Nevertheless, God Will Save (9)
There's a saying that China's economic growth is driven by mistresses. It's no joke—the spending habits of women who serve as concubines are a powerful force propelling consumer economy expansion. From what I know, in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou with their massive economic scales, about one-fifth to one-sixth of total consumption comes solely from expenditures related to these mistresses. That amount rivals the GDP of a middling nation. And that's not enough; luxury residential areas in places like LA and Vancouver have even formed streets where only mistresses live, contributing to North America's economic growth as well.
With these thoughts, I sneered inwardly.
'These days, the number of male mistresses is surging too...'
If husbands can take mistresses, there's no law saying wives can't. China is nominally a communist state, and communism preaches equality between men and women, doesn't it? Lately, one popular type of kept man among wealthy, powerful women in Beijing is monks who've entered the sangha. They're relatively clean compared to secular men—an image they consume. As a result, historic temples in Beijing have morphed into women-only luxury clubs, and bald-headed host monks who've seized temple abbacies with their handsome faces drive Benzes and Audis in their robes.
Corrupted religion is truly the opium of the people.
In any case, the influence of these mistresses isn't limited to the economic sphere. In a society of money-worshippers, money equals power, and even without spending it, they can wield more direct power through pillow talk. It was in this vein that Miju once suggested long-term use of Gao Xusen's former secretary.
Among them, the most influential group would be mistresses active in entertainment, broadcasting, and theater. Unless you're an extraordinarily powerful figure, no one person can monopolize them, and since many power-holders desire them simultaneously, the power granted by those relationships is unparalleled.
Thus, I posed this question to the fledgling money-worshippers waiting on stage or in line.
"Is anyone here interested in breaking into entertainment or broadcasting? Even better if you have experience or have already debuted."
Some of the solitaries perked up at my request. A few shot up their hands or cupped them into megaphones, raising their voices to pitch themselves aggressively.
"Me! Pick me, sir! I was a field reporter on Pet Reports!"
"I'm a graduate of Beijing Film Academy's performance department! Class of four years ago!"
"Sir, have you ever heard my voice?! I was on Lifestyle Radio—"
"Over here! Look at me! I'm the prettiest one here!"
The nobles and capitalists watching from their seats burst into laughter at the reactions. They exchanged nonsense about how the youthful energy and fresh faces were a delight to behold.
Oksana, the manager with the gold nameplate who'd greeted me earlier, stepped in to calm the chaos on stage. She assigned turns, giving each one a chance to introduce herself.
I listened intently to their self-introductions from my spot sunk into the wide sofa, analyzing their market value and vital signs with my eyes.
Even if Guangzhou was second-division compared to the top leagues, with Guangdong's population exceeding 100 million, none lacked the looks to climb the social ladder. The allure of venomous creatures.
'Looks are the biggest factor, after all.'
In a land ruled by corrupted communist nobles through class dictatorship, true humanity exists only in propaganda videos and newsreels. It's an open secret that the Chinese government periodically produces heartwarming stories to refine the populace's morals.
Still, I focused on their vital signs to glimpse the silhouette of their true nature. Even poison needed minimal bonding potential—to serve as a cross-verification source or bait to mislead Gao Xusen into thinking I'd taken his intel asset.
Knowing Gao Xusen's real purpose in arranging this, I needed to give him at least one fabricated weakness of mine. A woman I'd set my sights on, however slightly. That way, he'd ease his worries about a partner who held his weakness. If he kept reaching out afterward, asking me to watch his back now and then, it should suffice to fool the potbellied communist noble.
People judge others by their own standards. Gao Xusen would see in me a human side he could understand.
'Getting her pregnant soon would make the surest hostage...'
But that's a dangerous choice. Because I'm an orphan myself. Right now, I feel like I could care less if some kid died, but hearing it had actually come into the world might tug at my heartstrings. It's a restraint etched into human genes, and assuming I'm the exception would be reckless overconfidence.
Who truly knows themselves perfectly?
