My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

Alan held up four fingers and shook them: "Four hundred per person, not expensive, right?"

Eight hundred yuan!

Su Ming's mind went blank. Eight hundred yuan was enough to support his family for several months back in his hometown! His cousin-in-law actually spent so much money just to have these two women... keep him company?

"This woman is insane!" he blurted out.

"What are you doing?" Xiaoqing took his arm, her voice so gentle it could melt your heart. "Life is short, so enjoying it while you can is the best policy. Little brother, you're too tense, relax a bit!"

Alan moved closer, this time placing her hand directly on Su Ming's thigh, gently stroking it through his jeans: "Exactly. Sister Tong instructed us to properly 'teach' you..."

Su Ming shuddered, jerking back as if electrocuted, and grabbed Alan's wrist, his eyes wide with shock: "Don't touch me!"

Alan was startled by his intense reaction, then burst out laughing. Instead of backing down, she leaned even closer, almost whispering in Su Ming's ear, and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Tell me, are you... still a virgin?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoqing giggled, her eyes full of mischief: "Do you even need to ask? It's definitely true."

Su Ming blushed deeply, his ears burning, from the two men's unrestrained teasing. He felt as if he were being roasted on a fire, a mix of shame, anger, and an inexplicable restlessness churning within him.

To be honest, he was a little angry about their flirting, but also a little expectant, and even liked it.

"I...I'm not playing with you anymore!" He abruptly shook off Xiaoqing's hand, turned around, and headed for the door. "I'm leaving!"

"No!"

"Wait a minute, handsome!"

Xiaoqing and Alan panicked at the same time and quickly chased after him, grabbing Su Ming's arms on either side.

"Don't be angry, I was just teasing you!"

"Exactly, can't we just talk things out and stop making a scene?"

Su Ming was being held back by the two women, unsure whether to leave or stay. Looking at their sincere, or rather, professionally apologetic faces, he suddenly understood—they were probably afraid that if he left, he wouldn't be able to explain to his cousin-in-law and wouldn't get the money!

Thinking of this, he stopped and cleared his throat: "You can let me stay, but... don't go too far."

Xiaoqing and Alan exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

"But..." Alan looked troubled, "we have a mission."

Xiaoqing chimed in, "When Sister Tong found us, she already told us to take good care of you and to... teach you some things."

"What did you teach me?" An ominous premonition welled up in Su Ming's heart.

Xiao Qing released his arm, then took his hand instead, her eyes softening with a mysterious look: "Want to know?"

Su Ming hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Close your eyes first!" Xiaoqing whispered. "I'll tell you in a bit."

Su Ming hesitated for a few seconds, then closed his eyes. In the darkness, his other senses became exceptionally sharp—he could hear the soft background music in the private room, smell the different perfumes on the two women, and feel Xiao Qing holding his hand, her palm warm.

Then, he felt his hand being pulled and pressed against the woman's soft body.

The moment the sensation traveled from his palm to his brain, Su Ming froze.

He suddenly opened his eyes.

In his line of sight, Xiaoqing was pressing his right hand against her chest. The fabric of her black halter dress was very thin, and he could clearly feel her sexy figure and the warmth of her body emanating from the fabric.

Blood rushed to his head, and Su Ming felt as if the whole world was spinning.

"Damn it..." he muttered, trying to pull his hand back, but found that his arm felt like it was filled with lead and he couldn't move it.

Just then, Alan grasped his left hand.

"Come on, let me show you..." she whispered, guiding his hand to her thigh.

The stockings had a smooth and delicate texture, and underneath was warm skin...

Su Ming looked down at his left hand moving over that long, beautiful leg, his mind blank.

Having never been with a woman before, how could he withstand such stimulation? His whole body went numb, as if an electric current was coursing through his body from his palms, every cell screaming. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest, his breathing became heavy, and his cheeks were so hot they could fry an egg.

"I can't do this..." he heard himself mutter, his voice trembling, "I can't do this... I'll make a mistake if I keep doing this..."

Even though she knew it was wrong, she didn't pull her hand back.

Xiaoqing and Alan smiled as they watched him. They had seen too many first-time guests, and this awkward yet intense reaction only amused them.

"Little brother, relax..." Xiaoqing moved even closer, her red lips almost touching his ear, "Tonight, your sisters will show you... how happy it is to be a man..."

Her voice was like a spell, drilling into Su Ming's ears and disrupting his last shred of reason.

The alcohol began to take effect in his bloodstream, blurring his vision. The warmth, fragrance, and soft touch of the two women were like a giant net, trapping him tightly.

Su Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say "no," but no sound came out.

Just then, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

A figure stood in the doorway, backlit, so his face was not visible.

But Su Ming recognized the outline at a glance.

It's Qiu Tong.

She stood there, quietly watching everything in the private room—watching Su Ming sandwiched between two women, watching his hands placed where they shouldn't, watching his face flushed and his eyes glazed over.

Time seemed to stand still.

A few seconds later, Qiu Tong walked in and closed the door behind her.

Her expression was calm, eerily calm.

"Did you have fun?" she asked, her voice as soft as a feather falling to the ground.

Su Ming felt as if he'd been doused with cold water, instantly sobering up. He jerked his hands back, sprang up from the sofa, and stammered in a panic, "Sister-in-law! No, it's not what you think! I..."

"I wasn't thinking anything," Qiu Tong interrupted him, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Qing and Alan. "You two go out first."

The two women exchanged a glance, but didn't dare to ask any more questions, and silently got up and left the private room.

The door closed again.

Now, only the two of them are left in the private room.

The air conditioning was on full blast, but Su Ming felt sweating all over. He didn't dare look Qiu Tong in the eye, keeping his head down like a child who had done something wrong and was waiting for judgment.

A long silence.

Then, Qiu Tong walked to the sofa, sat down, and patted the spot next to her: "Come here."

Su Ming hesitated for a moment, then moved over and sat down next to her, with about half a person's distance between them.

Qiu Tong didn't speak. She picked up the decanter, poured herself half a glass of red wine, and slowly took a sip. Then she put down the glass, turned her head, and looked at Su Ming.

"Were you startled?" she asked, her tone unexpectedly gentle.

"Hmm..." Su Ming paused, nodded, then shook his head: "No..."

Qiu Tong smiled, but her smile contained helplessness, exhaustion, and some other emotions that Su Ming couldn't understand.

"I brought you here not so you would go astray," she said softly, her gaze fixed on the silently flickering music video on the television screen. "I just wanted you to see what this world... is like."

She paused, then turned to look at Su Ming: "You're too naive, Su Ming. Naive like a child. But this world isn't for children."

Su Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

"That woman is trying to extort you today, but there might be someone else tomorrow," Qiu Tong continued, her voice calm yet heavy with each word. "Your cousin passed away early, and your mother entrusted you to me, so I have to take care of you. But I can only take care of you for a while, not forever. So, you have to learn... how to survive in this world. Including how to deal with women."

She picked up her glass, took another sip, and her Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"So you brought me to a place like this?" Su Ming finally couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with grievance and confusion, "to let me... let them..."

"I'll show you what women can do," Qiu Tong retorted, her eyes sharpening. "I'll let you know that even a haven of gentle pleasures can be a trap. I'll make you understand that some things may seem wonderful, but if you touch them, you'll pay the price."

She stared into Su Ming's eyes: "They touched you a couple of times today, and you're already dizzy with excitement. If an even prettier, more pretentious woman approaches you tomorrow, will you give her everything? Your money? Your feelings? Or... your life?"

Su Ming was speechless after being asked that question.