Chapter 33: The Opportunity

Shen Zuijin looked at Miss Liuyun, puzzled.

Miss Liuyun possessed a stunning beauty and an icy, pure demeanor.

That Young Master Ye clearly seemed like someone who appreciated such qualities; there was no reason he should be completely unmoved by such breathtaking beauty. Even if he didn’t like her, he shouldn’t have gotten so angry, right? Right now, Miss Liuyun couldn’t even speak properly. How could she have possibly offended Young Master Ye? Could it be that Young Master Ye genuinely disliked her type?

Upstairs, Madam Wu Liniang walked out alongside Young Master Ye. Madam Wu had a bewitchingly curvaceous figure, mature and fiery like a large gourd twisting on a vine. Though her face always wore a smile, those with keen eyes could see it was a forced, hypocritical smile, laced with disdain and annoyance.

Young Master Ye’s face still bore traces of anger. He deliberately kept his distance from the Madam, his eyes also filled with irritation. At first glance, they looked like a furious couple heading out to get a divorce.

Young Master Ye glared fiercely at Miss Liuyun, avoiding her like she was a tiger. Madam Wu Liniang personally stepped in to coax him: “Please calm your anger, Young Master Ye. It was the Intoxication Pavilion’s fault for not receiving you properly. May I ask what kind of young lady and what sort of game you prefer? We will do everything possible to satisfy you.”

One doesn’t hit a person who’s smiling. Faced with the Madam’s warm hospitality, Young Master Ye couldn’t say much more. He waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. I’m not in the mood right now. All I want is to get some good sleep. All my losses earlier, put it on my tab. Tonight, just have this kid cheer me up!”

After saying this, Young Master Ye pointed at Liu Liwa, tossed out a gold ingot, then turned and went back to his room. No one dared to disturb him again.

The Madam, the Hall Manager, and all the girls fixed their gazes on Liu Liwa. Young Master Ye was obviously a big spender, a second-generation mix of officialdom and commerce—both wealthy and noble in status. But judging by his actions, it seemed like he didn’t like women… instead, he seemed to favor Liu Liwa…

Liu Liwa felt chills run down his spine. Damn it, why couldn’t he speak clearly? If he wanted to hear a story, he should just say so! What did he mean by ‘cheer me up’? Phrasing it like that made people think he preferred something like ‘stirring a spear to life’ or ‘a chrysanthemum flowering’!

Once Young Master Ye left, Shen Zuijin dismissed the other girls. Even Miss Liuyun was sent away. Watching Wu Liniang descend the stairs step by step, her voluptuous body swaying alluringly, Liu Liwa desperately tried to get a glimpse into her room. He wondered how far the instruction for Qin Wan’er and little Xinying had progressed.

Wu Liniang slowly walked up to Liu Liwa. She had a face like a flower carved from jade and a pair of shrewd phoenix eyes. Her intense gaze bore into Liu Liwa’s eyes as if trying to see right through him. Her eyes held a formidable, unyielding air, yet also carried the unique allure of a mature woman. This woman looked to be barely over twenty; compared to the title ‘Young Lady’ she seemed a bit past it, but it only made her more enchanting. She certainly fit Liu Liwa’s criteria for choosing a mate or seeking a conquest.

This young woman had a very full figure and a very sharp gaze. She looked at Liu Liwa without saying a word, yet an invisible pressure emanated from her. Her stare alone could make a man kneel at her feet. The look in her eyes was far beyond what a typical Pleasure House Madam should possess.

