Xia Xia was the Red Card Fairy of a high-end club in the center of Jinling City.
She was already twenty-three years old, but because she had a youthful face and delicate features, she looked younger than her actual age. If she put on light makeup and wore a dress, she could pass for a high school girl on the street without raising any doubts.
You could say she was truly blessed by the ancestral spirits of her profession—if such spirits existed for her line of work.
Having been in the industry since the age of twenty, Xia Xia had become the Red Card Fairy at two different clubs within just three years.
This wasn't just about having good looks.
In the world of nightlife, there were plenty of pretty girls, but Red Card Fairies were a rarity. Ultimately, it came down to what was on the inside.
To be a Red Card Fairy, looks, facial beauty, and figure were merely the hard requirements; soft skills were what truly set one apart.
Xia Xia, in one sentence: could be joyful or angry, sweet or salty, and yet, ruthless, decisive, and thick-skinned.
Being ruthless, decisive, and thick-skinned was definitely not a derogatory term in this industry but rather a compliment.
She knew how to ensnare men, tease them, understand their psyche, and could lower her own moral baseline… These were the surest ways to rise to the top as a Red Card Fairy of the pleasure world.
Fierce and decisive in her approach, she wouldn't hesitate to turn on fellow hostesses for a client. After securing her target, she would ruthlessly milk them dry of every penny without a shred of moral compunction. Deceiving, acting, and employing a multitude of tactics—she was an expert in all.
When faced with a valuable patron, she would shed all pretenses, tossing aside dignity, pride, and ego, humbling herself and presenting the most convincing attitude. If you wanted innocence, she'd give you the pure girl act; if you preferred aloofness, she'd play the cool, untouchable lady… and then she would sweet-talk the man into complete submission. All these tricks, Xia Xia had them up her sleeve.
It was a pity that this girl was simply born twenty years too early.
If she had been born a decade or two later, she would have undoubtedly been a top streamer in the live broadcasting industry, the type who would attend annual grand ceremonies.
At twenty-three, Xia Xia had already reached the peak of the pyramid, standing among a small, select group of girls in Jinling City's nightlife.
To give an example: Qu Xiaoling was about the same age as Xia Xia and worked at a club a notch lower than Xia Xia's. Moreover, she hadn't even become a Red Card. On an ordinary day, she would just take taxis and lived in a run-down rented apartment.
Yet Xia Xia had, a year ago, bought herself a small but excellently located furnished studio apartment in the center of Jinling City, and even a car worth more than a hundred thousand. She had truly become a proud homeowner and car owner in Jinling City. She also had several hundred thousand in savings in the bank.
This was in 2001!
And she was just a girl who hadn't even finished high school, hailing from the outskirts of a small county town.
However, tonight, Xia Xia felt like she had hit a wall.
Her interest in Zhang Linsheng had started the night before last.
It wasn't that Xia Xia hadn't seen clients casually throw out eight thousand yuan to show off… but they were rare.
In her more than three years in the industry, she had only seen a handful. Back in 2001, spending and income levels were not what they would be twenty years later.
The few she had encountered before, Xia Xia had seized firmly. One of those big shots had significantly contributed to the studio apartment she now owned.
That night, when she first saw Zhang Linsheng, Xia Xia didn't pay much attention. At first, she thought the manager had just called her in to appease a very picky client as a favor to Bald Lei—a common practice.
But from the moment Zhang Linsheng coldly threw down eight thousand yuan and left, Xia Xia sensed something unusual.
It was like an experienced hunter spotting a plump, glittering leek.
And the two details Xia Xia subsequently observed made her make a decisive decision: her primary target would be to get this guy.
The first detail was: Bald Lei was extremely polite to this guy—a politeness that masked an underlying warmth, yet with a subtle hint of fawning eagerness. With her high emotional intelligence, Xia Xia, who had seen all kinds of characters in the nightlife scene, could see right through it.
The second detail was: the guy tossed eight thousand yuan to her and left, and Bald Lei didn't say a thing. If it had been someone else, the client might have demanded the money back when paying the bill.
But Bald Lei did not!
And all because the guy had said before leaving, "The money is for her!"
Who was Bald Lei? A man with a bit of money and clout, doing quite well for himself recently, straddling the line between the legitimate and underworld.
