How Much Per Night?

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(Brain storage area... can be retrieved at any time. Various super-cool systems have been lurking here for a long time, waiting to randomly select a brain to activate and distribute rewards.)

Blue Star, Magic City.

Inside a Magic City University dormitory.

Click... clack...

Ye Chen sat before an old, second-hand computer, racing against time to hammer away at a keyboard with the paint worn off, frantically typing to secure his eight-hundred-yuan perfect attendance bonus.

His roommate, Cheng Tong, patted Ye Chen on the shoulder and asked, "Brother Chen, stop typing. I've picked up a big gig, five thousand for one night. You in?"

Ye Chen was the oldest and a man of his word, so the guys in the dorm all called him Brother Chen.

"How much for one night?" Ye Chen stopped typing, picked at his ear, and looked at Cheng Tong.

Cheng Tong handed his phone to Ye Chen for a glance and said with a smile, "Five thousand. It's not just anyone who can get in on this. It was introduced by Brother Hao Ren. I heard it's a jewelry show hosted by a wealthy woman named Zeng Fu who has great resources. There are requirements for height and looks—you have to be tall, handsome, and have a good build to walk the runway."

Ye Chen and Cheng Tong were both handsome, but their styles were different.

"Is she one of those 'steel wool' wealthy women? What kind of show pays five thousand for one night? We aren't professionals; how could they offer that much? Don't get scammed. What if they kidnap you and harvest your kidneys?" Ye Chen asked with a frown.

There were too many scammers these days; one wrong move and you could end up losing a kidney.

Although making money was important, what was the point if you lost your life?

Where would free lunch fall from the sky? It's always a trap.

Even if they didn't harvest kidneys, the kind of parties like this were always attended by lonely, wealthy older women.

They were all like wolves and tigers—insatiable, capable of sucking the earth dry, pulling rats through walls, eating people without spitting out the bones, and even reaching up to catch Buddhas. They played very wild games.

Finding young, strong, well-built guys like them to go there wasn't just about watching them walk a runway.

Cheng Tong patted his own chest and said, "Don't worry. We've been brothers for so many years; would I dare ask you to come along if it weren't reliable? It's a legitimate jewelry show. I had a hard time securing this rare opportunity. This Zeng Fu is a person of status in Magic City, and several other big influencers are going too. It's guaranteed to be safe."

"Really?" Ye Chen was still a bit skeptical, habitually touching the faint scar on his left temple.

Cheng Tong pulled Ye Chen up and said, "It's truer than pearls. I'm going with you, so what are you afraid of? Don't I know you? You're still a virgin. If a wealthy woman really takes a fancy to you, I'll step in for you and ensure you get out in one piece. Making money is the priority right now. Isn't your family in urgent need of cash? Stop dragging your feet."

Cheng Tong was handsome and had dated several girlfriends, but he had been dumped every time because he was too poor. That was why Cheng Tong had wised up—he was determined not to be a "simp" and put making money above all else.

Just then, a vibration came from Ye Chen's pants pocket.

It was a text from Ye Chen's younger sister, Ye Yao: "Brother, there's only one hundred left on Dad's medical insurance card, and my part-time salary this month is only twelve hundred."

After checking his own card and seeing only one hundred left for food this month, Ye Chen said to Cheng Tong, "You're right. Making money is the priority. Let's go."

Five thousand was not a small sum. For Ye Chen, to save his father, as long as he wasn't getting his kidneys harvested, he could endure a little groping from a wealthy woman if it came to that.

Cheng Tong smiled and said, "Alright. Bring your ID and make sure you're scrubbed clean before we go. They provide styling and formal wear there. I heard they're all high-end custom pieces, so don't go getting them dirty or damaged—they're very expensive."

"Got it. Give me five minutes." Ye Chen grabbed a set of clean clothes and headed into the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later.

Ye Chen and Cheng Tong took a taxi to the Peony Hall at the Magic City International Hotel.

Hao Ren, the leader of the runway show, looked Ye Chen and Cheng Tong up and down, very satisfied. His eyes lit up, especially when he saw Ye Chen.

Hao Ren had seen plenty of handsome men in this circle, but rarely one as handsome as Ye Chen, with such good skin, such a great build, and such a sunny, clean temperament. He was the cream of the crop, the type wealthy women loved most.

If Ye Chen could be picked out and taken away by some wealthy woman tonight, Hao Ren would make a huge profit.

Hao Ren said with a smile, "You must be Ye Chen and Cheng Tong, right? Leave your IDs with me. Once the show is over, you've taken off the jewelry, and changed out of the formal wear, I'll give them back to you."

"Yes," Ye Chen and Cheng Tong replied in unison, handing over their IDs.

"Go to that dressing room to get your makeup and clothes done," Hao Ren said, taking the IDs and enthusiastically leading them to a room.

Inside the room were nothing but young, handsome men.

Some had already changed into expensive formal wear and were getting their hair styled.

Ye Chen noticed two who looked somewhat familiar; they must have been the big influencers Cheng Tong mentioned.

When the makeup artists saw Ye Chen walk in, their eyes lit up instantly.

Among a group of young, handsome men with perfect builds, Ye Chen stood out the most.

So handsome! He was the best of the night, even more handsome than those traffic-driving celebrities. It would be a real shame if he didn't debut on the spot.

A petite, short-haired female makeup artist, around forty years old, finished her current task quickly and hurried over to Ye Chen.

The makeup artist looked at Ye Chen with a smile and said, "Hello! I'm Guan Xiaoxia. Shall I pick out your clothes and do your styling today? If you need styling in the future, you can look for me."

"Thank you!" Ye Chen replied.

Cheng Tong crossed his arms and asked, "What about me?"

"Since you're so handsome, of course, we'll do both of you together. I'll give you the most handsome look of the night," Guan Xiaoxia said with a smile.

Guan Xiaoxia could tell Ye Chen and Cheng Tong were together. While Cheng Tong was a notch below Ye Chen, he was still very handsome, especially with his infectious smile.

Inside the dressing room, besides the looks of awe, some people naturally cast glances of jealousy.

There was no helping it; in this circle, being handsome really could pay the bills.

Once the makeup was finished, two men in black suits walked into the dressing room carrying two cases.

Hao Ren smiled and said, "Beyond the appearance fee we agreed upon, if you can sell any jewelry on the spot today, you'll get a ten percent commission. If you want to make some extra money, feel free to go out and promote the jewelry after the show. Everyone, give it your best."

"Whoa, that's incredible! I'm definitely going to work hard," a man who was walking the runway for the first time exclaimed in delight.

Many of the others present also wore expressions of joy.

If they sold 100,000 yuan worth of goods, 100,000 x 10% meant a 10,000 yuan commission.

Every piece of jewelry from this house was a treasure worth hundreds of thousands or even millions; with a little effort, they could trade their bicycles for cars.

Cheng Tong whispered into Ye Chen's ear, "Brother Chen, did you hear that? We're going to strike it rich; you won't have to worry about your dad's medical bills anymore. Everyone here today is a potential client, and at the banquet, the worst they'll do is touch you a bit. We're men, so we aren't losing anything. For the sake of the money, why don't you just endure it?"