"A newcomer?" The middle-aged man's eyes, which were already somewhat swollen, lit up for a moment, and then he asked boldly.
Sister Hong hurriedly said, "Fangfang just arrived today, but she doesn't offer escort services!"
The man laughed impatiently and scolded, "What are you babbling about! If you have business, just do it! I'll take this one!"
After another round of selection, several men who were starting to gain weight and several women of the night laughed and joked as they were led by Sister Hong to a private room.
Once inside the private room, the men were as comfortable as if they were at home. They took off their coats and sprawled out on the sofa like boneless creatures, kicking off their leather shoes and haphazardly putting their feet on the coffee table.
The women were gentle, charming, and alluring. Li Zhu also revealed a side of herself that Lu Ni had never seen before, making Lu Ni feel ashamed and embarrassed.
The karaoke started, the dice were shaken, the drinks were served, and snacks and fruit platters were also brought out.
"President Wang" casually put his arm around Lu Ni, as if she were something he owned, like clothes or socks. Lu Ni accepted it. From the moment she stepped through that door, Lu Ni had hardened her heart to accept certain things. Lu Ni knew that once she came here, she had no self-respect left; she only needed to maintain her bottom line.
"Boss Wang" wanted to sing a duet of "Du Shiniang," but Lu Ni didn't know how to sing it. She had heard the song before; it had a simple melody and childish, ridiculous, and vulgar lyrics. Lu Ni was a little annoyed because she had to know how to sing such a tacky song.
Mr. Wang didn't insist, and "Mr. Li" lent him his "girlfriend" a song.
The two sang reasonably well, with strong voices, showing they were very experienced veterans.
Mr. Wang returned to the sofa and pulled Lu Ni into his arms again, sprawling out on the sofa instead of rushing to participate in the already started rock-paper-scissors game. His hands casually caressed Lu Ni's body, causing her to stiffen. When Mr. Wang's hand approached her chest, Lu Ni stood up nervously.
All eyes were on her. Lu Ni hesitated, then sat down again.
Mr. Wang wasn't angry. He smiled tolerantly, picked up his glass, clinked it with Lu Ni's, and downed his drink in one gulp. The others started to boo and jeer dramatically. Lu Ni, steeling herself, also downed her drink. It was her first time drinking wine, red wine; the taste was a little strange, but not unpleasant. Seeing Lu Ni's empty glass, the others booed even louder.
Mr. Wang started playing rock-paper-scissors with them. Lu Ni didn't know how, but Mr. Wang didn't force her. He just asked her to add wine to everyone's glasses.
The wine was running out quickly, and Lizhu lost again. She coquettishly asked, "Can I tell a joke to pay for the wine?"
"Okay, but it has to be something you've never heard of before, and nothing that's not funny won't do either," everyone agreed.
Lizhu lowered her voice and said, "After a young lady and a guest agreed on the terms, they did 'that' (a euphemism for sex). Afterwards, the owner wanted to renege on the payment. He started finding fault, saying the room was too big. The young lady replied that the owner didn't have enough furniture..." Some people started laughing; Lizhu continued even more smugly, "The owner then said the young lady's room was too dirty. The young lady said that the previous guest had just moved out and the owner was in a hurry to move in, so he didn't have time to clean. The owner also said the young lady's room facilities were not good and that the water was cut off. The young lady said that she hadn't paid the water bill, so of course the water was cut off." Lizhu spoke very seriously, her lips pursed, looking very innocent.
Everyone burst into laughter. The man next to Lizhu, with his arm around Lizhu, asked with a suggestive smile, "Is your room big?"
Lizhu playfully scolded, "Why don't you try it and you'll see?"
He burst into laughter again, unrestrained and with a hint of cunning.
Someone laughed and waved their hand, saying, "No, no, I've heard of that."
Lizhu generously said, "Okay! Then I'll tell you another one."
