Zhou Luo had been silently listening to Jiang Ruobai’s phone call. As soon as Jiang hung up, Zhou hurriedly urged him, “Brother Bai, are you crazy? Your body is still so weak. How can you go to work?”
Jiang Ruobai just smiled indifferently. “It is fine. I am already feeling much better. Lying in the hospital costs money, so I might as well go to work.”
“If you are short on cash, I have five thousand yuan I can lend you. Please, Brother Bai, just do not go tonight. Get some rest.”
Jiang Ruobai waved his hands repeatedly. Zhou Luo had already helped him so much; he felt terrible about troubling him further.
“I really am fine, do not worry. The manager called me today specifically to tell me to come in. Since he has already spoken, if I do not go, I will lose this job.”
Zhou Luo sighed. Although his heart ached for Jiang Ruobai’s health, he understood clearly that people like them all had their own hardships. For them, this job might be their last resort.
Since Jiang Ruobai had already made up his mind, Zhou did not try to persuade him further, but before leaving, he secretly tucked a thousand yuan under Jiang’s bed.
That night, Pei Sichen was invited by Su Jiachen to “Darkness.” Amidst the flickering light and shadows, Pei sat with his legs crossed casually on the coffee table, arms stretched out as he leaned back against the sofa. He lifted his eyes, scanning the batches of new faces before him with a weary expression.
Regarding the “high-quality goods” Su Jiachen kept boasting about, Pei remained disinterested. He was tired of these cookie-cutter, delicate-looking skins, and he even began scrolling through his phone as if no one else were there.
“This ‘concubine selection’ was held specifically for you, yet you will not even look up,” Su Jiachen said, sipping his drink. Seeing that Pei Sichen still had not lifted his head, he joked, “Is our Young Master Pei planning to become a monk at a temple? Becoming so detached from worldly desires?”
Pei Sichen raised his head lazily, gave him a glance, and muttered, “Boring.”
Su Jiachen raised an eyebrow and signaled for the manager to chase all the young men and women out. “What? Not interested in any of them?”
“If you truly have nothing better to do, the Pei family still has some industries in Africa. I can have you stationed there for a few years.”
“The Pei family is wealthy and influential, but unfortunately, I am not your employee. You do not seem to have the right to arrange work for me,” Su Jiachen replied, taking a sip of wine with a smile on his face, showing no fear of the threat.
“I heard that Fengxu Construction and the Su family are going to invest in a project together. The person in charge of the project is that illegitimate brother of yours, Su Lin.”
Upon hearing this, Su Jiachen’s expression turned ugly, and he cursed out loud, “F*ck!”
“That old bastard, I am not dead yet, and he is already in such a hurry to let that little bastard split the family inheritance? Damn it, daring to plot against the family assets. I am not going to let them off easy!”
Pei Sichen lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, clearly satisfied with the result.
Su Jiachen sat on the sofa, breathing heavily, his eyes sharp as he gripped his wine glass. “Rats should hide in their holes. If they want to crawl out, they are asking for death!”
The glass shattered on the floor with a loud crack, the wine-red liquid staining the silk carpet.
Seeing the furious Su Jiachen, Pei Sichen could not help but laugh. “What? Not planning to endure it anymore?”
Su Jiachen cursed, “If I endure it any longer, that old bastard is going to bring him home. If he had just stayed in his place, it would have been fine, but he is too ambitious. Since he dares to harbor such ideas, do not blame me for burning his rat’s nest to the ground.”
“Do you need my help?”
Su Jiachen said indignantly, “No need, I already have a plan.”
Pei Sichen nodded and did not continue the topic. As his eyes wandered, they fell on a green plant in the corner. It looked like a mint plant, which was rare in such a place filled with opulence and darkness.
He sniffed carefully; amidst the heavy perfume of the room, there was indeed a faint, lingering scent of fresh mint: plain, yet soothing.