Using Bald Lei as a reference point… then this young man, Zhang Linsheng, was judged by Xia Xia to be a definite big fish.
Even though Zhang Linsheng was dressed plainly in a Giordano jacket, Levi's jeans, and basic Nike sneakers…
Xia Xia had long outgrown the basic mindset: don't judge a book by its cover.
She had learned this lesson before. Many times, wealthy and influential individuals had habits and tastes in clothing that defied easy categorization.
Zhang Linsheng's "good guy card" and his unhesitant departure left Xia Xia stunned on the spot for a good half minute.
Then, when the girl looked up, her face bore no trace of discouragement; instead, her beautiful eyes sparkled with the thrill of battle!
Big fish! Absolutely a big fish!!
He's indifferent to a Red Card Fairy like me? What does that mean? It means he probably doesn't lack beautiful women in his life!
Such a huge catch right in front of me, how could I miss it!!
Suck up! I must suck up to him! I'll go all out to win him over!!
This Elantra, less than a year old, I've wanted to replace it for ages. Could I trade it for a two-door sports car? Perhaps it all depends on this young man!
—That is to say, people oftentimes succumb to overthinking, making simple matters unnecessarily complex, and eventually trapping themselves. Self-sabotage is truly lethal.
Zhang Linsheng carried his things all the way home, tossing that Red Card Fairy known as Xia Xia to the back of his mind as he walked.
Boys his age tend to be rather innocent; once they set their hearts on a girl they acknowledge, it's as if their entire heart is filled.
If it were Brother Haonan twenty years later, he'd likely be fully prepared, ready to seize any opportunity that came his way without hesitation...
Anyway, it wouldn't hinder anything.
Back at home, Zhang Linsheng set down his things and loitered until midnight, making another call to Qu Xiaoling in between. This time her phone was on, but no one answered.
She might be angry, Zhang Linsheng inferred.
As the clock struck twelve, Zhang Linsheng, timing himself, headed out to the KTV where Qu Xiaoling worked.
His mother, a janitor, finished her shift at two-thirty in the morning. If he went there at this time and Qu Xiaoling finished work early, there'd be a chance to talk to her before his mother got off work—this was Brother Haonan's plan.
Riding his bicycle to the KTV, he parked it properly and entered the lobby, nodding and greeting the security guards and lobby attendants he recognized.
Then he wandered around the lobby for a couple of laps, heading first to the door of a private room at the far end of the corridor: it was the hostesses' break room, where girls not currently with clients would usually wait.
He didn't see Qu Xiaoling inside but ran into a girl he knew. After a quick inquiry, he learned that Qu Xiaoling was working in one of the private rooms.
Zhang Linsheng nodded, left the lobby, and stood in the parking lot outside, finding a spot sheltered from the wind to have a smoke.
Just before one o'clock, several people emerged from the lobby.
A not-so-young, middle-aged man staggered out, followed by an assistant-like figure who took his bag and coat and headed to the parking lot.
The middle-aged man stood at the entrance of the lobby smoking. He was about half a cigarette through when Qu Xiaoling, wearing a red dress and high heels, swaying her hips, came down the steps.
The man immediately turned to meet her, his arm reaching out to wrap around Qu Xiaoling's waist.
Qu Xiaoling seemed to twist away a couple of times, but eventually, she stopped dodging and instead, with a smile, lightly pushed the man.
It wasn't a real push; it was flirtatious.
Qu Xiaoling's face wore a smile, but joy was far from her heart.
The man before her was surnamed Li; everyone called him Boss Li. Rumor had it he was a moderately successful businessman in building materials. His name was Li Rongda... probably those three characters; Qu Xiaoling wasn't actually sure.
Recently, Boss Li had made it obvious that he was lusting after Qu Xiaoling, reserving her private room four or five times in a row, generously spending three to four thousand each night—he was not stingy.
The matter of "going out" for the night, Boss Li had broached the subject three times. Tonight was the third.
Moreover, he made it crystal clear: this was his last time asking. If she refused again, there would be no further discussion.
No further discussion meant he would no longer seek Qu Xiaoling out for private room reservations, and her share of the room's commission would be gone.
