Honestly, all I want is a simple hair-cut. My lens broke, so I went to the optical shop for a change. However, I arrived too early and the door was not open yet. Look at the barbershop across the street, I thought to myself: Why not to give it a try?

 My hair has become a nightmare ever since I got it waved. Fussy, and miserably disheveled, like straws straggled down everywhere. All I could manage was to pull them into a short, scraggly ponytail, but shorter ends refused to cooperate and escaped from that sad excuse for a ponytail. Anyway, my hair drastically needed a decent cut.

This one looks expensive but I remembered days ago its neon ads said a haircut was at 18 yuan. So I went in without a second thought. I should know better---these days you can’t get a decent cut at 18 yuan in a place like that.

I received a very warm welcome as soon as I opened the door. “I need a haircut, how much is it?” I asked.

“We offered three different options, 38yuan, 68yuan, and 98 yuan. All are for sale!”A man replied cheerfully.

“Is it 18 yuan? I saw the ads days ago.” I asked.

“Oh, sorry. It’s special opening offer and has time limit. That promotion price has already expired”.

“All right, then 38 yuan is fine.”

The man gave me another apologetic, over-bright smile. “Sorry, all the exclusive hairstylists are booked now. I strongly suggest you try 68. Our director will administer your hair and I guarantee you won’t regret!”

68 for a haircut is a bit too much, but staring at the scorching sunlight outside and the still closed door of the optical shop, I realized I didn’t have much choice.

Ok, 68 yuan, no big deal, he’d better do some magic.

The director turned out to be a young man around 20 with a baby face and a kind smile.

He tried to make a conversation, but I tried to ignore him as much as I could. Experience has told me that an innocent, friendly chitchat at barbers, beauty salons will always lead to tough hardsell. I am no good with hardsell, so normally I would take a book with me to fend them off. Unfortunately, I didn’t have one, so I just shut my mouth up. My silence didn’t freeze him out, he continued to talk cheerfully.

“I bet you have a son. Don’t you?”

That’s grab my attention. “How did you know?”

“In fact, I know a bit about physiognomy”. He said. I didn’t buy it, but it piqued my curiosity and the mildness of his tone took the starch out of me. We started to talk, and it’s really just an innocent chitchat—until ten minutes later, he finished the backside, and started to work on the front.

“You need to straighten it a bit.” He said casually. 

An alarm set off, and my pocket-protection mechanism sprung up into place immediately.  

“How much?”

“We offer many choices.” He smiled and handed me a list.

The lowest price of their many choices is 298 yuan.

“No, I’d better not. I’ve worked too much on my hair, and look at what I’ve got.” I said firmly.

“But I can’t do it without straightening! Really, look at your hair, all fussy and the ends outshoot everywhere!”

Ok, it’s the truth, but it’s still harsh to hear.

“You just tided it up. The fringe is too long, cut it off a bit, and I will be fine.” I said stubbornly. But he is even more stubborn.

For a moment, we fell into a complete deadlock. Both of us refused negations, blocks discussions, insists on our own rights and didn’t take no for an answer.

“All right!” he seemed to compromise, “you are a nice lady, and I can’t let you walk out like this. It will ruin my reputation. I will give you a straightening for free; it’s on my bill, all right? “

“What?” for a moment I was shocked, and then I realized that I met with someone really good. I could never let a stranger to pay my bill, and now I was in a dilemma. 

“Look, I will straighten my hair. I know I need to do it sooner or later. But honestly, your price is too much. Yixuan’s price is only half as yours.”

“If that’s the problem, I’ll talk to the manager and apply for our opening offer for you. Believe me, you won’t regret.”

Honestly, I regretted already.

Thirty minutes later, I came out wearing a brand new hairstyle and 200 yuan short in my pocket. Fairly speaking, the outcome is satisfied, but I doubted that I would come to this place again.