A Guide to Wasting Life - Chapter 1

Xu Nianzhu swore that night, she saw the dog first.

Just moments ago, she had been sitting alone in a corner seat, half-listening to the heavy drumbeat music she wasn’t quite used to, scrolling through pictures she had taken over the past few days. Occasionally, she’d take a small sip from her glass of alcohol. Then, something furry brushed against her ankle. She looked down to find a Schnauzer tugging at the hem of her pants.

Xu Nianzhu glanced around and tried to communicate with the dog. “Are you lost? Can’t find your owner?”

The dog gave her no response and simply kept pulling at her pant leg, as if leading her in a certain direction. Xu Nianzhu even let out a low “woof” or two to express her curiosity. After a moment, she gave her slightly tipsy head a firm smack and burst into laughter at herself. What was she even thinking?

This was a pet-friendly lounge bar, and Xu Nianzhu couldn’t resist the “cute little rascal’s” repeated attempts to get her attention. She quickly finished off her third cocktail, grabbed her phone, and weaved through the crowd after the dog in small strides.

The Schnauzer finally stopped in front of a worn leather sofa, circling her legs. Xu Nianzhu crouched down and gave its fur a few gentle strokes.

Someone approached and sat on the sofa nearby. The moment the dog saw him, it started wagging its head furiously, its ears swinging like propellers as it tried with all its might to leap onto the sofa.

“Is this your dog? It’s adorable. What’s its name?” By the time she looked up, the final syllable of her question seemed to hang in the space between them as her mouth froze in place.

“Yeah, its name is Chaichai.” Their eyes met briefly, and the man looked equally surprised. “What a coincidence. It’s you.”

The tranquility that should have been left in the day behind them stirred up once again.

She suddenly remembered a promise she had made before-one that, in hindsight, seemed impossibly far-fetched.

For a moment, the world seemed to spin. Disbelieving what was happening, she stared at the person in front of her, less than an arm’s length away-a curious twist of fate written on his face. Xu Nianzhu blinked and smiled, her crescent-shaped eyes curving even more. “What a coincidence! Mr.-”

The unexpected reunion threw her off guard, and she couldn’t recall his full name.

Mr. Zhou? Mr. …?

No, that wasn’t right. It was as if a little train was running noisily in her mind, each carriage displaying a name that didn’t quite fit.

Xu Nianzhu gave the dog another pat as a memory surfaced-when they first met, he had mentioned he was a master’s student.

Meeting his gaze again in the somewhat noisy bar, Xu Nianzhu leaned in slightly toward him and whispered in his ear, “What a coincidence, Mr. Zhou.”

She could see it instantly-the tips of his ears turned bright red, his earlobes like a pair of trembling little berries, so ripe they tempted her to pluck them. Pressing her lips together, Xu Nianzhu lowered her head slightly and smiled even wider.

Still so innocent, she thought.

Actually, Xu Nianzhu had no idea how old Zhou Qi really was. But judging from appearances… She pulled back the hand she’d been resting on the edge of the table and took a closer look, this time scrutinizing him more carefully than when they’d first met. He was the kind of handsome that grabbed attention right away-clean-cut, scholarly, with soft bangs falling loosely across his forehead. His bright, clear eyes radiated sincerity, and his skin was flawless to the point of being almost unreal. Under the ambient, moody lighting of the room, he had an ethereal glow that made her instinctively want to reach out and touch him.

He’s probably younger than me, Xu Nianzhu guessed, though not entirely confident in her assumption.

At the moment, he was wearing a loose, plain white T-shirt, his frame leaning toward slender and slightly delicate. If she hadn’t accidentally brushed against his rock-solid bicep earlier, she might have been tempted to suggest he spend more time at the gym. After all, pursuing a master’s degree required a decent amount of stamina.

Meanwhile…

The man Xu Nianzhu referred to as Mr. Zhou stood frozen in place, feeling as though every drop of blood in his body had rushed to one spot. The light graze of her hair against his skin left a prickling heat that only grew, threads of sensation teasing him like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

Zhou Qi cleared his throat softly, trying to play it cool, though his discomfort was obvious. Bringing the glass on the table to his lips, he turned slightly away and tilted his head back.

“Hey-”

Before Xu Nianzhu could stop him, he had drained nearly the entire glass in one go.

She quickly grabbed the glass back, leaving only a shallow sip at the bottom. “Drinking that much baijiu¹ all at once-doesn’t your stomach burn from it?”

