"..." Song Xiaowei was speechless.

...

On the way, Xu Yun opened the window, letting the wind blow against his face.

He closed his eyes, looking as if he were asleep.

Song Xiaowei focused on driving, with no idea where she was supposed to go.

Xu Yun hadn’t said anything, and she didn’t dare wake him, so she just drove aimlessly through the streets.

"Do you know what kind of setup that was tonight?"

Suddenly, Song Xiaowei heard him speak.

Besides Xu Yun, there was no one else in the car.

"I thought it was just about having some drinks and singing some songs."

"Are you that naive, or do you just think the world is that innocent?"

Xu Yun laughed. "Did you really think you could just go out with some men, sing a few songs, have a few drinks, and they’d solve your problems for you?"

"..." Song Xiaowei was speechless again.

"Between men and women, it always comes down to sex!"

Xu Yun continued, "And even if you do sleep with them, there’s no guarantee they’ll do what you want."

"I want to get into the TV station. I want to be a host."

Song Xiaowei answered in a low voice, "Today, my senior Wenyue told me that Han’s father is the head of the TV station. As long as he’s willing to help me, I can get in."

"So you actually believed her?"

Xu Yun said mockingly, "What, just have a few drinks, sing a few songs, make him happy, and that’s all it takes?"

"I didn’t want this either, but I can’t get in. I thought the world was fair, but it’s not."

Song Xiaowei bit her lip, her voice filled with grievance. "Actually, before I ran into you at the get-together in West Sea, I’d already applied for a job at the TV station once.

My scores were the best, and my professional skills were the strongest, but when the results came out, I was rejected. I lost to someone not as good as me."

"Isn’t that normal?"

Xu Yun turned to look at her. "The first time you came to the company, I already told you. The real world isn’t like school. Talent isn’t enough to get you ahead."

"I understand now, that’s why I came tonight. I thought..."

Song Xiaowei slammed on the brakes, stopping the car. She broke down crying. "I know you must look down on me right now, but I don’t have any other choice.

I want to make a name for myself, I want to work hard and earn money to pay you back.

But I just don’t get any opportunities! I need a chance, a stage to prove myself."

"You really want to get into the TV station that badly?"

"Yes."

"No matter the cost?"

Song Xiaowei said firmly, "Yes, no matter the cost."

"If I get you in, you’ll be with me from now on."

Xu Yun said bluntly, "There’s no such thing as a free lunch. I’m not a good person, nor am I a saint. Everything has a price."

"I wasn’t planning on selling my body," Song Xiaowei denied.

"Based on your actions today, it’s only a matter of time.

Instead of letting some other guy have you for cheap later, you might as well give yourself to me. At least I’m more reliable than the others."

Xu Yun said coolly, "I’m giving you a choice now. It’s up to you whether you take it or not."

"Can you really do it?"

"I don’t know, but I have money. I can try."

"Okay, it’s a deal."

After a moment of internal struggle, Song Xiaowei accepted reality and nodded.

’If I hadn’t run into Xu Yun tonight, would I have ended up just like those other two girls?’

’Since it’s my fate to trade myself for a chance, I’d rather choose Xu Yun. I’m willing to give myself to him.’

’At least Xu Yun isn’t a hypocrite. He’s a scoundrel, but an open one.’

’And I don’t find him repulsive.’

Seeing that Song Xiaowei had agreed, Xu Yun took out his phone and called Yan Can.

On the other end, Yan Can asked, "Brother Xu, what’s up?"

"Can you ask that friend of yours for me? How much would it cost to get someone a job at the TV station?"

"The girl from tonight?"

"Yeah."

"Let’s not talk about money, that’s too formal."

Yan Can said with brotherly loyalty, "I’ll ask for you first. I’ll message you back in a bit."

"Okay, thanks."

The wait was agonizing, at least for Song Xiaowei.

A few minutes later, Yan Can called back.

Xu Yun asked, "How’d it go?"

"It’s handled."

Yan Can laughed. "Monkey said he’ll try talking to his dad’s secretary tomorrow. It shouldn’t be a problem."

"How much? I’ll transfer you the money."

"No need."

Yan Can said, "Why the hell would I need money for something so small? If you offer money, you’re not treating me as a friend."

"Alright then, I owe you one."

Xu Yun laughed. "Thanks. Have fun tonight."

"You too, haha."

After hanging up, Xu Yun asked Song Xiaowei, "You heard all that?"

"Yes, I heard," Song Xiaowei replied, her feelings a complicated mess.

What was a monumental task for her was just a trivial matter in their eyes.

Xu Yun had solved it right in front of her with a single phone call.

She knew it was time to fulfill her promise. She took the initiative and asked, "Which hotel are we going to?"

"What hotel? Take me home."

"Home?"

Song Xiaowei was a little confused. She said shyly, "Aren’t we supposed to..."

"There’s no rush, not until your job is secured."

Xu Yun smiled. "What if it doesn’t work out in the end? Wouldn’t you be on the losing end?"

"Uh..."

Song Xiaowei suddenly broke into a laugh. "You’re surprisingly... nice."

"No, I’m a man of principle."

"..."

Suddenly, Song Xiaowei felt that being with Xu Yun might not be so hard to accept after all.

By the time she drove Xu Yun home, it was almost 1 AM.

He simply told her to stay the night at his place.

Song Xiaowei thought something might happen tonight, but when they arrived, Yu Xuan was still in the living room waiting for Xu Yun.

She looked a little surprised to see Song Xiaowei.

Xu Yun said, "She’ll be staying here tonight. She can sleep in my bed."

"Then what about you, Boss?"

"I’m going to sleep next door." After saying this, Xu Yun turned, opened the door, and left.

A moment later, the sound of a door closing came from next door.

With Li Jinshu’s place empty, it meant freedom for Su Mu and Xu Yun.

She knew she couldn’t avoid it tonight and had long since prepared herself.

Su Mu had already taken a nice, long, hot bath to avoid having Xu Yun join her later and start getting mischievous.

Stepping out of the bathroom, she was wearing a sexy, black lace slip she had bought just a few days ago.

Then, she walked into her bedroom. Looking alluring, she sat down at the vanity by her bed, crossed her legs, and dangled her smooth, fair feet.

Until someone pushed the door open and came in.

"You’re finally here~"

Su Mu watched as Xu Yun entered. She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on one hand and smiling radiantly at him.

The slight movement caused one of the thin straps on her shoulder to slip down uncontrollably, revealing a tantalizing curve that looked even more pale and full.

"Sister Su, what are you doing..."

Xu Yun looked at Su Mu, dressed in her cool and sexy battle armor, posing enchantingly by the bed. He hadn’t expected this.

’I thought I was launching a surprise attack, but it turns out I’m the one who’s been ambushed.’

"Hmph, you’re just pretending. Go on, keep pretending."

Su Mu slowly stood up from the stool, her full, perky body swaying slightly with the movement.

She walked up to Xu Yun and challenged him, "If you have the guts, don’t you dare get into my bed tonight!"

"Who said some things can only be done in bed?"

Xu Yun laughed, pulling Su Mu straight into his arms.

The moment his hands touched her, he realized she was wearing nothing underneath the slip.

"You did this on purpose?"

Su Mu shot him a glare, denying it with a mix of shame and anger. "No, I just forgot to put them on."

"Pretending... just keep pretending..." Xu Yun didn’t believe for a second she could forget something like that.

...