself a penalty of three drinks." I promptly poured another full glass.

Zhao Shiya gracefully extended her pale arm and gently pressed down on my glass with her fingers. "Even if it’s free, you shouldn’t drink like that. It’ll hurt your health."

Although I knew that for a woman like her, everything spoken was half-true at best, I still felt a warmth in my chest. I downed that drink. My original intention was to drink myself senseless here, and having such a beautiful companion to share the journey with felt like a blessing from heaven—how could I not drink more to honor that?

Zhao Shiya was a sharp woman; she saw right through my intentions. After a brief, token protest a few times, she let me have my way, though she cleverly introduced topics to distract me. Gradually, my rate of drinking slowed, and my talking increased.

"Proprietor, I didn't realize your tolerance for alcohol was so high."

"You flatter me. I don't actually enjoy drinking; I just got used to it over time."

"If you don't like drinking, why run a bar?"

The moment I asked, I knew it was a foolish question. How many people in this world actually get to do what they love? For the sake of survival, most people must change themselves, bury their inner longings, and toil day after day in the dust of passing years. This wasn't limited to ordinary folks; even the wealthy had to do things they disliked just to accumulate more wealth...

Despite the dullness of the question, Zhao Shiya didn't offer a cursory answer. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she seemed genuinely thoughtful. "How do I put it? There are many reasons, but one reason you would never guess."

This piqued my interest. The more unexpected something was, the more I wanted to guess. After all, today was my day of freedom; I needed to truly unwind before embarking on the arduous journey of pursuit.

"Because you make a lot of money in this business?" I ventured.

Zhao Shiya shook her head, her eyes sparkling faintly, like a half-drunk cat.

"Because your parents were in this trade, so you followed suit?"

Zhao Shiya shook her head again. "Guess again!"

I leaned back. "Forget it, I give up. Tell me, what is the real reason?"

Zhao Shiya offered a slight smile. "It’s very simple. One of my friends is hopelessly devoted to drink, so I opened this bar to keep him from causing trouble elsewhere. Of course," she added, "I already said this isn't the only reason, just one of them."

I paused for a second, then laughed. "Sounds like your friend is a true drunkard. Let me give you one more free guess: if he weren't such a heavy drinker, maybe you would have married him, right?"

Zhao Shiya dissolved into continuous giggles, her delicate shoulders shaking. A row of pearly white teeth made her rosy lips look particularly alluring. After a long moment, she stopped laughing and turned to me. "I didn't realize you were so witty, and your imagination is quite vivid. But you guessed one small thing incorrectly."

This woman possessed a peculiar charm: talking to her made you increasingly relaxed. Perhaps this was part of her professional polish. I followed up on her statement. "Where was I wrong? If I was indeed wrong, I’ll gladly accept the penalty."

Zhao Shiya replied, "I really did want to marry this person, but drinking wasn't the reason we couldn't."

"Oh? Tell me about it." I was genuinely intrigued now.

"Because that person is a woman. Unless she turned into a man, there was no way for me to marry her in this lifetime," Zhao Shiya declared, then burst into laughter, leaving me gaping dumbfounded.

A woman who knows no shyness, coupled with a woman who lives to drink—I couldn't imagine what chaos would ensue when these two combined forces. Perhaps they could instantly annihilate all ages, from infants to the elderly.

Imagining the wild scenes these two women might create together while sipping wine with one of them offered a certain thrill. But for now, I preferred not to meet the other woman, sensing that encountering the drink-obsessed one right now might lead to a live broadcast of events.

As I swayed slightly, Zhao Shiya suddenly exclaimed with delight, "Tian Niu! You’re here!"

A warm, fragrant body slid into the seat next to me. My brain was already sluggish, and it took me a moment to focus on the newcomer's face. I just registered the scent—intoxicatingly pleasant, light, and floral.

"Officer Wang, come here. Let me introduce you to the sister I was telling you about—this is Tian Niu," Zhao Shiya announced warmly.

I straightened up slightly and nodded toward the woman seated diagonally across from me. "Tian Niu, I’m Wang Lei. A pleasure to meet you."

Suddenly, the woman moved with startling speed, followed by a low shriek from Zhao Shiya: "Tian Niu, are you trying to kill me? You’re squeezing the life out of me!"

"Who told you to shout out my nickname outside? You deserve whatever you get."

Sweat trickled down my spine. These were two true tigresses. Both were 'elders' I absolutely could not afford to offend. It was time for me to make my exit, or I’d be the one ending up dead.

Just as I was formulating an excuse to leave, the woman nicknamed Tian Niu spoke up. "This gentleman looks awfully familiar. Have we met somewhere?"

So much for my theory. A true tigress, engaging another man barely seated. Good thing it wasn't me.

"Hey, I’m talking to you! Where are you looking?"

Tian Niu's volume had increased by half. I heard her clearly and immediately started offering a silent prayer for the man she was looking at.

Brother, coming to Lan Gui Ren wasn't your mistake. Meeting the proprietress wasn't your mistake. But meeting both major forces at once? That’s a colossal, irredeemable error.

I could already picture the scene: some poor soul, upon hearing Tian Niu's invitation, turns to see the proprietress, a blooming flower, and the other woman, bold and audacious. He’d surely think opportunity knocks, eagerly accepting, initiating a battle between lust and liquor. Ultimately, the poor man, captivated by the proprietress’s beauty, would unknowingly consume gallons of alcohol with Tian Niu until he passed out, requiring emergency room treatment...

While my mind was reeling with these dark projections, Zhao Shiya nudged me with her elbow. "Tian Niu is talking to you?"

I was slow to react, stunned for a moment before stammering out, "Oh, oh, she was—she was talking to me?"

"Of course I was talking to you," Tian Niu’s tone was slightly aggressive. "Have we met before?"

I turned, peering through the hazy light. Before me was a face of ethereal clarity—it was Zhang Hemai!

My whole body trembled. My mind screamed: This is absolutely impossible!

Suppressing the internal panic, I narrowed my eyes, feigning deep thought, then shook my head. "No way, I have zero recollection."

If this woman claimed to be Zhang Hemai right now, I wouldn't believe her if I were beaten. Zhang Hemai was a woman of tradition, reserve, and seclusion. There was no way she could possibly be connected to this bold, hard-drinking woman before me.

It must be either a woman who closely resembles her, or a twin sister. There could be no third possibility.

Zhao Shiya laughed. "Don't listen to her. She finds everyone familiar."

I managed a wry smile. "I see. I almost believed her."

But Tian Niu insisted, "No, no, I definitely have a faint impression. Think harder."

Hearing her persistence, I wanted to bolt immediately. Just then, Zhao Shiya chimed in with a teasing lilt, "Hemai, stop messing around. This is an officer. If you keep fooling around, he might lock you up."

My brain instantly short-circuited. This world was too insane. Both the events and the people were unfolding in ways I could never have anticipated. Was the world always like this, or was my own fate just exceptionally rough?

I had to leave, and fast, before my cover was blown. As I was searching for an excuse to depart, Zhang Hemai spoke directly to me. "So you’re a police officer? Coincidentally, I have a friend who works at the Public Security Bureau—he’s a forensic examiner. His name is You Qiaolin. Do you know him?"

I knew then that I couldn't leave, even if I wanted to. I had already announced my own name. The consequences of a sudden vanishing act were too terrifying to contemplate.

They say alcohol and women ruin careers; I never believed it until now. But it was too late. I had to conquer this challenge, completely subdue these two crazed women before I could reach my intended destination.