Jing approached the corner table on the second floor with her usual icy demeanor. This was what the bar manager had instructed her to do, and she understood that to earn more money here, she needed to follow orders. She'd grown accustomed to this place, indifferent to the leering gazes of the obese and the faux-refined alike. Her only focus now was to make more money—money she desperately needed to save her father's life.
Reaching the table, Jing stood stiffly, devoid of any semblance of a "wine girl's" allure, more like a stern official on an inspection tour. Though life had forced her into this corner, it didn't mean she was willing to surrender to just anything. When dealing with these wolves, the best defense was a complete lack of warmth.
"The best, and the most expensive, wine you've got," Alex ordered, his eyes on his food, though Jing's every move was reflected in his peripheral vision. He wasn't surprised she didn't recognize him. For one, he was eating with his head down, and in the dim lighting of the corner booth, it was easy to miss. Besides, in her mind, he was probably just a piece of easily forgotten trash. That was how Alex saw it, at least.
Hearing his order, Jing maintained her usual icy indifference. She'd encountered plenty of men like him, all talk and bluster, trying to impress her with their supposed wealth, only to follow up with indecent proposals. Jing gave a curt, internal sneer and turned to leave. These fools were common enough in the last month, and it was fine. The more expensive their order, the higher her commission.
"Pop!" The sudden noise of a bottle being placed on the table next to Alex startled him out of his meal.
Alex glanced at the bottle now sitting on the table.
"Pfft!" He couldn't help but spit out the food in his mouth. Good lord, this woman was ruthless. She had actually brought out the Louis XIII, a bottle kept as the store's crowning jewel, worth seventy to eighty thousand yuan.
*She really does think I'm a sucker!* Alex thought, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Have you served this to other customers before?" Alex asked faintly.
"I relayed your request to the sommelier. He was going to bring an ordinary bottle, but Manager Grant insisted on the best. What now, not drinking it?" Jing said, a hint of a sneer playing on her lips. She'd seen plenty of these types before, demanding the best and the most expensive, only to back down when presented with the real deal.
"Drink? Of course, I'll drink! It's my first time having such high-class wine. I used to not be able to afford it, but this time... it's different!" Alex said with a smile, then took two glasses and poured each. "Care to join me?" From beginning to end, Alex did not raise his head.
"I'm afraid that's beyond my station," Jing stated plainly.
"If the boss asks you to drink, then drink. Don't be disrespectful!" Grant came over and glared at Jing. He had been paying attention to the situation downstairs and came up when he saw the boss spit out his food for some reason.
"Shut up. You're not needed here," Alex glared back at Grant fiercely.
Jing was taken aback by the man's words. He dared to scold Manager Grant? Boss? Could he be the owner here?
"Jing, it's been six years. I didn't expect to see you in such a setting today!" Alex took a large gulp from his glass, then said to Jing with a carefree smile.
Hearing his words, Jing frowned. Jing? Six years ago? High school...!
"You... You're Alex Stone?" Jing looked at the man in front of her in disbelief.
"Haha, I didn't expect you to still remember me. I'm truly flattered!" Alex said with a smile. "Cheers!"
Jing took a deep breath. Even with the worst memory, how could she forget this senior from high school who had pestered her endlessly and had who-knows-how-many relationships with different girls? A man? More like scum, trash! Jing looked him up and down. He had lost the arrogance and unruly air of his high school days and looked much more composed. His dark, গভীর eyes told her he was full of wisdom. His gestures no longer held the frivolousness and flamboyance of the past but had a touch of aloofness and maturity.
"Would you mind sitting down and having a chat?" Alex asked, looking at her.
"I'm sorry, I have to work!" Cold, still as cold as ever. Clearly, Jing didn't want to get too close to someone like Alex. She knew enough about him from high school. Scum was always scum!
"Then I'll buy wine. Go and get it, until you feel like you can sit down and chat with me!" Alex took another big gulp, feeling that his image in her eyes hadn't changed a bit. It was understandable. He had been too arrogant back then. Not only the students but even the principal had to give him some leeway.
Hearing Alex's words, Jing turned and left.
"Boss...!"
"Stand aside!" Alex glared at Grant, who had wanted to say something. He didn't dare to disobey and stepped aside.
