The male lead is eighteen years older than her. He’s never been married, and he’s pure in both body and mind[1]In Chinese romance web novels, this reflects the “clean in body and heart” trope, emphasizing a character’s sexual and emotional exclusivity. Its exact scope varies between stories. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. He has a daughter and a son, but they’re both adopted, not biological!!!
The first step to reading this story: leave your brain at the door[2]A playful disclaimer common in Chinese web fiction, asking readers to suspend disbelief rather than scrutinize the story’s realism. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
Beep—
The story begins.
The air-conditioning in the hotel suite was turned up high.
Xu Yan wore a red spaghetti-strap dress. The cold raised goosebumps on her skin, yet sweat beaded on the bridge of her nose.
The man standing before her looked down at her in silence, his presence intimidating.
“I’m… I’m sorry. Please give me five more minutes… I’ll be done soon… really soon…” Xu Yan didn’t dare look up at him. She concentrated on trying to undo his subtly patterned tie.
She’d never tied a tie before, and she had no idea how to undo one.
The more flustered she got, the less she could manage it.
Xu Yan was on the verge of tears.
The man suddenly reached out and caught her by the wrist.
“Your first time?”
Xu Yan’s heart leapt. She looked up and, caught off guard, met his deep gaze.
Her mind went blank, and she nodded instinctively. “Mm…”
“How old are you?”
“…Twenty.”
A faint frown creased the man’s brow. He released her wrist. “You’re the same age as my daughter.”
His gaze was so intimidating that Xu Yan, who had never dealt with anyone like him, instinctively took a step back.
She stood rigidly where she was and watched as he put on his suit jacket, then took a stack of red bills[3]Chinese 100-yuan banknotes are predominantly red. The yuan is the unit of China’s currency, the renminbi (RMB). jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); from his wallet.
He came over, bent down, and set the money on the corner of the table. His voice was calm and measured. “Take this. You’re so young. Make better choices.”
Xu Yan bit her lower lip, her face burning red.
Her thoughts were a muddle. Was applying for a hotel housekeeping job not decent? Could it be… this hotel was a front for some seedy business?
Footsteps receded. The door opened, then shut.
Xu Yan deflated like a punctured balloon and slumped to the floor, trembling slightly.
There went her hundred-yuan bonus!
Her phone rang in her bag. The housekeeping manager asked, “Xu Yan, did you get the guest’s tie? Why’s it taking you so long?”
Xu Yan: “I… I didn’t get it… The guest…”
Fu Lin’s face surfaced in her mind. The man had such a cold, intimidating presence that she was inexplicably afraid of him.
“He got so mad at me that he left…”
“What?!”
Xu Yan had come to apply for a job in the hotel’s housekeeping department that day. Her very first assignment was to go to a guest’s room and collect his tie for dry cleaning because it had gotten dirty. The guest was known to have a bad temper, so it was also a test to see if Xu Yan was cut out for the job. It was a little difficult, but the housekeeping manager had promised that if she completed the task, she’d be hired on the spot and get a hundred-yuan bonus!
Xu Yan had entered the room and seen a man standing before a gilded glass window, tall and straight-backed.
Hearing her footsteps, he turned. The instant he saw her, his face turned to ice.
Oh… He really did look like he’d be hard to get along with.
“Sir… would you mind… your tie…” Xu Yan couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. She kept her head down and spoke in a tiny voice.
The man ignored her, turned away, and continued his phone call. His black earpiece flashed red. “…Undo it yourself. If you can’t even handle a little thing like this, don’t bother coming back.”
Xu Yan: “?”
He wanted her to… undo it herself?
That… didn’t seem right!
Fu Lin looked at the red reflection in the glass and frowned slightly. The voice in his earpiece said, “Yes, President Fu[4]The Chinese address Fu zong uses zong, an honorific for senior business executives or managers. It does not, on its own, establish his precise corporate position. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. I’ll terminate the contract with the other party. I’ll go tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?
