Chapter 2

The bartender shrugged

She quickly retreated a few steps and bumped into a warm chest

She felt embarrassed. The words that man just shouted, this warm-hearted man must have heard them

The two remained silent for a while, and then Mommy came in

She pointed to his wine bottle and politely asked, "Would you like to order more wine?"

She also entered the infirmary, the injuries on her face had already been treated, and her neck was covered with ointment

He was not particularly concerned, his eyes returning to the stage, yet his focus seemed to be in an unknown distance.

Although the floor was covered with a carpet, it still felt cold, and coupled with her unbearable pain, she silently prayed that these young gentlemen would not be too high-spirited.

The two walked side by side towards the entrance of the club, and he was still lamenting that the wine he had consumed was too expensive, so he began to haggle with Xu Huicheng.

Xu Huicheng pressed her lips together, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "If you order more wine, could you please let the waiter know my number?" She was aware that this was a form of cheating, but he was already planning to drink that expensive wine; if she could take advantage of the situation, it would indeed be a fortunate turn of events

"I don't mind." He glanced at the second floor and turned to enter the bathroom

Mom sighed and continued, "I will help you keep it a secret from Wu Ge."

The warm man ordered two more bottles of wine. When the waiter came over, he was surprised to see Xu Huicheng, unable to believe that she could attract such a distinguished-looking guest

Indeed

Xu Huicheng brought him home and asked, "So... do you want to take a shower first?"

Xu Huicheng tightened her coat and turned to walk towards the bar. She was already in this line of work, and her reputation had long been tarnished.

The man's face turned a pig-liver color when he was settling the bill

"Is it that your strength is insufficient?" Zhong Ding carefully observed the curve of the person on the ground. This silhouette somewhat resembled Chen Shuqin

This gaze brought the warm man back to reality. As soon as the waiter left, he asked, "Miss, do you have a special profession?"

Xu Huicheng felt a sense of relief

The man whistled and said, "Just a little more successful than the previous one."

Xu Huicheng could not quite describe what she was feeling at the moment; a cough tugged at the pain in her cheeks, and her throat burned uncomfortably. Her entire body ached. She curled up, lying on the ground, shivering.

After a while, she moved a little closer to him, sitting one seat apart. When she saw him turn to look at her, she hurriedly explained, "I am sitting too far away; they will suspect me."

Although the warm man was dressed simply, he had handsome features and an elegant demeanor, suggesting that he was not an ordinary person. She did not dare to approach him easily and could only sit quietly by the side

Those engaged in her profession are particularly cautious in the field of gynecology. She undergoes examinations every month. At first, she felt embarrassed, so she would switch to a different hospital every other month. Later, she grew tired of the hassle and simply settled on one hospital.

Hmm. Xu Huicheng pulled the blanket up a bit, her throat was burning with pain, and it was indeed not suitable to speak.

Xu Huicheng's mindset is quite contradictory. Many times, she feels that her life is not worth living, yet she also cherishes her life greatly. To put it plainly, she is very afraid of death

After her aunt and relatives left, Xu Huicheng went to the hospital for a physical examination

Xu Huicheng cannot be considered a beauty of unparalleled grace; there are many in the club who are more beautiful than she is. She has also never hosted someone as handsome as him, which makes her feel quite reserved. She followed him out of the club.

When her injury had nearly healed, her mother called to urge her to return to work

She leaned back slightly and replied softly, "One thousand"

He stopped her with a single question, "What is your number?"

She felt uneasy under their gaze. "If it's inconvenient, then forget it," she said, standing up and preparing to leave

"Deal." His eyes curved up.

The man angrily pushed her and said, "You shameless woman, is that alcohol money not money? Someone like you dares to ask for a four-digit price."

If she can complete the task at the beginning of the month, then the days that follow will be much easier. Therefore, she must put in a strong effort

He looked around her small house, which had few pieces of furniture but was relatively tidy

He sat alone on the sofa, with a bottle of wine and a glass.

Zhong Ding withdrew his gaze, feeling languid. "It's a draw, so where is the win or loss."

She sat down again, looking at him with gratitude "47"

The bartender noticed her return and inquired with curiosity

Dead chess, this number is easy to remember

Xu Huicheng found a man in his thirties. She socialized with him for half an hour, calculating the expenses he incurred. She observed that he did not appear to be very wealthy, so she did not want to overcharge him too much

Her expression froze for a moment, then she smiled, "Yes."

Xu Huicheng listened to their conversation in silence. Even if she pleaded for mercy, they would not change their minds. Her dignity and her life seemed insignificant before them

She wishes to accumulate virtue, she wishes to ascend to heaven

Xu Huicheng felt that she could not hold on any longer, her consciousness gradually becoming blurred. She did not even understand why her worthless life had lasted until now

Xu Huicheng scanned the vibrant hall and then fixed her gaze on the warm man

"One and a half minutes." The voice was laced with mockery

There are no men's pajamas here, so he came out wrapped in a bath towel

After the man calmed down from his anger, the desire to visit a prostitute also faded. "I will go home to accompany my wife; who would care for a prostitute like you."

