Translator: 549690339
âYoung Master Shen has arrived.â
âYo, Young Master Shen has never pleaded for a woman before.â
âDoes Young Master Shen know this woman?â
The crowd started chatting among themselves, and the private room instantly buzzed with activity.
The man who kicked her snorted when he saw it was Shen Shihan, pointing at the woman on the ground, âYouâre damn lucky today, with Young Master Shen pleading for you! Scram if you know whatâs good for you!â
Only then did the woman stand up from the ground, clutching her chest, her black hair covering half of her face. She cautiously bowed to Shen Shihan, not daring to lift her head, âThank you.â
She hurried out, her steps quick, as if afraid of causing more trouble.
âStop right there,â Shen Shihan called out to her.
He had recognized her just now, but she seemed not to remember him.
If he remembered correctly, this woman was named MO Shuifu.
She could hardly be considered a woman, at most twenty-one or twenty-two years of age. Her face was delicate, possessing a transcendent quality, elegant like a lotus, yet incredibly cold.
But what she was doing now was serving tea and water, and she was doing it here, in the disreputable âWeiyang.â
He noticed that her clothes were somewhat disheveled, and her complexion not very good. However, even so, it couldnât hide the gracefulness in her bones.
The woman halted her steps but did not turn around.
Her heart beat erratically, in a jumble.
She twisted her hands together nervously, as today was only her second day at this job, and trouble had already found her.
âYou should not work at a place like this anymore,â Shen Shihan stood by her side, frowning deeply.
âThank you for helping me just now, but I need the money,â MO Shuifu said coldly without lifting her head.
Behind her were the sounds of boisterous chatting and piercing gazes, and she knew people were pointing and making remarks about her.
The supervisor had told her that she couldnât afford to provoke anyone who could afford to come to âWeiyang.â If she wanted to earn money, she had to treat them like masters and serve them well.
MO Shuifu didnât have much of a good feeling towards the man who had helped her, considering him nothing more than a rich and indulgent young master who probably just happened to be in a good mood today to lend her a hand. Shen Shihan did not speak, and MO Shuifu quickly ran out of the private room. Shen Shihanâs frown deepened, âAn ungrateful woman.â
The crowd only approached and started to jeer after the woman had left.
âYoung Master Shen, youâve never taken an interest in any lady over the years, so whatâs this? Have you taken a fancy to this girl?â
âYes, Iâve taken a liking to her, so you know what to do, right?â Shen Shihan scanned the crowd.
âA woman Young Master Shen fancies, we definitely wonât touch. Weâll take care of her if we see her,â a man said.
The others followed suit, noisily remarking, âYoung Master Shen truly has unique taste; with so many socialites and models in C City, we havenât seen you take a fancy to anyone.â
âThat girl just now had a good figure, pretty face too.â
âIndeed, just a bit clumsy, couldnât even open a beer bottle properly.â âHavenât seen her at âWeiyangâ before; she must be new. Itâs forgivable since sheâs new! â
âWhereâs Pei Tian?â Shen Shihanâs expression turned slightly displeased, cutting them off.
He didnât like being talked about, whether it was directly or behind his back.
âPei Tian went to the washroom; heâll be right back.â
âIâll wait for him in the adjacent private room.â
Shen Shihan, finding the noise too loud and the smell of smoke too strong, walked out of 1509.
âHey, Young Master, have a drink! Since youâre here, letâs hang out,â one called after him.
âYou can put the drink on my tab,â Shen Shihan replied without looking back as he left the private room.
The adjacent private room was much quieter. Once the doors and windows were closed, no sound could be heard. One has to say, Weiyang had excellent soundproofing measures in place, reflecting a good understanding of protecting clientsâ privacy.
Shen Shihan opened a bottle of red wine, its aroma filled the private room.
The dim lighting cast upon his face accentuated his already somber and frosty complexion.
Before he had a chance to sip the wine, the door to the private room was turned
0Den.
âYoung Master, youâre really here!â
The man who arrived was in his thirties, with a mature and stable presence.
âSit down.â
âYou said you had something to discuss with me, Young Master Shen?â Zhou Peitian sat down across from Shen Shihan and got straight to the point without any small talk.
âAre you strapped for cash recently?â Shen Shihan cut to the chase as well. âYouâre not implying⦠you want to borrow money?â
âThe Shen Group is recently investing in a huge diamond development project. Naturally, a big project like this requires a lot of funds,â Shen Shihan stated plainly.
âYoung Master, letâs not beat around the bush. Even if Shenâs is starting a project, it wouldnât be your responsibility to gather funds, right?â Zhou Peitian spoke frankly, âIâm a man of quick talk, hope you donât mind.â
âHeh,â Shen Shihan chuckled, âBrother Zhou is indeed like a brother to me.
Since you said that, you should know why I want to borrow money.â
âYou want to invest in a new project that can compete with this one, donât you?â
âBrother Zhou is smart.â
âI have a good suggestion for you. Go find the chairman of Faye Jewelry Group âLu Feili. Sheâs been distressed about Shenâs project lately. If you and she team up, one with experience and the other with money, youâre bound to do well.â âFaye Jewelry Group?â Shen Shihan narrowed his eyes, pondering the name.
âYes. If Shenâs successful with this jewelry investment, it will certainly threaten the existence of Feili Group. Therefore, Lu Feili is like an ant on a hot pan right now.â
âIâve heard of this woman. Almost fifty, running such a vast conglomerate all by herself; sheâs known to be strong-willed, ruthless. Her husband passed away a long time ago, leaving her with only one son, Nie Chenglang, whoâs abroad.â
âYoung Master, a strong alliance is the best endeavor,â Zhou Peitian said.
âThen Iâll trouble you, Brother Pei, to smooth things over for me. As you know, Iâve never been very good at interacting with women,â Shen Shihan said.
âSure, thatâs no big deal. Arenât we brothers?â Zhou Peitian slapped him on the shoulder.
The two chatted for a while longer, and since it was evening, places like this became more lively at night.
When theyâd discussed nearly everything and opened several bottles of wine, the hazy light threw languid shadows over Shen Shihanâs indifferent face.
âYoung Master, care to join the others for a drink next door?â Zhou Peitian stood up.
âNot tonight, Iâm a bit tired. Iâll head back,â Shen Shihan replied, glancing at his watch, âSome other day, Iâll drink with you until weâre both under the table.â
âBe careful driving after drinking, donât get caught,â Zhou Peitian laughed heartily.
âI wonât bother you any longer, Brother Zhou. Letâs make arrangements another time.â
Shen Shihan left the private room, finding the corridor outside to be quiet, practically without sound.
This floor primarily featured European-style decor, with decorative paintings from various centuries hanging on the walls. The lights were dim, dust motes floating.
Shen Shihan rubbed his forehead slightly. He had drunk quite a bit in just a short time, and his head was starting to ache.
The farther he walked, the quieter the sounds from the private rooms became, until they were no longer audible.
When he reached the first floor, he glanced to the side and saw a woman crouched in a corner. She was buried in her knees, her shoulders shaking slightly, likely crying.
But this was no place for tears, so she cried with great caution, her shoulders visibly trembling, yet without a sound being heard..