Time was like a river.0

It is said that after the Shang dynasty fell, Jizi, a loyal subject of the ancient Shang kingdom, passed by the former capital in ruins and lamented, “The old palace grounds are abundant with barley, and the rice and millet fields are ripe [1].”0

Although there were certain things one hoped time wouldn’t change, the relentless march of time always altered everything. Even the things we thought would last inevitably faded.0

The new era called it revival instead of downfall, but those who mourned the loss of the past expressed their nostalgia for the places that evolved and changed.0

Crockta was no different.0

As he headed to a corner of ‘Oppa, Where Are You Going?’ he encountered a scent he hadn’t expected to smell at that grungy pub. As the sharpness of the newly sprayed top note stung his nose, he detected a feminine perfume with floral and citrus notes.0

Laughter seeped out from every corner of the pub and surrounded him.0

A waitress approached him and asked, “Hello, may I take your order?”3

Crockta looked at her. She was a young, bubbly woman. She handed him a menu, and he saw a list of various dishes he was unfamiliar with. It even had combo meals or ‘couple’ meals intended to be shared by multiple...0