Even the Eighth Prince's position isn't easy to hold.
The young man nicknamed "Little Pig" drove me home. Along the way, he kept glancing at me discreetly, his eyes filled with a hint of reverence. I felt a certain fondness for him, so I patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Eighth Master might be in a bad mood these days. You'll have to work hard."
When we arrived at our destination, I was about to get out of the car and say goodbye when Little Pig suddenly called out to me.
"Brother Xiao Wu".
"What?" I smiled.
“Hmm…” He hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Today at sea, I think I saw Eighth Master sitting there alone… shedding tears.”
I didn't say anything, just nodded and left.
Humans are emotional beings, after all.
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Four: Hell and Heaven
A violent jolt sent my body swaying involuntarily in my seat. With a roar, the plane slowly and steadily landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The Eighth Master beside him opened his eyes and slowly removed the blindfold from his head.
As the plane came to a stop, and with a gentle announcement from a United Airlines flight attendant, I sighed and glanced at the airport outside the window…
The sun is shining brightly outside right now, and it's clear that the weather in Toronto is great.
I stretched and let out a deep breath.
This was my first time flying first class, and it was indeed quite different from economy class. The flight attendants here were much more attentive and considerate.
Accompanying Master Ba to Toronto this time were only me and two other guys, one of whom was that young man named Little Pig. It seems that Master Ba has been quite fond of him lately.
I dressed in a very "business" outfit—a dark suit with subtle stripes, exuding a composed yet sharp air. I'd just bought this suit a couple of days ago. More importantly, I deliberately added a pair of glasses—frameless, of course, plano lenses, no prescription. Normally, my demeanor and gaze would unconsciously carry a faint, almost sinister, air, but now, with these glasses, that quality was perfectly concealed.
Moreover, after careful consideration, I decided not to wear a tie, but instead unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt, which made me look a little more casual and gave me a more unruly air.
As we walked out of the airport, I followed behind Master Ba, slightly behind by half a step. Little Pig and another subordinate were carrying suitcases behind us.
Pearson Airport is very large, one of the largest airports in Canada. It's about 30 kilometers from the city center. When we arrived at the arrivals area, we saw the person Mr. Thorin had sent to pick us up.
A black, extended Cadillac was parked on either side, flanked by two white men in black suits, with a man in his thirties in the middle. He had a full beard, but his demeanor was very polite. Master Ba clearly recognized him; the two men were still a dozen paces apart when Master Ba began to laugh loudly, then stepped forward and gave him a warm embrace.
“This is my nephew.” Eighth Master pointed at me and smiled: “Chen Yang.”
"Oh, a very nice young man." He smiled and hugged me, but I sensed a special meaning in his eyes, and he even seemed to wink at me.
"Alright, get in the car. My friends, Mr. Thorin is hosting a banquet for you all at his lakeside villa."
He then opened the car door...
Just then, I suddenly heard several car horns blaring nearby. I looked in the direction of the sound and saw a bright red sports car, its color like flames, parked on the side of the airport road. A woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and beautiful yet alluring features, dressed in a fiery red, tight-fitting leather outfit, stood there, radiating a dazzling, fiery presence… It was none other than that seductive “Princess.”
Her pretty face held a hint of reproach, her gaze fixed intently on me...
"Oh. It seems our young man can't travel with us." The bearded man smiled, a hint of cunning in his eyes.
I knew perfectly well that he already knew Her Highness was waiting for me here.
Eighth Master quickly understood what was going on. He glanced at me and said, "Little Fifth, you don't need to come with me anymore... Go and see Her Highness the Princess."
I felt a chill run down my spine… To be honest, I didn't want to continue messing around with this alluring princess. It was all just a fling, nothing more than a fleeting encounter. I wouldn't mind a one-night stand with such a beautiful and alluring woman, but I had no interest in constantly getting entangled with her.
Just as I was hesitating, the princess honked the horn again. I saw many people looking in our direction. Not wanting to attract attention, I nodded to Eighth Master and quickly walked towards the princess.
"Hi, Susan, long time no see." I smiled a little awkwardly.
“Yes!” Her Highness said with a hint of resentment, “Ever since you left me alone in that restaurant…”
It was indeed my fault that day; after I met Qiaoqiao, we ran away together. But since I was accompanying the princess to the banquet, running away halfway through was certainly impolite. I immediately and sincerely apologized.
