Chapter 35: NIGHT IS THE TIME FOR ADULTS

Night had grown late when Kai stood in front of his wardrobe in the apartment. He was choosing what clothes to wear to visit Diana at the bar where she worked. But the more he looked at his clothing collection, the more he realized he had no knowledge of the fashion world. All he’d ever worn were comfortable clothes, regardless of shape or color. T-shirts, training pants, thin jackets—everything was simple and functional.

He pulled out a few items of clothing from the wardrobe, examined them briefly, then put them back. Everything looked the same to him. Nothing special. Nothing suitable for going to a bar.

But then his eyes stopped on one suit hanging in the corner of the wardrobe—the black suit he usually wore for teaching at school. The suit was simple, not too luxurious, but still looked neat and proper. Kai stared at the suit for a while, then sighed.

"Out of all the clothes I have, this suit is the most suitable," he murmured to himself.

Quickly, Kai put on the clothes. He slipped his arms into the black suit jacket, buttoning it neatly. Then he took a dark gray fedora hat from the shelf above the wardrobe, placing it on his head carefully. From the desk drawer, he took a somewhat old but elegant-looking silver watch—a relic from his past that he rarely used—and strapped it on his left wrist. Finally, he put on a pair of black leather shoes that were a little dull but still looked good.

Kai stepped in front of the mirror on the bedroom wall. He stared at his own reflection, and immediately realized how unsuitable he looked in those clothes. The suit felt tight at the shoulders, making him a little uncomfortable. The fedora hat felt strange on his head, like he was pretending to be someone else. The leather shoes were too stiff, nothing like the sports shoes he usually wore. And overall, his appearance looked too flashy—like someone trying too hard to look important.

But Kai also knew that if he came in the clothes he’d worn that afternoon—a t-shirt and training pants—he’d probably be kicked out immediately. A bar like Heaven in Heaven must have standards for its visitors. And Diana, as a woman who worked there, surely wouldn’t want to be seen with someone dressed sloppily.

With doubt still lingering in his mind, Kai made up his mind. He took a deep breath, straightened his suit once more, and stepped out of the apartment. The door closed with a soft click behind him, leaving the silent apartment in darkness.

Outside, the night was completely dark. Streetlights started turning on, illuminating the sidewalk with warm yellowish light. The night air felt cool and fresh, very different from the scorching afternoon. A few people could still be seen walking on the sidewalk, some shops still open with bright lights inside.

Kai walked along the almost fully illuminated street. His leather shoes made soft sounds with every step on the asphalt, creating a steady rhythm. He tried to walk confidently, although inside he still felt uncomfortable in the clothes he was wearing.

A few people who passed him looked at him with curious gazes. Some blinked, some turned their heads several times, some whispered to friends beside them. And there were also those who looked at him with fearful gazes—as if they saw something threatening behind Kai’s neat appearance.

Kai had expected that. These clothes were too flashy. Too different from his everyday appearance. But he had to endure all that discomfort because he’d promised Diana he would come to that bar. He’d promised to visit her. And Kai never broke a promise.

He kept walking, passing several intersections and turns, following the address Diana had once given him. The closer he got to his destination, the darker the streets became, and the fewer people he encountered. But the streetlights still illuminated his path, and he continued his steps without hesitation.

Finally, after walking for almost twenty minutes, Kai saw a building ahead with the words Heaven in Heaven displayed above the entrance. The building looked more luxurious than he’d imagined—with red brick walls, large windows illuminated by light from inside, and a signboard glowing with pink neon lights.

But before Kai could step inside, he saw a man standing at the door. The man was very large—almost blocking half the entrance with his bulky, wide body. He wore a tight black suit, with tattoos on his neck clearly visible under the light. His sharp eyes moved quickly, observing everyone who approached.

When Kai tried to pass him, the man raised his hand, stopping Kai’s steps.

"Stop," the man said in a deep, heavy voice. "What’s your business here?"

Kai stopped, slightly surprised by the question. He opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out. He was confused about what to say. He himself had never visited a place like this before. No one had told him about the entry procedure, no one had explained the rules. He’d just come with the hope of meeting Diana.

"I..." Kai started, but his words stopped. He looked confused, not knowing what to say.

The guard stared at Kai with a disbelieving gaze. His rough face wrinkled slightly, showing that he was starting to lose patience. His large hand moved, as if about to chase Kai away.

But before the man could actually throw him out, his eyes scanned Kai from head to toe. He saw the neat black suit, the elegant fedora hat, the gleaming silver watch, and the shiny leather shoes. Something in his eyes changed. The wrinkles on his forehead faded slightly, and his hand, which had been about to push him away, slowly lowered.

"Do you have a membership card?" the man asked, his voice still heavy but no longer threatening.

Kai blinked. Membership card? He didn’t know this bar had membership cards. But suddenly, he remembered something. Diana had given him a card that night at the apartment. A small cream-colored card with elegant writing on it. A card he’d kept in his wallet without ever thinking about it again.

With slightly hurried movements, Kai took out his wallet from the inside pocket of his suit. The wallet was made of old leather that was starting to peel in several places—a clear contrast to his current appearance. And when he opened it, some bills scattered out, falling to the floor with a soft rustling sound.

The guard was slightly startled seeing the pile of money coming out of Kai’s wallet. His eyes widened for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. But Kai didn’t notice that. He kept searching for the card Diana had given him, his fingers moving quickly among the pile of money and papers.

Finally, he found it. A small cream-colored card with Heaven in Heaven written on the front, and on the back, Diana’s handwriting: "Diana — night shift 7-9."

Kai handed the card to the guard with hands still trembling slightly from a nervousness he couldn’t hide.

