Lin Luan stood at the door of the private room engraved with the three characters [Midsummer Night]. The characters were in a relief style, giving the door an air of sophistication.
He swallowed nervously and took a deep breath.
As a model student of the new era, he truly hadn’t expected that one day, he’d be here to serve a rich woman…
But so what! Who would turn down money?
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Lin Luan, having steeled his resolve, knocked gently on the door.
Tap.
Inside, a sharp female voice rang out.
Lin Luan cautiously pushed the door open and walked into the private room.
The lighting inside was dim, with purple-blue ambient lights drifting across the ceiling, making the room resemble a true midsummer night sky. It certainly lived up to the name [Midsummer Night].
A delicate incense filled the air—probably something the establishment had prepared in advance. It smelled wonderful, blending with a soothing jazz melody.
Su Jin sat in the very center of the giant U-shaped sofa, her back to the door, her long legs elegantly crossed, the slit of her black spaghetti strap evening gown revealing a stretch of fair, smooth calf.
Her long, wavy hair was spread across the sofa’s backrest, and the lights glided over her locks.
Even after Lin Luan entered, she didn’t bother to look back. She simply drew a slender lady’s cigarette from the metallic case in front of her.
That was an English Sobranie, a Royal Warrant Brand, famed for its elegance and artistic design. The renowned “Cocktail Cigarette” was beloved by fashion magazine models.
“Click.”
A metal lighter flared to life, igniting the expensive cigarette.
Su Jin took a slow drag, then exhaled a cloud of grayish smoke before finally turning half her face, her cold gaze sweeping over the frozen Lin Luan at the door.
“Shut the door,” she said coolly.
Su Jin’s tone was much calmer than it had been downstairs, but it carried a commanding, superior air.
“Yes!”
Suddenly called upon, Lin Luan jumped and quickly closed the door behind him, shutting out the noise outside.
Yes?
“Pfft.” Su Jin couldn’t help but laugh.
This man was far too serious—not the slightest bit like a host, more like a subservient subordinate called out by his boss.
If it had been that other person, he’d have started flattering her with “Princess, princess” the moment he entered.
But…this was fine too. For now, he could take Chen Siye’s place—lately, she’d perhaps been a bit too kind to him.
A mere chess piece, and he dares give me attitude?
Lin Luan stood awkwardly at the edge of the carpet, feeling completely out of place in such a setting.
Su Jin turned, kneeling with one knee on the sofa, her elbow propped against the U-shaped sofa’s back, chin resting on her palm as she scrutinized Lin Luan.
Her gaze roamed inch by inch over him, from his slightly worn canvas shoes to his cheap T-shirt—she saw it all. It was the first time Lin Luan had ever been looked at this way by a woman, and he felt his cheeks flush.
***
Finally, Su Jin’s gaze returned to his face, meeting his anxious eyes.
She raised the hand holding her cigarette, flicking her fingertip in his direction.
“You.” Her red lips parted slightly. “Go change out of those…rags.”
Lin Luan froze: “Change…clothes?”
“What else?” Su Jin raised an eyebrow. “Here at ‘Drunken Deer,’ even the waiters wouldn’t dress like you. You’re an eyesore.”
She picked up a remote from the coffee table and pressed a button.
A hidden door on one side of the room slid open without a sound, revealing a small changing room.
Inside, hangers were packed with all kinds of men’s clothing—from casual suits to silk shirts—everything imaginable, and all looking quite expensive.
Of course…there were some, well, interesting outfits as well.
“Pick something inside that fits and put it on.” Su Jin exhaled a slow puff of smoke. “You have three minutes.”
Lin Luan stared at the dazzling array of clothes, then looked down at his own outfit, which probably cost less than a hundred yuan in total.
What else could he do? Obedience was better than resistance!
“Alright, Miss Su.”
Lin Luan entered the changing room.
The door slowly closed behind him, and in the cramped space, the fabrics of those hanging garments exuded a pleasant fragrance.
He gingerly touched a deep blue velvet shirt—the sensation was soft and smooth, unlike anything he’d ever worn before.
Lin Luan knew nothing about these brands; he simply stripped off his T-shirt, quickly picked a pleasing shirt, and put it on. The fit was surprisingly perfect, as if tailored for him.
He found a pair of black slim-fit trousers and changed into them, kicked his canvas shoes into a corner, and put on a pair of expensive-looking soft leather shoes.
Once fully dressed, he hesitated before looking at himself in the mirror—and was stunned.
The person in the mirror had changed entirely just by swapping outfits.
His shoulders were squared, his waist outlined, and the air of dejection he’d carried before was miraculously replaced by a touch of handsomeness and an unnameable hint of allure.