Her Highness seemed to have no intention of pursuing the matter further: "Get in the carriage."
"Um... but I'm about to accompany Eighth Master to see your father..." I was about to refuse.
She was somewhat displeased: "Do you think I'd eat you? Don't worry, I've already spoken to my father, and I'll take you to his villa tonight."
After all, she was Mr. Thorin's daughter, and I didn't want to offend her too much, so I thought about it and got in the car.
As the car started, I saw Eighth Master and the others standing by the roadside waving at me. Eighth Master even cast a glance my way, clearly implying that I should be more accommodating to this eccentric princess.
Indeed, I can't afford to offend her, because she has a very powerful father.
The car sped along the airport expressway. The princess, wearing a pair of Versace sunglasses, stared intently at the road ahead, but said with a hint of resentment, "Why haven't you contacted me in so long?"
"Hmm..." I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what appropriate reason to give. Her Highness the Princess quickly interrupted, "What, are you trying to say you're busy? Then, since you're in Toronto, why didn't you call me before? Don't you plan to contact me again? Don't tell me you didn't know I was in Toronto!"
This time, there was a hint of resentment in his tone.
I gave a wry smile and said nothing.
Of course I know Her Highness is in Toronto. But what could I say? Could I say, "Hey beautiful, we slept together once and that's it, I won't take responsibility for you!"
"Okay, I was wrong." I thought for a moment and decided that instead of making excuses to cover it up, it was better to admit my mistake directly. This woman wasn't stupid. She wouldn't really believe any lame excuses I made up.
"Hmph." Sure enough, she had no intention of truly holding me responsible, seeing my sincere expression. She suddenly chuckled, and the icy expression on her face instantly melted away…
"Darling, you really are adorable." Her tone returned with that familiar gentleness: "To be honest, at first I was really angry with you for not contacting me for so long..."
Suddenly, her tone shifted, and she continued, "However, ever since that time, I can't help but think of you... Sigh. Are all Eastern men this charming? God is my witness, I thought I would forget you soon, but I just can't... Sigh. Even when I have other people with me these days... I can't help but think of you. Compared to you, those people are really incredibly boring..."
She held the steering wheel with one hand and rested the other on the car window. Propping her head up, she turned slightly to look at me. A seductive smile played on her lips as she said, half-jokingly, half-seriously, "To be honest, I'm even starting to wonder if I've fallen in love with you..."
...I didn't say anything, but I was somewhat unconvinced.
Fall in love with me? Hmph, I have little interest in this flirtatious woman.
For a woman like this to utter the word "love" is practically a joke.
"Alright," the princess giggled. "I was so happy to hear you were coming to Toronto. I've already spoken to my father, and he promised to let me pick you up at the airport. You'll have to spend the rest of the day with me, okay?"
Before I could speak, she interrupted me, smiling casually, "Don't worry, I won't hold you back from your business dealings! Besides, if you spend more time with me, maybe my father will look at you differently!"
I felt slightly annoyed, but I didn't show it on my face. I asked casually, "Where are we going?"
"Let's go eat first." The princess chuckled and gave me a flirtatious wink.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, far more vibrant than Vancouver, a fact I fully appreciated as we drove into the city. The skyscraper district in the distance, located south of Queen's Avenue, was precisely the direction we were heading.
I really didn't expect that the princess would drive me directly to the foot of a building...
I was a little surprised because although I couldn't understand the name of the place... the sign was in French. But I could clearly see the word "hotel" at the end.
hotel?!
Before I could say anything more, the princess had already gotten out of the car and quickly tossed the keys to the doorman. She was clearly a regular here. The doorman bowed and stepped back to catch the keys, while I was pulled by her and led inside with my head held high.
The hotel's interior was luxurious. The lobby was crowded but quiet. Princess led me directly to the VIP elevator at the back, then took out a magnetic card and inserted it.
“This is a wonderful place… my dear,” the princess said with a smile, her eyes narrowed. “Most importantly, it’s very quiet, and no one will disturb us.”
The VIP elevator leads directly to floors that are not open to the public. When we exited the elevator, hotel staff were waiting for us.
This is the thirteenth floor of the hotel. After exiting the elevator, there is a long corridor with Persian handmade carpets underfoot, which are very comfortable and soft to walk on. Above, there are crystal chandeliers with a Bohemian style. I also saw Oriental pottery and wood carvings...