Fu Lin gave a cold laugh. “Don’t bother coming in tomorrow!”
He didn’t need an employee with so little initiative!
“…President Fu…”
Fu Lin tapped his earpiece, ending the call.
Xu Yan was still hesitating when she heard him say, “Don’t bother coming in tomorrow.”
She bit her lip. As the man turned around, Xu Yan summoned her courage and gently took hold of his subtly patterned tie with both hands…
And then everything that had just happened unfolded.
Xu Yan picked up the stack of cash from the table. Remembering the disgust in the man’s eyes, she became even more convinced of what she’d thought. This hotel wasn’t what it seemed. She had to get out of there, fast.
She ran so quickly that she didn’t even notice the room number was v888[5]In Chinese number symbolism, eight is considered auspicious because its pronunciation is associated with prosperity. Repeating the digit can suggest luck or wealth. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
The manager had actually sent her to the room next door, 889.
But none of that mattered now. Xu Yan had only one thought: Run! This hotel was a den of predators!
Back in her dorm, Xu Yan took off the red dress and sent it to the dry cleaner. It belonged to her roommate, who had said, “Clothes make the man,” and that she couldn’t show up to apply at such a high-end hotel looking too shabby. Her roommates had even helped her get dressed up and style her hair.
And it had still fallen through.
Xu Yan lay down on her bed, miserable, and soon fell asleep.
A week later.
“Yanyan[6]Repeating a syllable of someone’s given name is a familiar, affectionate form of address in Mandarin. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, are you free one evening this weekend?”
The person asking was Xu Yan’s best friend at university, Fu Qianqian.
“I am. What’s up?” Xu Yan was taking notes, her pen making a soft scratching sound against the paper.
“Will you come to my birthday party?”
Xu Yan’s pen paused. “Sure.”
“Yay! That’s great! I’ll introduce you to my family.” Fu Qianqian was delighted.
Xu Yan smiled faintly. “Okay.”
That weekend, Xu Yan set aside half a day to go to the mall and buy a birthday present.
“Miss, are you looking for a scarf?” the sales assistant asked warmly.
“Yeah.” Xu Yan stood by the display window and pointed to a houndstooth scarf inside. “How much is this one?”
“This one?” The sales assistant took it out to show her. “You have great taste. It’s a new arrival. 1,999.”
Xu Yan’s hand, which had been reaching for it, pulled back.
1,999 was more than she could afford.
“Do you have… anything a little cheaper?”
“How about this one? It’s houndstooth too, though the material’s not quite as nice. It’s still very comfortable to wear, though. This one’s 699.”
Xu Yan glanced down at the balance on her phone and took a deep breath. “Could you wrap this one for me, please? Thank you.”
By the time she left the mall, it was dark.
Xu Yan waited at the bus stop as a gust of wind swept over her, bringing a chill with it.
She zipped up her coat and slipped both hands into her pockets. Her dark eyes shone brightly.
She had come to Z City[7]Chinese web novels sometimes use a letter in place of a city’s name, leaving the real or fictional location unspecified. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); for university almost half a year ago.
She liked this city.
The bus arrived.
Xu Yan got on and found a window seat.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Fu Qianqian.
“Hey, Yanyan, are you on your way?” There was a lot of noise on the other end, as though a crowd had gathered, and Fu Qianqian’s voice brimmed with excitement.
“I just got on the bus. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Okay. Take your time, there’s no rush.”
“Mm.”
After hanging up, Xu Yan gazed out at the lovely streetscape, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
Z City was her fresh start.
She was attending university here, had begun a new chapter in her life, and had made friends.
Even the future that had once seemed bleak now held promise.
Twenty minutes later.
Xu Yan stared at the villa in front of her, a little dazed.
She’d known Fu Qianqian’s family was rich, but she hadn’t realized they were this rich.
She’d only ever seen a garden villa like this one in real-estate brochures.
