Chapter 130: Beauty and Despair
December 30, Monday, suitable for travel, praying for blessings, and treating illnesses.
As the year-end approaches, more and more guests gather at the Golden River Club. This is the unique rhythm of the year-end, doubling the busy appearances while amplifying the need for rest and relaxation.
It was another night of Hanfu celebration guided by a wide moon, where the host, Kuan Yue, personally changed the outfits for the star of the day, Jiang Yao, dressing her in a stunning qi-chest ru skirt, embroidered with red and white flowering patterns, long-sleeved and flowing like a butterfly. As for the other hyacinth girls, to avoid overshadowing the main attraction, most wore relatively simpler attire but still splendid, reminiscent of dreams returning to the Han and Tang dynasties. The entire golden hall was adorned with exquisite national beauty.
This was Kuan Yue’s surprise for Jiang Yao, a grand birthday celebration attended by many club members. With such a stunning outfit, those who knew it was her birthday couldn’t help but think that Jiang Yao was getting married, causing the usually carefree blonde girl to hesitate and not dare to step out of the staff passage.
“I didn’t expect it to be even prettier than last time’s red skirt.”
Dressed in a snow-white Han skirt, Jiang Yan smiled as she walked in front of Jiang Yao, gently tugging at her long sleeves and nodding repeatedly.
“Sister, is this too flashy?”
Jiang Yao blushed, avoiding the various gazes around her, her voice becoming as light as a mosquito’s buzz, shyly turning back to Jiang Yan.
“Wan Sister? I guess she is trying to prove our value to everyone. Hyacinths are about to have a new baron, which is enough for Wan Sister to find an excuse to give you any rewards.”
Jiang Yan laughed and looked back at a certain woman in official attire sipping wine alone by the second-floor railing.
After six months of interaction, she had developed a relatively complete understanding of Wan Yue. It was not deep, but easy enough to grasp.
Wan Sister was a person who made distinctions between favors and punishments, generous but meticulous in her kindness and generosity towards each Hyacinth member.
Since Brother Zheng was severely injured, and Brother Zhao Peng had gone into hibernation, the Hyacinth had a significant vacuum of influence, and she was diligently trying to solidify Gao I and Xiao Yao’s statuses within Hyacinth… On the second floor, Wan Yue’s gaze met Jiang Yan’s as she raised her wine glass, and Jiang Yan nodded in return.
Suddenly, there was an exclamation from the direction of the entrance; two male Hyacinth members flung open the club’s doors, and Zhong Jing pushed in a huge birthday cake, beaming and radiantly sunny.
“Oh my god, what a big and beautiful birthday cake!”
Almost all the girls at the scene, whether or not they were members of Hyacinth, broke into applause.
The cake, with a base diameter of at least two meters and nine layers high, was adorned with colorful candles. The golden-red candlelight merged with the golden ocean, shining brightly and dazzlingly.
In dark and damp underground cells, only a few broken wall lamps illuminated the space, with most areas plunged in darkness.
In the cramped underground space, the air was filled with various foul odors, and around twenty naked men and women coiled in the corners, barely clinging to life.
Each person was shackled, their bodies smeared with unknown filthy substances, gasping for breath, while a few lay on the ground like the dead, unable to even show the rise and fall of their chests.
Sour, fecal, bloody odors, and the stench of rotten flesh — all imaginable hellish smells could be found here, unbearable to the nose.
In a special metal frame, Meng Huai enjoyed the treatment of solitary confinement, mostly in tattered clothing, bearded and half-opening his hazy eyes, lifelessly surveying the non-human land before him.
Fainting, or drifting in a dreamy state, was how Meng Huai felt most of the time these days; apart from that, he struggled with the unsteady gaze and an ever-present hunger.
Both his right hand and left leg had been broken, and every day, someone would deliver brutal blows to the broken bones, and Meng Huai’s body could never recover at the pace of the continual injuries.
Strangely, throughout most of the time, Meng Huai found himself immersed in a peculiar woozy comfort, as if even the pain from his severed limbs had weakened significantly.
