Chapter 11: You Are Mistaken About One Thing

Sister Wang felt insulted.

"You’re with me now! And you’re still out looking for a job... Is this your way of hinting that I don’t give you enough money? If you need money, just tell me! It’s not like I wouldn’t give it to you!"

Sister Wang’s resentful voice came through the phone: "If you need money, just tell me, and I’ll transfer it to you. Why are you out looking for a job?"

Lu Yao chuckled. "That’s a different matter. I’m in the middle of an interview; I’ll talk to you later."

Sister Wang: "Where are you? I’ll come pick you up."

Lu Yao: "At NFA."

Sister Wang froze. NFA? Wasn’t that a bar? Occasionally, men would invite her there to sit for a drink. She had been a few times, but she didn’t like it. It was too loud, too chaotic, and the men’s intentions were far too obvious. And now, the young man she had just brought into her life was going to work in such a sleazy, messy place?

At that moment, Sister Wang felt as if the little kitten she had adopted had been dumped into a cat café and was now expected to meow for customers. It was heartbreaking! An indescribable, gut-wrenching feeling! She hung up the phone immediately and headed out.

Putting his phone away, Lu Yao looked apologetically at the entertainment director sitting across from him: "Sorry, something came up."

Xiao Lina looked at Lu Yao with a playful glint in her eyes. This young man was interesting. Based on his appearance and clothes, he looked like a student, yet when he took out his phone, she caught a glimpse of Mercedes-Benz car keys. During the call, she had faintly heard someone offering him money to keep him from working. Was he a rich kid playing at experiencing life? No, that didn't feel right. That wasn't how one talked to elders or relatives. Having spent plenty of time in the nightlife scene, Xiao Lina quickly reached a conclusion: was he a kept man?

Curious, Xiao Lina asked, "Why do you want to work here?"

Lu Yao shrugged. "Because you’re hiring."

Xiao Lina: "..."

What a cheeky kid. She didn't press further, returning to her sharp, professional demeanor. "Your appearance is excellent, your voice is talented, and most importantly, you have creative ability. I am very satisfied with you."

Lu Yao said sweetly, "Thank you for the compliment, Director."

Xiao Lina laid out the terms: "If you come to work, your base salary will be five thousand, plus one thousand per performance. If there are tips for drinks, the company takes a 50/50 split. How does that sound?"

This was a very good offer. One thousand per performance meant that even if he only worked twenty days a month, he would make twenty thousand. That was a decent income in 2013. Lu Yao agreed immediately: "No problem."

But Xiao Lina wasn't finished: "There is also a creative incentive. Every time you write a good new song, I’ll give you ten thousand yuan on the spot." As she spoke, she stood up, went behind her desk, pulled open a drawer, and slapped ten thousand yuan in crisp red bills onto the table. "I really liked the song you sang today. This is your bonus."

This woman had the makings of a tycoon! She didn't even blink when throwing money around. She was incredibly generous!

Lu Yao felt a bit uneasy. "Is this money just an incentive, or does it buy out the copyright to the song?"

Xiao Lina laughed. "If I bought it, would you sell it?"

As the entertainment director of the hottest bar on Zhongshan Road—who could occasionally even bring in celebrities to perform—Xiao Lina had the connections, the methods, and the natural talent. The moment Lu Yao sang that song, she knew it wasn't simple. It wasn't something that could be bought for a few tens of thousands. Perhaps, one day, it might even become a minor hit. Even if it didn't reach the level of "Mouse Loves Rice," where a single song could generate hundreds of millions, earning a few million was certainly possible. Xiao Lina trusted her intuition.

Lu Yao shook his head. "I definitely wouldn't sell it." After all, it was a song stolen from the future; using it to earn money through performances was enough. Besides, he had no intention of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

Xiao Lina smiled. "Since you’re going to work under me, you must follow instructions. Starting tomorrow, you’ll begin pre-job training to improve your professional skills. Once you pass the training, we’ll sign a formal labor contract. Come on, let’s add each other on WeChat."

After adding her, Xiao Lina sent him an address: "Report here at nine tomorrow morning. Don't be late. Don't worry, you’ll be paid during the training period."

Lu Yao: "..." Was it really this formal? No wonder NFA had been thriving on Zhongshan Road for so many years. Even ten years later, it would still stand firm as a top nightlife destination for the trendy crowd.

Lu Yao stood up. "Alright, I’ll be heading back then."

Xiao Lina rose and, unusually, said, "I’ll see you out." Seeing him out was secondary; she mainly wanted to verify her theory. After walking him downstairs and chatting for a bit, a white Porsche pulled up to the curb. Lu Yao said goodbye to Xiao Lina and walked toward the car. Xiao Lina tilted her head slightly and saw a woman in a black dress with exquisite makeup sitting in the driver’s seat.

It was just as she thought. The young man really did have a "soft" life. But... if he already had a benefactor, why did he still need to work?

...

Once in the car, Lu Yao greeted her with a smile: "You were in such a rush to find me today. Something wrong?"

Sister Wang glanced at the huge, flashy NFA sign, her face taut. "I don’t like this place. Don’t come here to work."

Lu Yao took a cigarette from the car and lit it. "Why don't you like it?"

Why didn't she like it? Sister Wang glanced at Lu Yao as she started the car, thinking, *How can you even ask me that? Is that a proper place? I’m afraid you’ll pick up bad habits!*

Most importantly... the place was full of young, fresh, pretty girls. Although the women who hung out in those circles were certainly not as successful as she was, nor did they have her class, men didn't care if a woman was successful. Men were very consistent. Whether they were twenty-four or forty-two, they were particularly fond of eighteen-year-old beauties. In comparison, women were much more fickle.

But Sister Wang couldn't say this out loud. Her age was her greatest insecurity.

Sister Wang scoffed, "Anyway, you’re not allowed to work here." As she spoke, she opened the center console, took out three stacks of red bills, and shoved them into Lu Yao’s lap. "If you don’t have enough money, just tell me!"

Lu Yao: "..." Two women had thrown money at him today. Sure enough, money could be earned back, but if you lost your conscience—you could earn even more.

Running his hands over the cash in his lap, Lu Yao’s tone gradually turned cold. "Sister Wang, you seem to have misunderstood something. I am your business partner, not one of the cats or dogs you keep."

Sister Wang: "..."

The icy words, like venom, were like a knife plunged straight into her heart. Her heart, a flower in bloom, trembled. The atmosphere in the car turned stifling, even solidifying after that sentence...