“Yanyan.” Fu Qianqian came out to greet her, holding up the hem of her skirt.
Xu Yan’s eyes lit up when she saw her.
Fu Qianqian was wearing a beautiful dress and looked as polished as a Barbie doll.
“You’re finally here.” Fu Qianqian linked arms with her and led her inside. “You’re the last one.”
Xu Yan couldn’t take her eyes off her. “You look so beautiful today.”
“Thanks.” Fu Qianqian blinked, playful and mischievous. “You should change into a dress too.”
Fu Qianqian led Xu Yan upstairs, turning left and right before taking her into a room.
It was enormous, with a walk-in closet.
The clothes inside were even prettier than the ones in the shops. Under the lights, they looked like a princess’s wardrobe.
“Pick whatever you like.” Fu Qianqian drew Xu Yan over to the closet. “We’re about the same size, so you can wear any of these.”
Xu Yan shook her head. “I really shouldn’t…”
“Then I’ll pick for you.” Fu Qianqian didn’t give her a chance to refuse and pulled out several dresses.
Xu Yan didn’t want to reject her kindness, so she chose a white satin gown.
Xu Yan changed into it and stood in front of the mirror.
The folded, layered neckline of the strapless bodice rested softly against her shoulders, revealing her lovely shoulders, neck, and collarbones. The satin trim curved along her shoulders, while the tightly fitted waist accentuated her delicate, youthful figure to perfection.
“You look beautiful,” Fu Qianqian exclaimed. “You’re practically a different person.”
Embarrassed by the praise, Xu Yan lowered her eyes. “I should change back…”
“Don’t! It looks so good on you.” Fu Qianqian pressed her into a chair. “I’ll do your makeup and fix your hair. Then we can take some pictures together.”
Xu Yan wanted to say there was no need to go to so much trouble. It was Fu Qianqian’s birthday, and she didn’t want to steal the spotlight.
But Fu Qianqian wouldn’t let her refuse. “Yanyan, what I say goes today.”
Xu Yan gave in. “All right.”
By the time her makeup and hair were done, half an hour had passed.
Fu Qianqian took Xu Yan by the hand and led her downstairs.
A crowd of young people had gathered there, all of them Fu Qianqian’s friends.
Xu Yan recognized a few of them too.
They went to the same university.
“Wow! Who’s this? A celestial beauty come down to earth[8]This echoes a Chinese compliment comparing a beautiful woman to a heavenly immortal descending to the mortal world. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });?”
“Is that Xu Yan? She’s gorgeous!”
“Xu Yan, you should’ve dressed like this ages ago. That dress really suits you!”
The compliments kept coming.
Xu Yan felt a little self-conscious.
Fu Qianqian moved to shield her. “Yanyan’s my best friend, so you’d all better be nice to her.”
“Come on, Yanyan, let’s take pictures.”
“Okay.”
The party had a great atmosphere, and Xu Yan soon relaxed and had a wonderful time.
The sound of a car came from the courtyard. A tall, upright figure entered the villa.
The young people on the sofa all stood to greet him. “Hello, Uncle Fu[9]In Chinese, younger people may politely address an older man as “uncle” even when they are not related. Here, he is their friend’s father. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_9').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_9', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.”
Xu Yan was still looking at her phone when Fu Qianqian pulled her over. “Dad, let me introduce someone to you. This is my friend, Xu Yan.”
Then she said to Xu Yan, “Yanyan, this is my dad.”
Xu Yan froze.
The instant the man looked her way, a wave of shame crept up from her toes.
She never would have imagined that Fu Qianqian’s father was him!
The one who’d cost her that hundred yuan!
Ding\~
If you enjoyed this, leave a paw print[10]A playful expression in Chinese online fiction inviting readers to leave a comment or otherwise show their presence. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3736330_1_10').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3736330_1_10', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); and add it to your bookshelf so you don’t lose your way!
References[+]