This Boss Li was an old hand; he didn't give Qu Xiaoling any room to maneuver and bluntly laid it out: "There are plenty of girls in this place. I can pick any one of them, and she'd willingly be my darling. If you won't, plenty of others will!"
For four or five consecutive days, having a boss reserve her room meant she didn't have to wait in line with other girls, audition from room to room, stand like merchandise waiting to be picked, or even introduce herself.
Having a boss reserve the room meant guaranteed spending. In the nightlife scene, this was a mark of status among the girls!
If you still refuse tonight...
I'm sorry, but from tomorrow on, you'll have lost that status!
The rich patron would spread his wealth to other girls, and the status would go to someone else.
And that night, Boss Li played a very slick move.
When paying the bill, he first used a card to settle the room's tab, then pulled out a thick stack of cash from his bag and tossed it to Qu Xiaoling, seated beside him.
"You distribute the tips to the girls in the room! It's all here... whatever's left is yours."
There were a total of four girls in the room that evening. Adding in the princess servers and the floor manager, after a round of tips, that thick stack of cash still amounted to roughly three to four thousand.
She couldn't tell why; perhaps for a multitude of reasons.
Possibly because she'd had a falling out with Zhang Linsheng, which threw her off balance.
Possibly because she felt anxious about her age, wanting to make money quickly.
Possibly because she found the recent status too comfortable to give up.
Possibly because Boss Li did indeed have the resources and was worth clinging to.
All in all, Qu Xiaoling surrendered.
At the lobby entrance, Qu Xiaoling didn't resist Boss Li's arm wrapping around her. His hand was on her waist, his palm already patting her buttocks. Qu Xiaoling just smiled and said nothing.
Boss Li smiled, leaned in, and whispered something in Qu Xiaoling's ear.
In fact, Qu Xiaoling was a bit flustered inside and didn't quite catch what the older man had said.
But she didn't really need to hear it clearly either; the smile on his face told her it wasn't anything pleasant, probably another risqué joke.
Boss Li patted Qu Xiaoling on the butt and then tossed a comment over his shoulder as he walked away.
This time she understood clearly: "Urgent need to pee, going to the restroom."
Qu Xiaoling stood still, took out a cigarette, and lit it. But soon, her body tensed up when she saw Zhang Linsheng emerging from the corner.
Zhang Linsheng's face was expressionless.
"You..." Qu Xiaoling knew her complexion must look terrible, but she braced herself nonetheless.
"I wanted to tell you that I wasn't angry the other day. I... well, I was actually a little angry, a little unable to let it go," Zhang Linsheng's tone sounded surprisingly calm.
"Haonan, I..."
"No, better call me Zhang Linsheng," Zhang Linsheng shook his head. "What I also wanted to tell you is that I didn't reply to your text or answer your call yesterday because I ran into some trouble. I was out, and my cell phone ran out of power. I only turned it on today when I got home and saw your message. Then I called you, but your phone was off."
"I... I drank too much last night, went to sleep without charging, and my phone died," she explained.
"Hmm," Zhang Linsheng nodded, his tone still remarkably steady—but that steadiness belied a hint of oddness, of the unusual. "What I also want to say is that I've been thinking a lot these past two days, about us."
Qu Xiaoling bit her lip hard.
Zhang Linsheng's mouth twitched.
He smiled.
He actually smiled!
What kind of smile was that...
Calm, self-deprecating, even tinged with a detachment and resignation uncharacteristic for his age.
"The question I've thought about the most is: if I asked you to quit your job, would I be able to take care of you? Really, I've thought about it a lot. But there's one thing I didn't consider... whether I care about your job or not.
Maybe it's because that's how we met, so very early on, I implicitly accepted that I didn't care about it.
What I've thought about more is that things will be alright in the future.
I think if you stopped working, I could take good care of you.
I might have an extra gig recently; someone is looking to hire me, and I... I should be able to make quite a bit of money.
Hmm, I should be able to earn some money in the future.
Whether it will be as much as you earn from your job, I'm not sure.
But I will work very hard and put my heart into it.
How much I make... it will certainly be enough for a normal life.
I called you today during the daytime because I wanted to talk about this... but your phone was off.
I tried calling you again tonight before your work hours because I wanted to discuss this with you... but you didn't answer."
Qu Xiaoling's face was frighteningly pale.
