Seeing my unusual behavior, Chen Weiqiang and the others stood there, stunned...
"Sweetheart, wait a moment. I'll go take a shower first," Yanzi said softly, clinging to me as soon as we entered the room.
"No need, I'll just sit for a bit and then leave," I said, letting go of her hand, indicating she shouldn't misunderstand my intentions.
I didn't really want to spend time with her for an hour; I just wanted to give her a break from clients. When she bet with me earlier, it had already made the other hostesses in the casino jealous, especially the woman who I refused. Her murderous glare was unmistakable.
If I left and someone teamed up to harm her, what would she do then? According to Wrench, the hostesses' world was full of scheming, often even more intense than among men. The hostesses in the same dorm would secretly plot against each other, fighting and backstabbing.
Yanzi, being so innocent, wouldn't stand a chance against those cunning women, especially after she kissed me and started facing hostility.
"...Alright, I know you think I'm dirty, so I won't make things difficult for myself," Yanzi said with a bitter smile as she sat on the bed.
Next to her, the trash can contained used condoms, tissues, and other items.
Feeling awkward, I sat next to her and whispered, "Do you want to leave this place and go back home?"
"What... what did you say?" Yanzi looked at me in shock, as if I were an alien. Her clear eyes reminded me of when Sister Chunyan followed me during our escape.
"I won a lot of money. Professor Ace said it's all mine. I want to help you get out of here and find someone to send you back home."
The casino here mainly aims for profit; tens of thousands should be enough to buy her freedom. I had an initial 500,000 yuan, and with the chips I just won, it would be more than enough to free her.
"Are you serious?" Yanzi's tears started to fall as she held my hand tightly, her voice trembling.
"It's true. The money I won at the casino is just material wealth. I can't take it with me and it could cause trouble. Buying your freedom isn't hard, but I'm worried the big boss won't agree."
"Thank you, whether it works out or not, thank you!" Yanzi cried, hugging me tightly.
In this hell on earth, everyone wants to go home, even those who came here willingly for money.
"You're hurt," I said, looking at the bruises on her neck.
"That pervert likes to torture me. Begging him is useless. The more I cry, the more excited he gets. He keeps hitting me, choking me... I really want to go home. Even if I die, I want to die in Hunan. I don't want to be a wandering ghost in Myawaddy. If you buy my freedom, I'll repay you by working ten jobs," Yanzi said, lifting her skirt to show her legs covered in bruises and cigarette burns.
My heart tightened, and I became more determined to free her. If I didn't take her today, who knows if I'd see her again.
"Don't cry. I'll talk to the professor about buying your freedom. Something might happen, so stay with me and don't get lost."
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say and won't run off."
I couldn't predict the upcoming risks, but I comforted her to not worry too much. Yanzi said the man who liked to abuse her was a soldier who visited her regularly for free. I suspected he was from the Karen border guard.
If this involved the military, it would be tricky. Plus, Chen Weiqiang would be furious once he found out my plan, and explaining to Professor Ace wouldn't be easy either...
"What's wrong?" Yanzi asked, shaking my arm.
"Nothing. Do you have any important belongings? Bring them," I said with a calm smile, standing up.
"Haha, my ID and everything else were taken away. Nothing here belongs to me. The money we earn is also taken away. Sometimes we have to pay off the managers and security guards," Yanzi said, picking up a small black bag and looking around the room with a bitter smile.
"Let's go!" I grabbed her hand and quickly headed downstairs.
In the main hall, gamblers were still going at it. Those who won were dancing with joy, while those who lost were calling around to borrow money.
"So soon? How long has it been?" Chen Weiqiang, leaning against the wall, glanced at his watch and asked with a meaningful smile when he saw us coming down.
It turned out they'd been waiting by the stairs the whole time. How thoughtful!
"Where's Professor Ace? I want to use my chips to buy her freedom."
Judging by his usual habits, he was probably off playing with foreign women.
"You really know how to make a scene. Are you crazy today?" Chen Weiqiang burst into anger, grabbing my shirt collar and pushing me against the wall.
"Do you know what you're saying?" Wrench was also furious, throwing down his cigarette and looking like he wanted to punch me.
Bayi didn't react as strongly. He just stood there, staring at me, lost in thought.
"I'm not crazy. I made this decision after careful consideration. I don't want to watch her die..."
"Do you think you're a savior? There are tens of thousands of people like her in northern Myanmar. How many can you save? Have you thought about how you can't even save yourself?" Chen Weiqiang interrupted me, releasing his grip and shoving me angrily.
"Saving one is better than none. At least now I have the means."
I leaned against the wall, looking at the men and women in the hall, feeling a deep sadness. Call it emotional or impulsive, but I was determined to free Yanzi.
"You think you have the means? The gambling money belongs to Professor Ace. He decides whether to give it to you. And whether to let this woman go is up to the casino boss. You're nothing but a fool. Are you out of your mind?" Chen Weiqiang yelled, his long hair flying as he vented his anger.
Good manners prevented him from saying anything to attack Yanzi. He only scolded me, hoping I'd wake up and face reality.
"Pure idealism," Wrench said, heading to the gambling hall to cool off.
Abu and Bayi didn't interfere. They usually didn't, just silently supporting with their presence.
Seeing Wrench leave, Abu and Bayi quickly followed, fearing we'd end up fighting.
I whispered, "I'm not out of my mind..."
"Then what are you after? A clear conscience? Or a certificate of merit from the Myawaddy government? Wake up, Ping'an! This is Myanmar, not Hunan!" he retorted.
He was right; this was hell, devoid of conscience. And what I was doing was so reckless. One wrong move, and we'd all die.
"Ping'an, thank you! I don't want to make things difficult for you. As long as I behave, I won't suffer too much..." Yanzi, seeing my dilemma, let go of my hand and forced a smile.
Just then, a soldier in a green uniform, looking smug, walked over with a gun on his back.
"He's here again. You all should leave," Yanzi said, pushing me toward the exit as soon as she saw him, her face pale with fear.