It inexplicably reminded him of the beta from that night, not particularly outstanding in appearance, but he found him comfortable, just like the mint plant in the corner.
Su Jiachen had been venting on the table for a long time. After he finished, he turned to see Pei Sichen quietly admiring the plant, looking completely at peace, which made him so angry he almost coughed up blood.
However, remembering the purpose of tonight’s visit, a wicked smile curled on Su Jiachen’s lips. He gestured toward the door, and the manager who had been waiting outside quickly hurried in. “Young Master Su, what are your orders?”
“The drinks here taste too strong. Bring something plain instead.”
The manager naturally understood Su Jiachen’s subtext. He agreed repeatedly and went to contact the person in charge downstairs.
When Li Hai received the call, he was not surprised. He looked at the beta beside him who had just put on his uniform but still looked pale. Li Hai sighed silently.
“Xiao Jiang, there are two distinguished guests on the top floor of ‘Darkness’ tonight who need your service.”
Jiang Ruobai felt a bad premonition and refused, “Manager, I have not been here long and have not had formal training. Could you let someone else go?”
Li Hai knew Jiang Ruobai’s concerns, so he said bluntly, “You should know that those figures on the top floor are people neither you nor I can afford to offend. We cannot refuse their requests. If you want to continue making a living in Haishi, it is best to go up and serve them obediently.”
“Then can I ask who the important people on the top floor are?” Jiang Ruobai’s lips trembled. Those dark, ruthless eyes flashed before his eyes again, and the fear nearly swallowed him whole. He only prayed that the person on the top floor was not who he feared it was.
But the next second, his final hope was shattered.
“Young Master Pei and Young Master Su are both there. When you go up, you should thank Young Master Pei. If it were not for him, you would probably be nursing your wounds in prison right now.”
Jiang Ruobai wanted to argue, but after trying to speak several times, he found no words. In the end, he could only follow Li Hai to the top floor.
Su Jiachen told Jiang Ruobai to stay, and dismissed Li Hai.
Seeing Jiang Ruobai again, Su Jiachen thought the beta looked a bit better than the first time they met. However, for people like them who were used to seeing beauties and handsome men, Jiang Ruobai’s appearance did not even reach the passing mark. He wondered why Pei Sichen would be interested in him.
Could it be that after eating too much rich food, he wanted some plain porridge?
Su Jiachen did not dwell on the question and pulled Jiang Ruobai to push open the door of the private room.
The moment the blinding light hit them, Pei Sichen’s gaze also landed on them. When Jiang Ruobai saw that familiar face, he felt his stomach churn and his throat grow bitter.
“It is you.” Unlike Jiang Ruobai’s fear and unease, Pei Sichen’s eyes were full of amusement.
How should he describe the feeling at that moment? Perhaps Jiang Ruobai would define it as his darkest hour. Unprecedented panic and anxiety filled every corner of his body, as if even the marrow of his bones was shivering.
“Pei… Young Master Pei.”
He walked into the room, stumbling twice, nearly falling to his knees.
Pei Sichen looked at the beta in front of him with an indifferent gaze, clearly knowing why he was here.
“Come here.”
He lifted his eyes and crooked his finger. With his arrogant gaze and lazy, casual movements, he looked like a naturally noble and graceful young master.
That one soft sentence was enough to make Jiang Ruobai’s heart tremble. Even though he had ten thousand reasons to refuse, he still walked quickly to Pei Sichen.
“Young Master Pei, what are your orders?” He lowered his head, trying his best to control his trembling legs.
Pei Sichen ignored him, leaned back against the sofa, and took out a lighter to light a cigarette. When his eyes accidentally scanned the mint plant that felt so out of place in the room, his inherent malice suddenly flared up. A boring life sometimes needs some seasoning to pass the time.
“Kneel down,” Pei Sichen ordered.
Jiang Ruobai did not hesitate and knelt down immediately, a completely submissive posture. He only hoped this would satisfy Pei Sichen and let him go.
