After the breakup, I was taken in by a group of trendy young women.

"Hey bro, got any more cigarettes?"

Lin Ye took out a cigarette case from his pocket, lit one up, and then tossed the case onto the coffee table.

Each of the six girls pulled out a stick.

The tattooed woman pulled a lighter from under the coffee table, lit it with a snap, took a deep drag, and exhaled smoke from her nose before leaning back on the sofa with a satisfied expression.

The girl with the tattooed legs actually looked quite convincing holding a cigarette; her elbows were on her knees, and she was squinting, like she was shooting a magazine cover.

The green-haired and pink-haired people met head to head and used a lighter. The man with bangs lit a cigarette but didn't smoke it; he just held it between his fingers and watched the smoke drift up to the ceiling.

The blond-haired man put a cigarette in his mouth but didn't light it.

She pulled out a candle stub that had been left over from under the coffee table, lit it, dripped a drop of wax onto the empty beer can, and propped the candle upright.

The candlelight flickered on her face, and she held the cigarette close to the candle and lit it.

"You're pretty damn good at rituals."

The tattooed girl laughed and cursed.

"Absolutely."

Yellow Hair took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled, and the candlelight flickered in his breath.

The coffee table was piled high with empty bottles and leftover snack bags. Jack Daniel's was down to its last half, four or five craft beers were empty, and the premixed cocktails were being divided up by several girls, each holding a bottle and drinking them like they were sharing spoils.

Green Hair, his face flushed from drinking, leaned on Pink Hair's shoulder and grinned foolishly.

The girl with the tattooed legs had somehow taken off one of her fishnet stockings, leaving her bare leg crossed on the sofa, with half of the nail polish on her toes chipped off.

Lin Ye leaned back on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers, looking at the mess in the room.

Huang Mao took a swig of his drink, slammed the bottle down on the coffee table, and wiped his mouth.

"Brother, to be honest..."

She looked down at the cigarette in her hand; ash fell onto Lolita's dress, which she casually patted off.

"The six of us can't even afford a cup of milk tea."

The room fell silent for a moment.

The tattooed woman stopped smiling and stubbed out her cigarette in an empty soda can.

The girl with the tattooed legs looked down and twirled the wine bottle in her hand.

The green-haired and pink-haired people looked at each other and remained silent.

Qi Liuhai hugged the cat a little tighter.

The candlelight flickered.

"Before you met us this afternoon."

The blond-haired man flicked his cigarette ash, his tone as if he were talking about someone else.

"We stood in front of the bubble tea shop for twenty minutes, just wanting to buy the cheapest lemonade. The four of us chipped in, but we were still short by 1.5 yuan."

"I didn't buy it in the end."

She smiled briefly.

"The boss came out and glanced at us, then we left."

Lin Ye didn't say anything and put out his cigarette.

There's a can of craft beer left on the coffee table; I wonder who didn't open it.

The blond-haired man reached in, rummaged through the drawers under the coffee table, and pulled out a handful of straws.

Colorful straws.

Red, green, yellow, blue, purple, six sticks.

She inserted the straws one by one into the can of craft beer.

The opening of the beer can was so small that the six straws were squeezed together, crooked and twisted, like a bunch of plastic flowers growing out of the aluminum can.

"Come."

Huang Mao pushed the jar into the middle of the coffee table.

The girl with the tattooed arms was the first to come over and take the red straw in her mouth.

The girl with the flowery legs sidled up and grabbed the blue one.

The green-haired and pink-haired creatures, one on the left and one on the right, picked up the green and yellow ones respectively.

Qi Liuhai hesitated for a moment, then moved closer with the cat in his arms and took the purple hair in his mouth.

Five heads were huddled together above the coffee table.

The multicolored hair was crammed together.

The candlelight shone up from below, casting flickering light on their faces.

The blond-haired man handed the pink straw to Lin Ye.

"Brother, drink up."

She shoved the straw into Lin Ye's hand.

"If you dawdle any longer, there won't be any left."

Lin Ye took the straw.

Six people, six straws, and one can of beer.

The tattooed woman leaned on the coffee table, her muscles appearing softer in the candlelight than during the day.

The rose tattoo on the girl's leg looked as if it were actually blooming in the candlelight.

Green hair hung down, obscuring half of his face.

There was still a bit of barbecue sauce on the tip of the pink-haired boy's nose.

The cat with bangs poked half its head out from her arms, also looking at the can of beer.

The blond guy was the first to rush over and grab his straw.

"one two three,"

All six heads bowed at the same time.

The six straws swayed slightly in the candlelight, then settled.

Lin Ye saw the beer liquid flowing up the six straws, saw their cheeks sink in at the same time, and saw the candlelight illuminating a small cluster of light in their eyes.

The smell of beer wafted up.

Cool, slightly bitter, with the malty aroma characteristic of craft beer.

Six people, sharing the same can of liquor.

The beer in the can was dripping at a visible rate.

The candlelight flickered.

Then, almost simultaneously, all six people released their straws.

The tattooed girl leaned back, let out a long breath, and wiped her mouth.

The girl with the tattooed legs closed her eyes, as if savoring the memory.

The green-haired and pink-haired people looked at each other and grinned foolishly.

With her bangs pursed and her lips curving into a small arc, she had a lot of bangs.

Huang Mao took the straw out of his mouth and looked at Lin Ye.

"Is it good?"

Lin Ye nodded.

There was nothing particularly special about that can of beer, except that the taste was a little different when all six straws were squeezed together.

"elder brother."

The blond-haired man picked up the candle, and wax dripped onto her fingers, but she didn't flinch.

"You treated us to barbecue and drinks today, spending several hundred yuan. The six of us can't even afford bubble tea, so we have nothing to repay you with."

She held the candle between the two people.

"but."

"If you ever squat on the curb to smoke again, you won't have to do it alone."

Lin Ye's phone vibrated in his pocket.

He looked at the six faces behind the candlelight.

The tattooed woman lit another cigarette at some point, put it in her mouth, and draped her arm over the back of the sofa.

The girl with the tattooed legs took off her other fishnet stocking and put her bare feet on the edge of the coffee table.

"By the way, bro."

Yellow Hair put the candle back on the table and rubbed the wax off his face with the back of his hand.

"My name is Bai Xiaojing."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and reached for the nearly empty can of beer on the coffee table.