Everyone quieted down. Lizhu resumed her earnest and innocent tone, saying, "There was a mental patient who kept going to the ward, begging the doctor to let him be discharged. The doctor decided to test him to see if he was truly cured. The doctor asked him, 'Now that you're cured, what do you plan to do after you get out?' Without hesitation, the patient replied, 'I want to make a slingshot and smash the hospital windows.'" Some people chuckled slightly, and Lizhu continued with even more pride, "As a result, the patient had to continue treatment. After a while, he went to beg the doctor again, saying he was truly cured. The doctor tested him again, asking the same question: 'Now that you're out, what do you plan to do?' The patient calmly replied, 'I want to find a job.' The doctor thought that this patient might really be cured, since he even knew to look for work, so he comforted him and continued, 'What do you plan to do after you find a job?' The patient said in surprise, 'I want to make money! And after I make money, I want to get married!' The doctor laughed and asked, 'Do you know what you do after you get married?' 'The wedding night!'" "Do you know what we're going to do in the bridal chamber?" The doctor's curiosity was piqued. The patient said, "I'm going to take off her clothes." "And then?" "And then her pants." "And then?" "And then her underwear." "And then?" The doctor seemed a little impatient. The patient said boldly, "I'm going to take the elastic band off her underwear, make a slingshot, and smash the hospital windows!"
Everyone burst into laughter, staggering and falling over.
In this environment, Lu Ni couldn't bring herself to laugh. While everyone else was laughing so hard they were practically falling over, she could only sit there, stunned.
Lizhu dodged the drink, but she was clearly already a little drunk. Seeing the dazed Lu Ni, Lizhu leaned forward and whispered something in President Wang's ear. The others shouted, "No special treatment! If you're going to say something, say it to everyone!" So Lizhu, true to form, said something shocking: "I'm telling you, President Wang is really lucky today. Fangfang probably hasn't even been deflowered yet."
Lu Ni was already thoroughly fed up with this tedium. She sat there stiffly, waiting for their "activity" to end so she could leave quickly. Deep despair and disappointment had robbed her of fear; at worst, she'd just leave—what was the big deal? Listening to their gossip about her, Lu Ni didn't want to react in any way; she reverted to her usual coldness and arrogance.
"How do you know?" someone asked dismissively.
“She’s my classmate! How come I didn’t know that!” Lizhu said proudly.
"She's a college student! Mr. Wang, you're quite the lucky man today!"
Lu Ni sat there stiffly, like a walking corpse, as if centuries had passed. Life had endured centuries of helplessness and desolation, and finally, the group got up to leave.
Under the influence of alcohol, Mr. Li stammered, "Fangfang, you'll stay with Mr. Wang today. You won't be treated badly!"
Lu Ni sat there coldly and said, "I don't go out with clients."
Mr. Li's expression changed: "Damn it! Once you're inside, why pretend to be a virgin!"
Mr. Wang gestured to stop Mr. Li, then took out two hundred yuan from his bag and handed it to Lu Ni. Lu Ni accepted it, surprised that Mr. Wang was so generous; he could have easily refused to tip. But Lu Ni felt she deserved it, thinking it was compensation for the disgust they had caused her.
A group of people exclaimed that President Wang was a kind and loyal man, a good lover.
Lu Ni went to collect her wages for today—thirty yuan per shift. It was supposed to be paid monthly, but Lu Ni had mentioned to Sister Hong that she hoped to receive today's wages instead, as she urgently needed the money, and Sister Hong readily agreed. She already had two hundred yuan in her bag, but Lu Ni still decided to collect her wages, even though she wasn't sure if she would come back tomorrow.
Changing out of her "business attire," Lu Ni was still wearing the same plain gray coat and black trousers she'd bought two years ago. In her left trouser pocket was one yuan in cash she'd exchanged for her vegetable coupons that day, plus one yuan worth of vegetable coupons. In her right pocket were the two hundred and thirty yuan she'd earned that day.
Under the murky neon lights, Lu Ni walked forward with her head down. This money was so easy to earn, it felt almost unreal. But it was money she had earned by throwing away her pride and suppressing her rage; it wasn't easy. Lu Ni took a deep breath, as if to expel the nausea and discomfort still churning within her.
