Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  The man’s eyes grew darker in the night. Suddenly, a gleam flashed in them—cruelty.

  Some dangerous animals liked to come out after dark. If one was not careful, one would be unaware of the oncoming or approaching dangers.

  Xia Ruoxin stood outside the door of a VIP room as she took a deep breath. This wasn’t the first time, but each time before she entered, she couldn’t help being afraid and hesitant. This was not the kind of life she had wanted. Yet, it was one she had to live with.

  The door opened, and she entered. There was a tall man in there, standing by the window with his back facing her. A glass of wine was in his hand. The light reflection from the glass caused Xia Ruoxin to feel uncomfortable all of a sudden.

  She shielded her eyes with both hands and looked up as she started to squint. The man turned around slowly to face her without any emotion on his face.

  Xia Ruoxin’s eyes widened abruptly. She thought of anyone but not him. Her hands and feet started to feel cold, her body shivering. She even stood in that position for a long time without moving.

  “Why? Is this the way to treat your customer, Miss Xia?” The man laughed scornfully. There was no warmth in his smile, and yet it managed to stab Xia Ruoxin in her heart.

  Miss Xia, Mr. Chu. They could only greet each other in this unfamiliar manner. Yes, that should be the way between them. In Chu Lui’s opinion, Xia Ruoxin was only an enemy. He had no love or emotion for her, only hatred and cruelty.

  “How are you, Mr. Chu?” Xia Ruoxin put her hand down and sat on the sofa with both hands on her lap. She was being professional. Chu Lui was the customer, and she was the whore.

  Chu Lui bore down on her like a beast, and he finished his drink in one gulp. The taste of alcohol lingered in his mouth and sobered him up.

  He picked up a bottle of alcohol, sat down, and reached out for another glass. He filled it to the rim and put it before Xia Ruoxin.

  “Aren’t you fond of drinking? So, drink!”


  His lips curled up into a nice smile; unusually exaggerating. The five outstretched fingers showed power as though he could break the woman’s neck in one snap if he released them.

  Xia Ruoxin bit on her lower lip as she hid the hurt behind her eyes. She knew he was humiliating her at the moment, with a glass full of alcohol and mockery in his eyes. At last, her clenched hand at her chest loosened.

  She accepted the glass and raised it to her lips. Beneath the dimmed lights, a bead of crystal-like tear gathered at her eye and fell swiftly.

  She looked up and began drinking alcohol in misery. Her throat felt as though it was slit with every sip. Now, he really thought of her as an alcoholic or a whore, not a human being.

  “Again.” Chu Lui instructed as he poured another glass and leaned against the sofa at the side. He wondered if it was because of hate. He felt pleasure filled him…… when he was delighted to watch her suffer. All his depression, unjust, and unpleasantness had vanished in this very moment. This woman was the best outlet for venting. She was not a person—but a thing.