A few drops of liquid had spilled onto the back of her hand. As she reached for a tissue to wipe it off, however, she paused, confused. The familiar sharp tang of alcohol was nowhere to be found.

She hesitated for a moment, then glanced over at Zhou Qi, who was now sitting slightly to the side. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing tense, defined forearm muscles. She couldn’t help but think that her earlier assumption-he looks skinny in clothes but is probably muscular underneath-was spot-on. Still, the disconnect between his wholesome, innocent face and his unexpectedly built physique was striking.

“You’re drinking plain water?” she asked, leaning in and giving her hand another sniff before breaking into laughter.

“Yeah,” Zhou Qi nodded matter-of-factly. “I’m driving.”

“But didn’t you say earlier you came here to hang out?”

“Well… kind of,” Zhou Qi replied, his tone light but hesitant. After a brief pause, he added, “I’m visiting my mom while I’m here.”

His tone and expression hadn’t changed, but Xu Nianzhu instantly picked up on the alternative meaning behind Zhou Qi’s last comment. She offered a quiet apology.

“What’s there to be sorry for?” Zhou Qi replied with a chuckle, scooping the Schnauzer back onto his lap after it had hopped onto the floor. He glanced at his phone screen for the time and asked, “Heading back now? If so, I can give you a ride. It’s on the way.”

“Is it always ‘on the way,’ no matter where I live?” Xu Nianzhu propped one elbow on the table, resting her chin lightly in her palm. Her gaze lifted just slightly beneath her lashes. The alcohol in her system wasn’t overwhelming, but it had lowered her inhibitions enough to allow a mischievous thought to take root. Her lips curved slightly upward.

“Hang City isn’t that big,” Zhou Qi replied, quickly averting his eyes from her direct gaze. Her sincerity felt almost too intense, too warm, for him to hold for long. “It’s not like you’re living outside the city, right?”

Xu Nianzhu nodded thoughtfully, as if seriously considering his reasoning. She deliberately leaned a little closer and reached for her bag on the sofa at a slow, measured pace.

It was a rare sight-she couldn’t recall ever seeing a guy blush so fiercely without a drop of alcohol in him. The corners of her lips lifted teasingly as she asked, “Why’s your face so red?”

Zhou Qi didn’t answer. His gaze had just landed on the screen of Xu Nianzhu’s phone, where her wallpaper lit up. It was one of the pictures he had taken of her that day.

The space between them suddenly felt much smaller, close enough for her to sense his warmth even through the fabric of their clothes. But this time, he didn’t back away, which caught Xu Nianzhu slightly off guard.

“Well then, let’s go!”

Xu Nianzhu’s bright smile spread across her face as she hooked her finger around the strap of her bag. Brushing past Zhou Qi, she caught the faint scent of gardenias wafting from him. Stopping for just a moment, she waved her hand in front of the boy sitting stiffly upright on the sofa like a statue. The motion seemed to snap him out of whatever daze he was in. He blinked twice and finally focused on her.

She tilted her head toward the door, picking up Chaichai’s leash from the floor as she did. With the dog in tow, she took the lead out of the bar.

She didn’t look back, so she missed the moment Zhou Qi gave his head a small shake, the corners of his lips rising into an unguarded smile.

Tonight’s outing had been completely spontaneous for Xu Nianzhu. While eating dinner earlier, she had seen a recommended post for a dog-friendly bar on a certain app. Figuring it was better than lazing around in a hotel room with the TV on in the background, she’d called a taxi and traveled halfway across the city to come here.

Traveling alone was always like this for her-unstructured and flexible. She booked a hotel in a city, visited a couple of well-known local spots, and left the rest of her itinerary open to wherever her mood took her.

Xu Nianzhu also had a quirky personal preference: she loved wandering through local markets. To her, experiencing a city’s heartbeat started at its traditional markets. She demonstrated this belief with every trip, sometimes even setting aside entire days just to explore markets in the eastern, southern, western, or northern districts of a city.

To her, it never felt out of place. The narrow alleys, the vibrant hum of daily life-it was the kind of grounded, unpretentious atmosphere she cherished deeply. In those moments, she felt both at ease and completely present.

It was early September, and the lingering heat of summer had yet to dissipate, though the night breeze carried a distinct sense of comfort.

Stepping outside, Xu Nianzhu removed her thin jacket and draped it over her forearm. She had dressed simply for her evening out-a black camisole on top and black cargo pants below. Her face was bare, without any makeup or accessories, leaving her looking fresh and clean.