“Just a third of Linglong San could last three days, but you want me to eat a whole one!”
A fierce voice sounded in his ear, somewhat familiar; Meng Huai, in his dazed state, still remembered it was the person delivering food.
As the voice moved, a steel basin crashed to the ground, seemingly emitting the smell of food.
“The effect of Linglong San is still a bit low for you. Since you’re awake, no more feeding, eat it yourself!”
A steel basin was thrown in front of him, containing a mushy mass of bloody meat, exuding a foul smell. Meng Huai’s eyes widened slightly as he stared blankly at his only partially movable right hand.
“What… what did you make me eat…”
Watching the surrounding naked men and women lunge towards the steel basin like zombies awakening, Meng Huai found himself more alert, muttering to the shadow standing not far away.
His hoarse voice mingled with the chaotic sounds of frenzied eating, rendering it particularly lonely and strange.
“Ha ha, we’re all from the Black Blood Clan, adding some nutrition for you, what do you say?”
The shadow squatted down in front of Meng Huai, pinching his chin with a grin full of arrogance. “Kid, you’re getting the special supply meal straight from our boss; the others can only eat half portions of bloody meat, but you get extra blood!”
“These… you made me… eat people?”
Meng Huai’s eyes instantly reddened, pulling fiercely at the chains binding him, his face contorted with rage, a chaotic and brutal aura swirling in the basement.
Having injected him with various unknown substances, Meng Huai’s currently weak blood could not control itself, nor could it help him escape the current situation, and in mere seconds, he collapsed weakly.
“Tch, you’ve been eating for three days, and more than anyone else; what, now that you see clearly, your appetite is spoiled?”
The shadow chuckled coldly and turned to leave.
“Kill me… kill me!”
Meng Huai hung his head, weakly twisting his left hand, his throat swallowing as his dazed eyes were filled with despair.
“Our boss has invested heavily in you… you want to die, go ahead, just bear it yourself. If we can’t even feed you, when you really die, we’ll just send you to them for a meal.”
The shadow turned back, laughing even more wildly, and casually pointed at the blood-covered aide surrounding the steel basin, devouring its contents.
Am I not allowed to die… right, I still have a mission… Mom…
The shadow vanished, and Meng Huai trembled as he grabbed a handful of the bloody, smelly mush from the steel basin and slowly stuffed it into his mouth.
…
…
Mmm… too sweet…
A piece of cake topped with blood-red strawberry jam was stuffed into Jiang Yao’s mouth. The girl’s cheeks puffed out, transforming her into a classic chubby little hamster.
Compared to the luxurious sense of ceremony, the pace of celebrating the birthday was much simpler and more casual, just a big group photo and blowing out candles. Afterward, both the club guests and the members of Hyacinth resumed casual mingling.
Wan Yue and Jiang Yan didn’t go anywhere; Zhong Jing contentedly accompanied Jiang Yao, eating cake together in a corner.
“You really can’t gain weight anyway.”
Zhong Jing cheerfully munched on the fruit pieces on the cake and handed a cake box over, “Wait, the master will give you a surprise, a real birthday gift!”
“Uh… there’s… more?”
Swallowing the cake in her mouth, Jiang Yao revealed a curious look, licking the cream off her fingers while secretly glancing at the others around, “Is it like this for everyone’s birthday?”
“Of course not; only knights get such treatment… being overly stingy or overly generous will create misunderstandings and trouble for others.”
Zhong Jing chuckled, gesturing to some Hyacinth girls in the distance, lowering his voice: “Here, only Brother Zhao and Sister Ai can enjoy a birthday treatment similar to yours; Sister Dong is a bit less fortunate.”
Unfortunately, by the time she celebrated her birthday, she hadn’t yet been promoted to a knight, otherwise the occasion wouldn’t be any worse than today.
“The Hyacinth is not a workplace, but a group of people who must fight for their lives at any moment; the master must let everyone know who can help them live longer.”
