The Yuan Sheng Clubhouse pulsed with music and dancing, the lights flashing in a chaotic crisscross pattern, much like a private karaoke lounge.
Qi Jing sat on a nearby sofa while Huang Ze tried to peel an orange for him. The young man shook his head.
“Why not?”
Qi Jing looked genuinely puzzled. “My family doesn’t let me eat takeout. They say it’s not clean.”
“…”
Huang Ze had never seen a family so strict, but if that was the case, why send him to the International Department?
They didn’t have to worry about the college entrance exams—just master English, and that was it. Logically, there shouldn’t be any pressure at all.
Yet Qi Jing buried himself in studying all those seemingly useless subjects every day.
Huang Ze was dying to know which country Qi Jing would end up going to. He wanted to tag along and have some fun; the kid was just too entertaining.
“Little Jing, what about after—”
Right then, the door swung open. Jiang Yao entered with a few girls and took seats, eyeing the top-tier men who followed with eager interest.
They were all over six feet tall, their faces flawlessly smooth—probably thanks to makeup.
Qi Jing’s gaze immediately flicked over to them.
A manager stood nearby, earnestly introducing their names, but they all started with “Xiao” something, making them hard to remember.
Jiang Yao didn’t go overboard. At two thousand an hour, time flew by.
She picked three out for herself and her friends.
Then she turned to Qi Jing. “Want one, Little Jing?”
Lin Yuze walked in from outside just then, carrying a cake. It was actually another girl’s birthday today.
But she’d had a huge fight with her family, and it sounded brutal.
Jiang Yao had suggested coming here to unwind.
The boys overheard and frowned. “He doesn’t want one.”
Qi Jing thought for a moment. “I’ll pass for now.”
He wanted to observe if the service from male models was the same as from goldfinches. After all, he was saving every bit of his pocket money. If he ever got kicked out, he’d have nothing left.
The teenager watched them intently.
The male models wore sharp suits, dropping to one knee and calling out “Sis” in soft, gentle voices. They even asked politely, “May I touch Sis’s hand?”
Jiang Yao nodded demurely, and the model placed her hand against his cheek, looking up at her with eyes shimmering like rippling water.
Qi Jing watched, utterly absorbed.
He was so good at this.
Huang Ze polished off a bag of Pringles and shook his head in disbelief. Wasn’t this just leading the kid astray?
“Little Jing, don’t watch. They’re just working for pay. Shell out the cash, and they give you that emotional service. No money? They won’t even glance your way.”
“Want some cake?”
Lin Yuze said flatly, “The birthday girl hasn’t even blown out the candles yet.”
Huang Ze apologized profusely, but the girl waved it off generously. “Nah, I’ve got this. Cake time!”
Qi Jing got a small slice. He wasn’t supposed to eat takeout, but he figured Bo Chengyan wouldn’t find out.
So he ate it. It was sweet.
A little later, he noticed the manager glancing his way from not far off.
Qi Jing stood and beckoned him over.
The man hurried over, bowing slightly.
Lin Yuze asked quietly, “What’s up, Little Jing?”
Qi Jing shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Then he looked up at the manager. “Excuse me, could I order…?”
He hesitated.
A bit confused, he asked Lin Yuze, “Do they have an official name? Calling them ducks feels rude.”
The manager was stunned but recovered professionally. “Of course, sir. We have all varieties here. The ones the young lady picked work too.”
Qi Jing hit another blind spot.
“Aren’t those for guys and girls?”
“I want guy-on-guy.”
Lin Yuze frowned. “Little Jing, those are just hosts. They take anyone, male or female. Touching faces is fine, but nothing else. It’s dirty.”
The manager bristled. “We’re a legitimate service industry here.”
Qi Jing didn’t get it. He just wanted some advice.
“Is Jiang Xiuyuan… is Jiang Xiuyuan here?”
Lin Yuze froze. How did he even remember the guy’s name?
Meanwhile—
Jiang Xiuyuan was scarfing down spicy noodles at a street stall, utterly miserable. Leaving Yuan Sheng had put his income in jeopardy.
No more luxury shopping for him.
He was gloomily scrolling through resale listings, wondering if he could offload a few items.
But when actual buyers inquired, he couldn’t be bothered to reply.
Until the call from Yuan Sheng came in.
He hung up three times, but they kept calling back.
Finally, he snapped and answered.
“Boss Wang! I’ve paid the compensation already. Squeeze me more, and I got nothing left! What do you want? It’s just my worthless life! Keep harassing me, and I’ll hang myself at your doorstep!”
Jiang Xiuyuan radiated dark vibes until, two or three minutes later, he pulled the phone away and stared at it.
No wrong number.
“What? You’re rehiring me at top dollar?”
Was the sun rising in the west?
Qi Jing had no idea Jiang Xiuyuan had quit. Nor did he know the staff had recognized him and were stalling with platters of unrequested fruit and drinks.
About fifteen minutes later, Jiang Xiuyuan arrived. He arched a brow in surprise—the good student had snuck in to find him.
Qi Jing’s eyes lit up.
“I’ve been waiting forever.”
~~~
Bo Chengyan stared at the photos on his phone. Dimly lit private room, the boy tucked in a corner, surrounded by people chatting him up.
His gaze on them was so intent.
What the hell was that place?
Bo Chengyan closed his eyes, tempted to smash the phone. Veins bulged on the back of his hand.