She can only pretend not to see

The man turned over her body, his palm covering her neck, wearing a playful and cynical smile, "Little girl, this time you must do your best, hold on for one minute, and there will be a great reward for you."

The music was loud, yet he clearly heard her words, and thus nodded.

Xu Huicheng is even more grateful, as at least this month can be endured

Xu Huicheng donned her finest disguise, and her gaze towards the warm man was so tender that it seemed to be on the verge of shedding tears

In fact, I experienced a breakup today. His face leaned closer, asking, "What price?"

"Booking a room or... at my place." Xu Huicheng's scarf covered her mouth, making her words somewhat indistinct

The man stood up, turned his head towards the shadowy corner, and asked with a smile, "Zhong Ding, how long has this girl been holding out?"

He replied with a single sentence, causing the woman's expression to change abruptly before she left

She rested in the infirmary for a day before returning to her small duplex. During her recovery period, she hardly stepped outside.

She mustered an extraordinary amount of courage, reaching his side

He did not ask her why she was sitting there, continuing to savor his own wine

At the moment when Xu Huicheng was about to suffocate, the man released his grip

He half-squatted down, looking at her bruised and battered face, and laughed heartily, "Is it fun?"

Several women dressed provocatively passed by him, but he remained oblivious. One of them took the opportunity to sit beside him, leaning close to his body and saying something, her face adorned with a charming smile

He glanced at her and asked, "What is the price for an overnight stay?"

She was gasping for breath, accompanied by fits of coughing

It is indeed easy to remember. Xu Huicheng smiled shyly, her life has been nothing but a series of deadlocks.

He was rendered speechless and let out a silent laugh

Xu Huicheng, dressed in a thick down jacket, did not dare to enter through the front door and could only sneak in through the back door. After changing into her professional attire, she finally emerged at the bar

Xu Huicheng glanced at the calendar; a new month had begun. This meant that she would once again have to worry about the cost of beverages

He smiled at her kindly

Kang Xin lay straight on the bed next door, gazing at the ceiling. Upon hearing Xu Huicheng's soft cough, Kang Xin blinked her eyes and asked, "Shan Cha, why did you enter this line of work?" Her voice was already relatively deep, and at this moment, due to the injury, it sounded even more hoarse.

He turned his head to look at her, staring intently.

In this world, the more humble a life is, the tougher it becomes. This was the first thought that Xu Huicheng had upon awakening

She took out a brand new toiletry set, handed it to him, and softly said, "I took a shower this afternoon... If you mind, I can go wash again"

She smiled and said, "The price has not been agreed upon"

"You're talking nonsense," the man retorted, curling his lips. "I really put in a lot of effort. A bet is a bet, brother"

Xu Huicheng also stared at the ceiling, opened her mouth, "When I was a child..." Before she could finish her sentence, she started coughing again

The warm man seemed to have recognized her, gently nodding in her direction.

Xu Huicheng sat down on the edge of the sofa, hesitating to speak.

She first inquired about Kang Xin's condition, then walked to Xu Huicheng's bedside, "You should rest well during this time. There is no need to worry about this month's beverage expenses; the bills from those young masters will be shared among you for commission."

Xu Huicheng shook her head. Her price is higher than that of the outside courtesans, but she has to share a portion with her madam, so in reality, she earns very little for herself

"Just do whatever, as long as it doesn't really lead to a loss of life." Zhong Ding no longer paid attention to the pitiful figure lying with its back to him; he raised his glass and poured it into the mouth of the woman beside him

Kang Xin seemed to empathize with that pain and said, "Forget it, let's talk about it later"

The surrounding crowd, upon hearing these words, all turned their gaze towards Xu Huicheng, their expressions filled with disdain, curiosity, and a sense of schadenfreude

Xu Huicheng prepared the cover and placed it by the low bed, sitting on the chair to wait for him

The man raised an eyebrow and said, "Shall I pinch her for a while longer?"

"Then let's go to your place, it will save money." He stood in place, waiting for her to lead the way

She turned around almost instantly. She remembered those eyes, which had flickered before her like the warm sun last month

After walking a short distance, he stopped, turned to her, and asked, "Where are we going?"

She has long since become numb

Upon seeing him, she began to unfasten her clothing and then professionally stated, "Poison | Dragon, Ice and Fire, the complete set can be done"

She found it amusing because of the last two words he said. The wine he just ordered costs enough to book a presidential suite for several nights

Xu Huicheng looked at him in surprise

Perhaps he despises their profession, Xu Huicheng thought to herself. She stared at the bottle of wine on his desk for a moment, and suddenly a thought occurred to her