That night, Lu Ni had a dream. In the dream, her mother was like all mothers—clean and tidy, her face devoid of any nervous panic or vulnerability. Her mother hugged four- or five-year-old Lu Ni tightly, her smile kind and gentle. Beside her mother was a tall man with a blurred face; he must have been fair-skinned, like the man her mother had taken Lu Ni to see, the man Lu Ni had been asked to call "Dad." The man was also smiling. He reached out his arm, which was around her mother's, to Lu Ni and lifted her high. Lu Ni giggled, her mother laughed, and her grandmother stood beside them, grinning with her toothless mouth. Then they filled Lu Ni and Qiu Ping's bags with lots of candy and roasted peanuts. Qiu Ping took Lu Ni and ran off to a spring hillside, to a green meadow, where large dewdrops shimmered with iridescent colors, and many dragonflies, glowing beautifully, flew around their heads. When Lu Ni suddenly felt that her parents were gone, they reappeared with smiles. Her father picked her up and lifted her high, spinning her around in the bright sunlight. Lu Ni screamed and laughed loudly, and then she woke up from her own laughter.
Curled up in the blankets, Lu Ni stared blankly at the boundless darkness. The lingering warmth of her loved ones in her dreams only served to highlight the desolation and helplessness of reality. An overwhelming sense of loneliness and despair surged up around her, engulfing her. She could hear the hissing of a creature crawling past. Lu Ni remained motionless, gripped by fear, letting it completely engulf her in the abyss.
Hungry University (Part 5)
gold
On Saturday, Lu Ni went to a supermarket not far from the school.
Lu Ni had only been here once before, and what attracted her most was the neatly arranged array of sanitary napkins. Her period had just ended, but she still couldn't resist coming.
Lu Ni carefully examined the packaging and instructions of each sanitary napkin. She had looked at them during her last visit, imagining how they would provide her with the most intimate care, but it was just imagination. Today, Lu Ni was going to buy herself a pack. She wasn't considering whether she should go to work that night, nor had she made a final decision.
After hesitating, Lu Ni picked out the cheapest pack for herself.
Lu Ni, as always, didn't linger past the beautifully packaged snacks. Unlike other girls, she didn't love snacks, nor did she intend to cultivate that interest. She firmly believed that once she tasted something she liked, like the roasted peanuts from Qiu Ping's family when she was little, she would be unable to resist. She didn't try them to prevent herself from having that need, and without that need, she wouldn't suffer from not getting them.
Passing through the clothing section, Lu Ni slowed her pace. She saw a white dress, a very simple style. Lu Ni remembered the dress her homeroom teacher had given her. Lu Ni walked over and touched it; it was very soft. She picked up the tag and glanced at it without much hope. It showed a special price in red: thirty yuan. It was a cheap seasonal item. Thirty yuan would have been an unattainable sum for Lu Ni before, but she still had over two hundred yuan on her. Lu Ni's heart pounded. She took the dress off, tried it on, and then, steeling herself, didn't put it back on. For Lu Ni, this amount could last almost a month if she only ate steamed buns.
That evening, Lu Ni sat in the semi-open small room next to the foyer again. The money was too easy to earn. In fact, there were so many wonderful things tempting Lu Ni. She could have them so easily, so why not? A woman without parents wouldn't have too many worries.
Wearing that simple, white dress, and finding no suitable shoes, Lu Ni simply wore the white sneakers she wore to gym class. She let her hair down, which she usually wore in a ponytail, and her face was completely bare of makeup. She hadn't bought any cosmetics, nor did she want to use anything that others had used; this, in itself, made her appear exceptionally clean. At this moment, Lu Ni lacked the striking beauty of yesterday, but she possessed a beauty and purity like a pure white magnolia blossom, blooming in this sordid place, radiating an extraordinary light.
Lu Ni was chosen by Mr. Wang again, just like yesterday. Mr. Wang didn't make things difficult for Lu Ni at all; on the contrary, he seemed quite polite. So his companions laughed and said he was truly in love. Li Zhu and the others pouted, feeling wronged, and said to their boyfriends, "Don't you have any feelings for me either?!"
