The Quagmire of Desire: From Gambling Addict and Village Flower to Movie Queen

The van circled the city twice before finally stopping in an alley near a construction site in the west of the city.

The lecturer, sitting in the passenger seat, looked back at Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling, and then at the dresses they were wearing.

"Remember, we're not going to the hair salon today," the instructor said. "We'll just pick them up from the construction site and bring them back to the factory to discuss business."

Liu Meiling tugged at the neckline of her skirt: "How do we arrange to meet?"

"It depends on your own abilities." The lecturer took out a stack of business cards from his bag and handed them to the two men. "Bring back one person and you'll get a commission of five hundred, two people and you'll get a thousand. The more people you bring back, the more money you'll make."

Sun Xiaoyan took the business card, glanced at it, and saw that it read "Marketing Manager of XX Manufacturing Plant." It was all a fake title.

"Get off the bus," the lecturer said. "I'll have Blackface pick you up at six o'clock this evening. The more people you bring back, the better."

The car door opened, and Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling got out.

The streets near the construction site were covered in a dusty haze. Barbecue stalls along the roadside had already started setting up tables, and several men in work clothes were squatting by the roadside smoking.

Liu Meiling looked around and pulled Sun Xiaoyan toward the entrance of the construction site.

"Don't panic," Liu Meiling whispered. "Just like last time, act convincingly."

The two walked to the entrance of the construction site, squatted on the curb, and pretended to wait for the bus.

The iron gate of the construction site was open, and several cement trucks were going in and out, with dust filling the air.

Sun Xiaoyan coughed twice, Liu Meiling took out a cigarette, put it in her mouth, and squinted as she glanced around.

"Over there." Liu Meiling gestured to the left.

Sun Xiaoyan looked over and saw two men in jackets walking out of the construction site. One had a protruding belly and a gold chain around his neck, while the other was tall and thin, wearing glasses and carrying a black briefcase.

"The contractor," Liu Meiling said in a low voice, "a rich guy."

She stood up, stubbed out her cigarette, and swayed over.

"Bosses, are you off work?" Liu Meiling asked in a sweet and coquettish voice.

The man with the protruding belly looked up, his gaze lingering on Liu Meiling's chest for two seconds: "Who are you?"

"My sister and I work at XX manufacturing plant. We'd like to discuss business with you," Liu Meiling said with a smile, handing over her business card between her fingers.

Foreman A took the business card, glanced at it, and then looked Liu Meiling up and down: "Business? What kind of business?"

"We have great projects in our factory, including labor and materials, at a great price," Liu Meiling said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

Foreman B adjusted his glasses and turned his gaze to Sun Xiaoyan standing at the back: "Is that your sister?"

"Yes, my sister." Liu Meiling turned around and waved to Sun Xiaoyan, "Come on, say hello to the two bosses."

Sun Xiaoyan walked over, bowed her head, and said, "Hello, boss."

Foreman Jia laughed and patted Sun Xiaoyan on the shoulder: "This girl is shy, not bad."

Liu Meiling said from the side, "Would you like to come and have a look at our factory? We have tea and air conditioning, and we can sit and chat."

Foreman A and Foreman B exchanged a glance and smiled: "Okay, let's go take a look."

Just then, three young workers came out of the construction site gate. One of them, with dyed blond hair, whistled when he saw Liu Meiling: "Hey, beautiful, waiting for someone here?"

Liu Meiling turned her head and smiled at the blond-haired man: "Waiting for someone? Waiting for you guys."

The blond-haired man's eyes lit up: "What are we waiting for?"

"Come back to the factory with us to discuss business. We can make money together." Liu Meiling handed over three business cards.

The three young workers huddled together, glancing at the business cards. The blond-haired man looked up and asked, "What kind of money do you make?"

"You'll see when you get there," Liu Meiling said. "There's food and drinks, and beautiful women to chat with."

The blond-haired man and the other two workers exchanged a glance and laughed: "Okay, let's go."

The five people followed Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling toward the industrial zone.

After walking for twenty minutes, we entered the factory gate.

The lecturer was already waiting in the office. When he saw Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling bring back five people, his eyes lit up, and he stood up to greet them: "Come, come, have a seat."

Foreman A plopped down in a chair and looked around: "This factory is pretty big. What do they do?"

The lecturer poured tea and began to boast, "Our factory mainly manufactures packaging materials, and now we want to expand our business and are looking for partners..."

Before he could finish speaking, contractor A interrupted him: "Stop with the nonsense."

The lecturer was taken aback.

Foreman A turned his gaze to Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling, scanning them up and down: "Let us have a taste of these two women first. If we're satisfied, everything will be fine."

The blond-haired guy chimed in from the side, "Yeah, yeah, let's try it first!"

Several workers also laughed, their eyes fixed on Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling.

Sun Xiaoyan took a step back, her back hitting the corner of the wall, and her hand resting on the windowsill.

Liu Meiling took a step forward, blocking Sun Xiaoyan's path, and said with a smile, "Boss, there are rules in the factory; we have to talk business first."

"Isn't the rule just money?" Foreman A pulled out two stacks of cash from his jacket pocket and slammed them on the table. "After you've taken these two, I'll bring my brothers to pay up."

The lecturer's eyes lit up as he stared at the two stacks of cash on the table.

