Chapter 3: Wenzi’s Tea and Wine Bar

“Manager, are you looking for singers here?”
Galen found a restaurant that had just opened its doors. Business was tough these days; establishments would serve food during the day and transform into bars at night.
“You’re alone? Sorry, we only hire bands.”
The manager glanced at him and rejected him outright.
The first attempt ended in failure...
“Excuse me, are you the owner here?”
At another bar, which seemed to have operated through the night, Galen caught the person in charge before closing time.
“I’m the art director here!”
A man with a small braid yawned, looked at Galen’s guitar, and refused him before he could even speak, “We only hire female singers!”
The second attempt was another failure...
Galen entered every bar that was open and staffed, but none wanted him. Some would let him sing a few lines; others wouldn’t even spare him a glance.
The morning slipped away like that. Galen sat on a bench by the street, eating buns and scrolling through his phone, searching for singer job postings nearby.
Most online postings were unreliable agencies—pay a fee to meet, then get introduced to a small bar, where the owner would ask for a deposit even before hiring.
After finishing his food, Galen leaned back to rest his legs, sore from a morning’s walking.
Not wanting to waste time, he put on his headphones and practiced songs from another world on his guitar.
People hurried past, no one paying him any mind—there were too many young people like him in this part of town.
After resting for over an hour, Galen got up and set off again. By now, many bars had opened; it was the best time to look for work.
After several more rejections, Galen arrived at a newly opened tea-bar—a quiet place serving tea and alcohol. The décor looked promising, so he decided to try his luck.
Just as he approached, he saw a young man coming out with a stack of posters.
Galen stopped and watched as the young man opened the first poster, which was a recruitment notice: servers, bartenders, tea masters, singers...
Galen’s spirits soared and he immediately stepped forward, “Hello—”
“Here, hold this for me!”
Before he could finish, the young man asked him to help hold the poster.
“Oh!” Galen didn’t refuse, helping him put up the first poster, then the second.
The second was an announcement: “Dream Starlight Show” Weekly Champion Wen Tao, performing every night at Wenzi Tea Bar—come and enjoy!
“Dream Starlight Show” was a major singing competition airing on CCTV2. Each week, one contestant would be crowned weekly champion, and powerful challengers would try to dethrone them.
If the weekly champion defeated a challenger, they advanced to the semifinals; if they lost, they were eliminated. A challenger who won five consecutive weeks would enter the top ten finals.
Many bars hosted eliminated contestants, but those who had won as weekly champions—even if eliminated later—were highly sought after by bars.
Galen hadn’t watched much of “Dream Starlight Show,” but the face on the poster looked familiar. He stared for a moment, then turned to the young man posting the flyers. After glancing back and forth a few times, he finally asked, “Are you Wen Tao?”
“Yes.”
The young man didn’t deny it. After posting the third flyer—a shop introduction—he offered Galen a cigarette.
Galen waved it off, indicating he didn’t smoke.
Wen Tao smiled, lit one for himself, and glanced at Galen’s guitar, “Here to apply as a singer?”
“Yes!” Galen nodded.
“Do you have any original songs?” Wen Tao pointed to the third poster, which clearly stated: All resident singers at this bar have original songs that will surprise you.
Galen scratched his head, thinking of those songs from another world. He braced himself and replied, “I do!”
“All right, come inside and sing one for me.”
With that, Wen Tao turned and led the way into the bar.
Galen followed closely. Inside, a middle-aged worker adjusting the lighting called out to Wen Tao, “Boss, this arrangement isn’t working!”
Wen Tao went over to inspect and supervised the adjustments. Galen was surprised—he hadn’t expected Wen Tao to be the owner himself, which explained his hands-on approach.
Once the lights were set, Wen Tao returned to Galen, led him to the office, and lounged on the sofa, “Sing.”
“Okay.”
Galen, accustomed to all sorts of challenges, didn’t find Wen Tao’s manner rude. After all, Wen Tao was a well-known singer, so he had his quirks.
Galen took out his guitar, sat on a nearby chair, and began playing and singing the newly learned “The You of Yesteryear.”
“I once dreamed of traveling the world with a sword,
To see its splendor and beauty.
Youthful hearts are always a little reckless,
Now you make your home wherever you wander.
The girl who once made your heart ache
Has vanished without a trace.
Love always leaves you longing and troubled,
Once left you battered and bruised.