Jiang Yao nodded slowly, understanding: “I know, Wan Sister and my sister are going south, and they want me to help Sister Ai keep the situation stable.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yao suddenly thought of something and quickly grabbed Zhong Jing’s arm, quietly pointing to a certain corner with the other hand: “Zhong Jing, you must know about Sister Xiao Ping, right?”
Zhong Jing looked down at the cake in front of him, his lips curling into a playful smile: “Of course I do; she just fell for a seemingly good-looking top student, poured everything into it… then lost it all.”
“Why would that happen? With Sister Xiao Ping’s character, I find it a bit suspicious.”
Jiang Yao’s face was full of confusion.
Zhong Jing lifted his head and smiled more brightly: “Let’s put it this way, that guy, Su Xiaomeng is also investigating, well… coming from a small town, a master’s degree from a prestigious university, working hard alone in City C, with little money, and he’s also not as good-looking as me…”
“Uh… maybe just a bit more handsome than me… but that’s not important!”
Feeling a special gaze pointing at his face, Zhong Jing turned and saw Zhang Xianxian’s face, then awkwardly touched his nose.
“Shameless… I’ve seen his photos; he is better-looking and taller than you, stays clean, and is hardworking!”
Jiang Yao looked away, muttering a string of sarcastic remarks.
“Me… are you going to kill the conversation? We’re talking about that guy!”
Sensing that the girl beside him randomly changed topics while chatting, Zhong Jing couldn’t help but laugh, saying: “That guy, to put it in fashionable terms, is currently almost broke, but is seen as a potential by most women. When Zhou Ping is with him, disregarding looks, it’s basically a May-December romance.”
“Hmm, I think so too. Sister Xiao Ping is wealthy, beautiful, and has a good character; any man should cherish her.”
Jiang Yao nodded repeatedly, clearly holding Zhou Ping in much higher regard than other Hyacinth girls.
“Not only that, Zhou Ping is a female member of the Blood Clan, possessing strength incomparable to ordinary people and surpassing most in terms of material conditions… therefore, this kind of relationship is inherently unequal.”
“Plus, the huge difference in lifespans… so for this exceptional man, Zhou Ping, on a subconscious level, has only two attitudes to choose from.”
As Zhong Jing said this, he lowered his voice, lifting two fingers: “Either strong control and protection, treating herself as the upper limit of their lives together. Or, like treating the weak, filled with pity and tolerance, regarding herself as the lower limit of their lives together.”
“I see! Sister Xiao Ping is just like my sister!”
Jiang Yao suddenly realized, her cream-covered hand grabbing Zhong Jing’s arm directly, her body quickly leaning closer to him: “Before, my sister treated your brother like this, and now I see it.”
The two faced each other, a distance of less than ten centimeters, their bodies and arms even partially leaning together. With Jiang Yao’s full lips, they quickly drew the attention of several tables of club guests nearby, casting looks of ambiguous envy.
“Shh, keep it down…”
Zhong Jing quickly lowered his voice, discreetly removing the cream-covered suit jacket that Jiang Yao had stained multiple times, accidentally brushing against her chest—a fleeting touch that made her puff up like an alert kitten.
The atmosphere grew ambiguous; Zhong Jing sipped his drink while Jiang Yao fidgeted with her dress straps, neither knowing what to say.
“Well… Zhong Jing.”
Jiang Yao instinctively touched her hot ears, keeping her voice very low: “From a friend’s standpoint… I mean, please don’t be fickle in the future… don’t let people say you’re a playboy…”
“Huh? Why should I?” Zhong Jing was taken aback, looking up with confusion. “Why should I do anything at their request? Let them talk; I don’t lose anything.”
Zhong Jing scoffed and reached for the beer on the table.
Jiang Yao furrowed her brows, the corner of her mouth twitching. A few moments later, she lowered her head, gritting her teeth as if holding back anger: “They can joke around, but I am serious… They all say you’re good at pursuing me; can you listen to what I say…?”
Realizing the seriousness of Zhong Jing’s face, she suddenly regretted articulating those words.
