Chapter Two: The Scheming

When I entered, Xu Lin immediately began the meeting.

“You all know that in our line of work, youth is our only asset. I don’t want everyone to just keep wasting away here. I know everyone’s background quite well—none of us are here because we want to be. If we could choose, I wouldn’t want this for myself either.”

Xu Lin’s expression darkened for a moment before she continued, “Recently, a new online game, 'Eternal Moon,' which players have been anticipating for four years, has been released. I’m sure you’ve all heard of it?”

“Of course. There are posters everywhere, even in the bathrooms. Unless you never use the restroom, how could you not know?” A voluptuous beauty giggled as she spoke. She was our top hostess, Xin Yu. Her business was so good that you had to make an appointment just to spend the night with her.

What Xin Yu said was true. 'Eternal Moon,' a joint project by the world’s three internet giants, had been making headlines since development started four years ago. Now, with its imminent release, the promotional blitz was so widespread that even kindergarteners knew about it.

“I haven’t heard of it…” A timid voice spoke up from beside me. Everyone turned to look at Liu Xuehan as if she were an alien.

Her cheeks flushed as she glanced at everyone. “I really don’t know…”

Xu Lin quickly lost patience. “If you don’t know, forget it. Lin Fan can explain it to you later. I’ll get straight to the point. I’ve been watching this game for a long time and, based on my business experience, this game could make us all rich—provided we work together!”

Xin Yu’s laughter made her chest tremble. “Oh, come on, sis. You’ve started so many ventures—when has one actually succeeded? This foot massage parlor is the only thing that’s worked out. Now you want us to strike it rich in an online game?”

Xu Lin shot her a glare and retorted, “If you don’t look for a way out, do you want to spend your whole life making a living beneath men?”

Xin Yu crossed her legs seductively. “But without men, how will we survive?”

Liu Xuehan’s face turned crimson. Though she’d been here nearly two months, she still wasn’t immune to the lewd banter of these women.

Xu Lin clearly didn’t want to argue with Xin Yu and quickly changed the topic. “In two days, 'Eternal Moon' will officially launch. I called to check—the special gaming computer and helmet aren’t too expensive, about five thousand yuan for the set. I’ve decided to invest all my savings into the game. If you’re willing, I hope you’ll join me so we can look out for each other. I’ll give you an hour to consider.”

Seeing their puzzled faces, Xu Lin added, “From what I know, you all have gaming experience, so getting started shouldn’t be hard. As for the equipment, I’ll handle it. If you agree to join my guild, I’ll give you a free gaming setup and helmet, plus three months’ salary in advance!”

Three months’ pay and a five-thousand-yuan gaming setup? For eight people, that’s forty thousand yuan. Was Xu Lin really so confident she could make money from the game?

“I’m in!” Xin Yu, who had just been skeptical, was the first to raise her hand. Li Qing, sitting beside her, was shocked. “Are you serious? You really believe you can make money playing a game?”

Xin Yu chuckled. “I don’t believe it, but I’m out of money for the month. If I don’t take that three months’ pay, I’ll have to start selling myself!”

“No shame! Haven’t you always been selling yourself?” Li Qing grumbled, apparently forgetting how her own moans kept me up all last night.

Xin Yu was nonchalant. “A game’s a game. When I used to play with my boyfriend, none of you were around.”

Everyone knew her boyfriend had been taken in by a rich woman—a very public secret.

Li Qing sat cross-legged. “I’m no expert, but I did make the school CS team once. With my reflexes, I should be fine in an online game.”

The others all shared their gaming experiences, until finally all eyes were on Liu Xuehan and me.

Liu Xuehan glanced around and said softly, “I used to play Bomberman… does that count?”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Xin Yu stroked Liu Xuehan’s pale thigh and giggled, “Come on, Han, you don’t have to mention playing make-believe as a kid~”

Liu Xuehan’s lovely face turned bright red and she fell silent.

Everyone now looked at me. Xin Yu’s gaze roamed lasciviously over me before she finally spoke, “Lin Fan’s still a virgin, right?”

Liu Xuehan and I nearly dropped our jaws. Xin Yu grinned, tightened her bathrobe, and leaned against me coquettishly, “Lin Fan, how about this—big sis will cut you a deal. Give me twenty and I’ll let you have a go. What, that’s too much? Ten a night? Still not enough? Didn’t think you’d be so hard to please. Fine, you can have it for free!”

I just smiled and said nothing.

“What, you want to have your way with me and have me pay you? Fine, I’m just too soft-hearted. Name your price!”

Xu Lin gave me a long look and smoothed things over. “Enough fooling around—there’s no problem with Lin Fan.”

I was a little surprised, but kept a faint smile. “No way. I’m too slow for games. Even if I played, I’d just be a noob.”

“You think you can fool me?” Xu Lin set down her coffee slowly.

“What am I trying to hide?”

“Lin Fan, age twenty-three, junior at XX University. Expelled half a year ago. In 2014, you and your friend Ye Qiu founded the TOT Warcraft team, taking third at the CG Nanjing event that year. In 2015, you were runner-up at the CEG Shanghai event, and in July, you won the CG Shanghai championship, earning one of three Chinese spots for that year’s CG finals. Yet for some reason, you didn’t compete in the following events, costing the Chinese team its strongest chance at the championship. A rising AR3 star, gone in an instant. One month after disappearing, you turned up at this city’s Wave Foot Massage Parlor. Am I wrong?”

Were these things really true?

I thought I’d already forgotten…