Her breathing was also unsteady as she bit down hard. "I... You were ignoring me, and I got angry, so I didn't want to answer your call..."
"Hmm, I see.
But... Sister Xiaoling, there's just one thing I don't understand.
That is, our conflict the other day, despite being a special circumstance related to your job.
No matter how you look at it, I, as a man, had a reason to be angry, and I should have been.
But regardless...
The person who has done nothing wrong has a reason to be angry and upset.
The person who has done wrong, on what grounds do they get to be angry in return?
To me, this seems absurd, and I can't comprehend it."
Throughout the conversation, the young man's tone remained even.
There was no sign of rage, no hint of losing control.
Despite this, at that moment, Zhang Linsheng was well aware that a fire was raging within his chest.
"Since you didn't answer my calls, I simply came over. When I came here today and while I was waiting, I kept thinking that I had to ask you a question tonight."
Qu Xiaoling's body shook even more violently. "What... what do you want to ask?"
In fact, this question had already been asked by a man named Stephen Chow in a movie two years ago.
The line was, "What if you didn't have to work? Could I support you?"
But at that moment, Zhang Linsheng chose not to say it.
Zhang Linsheng shook his head. "No, the question I want to ask you now is a different one."
The young man took a half step back, looking at Qu Xiaoling standing on the steps. "Just now, when you came out from inside with that man… what were you planning to do tonight?"
Qu Xiaoling bit her lip hard, unable to speak.
The woman's expression changed in an instant, then changed again.
Suddenly, Qu Xiaoling erupted in anger.
It was the kind of anger clearly rooted in guilt but blustered out fiercely.
The kind of anger that showed she was utterly defeated yet still tried to turn the tables defiantly.
That kind of anger, shamelessly angry.
"What I do is none of your business! Who do you think you are?! Does what I do have anything to do with you?!
You ignore me for two days, and I can't get angry?! I just have a meal with someone, and you have to throw such a fit?! Is it a crime for me to eat with someone?!
Zhang Linsheng, if you really liked me, would you even try to understand my difficulties?!
Do you really have to get angry just because I eat with someone?!
When you're angry, you can be upset, you can ignore me.
When I'm angry, I'll do whatever I want! What's it got to do with you?!"
Zhang Linsheng didn't argue.
He didn't even bother to defend himself with, "I didn't ignore you because I was mad; my phone really ran out of battery."
Instead, he quietly listened to the woman's impotent rage, quietly letting her spout all those absurd words.
Then…
"Hmm, I understand." Zhang Linsheng nodded, his tone very slow, and he sluggishly asked, "So, what you mean is, because we had a disagreement, you decided to go out with a client tonight, is that it?"
"…I, I never went out with clients before!"
"Hmm, so because we argued, you decided to go out with a client?" Zhang Linsheng nodded. "Then can I understand it to mean that, in the future, assuming we're still together, we can't argue, we can't have conflicts, because as soon as we do… you might just go sleep with any man?
Sister Xiaoling, is that what you mean?"
Qu Xiaoling was at a loss for words.
Even though she wanted to cover up her absurdity and guilt with anger.
But, she just couldn't bring herself to give that kind of answer.
Because you argued with me, I decided to sleep with another man… Even the most shameless person couldn't articulate such words.
She might do it, but to actually say it out loud—truly, she couldn't.
Qu Xiaoling shook even more violently.
Finally, the woman took a deep breath, her voice a bit hoarse, her eyes growing frantic.
"Zhang Linsheng, you don't understand! I need money!
I'm in my twenties, and I don't even have my own home in this city!
My family has a younger brother back home; marriage, building a house—all of these require money!
My friends at work, all of them use designer bags, brand-name cosmetics!
Some of them have already bought cars!
I have nothing!
Why should I live like this!
My standards aren't high! I just don't want to be worse off than others!"
Zhang Linsheng still didn't lose his temper.
He nodded. "Yeah, to not be worse off than others."
The young man pondered for a moment, his tone very serious as he replied softly, "In their twenties, without a house in this city… that's most people for you.
How many people in their early twenties are able to buy their own house in this city?
You talk about designer bags and brand-name cosmetics... But how many young people in their twenties can afford those?
Not just you.
Hmm, talking about my parents might be a bit too distant.