“Pursuing you? When did I ever pursue you? Just because they say something doesn’t mean it’s true,” Zhong Jing laughed suddenly, with a carefree expression, “Also, I’ve always been immune to compliance tests from women.”
Suddenly finding the person in front of her especially annoying, Jiang Yao straightened her back slowly, quietly observing his responses, her expression gradually cooling.
Is he doing it on purpose? Or am I just overthinking it?
Sister’s words were indeed correct; he was a person with an extreme sense of self-satisfaction. On the surface, he appeared caring and understanding, but he only liked to dominate the conversation using his own thoughts and emotional rhythms, not necessarily caring about what I think…
But why!
Jiang Yao suddenly felt like a quickly decaying flower, worthless.
Standing up abruptly, she grabbed the cake plate from the table, her wrist flicking it directly into Zhong Jing’s face, then she stormed away angrily.
This small episode created a visually impactful effect and quickly inspired many clueless imitations, leading to a cake fight erupting among several Hyacinth members in the golden hall.
Covering his face with sliding cream and cake, Zhong Jing laughed exaggeratedly.
…
Meng Huai didn’t know how long time had passed; the feeling of losing control over his body had gradually receded.
Most of his physical sensations returned to reality, much like the effect of painkillers wearing off, the omnipresent intense pain engulfed his entire body, causing him to break out in cold sweat.
A deep sense of loss and anxiety lingered in his mind, as if he had lost something important; it seemed that the previous disorienting state was the most comfortable and needed one.
Suddenly, a piercing light illuminated his face, compelling Meng Huai to instinctively raise his only movable right hand to shield his eyes.
Amid the light, several indistinct silhouettes stepped forward, one of which was quite fat.
“Ha ha, you finished it all; I thought you were pretty tough… hmm, the drug’s effect is wearing off, just right for a blood draw.”
A faintly familiar voice echoed in his ears, and Meng Huai suddenly realized it was that disgusting Ganges blood clan baron who had captured him a few days earlier.
A syringe containing an unknown substance was injected into him, causing Meng Huai to feel a rising heat throughout his body, and the boiling blood seemed uncontrollably awakened, spreading a more terrifying pain from his heart outwards, even overshadowing the previous discomfort.
“He’s still weak; don’t draw too much; four hundred milliliters is enough… tsk tsk, after a month, it’ll sell for at least five or six hundred thousand.”
Alright… give him a bit more Linglong San and a growth agent, but not too much; don’t ruin him completely, let him enjoy it slowly.
Grasping his chin, some unknown pills were forced into his mouth, followed by a large gulp of cold water poured down, then another syringe jabbed into his body.
From start to finish, Meng Huai couldn’t resist.
The figures and footsteps receded, and the bright lighting in the basement dimmed again, restoring Meng Huai’s world to darkness and foul stench.
It seemed the drug’s effects returned, the pain gradually dissipating, the familiar disorienting and dreamy sensations again filling his body and mind.
In the dim light, Meng Huai gazed vacantly with unfocused eyes, a faint comforting smile playing on his lips.
This feeling was pleasant, pain-free, intoxicating, and too precious to lose; it would be wonderful if it could last like this forever…
…
Time had almost approached midnight; the guests had long dispersed, yet the Golden River Club remained brilliantly lively.
Jiang Yao’s birthday banquet had lasted for several hours and showed no sign of stopping. Sister Ai was so generous that she even distributed red envelopes on the spot, starting from hundreds of yuan, making the atmosphere even more festive.
Zhong Jing and Jiang Yao were not sure when they had gathered at a remote table, chatting and drinking comfortably.
After the cake fight, Jiang Yao, with a strange mood, played massive games with other Hyacinth girls, no longer glancing at Zhong Jing.
As the clock struck midnight, the club’s door opened again, and two figures appeared at the entrance, one tall and one short.
A man and a woman, both smiling as they looked at everyone in the hall.
The girl in front, sultry and charming, was Su Xiaomeng, while slightly lagging behind was Zheng Shaolin, dressed in sportswear.
“Brother Zheng!”
