CEO’s Dancer Wife
Author: Ice Sugar Lotus Seed
Prologue
Heaven and Earth is the most renowned paradise and gold mine in T City, and it’s often said among the upper echelons that if you love someone, send them to Heaven and Earth; if you hate someone, do the same. Legends about Heaven and Earth are countless. For most people, the Seven Fairies are like snow lotuses on high mountains, rare and unattainable. Even the Twelve Beauties after them are treasures in any high-end entertainment venue; having one or two who could even touch the hem of these beauties’ garments would make the place a celebrated spot, with the owner counting money until their hands cramped. Not to mention the four supreme beauties above the Seven Fairies. All the socialites in the city knew that it was best to avoid events where the four beauties appeared. Each of these beauties excelled in singing and dancing, their allure not merely in their beauty. They wouldn’t let you focus solely on their looks when you came for their beauty. Some princesses, born with silver spoons, who didn’t believe in this, tried and failed miserably, becoming laughingstocks and examples of overreaching.
The service ethos of Heaven was to cater to all your desires, whether you sought the refined, the common, the vulgar, or the obscene, all could be satisfied. Even if your tastes were particularly eccentric or your habits unusual, as long as you could afford it, your wishes would be fulfilled. Even if you caused a fatality in a moment of passion, as long as you could pay Heaven’s price, you would face no trouble. Heaven would erase all traces, leaving no evidence. Thus, this was a place where only money and power mattered, devoid of human rights, conscience, or justice. I am a member of this “Heaven and Earth.”
Chapter One: The Deal (Part 1)
My name is Tang Xiaofu, I’m 23 years old, and I’ve been at Heaven and Earth for five years. But don’t get me wrong, I’m nowhere near the level of the four beauties, the seven fairies, or the twelve beauties. I’m just a performer in the dance division, a Kang Kang dancer, flipping my skirt in blinding lights akin to prison searchlights day and night. I’ve been here for five years, always wanting to leave, but I don’t know where I could go. I’ve had only a handful of years of schooling. I heard that the least of the four beauties, Feifei, graduated from the most prestigious academy in M Country. This, perhaps, is the difference between heaven and earth.
So, when my best friend whispered that I was three parts prettier than Hongyi, one of the Seven Fairies known for her face, I just laughed it off. A woman’s youth is fleeting, and even the most beautiful will age. Besides, beauty is subjective. I truly don’t see myself as particularly beautiful, but keeping a low profile is best. After removing my thick stage makeup, I wear thick-framed glasses, which, along with my messy short hair, are quite effective.
Entering Heaven means you implicitly agree to sell anything. Aside from those with explicit price tags, whether you’re a dancer, singer, server, manager, cleaner, security, male or female, young or old, if a guest wants you, your department manager will negotiate with you. It’s best to agree; if you don’t, they’ll find ways to make you, rarely resorting to force. They’ll dig into your past and use your greatest desires, the people you care about most, or what you most want to do to tempt you into a deal. In my 1800 days here, I’ve yet to see them fail to get what they want or pull someone into their schemes.
I am fortunate that few people take a fancy to me; I can count them on one hand. Each time, I readily agree, showing an eager demeanor, never making the manager worry. My only condition is never to be with the same person twice. Somehow, they’ve always managed this.
One day, a friend switched shifts with me, and I ended up performing three times in a row. By the time I stepped off the stage, my legs felt like they belonged to someone else. I rushed back to the dressing room, desperate to collapse into bed. Just as I was about to push the door open, my sister Xiaotao grabbed me, her eyes twinkling with mystery. “You have a guest,” she said, barely containing a smile, “It’s a woman!”
“Ah?” I wiped sweat off haphazardly, retracting my hand from the door handle, taking a moment to compose myself. The guests at Heaven were as varied as could be. While some of my friends were particularly popular with female guests, none had shown interest in me. I gave Xiaotao a wry look, recalling some advice on how to serve the same sex, and opened the door with determination.
One of the things life here has taught me is: resist what you can, accept what you can’t, and do so with a smile.
A middle-aged noblewoman sat before the vanity, her presence making our chaotic room of costumes, underwear, and cosmetics seem like a noble venue. Her features weren’t particularly striking, dressed in a simple black suit with just a pearl necklace. She had an imposing aura, and I couldn’t help but lower my gaze after a quick glance, feeling as if I had done something wrong. The room was quiet, and I felt nervous. She seemed to chuckle softly, then slowly stood up and approached me. A well-manicured hand, with two slender fingers painted in bright red nail polish, lifted my chin. My scalp tingled as I was forced to look at her. She smiled, but her eyes were cold, scanning my face disdainfully.
“You’re Tang Xiaofu?” she asked slowly, her voice surprisingly hoarse, even unpleasant. I nodded. Her smile widened, the irony more pronounced. “Sit down,” she gestured, seating herself first, “I have a deal to make with you.” I sat opposite her, my mind racing.
“A deal?” Although everything here was transactional, I would have preferred she told me what position she liked. She scrutinized me for a moment longer, then slowly pulled out a document from her black bag and handed it to me. I flipped through it; the content might as well have been written in hieroglyphics for all I understood. She probably anticipated my reaction, clasping her hands on her knees.
