The new "Young Master" Xiao Xia, on his second night of work, was booked for a full shift right away. Intriguing rumors developed as quickly as chicken wings from a certain base, fully grown in no time, and spread vividly throughout the "Golden Splendor."
When I returned to Young Master’s lounge, I overheard a sinister man beside me, gritting his teeth, saying, "She’s naturally a lowlife. Today a newbie came, seeing the client rich and handsome, she started flirting. According to the rules of the establishment, one shouldn’t recklessly stay out overnight with someone. That little wretch, she broke the rules, I must tell the manager."
Several other Young Masters around didn’t utter a word; this rule was just for show, only a few truly abide by it in the establishment. And the story they heard was different. The supervisor mentioned, "Xiao Xia and that young client hit it off right from the start, it was fiery and uncontrollable."
Mo Xixi didn’t witness the situation herself, but her gossip-loving mind was already itching. Li Zhen didn’t show up until midnight, looking grave as if something serious had happened. Seeing it was late, she wasn’t in the mood to promote drinks with Mo Xixi, so she sent her home early.
When she returned to the apartment at midnight, Xia You was sitting in the armchair with a plate of sliced peaches, waiting for her return.
"Hey, how come you’re back so early, didn’t you go with that newbie to...?" Mo Xixi grinned and gestured, sitting down unceremoniously, grabbing a slice of peach and shoving it into her mouth.
"Dirty, use a toothpick," Xia You pulled out a toothpick, threatening Mo Xixi not to spit out any indecent remarks.
"It’s not me talking nonsense, it’s what their supervisor said. He mentioned that the moment he saw you, his eyes lit up, almost drooling. By the way, aren’t these peaches pretty good, are they imported?" Mo Xixi nibbled on the peach, considering that peaches were out of season. The juicy and sweet peaches at home were clearly imported goods.
"Uh-huh, a client bought them," Xia You remarked.
She was pulled out of "Golden Splendor" by 8:30 PM and was cautious when she got into Ren Minghang’s car. During their time at Longzhi, Ren Minghang was quite caring towards her, but just now, the shock and annoyance in his eyes seemed as if he wanted to devour her, though she had done nothing to provoke him.
"Instructor?" Xia You tentatively called out. Ren Minghang should be about her age, but after all, he had been her instructor, acting almost like a mentor.
"After you left Longzhi, did you end up here?" Ren Minghang asked gloomily, pounding his fist on the car, setting off the horn. Previous annoyance and surprise were replaced by regret.
Due to his background, Ren Minghang was always a serious and polite person, not very expressive, and somewhat somber. At Longzhi, he got along with everyone, but he didn’t have any close friends. After the issue with Xia You occurred, he and Lu Xun had an intense argument, after which he suppressed the matter deep in his heart.
He reminded himself that Xia You was just an interlude in his life; now that the interlude was over, it should be put behind. But every time he saw the new students at enrollment calling him ’Instructor,’ he would hallucinate Xia You’s voice.
In the shooting class, while demonstrating shooting or assembling firearms, the warmth of her hands that had long vanished from the gun, would resurface occasionally.
Finally, tonight, when he decided to indulge himself once, he actually saw that photograph. Afterwards, the real person, Xia You, appeared shy and panicked under the supervisor’s coercion, appeared very helpless. Her friends beside her looked at her judgmentally, all of which were unbearable for Ren Minghang. Hence, ignoring the mockery from his friends afterwards and regardless of what sorts of rumors might reach his family, he took Xia You out hastily.
"Uh, sort of," Xia You looked at the man next to her, who should be called a big boy, showing a face full of agony. Indeed, she probably looked like a ’fallen girl’ to others now, willingly depraved.
"Quit," Ren Minghang didn’t think twice, directly demanding.
"No," Xia You also found it hard to explain that she needed to undertake this mission, "I must do this job."