Gu Zheng was struggling to pull his nearly broken fingers out of Jiang Muyan's grasp when he blurted out reflexively, "Not expensive. Five yuan an hour."
Jiang Muyan said nothing. He simply stepped on Gu Zheng's leather shoe.
"Ah..." Gu Zheng screamed again.
"What's wrong with you now?" Wen Jingyan was startled too.
Gu Zheng's smile looked worse than tears. "You don't fear your buddy being poor and struggling; you fear him driving a Land Rover... A morally bankrupt, lowlife scumbag like me suffers the agony of having his heart gouged out when he sees his buddy catching a lady's eye... Five yuan, just five yuan. Please, take him away... Ah..."
Song Yutang couldn't help glancing at the mountain of cash on the coffee table. "That... cheap?"
Wen Jingyan had clearly said this place was expensive. She had even made a special detour to withdraw a six-figure sum in cash.
Gu Zheng realized he had misspoken and hurried to patch things up. "Well... he hasn't fully recovered yet. With the mask on, the price gets its bones broken-half sold, half given away. Consider it making a friend. If you're satisfied, ladies, please order a few more bottles of fine liquor."
Song Yutang hesitantly shifted toward the other end of the sofa. Only five yuan an hour... You get what you pay for. Could he have some occupational disease?
Afraid he would be returned, Jiang Muyan continued patching things up. "We were using industry jargon. Five means fifty thousand."
Understanding dawned on Song Yutang, and she beckoned to him. "All right, you'll do."
Out of all these male models, he's the only one doing things differently. My sister-in-law was right. Maybe this is some high-end marketing tactic. Usually, only the top star gets this treatment.
At that price, I have to get a taste, one way or another.
"..."
Jiang Muyan nearly passed out from anger.
First, she had tipped a college boy with rockets costing 999 apiece; now, she was hiring a male model for fifty thousand yuan an hour.
His wife really didn't even blink when spending money on other men.
Song Yutang looked over the remaining male models, then hesitantly pointed at another with a cool, stern air. "Add him too."
In her previous life, whenever she saw Princess Jiayi enjoying herself, the princess had always been surrounded by at least three talented young men.
Hiring male models probably required at least three too, to get that feeling of being the moon surrounded by stars.
Wen Jingyan gave an unreadable chuckle and casually picked up a stack of banknotes. "Keep my girl happy, and you'll be well rewarded."
The two selected men hurried to sit on either side of Song Yutang, their faces wreathed in eager smiles.
"Miss, let me pour you a drink."
"Miss, have some fruit..."
A little bewildered by this display, Song Yutang instinctively avoided physical contact.
Yet an inexplicable thrill welled up inside her.
Was this the happiness money could buy?
It seemed...
Pretty good?
A step too late, Jiang Muyan could only sit off to the side.
Watching those two men fawn over his wife, the fire in his chest burned hotter and hotter.
He secretly poured a glass of strong liquor, squeezed in some fruit juice to disguise it as a cocktail, and handed it to the college boy. "Little brother, thanks for your hard work. Have a drink to soothe your throat."
The college boy suspected nothing. One sip had him coughing uncontrollably from the burning taste.
Jiang Muyan then picked up half a lime and forcibly stuffed it into the other male model's mouth. "Brother, have some fruit to cut through the richness."
The stern man's entire face instantly puckered from the sourness.
While one coughed and the other was too overwhelmed by the sourness to speak, Jiang Muyan swiftly squeezed them aside and claimed the spot closest to Song Yutang.
He picked up the liquor bottle, elegantly added some juice to Song Yutang's glass, then mixed in some soda water, turning the strong cocktail into a mild fruit drink. "Drink this. It won't hurt your stomach."
Song Yutang took it and tasted a sip. Sweet and fizzy, it was indeed easier to drink than the previous glass.
She gave Jiang Muyan a slightly surprised look.
The top star really does have a few tricks.
Energized by the praise, Jiang Muyan picked the sweetest, plumpest cherries and strawberries from the fruit platter, placed them on a little plate, and pushed it toward her. "These are sweet."
The other two male models finally recovered and tried to move closer again, only to discover that the best spot had already been taken.
When they tried to squeeze over, Jiang Muyan swept them with a look.
Even through his lenses, the chill and warning in his gaze froze them both on the spot.
That was the oppressive air of someone long accustomed to being above others, not an aura an ordinary male model should possess.
The two exchanged a glance and stepped back together in tacit understanding.
"Badass..." Gu Zheng secretly gave him a thumbs-up and prepared to turn and leave.
"Wait." Wen Jingyan suddenly stopped him. "You'll do."
Gu Zheng pointed at himself in astonishment. "Me?"
Wen Jingyan picked up a bundle of banknotes and slapped it onto the coffee table, then patted the seat beside her. "That's right, you. Keep me happy, and all this money is yours."
Even the manager was stunned. "Miss, this gentleman isn't..."
"Ahahaha... To think I'd get business too... Everyone out. Leave the service here to me..." Something seemed to occur to Gu Zheng, and he abruptly changed tack, waving for the manager to leave.
Quick on the uptake, the manager shot the two male models beside Song Yutang a meaningful look.
Reluctantly, the two followed him out of the private room.
"Hey, why are you leaving..." Song Yutang spoke up, trying to keep them.
The manager pretended not to hear, gave both male models a kick, and slammed the door shut.
Song Yutang thought, Damn it. With just one person, how am I supposed to enjoy being a princess, the moon surrounded by stars?
In her previous life, she had always envied the princesses with handsome men all around them.
She finally had a chance to experience it, only to be left with one man?
Inwardly rolling his eyes to the heavens, Jiang Muyan solicitously speared a piece of fruit and held it out to feed her. "Your Highness, let me feed you."
Song Yutang froze, then hurriedly put more distance between them. "Put it there. I'll eat it myself."
Not understanding why, Jiang Muyan put down the fruit, picked up the cocktail, and held it to her lips. "Your Highness, please enjoy."
Hmph. He could let him enjoy being a princess, the moon surrounded by stars, all by himself.
There was no need for any other little vixens.
Goose bumps broke out all over Song Yutang. "Thanks, but I'd better do it myself."
He's far too attentive. He delivers emotional value at one hundred percent. No wonder he's the top star. Unfortunately, I'm married. Men and women shouldn't touch, so I still need to mind my boundaries.
This male model is so young, yet already so good at pleasing women. It really is a disgrace to public morals...
"Pfft..."
Jiang Muyan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Given Song Yutang's feudal, old-fashioned views, he had figured that hiring male models would probably amount to drinking and chatting.
But he had truly never expected that she actually knew she was married and that men and women shouldn't touch.
Even less had he expected her to have the nerve to accuse the male models of corrupting public morals.
How exactly was Song Yutang's brain wired?
"Um... give me a back massage." Thinking he was laughing at her for being old-fashioned, Song Yutang forced an air of authority into her command.
"...Of course, Your Highness." Jiang Muyan was even more torn between laughter and tears, but his hands obediently got to work.
Looking on the bright side, his wife was still very observant of wifely virtue.
For now, at least, his head probably wouldn't be turning green.
Seeing his buddy taking to coaxing his wife like a fish to water, Gu Zheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Jingyan, who had been neglected for ages, looked deeply suspicious. "Why do you keep staring at him? Are you two a couple?"