Inside was a closed hall. I saw a row of cabinets outside, and two strangely dressed staff members were standing there. When they saw us come in, they immediately bowed at a 90-degree angle.
The princess was clearly a regular customer; she quickly flashed the card in her hand and pulled me into a small room next door.
"Honey, let's change your clothes."
This is a closed room, decorated with a somewhat palatial feel. There are hanging lamps on the walls, a large sofa, and a row of cabinets next to it with more than a dozen drawers underneath.
"What are you standing there for?" The princess glanced at me and said in a sweet voice, "Darling, hurry up, I can't wait any longer..."
I saw her open the closet door, and the hangers inside were filled with strange clothes... they were all long robes!!
The princess, with her alluring eyes, gently unzipped the leather jacket right before my eyes...
The tight-fitting leather jacket already accentuated her alluring figure, and as the zipper at the chest was lowered, her impressive bust erupted like a volcano! Looking at those two snow-white, perfectly round hemispheres, I couldn't help but feel a little dizzy…
Damn it, this sexy woman isn't wearing a bra underneath... just... two tiny nipple covers...
As if on purpose, she turned around lightly and gracefully, then turned her back to me, bent over, and pulled down her leather pants... When she bent over, her pert and full buttocks were right in front of me, and the rounded curve and slender waist formed an alluring "hourglass" shape, which made my heart beat faster.
She glanced back at me, her eyes sparkling with a smug smile, almost watery... I noticed she was only wearing a thin thong underneath... A thin strap around her waist accentuated her slender figure, and below, a small, almost translucent piece of fabric covered a glimpse of her pubic area...
I quickly looked away, but she chuckled, swayed her hips, and slowly walked up to me. She reached out and hooked her arm around my neck, murmuring, "Oh, darling, your face is red..."
However, she then muttered to herself, "Hmm, not now..." She quickly took a robe from the wardrobe and put it on. The robe was very loose, and after putting it on, only her head was exposed; no other skin was exposed... Yet, beneath such "conservative" clothing lay such a hot and alluring body, inevitably sparking some fantasies.
“It’s your turn, darling.” She gestured for me to change. I hesitated. “Why do I need to change? Where am I?”
"Hey!" she urged, "It's a deal, you're mine today! You have to listen to me!"
Looking at her defiant gaze, I couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.
Damn it, fine, take it off then. If you're not afraid, you're a woman, what am I, a grown man, afraid of!
I quickly took off my clothes—shirt, pants…I was left only in my underwear—and then quickly pulled out a robe and put it on. The difference was that she was wearing a black robe, while I was wearing a white one.
"Alright." She pulled open a drawer under the cabinet, took out two masks, put one on herself (it was a mask of a blue-faced, fanged devil), and then handed me one: "Put this on."
"Where exactly is this place?" I wondered. "Is it a masquerade ball?"
Two small holes had been cut out for the eyes on her mask, and I saw a sly glint in her eyes: "Don't ask so many questions, just come in with me and you'll find out... Oh, by the way, stay with me for a bit, and don't wander off..." She paused, then said very seriously, "And, under no circumstances, do not take off your mask, that's the rule!"
"But I can't see your face right now, how can I recognize you?"
The princess giggled, took out two tokens from her drawer, waved them in her hand, put one on herself, and then put one on mine.
These are two crystal plaques, the crystals are exquisitely polished, and there are numbers displayed on them. Moreover, the colors of these numbers can be adjusted... just like the principle of a Rubik's Cube.
The princess had chosen a red number thirteen for herself, and in the West, thirteen is considered a very unlucky number... Hmph, that does suit her devil mask quite well.
And I, after putting on the mask, discovered that my mask was actually... Jesus.
My birthday is August 2nd. I changed the numbers to 82 myself and also made it red.
After we finished, we took off our shoes, and then the princess gently pushed open another door in the room…
The long, dark corridor, with candlesticks hanging on both walls, had a medieval feel to it. The simple, heavy, and cold metallic texture, combined with the flickering shadows, successfully created a mysterious atmosphere.
At the end of the corridor was a thick wooden door. I saw two people standing in the doorway, both dressed in long robes that covered their entire bodies, and wearing black hoods that only revealed their eyes.
The princess walked ahead of me, made a strange gesture to them, and then the two of them pushed open the wooden door...