Relatives I know from my family, my several cousins, are about your age.
One of my cousins, who graduated from college a year and a half ago, also gets up at eight every morning to go to work at nine.
She takes the bus every day.
Every month, she earns a salary of a thousand yuan.
She has never used luxury cosmetics, nor does she own any designer bags...
Actually, Sister Xiaoling, I understand now.
You don't want the life of an ordinary person.
When you say 'not be worse off than others,' the 'others' you're referring to are not ordinary people at all.
The people you want to compare yourself to are those who live in luxury. They are your benchmark, aren't they?"
Qu Xiaoling was at a loss for words.
Because the young man's words were too accurate, too true.
So true that she was left speechless and unable to refute.
What she wanted was indeed all of this.
Even her initial reason for approaching Zhang Linsheng… was nothing more than a sense that this young man had something special about him, to see if she could latch onto someone powerful and influential.
During the time they got to know each other, she indeed developed some feelings, but her original intention was not that pure.
The methods, the tricks, the skills to seduce men—she had indeed used them all.
In 2001, neither Zhang Linsheng nor Qu Xiaoling knew.
That twenty years later, in the era of the mobile internet explosion, a platform called Zhihu would feature a viral question: [What is it like to date a lady who works in the pleasure district?].
Under this question, which had been extremely popular at the time, there were naturally many Zhihu-style fabricated stories shared in answers often tagged with something like, "[Just landed in the US, anonymous due to vested interests]."
However, in one of the top-rated answers, its opening lines were recognized by many who saw the question:
"What is hardest for people to accept about girls who work as prostitutes is not actually their experiences, nor the despicable things they've done.
It's that women who have sunk into that circle for too long have often developed a set of values twisted away from those of ordinary people.
It's when normal people interact with someone whose values are so distorted that they feel an unacceptable, vast difference and a horrific sensation.
These values entail that selling one's body in exchange for, or to deceive, using such methods to obtain others' affection and money, is not considered wrong in their hearts.
It's this mindset of [not feeling it's wrong] that is truly, terrifyingly wrong."
And the author of this answer didn't actually tell any made-up stories; the answer consisted of just those few sentences.
Yet, it triggered countless upvotes, and many people in the comments section left messages saying: "The author must have had very painful experiences to speak such transparent truths."
"Author, please tell us your story!"
"I don't blame you." Zhang Linsheng shook his head. "I don't have the right to blame you; everyone has their ambitions. You want to live a good life, want to take this path, whether it's to 'enter those waters' or whatever, I have no reason to blame you.
I'm just a minor character myself, with no right to stand on high and judge you.
But... Sister Xiaoling."
Zhang Linsheng hesitated as he said this, took a moment to choose his words, and then slowly delivered his sentence:
"You can enter those waters to make quick money, take this path to pursue the life of luxury you desire... that's all fine.
But please don't ever tell me that it's because we argued and had disagreements that you are doing these things.
That's a blame I, Zhang Linsheng, cannot bear."
Having said that, Zhang Linsheng nodded at Qu Xiaoling. "Sister Xiaoling, let's leave it at that. I've been happy getting to know you these days, and our time together before was pleasant.
And, I'm sorry, you even treated me to a few meals before. I've always wanted to earn enough to return the favor.
I'm afraid there won't be any chance now.
However, I've helped you twice too, so let's call it even.
No sarcasm intended. I truly hope you get what you wish for. If this path can truly lead you to the life you want to live, I sincerely hope you make that money."
The young man finished, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and forced a very ugly, strained smile.
Then, he turned and left.
Zhang Linsheng had not gone far.
Qu Xiaoling stood on the steps, shaking as if she were a leaf in the wind.
Watching the young man walk away, Qu Xiaoling's still-young heart felt a profound sense of loss rushing through, as if, in some inexplicable way, she feared she had lost the most important, most precious thing in her life tonight.
For a few seconds, Qu Xiaoling even had the urge to rush forward, catch up to him, embrace the young man, and then beg his forgiveness with tears and apologies, to keep this man with her...
"What's wrong?"
The voice of Boss Li came from behind her.
Boss Li had already come out and was standing at the entrance, arms crossed, watching Qu Xiaoling.
"I... I'm okay," said Qu Xiaoling as she vigorously wiped the corner of her eyes.
