Chapter 6: Natural Charm

Liu Liwa froze for a moment. In his understanding, a woman as ethereal as a fairy should either be delicate and gentle or tender like water. But her opening line was so narcissistic that it immediately lowered her image in his eyes. It felt like he had met someone from the 1980s generation—maybe this woman was really from the 1080s!

Anyway, Liu Liwa treated her as a peer. He slowly stood up and watched her delicate hands rubbing her shoulders. He couldn’t help but say grumpily, “How can you even say that? With your looks, why aren’t you out there competing to be the top courtesan? What are you doing standing in my room like a wooden pole?”

“You…” Although this woman was bold, she was still a spoiled young lady. Suddenly hearing him mention the top courtesan again, she remembered where she was. Sadness welled up in her heart, and she lifted her foot, stomping hard on Liu Liwa’s instep.

Fortunately, Liu Liwa dodged quickly and avoided the blow. At that moment, the loli Xinying, who had rushed into the bedroom earlier, poked her head out again. Looking at the stunning woman, she said, “Sister Wan’er, what are you still doing? Come in quickly! Young Master Liu is generous and righteous—he has already agreed to give us the room!”

Huh? Liu Liwa was stunned. So the little girl wasn’t here seeking warmth—she was here to take over my room! He had to remember that this room wasn’t just a piece of clothing; it was something he had earned with his dignity. Just as he was firming up this belief in his heart, he saw the loli Xinying walk up to him timidly, tugging at his sleeve and shaking it vigorously, as if trying to shake him all the way to his grandmother’s bridge. In her unique Qing Yin voice, she said, “Young Master Liu, as I said earlier, you are generous and righteous, and you care for others. How could you bear to see us live in that cold, damp room? No matter what, Sister Wan’er was once engaged to you!”

Hmm? Liu Liwa’s eyes suddenly sparkled like stars. He turned to look at the breathtakingly beautiful Qin Wan’er, who was also glaring at him unhappily: “I’m going to become the top courtesan tomorrow. Is the engagement still valid?”

Liu Liwa was immediately shut down. He hadn’t expected this girl to hold a grudge… Qin Wan’er snorted, pulled Xinying into the bedroom, and since the simple earthen house had no door between the main room and the bedroom, Liu Liwa naturally followed them in. He could see that these two were playing good cop, bad cop—they were here to seize his one-room apartment. As he watched Xinying begin to undo her skirt and Qin Wan’er fetch water to wash up, Liu Liwa leaped onto the only table in the bedroom. Sitting cross-legged, he cried and shouted like a woman throwing a tantrum in a field: “This is outright robbery, plain grabbing, and shameless seizure… I’m telling you, I fought hard for this room! I’d rather die than leave, aiyah…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a dark object hit him in the face, nearly knocking him off the table. He caught it and saw that it was the only quilt from the bed. Then he heard Xinying say, “If you won’t leave, then we won’t either. So, Young Master Liu, you’ll have to make do with sleeping on the table!”

After that, Qin Wan’er also climbed onto the bed. The two women, wearing delicate, semi-transparent sleepwear similar to nightgowns, snuggled on the bed. They exchanged fox-like smiles, let down the bed curtains, and lay down to pretend to sleep, ignoring Liu Liwa completely.

This was a classic case of the cuckoo taking over the magpie’s nest! Liu Liwa groaned inwardly, covered himself with the quilt, and lay down on the square table, actually falling asleep.

The night passed without incident, filled only with snores, teeth grinding, and lip smacking. These three were truly heartless—even after being reduced to servitude, they could sleep so soundly. The next morning, Liu Liwa woke up earliest. He had dreamed of fighting someone and executed a dashing spin kick, only to fall off the table and nearly break his leg.

By then, the sky was growing light. The faint dawn glow not only seeped through the paper window but also penetrated the thin bed curtains. Liu Liwa stole a glance and instantly understood what it meant to see jade-like limbs sprawled out. The two girls were tangled together, their dainty little feet, snow-white legs, and tender arms all displayed before his eyes—incredibly tempting.

He couldn’t help but swallow hard, but unexpectedly, this woke Qin Wan’er. Following his gaze, she saw her own rolled-up pant leg, revealing a section of her calf as smooth and white as mutton-fat jade, completely exposed to his view. Qin Wan’er felt both embarrassed and flustered, but after looking around, she didn’t explode. Instead, she mockingly scolded, “Look all you want! After today, if you want to see me again, you’ll have to pay!”

Liu Liwa nearly choked on his own saliva. This girl’s boldness was beyond imagination. He had thought he had reached the limit of adaptability, but it turned out there was always someone bolder! However, Qin Wan’er’s beauty was undeniable. Born into an official’s family, she had excellent upbringing. Her elegant movements while rolling up her pant leg perfectly illustrated what it meant to be a well-bred young lady. Even adjusting her clothes allowed a slight reveal, showcasing her innate talent—as if she were wasted if she didn’t work in a pleasure house.

If Miss Liuyun from yesterday was like a rose fallen into a crematorium, then Qin Wan’er was a peony dropped into a pile of cow dung. Once this girl was introduced, she would surely become a hot commodity in the market. Wanting to sell artistry but not her body? Absolutely impossible. If I were the owner, even if a client offered a high price for exclusive rights, I wouldn’t allow it. She’s a money tree—save her for the finale every night, auction her off to the highest bidder!

Liu Liwa thought evilly, but then he remembered that this girl seemed to have been engaged to him. He felt a twinge of guilt and, seeing her desolate expression, couldn’t help but advise her: “Life is full of disappointments. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Humans can conquer nature. Don’t undervalue yourself. Look at me—everyone else lives in damp, cold common rooms, but I still managed to get a private room!”

“I have a private room too!” Qin Wan’er said carelessly and proudly.

Liu Liwa was furious but had to restrain himself. Seizing her words, he continued, “Exactly! That shows you used your wit to escape a fate that seemed inevitable. Although we’re in a pleasure house, we don’t necessarily have to survive by selling smiles or our bodies. The pleasure house owner just wants to make money. Even though we’re official courtesans, profit is still the goal. As long as we can bring benefits to the owner, he won’t care how we make the money!”

Liu Liwa’s analysis was quite thorough, but Qin Wan’er only half-understood. She spread her arms, showcasing her lovely figure, and asked, “Take a look at me—what can I rely on to bring profit to the owner?”

Liu Liwa swallowed hard with difficulty, his eyes nearly popping out: “With assets like yours, if you’re willing to entertain clients, I’d definitely be a customer!”