Zheng Shaolin stood at the entrance of the Golden River Club with a smile, waving silently, instantly eliciting a tsunami of cheers.
Immediately, a group of stunningly dressed Hyacinth girls flocked to him, surrounding Zheng Shaolin in a flurry of chirps and warm inquiries, allowing the visibly thinner man to enjoy the treatment of being doted on by a crowd.
…
In the female employee’s changing room, Wan Yue and Jiang Yan had changed into ordinary clothes, making them convenient for travel.
The luggage was already loaded into the car. “Sister Ai entered the changing room quietly, lowering her head slightly, “Brother Zheng is back, do you want to see him?”
Today was purposely selected; he could have been discharged the day before, serving as an additional highlight for Jiang Yao’s birthday… but I won’t see him. This outfit would ruin the atmosphere.
As she spoke, Wan Yue pulled the car keys from her pocket and walked over, “I got Jiang Yao a birthday gift, a set of apartments in Q District; you can give it to her later.”
The brilliantly shining keys, arcing beautifully, landed in Xiao Ai’s hands. The interim manager of the club since Zhao Peng’s hibernation was slightly astonished.
This was likely the most lavish gesture Wan Yue had ever extended to a specific member since the establishment of Hyacinth, without comparisons.
“Wan Sister…”
Although Jiang Yan knew that Wan Yue still had a personal gift for Jiang Yao, upon hearing it was a property worth several million yuan, she promptly stood up, hesitating for several seconds, ultimately not expressing her later thoughts.
Jiang Yao’s contributions to Hyacinth could not be measured in monetary terms; she indeed deserved such rewards, especially since this likely included Jiang Yan’s share.
“Xiao Ai, Zheng Shaolin will continue to recuperate at the club, and you and Liang Tai can help keep an eye on Zhao Peng; there’s no need to bring back Xiao Ling for now. Starting today, you guys will return to normal shifts; if there are any emergencies, contact Su Xiaomeng, and Lao Jin will look after it.”
Finishing her words, Wan Yue got up and walked outside. Jiang Yan nodded slightly at Xiao Ai, then followed closely behind.
In the golden hall, Zheng Shaolin’s return elevated the atmosphere once again, and when Xiao Ai handed Jiang Yao the key symbolizing a property worth several million, shouts of excitement erupted from all around.
Wan Yue didn’t show her face again; at this moment, she was driving an off-road vehicle with Jiang Yan, quietly leaving the Golden River Club and heading down south toward Y Province.
…
“Hey… Jin, thanks this time for helping me keep Zheng Shaolin safe.”
In the off-road vehicle, Jiang Yan was driving while Wan Yue sat in the front passenger seat, playfully tapping on her phone, her face illuminated by the neon lights outside the window.
“I’m heading south this time, which is essentially helping your Wang family deal with the Black Dragon Society; don’t you have any gratitude? It’s still Jiang Yao’s birthday today; at least the girl has helped you a lot.”
Seemingly in good spirits, Wan Yue’s sexy body lazily curled up in the generous seat, her smile charming and voice sweet, carrying a hint of playfulness, likely causing Lao Jin to lose his wits if he were present.
“Heh, is there another big gift? You’re keeping secrets… then let’s discuss it when I return!”
After hanging up, a mysterious smile flashed across Wan Yue’s lips.
“Jiang Yan, I’ll drive during the night… let’s minimize stops and merge with Xiang Zuxing and the others early.”
“Okay, Wan Sister.”
Seeing the other party finish the call, Jiang Yan also casually increased the speed.
The off-road vehicle descended south along the city ring road, entering a main street in Q District. Not far away, across an urban river, lay the high-end villa community where the Zhong family resided.
Tilting her head slightly, quietly observing the villas under the shimmering night lights, a shadow of a tall soldier suddenly crossed Jiang Yan’s mind.
That direction was Meng Han’s nominal home, but with his personality, he probably wouldn’t be at home now… Jiang Yan turned her head back to focus ahead, her face calm and unperturbed.
With a gentle press on the accelerator, the off-road vehicle’s roar filled the air as its speed surged dramatically.