At the bar counter, Zhou Qi exchanged a quick goodbye with his friends and was about to leave with his phone when someone bumped into his arm.

“Zhou Qi, over there…”

Following the direction his friend gestured, Zhou Qi looked toward the bar’s entrance. Leaning back against the wall, Xu Nianzhu had one foot propped up against the base of the wall and was chuckling softly to herself. Chaichai, her Schnauzer, circled her excitedly.

Standing in front of Xu Nianzhu was a tall, skinny guy with curly hair. The moment she smiled brightly, the curly-haired man scratched the back of his head and gave her an embarrassed grin, saying something before suddenly extending his hand toward her.

“You should-” Zhou Qi’s friend began to reach out and pat him on the shoulder, but the words “be careful” hadn’t fully left his mouth before Zhou Qi was already striding quickly toward the two by the door.

Glancing back at the table, Zhou Qi noticed an untouched drink that had already been paid for. He shrugged with a grin and let out a quick whistle.

Perfect. Free wine.

At the entrance, the curly-haired guy’s outstretched hand had been hanging awkwardly in mid-air for what felt like ages. Xu Nianzhu hesitated. She knew that shaking his hand was the polite thing to do, but she wasn’t keen on any physical interaction. Torn over whether to pick up Chaichai and have him “shake paws” with the guy instead, a shadow suddenly appeared beside her and stepped in between them, blocking her from view.

Zhou Qi had reached out and clasped the curly-haired guy’s right hand firmly.

Recognizing Zhou Qi, Chaichai barked excitedly and tried to jump up onto him.

“Good boy,” Zhou Qi said as he turned and patted the dog’s head affectionately. His tone was warm. But when he turned back to the curly-haired guy, his expression was completely void of emotion.

Xu Nianzhu looked over at him, mouth slightly ajar in awe. Even though he wasn’t speaking to her directly, hearing Zhou Qi’s soothing voice sent a pleasant shiver through her body, softening her resolve. He had saved her from the awkward situation, and she hopped to her feet cheerfully, giving a bright “I’m here!”

Zhou Qi’s grip tightened briefly before the curly-haired man awkwardly released his hand, scratching his neck and stepping back, as if retreating from a battle he had never fought before. He stammered, “I-I didn’t know-”

“Well, now you do.”

Know what?

Xu Nianzhu tilted her head to the side in confusion and shifted slightly to her left, trying to get a clearer look at Zhou Qi’s expression. She couldn’t see his face, but she did notice the curly-haired man’s lips twitch and his uneasy demeanor before he nervously excused himself and left.

“Zhou Qi?” Xu Nianzhu poked his shoulder lightly through his shirt to get his attention.

How curious. She felt zero sense of resistance toward him.

Her eyes still sparkled with tears of laughter, shimmering like tiny stars. Zhou Qi turned toward her, his brows pulling slightly together into a faint frown. His expression was unusually serious, but his ears betrayed him-flushed crimson. “Do you know each other?” he asked.

“Nope,” Xu Nianzhu replied with a shake of her head.

“You were laughing so hard, I thought you two were close.”

Oh, that. Xu Nianzhu hadn’t expected that while waiting at the door with Chaichai, someone would approach and ask the exact same question she had asked earlier in the evening: “Is this your dog? So cute! What’s its name?” Only then did she realize how much she must have sounded like she was awkwardly trying to strike up a conversation. The thought amused her so much she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Thanks for earlier,” Xu Nianzhu said, her gaze lifting to meet his. The warmth and sincerity in her eyes shone brightly.

Zhou Qi gave a soft “mm” in response, but as he looked at the smile lingering on her face, the nerves in his temples pulsed twice. His gaze felt restless, as if it couldn’t quite settle.

The car wasn’t parked far away, and Zhou Qi quietly followed behind her. They hadn’t mentioned the precise location of the vehicle during their conversation, but Xu Nianzhu’s every step was perfectly on track, unhurried and sure.

Feigning casualness, Zhou Qi asked, “How did you know where my car was parked?”

“Intuition,” Xu Nianzhu replied, pretending to think it over. Then, with a sly smile, she stopped in front of a red SUV. “What do you think? A woman’s intuition is pretty spot on, isn’t it?”

Of course, Xu Nianzhu wasn’t about to tell him the real reason. When she’d hiked down the mountain that day and snapped some photos near the crosswalk, she’d caught a familiar profile in several shots. It had been Mr. Zhou, driving this very car, waiting patiently at the zebra crossing while a line of kindergarteners in bright yellow caps toddled their way across.