The men then put their arms around the women, revealing lewd smiles, and said, "Go for it! Go for it!"
The tip was still 200 yuan at the end.
And just like that, a week passed.
Hungry University (Part 6)
gold
Lu Ni had over a thousand yuan under her pillow, money she had earned in just one week.
Lu Ni withdrew all the money and carefully put it in her pocket. She had two things to do on Saturday. One was to rent herself a room. She had to knock on the door every day when she came home, and Sister Pan in the management office had already expressed doubt about her excuse of working at the coffee shop. Lu Ni didn't care what others thought of her, but she had worked so hard to get into university, and her future happiness depended on graduating. She didn't want anything to go wrong along the way. The other thing was for Lu Ni to deposit the money in a bank; it was easy to lose it if left outside.
In fact, the students at school were already spreading rumors about Lu Ni working as a prostitute—the latest and most sensational news. The aloof and proud "Thorn Bird" had gone to work as a prostitute. All sorts of gossip and gloating mockery flooded the air, and Lu Ni knew it all, but she didn't care. They looked down on her, and she looked down on them too. She just wanted the school to stay out of it.
After leaving the China Construction Bank, Lu Ni received her first Dragon Card.
In the old, complex residential area behind the school, Lu Ni rented a small room. It was a very old wooden building. On the second floor, in a two-bedroom room, the landlord, an elderly woman in her sixties living alone, lived in one room. The outer room, furnished with some old furniture and smelling musty, was the one Lu Ni wanted to rent. Actually, the old woman did have children and grandchildren; they rarely came home. Her thinking was slow. She sat quietly on a large wooden bed in the outer room, watching like a bystander as two elderly women from the neighborhood committee haggled with Lu Ni over the price. They even told Lu Ni, with touching words, about the landlord's unfilial children, saying they had always wanted to find a tenant for Grandma Zhang so she could have some income each month.
Finally, Lu Ni decided to rent the room for eighty yuan a month. Actually, she could have rented a much better place for eighty, but seeing Grandma Zhang sitting quietly by the bed and the dilapidated state of the house, Lu Ni decided to stay. In fact, she didn't even try to bargain with the helpful "neighborhood committee" members. She simply emphasized to them that she worked at a coffee shop in the evenings and would be back late. The "neighborhood committee," as if giving a report, said understandingly: "It's good for college students to enrich their social experience and support themselves through part-time work; it's encouraged now. Just be quiet when you come back, there won't be any problem."
Lu Ni immediately paid Zhang Po an 80 yuan deposit and 80 yuan rent. Zhang Po remained quiet, watching Lu Ni, but didn't reach out to take the money. The "neighborhood committee" representative then approached, pulled Zhang Po's hand out, and said in a friendly tone, "Zhang Po! This room will be rented by this girl from now on. It's 80 yuan a month. Keep it safe, ha! When your kids come back, just say you don't have any money, don't let them kidnap you again. Ha!"
Grandma Zhang reached out her hand, took the money, got up, and went into the inner room. Lu Ni noticed that she walked normally, without any of the trembling that comes with old age. Lu Ni felt a little relieved.
Hu Ni moved her simple belongings over that very day, made a quick arrangement, and settled into the dark, musty, and dilapidated room. Hu Ni felt she wouldn't rent this room for long; once she had accumulated enough money to last for a while, she would quit and find another healthy job that allowed her to be exposed to the light of day.
On her first day in her new home, Lu Ni returned with a two-hundred-yuan tip still tucked in her pocket. She walked through the narrow, winding alleys of Chongqing's old residential area, climbing over glass ramps, until she reached a slightly wider area and saw her new place: a dilapidated old wooden building. Stepping onto the floorboards in the dead of night, Lu Ni felt as exhausted as the rotten planks beneath her feet; her body and soul were emitting suppressed groans.