Pei Sichen was very satisfied with Jiang Ruobai’s self-awareness. He glanced at Su Jiachen, who was watching the show from the side. Although he did not speak, the meaning was clear. Su Jiachen received the order perfectly and walked with a leisurely pace to another private room prepared for him.
Jiang Ruobai remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to make another move without Pei Sichen’s command.
He did not know how long it had been. His legs were going numb, and his body, which had not yet recovered, was being pushed to the limit, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.
“Bring that mint over,” Pei Sichen said.
Hearing the order, Jiang Ruobai hurried to get up, but a sudden surge of soreness and numbness in his legs made him collapse back down.
Pei Sichen frowned. “Do you want me to invite you to go get it?”
Hearing this, Jiang Ruobai hardened his heart and pinched his thigh hard with his hand, using the pain to temporarily dispel the numbness. Like an old man, he shuffled step by step to the mint plant, and then shuffled back to his original position.
Jiang Ruobai knelt on the ground and raised his arms, presenting the mint to Pei Sichen like an offering.
Pei Sichen plucked a leaf to play with his fingertips. “How long have you been working here?”
“A week.” Including the days he was unconscious, it added up to exactly a week.
“Have you never done this line of work before?” Pei Sichen asked again.
“No,” Jiang Ruobai said. He had lived for 26 years and had never even been to a bar.
“How much money can you earn in a night?”
Jiang Ruobai thought Pei Sichen was asking about his salary, so he answered honestly, “Three hundred.”
Then, he heard a sneer from above.
“300?” Pei Sichen muttered under his breath. The leaf at his fingertips was rubbed repeatedly, and the moment it was crushed, it released a rich fragrance.
Jiang Ruobai thought Pei Sichen’s laugh was mocking his low value, but 300 yuan a night was already higher than many jobs in the city. The young master did not understand the hardships of the world and naturally did not know how cheap they were.
However, it was not Pei Sichen’s fault for not knowing; after all, someone born in Rome could not be expected to stand on the street and feel the helplessness of the secular world.
Pei Sichen sniffed the mint scent on his fingertips and looked at the slender, white neck. His eyes were dark and murky. Suddenly, he grabbed Jiang Ruobai by the neck, threw him onto the sofa, pinned his arms down, and leaned over him.
Jiang Ruobai had not even reacted before he was pressed down by Pei Sichen, his mind going blank.
“Pei… Young Master Pei.”
Pei Sichen asked, “Do you know what you smell like?”
His hot breath hit Jiang Ruobai’s ear before moving to his neck. With a teasing and malicious tone, he said to Jiang Ruobai, “Tell me, can a beta get pregnant?”
At this moment, Jiang Ruobai’s frozen brain finally seemed to grasp the situation. He began to struggle and beg in a panic.
“Young Master Pei, I beg you to let me go. I do not do this, I really do not! I have a…”
Jiang Ruobai wanted to tell Pei Sichen he had a spouse, hoping to beg him to let him go. But before he could finish, Pei Sichen had already bitten down on Jiang Ruobai’s gland.
The scent of rum instantly permeated the room.
Jiang Ruobai’s eyes lost their focus, and the pain caused by the suppression of pheromones made him lose even the strength to think.
Tearing away those cheap, hindering clothes, Pei Sichen looked at the scene before him and was slightly satisfied. Although Jiang Ruobai looked thin, the muscles under his clothes were smooth and well-proportioned, clean and fresh, which was a small surprise for him.
Only then did Jiang Ruobai realize what Pei Sichen was doing.
His reflexes were faster than his thoughts. He summoned all his strength and pushed Pei Sichen away hard. Ignoring the other’s shock, he scrambled to pick up his clothes from the floor and ran toward the door.
The moment his fingers reached for the door, a pair of dark, ferocious eyes stared at him, and a large hand gripped his throat, laughing sinisterly:
“Where do you think you are running?”
The moment he was caught, the color drained completely from Jiang Ruobai’s face.