After Falling for the Handsome CEO - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Our Transaction Ends Here

Before he had even read the content of the text, a thought had flashed through Shen Jin’s mind: Could A-Yu be messaging me to explain what happened this morning?

Maybe he would say he was busy, or that he was tied up, or that they didn’t have to meet today—that tomorrow would be fine instead…

But a youth as unworldly as him was ultimately too naive. Even as his instincts sought excuses for the other man, reality delivered a sharp slap to his face.

“Shen Jin? Where is Shen Jin! Where is he! Where the hell are you slacking off?!”

As he stared wordlessly at the text message, the supervisor’s voice suddenly rang out from outside, pulling his emotions back. He hurriedly shoved the phone back into his pocket: “I’m here! I’m here! I’m not slacking!”

The supervisor, a man in his thirties, grabbed him impatiently and gave him a sharp, annoyed look: “Where did you run off to? Do you want to work or not? There are customers waiting! Get to table 523! Don’t dawdle! It’s busy today!”

Though this place was called a bar, it was essentially a nightclub—a playground for the wealthy to drink and carouse. It certainly wasn’t a suitable place for a girl to work, but as a man, it was considered fine.

“Alright, I’m sorry.” After apologizing to the supervisor, Shen Jin rushed off to get busy. He delivered the drinks, answered questions, and recommended the house specials.

Sometimes women would come with a group of men and frequently request his service because they liked his look. Consequently, he was often busier than the others, running back and forth while having to ensure no customer was left unsatisfied.

He occasionally encountered “femme fatale” types who liked to tease him. For instance, right now, a woman dressed in a mature, sophisticated style rested her chin on her hand, smiling playfully at him: “Little Jin-Jin, Sister hasn’t been here in a while. Did you miss me?”

As she spoke, she reached out and gently stroked his pale face. Her fingertip trailed over his lips, her smile laden with deep meaning: “Sister really likes well-behaved boys like you. Would you like to come and play with me?”

Shen Jin’s face turned even paler. He gently dodged her hand and forced a strained smile, acting as if nothing had happened while pouring her drink. He said stiffly, “Sister Liu, stop teasing. Your drink is poured. Please enjoy…”

Working here meant meeting all sorts of eccentric people; it was nothing unusual. Some customers were far more troublesome. Despite the harassment, he couldn’t afford to lose this job because he truly needed the money.

Just as he finished attending to that table, he moved to another. To his surprise, it was a group of college-aged girls. As soon as he approached, one of them leaned in with a giggle and boldly kissed him on the cheek.

Crash—!

The bottle in Shen Jin’s hand slipped and hit the floor. The glass shattered instantly, and a stray shard sliced into a nearby young man’s hand, drawing blood. Shen Jin immediately bowed: “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Let me bandage that for you!”

He knew he couldn’t afford to offend these guests. He grabbed some napkins to wipe the blood from the man’s hand, but the man’s face darkened. He abruptly raised his foot and kicked Shen Jin hard in the abdomen!

Caught off guard, Shen Jin was sent crashing to the floor. As his hands hit the ground to brace his fall, the broken glass shards pierced his palms. Blood smeared the floor instantly. He hissed in pain, his brows knitting together tightly.

The man continued to curse: “F**k! How disgusting! A guy getting that close to wipe my hand? Are you sick in the head?! Who gave you permission to touch me! You’re filthy!”

Shen Jin’s hands, riddled with glass shards, burned with a searing pain, but he had to grit his teeth and endure it. He forced another strained smile and said submissively, “I’m sorry. I’ve upset you. I will be more careful…”

The youth glared at him: “Then get the hell out! You’re bad luck just to look at!”

The young man cursed again in a rage and kicked out once more. The blow caught Shen Jin just as he was trying to stand, sending him slamming into the corner of a table. Every drop of color left his face, and his body slumped, nearly falling back to the floor.

It hurts… it hurts so much.

Everything hurt. His heart, his body—everything was in pain.

Shen Jin gritted his teeth to keep from making a sound. A forced smile remained on his pale, weak face. Trembling, he used the table to pull himself up and lowered his head submissively once more: “I am sorry…”

People of the upper class always saw themselves as superior to people like him. They didn’t view him as a person; he was just labor, and they were the consumers—the “Gods.”

As Shen Jin limped out of the private room, the girl who had kissed him ran over, trying to help him. Looking at his bleeding hands, she said guiltily, “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Really… let me help you bandage those!”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt.” Shen Jin smiled weakly. His heart was overflowing with bitterness, yet he maintained that polite, hollow smile. He pushed her hand away and walked off unsteadily, his movements stiff and uncoordinated.

Shen Jin thought: What’s the use of an apology? What’s the use of a bandage?

The pain is still the same.

This was the life of those at the bottom—pressing their dignity into the dirt just to trade it for enough money to stay alive. Between him and Yan Yu, there was a distance of ten thousand miles; the distance between their hearts was even further.

He simply pulled the glass shards out of his hands, wiped the blood away, and applied some basic bandages. Even though he had been kicked twice and slammed into a table, and despite the throbbing in his hands, work had to continue once the basic first aid was done.

Finally, Shen Jin closed his eyes wearily. He took a deep breath, a bitter smile hanging on his lips. Suddenly, he saw things clearly. It was time to wake up from this brief dream. He shouldn’t harbor any more fantasies.

With firm resolve, he sent a reply to Yan Yu:

“A-Yu, our transaction… let’s end it here.”