However, Liu Liwa was completely unfazed. What’s the big deal about staring? I haven’t done anything wrong, and we have no grudge. Even if she stares until her retinas bleed, I don’t care. Wu Liniang’s eyes flashed with a sharp light, radiating the commanding aura of one in charge, capable of inspiring submission. Liu Liwa’s eyes held a spark too, but it held no authority—only pure lechery. He rarely got such a close-up, high-definition look at a woman. Right before him was a living, breathing beauty, more thrilling than watching 3D, and… quite fleshy too. Not just the lofty ‘Summit of the Maiden’, but even the pores on her jade-like cheeks were visible with crystal clarity. The longer he looked, the more excited he got; the longer he looked, the more enthralled he became. When a man and a woman stared at each other this closely, in a romantic drama, they’d soon be locking lips; in a horror movie, they’d soon be biting each other; in a spy thriller, they’d soon be pressed together; and in certain movies…

Anyway, their current posture looked ambiguous. Liu Liwa’s eyes darted about, lingering on the high points for a while, then dropping to the low points, occasionally counting the pores on Wu Liniang’s face…

The fierce battle between the oppressive glare and the lecherous gaze ultimately saw the vulgar triumph over the powerful. It just goes to show that fantasies are harmless, and lechery has its reasons. Wu Liniang finally retracted her sharp gaze. She simply couldn’t understand this man. Though he was once the son of a Prime Minister, he was nothing but a wastrel. Now, he was a convicted criminal demoted to slavery. Yet since the very first day he arrived at Intoxication Pavilion, whether by his expression, his demeanor, his conduct, or in every other way, she hadn’t seen the depression and despair of a slave. Instead, it was as if he’d gained a new life, accepting his role as a ‘Brothel Servant’ with apparent joy and positivity. From the way he greeted Brother Chun and Lord Zeng, stood up for Miss Liuyun, rescued the situation with a story… in fact, all his actions suggested he was actually enjoying his time at Intoxication Pavilion.

How incredibly resilient must this person’s character be, capable of bending, yielding, and enduring the humiliation crouching under someone’s crotch? Wu Liniang found it hard to believe, yet this man’s actions remained inexplicable to her. But it didn’t matter. He was under her charge, and everything he was doing so far fell within the scope of serving Intoxication Pavilion. Moreover, Young Master Ye seemed to have taken quite a liking to him. Therefore, Wu Liniang didn’t probe deeper into Liu Liwa’s peculiar behavior. Instead, she said coolly, “Serve Young Master Ye well, and you’ll naturally reap the rewards.”

Having said that, Wu Liniang turned and walked away. As she ascended the stairs, she suddenly felt an intense prickling sensation between her shoulders. She looked back and saw Liu Liwa still staring dazedly after her, his gaze utterly lewd. Reflected in his pupils, the image he was so intently studying… was her own full, provocatively rounded behind…

Wu Liniang clenched her teeth tightly and hurried upstairs. Working in a Pleasure House, she’d seen plenty of lecherous men. But someone like Liu Liwa, who could stare at a woman with such single-minded, oblivious absorption, was truly rare. Once the Madam was gone, Shen Zuijin saw Liu Liwa standing there in a daze. She didn’t have Wu Liniang’s complicated thoughts; she simply slapped him on the shoulder and repeated the boss’s command: “Serve Young Master Ye well, and you’ll naturally get your rewards!”

Damn it! Rewards for serving a man? What kind of reward would that be? Would it cure hemorrhoids?

Suddenly, however, Liu Liwa realized something. This beautiful, voluptuous Madam seemed deeply interested in Young Master Ye—well, interested in his status, of course. Young Master Ye, on the other hand, didn’t seem interested in women… besides Miss Zhao, perhaps, with her unique charm. But he did seem captivated by stories! The perseverance of Lanlan in the stories must have given him boundless inspiration and courage.

Wasn’t this exactly the golden opportunity Liu Liwa had been waiting for? Wu Liniang wanted to curry favor with Young Master Ye. Young Master Ye loved listening to his stories. Liu Liwa could use this chance to innovate his storytelling format: have Miss Liuyun provide musical accompaniment, giving her work to do so the Madam wouldn’t target her; find an opportunity for little loli Xinying to sing a ‘Song of Lanlan’, maybe achieving fame; and as for Qin Wan’er, who could draw those ‘spring pictures’, she could publish a ‘Lanlan Picture Book’…