Boss Li had a strange smile on his face; it was almost like he hummed, then strode down the steps, gave a slight wave, and a black Buick sedan slowly approached from the parking area and stopped in front of them.
Boss Li opened the car door and looked back at Qu Xiaoling.
"Are you coming or not?"
"..." Qu Xiaoling gazed at the black sedan before her, took a deep breath, and clenched her teeth.
"I'm coming!"
Zhang Linsheng walked an entire street in one go before finally stopping.
The pride that had sustained the young man seemed to dissipate in that instant.
Zhang Linsheng sat down right on the curb beside the road, leaning against a trash can, and caught his breath.
His heart pounded wildly, and the more it beat, the more suffocated he felt inside.
He didn't know what it was or where it came from, but there was a force, an anger—coiled up tightly within him, stuck there!
Why wouldn't it go away!
Why couldn't he shake it off!
Why couldn't he let it out!
His phone suddenly buzzed—a text message alert.
He looked at it full of hope but felt a bit disappointed by the content.
It wasn't her.
"Little brother~ Did you know, you really hurt someone today."
Xia Xia lay in bed in her well-furnished studio apartment, where the home appliances were all high quality.
A latex mattress, rarely seen in those days, soft yet resilient.
With a facial mask on, she leaned against the headboard cushion, her legs crossed and swinging, holding her smartphone.
In fact, Xia Xia was multitasking.
While texting Zhang Linsheng, Xia Xia was also sending flirty messages to a young nouveau riche guy she met last week at the club,
and to a senior executive from an import-export company who frequently patronized the place and had his sights set on her.
It wasn't that she wouldn't sleep with them.
For Xia Xia, sex was a weapon, to be used only when necessary.
DING.
Text message alert.
Xia Xia switched the screen on her phone...
"I want to drink."
Huh? Those words... There's a story there!!
I'm not afraid you have a story! I'm just afraid you won't open your door to *me*!!
The Red Card Fairy sat up straight in bed.
She ripped off the facial mask in one motion.
The Red Card Fairy's eyes flickered as she immediately replied to the message.
"Okay! I'll join you! Same private room, 888! If you want to drink, I'll drink with you! If you want to sing, I'll belt it out with you! If you need to vent, I'll cry with you!
As long as Tsingtao stands, I'll stand! As long as Snow Beer flows, I'll flow!
Your girl Xia Xia is rock steady!"
After sending the message, Xia Xia bounced out of bed and rushed to the vanity to quickly apply her makeup.
Damn it, I'm naturally gorgeous; my foundation is just that good!
Feeling proud, she slipped off her pajamas and, topless, opened her wardrobe, picking out a dress that was both innocent and seductively coy to slip into.
Only then did her phone receive a reply.
"Sure!"
The Red Card Fairy squinted with a smug smile, grabbed her phone, and headed straight for the door, choosing a pair of high heels for herself.
Room 888.
When Zhang Linsheng walked into the room, Xia Xia had already adopted what seemed like a casual pose, but it was actually very deliberately arranged, sitting askew on one side of the sofa. When Brother Haonan walked in, the Red Card Fairy propped her chin with one hand and seductively beckoned him over with her eyes.
On the table, a dozen beers were already opened, neatly lined up.
"Tonight, no matter what's on your mind, if you want to talk, I'll listen; if you don't, I'll drink with you till dawn!" Xia Xia stood up, leaning over with a coquettish laugh, slightly tilting up her chin. "How's that? Aren't I considerate, little brother?"
Zhang Linsheng's face was expressionless as he nodded. "Sure."
He picked up a bottle, GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG, and chugged down almost half of it in one go.
Zhang Linsheng suddenly asked, "Why aren't we drinking imported liquor?"
"Ah!" Xia Xia laughed with feigned boldness. "You don't understand. In this place, nine out of ten bottles of imported liquor are fake!
There are fake beers too, but they can't be faked as much!
Anyway, you're going to throw up if you drink too much, so why bother drinking adulterated alcohol?"
Hearing this, Zhang Linsheng smiled, then tipped back his head, GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG, and chugged down another half bottle.
Selecting songs, drinking, howling like a banshee.
