What a world

Ruìsāng longed for the solace of his bed, yearning for solitude. Yet, there was a subtle relief in being here, amidst the buzz and clatter of the bar. The tales of strangers felt distant, but he found solace in the rhythm of his work. It wasn’t particularly fast-paced or glorious, but it was a welcome distraction from the haunting wails of his mother. Here, he could drown out the world, lost in the clink of glasses and the hum of hushed conversations.

His reverie was broken by a request from a girl, her face unfamiliar in the sea of regulars. She asked for a cocktail, one that mirrored the Milky Way. The bar, with its galaxy theme, had concocted a myriad of such drinks over time. Ruìsāng's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “A Galaxy Mule?” he suggested. These drinks were interesting, shifting colours. With their swirl of glitter, they did somewhat resemble a star-strewn night sky trapped within a glass.

The girl's eyes sparkled with anticipation, and Ruìsāng's lips curled into an amused chuckle. “You know, this drink,” he began, his hands skillfully assembling the ingredients, “was my test during the second round of my job interview here.” He cast a playful glance at her. “Boss-man said our customers feast with their eyes first. He already knew I was a sight to behold, but he wanted to see if my drink-making skills matched my looks,” he said with a playful wink.

He had a bit of a history with mixing drinks, having spent some time in a speakeasy, but this recipe had been a new challenge for him. “Now, I can’t spill all the secrets, but…” he teased, meticulously filling the mug with crushed ice, then gently layering magical ice on top. The mug now held a simple canvas of white ice with a captivating layer of blue.

As he poured the vodka, the blue hue cascaded gracefully through the drink. “This one is a visual treat,” he said, nodding towards the mesmerising mixture. With the addition of fresh lime and ginger beer, the concoction transformed before their eyes. Despite its transparent ingredients, the drink began to shift, taking on a magical purple hue, with glitters dancing through it like stars in a night sky.

He placed a straw in the mug and slid it towards her with a flourish. “Now, if you say I’m good at my job, you'll officially be my favourite guest,” he said with a playful, conspiratorial tone.

The girl echoed his words, intrigued by the second round. Ruìsāng's laughter sounded through the air as he admitted, “There were three,” his voice tinged with amusement. Typically, a single round would suffice for such jobs, but in their case, they had decided to cast a wider net due to their early days, resulting in a deluge of applicants. Over time, Ruìsāng had proven himself quite capable, often taking care of opening or closing shifts and stepping up when the boss was absent.

Although she jokingly referred to it as bribery, she couldn't deny the quality of the drink. Ruìsāng leaned back with a sense of pride, chuckling, and flashed her a triumphant grin. “Thank you, thank you. Much appreciated,” he quipped, delivering a mockingly serious bow.