Chapter 565: A Different Life, a "Dirty" Transaction

Chapter 565 -332: A Different Life, a “Dirty” Transaction

Whether by choice or by force, she had now embarked on a completely different path in life.

‘In that case… I might as well give in.’

…

Right now, An Yunzhi was in the middle of an argument.

Her face was flushed bright red with indignation and anger, like a delicate, juicy peach.

The ship’s manager had just come to find her, telling her that a distinguished guest wanted her to come to his room and play the piano for him.

An Yunzhi didn’t have to think twice to understand the implications. It was undoubtedly some kind of sordid transaction.

To her, it felt like the ultimate humiliation.

‘I just came on this ship to perform, to earn some living expenses. Do I now have to sell my body, too?’

But this was a ship.

In international waters.

She knew full well how sordid the so-called upper class could be. And given her current status, she didn’t have many options. It was either submit or jump overboard…

She had heard of and even witnessed such tragic scenes before, but she never imagined it would one day happen to her.

Now, looking into the manager’s firm, cold eyes, she took a deep breath. She searched for a way out as she asked through gritted teeth, “I want to know, who is this guest?”

“Young, handsome, and very rich. Naturally, he’s a powerful… big shot.”

“I was actually going to congratulate you. I didn’t expect you to be angry.”

An Yunzhi was speechless.

She had the overwhelming urge to curse him out, but she managed to restrain herself.

“This is a tip. I’ll give you ten minutes to change and do your makeup.”

The manager placed a stack of USD on the table and spoke calmly, then turned and walked out the door.

On the cruise ship, this kind of thing was actually quite rare. Under normal circumstances, other pianists would be begging for such an opportunity.

Looking at the stack of money on the table, An Yunzhi’s eyes became a bit dazed.

For her former self, this was just the price of a handbag, but for her current self, it was a huge sum of money.

She pulled out her phone, wanting to send a message to Zhou Luan. It would be… her final words, she supposed. But after hesitating over and over, she didn’t hit send.

In fact, after her family’s ruin, her best friend, Zhou Luan, had always wanted her to come work at her family’s company. She could do anything, and the pay would be more than enough to live a comfortable and respectable life. It wouldn’t be a bad life by any means.

But while touched by the offer, she had flatly refused.

That kind of drop in status was the hardest thing to accept.

‘Pride. It’s the last shred of dignity I have.’

She would rather live a difficult, hand-to-mouth existence abroad than depend on someone else’s charity.

A look of grim determination appeared in her eyes. An Yunzhi pocketed the stack of money, quickly changed her clothes, and touched up her makeup. She wrapped the small fruit knife she carried with her in a tissue. Forcing a smile in the mirror, she then stepped out in her high heels.

…

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Inside the room, Lin Chu was drinking alone. A lot had happened tonight, and he was feeling a little worn out. A drink would help him relax.

And by now, there were no more threats on the ship. On the floor where he was staying, there were security guards stationed at both the ends of the hallway and his room door.

They had just brought the piano in.

“Come in,” Lin Chu said calmly.

The door opened. Leon stood in the doorway, and behind him was An Yunzhi, dressed in a long black gown and carrying a purse.

“Sir, your pianist has arrived.”

Leon smiled politely, made an inviting gesture, and smoothly took the purse from An Yunzhi’s hand.

An Yunzhi froze for a second, instinctively pulling back. But he was much stronger, and his manner was unyielding.

“Ma’am, I’ll hold onto your purse for you. Please, come in.”

An Yunzhi bit her lip lightly, a flicker of panic in her eyes. ‘Compared to a professional security detail, my little trick is like child’s play.’

She had no choice but to let go, her eyes scanning the room.

It was true.

He was a tall, handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes, and he looked completely at ease.

But…

Behind her, the door had already been closed.

“Hello, sir. It’s a pleasure to be of service. What piece would you like me to play?”

An Yunzhi watched him cautiously, asking in fluent English. Out of the corner of her eye, she nonchalantly scanned the room, searching for anything she could use as a weapon.

‘A glass!’

‘The wine glass!’

‘Shards from the wine glass!’

The thought surfaced instinctively.

“You can speak Chinese. I’d like to hear an Eason Chan song, ‘Long Time No See’.”

Lin Chu said with a casual smile, not even bothering to disguise his voice. It was his real voice.

Hearing those words…

That tone…

An Yunzhi froze completely. Her body trembled, and her eyes filled with utter disbelief.

‘That familiar voice!’

“Lin… Lin Chu?”

She asked, trembling slightly.

She had just seen news about Lin Chu yesterday. He’d killed someone overseas.

Based on her impression of him, that was exactly the kind of thing he would do.

‘After all, even though he came from nothing, he’d always been a wild card. In my mind, he was no better than a bandit.’

‘A womanizing bandit, at that.’

Lin Chu thought for a moment, then pulled off his shirt. From around his stomach, he removed the entire special-effects prosthetic. He then looked at her with a grin and gestured toward the piano with his chin.

“You got it.”

“Go ahead.”