Zhang Linsheng seemed very composed, talking little, simply holding the microphone, roaring out the lyrics, and drinking.
And Xia Xia, either clever or scheming, sent the room hostess out, leaving just her and Zhang Linsheng alone.
Half an hour later, Zhang Linsheng's phone suddenly rang.
Zhang Linsheng stopped, threw the microphone aside, then picked up his phone and walked out of the room.
Standing at the doorway, Zhang Linsheng looked at the caller ID on his phone: Sister Xiaoling.
He took a deep breath. Though the alcohol was getting to his head, the young man managed to answer steadily, saying just one word:
"Hello."
On the other end of the phone, Qu Xiaoling was crying.
Crying her eyes out, sobbing and sniffling.
Zhang Linsheng didn't speak, just held the phone to his ear, quietly listening.
"Lin Sheng..."
"Yeah, I'm listening."
"I... I didn't do anything. I really made a mistake tonight; it was truly my fault.
I went out with that person, but when we got to the hotel entrance, I regretted it.
I really didn't do anything.
He got really angry and even shoved me. Nothing happened tonight, really! I swear! I've sent him away, and now I'm just sitting at the hotel entrance.
I feel terrible. I miss you.
I really like you; I have genuine feelings for you.
I was wrong. I'm sorry.
I swear I didn't do anything to betray you tonight.
Can you forgive me? Please?
Please?
I've thought it through, I've cleared my mind. I really don't want to lose you.
Please? Lin Sheng?"
Blood rushed to Zhang Linsheng's head, but miraculously, his voice remained utterly calm as he spoke.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at the entrance of the hotel, at XXX Hotel, sitting at the entrance."
"Go home."
"...Huh?" Qu Xiaoling seemed stunned for a moment, then quickly swore loudly, "Lin Sheng, I know I did something wrong tonight! But I really didn't do anything! The moment I was at the company's entrance, I wanted to go after you! But I couldn't swallow my pride.
I really was wrong!
But I didn't sleep with that man! I really regret it!
I walked to the hotel entrance and regretted it immediately. Believe me, please?
I really didn't let him touch me just now! He truly didn't touch me!
I really...
Can you come back to me, please...
I really didn't..."
"Sister Xiaoling," Zhang Linsheng interrupted Qu Xiaoling's rambling, oath-filled words.
"Um, Lin Sheng..."
Zhang Linsheng took a deep breath.
He vigorously massaged his temples to clear his alcohol-muddled brain for a moment.
Then, the young man straightened up, holding the phone, his tone calm and steady.
"Xiaoling.
We had a little disagreement, and you decided to go sleep with another man. Then, you get to the hotel room door, tell me you've changed your mind, call me, and ask me to come back to you..."
At this point, Zhang Linsheng took a sudden deep breath.
His tone was very calm, devoid of anger, devoid of resentment.
Just with simple words, a simple tone and intonation, he asked, word by word:
"What, do, you, take, me, for?"
Xia Xia had already turned off the music and set down her liquor bottle. She sat there, poured herself a glass of water, and gulped it down.
The Red Card Fairy could tell that this young man had something major on his mind tonight.
But her intelligence lay precisely in this… Not prying, not asking questions.
Just accompanying him like that.
Displaying a distinctly cool personality while doing so.
Men might not like nagging, inquisitive concern, but they all appreciate a companion who is not only good-looking but also seems cool and distinctive.
Zhang Linsheng stepped out to take a call, and the Red Card Fairy didn't ask.
Though curious, she had a rough idea of what might be happening.
She wasn't foolish enough to follow him and eavesdrop at the door.
Xia Xia finished her glass of water and carefully adjusted her sitting position, even deliberately hiking the hem of her skirt up her knees a bit more.
Then…
A minute later, Zhang Linsheng pushed the door open and returned to the private room.
Xia Xia squinted, remaining seated, and just lifted her head to smile at Zhang Linsheng.
"Can you still drink? I bet you can't handle more than three more bottles before you pass out!"
Zhang Linsheng stood at the doorway, silent for a few seconds.
Then, he walked over to Xia Xia, standing right in front of the Red Card Fairy, looking down at her.
Three seconds later.
The young man spoke, his tone composed and calm.
"No more drinking. Let's go."
"Huh?"
"Tonight, I'm going to sleep with you."