Chapter 10: Night RosePerhaps because the west bank of the Fallen River was closer to the transit station, the wealthy residents of the Fourth Ring preferred living on the west side. Thus, although business from the east bank had declined, it hadn’t significantly impacted the Red Light District.Western-style buildings lined both sides of the street, with all sorts of people coming and going. Besides various clubs, there were also bars, dance halls, and even simple restaurants just for dining.These buildings didn’t use thick curtains to cover their windows; some even had them open. The windowpanes here were colorful, seemingly meant to add an air of mystery to these houses.Shan Xiaoxi felt like Granny Liu stepping into the Grand View Garden for the first time.She had always thought the Fourth Ring had no nightlife, but now she realized people here were far more adept at seeking pleasure and excitement than she had imagined.Whether in the world of dreams or this present world, humans shared certain commonalities in some aspects.The threat of the Crimson Moon couldn’t stop humanity from chasing their desires.A certain philosopher once said: Humans are born from desire and will die because of it.At the center of the Red Light District stood a building somewhat resembling a church.The entire structure’s exterior walls were made of dull gray stone, but ironically, its roof was covered with green glazed tiles. It was like an honest, simple man wearing a green hat.At the very top of the building stood a cross. This cross wasn’t for prayer—it was a lightning rod.This was the Red Light District’s most upscale club, “Night Rose.”Legend had it that Night Rose’s headquarters were in the Third Ring, and its mysterious boss was also from there. Some said he was the head of a certain family, while others claimed he was a powerful figure in the government. In short, it seemed no one clearly knew the boss’s identity.Lin Ting brought Shan Xiaoxi to Night Rose’s side door and knocked on the bluish-gray iron gate.Someone opened a small window in the gate to look out, recognized Lin Ting, and then opened the door to let them in.The man who opened the door was a bald middle-aged man. He bowed and scraped upon seeing Lin Ting, seemingly a bit afraid of her. However, the corner of his eye kept glancing at Shan Xiaoxi, his probing gaze tinged with ill intent.Lin Ting sometimes acted as a middleman, bringing people to Night Rose. Those who entered through the main door were guests, while those using the side door were looking for work. The bald man had probably mistaken Shan Xiaoxi for a prostitute.“Sister Ting, today isn’t a gathering day. What brings you here?”“Can’t I come if it’s not a gathering day?”“Look at my mouth—I can’t speak properly when I see you, Sister Ting,” the bald man slapped his own face. “I spoke out of turn. Please don’t take it to heart.”Lin Ting gave him a cold glance, didn’t waste more words on him, and led Shan Xiaoxi straight into the building.Curious, Shan Xiaoxi asked Lin Ting about it.Lin Ting snorted. “The lowest-quality watchdog. He flatters the high and tramples the low, insatiably greedy, and tailors his words to whomever he’s facing. Utterly incompetent. Give him a second glance, and he’ll pounce like a lapdog. With people like him, don’t show any kindness. The colder you are, the less he dares to provoke you.”As the saying goes, “It’s easier to pass by the King of Hell than deal with his petty minions,” and “When beating a dog, one must consider its master.” Wasn’t Lin Ting worried the watchdog might report her to his master?Not understanding, Shan Xiaoxi asked.Lin Ting: “Here, watchdogs are at the very bottom. They never see the real masters of this place. Without a voice, they aren’t even considered people.”Are guard dogs not even considered human anymore? Shan Xiaoxi realized the cruelty of this world's other side was opening its doors to her.Lin Ting took Shan Xiaoxi directly upstairs to find Selena. Along the way, when encountering acquaintances, Lin Ting merely nodded in passing, while others showed curiosity toward Shan Xiaoxi following behind her.Selena lived on the third floor of Night Rose, the highest level. Only the top courtesans could reside on this floor.Selena was entertaining a guest in her bedroom. After greeting her maid, Lin Ting led Shan Xiaoxi to wait by the window at the other end of the corridor.The transparent stained-glass windows had no curtains to block the light shining through from outside, giving the entire corridor a thick, mysterious atmosphere.Along the corridor were bedrooms and reception rooms. The bedrooms had lockable doors. The reception rooms had no doors, only velvet curtains blocking the entrances.Shan Xiaoxi and Lin Ting were still wearing their cloaks, having only pulled down their hoods. Shan Xiaoxi felt somewhat grateful that Lin Ting had given her the cloak; her sportswear was too mismatched with Night Rose's ambiance.From the doorless reception rooms, sounds of guests and courtesans playing and flirting occasionally drifted out. Now and then, a guest would escort a courtesan from a reception room to a nearby bedroom.In her previous life, Shan Xiaoxi had followed the rules and never experienced such scenes. In this life, without television or the internet, she was gaining broader knowledge instead.Shan Xiaoxi's curiosity got the better of her; her ears perked up, and her eyes fixed on the gaps in the reception room curtains.Lin Ting leaned against the windowsill, glanced sideways at Shan Xiaoxi, and with an expression of complete understanding, reached out and tapped her head."You, rein it in a bit. In a place like this, don't look at what you shouldn't, don't say what you shouldn't, and don't be curious about what you shouldn't know. If you cause trouble, I can't protect you.""Then tell me who these people are. I want to know who I can provoke and who I can't."Lin Ting wanted to say that everyone here was beyond her