A Boyish Charm

Su Ke followed right behind the woman as she headed up the stairs. His gaze fell on her backside, which was a whole lot bigger than Li Feifei's—full and rounded, with perfect curves. It swayed from side to side as she walked, as if inviting a touch, making his heart pound...

His palm felt clammy. If he could just touch that bottom once, would it feel even better than Li Feifei's? He swallowed, wiped the sweat from his hand onto his jeans, and forced himself to steady his breathing.

"Ow!" Just as Su Ke's thoughts began to wander, he saw the woman slip. Her body tilted backward, and she was about to fall.

Quick as a flash, Su Ke reached out and caught her around the waist. It fit neatly in his hands, with no excess fat at all. Her skin was taut, her waist slender, and the openwork linen dress was soft to the touch. He could clearly feel the warmth of her skin against his palms, smooth and delicate.

With Su Ke supporting her from behind, the woman managed not to fall. She turned and smiled at him, thanking him. It was a smile that could make a hundred beauties pale and leave the six palaces without color. Her wine-red hair fell in waves, her cheeks were flushed from drinking, and her eyes rippled like spring water. The sight left him utterly flustered.

Fortunately, the scare seemed to sober her up a little. She nodded at Su Ke and continued upstairs, with him following her straight to the third floor.

The third floor was a service area for VIP clients, decorated in a European style. The pale yellow tones put people at ease. Crystal bead curtains divided the entire floor into fifteen private beauty-treatment spaces, each with a beauty bed. On the west side was a separate lounge with round sofas and a small bar, while an open space at the far eastern end held a piano.

"The piano's over there. Do you mind if I lie down while I listen?" The woman pointed to the piano in the east. It seemed the alcohol was catching up with her again; her gaze had grown hazy, and she hurriedly massaged her temples.

"Not at all!" Su Ke had finally gotten over his nerves. He was already upstairs, and the piano was right in front of him. No matter what, he had to give it a try. He smiled and nodded at the woman.

The grand piano gleamed with a rich, layered finish. Its black and white keys looked elegant and refined. Su Ke sat down, took a deep breath, and casually pressed a few keys. The sound was full, with bright highs and rich lows, and the keys felt wonderful beneath his fingers.

Luckily, a Bandari score lay in front of him. Otherwise, all he could have done was improvise. As the first note rang out, Su Ke suddenly realized how relaxed he felt. Every key seemed familiar, as if he had been playing for years.

The notes flowed gently, carrying a tender melody. Under Su Ke's fluid playing, the black and white keys danced swiftly, like a babbling river and fluttering birds. The music was sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful, sometimes hesitant, sometimes soaring.

At some point, Su Ke had closed his eyes. The music was in his heart, and a faint smile played on his lips. He was completely immersed in the sound, oblivious to the passage of time.

By the end, Su Ke was truly improvising, playing with such spirit that he only opened his eyes and returned to reality when the final note slowly faded. Aside from the lingering echoes, the entire floor was utterly silent. The beautiful boss hadn't made a sound.

"Damn, did the music scare her off?" Su Ke got up and headed in the direction the woman had gone. At last, he spotted her behind the bead curtain.

He gently lifted the sparkling crystal beads. The woman lay quietly on her side on a beauty bed, eyes closed, long lashes resting over her eyelids. Her nose was shapely, her lips bright red, and the flush from the alcohol still lingered on her cheeks, lending her a languid beauty.

Her legs were pressed together and curled up, one over the other. Somehow, the hem of her dress had ridden up to the tops of her thighs. Looking higher, he could see through the openwork linen that the skin of her waist and belly was as soft and delicate as mutton-fat jade. Her breasts were full and lifted, with a tantalizing cleavage between them.

"Gulp!" Su Ke could almost hear himself swallowing. His heart raced. This was the first time he'd ever been so close to a woman—a sleeping beauty. If he crouched down, could he see what was underneath? Was she really wearing a thong? If she was, then he'd see far more than just a glimpse of spring!

His breathing quickened as he moved his feet forward ever so slightly.

When Su Ke came back downstairs alone, the receptionist smiled and greeted him. "How did it go? What did the boss say?"

"Uh... She fell asleep! Maybe I played too much like a lullaby." Su Ke felt helpless.

"Who says that? I thought you played beautifully. Why's your face so red?" Only then did the receptionist notice Su Ke's flushed cheeks and the faint sheen of sweat on his forehead. "Were you that nervous?"

"Uh, yeah. I was worried I wouldn't pass!" Su Ke would never tell her what he'd just been doing upstairs. Luckily, she was considerate enough to offer him an excuse.

"The boss is probably just exhausted. It hasn't been long since the place opened, and she has to deal with people every day—industry and commerce, taxes, the police, health inspectors. They're always after her. How about I ask her once she wakes up?"

"Thanks, sis!" By now, Su Ke had gotten used to calling her that. He was willing to do whatever it took to get this part-time job. After all, the reward was High School Mathematics Mastery (Intermediate)!

"Oh, sis, I was wondering if I could work part-time. I still have classes during the day."

"That depends on how the boss arranges things. At first, she wanted someone from nine to eleven in the morning, three to five in the afternoon, and seven to nine at night. If she agrees, you could just work the evening shift. But would that interfere with your studies? You're in your final year of high school now!" The girl thought for a moment before answering.

"Heh, don't worry. I'm good at school, so it won't affect my studies!" Su Ke didn't have anything else to do for now, so he wasn't in a hurry to leave. It would be even better if the boss woke up soon; he could get his answer directly.

Another reason was that he wanted to get on the receptionist's good side. If the boss refused, maybe she could put in a good word for him—a roundabout approach.

"By the way, sis, my name's Su Ke. I'm a senior at No. 17 High School!" Even Su Ke didn't realize how sunny his smile was. Maybe that was one reason the receptionist was willing to help him.

"My name's Lin Xiaobai. You can call me sis; I'm twenty-two this year!" As she spoke, Lin Xiaobai brought over a chair and placed it beside her seat. Then she propped her chin on her hand and looked him up and down. "I feel like your whole vibe changed between going upstairs and coming back down."

"Huh? What vibe do I have?" Su Ke smiled.

"A boyish charm!" Lin Xiaobai said, covering her mouth as she laughed.