"Hey, Yafei, what's up?"
"Nothing much, just missing you, my dear Lili."
"Why is it so noisy over there?"
"I'm at a bar."
"Oh, I envy you. Living so carefree."
"Hey, don't even mention it. By the way, why are you still awake this late?"
"How could I answer your call if I were asleep?"
"Heh, stop pretending. What are you doing?"
"Rushing to finish a report. It's due tomorrow."
"Goodness, working until now? Don't you care about your skin anymore?"
"Does good skin put food on the table or pay the rent? Besides, I'm not as lucky as you, with family connections to get a bank job."
"Alright, alright. You know what my family's situation is like—just ordinary working class. Stop making light of my situation here. They, well, they thought they'd pulled every string to get me into the bank. Then, to anyone they met, they'd brag, 'My daughter now has a secure government job; she must be living in comfort!' In reality, I'm just a teller, forcing a smile all day. Every month, I'm swamped with assigned tasks—overworked and underpaid. Anyone can push me around. I feel like I'm being squeezed dry, like a longan."
"Isn't that just life?"
"I don't want to live like that. We've only graduated recently! If it continues like this, I'll end up finding a man, having a kid, and just going through the motions for the rest of my life. Tell me, a woman's youth only lasts for a few years, right? I feel so short-changed."
"Have you and Zhao Yang broken up?"
"We did. Broke up long ago, not long after graduation. His family wanted him to go back to his hometown, and he even wanted to take me with him. What would I do there? If I could go back with him and live like a pampered wife, fine. But his family is from the countryside. Am I, Sun Yafei, supposed to travel all that way to his hometown just to struggle alongside him, bear his children, do housework, and help him pay off a mortgage?"
"Actually, Zhao Yang is quite a good man."
"If you want him, go ahead and contact him. We're besties, right? What's mine is yours."
"Pfft! Shameless!"
"Hahaha... Ah, my friends are here, gotta go. Let's meet up when you're free. Good night, Lili. Go to sleep early."
"Good night. You be safe too. It's late and you're still at a bar."
"Okay, okay, I'm hanging up now."
---
"Hey, Lili, what are you up to?"
"Having dinner."
"What time is it? Are you having supper or dinner?"
"Dinner."
"Working overtime again?"
"Yeah, endless overtime."
"I have a favor to ask."
"Sure, go ahead."
"In two hours, give me a call. See if I pick up. If I don't... then... then just call the police!"
"Sun Yafei, what are you planning to do?"
"I'm at the Four Seasons Hotel on Chunxi Road. Remember that."
"Hey, Sun Yafei, what exactly are you doing?!!"
"BEEP... BEEP... BEEP..."
---
"Hello..."
"Sun Yafei, you finally picked up! I was about to call the police!"
"No, it's nothing, Lili. It's over. I'm fine."
"What on earth were you doing?"
"SOB... SOB... SOB..."
"Yafei, why are you crying? What happened?"
"Lili, I'm shameless. I'm such a shameless woman. For money, I've lost all sense of decency. I'm an absolute piece of..."
"Yafei, you..."
"Lili, I can't stand it! Why do others get to use nice things and wear nice clothes, while I just sit behind a counter getting mistreated all day? Why? I'm no worse than them. I'm really not! I want that kind of life too. I really, really do..."
"Yafei, calm down..."
"Lili, it's okay. I'm home now. I'm going to take a shower. You should get some rest. I'm so sorry. As your friend, I've really let you down."
"No, it's not like that, Yafei..."
"BEEP... BEEP... BEEP..."
---
"Hello, Lili."
"Yafei, I'm here. Are you okay?"
"The hotel at Red Tower. Same as last time."
"This..."
"Lili, I've thought it through. I don't care anymore."
"I don't think you should continue with this, Yafei."
"Give me a call in two hours. After I'm done, I'll come find you for a late-night snack."
"Yafei, hey, Yafei..."
"BEEP... BEEP... BEEP..."
---
"Hey, Lili, what are you up to? You're on holiday, right?"
"No, working overtime during the holiday. The company's been busy recently."
"Working overtime even during the holidays? Your boss is heartless. It seems all capitalists are cut from the same cloth. So, can you take some time off? Forget about the holiday overtime pay; I'll treat you to a trip to Thailand."
"No can do. This project is at a critical stage, so it's not convenient to take leave."
"Sigh... projects, projects, work, work. Even if the project succeeds, you won't get much of a bonus. Why keep slogging away foolishly at that company?"
"What about you? Have you quit?"
"Quit? Why on earth would I quit? Hahaha! I'd have to be out of my mind to quit. With this work, a single session for me brings in what other girls make in two or three. One client pays me more than your whole month's salary plus bonus."
"Yafei, are you really planning to do this long-term?"
"I'll do this for now, Lili. Let me be honest, I've seen through it. In this society, you can lack anything but money. Without money, life is hard, and people look down on you."
"But, aren't you concerned about the future?"
"The future? Why worry about something so far off? Live in the moment. Honestly, Lili, aren't you tempted? Back in school, you were prettier than me, and way more guys were after you."
"I..."