Di-li-li...”
The chords of this song were simple, the melody catchy. Although Galen hadn’t experienced the depth of life that Xu Wei had, his own trials had given him a sense of the world’s hardships. The emotion he naturally conveyed—a melancholy yet optimistic youthfulness—added a new color to the song.
When he finished, Wen Tao gazed at him deeply, saying nothing, making Galen uneasy.
“Boss—”
“Just call me Wen,” Wen Tao interrupted. “Are you still a student?”
“No, I’ve been drifting in the capital for three years, singing in bars for the past two.”
“Oh! That’s impressive. Among grassroots singers, you’re not inferior to those established stars with original songs!” Wen Tao gave a thumbs-up.
“Heh, Wen, you flatter me. I’m just dabbling.”
Galen blushed, embarrassed—it wasn’t his original song, but one he’d borrowed from another world.
Still, no one knew, so he could rest easy.
“Do you have any other originals?” Wen Tao asked.
“Yes.” Galen nodded.
“Prepare at least three original songs. Come every night at seven; five hundred per gig. Tips are yours, and pay is settled every Wednesday for the previous week. If you get a good response, the rate can go up. How about it?”
“Deal!” Galen agreed immediately. “Should I start tonight?”
“Tomorrow night. We open at eight, but you must be here at seven to rehearse the evening’s show.”
Galen didn’t quite understand why rehearsal was necessary, but didn’t ask—Wen Tao’s pay was far higher than before.
He realized it was “The You of Yesteryear” that had won him this opportunity; otherwise, he’d never get such an offer. Clearly, Wen Tao valued talent.

In a few days, he could afford a new computer and video call Chen Yingying every day.
After several subway rides home, Cai Fei and Wang Qilin weren’t there—probably still at school.
Galen went straight to his room and called Chen Yingying.
“Hello?”
Her voice was soft. “Alan, wait a moment!”
After ten seconds, the sound of a door closing came through. Chen Yingying’s voice brightened, “Galen! What are you doing?”
“I’m at home! I have good news—I changed bars!” Galen immediately shared his joy.
“Oh? The old place shut down?”
“Yes, I switched to a newly opened tea bar—better pay, so I went for it!”
“How much better? Three-fifty? Two-fifty?” Chen Yingying teased.
“You’re the two-fifty—it’s twice that!”
“Hmph! How dare you call me names, you’re twice as silly!”
Chen Yingying paused, “Wait, you said five hundred? So generous?”
“Yep, the boss appreciates my talent!” Galen said, proud.
“Hmph! Is the boss a woman?”
“No, it’s a man! Wen Tao—you know him? The weekly champion from ‘Dream Starlight Show.’ He’s the boss!” Galen explained.
“Oh… He opened a bar?”
Chen Yingying was amazed, “He won the weekly title two weeks ago, but barely had time to enjoy it before a challenger knocked him out.”
“So impressive? Who was the challenger?”
Galen realized Wen Tao wasn’t an ordinary singer, or he wouldn’t have enough money to open his own bar. Whoever beat him must be someone to watch.
He’d need to be careful not to mention that name in front of Wen Tao.
“I think his name is Sun Youpeng—a singer from Treasure Island. He and his brother used to win singing contests as a duo, even released albums, but later went solo for some reason. He came to the capital to compete.”
Chen Yingying, always up-to-date with entertainment gossip, knew all about these things.
Galen, however, didn’t keep up with the industry—he just cared which singers sounded good and which composers were talented.
After chatting for a while, Chen Yingying shyly asked, “Galen, did you miss me today?”
“Of course! Every day, every hour—I miss you so much I don’t want to do anything else!” Galen joked.
“You’re too much!” Chen Yingying was delighted. “Mm… I miss you too. When Golden Week comes, I’ll visit you in the capital!”
“Great!” Galen’s spirits lifted at her words. “Hey, Yingying, does this mean our relationship is official?”
“What are you saying? I don’t understand!”
Chen Yingying laughed, “Okay, enough for now—don’t waste your phone bill. When I visit, we can talk about everything!”
“Sure, sure! Let me know when you’re coming!”
“What’s the rush? Golden Week is more than a month away!” Chen Yingying giggled. “All right, I really need to hang up now—my mom’s back!”
“Okay, goodbye!”
Galen, still reluctant, had to end the call.