He glanced at the foreman, then at Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling, a smirk playing on his lips, and gave them a meaningful look.

Sun Xiaoyan shook her head.

The lecturer's face darkened.

Suddenly, Huang Mao rushed up and grabbed Sun Xiaoyan by the collar.

With a "rip," the fabric at the neckline of the dress was torn open, revealing half of a white bra.

"Ah—" Sun Xiaoyan screamed, instinctively raising her hand to protect her chest.

Liu Meiling kicked the blond-haired man in the shin: "Damn it, don't hit me!"

Foreman A stood up and said coldly, "What? Not giving me face?"

Liu Meiling glanced back at the two stacks of cash on the table, gritted her teeth, and said, "Fine, but more money!"

Foreman A pulled out another wad of cash and threw it on the table: "Is that enough?"

The lecturer picked up three stacks of cash, weighed them in his hand, nodded, and winked at Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling: "Go to the inner room."

Sun Xiaoyan stood there, stunned, her legs trembling.

Liu Meiling grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward a cubicle at the back of the office.

The foreman followed them into the inner room, and casually closed the door, leaving a crack.

Sun Xiaoyan was dragged to the bedside by the foreman, Jia. She looked back at the door that wasn't closed properly, her lips trembling.

"Don't be afraid," came the foreman's voice from above. "It'll only be a little while."

Sun Xiaoyan was pushed onto the bed, and the foreman Jia pressed down on her, lifting her skirt up to her waist.

Sun Xiaoyan closed her eyes, her hands gripping the bed sheet, her nails digging into the fabric.

Liu Meiling's voice came from outside: "Slow down, slow down, one at a time!"

Then came the laughter of several workers.

Sun Xiaoyan closed her eyes and clenched her teeth.

After an unknown amount of time, the foreman, Jia, got off her, tied his pants, patted her face, and said, "Not bad. Bring your brothers to pay tomorrow."

He went out, and Sun Xiaoyan curled up on the bed, trembling all over.

From outside came the voice of contractor B: "This girl is pretty good, so fresh and tender."

Then came Liu Meiling's voice: "There are even better ones! Bring people over tomorrow!"

The door creaked open, and contractor B walked in. Sun Xiaoyan was still curled up on the bed, not moving.

Foreman B walked over and patted her on the butt: "Get up, stop pretending to be dead."

Sun Xiaoyan didn't move.

Foreman B grabbed her and tore open her skirt.

Half an hour later, several people came out of the inner room one after another, tidying their clothes.

The blond-haired guy pulled up his pants and gave the lecturer a thumbs up: "Not bad, not bad. Bring your buddies tomorrow."

Foreman A patted the lecturer on the shoulder: "I'll pay tomorrow."

The lecturer nodded with a smile: "No problem, no problem."

The five people walked out of the office one after another, their footsteps fading into the distance in the corridor.

Liu Meiling walked out of the corridor, leaning against the wall. Her skirt was covered in lipstick marks, her face had scratches, and her hair was a mess.

She walked to the office door, leaned against the door frame, and took a few breaths.

Sun Xiaoyan came out from the inner room, wearing a torn dress, barefoot, with red eyes and clutching ripped fabric in her hand.

The lecturer sat behind his desk, counting three stacks of cash in his hand, a smile playing on his lips.

He pulled out two stacks and tossed one stack to each of Sun Xiaoyan and Liu Meiling: "Take these, we'll continue tomorrow."

Liu Meiling took the money and stuffed it into her underwear.

Sun Xiaoyan looked at the stack of money in her hand but didn't touch it.

"What's wrong? You think it's not enough?" The lecturer looked up at her.

Sun Xiaoyan shook her head.

"Alright, you've had a hard day. Go back and rest." The lecturer stood up and stretched.

Liu Meiling didn't say anything, but pulled Sun Xiaoyan outside.

The two walked through the factory area and returned to their dormitory.

The dormitory lights were off, and the bunk beds were empty; everyone else was still working in the workshop.

Sun Xiaoyan lay sprawled on the lower bunk, staring at the ceiling, her eyes unmoving.

Liu Meiling sat on the opposite bed, her back to Sun Xiaoyan, and took out a cigarette and lit it.

After taking two puffs of her cigarette, Liu Meiling asked, "How are you?"

Sun Xiaoyan did not speak.

"I asked you how you are." Liu Meiling turned to look at her.

Sun Xiaoyan remained silent, turned over, faced the wall, and turned her back to Liu Meiling.

Liu Meiling took a drag of her cigarette and exhaled, "Is your husband fierce?"

Sun Xiaoyan's voice came from the other side of the wall: "Don't mention it."

Liu Meiling was silent for a moment, then stubbed out her cigarette on the crossbeam of the iron bunk bed, her voice hoarse: "We really have become bait."

Sun Xiaoyan didn't move, facing the wall, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Moonlight shone through the iron bars of the window, casting dark shadows on the floor, like a cage from which one could never escape.

Liu Meiling lay down, stared at the ceiling, and after a while, spoke again: "I won't do it again next time."

Sun Xiaoyan's voice was very soft: "Do you think you can escape?"

Liu Meiling did not answer.

The metal bunk bed creaked, and Liu Meiling turned over, now facing the wall.

Only moonlight remained in the room, illuminating the shadows of two people lying on the bed.