“Working overtime even during the holidays, your boss is really heartless. Looks like all capitalists are the same. So, can you take a leave? At worst, just give up that little bit of holiday overtime pay, and I’ll take you to Thailand for a trip.”

“No, I can’t. This project is at a critical stage, it’s not convenient to take time off.”

“Sigh, project after project, work after work. Even if the project succeeds, you won’t get much of a bonus. Why keep slogging away foolishly at that company?”

“What about you, did you quit?”

“Quit? Why would I quit? Hahaha;

I’d have to be out of my mind to quit. With this job, I make as much from one deal as others do from two or three. Just one deal earns me more than your monthly salary plus bonus.”

“Grace, are you really planning to keep doing this?”

“I’ll just keep at it for now, Lily. To be honest, I’ve seen through it all. In this society, you can lack anything, but you can’t lack money. If you don’t have money, life just isn’t comfortable. If you don’t have money, others will look down on you!”

“But, don’t you ever think about the future?”

“The future? Why think so far ahead? Just live in the moment. Honestly, Lily, have you ever been tempted? Back in school, you were prettier than me, and way more boys chased after you than me.”

“I…”

“Don’t go there, Lily. I was just joking earlier. This is a pit—once you jump in, you can’t get out. You’re a good girl, I can’t drag you down.

Really, after doing it two or three times, I knew I couldn’t get out. The money comes in too fast, really too fast. The money from one deal, plus tips and all, is way more than I could ever earn working hard at a regular job.

My values have collapsed. If you asked me to go back to a regular job now and earn that measly salary, I really couldn’t do it. Honestly, there’s no going back.”

“Grace, I sincerely suggest you end this. Otherwise, you’ll just sink deeper and deeper.”

“But what I do is different from those in the clubs. Mine is high-end, and the ones who can afford me are all rich. Heh, I tell them I just started because my parents are sick and need money for treatment.

Lily, someone already said he wants to keep me. I’m still considering it.”

“Keep you?”

“Yeah, he’s offering quite a bit of money, just a bit older, and already has a family. I’ll see how it goes.

Honestly, doing this isn’t much different from blind dating, and the guys I meet here are way better off than those from matchmaking agencies.”

“Grace, you should really stop and go back to a normal life. I think that’s the right—”

“Alright, I’ll contact you after I get back from my trip. I’ll bring you a gift.”

……

“Hey, Lily, did you see my Moments?”

“I saw it, that bag.”

“It cost over a hundred thousand. A client gave it to me. I had someone check it out, it’s authentic, not a knockoff.”

“Mm.”

“And he’s young, just two years older than me. His family’s rich, he’s a second-generation rich kid, and pretty innocent.”

“So, are you interested in him?”

“Let me tell you, this guy is a bit introverted, but he’s totally obsessed with me now. He’s asked me out six times this month already. I feel like, with a bit more effort, I can get him.”

“Well, congratulations then.”

“Right? I think so too. After all, you can’t do this line of work for too long, and everyone gets old eventually, just like in ‘The Song of the Lute.’

Now I finally understand why those female celebrities are so desperate to marry into wealthy families.”

“If his family is really rich, what about his parents…”

“I know, don’t worry. I’ve already got this silly boy wrapped around my finger. Once my belly gets bigger, I’ll do a paternity test—it’ll definitely be his!

By then, his parents will have to let me in. Besides, he’s not stupid, he’d never tell his parents what I used to do.

I even asked him if he’d mind my past. You know what he said?

He said, everyone has it tough, and he admires me for working hard to pay for my parents’ medical bills. He respects me and wants to be with me forever.

Oh my god, it cracks me up.”

“Well, it seems he’s actually a pretty good guy.”

“Alright, I’ll stop here for now. I’m going to get my hair done. Talk later.”

“Mm, talk later.”

……

“Hey, Lily, let me tell you something, it’s hilarious.”

“What is it?”

“He said he wants me to have his baby. Oh my god, he’s thinking exactly what I was thinking.”

“Looks like he really does like you.”

“Yeah, sigh, I actually feel a bit guilty. This silly kid is totally taken in by me, dead set on being with me, and he even said he’ll take me to meet his parents soon.”

“Well, congratulations, Grace.”

“By the way, his family seems to be in the foreign trade clothing business. Just wait, Lily, if I really get into their family, I’ll get you a job too. Then you’ll have to call me boss’s wife.”

“Hehe, I’ll pass. But you, Grace, since he’s really sincere with you, you should settle down too.”