Chapter 9: It’s You

Qiao Jiu changed her clothes and was led upstairs by the madam, who seemed aware of what had happened the previous night. She whispered a warning, “Don’t cause any trouble. The people in this private room aren’t ones we can afford to offend.”

Qiao Jiu said nothing, waiting for the madam to push open the door before she stepped inside.

The room was spacious; the guests appeared to have just settled in and the atmosphere was yet to liven up. With a sweeping glance, Qiao Jiu immediately spotted Lu Fengzhou seated on a single armchair, one leg crossed over the other, reclining as his gaze drifted in her direction.

Not far away stood Madam Qin, leading a line of hostesses—this was still the selection stage.

Expressionless, Qiao Jiu walked over, crouched down, and set the bottles on the coffee table. As she opened the wine, she heard the men begin to make their choices. The hostesses who were picked were visibly delighted, cheerfully taking their seats beside them.

Qiao Jiu poured a glass full, then stepped aside.

She had only just steadied herself when Lu Fengzhou called out, “You, come here.”

Qiao Jiu blinked and shifted slightly to the side.

Lu Fengzhou seemed to let out a quiet laugh. “Yes, you.”

Madam Qin, recognizing Qiao Jiu, quickly intervened, “Mr. Lu, she’s not one of the hostesses, she—”

“She can’t pour drinks?” Lu Fengzhou interrupted her, his tone mild yet carrying undeniable authority.

Madam Qin’s reaction was swift; her expression changed at once, replaced by a polite smile. “Of course she can.”

She hurriedly turned to Qiao Jiu. “Since Mr. Lu has chosen you, you’ll stay.”

Qiao Jiu had anticipated that Lu Fengzhou wouldn’t let her off so easily. Fortunately, when she first entered, she’d scanned the room—the other men were strangers, unlikely to recognize her.

Madam Qin came to take the tray from her hands, shooting her a warning glance before leaving with the remaining hostesses.

Someone turned on the music and adjusted the lights; the atmosphere shifted immediately.

Lu Fengzhou spoke again. “Come here.”

Qiao Jiu made no pretense, stepping over to him. The armchair was only so big, and with Lu Fengzhou occupying it, there was no room left.

She stood at his side. “Would you like a drink, Mr. Lu? I can bring it over.”

The wine was already next to Lu Fengzhou; there was no need for Qiao Jiu to fuss. Just as she was about to crouch down, he straightened up, seized her arm, and with a gentle tug, pulled her onto his lap.

He gripped her waist. “You’re already here—why keep pretending?”

Within Qiao Jiu’s line of sight, the other men were equally unrestrained. Hostesses sat close; some were feeding drinks to each other, others had already begun to grope.

She curled her lips. “You come to a place like this, and yet you insist on reheating leftovers. What’s the point?”

She nodded toward the other hostesses nestled against the men. “Any one of them is fresher than me.”

Lu Fengzhou let go of her waist, leaned forward, and took up a glass of wine. “That’s true.”

He raised the glass to his lips, but instead of swallowing, he hooked his hand under Qiao Jiu’s chin, pressed his mouth to hers, and poured the entire mouthful into her.

After breaking away, he said, “Unfortunately, they’re a bit dirty.”

Caught off guard, Qiao Jiu was forced to swallow the wine, nearly choking. But in that instant, a realization flashed through her mind. Compared to the others, she was indeed clean—she’d only ever been with him. Perhaps that was the reason Lu Fengzhou refused to let her go. The kind of petty man he was, anything that had belonged to him, even if discarded, he wouldn’t let another have.

She smacked her lips. “Guan Wei, that black-hearted woman, has the nerve to sell this stuff for thousands—why doesn’t she just rob people instead?”