Su Ding followed Zhang Xiaoya and the other girl’s footsteps to a corridor on the second floor.
Most of the second floor of the bar consisted of private rooms.
There weren’t many people in the corridor. Zhang Xiaoya was stopped by the girl and tilted her feet as if her high heels were uncomfortable.
“Xiaoya, I knew you’d see sense. You have no idea how beautiful you look in this dress with makeup on. The men passing by were practically drooling,” Zhao Chun said with a smile, though her eyes held deep envy.
Zhang Xiaoya’s pretty face tensed. Even with makeup, her nervousness couldn’t be hidden. “Zhao Chun, will he really give me a million yuan?”
“Of course. Do you think I’m playing house with you?” Zhao Chun scoffed, raising the corner of her eye. She lightly slung an arm around Zhang Xiaoya’s shoulders and said, “As long as you please your sugar daddy tonight, let alone a million, he’ll give you five million. Then, you won’t have to worry about your mother’s medical expenses anymore, right?”
Thinking of her mother lying in the hospital bed, Zhang Xiaoya nodded in despair.
Today was supposed to be a happy day for her. She had a new job that wouldn’t interfere with her classes, and her manager was kind and beautiful. She could slowly save money to help her mother recover. However, she hadn’t expected to receive a call from the hospital that afternoon informing her that her mother’s condition had suddenly worsened. The fifty thousand yuan for her last surgery had already emptied her out, and this new surgery required another fifty thousand. Such a colossal sum made her think of Zhao Chun again.
“It’s not your first time, so why pretend to be pure? If the sugar daddy didn’t happen to like your looks, who knows how many girls would be lining up to get into his bed?” Zhao Chun didn’t feel at all wrong about tricking her into losing her virginity last time, seeing it as a fair exchange.
Zhang Xiaoya was numb. Having reached this point, she had no other choice. She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
“Great, I’ll call Mr. Zhao right away!” Zhao Chun said excitedly.
Just as Zhao Chun was taking out her phone to make the call, a cold voice suddenly rang out.
“No need!”
Zhao Chun and Zhang Xiaoya looked up simultaneously, seeing Su Ding walking towards them against the light. Su Ding was already stunningly beautiful, and her appearance in the dim light didn’t dim her radiance but instead gave her a sophisticated aura, making people instinctively feel her presence.
“Man… Manager…” Zhang Xiaoya’s expression was stunned as she called out in surprise.
Zhao Chun, however, glared at Su Ding unpleasantly. “Miss, we’re discussing something, and it seems to have nothing to do with you. What do you mean by ‘no need’?”
“Just what it means.” Su Ding looked at Zhao Chun, as if seeing Shao Lin from the past. She remembered how helpless she had felt when she sold herself for her mother’s medical expenses, and Shao Lin had said the same thing.
Su Ding walked over to Zhang Xiaoya and took her wrist. “Come with me.”
Zhang Xiaoya faced Su Ding, her eyes lowered, biting her lip. After a long moment, she softly said, “Manager, I’m sorry, I’ve let you down…” Tears quietly fell as she spoke. Her manager had shown her a path towards light, but she had strayed into darkness. She felt too ashamed to face her.
Su Ding frowned. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
…
Zhang Xiaoya wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t bring herself to. Su Ding shook her head, sighing to herself that she shouldn’t have asked. What choice did someone in her situation have, even if they knew?
She held Zhang Xiaoya’s wrist and looked at her intently. “I’ll help you. Don’t go through with that transaction.”
Zhang Xiaoya stared at her blankly.
“If you go with her, you’ll regret it.” Su Ding looked at her, her voice slightly gentle yet cool, possessing a captivating power. “I’ll help you. Come with me and leave this place.”
It had been a long time since Zhang Xiaoya had met someone who cared about her so much. In that moment, all she wanted to do was nod. She knew Su Ding wouldn’t harm her; she believed Su Ding genuinely wanted to help her.
Just as Zhang Xiaoya was about to nod, Zhao Chun suddenly raised her hand, intending to slap Su Ding across the face.
“What bitch is this… Ah!”
A crisp slap echoed. Zhang Xiaoya nervously looked at Su Ding. She saw Su Ding slowly lower her hand, while Zhao Chun clutched her face, staring at them in disbelief. “You! You dared to hit me?”
Su Ding said coldly, “So what if I hit you?”
“Ah, ah! I’ll tear you apart, you slut! What do you think you are!” Zhao Chun was completely enraged and lunged forward, but Zhang Xiaoya forcefully pushed her off balance. Zhao Chun stumbled and hit the wall.
“Zhao Chun, you are not allowed to hit her!” Zhang Xiaoya said urgently, her eyes red and her breathing rapid.