Cruel Romance - Chapter 3.1

“Boss Feng, just drink a little bit more…look at you perspiring, it wouldn’t be good if you go out now and catch a cold, stay a little while more, what’s there to be afraid of…”

“Brother Guang, I specially wore this newly tailored dress, you didn’t even take a look at it….”

Jin Xiu sat on the chair, prim and proper, all the laughter and whispers, shameless coquetry and flirtation from nearby drowned her in waves.

The music kept on playing, song after song, she could see silhouettes of crowds on the huge dance floor, the warm air was filled with the scent of cosmetics, perfume and wine.

She had been at Bai Le Men for quite a few days, Jin Xiu finally knew what lost in paradise meant. Bai Le Men was like a pearl floating up from amidst the dark night, radiating with extravagance, magnificently brightening up the area.

When Jin Xiu first arrived, she could hardly believe her eyes, such a wide hall, the ceiling that was two stories high, with thousands of inlaid lights, the walls were covered with western carvings, encircling the large pillars; the chairs, tables and utensils were exquisite to an extreme: fine linen table clothes, gleaming silver cups and kettles, crystal lamps, fresh flower vases…and an entire band, the waiters were dressed in suit, ties and gloves, the entire hall filled with guests all dressed to impress, Jin Xiu remembered that when she gathered her courage to approach Xiang Ying Dong, there was a look of astonishment on his face.

“Be a dancer?” He asked, “Did Zuo Zhen get you in here?” Was Zuo Zhen crazy, this was his so called arrangement? To arrange for her to work in Bai Le Men? This little imp didn’t have what it takes to be a dancer girl, she didn’t even know anything, if some guy even touch her, she’d probably cry, what a joke, to be treating this as a charity for homeless women.

“You better hurry back to Lion Grove.” Xiang Ying Dong scoffed, “Don’t cause any trouble for me.”

“What?” Jin Xiu could hardly believe her ears, “She wasn’t even qualified to be a dancer girl?”

Ying Dong looked at her, “You think the money from a man’s pocket can be so easily earned, Ms Rong, let’s first not talk about how you can’t dance, if you were to be forced to drink by the customers or even kissed just once, you’d probably run back and kill yourself. This is not an easy place to work, you really think anyone can do this?”

He parted with these words, “If you don’t believe you can try, if you can earn a hundred dollars within a month, then I’ll admit I was wrong about you.”

It was really as he expected. After being here for four to five days, every night Jin Xiu was coldly left alone. Seeing all the dancer girls were out with their skills and entertaining left and right, Jin Xiu on the other hand was so worried that her hair seemed to turn white. Was it that she wasn’t pretty enough? Or did not take enough initiative?  There were a few times she wanted to try to speak to the customers, but always backed out at the last minute. She really couldn’t do that kind of thing.

Beside her a flirtatious voice drifted into her ears, “Brother Hao, don’t rush to leave, Er Ye hasn’t reached yet. You can wait here for him, better than going out to suffer in the cold.”

That “Brother Hao” seemed impatient, “You sit here first, I’m going out for a breath of fresh air. Help me look out, if Er Ye arrives early, call me, I’ll be by the entrance.”

“No worries, leave it to me.” No matter what that voice said it sound coquettish, “Who at Bai Le Men doesn’t recognize Er Ye, the minute they hear “Zuo Zhen” these two words, everyone would crowd around to flatter him.

Zuo Zhen?!

Jin Xiu jumped up from her chair. When did he come, why didn’t she not notice at all. Perhaps he would help her think of something,  exactly how could she end the days of awkwardness sitting on a cold stool? Jin Xiu grabbed onto  “Brother Hao”, overjoyed as blurted out, “Zuo Zhen is here too?, Shi Hao was stunned. Where did this woman come from, to actually dare call out Er Ye’s name like this! A working lady at Bai Le Men or a customer? She looked so familiar. But that face full of delight and surprise was one he did not seem to know.

“I’m Rong Jin Xiu. Mr Zuo has never mentioned me before I think. I wish to see him for a while, is he here?” Jin Xiu tip toed and looked around while tugging on to Shi Hao.

Oh, Rong Jin Xiu, so this is her.

Only then did Shi Hao realize who this woman was. He heard Er Ye and Ying Shao bringing her up occasionally, as though they both knew her, yes, her life was saved from the streets by Shi Hao and Zuo Zhen.

“Follow me then, he is upstairs.” Shi Hao examined Jin Xiu with his eyes from head to toe, “Go look for him by yourself, I’m just afraid that Tang Hai and the rest won’t let you in.” He was surprised that she had become a dancer at Bai Le Men. But it’s not too bad, better than starving and freezing to death on the streets.

