Landlord in the Arctic

Feng Mountain grew even more interested. He quickly pushed a beer in front of Frank and said with a mischievous grin,

"Come on, tell us. Let us get a laugh out of it... no, I mean, so we can feel your pain."

Frank gave him a huge eye-roll, speechless at Feng Mountain’s comment, but still picked up the beer and took a large swig.

After setting down his glass, his expression grew somber. A reminiscent glimmer seemed to shine in his eyes as he began to speak slowly.

"She was a beautiful older woman, my first... life teacher, you could say. She was as gentle as water and passionate as fire. I was completely smitten, unable to pull myself away."

As he spoke, an enraptured expression spread across Frank’s face, as if he were reliving his time with Natalia.

"When you say ’pull myself away,’ are we talking physically or emotionally?" Feng Mountain interjected with a cheeky smirk, deliberately twisting Frank’s words.

"Fuck! Emotionally, of course," Frank snapped, glaring at Feng Mountain.

But he quickly sank back into his own world and continued, "I once thought I would be with her for the rest of my life. But who knew... after only a week, my body could no longer support that dream."

PFFT!

PFFT!

Hu Zi and Black Hide, who had just taken a swig of beer, choked on Frank’s last sentence and simultaneously spat their drinks right into each other’s faces.

Feng Mountain, who was sitting between them, reacted with lightning speed. Quick as a flash, he threw his chair back, leaning away just in time to dodge the crossfire of beer.

Still, despite his agility, his clothes were unavoidably speckled with beer.

Of course, Frank wasn’t spared. Lost in his memories, he was suddenly doused with a faceful of beer, which instantly yanked his thoughts back to reality.

He then frantically fumbled for a napkin to wipe his face, cursing as he did.

"Fuck! You guys are disgusting."

After righting his chair, Feng Mountain shot him a gossipy grin and teased, "Hey, pal, was this Natalia one of those big mamas? I hear that once Russian women hit a certain age, they transform from slender girls into barrel-chested matrons. You must’ve gotten completely drained, is that why you ran off and haven’t dared to go back to Lengwan since?"

Wiping the beer from his face, Black Hide chimed in, "That’s right. Back when I drove a taxi, I picked up some Russian tourists. Holy cow, just two of them filled the entire back seat. The moment they got in, I felt the car sink."

"Bullshit! Natalia is nothing like that! She’s a good woman." Hearing this, Frank’s face instantly flushed crimson. Agitated as an enraged bull, he waved his hands in the air and muttered incessantly, desperate to defend her to Feng Mountain, Hu Zi, and Black Hide.

But the more flustered he got, the less convincing he sounded to the other three, who only grew more certain that their teasing had hit the mark.

The three of them shared knowing, "I-knew-it" smirks and exchanged several meaningful glances.

Just at that moment, the tavern’s wooden door let out a CREAK as it was slowly pushed open.

A gust of chilly wind, carrying the night air with it, swept inside, making everyone in the tavern shiver involuntarily.

All eyes snapped toward the doorway. For a brief moment, the entire tavern seemed to fall silent.

An exquisitely graceful woman with black hair strode in with elegant steps.

The woman looked to be around forty years old. She wore a fine, knee-length wool coat in a classic dark gray, looking as if she had stepped right out of a fashion magazine. It was understated yet radiated class, tracing the lines of her body just so and revealing her stunningly curvaceous figure.

Each step she took seemed rhythmic, light-footed yet poised. Her every movement radiated the unique elegance of a mature woman refined by time, an aura that was almost palpable. It was as if she were enveloped in a soft halo, captivating all who looked at her.

Upon closer inspection of her face, it seemed the ravages of time had been especially kind to her, having refrained from carving deep, weathered lines across it.

Her skin was fair and delicate, glowing with a soft luster like fine jade. When she smiled, the faint crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes only added to her mature charm. She exuded the rich, complex fragrance unique to a woman of her age, like a fine wine that had been cellared for years, growing more exquisite with time.

The moment this woman set foot in the tavern, she drew gazes like a magnet.

Immediately, the eyes of a few rowdy, half-drunk crewmen lit up like lightbulbs. They staggered over, attempting to strike up a conversation and get friendly with her.

However, the woman merely offered a polite, faint smile, her eyes betraying a sense of distance as she gave a slight shake of her head, refusing their advances.

Her gaze then drifted through the tavern’s dim, hazy light, her eyes holding a trace of anticipation mixed with a bit of anxiety, as if she were searching for someone.

Black Hide’s eyes darted around. As sharp as radar from his taxi-driving days, they immediately spotted the woman who had just walked in.

He hurriedly leaned over the table like a conspirator, lowered his voice, and spoke mysteriously to Feng Mountain.

"Shan, I’ve never seen this woman at the camp before. Look at her face, that figure... she must’ve been a total knockout when she was younger."

Hearing this, Hu Zi’s curiosity was instantly piqued. He craned his neck, straining to get a look.

But after one look, he deflated like a popped balloon. Shaking his head, he let out a long sigh, his tone filled with regret.

"She really is beautiful. Too bad I have Xiaohua. I can’t betray her."

"Never seen her before. She must be new," Feng Mountain agreed, glancing up. His expression showed little emotion, and he looked completely uninterested.

Then he pursed his lips with a hint of mockery.

"You two settle down. A woman her age is probably only Frank’s type, right, Frank?"

Feng Mountain grinned as he turned to look at Frank, fully expecting to see him squirm.

But when he looked, he found the old coot standing there as if bewitched. Frank had risen to his feet in a daze, his eyes glued to the woman who had just walked in. His mouth hung slightly open as he muttered something nonstop.

The moment he saw this, Feng Mountain understood most of what was happening. He let out a snort of laughter and nudged Hu Zi and Black Hide next to him, as if to say, ’Now we’ve got a show to watch’.

"Natalia!" Frank called out her name as if it took all his strength. His voice trembled with emotion, so much so that his pronunciation was slightly off.

What?!

Feng Mountain, Hu Zi, and Black Hide all snapped their heads toward Frank at the same time, their faces masks of disbelief.

’This was the Natalia they had just been mocking as a "barrel-chested matron"?’

The graceful, elegant, and charming woman before them was a world away from the image they’d conjured.

At that moment, the woman called Natalia also saw Frank standing there. A smile as warm as the spring sun blossomed on her face as she began to walk toward them with light, graceful steps.

Each step seemed to have its own rhythm, as if she were emerging from the pages of history, her every movement radiating mature feminine charm.

When she drew near,

her eyes—deep pools that held the wisdom of a life lived—rested on Frank. She spoke softly.

"Hi. It’s been a long time."

The simple greeting, each word seemingly polished by time, carried a depth and grace that showcased her unique elegance, making one feel as comfortable as if bathed in a spring breeze.

Yet, faced with the woman who had haunted his dreams, Frank just stood there like a wooden post, completely petrified.

Unable to bear watching any longer, Feng Mountain secretly reached a hand under the table and gave the hem of Frank’s clothes a gentle tug.

"Y-Yes... We... uh, it’s been twenty years."

Frank seemed to suddenly snap out of his stupor.

But the moment he opened his mouth, he began to stammer.

His tongue, usually known for its sharp wit, now belonged to a flustered little boy experiencing his first crush, completely at a loss for what to do.

His hands fidgeted awkwardly, unsure of where to put them, his embarrassment on full display.

...