The autumn air was thick as ink, and with the wind sneaking into the sleeves of passersby, it gave a chilling sensation of being naked in the vast world, despite being clothed.
A certain street-side café, with its massive floor-to-ceiling glass wall, separated the intense autumn into two worlds. Elegant music floated inside like rippling water, calming restless hearts.
Zhao Xinya sat on a round stool near the glass wall, dressed in a sky-blue long-sleeved shirt paired with a lotus-green vest. Beneath her miniskirt were mysterious black tights, complementing her slender legs, which rested on stylish, curve-hugging, gold-accented high heels. With one leg naturally crossed over the other and her fingers interlaced at her left waist, she exuded an elegant and composed mature charm. Any passerby who caught a glimpse of her silhouette couldn't help but feel awestruck, their gaze lingering for a few seconds before reluctantly moving on.
The reluctance stemmed from the fact that despite her graceful figure and noble demeanor, her face was quite...
Zhao Xinya's features were somewhat delicate, but her face was a bit elongated, with slightly thick lips, a broad nose, and cheekbones that stood out like perilous peaks. Her eyes, like two birds trying to escape, seemed to hover uncertainly over these peaks, marring what could have been a beautiful visage.
Her skin had a sallow hue, and coupled with a somewhat listless expression, it gave her a slightly sickly appearance.
Sitting opposite Zhao Xinya was another woman, Qi Hong, about the same age, both in their forties. Qi Hong dressed more modestly, embodying the typical image of a homely woman, yet her face was far more beautiful and youthful compared to Zhao Xinya's.
Qi Hong took a sip of her heavily sugared coffee with her crimson lips, picked up the spoon with her fingers, and stirred gently. However, she kept her head bowed, hiding the cunning flicker in her eyes from the other.
"Have you thought it over? Xinya, we've been sisters for so many years; would I ever harm you? Opportunities like this don't come often. Miss this chance, and it's gone for good."
Qi Hong's voice was not loud, but every word was clear. After saying these words, she raised her head, her eyes no longer wandering, but very sincere.
"What you're saying is really hard to believe. If he really secretly hid your stockings, what did he do afterwards?"
Zhao Xinya leaned forward, clearly captivated by what Qi Hong was saying.
"What else can boys use them for? Of course, it's that kind of thing. But, it seems he really likes the stockings I've worn. None of the new ones have ever gone missing."
"Worn ones?"
Zhao Xinya frowned and asked, "Wouldn't the smell be quite bad?"
"Ha... that kid, though still young, somehow learned to be all mysterious every day. And, under his bed, there's also..."
"Also what?"
Zhao Xinya's curiosity was piqued, as if a little cat was scratching incessantly at her chest.
"Xinya, remember after we had drinks once, you said you wanted to live with an innocent man. I don't know if you were serious or just saying it casually."
Qi Hong suddenly changed the subject and brought this up.
"Oh!"
Zhao Xinya shifted her weight onto her hips, the toes of her foot in the air curling inside her high heel before relaxing again, saying indifferently, "Let's talk about your matter. Why bring me into it again?"
"This matter is certainly related to you. You know, since that bastard died in a car accident, he left me nothing. Instead, he forced upon me the burden of some wild woman's child, making my life very tight now. I want to start a new life but lack the strength. That little brat isn't big, but he's full of tricks. Maybe it's from living with me for so long, but the way he looks at me sometimes feels like a wolf's. After all, there's a name between us. So, if you don't mind, I could sell the little brat to you, for you to do as you please."
After saying this, Qi Hong stared intently at Zhao Xinya, trying to decipher the true thoughts in her heart from her eyes. Unfortunately, Zhao Xinya's gaze showed no change, resting flatly on the edge of the coffee cup on the table, as if there was something more captivating there.
"What era is this now, and you're still engaging in human trafficking? Aren't you afraid of breaking the law?"
"He just turned 16 this year, old enough to take responsibility for his actions. Xin Ya, don't you have a villa in the suburbs? It's still missing a maid. Let this little rascal work as your maid for two years. Not a penny less in wages, all of it must be handed over to me. Anyway, that kid isn't doing well in school; it's better for him to have something to do early on so he won't starve in the future."
Qi Hong seemed to have made up her mind long ago, a hint of determination in her demeanor that made Zhao Xin Ya somewhat tempted.
"A 16-year-old kid, right in the rebellious phase, would obediently follow your arrangement to be my maid and serve me?"
"That's not a problem. The other day, I caught him red-handed stealing stockings and gave him a good beating. He's much more obedient now. If I weren't short on money, I might not be willing to let him go."
Qi Hong spoke shamelessly, utterly fed up with the nuisance at home.
"Let's talk more about the stockings; I'm more interested in that..."
"Believe it or not, if I go home now, take off my stockings, and are willing to give them to that little rascal, he'd do anything. How about we make a bet?"
"Bet on what?"
Zhao Xin Ya also became intrigued, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, her eyes narrowing.
"Let's bet on your beauty shop. If I win, you hand over the beauty shop to me to manage. If I lose, I'll work as your maid."
Qi Hong thought for a moment and said.
"You, working as my maid? How could I dare to employ you? How about this: if that little rascal is as obedient as you say, I wouldn't mind taking him in. After all, my villa is empty and in need of people. As for the beauty shop, wanting to manage it is a bit tricky. Zhang Jie has been working there for many years, and it's hard to fire her. So, let's change the bet. If what you say is true, I'll give you a ten percent share of the beauty shop."
Zhang Jie was the manager of Zhao Xin Ya's beauty shop, a versatile person whom Qi Hong also knew and had long coveted her position.
"A ten percent share of the profits!"
Qi Hong's mouth fell open in surprise. After all, Zhao Xin Ya's beauty shop was one of the top in the city, and a ten percent share of the profits could easily amount to one or two hundred thousand.
"However, I also have a condition."
Zhao Xin Ya tapped her fingers lightly on the coffee table, snapping Qi Hong out of her shock.
"What condition?"
"As long as that little rascal stays in my villa for a day, this 10% share is yours. But if he can't bear it and leaves one day, you'll have to return this 10% dividend."
Zhao Xinya's tone turned cold, unmistakably revealing the demeanor of a formidable businesswoman.