Grandma Zhang was already asleep. Lu Ni poured some hot water from the honeycomb briquette stove in the hallway, quickly washed herself, and then lay down on her bed. But she couldn't fall asleep for a long time. An unfamiliar place, an unfamiliar environment, an unfamiliar damp and rotten smell…
Lu Ni walked along the deserted street, dark, damp, and filled with the smell of despair. She walked slowly forward, glancing around cautiously. Her slow movements were an attempt to calm her terrified heart. She saw her mother, ragged and disheveled, her eyes filled with the same despair and panic. She looked at Lu Ni coldly, like a stranger. Lu Ni cried out, "Mom!" Her mother still looked at her coldly and resentfully. "Mom!" Lu Ni cried. Her mother walked away indifferently, disappearing in an instant. Lu Ni stood terrified on the dark, damp street, filled with the smell of despair. Fear filled her heart, and she ran around in a panic, searching for her mother: "Mom! Mom!" At the end of the street, a large black bird flew silently by, followed by deathly silence.
Lu Ni was startled awake by the cry from her own mouth. The despair of loneliness and fear relentlessly dragged her into the abyss of night. "Mom!" Lu Ni's precious tears welled up again. Fumbling around, Lu Ni pulled out a few black and white photos of her mother. In the photos, her mother was beautiful and serene, looking at her tenderly. Lu Ni carefully placed the photos beside her pillow, gently stroking them, imagining and feeling her mother's warmth, her breath, her skin, her warm embrace. "Mom! Mom!" Lu Ni cried out countless times in her heart, a desperate cry, but the only response was endless darkness and desolation.
Hungry University (Part 7)
gold
Lu Ni had two thousand yuan in her bank card, enough for her to stop "working." But the money came too easily; Mr. Wang wouldn't even let her drink too much or make any unreasonable demands. However, Lu Ni knew there was definitely danger involved; it was only a matter of time. Just like "Mr. Li" and the others said, Mr. Wang was so patient because he was "genuinely interested." Therefore, Lu Ni needed to get out of there as soon as possible.
When Mr. Wang wasn't around, Lu Ni didn't encounter anything too unpleasant while entertaining other guests. She even met a young man who asked her to treat him as her boyfriend. They sat in the lobby chatting, drinking moderately, and watching the show. When he left, he seemed reluctant to part, giving Lu Ni a deep kiss on the forehead. His tenderness made her heart skip a beat. It was the first time she had been kissed by a man, and so tenderly and affectionately. Although the employer-employee relationship made the kiss somewhat awkward, Lu Ni's heart still trembled involuntarily. Suddenly, Lu Ni felt a pang of loss. Why wasn't it Qiu Ping, that handsome young man?
Lu Ni wore her newly bought jeans and a white, fluffy turtleneck sweater, still sporting the white sneakers she wore to PE class. As she passed through the glass doors of the cafeteria, she discreetly glanced at herself in the faintly visible projection. Jeans and a white or light blue turtleneck sweater had been Lu Ni's wish and dream for years. Back when she was almost graduating from junior high, Lu Ni had begun to love the clean, youthful energy, and slightly elegant feel of jeans paired with a white or light blue turtleneck sweater. And now, Lu Ni was exactly as she had hoped: beautiful, elegant, and radiating irresistible youthful vitality. Like a beautiful white swan, she attracted the attention of the young men and women dining in the cafeteria. Lu Ni calmly walked past many gazes; she could feel them, and she couldn't help but feel happy and satisfied because of them. She also knew with a touch of sadness that without that money, she wouldn't be as calm and composed as she was today.
In the corridor of the teaching building, Lu Ni reluctantly ran into Li Zhu again. Because of their similar experiences, Li Zhu continued to be warm towards Lu Ni, not caring about Lu Ni's coldness.
She affectionately linked arms with Lu Ni as they walked together. Lu Ni knew it wouldn't be easy to shake her off today, since she was also taking an art elective class and they were going to the same classroom.
Lizhu pulled Luni to sit down in a seat near the front, and while waiting happily for the class to begin, she asked Luni how her "harvest" had been these past few days.