Upstairs were filled with booths, Jin Xiu had never been there.

Shi Hao stood outside one of the booths, and greeted Tang Hai who was chatting with two underlings, “Er Ye is inside?”

Tang Hai pointed, “Yes he is. Two have gone in, another one?” Shi Hao looked at Jin Xiu who was behind him, “It’s not like that. Hey, what are you standing there for, aren’t you looking for Er Ye, hurry in then.”

The door was closed. Jin Xiu gathered her courage and knocked twice, she heard Zuo Zhen’s voice from within, “Come in.”

Jin Xiu twisted open the door nob and entered–and was completely stunned. Her face turned red and didn’t know to go in or not.

Inside there were fine wine, good food, of course this wasn’t important since there was no one at the table. But Zuo Zhen was reclining on the couch, beside his long pants, he wasn’t wearing anything else! A woman was sitting in his arms, another was holding on the wine and leaning to his side, glancing at the sudden entrance of Jin Xiu, she ignored her and continued, “This wine, was specially kept for Er Ye to drink, other kinds are good enough for you. That day Boss Zheng came…”

Zuo Zhen opened his half closed eyes, and saw Jin Xiu standing at the door with her face flushed and eyes wide opened, he lazily pushed away the wine glass at his lips, “Why are you standing at the door? Come in and talk.”

Now Jin Xiu didn’t dare to go in anymore, “I…just a small matter, why not I wait downstairs for you…”

“Stop nagging.” Zuo Zhen straightened up, “Speak if you have anything to say.”

Jin Xiu fearfully went in, standing far away, only daring to stare the the floor, gosh, if she had known it would be like this inside, she wouldn’t have barged in!

Seeing how scared she was, Zuo Zhen was amused. While standing, he waved his hands and asked the two women to leave, “Speak, why are you looking for me?”

Jin Xiu was a tad embarrassed, “I don’t know how to put it into words. I didn’t expect it to be like this.”

Zuo Zhen sighed listlessly, “I beg of you Jin Xiu, please get to the point. What happened exactly, were you bullied by the customers, scolded by Ying Dong, or don’t feel like doing this anymore?”

While putting on his coat, he buckled up the leather belt with twelve short knives around his waist, and slowly put on the gun holster before buttoning up his clothes.

Jin Xiu stared at him, too shocked to speak. Everything she saw him, he was warm and calm, carefree and rarely raised his voice, as though when others would angrily say “scram”, he would politely say “please”. This kind of person, why would there be knives around his waist and a gun even? Weren’t those for killing people or smuggling goods? Why were they hidden under his coat?!

Zuo Zhen coldly spoke, “Have you seen enough? You’ve never seen a man changing?”

Jin Xiu hurriedly closed her eyes, “Sorry, I wasn’t looking at you, looking at you…” She want to say “Wasn’t looking at your body”, but her tongue was in knots, and couldn’t speak clearly.

A hand patted her head, “Alright, don’t be so nervous, sit down and tell me about it.” Zuo Zhen lit up a cigarette, taking out the greatest patience, “There are no outsiders here.”

Jin Xiu quietened, and forced herself to be calm. “I might not be suitable for this industry.”

“I knew you would say so.” Zuo Zhen lightly said, “Got taken advantaged by customers, is that so?”

Jin Xiu’s face turned even redder, “No…I, I haven’t even been touched by the customers.”

Zuo Zhen could not help but raise an eyebrow, what, after being a dancer girl for so long, she hasn’t even had one customer? How was she even a dancer girl? Even if she didn’t know, after looking at how others worked, wouldn’t she find out on her own? Jin Xiu felt uneasy under his stare, “Maybe I’m not pretty enough.” She furrowed her brows, troubled, “I don’t know to serve them…I can only sit aside and wait.”

Zuo Zhen didn’t want to laugh but he couldn’t seem to keep it in. He could imagine how she looked, all prim and proper, wearing a qipao, button all the way up to her chin, all pure with two plaits, a look of virginal goodness as she sat with composure on the chair.

Who knew if she was there to keep an eye on the happenings on the dance floor or be a dancer girl? Who earned money like her? It wasn’t hard to imagine that these few days the in charge must have been harsh on her.

“What are you laughing about?” Jin Xiu unhappily muttered, “Ying Shao looks down on me too, he wanted to chase me away from the start.”

“Say no more.” Zuo Zhen sighed, “Jin Xiu, you are really an eye-opener. Come, let me teach you.”