Besides, this was the only parking lot in the area.

Even though her story screamed embellishment, Zhou Qi immediately realized she was poking fun at him. Nonetheless, he played along, giving her a cooperative nod with an expression that screamed Oh, I see!-just short of clapping and showering her with praise for her “remarkable skill.”

With a chuckle, he said, “Alright then, get in.”

Xu Nianzhu hummed in response, draping her long hair over one shoulder to reveal the elegant curve of her neck. She crouched slightly to scoop up Chaichai in her arms.

As the overhead streetlamp cast its soft light down, Zhou Qi’s gaze dropped to her right shoulder, where he noticed a red butterfly tattoo in full flight. Its bold, vibrant colors stood out starkly against her fair skin and the all-black outfit she was wearing, a striking contrast that caught his attention.

His eyes followed her movements as she stood up, now whispering something to Chaichai with a bright, radiant smile lighting up her face. Her laughter-filled eyes and genuine joy were infectious. For a moment, Zhou Qi found himself smiling too, feeling a strange kind of happiness sneaking up on him. It was addictive.

His focus blurred for a second. Without thinking, he stretched his right hand out and glanced down at the base of his palm. There, just above his wrist, was a small, vaguely butterfly.

Xu Nianzhu stood quietly by his side, not rushing him. Occasionally, she’d glance up, only to meet Zhou Qi’s steady, contemplative gaze. The awkwardness he’d shown in the bar was completely gone; now, his open and unabashed stare made Xu Nianzhu’s heart inexplicably skip a beat-twice, to be exact.

“Chaichai, is your dad acting dumb? Hmm?” Xu Nianzhu teased, breaking the silence as she nudged the little dog in her arms toward Zhou Qi’s nose.

Zhou Qi smoothly took Chaichai from her and, mimicking her playful tone, rubbed the pup’s head. “Dad’s actually really smart, you know.”

He smiled at her, a grin as gentle as if he were placating a child. Then, taking a step forward, he pulled open the passenger-side door of the car for her with practiced ease.

“This doesn’t seem quite right. What would your girl-”

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Zhou Qi cut her off quickly, his voice floating from the backseat as he secured Chaichai in place. He turned to glance at Xu Nianzhu, who still stood by the open car door, and with surprising seriousness, repeated, “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Then your boyfriend wouldn’t mind me giving you a ride back, would he?” He asked when she didn’t move.

“And if I said he did mind…” Xu Nianzhu tilted her head up to meet his gaze, a playful curve forming in her brows and lips. “Would you just leave me here?”

Zhou Qi stepped closer, the faint scent of gardenias brushing against her senses as he replied with mock gravity, “I would.”

“Well, sorry to disappoint you, but it looks like you won’t get that chance,” Xu Nianzhu said with a shrug, feigning regret. But despite the casual tone of her words, her legs betrayed her composure. Just as his scent almost overwhelmed her, she quickly got into the car, shutting the door in one smooth motion.

Watching her flustered reaction, Zhou Qi couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at his lips.

After a beat, he raised a hand to rub his ear. Predictably, it was on fire. Pressing the back of his hand lightly to his cheek, he confirmed that it, too, was burning.

With a mixture of helplessness and amusement, he shook his head as he made his way to the driver’s seat. Through the windshield, he could see Xu Nianzhu in the passenger seat furiously rubbing her face, flustered beyond belief. The image brought to mind the girl from the bar-whether her courage had come from the alcohol or from his blushing, he couldn’t say-but suddenly, his tendency to blush so easily didn’t feel like such a nuisance anymore. It was… kind of endearing, in its way.

Unaware of the thoughts running through Zhou Qi’s head, Xu Nianzhu was busy trying to steady her heartbeat in the car. His intense gaze from earlier had felt like it might pierce through the blank slate of her nearly untouched emotional history, leaving her breathless and off-kilter.

As she tried to regain her composure, a bottle of mineral water appeared in front of her. She turned her head, only to find Zhou Qi looking at her with an expression that seemed calm-almost too calm.

He smiled and asked, “Which hotel are you staying at?”

Xu Nianzhu took the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and gulped down a large mouthful of water. After catching her breath, she supplied the name of the hotel. As Zhou Qi pulled up the location on his phone’s navigation app, she added, “It’s near Wulin Square, right by the subway station.”

Footnote:

1. Baijiu(白酒):Baijiu is a traditional Chinese distilled liquor, typically made from grains such as sorghum, corn, and wheat. It has a much higher alcohol content compared to beer, making it significantly stronger.