A fallen genius doctor and bar owner vs. a hardworking tattoo artist with no talent
Rivals become lovers. Mature women fall in love. No need for melodrama.
*
Bo Ci followed the woman she'd fallen for at first sight into a bar, only to discover that its owner, Huang Ying, shared her taste in women.
When rivals meet, curiosity gets the better of them.
Bo Ci asked Huang Ying, "Why can't you win her over?" "The right person at the wrong time is still the wrong person."
Huang Ying asked Bo Ci, "And why can't you win yours over?" "I think I met the right person at the right time. It's just that she doesn't feel the same way."
They shared a knowing smile. Huang Ying slid her a drink. "It's a new cocktail. Would you do me the honor of naming it, great artist?"
Bo Ci tasted the sweetness that followed the initial kick and smiled, tapping the glass. "Call it Black Sweet Dream. It's delightfully tacky."
*
Later, Bo Ci learned that Huang Ying was a once-brilliant doctor who had given up halfway through her career.
Huang Ying learned that Bo Ci was an unremarkable girl born into a family of artists.
The two of them clinked glasses softly at the bar after closing.
Huang Ying joked bitterly, "What decent person runs a bar?"
Bo Ci laughed too. "Yeah. People say tattoo artists like us are lowlifes."
Reader's guide:
* Both women are in their thirties, and each has had a serious relationship. Society holds stereotypes about certain professions, but neither woman is a slacker.
* I know very little about the protagonists' professions, but I've done my best to research them. Please don't scrutinize the details too closely.
* The characters aren't based on real people. Please don't read real people into them or make assumptions. Enjoy the story in good spirits, and don't force yourself to read if it's not for you.
* Blurb archived on August 7, 2024
Theme: Love life, and never give up
