Wen Jingyan's question made Gu Zheng's heart jolt. He hurriedly straightened his back. "You've got me wrong, sis. I just... wanted to learn some advanced techniques from the top salesman. Look at his service mindset, his professional skills. I need to pick up a few pointers."
Wen Jingyan raised an eyebrow as she sized him up. "Quite the eager student, aren't you?"
Gu Zheng immediately climbed the pole she offered him, forcing out a few tears. "Who would want to do this kind of work if their family weren't struggling? My dad broke his leg at a construction site last year, my mom was diagnosed with middle-stage stomach cancer, my little brother just got into college this year, and I have elderly grandparents to support..."
Sniffling, he wiped away tears that weren't there. "I used to be a programmer. After getting my master's, I slogged through three years of the 996 grind, only for the company to lay me off. I didn't get a penny in compensation. I really had nowhere left to turn, so..."
Wen Jingyan was taken aback, then laughed. "What a coincidence. My situation's pretty similar. My dad ran off after racking up a mountain of gambling debts, my mom's hospitalized with depression, and I have a little sister with cerebral palsy to look after. So here I am, fishing for rich suckers to pay off the debts."
Gu Zheng's expression instantly froze. He rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Ah... th-that really is awful... Have a drink, sis. Have a drink!"
"Don't call me sis..." Wen Jingyan swirled her wineglass, a playful gleam in her eyes. "Call me your little sister. Tonight, you're my sworn big brother."
"Sworn big brother?" Gu Zheng's voice shot up an octave. Hugging himself tightly, he shrank back. "I'm not that kind of person."
Wen Jingyan was just about to explain that she hadn't meant it that way when he added with righteous solemnity, "That costs extra."
"Pfft..." Wen Jingyan nearly spat out her wine, rocking back and forth with laughter. "You really are something."
Gu Zheng looked tragically heroic. "What can I do? A dad with a broken leg, a sick mom, a brother in school, and a broken me... Life forced my hand..."
Song Yutang, who had been listening intently beside them, actually believed him. She picked up a stack of bills and placed it in front of her. "Take this money home to get your parents treated."
So young, and reduced to this life. It can't be easy. Every little bit helps.
Seeing this, Jiang Muyan immediately spoke with heartfelt sincerity. "My dad's sick too. His kidneys are bad, and he has to take medicine every day. My mom's a country woman who spent decades working as a cleaner in the city. All that work bent her back. My little brother's still in high school, but he's being bullied and doesn't even dare go to school now. My little sister has it even worse. She married a scumbag who beat her and cheated on her. Now she's raising their child alone and can barely afford formula..."
Song Yutang's heart softened as she listened. She picked up another stack of money and pushed it toward him. "You take some too. None of you have it easy."
Beside them, Wen Jingyan was laughing so hard her shoulders shook, and she could barely hold her glass steady.
Song Yutang looked at her in puzzlement. "What are you laughing at?"
Wen Jingyan waved a hand, unable to hide the laughter in her eyes. "Nothing, nothing... Let's drink. Some things can't be said. Can't be said."
Though Song Yutang found it a little strange, she still smiled and clinked glasses with her.
After taking a sip, she asked as though in passing, "But Jingyan, are you really just going to find yourself a sworn big brother tonight to annoy you-know-who, and leave it at that?"
Wen Jingyan's smile faded a little. "What do you mean?"
Song Yutang sighed softly. "I mean, some things can't be solved by finding a sworn big brother out of spite."
Wen Jingyan fell silent.
The private room grew much quieter in an instant, leaving only the soft flow of background music.
She lowered her head to look at the liquid swaying in her glass. Only after a long while did she speak. "Actually... things between him and me aren't like the rumors outside say. I wasn't climbing onto a higher branch. We were college classmates. Back then, I didn't know who he was. I just thought he was rich and lazy, while I was hardworking and needed money, so I often ran errands for him. Somehow, little by little, people started calling me a simp..."
She paused, a bitter smile touching her lips. "The night of our graduation dinner, he suddenly confessed to me. I liked him too, so I said yes. Later, he took me home to meet his parents, and only then did I learn how prominent his family was. I don't know what he told them, but anyway, we got married soon afterward."
Song Yutang listened quietly without interrupting.
"As for that little sister..." Wen Jingyan rubbed between her brows wearily. "Ever since I met him, the two of them have always been especially... close. My brother and I have had a terrible relationship since childhood, so I don't know whether it's normal or not. I lost my temper in public once, and everyone said it was because Shiya had lost her parents as a child, so he doted on her especially to make up for it. Tell me... am I being too sensitive? Is it because my own family was unhappy that I can't understand such a close bond between siblings?"
Looking at the pain and struggle in Wen Jingyan's eyes, Song Yutang knew she still had feelings for Jiang Sinian and still harbored hopes for this marriage.
No matter how much she said now, Wen Jingyan might not take it in.
So Song Yutang simply picked up the bottle and poured herself a full glass. "My fault for bringing up these unhappy things. I'll drink a glass as punishment."
Looks like I won't be getting any useful information tonight. But that's all right. This sister-in-law is more interesting than I imagined. Hanging out with her is pretty fun.
The deaths of Third Uncle and his wife, and Jiang Muyan's car accident-there were too many coincidences. Nine times out of ten, Jiang Qingyu and his son were behind them. I wonder if Wen Jingyan knows anything? I hope she isn't mixed up in it...
Beside her, Jiang Muyan, who had been diligently massaging Song Yutang's shoulders, paused his fingers almost imperceptibly.
So Song Yutang had agreed to come out with Wen Jingyan partly to gather information for him.
Most of the displeasure in his heart instantly dissipated, and his hands grew even more attentive and thorough.
Song Yutang narrowed her eyes in comfort.
A top host really is a top host. Even his massage skills are first-rate. How could watching livestreams and waging war on paper compare to the comfort of hiring male models? No more tipping streamers. I'd be better off spending the money on male models.
Jiang Muyan: "???"
His wife seemed to have some misconceptions about hiring male models.
She actually thought it was just drinking, chatting, and enjoying a little emotional gratification?
That wouldn't do.
He had to let her know that a place like this, in itself, meant danger and the possibility of crossing boundaries...