Chapter 555: Transformation
Zhang Dalong let Zhang Tao half-push, half-pull him into a black car—literally a black sedan.
A few minutes later, they arrived at a barbershop.
With Zhang Dalong looking thoroughly confused, Zhang Tao got straight to the point with the owner: “Boss, give my brother here the trendiest haircut you’ve got.”
Zhang Dalong: ???
“No… no, I think my current hairstyle is just fine…”
“Hey, since we’re here, go with the flow. Trust me, you can’t go wrong.”
Zhang Tao urged the owner again: “Hurry it up!”
“You got it, Brother Tao. Just watch.”
Before Zhang Dalong could process what was happening, the enthusiastic owner had already ushered him into the barber chair.
“Little brother, really, it’s not necessary. At my age…”
“Old bro, trust me!”
Zhang Tao pulled out his phone, deftly tapped it a few times, and pulled up a picture.
“Make it look like this! Like that guy from the movie Crazy Stone, yeah… yeah… that vibe. Edgy but not over-the-top.”
The owner leaned over to look and immediately gave an OK sign. “Don’t worry, Brother Tao. I guarantee this big brother will look like a whole new man!”
Before long, Zhang Dalong’s conservative black side-part was gone, replaced by slightly fluffy, tousled yellow hair with a few red highlights at the front.
Honestly, the hairstyle itself wasn’t bad—in fact, it was quite fashionable. But on the head of a nearly forty-year-old Zhang Dalong, it looked completely out of place.
Staring at his reflection in the mirror—a version of himself that looked ten years younger but utterly unfamiliar—Zhang Dalong was speechless.
He’d come all the way to Pearl City, and they’d turned him into a bleached-blonde?
“So what do you think, old bro? Absolutely killer, right?”
Zhang Tao smacked his shoulder triumphantly. “Let’s go. Next stop—I’ll show you Pearl City’s nightlife.”
Zhang Dalong tried to resist, but Zhang Tao practically shoved him back into the black sedan.
The car wound its way through the city and stopped on a downtown street flashing with neon lights.
The moment they stepped out, deafening music assaulted them from all directions. The street was filled with young people dressed in alternative styles, heading out to karaoke or clubbing.
Zhang Tao led Zhang Dalong, sporting his new hairstyle, straight to the nearest bar.
As they reached the entrance, three girls with bleached hair and alternative styles spotted the incongruous sight of Zhang Dalong. After a moment of surprise, one teased, “Whoa, Uncle, hitting the club at your age? Hair’s looking pretty fresh. First time here?”
Zhang Dalong’s face flushed red. He wanted to grab Zhang Tao and slam him into the ground right then and there.
He’d been to more bars in more cities than Pearl City could offer, but his quiet personality meant he usually stuck to coffee shops or chill lounges. He’d almost never set foot in a noisy club like this.
Most programmers with STEM backgrounds were like that—they didn’t much care for noisy places.
And now here he was, with this edgy hairstyle and a fake earring Zhang Tao had clipped to his ear—also very alternative. Absolutely ridiculous!
The three girls, seeing Zhang Dalong blush, found the old man kind of cute. They offered their fists.
“Uncle, fist bump!”
Zhang Dalong paused, then quickly bumped fists with each of them.
“Hahaha… Uncle, you’re so adorable!” The girls laughed at his awkwardness.
“See you inside, Uncle!” With that, they giggled and walked into the bar.
Zhang Dalong watched them go, sighing. He really did feel out of touch with the world these days.
Honestly, he sometimes couldn’t understand why today’s youth loved alternative culture so much. From his perspective, it was pure rebelliousness.
But at least they were sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen when they rebelled. Here he was, almost forty, going through a rebellious phase. Who could stand it?
Once inside, Zhang Tao found a booth like a regular, ordered drinks, and took in the lively atmosphere. “Haven’t been here in ages. Finally getting to club above board.”
Zhang Dalong immediately knew this guy was either married or had a partner. So he was just being used as a cover.
Son of a bitch, just wait till I tell your partner!
“Brother Long, we’re here now. Get down there and move around. Sitting’s no fun.”
Zhang Dalong quickly shook his head. “No way, I really don’t know how.”
“Ah, you don’t need to learn. Just flail around however you want.”
“Come on, let’s get hyped!”
Without another word, Zhang Tao dragged him onto the dance floor.
Zhang Dalong couldn’t resist and was forced to dance along, his body uncoordinated, his limbs having minds of their own.
Just as he was about to give up and sneak back to his seat, a clear voice came from behind.
“Hahaha… Uncle, is that the zombie dance you’re doing?”
Zhang Dalong turned to see one of the girls from the entrance. His old face flushed again.
“Haven’t danced much.”
The girl was quite outgoing and offered to teach him. “Come on, let me show you!”
“Relax, move your shoulders. Yeah, not like that—don’t shrug. Now hands above your head… get hyped!”
“I can’t, I can’t. Uncle, you’re something else.”
“Hahaha…”
“Forget it, forget it. I really can’t do this. You guys have fun.” Zhang Dalong finally surrendered, wanting to retreat to the booth.
The girl glanced over at their booth, her eyes lighting up. She asked proactively,
“Uncle, do you have room over there? Can my friends and I join you?”
“Huh? Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”
Zhang Tao seized the opportunity: “Come on, ladies, have a seat. We’ve got plenty of room.”
The girl didn’t hesitate and immediately called her two friends over.
Zhang Tao’s booth grew livelier with the new additions.
In another luxury booth not far away, a well-dressed young man from what looked like a wealthy family watched Zhang Dalong’s group with a dark expression.
The outgoing girl who’d been talking to Zhang Dalong had originally been with his group. She’d left after a minor argument, but now she’d defected to someone else—to some middle-aged man with bleached hair who looked rather unsophisticated.
The man instantly lost face. He shot a glance at one of his lackeys.
The lackey understood and immediately jogged over. “Xiaoya, Young Master Ming wants you back. The birthday cake is about to be served. Stop sulking.”
Xiaoya didn’t even think about it before refusing outright.
“We’re not going. We’re having a great time chatting with Uncle here. We wouldn’t want to ruin your fun.”
“Yeah, talking with Uncle is way more fun than being with you guys.”
“Exactly, exactly. Uncle’s so cute and doesn’t get angry.”
The lackey’s face fell at the rejection. He turned to Zhang Dalong with a threatening tone. “Hey, Uncle. They’re friends Young Master Ming invited. This isn’t appropriate, is it?”
Zhang Dalong hadn’t thought much of it, but the man’s tone made him uncomfortable. He replied directly, “They came over of their own free will. I didn’t force them.”
Zhang Tao snorted coldly from the side and chimed in, “What’s the problem? The ladies don’t want to hang with you, so you want to drag them back? Get lost!”
The lackey’s face turned red and white with anger. “Just you wait,” he spat before returning to his group.