Seeing me enter, Xu Lin immediately began the meeting.
"You all know that our line of work relies on our youth, and I don’t want to see us burn out like this. I believe I have a fair understanding of everyone’s background here; none of you chose this life willingly. If there were other options, I wouldn't have chosen it either."
Xu Lin’s expression dimmed, then she continued, "A massively anticipated online game has finally arrived after four years of development—*Yueheng*. I’m sure you’ve all heard of it?"
"Of course! There are posters plastered even on the bathroom walls. Unless you never go to the restroom, there's no way you wouldn't know!"
A busty beauty giggled as she spoke. This was Xinyu, our number-one girl. Her business was booming; you usually needed an appointment just to book her for the night.
Xinyu was right. When *Yueheng*, a joint venture by the three global internet giants, began development four years ago, it caused a massive stir. With the launch scheduled for the coming months, promotional posters were everywhere—even kindergarteners were probably aware of it.
"I don't know it..."
A timid voice came from beside me. Everyone immediately turned to stare at Lu Xuehan as if she were an alien.
The young beauty blushed, glanced at everyone shyly, and said, "I really don't know it..."
Xu Lin quickly lost her patience and said, "If you don't know, forget it. I’ll let Lin Fan explain it to you in detail later. Let me get straight to the point: I’ve been observing this game for a long time. Based on my business experience, this game is enough to make us all wealthy. Of course, that’s assuming we all work together!"
Xinyu laughed, her chest heaving as she chuckled, "Big sister, please! How many business ventures have you tried in the past, and which one actually succeeded? This foot bath center is the only one that showed any foresight. Don't tell me you want us sisters to go pan for gold in an online game?"
Xu Lin glared at her and snapped, "If we don't find a way out, do you want to spend your whole life at the mercy of men?"
Xinyu crossed her legs, looking incredibly alluring. "But if there are no men, how are we sisters supposed to survive?"
Lu Xuehan turned beet red hearing this. Having been here for nearly two months, she still hadn't developed an immunity to this group of lewd women.
Clearly not wanting to bicker with Xinyu, Xu Lin changed the subject. "The game *Yueheng* goes live in two days. I’ve checked—the specialized computer and helmet set isn't too expensive, roughly 5,000 yuan. I’ve decided to invest my personal savings into this game. If you’re willing, I’d like you to join me so we can look out for one another. I’ll give you an hour to think about it."
Seeing the confused expressions on everyone's faces, Xu Lin added, "From what I understand, you all have gaming experience, so getting started shouldn't be a problem. As for the helmets and equipment, I’ll cover those. Anyone who agrees to join my family will receive a free set of gaming equipment, plus three months' salary as a bonus!"
That was extravagant. Three months' salary and 5,000 yuan worth of equipment? There were eight of us here—that meant 40,000 RMB gone. Was Xu Lin really that confident she could turn a profit in the game?
"I’m in!"
Xinyu, who had just been singing a different tune, was the first to raise her hand. Li Qing, sitting beside her, said in surprise, "Are you losing your mind? You actually believe you can make money playing a game?"
Xinyu laughed. "I don’t necessarily believe it, but my living expenses for this month are gone. If I don't take that three-month salary, I’ll have no choice but to sell myself!"
"Have some shame! Aren't you selling yourself already?!" Li Qing spat, her tone filled with bitterness, conveniently forgetting that her own moaning last night had kept me awake.
Xinyu didn't care. "Might as well play. When I used to play games with my boyfriend, you girls didn't even know where you were."
Her boyfriend had since been kept by a wealthy woman; that was an open secret.
Li Qing sat cross-legged. "I’m no expert, but when I used to play *CS*, I was on the school team. With my hand speed and reaction time, playing an online game shouldn't be an issue."
The others also mentioned their past gaming experiences. Finally, everyone’s gaze fell on me and Lu Xuehan.
Lu Xuehan looked at everyone and whispered, "I used to play *BnB*, does that count?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Xinyu reached out to touch Lu Xuehan’s fair leg and giggled, "Little Han, let’s not talk about children’s games, alright?"
Lu Xuehan’s fair face turned crimson, and she fell silent.
Everyone’s eyes turned to me. Xinyu scanned me up and down with a lewd gaze and finally asked, "Lin Fan is still a virgin, right?"
Both Lu Xuehan and I almost dropped our jaws. Xinyu chuckled, adjusted her bathrobe, leaned against me, and said coyly, "Lin Fan, how about this? Sister will take a loss—twenty yuan and you can have a go with me, how about it? Oh, that won't work? Ten yuan for the night, then? What, still no? I couldn't tell you were such a tough nut to crack. Fine, I'll make it free!"
I just smiled and didn't say a word.
"You've got to be kidding. Do you want me to play with you and then have me pay you too? Fine, I guess I’m just too kind! Name your price!"
Xu Lin looked at me deeply and intervened, "Enough with the jokes. Lin Fan definitely won't have any problems."
I was a bit surprised, but I gave a faint smile and said, "I can't. I'm too slow; I'll never be able to play a game. Even if I did, I'd just be a total amateur."
"Do you really think you can hide it from me?" Xu Lin slowly set down her coffee.
"What am I hiding?"
"Lin Fan, twenty-three years old, junior at XX University, expelled six months ago for personal reasons. In 2014, you and your good friend Yeqiu founded the TOT Warcraft team. That same year, you won third place at the WCG Nanjing stop, and in 2015, the runner-up at the CEG Shanghai stop. In July of that year, you won the championship at the WCG Shanghai stop and secured one of the three spots for China in the WCG, but for some unknown reason, you didn't participate in the subsequent competitions. This caused the Chinese team to lose its strongest force for winning the championship. A rising WAR3 star in whom everyone placed huge expectations vanished in an instant, only to appear a month later at the Wave Foot Bath Center in this city. None of this is a lie, right?"
Yes, all of this... was it real?
I thought I had already forgotten...