Aside from his somewhat messy “bird’s nest” hair, Lin Luan could hardly recognize himself.
“Time’s up.”
Outside, Su Jin’s cold voice called.
Lin Luan took a deep breath, like a prisoner about to face judgment, and finally summoned the courage to open the changing room door.
Beneath the sultry lights, Su Jin sat as before, her posture unchanged.
When her eyes landed on Lin Luan again, she clearly paused, but quickly reverted to her usual ice-queen demeanor.
She stubbed her cigarette out in a crystal ashtray, then leaned back into the soft sofa.
After a moment, she finally spoke again:
“Now, come sit down.”
She pointed with her chin to the spot beside her.
“Keep me company for a drink.”
“O…okay…” Lin Luan mumbled, sitting gingerly beside Su Jin.
He tried to relax himself, but his body refused to obey.
The soft leather sofa wrapped around him, but Lin Luan felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles.
Su Jin didn’t look at him, merely picked up a uniquely designed black swan-shaped glass wine bottle and poured a little into two empty glasses.
The wine tinkled crisply against the glasses as Lin Luan watched her actions in a daze.
“Do you drink?” Su Jin pushed one glass in front of Lin Luan, her tone unreadable.
Lin Luan answered honestly, “…I’ve had beer before.”
“Beer?” Su Jin sounded amused. “Is it good?”
“…I don’t know.” Lin Luan didn’t know how to respond.
If he said yes, he’d seem unsophisticated; someone like Su Jin probably wouldn’t like a man with such “low taste.” If he said no, he’d seem dishonest—so he could only say he didn’t know.
Su Jin swirled her own glass, her gaze settling on Lin Luan’s nervous face.
“Do you know what kind of wine this is?”
Lin Luan shook his head.
“Do you know how to introduce it to me—convince me to buy it? Even if it’s the cheapest bottle?”
Lin Luan shook his head again, eyes filled with confusion; he couldn’t even name the wine. Su Jin didn’t get angry at his cluelessness—if anything, a faint excitement flashed in her eyes.
She suddenly felt like teasing Lin Luan.
Su Jin leaned in closer, a sense of pressure emanating from her as her faint fragrance drifted toward him.
“Can’t even manage the most basic sales pitch?” she chuckled softly, with a touch of mockery.
Lin Luan pressed his lips together, not knowing what to say.
“Speak.” Su Jin ordered.
“I…I don’t know what to say.” Lin Luan admitted honestly, “Miss Su, I…I only came to apply as a dishwasher.”
“Dishwasher?” Su Jin seemed to recall that fact. “What a waste of that face and those clothes.”
She paused, her fingertips gently tapping the rim of her glass.
After a moment, Su Jin set down her glass and stood, walking to stand in front of Lin Luan, facing him directly.
Lin Luan had no idea what she intended.
“But now, you’re giving me a different impression.”
Suddenly, Su Jin knelt with one leg beside Lin Luan, pinning down his left hand resting on the sofa, preventing him from escaping.
Then, she slowly leaned her entire body over Lin Luan, lowering her voice to whisper in his ear:
“The way you look, all poor and inexperienced… it’s actually rather refreshing.”
Lin Luan held his breath, completely unable to move. He could clearly smell her cold, distinct fragrance.
His heart pounded wildly, his mind a blank, unable to make sense of this fickle woman’s intentions.
No—he was here to earn money, not to sell himself! He could endure being manhandled, but if she really tried to force anything, he’d have to run!
Lin Luan struggled fiercely within himself.
Su Jin looked at his tense, eyes-closed expression, then laughed softly and drew back, picking up the cigarette case and drawing out a new cigarette.
She’d just been toying with this little puppy.
It was strange; she had always kept a clear boundary between herself and the hosts. Su Jin knew perfectly well that these exchanges of emotional value for money were never sincere.
Take Chen Siye, for instance. She had single-handedly elevated him to the top spot, and the boldest thing she’d allowed was being called “Princess” or clinking glasses with her while drinking.
The moment Chen Siye tried to touch her, Su Jin would immediately slap his hand away.
She only visited host clubs to integrate into certain business circles—like Wuzetian’s Harem, it was just a matter of status. She didn’t care who her “boytoy” was, only that she had one.
But for some reason, faced with this man, Su Jin wanted to play.
Perhaps it was that look of his—untainted by the filth around him—that made her want to see if she could corrupt him.
“Click.”
The lighter flared again.
Seeing Su Jin make no further moves, Lin Luan nervously opened his eyes a little.
He saw Su Jin enveloped in swirling smoke, her gaze dreamy, as if deep in thought.
She didn’t look at Lin Luan, simply issued a cool order:
“What are you standing there for? Drink.”
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