"Stay away from this, Lili. I was just kidding earlier. This is a pit, and once you fall in, you can't climb out. You're a good girl; I can't lead you astray. Really, after doing it just two or three times, I knew I couldn't get out. The money comes in too fast; it's just too easy. What I make from one client, with tips and everything, is far more than I ever earned slogging away at my old job. My values have completely shattered. If you asked me to go back to a regular job for a fixed salary now, I honestly couldn't do it. Really. I can't go back."
"Yafei, I sincerely advise you to stop. Otherwise, you'll only sink deeper and deeper."
"But what I do is different from those club girls. I'm high-end. The men who book me are all loaded. Hehe, I tell them I'm new to this because my parents are ill and I need money for their medical bills. Lili, someone's already offered to be my sugar daddy. I'm still thinking about it."
"A sugar daddy?"
"Yeah, the money's good, but he's a bit old and has a family. I'm still weighing my options. To be honest, this line of work isn't much different from going on arranged dates. In fact, the 'suitors' here are much higher caliber than what you'd find at a matchmaking agency."
"Yafei, you should stop. Go back to a normal life. I think that's the right…"
"Alright. Let's talk when I get back from my trip. I'll bring you some gifts."
---
"Hello, Lili, have you seen my social media posts?"
"I saw it. That bag."
"It's worth over a hundred grand! A client gave it to me. I even had someone with connections verify it—it's genuine, not a fake."
"Hmm."
"Plus, he's young, only two years older than me. He comes from a rich family and is pretty naive."
"What, are you interested in him?"
"Let me tell you, this guy is a bit introverted, and right now, he's totally smitten with me. He's already booked me six times this month. I figure, a little more maneuvering, and I'll have him wrapped around my finger."
"In that case, congratulations."
"Right? I think so too. You can't do this line of work forever, after all. You get old eventually, just like in the 'Song of the Pipa Player.' Now I finally get why all those female celebrities try so desperately to marry into rich families."
"If his family is that rich, then his parents..."
"I know, don't worry. I've already got this silly boy completely smitten. Once I get pregnant, we'll do a paternity test—it'll definitely be his kid! Then his parents will have to let me marry into the family. Besides, he's not stupid; he'd never tell his parents what I used to do. I even asked him if he minded my past. You know what he said? He said everyone has it tough, and he really admires and respects me for working to pay for my parents' medical bills. He said he wants to be with me forever. Oh, man, it was so funny, I almost died laughing!"
"Well, he does seem like a good person."
"Okay, okay, I can't talk anymore. I'm off to get my hair done. Chat later, okay?"
"Hmm, chat later."
---
"Hey, Lili, let me tell you something hilarious."
"What is it?"
"He said he wants me to have his baby! Oh my god, that's exactly what I was thinking!"
"Wow, it seems like he's really fallen for you."
"Yeah. Sigh... I actually feel a little guilty. I've strung this silly kid along so much he's completely dazed. He's dead set on being with me and even said he wants to take me to meet his parents soon."
"Well, congratulations then, Yafei."
"Oh, by the way, I think his family is in the international apparel trade. Just you wait, Lili. Once I'm really in with his family, I'll arrange a job for you too. Then you'll have to call me 'boss lady'!"
"Haha, I'll pass, thanks. But you, Yafei, since he's genuinely into you, maybe you should settle down for real."
"What are you thinking? I've already settled down; he's the only one for me now. I'm not stupid enough to throw away a watermelon for a sesame seed. In a little while, I'll get him to buy me a car. Then, we can go on drives to those countryside resorts for fun."
"Sounds good, I'll wait for you."
---
"Hey, Lili, hahahahaha…"
"What's the big happy news? You sound so happy."
"Lili, you know what? He just called and asked me to meet him at that KTV on Jianguo Road. He was acting all mysterious about it."
"He's probably planning a surprise for you?"
"Honestly, these young guys nowadays are just too inexperienced. He actually thought he could keep a secret from me! I think he's going to propose. Last night when we were together, I saw receipts for a cake and flowers in his wallet."
"Well, congratulations! Looks like you're really getting hitched."
"I'm at the KTV now... Oh, hello! Excuse me, which way to the Emperor Suite? Over there? Okay, thanks, young man."
Lili could hear noisy singing from the other end of the phone:
*A-ha, give me a cup of oblivion water, let me trade it for a night without tears...*
*I've grown used to your sudden self, free and easy, seeing through nature's truths...*
Yafei continued over the din, "It's so loud in here! Seriously, why propose in a KTV?"
"You're just showing off now, aren't you? Don't forget, I'm still single," Lili said. She didn't know whether to be happy or worried for her friend.
"Alright, alright, Lili, don't worry. I know some of his buddies; they're all from rich, second-generation circles. After a while, I'll introduce one to you too. You're a great catch yourself. Phew... I finally found it. Okay, I have to pretend I know nothing. Hahaha, I need to look completely surprised! Ugh, dating a younger guy is seriously like being his mom. You have to think of everything for him."
CREAK...
Countless cheers came from the telephone receiver.
"She's here! She's here!"
WOW!!!
"Welcome, welcome!!"
WOW!!!
"Seems like there's quite a crowd. Guess he invited all his friends to witness the moment, Yafei. Congratulations."
Cheers erupted in unison from the other end:
"Welcome to our club!"
"Welcome to our club!"
"Welcome to our… AIDS Club!"