Chapter 22: The Flesh Trade

Lou Yizhou’s lips curled slightly.

Song Yin hung her head and whispered, "There's nothing shameful about earning money, is there?"

"Income earned through labor is nothing to be ashamed of," Lou Yizhou replied.

Without lingering further, Lou Yizhou turned and walked a short distance away before instructing his assistant, "Verify what she said."

"Understood, Third Master."

Verify what? Naturally, the nature of her relationship with Ye Huai.

As soon as Lou Yizhou left, Cheng Zhi appeared from somewhere, her stomach ache seemingly gone. In high spirits and brimming with gossip, she asked, "Little girl, you and the Third Master have an unusual relationship, don't you? He isn't exactly a saint who goes around sticking his neck out for others."

"It really was just a coincidence that we met a few times," Song Yin said.

"If that’s true, then all the better. Don't forget what I told you before: top-tier wealthy families like the Lous have such complex internal relationships that they are absolutely not meant for women of integrity like us."

Song Yin was amused by her. "I know, I know. Didn't you want to shop? Let's go look around. Then we can see about getting something to eat; I'm getting a bit hungry."

"The entire fourth floor is dedicated to food. Let's go eat first, then we can shop!"

On Thursday, Song Yin took Song Yulian to the hospital. She had called Ye Huai, and everything proceeded smoothly.

Song Yin couldn't get away from work, especially since she needed to take two days off the following week, so she had to pay for a nurse to look after Song Yulian.

Song Yulian complained about this, calling her stingy and questioning why she would spend money on such unnecessary things when she wouldn't give her cash.

Song Yin retorted directly, "Have some mercy. I have to work. After your surgery, when would I have the time to change your urine bag or feed you? If you can do it yourself, or if your boyfriend can come to take care of you, then I'll let the nurse go."

That finally silenced Song Yulian.

When Ye Huai came for his rounds, Song Yin hesitated before chasing after him to ask, "Dr. Ye, do you think I should give Dr. Zhu a gift?"

Ye Huai, his hands tucked into the pockets of his white coat, said with mock solemnity, "Our hospital strictly prohibits such things. Don't go ruining Dr. Zhu’s reputation now."

Song Yin felt a sudden wave of embarrassment.

Standing from the perspective of a patient's family member, Ye Huai offered comfort, "Dr. Zhu’s reputation was built one surgery at a time. He treats every patient equally, so you don't need to worry."

Song Yin nodded. "I was overthinking it. Thank you, Dr. Ye."

"Set your mind at ease. You can call me if anything comes up. Your mother’s condition isn't considered severe. With proper post-operative treatment, the survival rate is very high."

"Thank you, Dr. Ye. It is truly our good fortune to have encountered such excellent doctors as you and Dr. Zhu."

"It’s just the benevolence of a healer; it’s our duty. Now, go back and keep your mother company. Her mindset is also very important."

Seeing how well Song Yin and Ye Huai were chatting, Song Yulian remarked, "Is this Dr. Ye married? He seems quite good to you. If you could find a boyfriend like him, you wouldn't have to worry about anything in the future."

"Mom, can you stop thinking about these random things?"

"I'm just doing this for your own good, aren't I?"

"If you would just stop causing trouble, that would be doing me a favor."

The mother and daughter couldn't go three sentences without clashing, so Song Yulian stopped talking and went back to chatting with Li Song on WeChat.

On Saturday night, Song Yulian was wheeled into the operating room, and Song Yin waited outside.

After several long hours, she was finally wheeled out, and Song Yin was told the surgery was a success. Only then did Song Yin’s shoulders drop, and she nearly fainted, caught just in time by Ye Huai.

After twenty-four hours of observation in the ICU, she was transferred to a general ward.

Four days later, Li Song came to pick Song Yulian up from the hospital.

However, Li Song didn't have the time to handle Song Yulian’s daily care, and Song Yin was equally tied up, so they found a short-term nurse online.

Song Yin had taken two days off, leaving on Thursday and returning on Sunday.

On Thursday morning, Song Yin boarded Lou Yizhou’s private jet, flying toward Dubai.

During this time, Song Yin had been so busy she felt dizzy, yet in the blink of an eye, she was thirty thousand feet in the air, beside a man of unparalleled status and wealth. Everything felt hazily unreal.

After landing, a car was waiting to take them directly to the most luxurious hotel.

Assistant Xu handed over a room key—there was only one.

As the door opened, Assistant Xu carried both Song Yin’s and Lou Yizhou’s suitcases inside.

Lou Yizhou walked in first, loosened his tie, and turned to see Song Yin still standing at the threshold, hesitating.

"Not coming in?"

Song Yin bit her lip and said, "Could we get another room?"

Lou Yizhou looked down at her. "Yinyin, you should know that coming with me isn't just about one business deal."

There was another, carnal transaction involved.

"I didn't..." Song Yin closed her eyes, feeling the shame of being both complicit and hypocritical.

Admittedly, given her relationship with Lou Yizhou, she knew that bringing her along implied another purpose. She had merely chosen to play the fool, clinging to a glimmer of wishful thinking.

Yet, the man before her had laid it out too clearly, leaving no room for her to feign ignorance.

His voice came through, deep and heavy. "I have said that I would not force anyone. I’ll give you a chance: if you regret this, I can arrange to send you back home."