Chapter 1 (1/2)
Seven years ago…
The night was dark and misty. The colorful night light shone brightly. It was dazzling.
“College student?”
“Yes.”
“Are you still a virgin?”
“Yes.”
“Bring her in and give her a trial. She can stay if she receives a good response.”
“Manager, I want fifty thousand dollars.”
“If you treat the customer right, you’ll get fifty thousand dollars soon.”
“I can only serve for one night.”
“Fifty thousand dollars for a night?”
“Yes.”
The hotel manager thought she was joking. “Fifty thousand dollars for a night? Who do you think you are? Even gold isn’t that expensive!”
Lu Man bit hard on her lower lip, she could almost taste blood. “What if you lend me fifty thousand dollars first? I’ll definitely return it to you!”
The manager’s laughter grew more hysterical. “Little girl, what do you think this place is? Do you think we’re doing some kind of charity here? If you want to borrow money, just go and look for loan sharks.”
She wrapped her clothes around herself even tighter.
“If you don’t want to do it, just leave. Don’t stand here. I still have a lot of things to deal with!” The manager pushed the girl away just like he was driving a beggar away.
Lu Man kept quiet for a while. Then, she turned and left.
“Manager, there must be somebody who would pay for that amount given how captivating she is. Why don’t you just let her stay?” The foreman asked him as he could not understand the manager’s decision.
“Just look at her. How beautiful and graceful she is! She must be facing some difficulties and is forced to come here. She’s able to earn fifty thousand dollars a night. But, if we allow her to do that, what’s in it for us?”
“We still can earn some profits!” It was better than driving her away.
“I told you that you’re stupid. You just refuse to admit that! What does it mean if she’s lost and has no other alternatives? It means that she’s in our hands now. We’re the ones in control here. Not her! She could definitely become our main star here. She’s able to be our top earner!”
The foreman seemed to understand now.
The young girl had no other alternatives. She would definitely return to them in no time. They could then do whatever they wanted with her.
Lu Man walked out of the hotel. But, she had nowhere else to go. She could go to the loan sharks other than the hotel. But, she knew that the loan sharks were much more frightening and cruel.
What could she do? What to do?
She could not sit around and do nothing. She could not simply watch him go to jail. His future would be ruined and she could not bear that thought! She could not! She must not!
But, she understood what the manager had said, clearly.
She looked up and saw the neon signboard of the hotel. It was so dazzling that she wanted to burst into tears.
She closed her eyes and stood there for a long while. Then, she started to move her feet. She did not leave but turned back to the hotel.
He could not be imprisoned! Never!
She turned and crashed into someone. Soon, she smelt a strong odor of alcohol.
She looked up, instinctively.
The man stared at her with unfocused eyes for quite a while. Suddenly, he hugged her. “Don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me behind…”
The man let go of her all of a sudden when she tried to push him away. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Then, he staggered away.
Lu Man had seen someone like that before. They were crossed in love and brokenhearted. They used alcohol to numb their feelings.
Although that man was drunk, he did not seem like a common drunkard. The strong smell of alcohol still did not hide his nobility and gracefulness. She was working at the mall. She could tell that his suit and leather shoes were tailor-made by famous designers.
In short, he was a wealthy man!
A rich man! A rich man who was drunk and brokenhearted!
She was, soon, standing in front of him when she had made up her mind. Her actions were swift too. “Mister, I want to be with you for one night. Would you pay for that?”
The man was slightly stunned. “Pay for a one-night-stand?”
“Don’t worry. It’s my first time.” Lu Man thought that he was worried about the obvious reasons so she quickly explained.
The man was silent.
“Mister, please be with me for one night. I…” Lu Man tried her best to persuade him in desperation.
“Fine.”
Lu Man was stunned. But, her happiness was soon followed by deep anxiety.
“I want fifty thousand dollars for a night!”
“Fine.”