Lu Ni remained indifferent; she didn't like discussing "work." Li Zhu didn't mind either, pursing her lips and saying that yesterday's Boss Zhang was incredibly stingy—she'd spent the whole night with him, tried so many things, and only received a pittance as a tip…
Lu Ni restrained herself, feeling disgusted and repulsed. She would never reach that day, Lu Ni thought. Today was the last day. She would collect the commissions she hadn't received these past few days and then quit. Lu Ni straightened her back with a touch of pride.
Art appreciation teacher Xiao Wen spoke with great enthusiasm about Van Gogh and Gauguin, discussing the friendship between the two artistic giants and their painting styles. Xiao Wen, in his forties, possesses the unique temperament of an artist, with a lean, austere face and a tall, imposing figure. It is said that his classes are always packed with students, mostly women, which must have its reasons.
Lizhu was making quite a racket as she meticulously filed her already perfect nails with nail clippers, the keys on her keychain jingling softly. Every now and then, Lizhu would glance up at Xiao Wen and say, "If I encountered a customer like this, I'd be willing to pay for nothing!"
Lu Ni ignored her; Hu Ni hated anything related to "going to work".
That evening, Hu Ni went to collect her commission and then made an excuse to return home. She bought a pack of cheap cigarettes at the convenience store near the school gate, sat on the school playground, lit one, took a deep drag, and was choked by the smoke, which brought tears to her eyes.
Hungry University (Part 8)
gold
From now on, Hu Ni will belong only to herself, and no one can force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. The two thousand yuan she earned these past few days will buy back her pride and self-respect.
Mr. Wang had Lizhu pass on a message that he truly liked Hu Ni. Hu Ni gave a cold laugh and didn't reply. Mr. Wang even came to the school to find Hu Ni himself, but she coldly walked past him. In the end, Mr. Wang could only blame himself for making the wrong "investment."
Luni remained beautiful, yet lonely. No boys any longer fawned over her. Her classmates all knew this beautiful thornbird had "slept at a brothel," and they were ashamed of her character and even more intrigued by her background. She was a beautiful, isolated figure, and she, in turn, rejected them all.
Lu Ni studied diligently, knowing that graduating from university would bring her a fulfilling life. A respectable job would guarantee her dignity, a proud income, and social standing. Moreover, Lu Ni would have a home, a lover—a man whose handsome face and gentle nature, like Qiu Ping, would be undeniable. Lu Ni would have a child, a girl, whom Hu Ni and her husband would cherish dearly, giving her everything she deserved. She would grow up healthy, laughing heartily in the sunshine. Lu Ni would reclaim everything she lacked, just as Hu Ni's mother had once told her: "Live life again in Shanghai for me!" Lu Ni's daughter would also happily live life again for Hu Ni, enjoying a joyful childhood and complete paternal and maternal love.
After dinner, Lu Ni often went to the school playground, sat on the tiered stands, and watched the boys playing soccer, sweating profusely on the field. Outside the field, groups of classmates or couples strolled and whispered among themselves. Lu Ni watched from afar, feeling that she would never be one of them, at least not in her current state. She was both insecure and proud.
A short, bespectacled boy with prominent front teeth walked hesitantly towards her. Lu Ni sensed he was heading her way. All of Lu Ni's defensive cells stood on end, making her as prickly as a hedgehog.
The boy walked up to Lu Ni and said nervously, "Mei Hu Ni..." and then couldn't say anything more.
Lu Ni gave him a cold look, then straightened herself and decided to get up and leave.
"Mei Luni!" the boy called out anxiously.
Luni looked back at him, hoping he wasn't making the same request as the boy she'd met a few days earlier.
The boy, as if having made a great decision, said, "Can you stay with me tonight?"
Lu Ni felt her blood rush to her head. Just like before, she turned and walked away. After taking a few steps, Lu Ni turned back. With a look of disdain and hatred, she said indifferently, "I'm very expensive."
The boy's eyes lit up with hope, and he asked eagerly, "How much?"