The guard took the card, examined it briefly, then nodded. "Good. Please come in." He patted Kai’s shoulder with his large hand. "Enjoy your evening."

Kai nodded, carefully putting his wallet back into his pocket, and stepped inside the bar.

As soon as Kai entered, he was greeted by an atmosphere very different from what he’d imagined. The room was spacious and luxurious, with dim lights creating an intimate atmosphere. In some corners, there were small stages with luxurious chairs around them. Soft jazz music flowed from hidden speakers, creating a warm and soothing atmosphere. At some tables, people could be seen sitting and chatting casually, some enjoying drinks, some laughing with friends.

But Kai didn’t have time to enjoy the atmosphere. As soon as he entered, he was approached by several women sitting near the door. They smiled at him with smiles that were too sweet, their eyes sparkling with curiosity they didn’t hide.

"Wow, a new guest," said one of them, a woman with long blonde hair and a tight red dress. "You’re rarely seen here, huh? I’m sure I’ve never seen you before."

"True," added another woman with short black hair and an elegant black dress. "You must be here for the first time. Don’t worry, we’re friendly here."

"Want to sit here?" asked a third woman, gently pulling Kai’s hand. "I can keep you company. We can just chat casually."

Kai felt overwhelmed. His stiff body, already uncomfortable in formal clothes, felt even more constricted among the women approaching him. He didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to react. The soft hands trying to pull him made him even more uncomfortable, and the mix of perfume scents in the air made his head spin a little.

"No, no," Kai said quickly, stepping back. "I have business. I’m looking for someone."

"Who are you looking for?" asked the blonde woman with a sweet smile. "Maybe I can help."

Kai took out the card he’d just shown the guard. "I’m looking for Diana. She gave me this card. I’m her customer."

The women exchanged glances, then smiled.

"Oh, Diana," said the black-haired woman with a knowing tone. "You’re Diana’s friend?"

"Yes," Kai answered quickly, a little relieved that they seemed to know Diana. "I want to see her."

"Alright, I’ll take you to Diana’s spot," said the blonde woman with a friendly smile. "Follow me."

As he walked behind the woman, Kai started to realize what kind of bar this place was. Beside him, he saw several small rooms with half-open curtains, showing people sitting in pairs. There were also a few stairs leading to the upper floor, with dim lights creating a more intimate atmosphere. The sounds of laughter and soft conversation could be heard from various corners, creating a warm but also slightly mysterious atmosphere.

The blonde woman walked ahead, occasionally turning to make sure Kai was still following. "Diana is a good woman," she suddenly said, her voice softer. "She often protects other women from troublesome customers. That’s why we all care about her."

Kai nodded, not knowing what to say.

"You must be someone special if she gave you that card," the woman continued, smiling slightly. "Diana rarely gives cards to just anyone."

They walked through several corridors and rooms, until finally the woman stopped in front of a wooden door with small carvings on its surface. "She’s inside. You can go in."

"Thank you," Kai said, taking out some bills from his wallet and handing them to the woman. "For the tip. Since you escorted me here."

The woman smiled widely, accepting the money gladly. "Thank you, sir. If you need anything at this bar, you can tell me. I’ll help with whatever you need."

Kai nodded and entered the room.

As soon as Kai entered, he was slightly surprised. This place was very different from the first one. This room was larger and more open, with tables scattered in various corners. There were many hostesses sitting with other customers, laughing and chatting casually. The atmosphere here felt more free, more relaxed, and more crowded.

Kai walked slowly, his eyes moving quickly searching for Diana among the crowd. And then he saw her.

In the middle of the room, a woman in a red dress sat at a table. Her long black hair was loose over her shoulders, and her slender posture looked familiar. Kai immediately recognized her—it was Diana.

But something was wrong. Kai saw that Diana was with another customer, a chubby man in a slightly wrinkled white shirt. The man was sitting too close to Diana, and occasionally his hand would grope Diana’s thigh with rough movements.

Kai saw Diana trying to avoid him. Every time the man’s hand touched her, she would quickly shift her body or gently brush his hand away. But the man wouldn’t give up. He kept trying, kept getting closer, kept making Diana uncomfortable.

Kai initially wanted to find another table while waiting for that customer to leave. He didn’t want to embarrass Diana with his presence, didn’t want to interfere with her work. But the more he watched the man’s behavior, the more he felt something strange in his chest. Anger slowly starting to creep in.

The man’s hand returned to Diana’s thigh, and Diana brushed it away with a firmer movement. Her face showed clear discomfort, and for a moment, their eyes met. Diana seemed to be asking for help without having to say it.

But the customer didn’t care. Because he kept being stopped by Diana, the man started to get angry. His chubby face flushed, his eyes narrowed with undisguised anger. He started cursing Diana with harsh words, his voice loud enough to be heard by people nearby.

"Who do you think you are, huh?!" the man yelled, slamming his fist on the table. "I paid for this! How dare you reject me!"

Diana just looked down, not responding to the man’s words. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and her hands gripped the edge of her dress tightly. She couldn’t fight back, couldn’t defend herself. She could only resign herself to the customer’s anger.

The man stood up, his hand raised to strike Diana. His big fist was clenched, ready to deliver a painful blow.

But before that blow could be thrown, a voice broke the atmosphere.

"Diana."

Kai called her name in a calm voice, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

Diana lifted her head quickly, her eyes widening. And when she saw who was calling her, deep shock radiated from her face. Disbelief. Almost like a dream.

"K-Kai?" she whispered, her voice trembling with surprise.

The customer stopped, his hand still raised in the air. He turned toward Kai with a sharp gaze. "Who are you?"

Kai didn’t answer. He just walked toward Diana with calm steps, his eyes never leaving Diana’s face.