Messages kept popping up from the clubhouse management.
【We’re taking good care of him, President Bo. Don’t worry!】
【Their room is 305, six people total…】
Must be because he’d taken him there before.
Kids were curious.
Bo Chengyan latched onto a reasonable explanation, his anger fading. As he stepped out of the car, he told his assistant, “Prep something healthy in the office. Expense it yourself.”
He was greeted fawningly the moment he arrived and led to the spot.
But as the manager reached for the door…
“Wait.”
Bo Chengyan reconsidered. Dragging the kid out might bruise his pride. “Make an excuse to get him out here. Don’t disturb his friends.”
Surprise flickered across the manager’s face.
So favored…
Qi Jing had dragged over a sofa for a proper chat with Jiang Xiuyuan, seeking detailed tips.
Huang Ze watched, speechless.
“I’m jumping into the industry tomorrow.”
Lin Yuze peeled an orange and glanced over casually. “Little Jing might not pick you…”
Jiang Xiuyuan still sported his lip piercing, looking effortlessly cool, though he felt oddly off-kilter inside.
After humiliating him like that…
Why seek him out?
“How do you make someone like you again if they don’t anymore?”
“Wait, no—not that he ever said he did. How do you make them not dislike you so much?”
The boy’s expressions were so vivid, like he was truly vexed.
Jiang Xiuyuan didn’t need to guess. “President Bo?”
Qi Jing saw no point hiding it and nodded. “He doesn’t like me.”
Jiang Xiuyuan frowned, scanning the classmates around him.
Complicated feelings welled up.
“Keep it down. Don’t spill family drama to your classmates.”
Qi Jing nodded. “I haven’t.”
Jiang Xiuyuan found it bizarre but answered anyway. “He doesn’t like you? Impossible. Why keep you around if he didn’t?”
Qi Jing grew anxious and spilled. “I’m scared he won’t keep me anymore. If I can just hold out till college, but I haven’t graduated yet.”
What a needless worry.
Jiang Xiuyuan rolled his eyes. “Relax. President Bo’s a good guy. He won’t cut you off. You’re overthinking.”
“Even in the end… he’ll give you plenty of money.”
Qi Jing asked curiously, “Like fifty thousand?”
“…”
Qi Jing truly had no clue, but he’d looked up university costs—the highest tuition was ten thousand a year.
“College costs money. I’m afraid I can’t earn enough myself.”
Jiang Xiuyuan had never met someone so innocently charming. That brooch from last time? He’d checked it later—750,000 RMB.
“Come on, talk to me. You’re expensive—two thousand an hour.”
Qi Jing winced. That was his New Year’s red envelope money, secretly converted to Alipay balance via Auntie.
Otherwise, it’d be a traceable close friend transfer.
He couldn’t spend recklessly.
Jiang Xiuyuan was baffled. Did he lack cash?
“What do you want to talk about? Spit it out.”
Qi Jing blurted, “Can you share your work experience? We’re both goldfinches, right?”
Jiang Xiuyuan froze.
“How do I keep my benefactor from replacing me? How do I win his favor?”
The young man couldn’t help laughing, then sobered quickly.
He’d never seen such brutal honesty. Could he even compare to the kid? No.
But deep down, he felt they were the same.
Jiang Xiuyuan could hardly describe how he felt in that moment. It was as if after selling himself for so long, even his soul had flown away. Everyone around him was a rival, and yet here came this clueless top earner, asking him for advice on the job.
Too amusing.
“Has he kissed you?” The young man lowered his eyelids slightly as he asked.
Qi Jing shook his head.
Jiang Xiuyuan was stunned once again by the plain truth. Incredulous, he pressed, “Has he even touched you?”
Qi Jing answered with complete naturalness. “He has touched me. I can hug him, but not for too long.”
Silence stretched on for a long moment.
“Baby, I can’t teach you.”
Just then, the manager pushed open the door from outside. He greeted everyone and had another round of fresh drinks and cakes brought in.
Then he approached Qi Jing.
“Hello. The front desk says your smart wristband has been vibrating nonstop. Would you like to go take a look?”
Qi Jing panicked at once and shot to his feet.
Huang Ze glanced over, frowning. “Where are you going, Little Jing? Don’t get lost. I’ll go with you.”
Qi Jing started to nod, but the manager quickly added, “We’ve already fetched it for you. It’s right outside the door—no need to worry about wandering off. Have your friend sit back down.”
“All right, all right. No problem—I’ll just go check on my smart wristband.”
Only then did Huang Ze settle back into his seat, though his eyes lingered. Unable to resist amid all the complimentary luxuries piling up, he turned to Jiang Yao. “Did you top up that much money? Super VIP status! Doesn’t your dad chew you out for it?”
Jiang Yao looked shocked. “Huh? Wasn’t it you? I figured they were doing it out of respect for you, Young Master Huang.”
“Not me!”
Baffled, Huang Ze turned to Lin Yuze. The other man was peeking through the narrow gap at the door over the top of the sofa and waved casually.
“Not me either.”
“Maybe it’s some massive promotion?”
“…”
Everyone fell silent. It was unlikely—the drinks alone were exorbitantly priced.
The moment Qi Jing stepped out, he muttered glumly, “My smart wristband…”
His footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
The smart wristband dangled loosely from Bo Chengyan’s finger, blinking with red lights and beeping insistently, like the flickering tongue of a cobra.
Sizzle.
