Forbidden To Be Tempted

On a Sunday night, the downtown commercial street was brightly lit, people were coming and going, the outer walls of high-rise buildings flashed bright colors, and there was noise everywhere.

 

“NOTTE” is the most eye-catching existence on the whole street.
This nightclub has been open for less than three years.
It is famous in Jiangcheng for its luxurious decoration and super high patron traffic.
It is often visited by celebrities.
It is rumored that the owner is a female star with a deep background.

 

It was just after eight o'clock at this moment, and the lobby on the first floor gradually became lively.

 

A flower and vine swing was hung in the center of the stage.
Cheng Suran sat on the swing, holding the rope with one hand and the microphone with the other, singing a melodious tune:

 

“White windmill, who do you miss, the fireflies in June are silent and lonely…”*

*lyrics to Sara Liu's song, Love Song Of The Wind 

 

The clear and gentle voice echoed in the hall.

 

She was wearing a long white gauze dress, and her black and soft hair was loose and elegant. The silver mask covered the upper half of her face, only her thin lips and thin chin were exposed, and her skin was colorless under the soft light.

 

Surrounded by lingering smoke, it was like a fairyland, and everyone who passed the stage couldn't help but glance at her.

 

“Sister Fairy!” someone shouted from below.

 

A few young men were stirring around the stage, as if they were about to rush up at any moment.  But the stage was surrounded by more than 20 security guards, and it was not easy to go up.

 

Cheng Suran frowned, her eyes hidden under the mask remained calm.

 

Two months ago, she successfully applied to be the part-time singer of “NOTTE”, and came to sing every Sunday at 8:00 pm, ten songs, earning 300 yuan, not including the commission for flowers sent by guests.

 

Unlike other singers, she wears a mask on stage every time.

 

The mask added a bit of mystery to her, plus her voice was nice and she sang well, so she accumulated high popularity in less than half a month.

 

Gradually got used to this scene.

 

“NOTTE” is divided into two floors.
The first floor is an open area, where guests can enter as long as they can afford it.
The second floor is a VIP area, where only friends of the boss and holders of 300 limited membership cards can enter.  There are special passages and elevators for leaving, and the security is strict.
It's a different world from downstairs.

 

Although it is a serious entertainment venue, it is inevitable that some people who come to play have other intentions, so one must be careful.

 

After singing the last song, the swing slowly descended.
Cheng Suran stood up, bowed lightly amidst the voices of  “Don't go, fairy sister” and “One more song”, turned and walked off the stage.

 

Four or five security guards escorted her back to the lounge.

 

Manager Yang, who had been waiting beside her, followed behind her, and said with a smile, “Xiao* Cheng, please sing two more songs.
Some guests came all the way to visit you.” While speaking, he gestured, “Here, additional one hundred for you.”

*Xiao = Little, served as a pet name once attached before the Surname, used by someone older than the subject.

 

Cheng Suran grabbed the mineral water on the table, and when she heard this, she gave his arms a heavy blow.

 

One hundred yuan.

 

The lure of money——

 

She squeezed the bottle tightly, the struggle in her eyes flashed away, she smiled and shook her head and said, “I'm sorry, Manager Yang, I have something to do tonight…”

 

She sounds different when talking from when she sings, her voice is less gentle, hoarse, with the tenderness of a girl.

 

After drinking water, Cheng Suran took off her mask, revealing a clear and delicate face, like the first snow, her cheeks were slightly flushed under the normal light, and there were shallow pear dimples.

 

Manager Yang couldn't help looking at her for a few more seconds, and nodded with some regret: “Okay, then you should pay attention to safety on the way back, I'll go to work first.” After speaking, he turned and left.

 

Cheng Suran was reluctant, but when she thought about what she was going to do tonight, she felt that she could give it up.
Maybe, if she gave up the small one, she could get the big one…

 

After a short rest, she took out her mobile phone to check the time, but when she turned on the screen, she saw four or five missed calls and a few WeChat messages, all of which were voice messages from her aunt.

 

Her heart tightened and her hands trembled.

 

“Playing dead? Don't want to care about your grandma?”

 

“Don't tell me you don't have any money.
Aren't you working during the summer vacation? What about your scholarship? Take them all out.
For you to eat and have something to wear for so many years, and to give you milk and medical expenses…”  The high-pitched voice of the middle-aged woman pierced her ears like needles.

 

Cheng Suran pursed her lips, the corners of her eyes were slightly red, and after listening to everything, she typed slowly:

 

[The phone is muted and I didn't hear it]

 

[Tomorrow]

 

This is the fourth reminder this month, and she can't delay it even if she wanted to.

 

She quit WeChat, opened the address book, found a number and dialed it, “Assistant Tian, ​​I'm off work…”

 

Half an hour later, Cheng Suran got into a black Cadillac.

 

The car was lit with warm yellow light, and a woman in her early thirties with a ponytail was sitting in the back row.
When she saw the girl coming up, she smiled slightly: “Miss Cheng, I want to confirm with you again, have you really considered it?” 

 

The overhead light shone softly on the girl's body.
She turned her face sideways, with a few strands of fluffy hair scattered on her forehead and temples.

 

Without hesitation, she replied, “I did.”

 

Assistant Tian didn't say anything, and turned to let the driver drive.

 

The journey was very quiet, Cheng Suran sat upright with her body stretched, her hands resting on her knees, and her thin white fingers were clasped together.  The car windows were covered by curtains, and she couldn't see outside, just like she couldn't see her life after tonight.

 

The destination is a high-end hotel named Yunjin Lihua.

 

On the twenty-seventh floor, the VIP elevator opens.
The lobby is empty, with a few landscape oil paintings hanging on the wall, and the lights are like fog.

 

Cheng Suran had never been to this kind of place before, so she couldn't help looking around, and followed Assistant Tian's steps in a regular manner.

 

Assistant Tian pushed open the white gold door, and there was a suite inside.
She pointed to the left and diagonally forward, and said, “Miss Cheng, the bathroom is over there.
Toiletries and clothes are ready.
You take a shower first, and the boss will come for you later.”

 

“Okay…” Cheng Suran grasped the strap of her backpack tightly.

 

“Remember to wash carefully, our boss likes it clean.” Assistant Tian smiled, but her voice sounded like an emotionless machine, “Also, the final result depends on whether your performance today can satisfy the boss.”

 

Cheng Suran's face burned instantly, her lips turned white, as if she was slapped in the face in public, humiliated and embarrassed.

 

But she still responded with a light smile.

 

After the person left, Cheng Suran stood alone on the spot, raised her hand to touch her face, it was a little hot.

 

At that moment, she had the urge to run away.

 

The boss that Assistant Tian mentioned was a female guest on