Chapter 864: Devil in Paradise

“What?”

Penny whispered in Lynch’s ear for a moment, her face flushing with a shy embarrassment. For a nineteen-year-old girl, what she was about to do was indeed a little embarrassing.

But not too embarrassing.

The feminist movement had advanced fiercely, wiping out many outdated, oppressive ideas—like the notion that women must be chaste, a tradition that mentally enslaved them, which was now abolished.

The current pursuit was for men to have rights in relationships and emotions, and women should have those rights too—indeed, must have them.

Some sociologists worried the Federation’s campuses were becoming frightening, with rampant promiscuity and abortion issues occurring at nearly every school.

Students completely abandoned traditional morals. Some girls shamelessly lifted their skirts or even their tops at graduations or opening ceremonies, exposing themselves to students and parents.

They called this a right unique to the new generation of women, and abused it.

Strangely, though, this movement—damaging male rights in some ways—received support from many men.

Sociologists described today’s youth as a decaying generation, but soon stopped speaking out, as feminist groups suppressed them, branding them toxic remnants of the old era.

Radical feminists sent threatening letters, smashed their windows, and even physically assaulted them.

In the end, people fell silent, watching as things slowly rotted away.

Strictly speaking, decay isn’t always bad; decayed matter produces nutrients that nourish the earth.

Penny looked at Lynch expectantly. After thinking for a while, Lynch slowly nodded, though he seemed hesitant about his choice.

But that wasn’t true.

He thought carefully—there weren’t many who could accompany him.

Katherine was still his intern, her image that of a lucky girl rising from the lower class, destined to be every girl’s dream in the Federation. Bringing her now wouldn’t be appropriate.

Naily was just a bargaining chip, without fame or influence, not qualified to go with him.

Anna was a suitable candidate, but the event itself had a vaguely suggestive atmosphere. Participants were couples or lovers. Taking Anna might spark misunderstandings or unknown troubles.

Severella was the same. Besides, Lynch didn’t want to spend time with her. They were completely incompatible, and he saw no need to stir up trouble.

After considering all this, only Penny seemed suitable.

She was the leading figure of the new generation of actresses. Whether her acting was good or not, people would give her awards partly out of respect for Lynch.

Young, influential, and already linked to Lynch by media rumors—that was enough.

Actually, the best choice was Jania, but she wasn’t in the Federation.

Clearly the only perfect choice, yet Lynch acted as if he was deeply conflicted, still unsure whether to pick you and might regret it anytime.

Humans are contradictory and foolish.

It’s like a market buyer and seller. When the seller quotes a price of a thousand, the buyer haggles down to five hundred.

If the seller immediately agrees, the buyer thinks, Damn, that was too hasty—I should’ve knocked off another zero, feeling cheated.

But if the seller holds firm and only drops five bucks, the buyer feels genuinely pleased, thinking he got a bargain.

Such emotional and psychological shifts surround us daily.

Come home early after work…

If you agree too quickly, the person will suspect you had some problem when you came home late the other day.

Lynch had no choice but to act like this was a tough decision, so the hard-earned result would mean more to Penny.

She immediately threw herself at him, kissed him several times, her face blooming like a flower.

Happy with the outcome, she hugged his neck, sat on his lap, and hummed softly.

She glanced at the TV showing a program.

“You like this too?” she asked.

Lynch set her down on the sofa. Maybe young couples liked to be clingy, but he didn’t.

It’s an adult affliction. After growing up and seeing many so-called truths, people start to get… strange.

He shook his head. “I just happened to flip to it. It looks interesting.”

“Fantasies about future technology development make a great theme. With the economy recovering, tech progress will speed up. The era from Airdai to Niudai is about to return.”

“In the next few years, sci-fi and speculative fiction will have a solid audience.”

Penny didn’t fully understand but knew the show.

“The actress in it slept with the whole crew—from the producer to the lighting guy, no one was spared.”

Her tone showed baffled displeasure, like a sheepdog seeing a husky—

That’s also a dog?

Lynch whistled, puzzled. “If she slept with the producer, why bother with the lighting guy?”

“Because she was the lighting guy’s girlfriend…”

Well, that was an unexpectedly interesting and somewhat inspiring story: the lighting guy’s girlfriend helped on set, casually hooked up with the director, got a small role.

To get more screen time, the minor role needed the cameraman’s help. The cameraman believed shooting it that way created more impact, and that’s how the final scene looked.

But no matter how good the minor role was, it was still minor—disappearing after two or three episodes.

The pretty girl on TV got into the producer’s room through the director, overcame all obstacles, and finally secured the lead role.

Many said she only got it by sleeping with everyone who stood in her way, a blatant slander. If all she had was her body, she wouldn’t have impressed the producer.

The producer was responsible for the whole show and the investors’ money; he wouldn’t risk his future for a one-time pleasure worth a thousand or so Sol.

The actress had guts, talent, and skill—that was key.

Most people only saw her glory, not the price she paid.

This was the harsh reality of show business: without someone backing you, you can’t rise. To get ahead, you had to be under the control of one or more people.

Soon, Penny’s manager came downstairs from the second floor, followed by the maid.

Seeing the maid, Penny sized her up and snorted.

Wearing such a short skirt—what’s the difference from wearing just a belt?

What a common prostitute!

In an instant, Penny judged the maid.

She knew she and Lynch probably wouldn’t end up together. Guys like Lynch either married very late or chose someone with a similar background.

Girls like her or other rumored ones had almost no chance of becoming Lynch’s wife.

Knowing was one thing, but encountering it was another.

It’s like how people hate dog poop—not everyone needs to touch it to feel disgusted; sometimes just seeing it is enough.

But soon, her eyes darted around as if she had an idea, and she chuckled.

“Mr. Lynch…” the manager greeted Lynch first, then looked at Penny, “I’ve packed everything in the walk-in closet in the bedroom. Call me anytime if you need anything…”

Penny suddenly stood up and hurried over to whisper with the manager at the door for a while. The manager left looking shocked.

“What did you say to her? She looks like she was hit hard,” Lynch was curious, but Penny didn’t tell him.

Elsewhere, the manager got into a car, her mind still reeling.

Penny’s request had been shocking—hard to accept.

Penny was the leading young woman in the country—beautiful and youthful, like the girl next door. Many were madly obsessed with her.

Outside of films, she wasn’t much different from her public image—mostly just a bit temperamental and unreasonable sometimes, nothing worse.

But now, things seemed different.

The car stopped on a street behind Financial Street, where many entertainment and modeling agencies were located.

Whenever a financial worker from Eminence Financial Street called, models and actors quickly showed up to provide entertainment for the cash-waving financiers.

Naturally, this area also had many special stores.

Like adult shops, some with certain kinds of erotic products.

Poor manager, who never had a boyfriend, had to enter such a place to buy something. She felt like her legs had gone numb.

Standing outside for a long time, she finally forced herself inside. It was a store called Hell’s Guest in Paradise, specializing in a very unique style.

As soon as she entered, a salesperson wearing a leather hood and tight black leather outfit approached.

She made a lion-biting gesture and said in a slightly hoarse voice, “Welcome…”

“Sweetheart!”