ability to provoke, but after hesitating, she still introduced them.Shan Xiaoxi and Lin Ting were like two peeping toms, secretly observing and commenting on the guests and courtesans.The courtesans at Night Rose were divided into three tiers: the lowest on the first floor, those on the second floor aiming to rise to the third, and the proud top courtesans on the third floor.Since they were on the third floor, they naturally only saw the top courtesans and their guests, so the people on this level were truly beyond their ability to provoke."Selena is going to the Third Ring for an event next month. That's why I'm introducing you to her. Since your goal is the Third Ring, you don't need to befriend most people here. Only one person requires attention: Ellie sitting over there."Ellie, like Selena, was a top courtesan at Night Rose, but she was only seventeen years old.Ellie had delicate features and a sweet demeanor, as adorable as a doll. She had only arrived at Night Rose last year and rose to top courtesan in just one year. What made her famous wasn't her obedience and cuteness, but her willful and capricious nature. Some guests were particularly drawn to this.At that moment, Ellie was reclining on the sofa in the reception room like a princess receiving praise from the surrounding guests.Seemingly dissatisfied with these guests, she proudly raised her head to look at a nearby vase, petulantly kicked off her red leather shoes, and leaned her upper body against a cushion, ignoring the guests who were infatuated with her.A guest said something, and Ellie suddenly laughed. That guest immediately felt overwhelmed by the favor and half-kneeled beside the sofa, cradling Ellie's feet and gently massaging them. Ellie occasionally giggled coquettishly at the surrounding guests, and every now and then, she would kick as if in pain.The guests' eyes overflowed with indulgence, and the one holding her feet seemed to be cradling a treasure—no, it wasn't the look one gives a treasure. Besides possessive desire, it was mixed with destructive, cruel, and other negative emotions.Shan Xiaoxi watched the scene and couldn't help but shiver, a wave of disgust rising in her heart."You can see it, can't you? Ellie's guests have special preferences. I've heard she falls ill every few days." This was probably also why Ellie had risen to the third floor so quickly."Then I'll steer clear of her from now on and avoid provoking her."Lin Ting nodded and began introducing the others."These are the top courtesans on the third floor. Aside from Ellie, who requires extra caution, the others are all easy to talk to. Having been in this line of work for a long time, they understand their place better and are reluctant to offend others easily. Each one is a cunning fox.""What about their maids? Do we need to win them over?""That's up to you. The maids' wages are paid by Night Rose. Besides serving these courtesans, they also have the duty of monitoring them." The maids and the courtesans were not of one mind.Night Rose's management system seemed stricter than imagined.The wait wasn'tt particularly long.First, the maid received a signal and entered Selena's bedroom. After a while, the door opened, and Selena escorted a gentleman out. The two lingered at the doorway, sharing a lingering kiss before the guest reluctantly departed.Selena turned back into the room and closed the door.Lin Ting led Shan Xiaoxi to wait by the door. After a moment, the maid came out and called them inside.Selena appeared languid, her face free of makeup, her cheeks flushed with a natural rosy hue, and the ends of her hair still damp—clearly, she had just bathed.Selena sat before the dressing table, holding a drink in her hand, while the maid applied hair care ointment behind her.Upon seeing Lin Ting, her attitude was quite friendly. Lin Ting had once helped her with a small favor, so they had some rapport."What brings you here today?"Lin Ting glanced at the maid and chose her words carefully. "I heard you'll need an assistant when you go to the Third Ring next month. I've brought someone to recommend to you."As she spoke, Lin Ting took off her cloak and placed it on the coat rack by the door. Shan Xiaoxi followed suit and hung hers up as well.Lin Ting's bodysuit still had some flair, but Shan Xiaoxi's sportswear looked rather plain and unsophisticated, drawing curious glances from Selena and the maid."The person you're recommending is her?" Selena's gaze held skepticism as she looked at Shan Xiaoxi.Lin Ting nudged Shan Xiaoxi forward. "Don't let her childish appearance fool you. She worked in the Third Ring for over two years before, and she's involved in the arts."Surprise flickered in Selena's eyes as she looked Shan Xiaoxi up and down, seemingly unconvinced."What can she do for me?" Selena asked.Lin Ting looked at Shan Xiaoxi but didn't answer the question.Shan Xiaoxi stared at Selena's face, and the more she looked, the more Selena reminded her of a certain actress from her past life.From her appearance to her demeanor, Selena closely resembled that actress, known as the "Flower of Mortal Wealth," after she had blossomed into her own.Exaggeratedly beautiful features of a leading lady, with obvious facial flaws yet memorable, making her unforgettable at first glance.A somewhat carefree demeanor, with eyes that have seen through the world faintly gleaming with wisdom. Even when mired in the mud, her expression remains so innocent.Just like that socialite flower, her styling before her awakening was always a mix of praise and criticism.I still remember the styling of that socialite flower in the drama that marked her awakening—it was from then on that she found the style truly suited for her.In her previous life, Shan Xiaoxi was a celebrity stylist. Is she now returning to her old profession?Shan Xiaoxi asked Selena in a lighthearted tone, "May I draw your eyebrows and eyes for you?"

The Fashion Rookie and The Mysterious Gentleman