After a while, Jing returned alone carrying five bottles of imported wine. Alex looked at them, each bottle costing over ten thousand yuan. This woman...!
Jing placed the wine on the table and stood in front of Alex without saying a word or leaving.
"Don't you need to get more?" Alex asked.
"That's enough!" Jing said, looking at him.
"A woman who doesn't know when to stop, very good!" Alex smiled at her, then looked her up and down. "Your outfit makes it hard to imagine the old you!"
"Are you here to mock me? If you are, then I can tell you that you've succeeded!" Jing said coldly after hearing Alex's words. In fact, she felt ashamed of wearing such clothes.
"Haha, I remember that in high school, besides hating people like me, you also disliked the women in bars who flaunted themselves and tried to please men. But what's the difference between your outfit today and theirs?" Alex looked at her, then took a sip of his wine. He hadn't had a drink in a long time. Drinking was just as harmful as smoking. He thought he had given it up, but today he found himself enjoying the rich taste again.
"I'm not flaunting myself, and I'm not trying to please men. I'm just a woman who sells wine, the same as a salesperson!" Jing said after hearing Alex's words.
"Really?" Alex asked with a smile.
"Yes...!" The answer was quick, but it sounded weak.
"I heard you got into Peking University. What major?" Alex asked.
"Business Administration!"
"Really? Haha, the same as me, but I'm not as good. I only went to a second-rate university!" Alex laughed after hearing her answer. "Why did you come here to work?"
"Money!"
Hearing her straightforward answer, Alex was stunned. It seemed that sometimes money could really change a lot. Perhaps people like him would never understand the pain of those without money, just as David Walker had said.
"I didn't expect someone who once disdained money so much to be so direct about it. It's really surprising!" Alex said faintly, taking another big gulp and refilling his glass. A bottle of wine worth tens of thousands was just being poured down his throat like this.
"I know you don't want to hear me talk or see me, just like six years ago. But I have to admit, you're still a very determined woman," Alex said, looking at her. "The other day I met David Walker...!"
"Don't mention him to me!" Hearing David Walker's name, and again exceeding Alex's expectations, Jing wasn't too agitated, but her words were filled with an indescribable feeling.
"He seems to be doing better than you, and very well at that. He's with an old woman who could be his aunt, and they seem very much in love!" Alex ignored her and continued, "Compared to the skinny, malnourished, and nerdy kid from before, he's now well-dressed, fair-skinned, and robust, looking like he's in great shape. It's really ironic. I didn't expect him to have such 'promise' one day. Oh, right! I seem to remember that you and he both got into Peking University, didn't you?"
"People like him only bring shame to the school!" Jing said through gritted teeth.
"Do you regret it?" Alex asked, looking at her.
"I never regret the things I've done. I just blame myself for being blind," Jing said fiercely. Clearly, she already knew about David Walker being with a rich woman.
"Yeah, that kind of weak man is really embarrassing. Do you... not feel embarrassed now?" Alex asked, looking directly at her.
"I have my principles!" Jing said.
"Really? The principle of selling yourself for four million?" Alex said with a light laugh.
"I'm sorry, I have to work...!" Hearing this, Jing felt flustered and turned to leave.
"Qiangzi, go get five more bottles of the best wine and put it on Jing's tab!" Alex said to Grant, who was standing not far away.
"Yes, boss!" Grant nodded after hearing this and went downstairs.
"Alright, let's continue!" Alex said, smiling at Jing. "Right, where were we? Your principles, right? What are principles?" Alex pretended to be ignorant as he looked at her. Alex suddenly felt a kind of pleasure. Revenge? He didn't know!
"..." Jing didn't say anything after hearing him but stood there silently.
"Four million, the price is not low. Even Hong Kong and Taiwan celebrities don't have a price as high as yours! Those rich people are only interested in something new at the beginning. In less than half a month, they'll get tired of it. Four million for half a month is indeed a bit expensive!"
"Four million for a lifetime! Not expensive!" Jing said, looking at Alex through gritted teeth. At the same time, a deep sense of humiliation ran through her entire body. But thinking of her father still lying in the hospital, humiliation? Let it go to hell! All of this... was nothing.