Every second passed by excruciatingly slow and no one dared to talk. Manager Si stood by Xu Binchen's side deferentially, just like a eunuch who was showing the harem candidate to the emperor. Xu Binchen reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. The veins on his arms bulged, and if he didn't have the taste of tobacco on the tip of his tongue, he feared that he couldn't maintain his character any longer.
He puffed out a ring of smoke, adding on to the tensely taut atmosphere. Everywhere his eyes landed, those people would lower their eyes, terrified that he would choose them.
It was only the males who wished that they could step forward and display themselves. Maybe, seeing that Xu Binchen was bringing a woman as his companion, hope lit up in their hearts. Compared to those old, disgusting and thirsty middle aged women with absurd hobbies who liked to keep male pets, Xu Binchen was akin to a savior in their eyes.
If he chose them…then they wouldn't have to suffer anymore!
Xu Binchen's voice turned deep and raspy due to the smoke. "Do you sell?"
Si Yusheng answered swiftly. "We do. But it's exclusive for long time and loyal members. For Mr.Xu who has just joined today…my apology, Sir, but right now, you can only rent."
Long time and loyal members. Surely, it was because they were more trustworthy and had done a lot of deals. The crude meaning was, those members had been pulled deep into the muddy waters and they were all in the same boat so there's no chance of betrayal or else, if they dared to betray, then Manager Si dared to pull them down with him.
Such a tight and commendable operation with almost no holes.
It's no wonder that the government never caught onto anything.
Xu Binchen wondered how many big figures were in this together. Aside from the serial murder case, this ought to be the biggest operation he had ever taken part in.
And the more terrifying thing was; both of these cases were linked intricately together.
"How long is considered a long time and how loyal is considered a loyal member?" he asked in an impatient tone. "I don't like to share my things with others."
Manager Si smiled and spoke in underlying meaning. "Sir, you will know it in time. On the other hand, once you've picked your favorite, they will be exclusively yours until the contract expires."
That meant that he hadn't trusted Xu Binchen fully yet. It made sense. To create such a huge human trafficking chain, Si Yusheng must have been a very cautious and witty old fox. Now, Xu Binchen was very curious on who the real owner of Dreamscape Bar was.
"Okay." Xu Binchen seemed barely satisfied with the answer and pointed casually at a shoulder length thin woman in white dress. "I want her."
She kept on lowering her head from the beginning, giving off a mild and docile feeling. Coupled with her white dress, she resembled a harmless white rabbit. Judging from her face and figure, she looked no more than twenty five. Such a young girl, strained in this kind of place…how ironic.
When she realized that Xu Binchen was pointing at her, panic and despair flashed through her eyes. She lowered her head deeper, her fingers wringed together in fear. Her face which was originally fair to begin with turned ashy grey in an instant.
Manager Si laughed. "Excellent choice." Then, a servant stepped in to swipe a card toward the black collar around the girl's neck and the faint red blinking dot turned green.
Xu Binchen frowned. "What was that?"
"Don't worry, Sir. That is just a tracker that we put on them. You see, we have met with some disobedient ones and applied new rules. With this tracker, it's easier to record their location and the condition of their bodies."
Just like a dog collar, Ru Meiqi thought. She huddled against Xu Binchen's arms, staring at the girl with faint hostility. Perfectly portraying the threatened lover. But in truth, she was analyzing the girl and tried to make out some clues from her.
Xu Binchen tapped his cigarette on the astray. "One week. Draw the contract."
"We will send it to you as soon as possible. You may stay here tonight Sir and we can sign the contract tomorrow." Manager Si gestured at the third door which had never been opened. "There's some extra entertainment there which you will like. Feel free to enjoy the night in Dreamscape Bar. I hope that you will achieve the fun you seek for."
Xu Binchen nodded with a cold smile. "I sure will."
People started to leave the room one by one. At the end of the line was Manager Si. He said to the girl. "No 36, make sure to serve this young master well." His eyes flashed in cold and threatening glints.
The girl shuddered violently and the rims of her eyes reddened.
No.36…they didn't even deserve a name, Xu Binchen inhaled his smoke deeply to suppress his rage.
The door closed behind Si Yusheng and heavy silence doomed the luxurious room. Xu Binchen exhaled another billow of smoke and leaned forward to throw it to the ashtray. Just that one small movement made the girl jump in fright, her face paled further.
"Come here." He ordered.
Ru Meiqi stood up and circled around the table to her, making the girl tremble even more.
Seeing the girl unmoving, Xu Binchen's voice turned displeased. "Do you hear me?"
Ru Meiqi harrumphed coldly and spoke out loud. "Let me see what kind of slut you are—"
Before they could react, the girl jumped forward with a burst of unimaginable strength, her eyes desperate and wild like a cornered beast struggling to make one last futile resistance. She grabbed onto the thick, glass ashtray and slammed it on Ru Meiqi's head!
Ru Meiqi's pupils shrank and she reacted in a nick of time. She swiped her leg and slid around the girl, caught her arms and twisted it behind her back. The ashtray fell down and shattered into pieces, just like the girl's barren and despaired heart.
Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed.. "Sorry…I am sorry. I didn't mean to do that…I am sorry…"