Chapter 008: Will's Invitation

This story is purely fictional.

After two days of meetings, Gao Yating returned to her hotel room feeling utterly exhausted. She called the front desk and ordered a bottle of red wine and some snacks. Walking into the bathroom, she stood before the vanity, her hand caressing her smooth cheek as she scrutinized herself. Though over forty, her allure remained undiminished.

She often encountered acquaintances urging her to have children sooner. In her youth, she shrugged off such comments. She remembered once arguing with a friend about having children, the other boasting about having heirs. At the time, Gao Yating felt young and unconcerned; she believed she could have children whenever she wished. Even if she had many, she thought money could solve any problem.

But fate took an unexpected turn. In the years that followed, Gao Yating suffered recurrent miscarriages and lost all confidence in bearing children.

For reasons she could not identify, a stir of longing awakened within her. Her heart fluttered like a startled fawn, her cheeks flushed as if scorched by flame. Her body felt entirely languid; her legs could no longer support her, and it seemed as though venomous insects were rampaging through her veins.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Startled, Gao Yating hastily slipped on her nightgown, forgetting to fasten the buttons. She wrapped herself in it with both arms and went to open the door.

A handsome young waiter stood outside, pushing a trolley with her red wine and snacks.

“This waiter seems familiar,” Zhao Ming said uncertainly to Da Cheng, “but the image isn’t clear. I can’t tell if it’s really him.”

“I’ll sharpen the image for you; take a closer look,” Da Cheng replied, adjusting the screen.

The waiter entered and said, “I’ll leave your wine and snacks here. Please enjoy.” He turned to leave.

“Don’t go!” she called after him.

“Is there something you need?” the waiter asked, somewhat timidly.

“Not really. I just wondered if we could chat for a while?” she replied.

“I’m on duty. I’m afraid I have to go. Sorry!” the waiter answered.

“Go ahead. If you’re off duty later, you can come by! I’ll be here for two more days,” Gao Yating told him.

The waiter returned to his workroom, his face burning as if feverish.

“That woman is truly beautiful,” he muttered to himself. “Judging by her manner, could she want me to stay for that?”

As his shift ended, the waiter had already left the hotel. Suddenly, he remembered the words of the woman in the hotel and slowed his steps. “Looks like I’m in luck today,” he thought. “I spend my days serving wealthy guests who indulge themselves, while my own desires go unmet. I never imagined such fortune—a beautiful woman inviting me to her room.”

He wetted his dry lips with his tongue and walked back toward her room.

He stood hesitantly at the door for a moment, then finally summoned his courage and knocked.

Hearing the knock, Gao Yating called out, “The door isn’t locked, come in.”

She had been waiting for the waiter’s arrival. Seeing him, she hurried to greet him. “You’re here? Come in!”

“Is there something you need from me?” he asked nervously.

“I can tell by your accent you’re from Dahe. Seeing you work so hard here, I just wanted to check on a fellow countryman,” Gao Yating said, feigning casualness.

“How did you know I’m from Dahe? You really have an eye! I’m impressed,” the waiter replied.

“I’ve traveled all over; I know a thing or two,” Gao Yating said, unabashed.

As she spoke, she walked to the door and hung the “Do Not Disturb” sign outside. With a click, the door was locked. The waiter gave a knowing smile.

She seemed to have forgotten any shyness. She touched his handsome face and exclaimed, “You really are striking—very sexy! Are you married?”

The waiter was surprised. “I used to be.”

“Used to be, so now you’re not? That’s convenient! But today you saw… you saw me in my nightgown. How should I settle that account with you?” she teased.

“I didn’t see anything. Please, don’t be like this. If you’re looking to settle accounts, I have nothing to offer. I’m just a worker, making a living,” the waiter murmured.

“Who said I want anything more from you? I just took a liking to your skills. I know you work as a waiter but also as a croupier in the casino. I’ve seen your talent. I heard you’re quite capable, and I urgently need a young man like you by my side,” Gao Yating said, getting straight to the point.

“I’m impressed by how much you know about me! Yes, besides working here, I moonlight at the casino. I know all the casino operations. I served four years in the military, then moved to City A after leaving the service. I’m satisfied with my pay—it’s ten thousand a month! My father relies on my money for his medical bills. My wife left me because we had no money; she ran off abroad with another man,” he explained.

“She didn’t know how to cherish you. I’m missing someone like you by my side. Come back to Dahe with me, and I’ll ensure you never worry about food or clothing again. I can solve all your problems,” Gao Yating offered enticingly.

Just then, Gao Yating’s phone rang. She answered—it was Smith Will calling. After the call, she said to Dai Yunjiao, “I need to go somewhere now. Let’s stop here for today; I’ll contact you tomorrow.” The waiter, disappointed, replied, “Alright, I’ll wait for your call.”

Gao Yating went to Will’s residence, a place she knew well. Ever since she left her hometown to work in City A as a hotel maid, she once encountered a guest who tried to assault her while cleaning his room. Had Will not appeared, she didn’t know if she would have survived. At the time, she valued her chastity above her life. She always thought that if she were violated, she would have ended her own bitter existence.

Back then, Gao Yating’s mother was gravely ill. Her father had died early, leaving little impression except for his gambling and drinking. Even if the family had a single coin, her father would gamble it away, and even penniless, he would go to nearby diners to drink on credit. Whenever he returned drunk, he would abuse her mother. Gao Yating vividly remembered an incident when her father pushed her mother to the ground to snatch the small sum she had earned selling blood for medicine.

Smith Will was already waiting. That room had been Will’s home for over a decade; he had never moved. Here, Will and Gao Yating had spent nearly ten years together. Though ten years is but a fleeting moment in human life, the memories Will retained were beautiful and sweet.

To Gao Yating, those memories were neither painful nor pleasant. It was simply that, at the time, Will had saved her—not only sparing her from harm, but more importantly, he gave her a large sum to treat her mother’s illness. Sadly, her mother had late-stage cancer and survived only two more years.

Gao Yating had always been grateful for Will’s life-saving kindness, living with him for ten years. Early on, she became pregnant, but the child was lost before birth. Surgery saved her life, but not the child. Later, every pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and eventually she couldn’t conceive at all. Hospital tests diagnosed ovarian dysfunction; she could no longer have children, so she abandoned the idea altogether.

Over time, the scent of age emanating from Will made Gao Yating nauseous, but she never complained. During intimacy, she habitually covered her nose. Will once asked if there was an unpleasant odor; she just nodded silently. Rather than feeling offended, Will’s sympathy for his beloved only deepened. Eventually, Gao Yating said, “The age gap between us is too great. Keeping you by my side is cruel, and I can no longer sustain a normal married life. I’ll give you five million more; there’s a director position in the HZ area. With this money and a proxy agreement, your future is secure.” It was this money that enabled her to reach where she was today.

When Gao Yating received Will’s call, she was reluctant but couldn’t refuse.

As usual, the door wasn’t locked. She pushed it open and greeted Smith Will with a wave, “Hai!”

Smith Will smiled, looking at the woman before him.

“How do you have time to see me during the day?” Gao Yating set down her handbag and sat.

“There’s something important to discuss. I heard you bought tonight’s ticket to City H. If I don’t see you now, will I have another chance? You’ve performed well as a proxy for the HZ area; your results are commendable. However, we’ve learned that HZ’s client base is dwindling. I’m not sure why. There are rumors that some offshore operators are posing as our company, diverting large sums to private bookmakers. You must pay close attention to this!” Smith Will spoke with grave seriousness.

(To be continued.)