Thinking about the concept of my child like this left me with a strange feeling. What does having a family even feel like?
I quickly scattered the trivial thoughts and refocused on the stage.
After scrutinizing them one by one, I finally made up my mind and crooked a finger.
"You there. Come here."
The poisons in the direction my fingertip pointed lit up with excitement. I furrowed my brow and gestured a few more times.
"Not you. The one behind. Yeah. You."
The woman who realized I meant her widened her eyes, covered her mouth, and fumbled in feigned joy. But the neural signals inside her skull weren't as frantic as her facade. Activation in the precuneus of the medial parietal lobe and the amygdala in the limbic system was mild. Dopamine and serotonin took a backseat to spreading adrenaline hues.
Descending the stage, she reached me and clasped her hands politely in thanks.
"Thank you for choosing me, sir."
Hearing her trembling voice, I patted the seat beside me.
"Sit."
"Yes!"
The animal with the racing heart settled demurely at my side. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Her smile toward me didn't change a whit, but I felt her taut, flawless waist stiffen for an instant.
'Good pick.'
Yes, just the right amount. Ambitious with some venom, but still harboring the innocence a solitary needed to shed to mature.
"I'm done. Your turn to choose, boss."
Gao Xusen looked puzzled at my words.
"Didn't I say earlier any number was fine? No need to hold back here."
"It's not that. I just prefer to savor one deeply at a time."
"Ah ha. Quite the refined taste!"
Actually, the opposite. Against sharp-eyed hunters, it was better to distract attention by juggling multiple rather than fixating on one to hide my preferences. But now, I had enough experience not to be overly bound by such pros and cons. A far cry from my green days when I was utterly hopeless at this.
The women on stage, eavesdropping intently, laughed or pouted in unison, pleading.
"Don't stop there—give us a chance too!"
"Yeah! You've got two arms; one girl leaves the other jealous! Just like the masses demand equality, so should left and right!"
"I petition again! One's too few! Let's make it four!"
"If there's no room, I'll bid to sit at your feet, sir!"
One more! One more! Venomous serpents who wouldn't hesitate to devour each other if needed clapped in perfect sync, an impressive sight.
When I refused to react, the wilted serpents finally turned to the next prey. Next meant Gao Xusen, the host, so the ruthless survival of the fittest was no less fierce than my turn.
Naturally, it took a long time for all the nobles and capitalists at the banquet to finish choosing.
Pretending ignorance of Gao Xusen's sidelong glances, I chatted with the woman I'd seated beside me.
"What was your name again?"
"Liu Linfei, sir."
"Which characters?"
"Lin as in dripping droplets, and Fei as in fragrant flower petals."
"A flower wet with water. A pretty name that suits your looks. And you actually smell nice too."
"Thank you for the praise."
"Real name? Or stage name?"
"My real name."
"Your parents named you well. As if they foresaw your future."
It was a clichéd, cookie-cutter pattern, yet Linfei flashed a radiant smile. She'd have done the same even if I'd spouted the most wretched words imaginable. In short, it was all formality.
I nodded toward the liquor bottle on the table before us.
"Do you like to drink?"
"I—"
"If you don't, just say so honestly. I don't enjoy it much myself. And I haven't the vile hobby of denying those who do."
"......I like it as long as it's not too much to regret the next day. Especially when a good man is by my side."
"Got it. I'll try to be a good man today."
"Heh."
A laugh leaked through her neat teeth. Linfei's body, still subtly tense, softened a bit more.
The conversation flowed smoothly without a hitch. I lacked the knack for pandering to women, but I had negotiation rhetoric and knowledge from extensive reading, and she had the eager intent to win my favor.
Watching this, Gao Xusen looked immensely pleased and flirted with the women flanking him.
Once selections ended, the debauched banquet truly began. After the first toast, I tried steering toward remaining business amid eating and drinking, but the setup was like a rigged casino—the dialogue veered absurdly every time.
The nobles and capitalists, experts in this, scattered the talk with professional distraction.
'Can't exactly get stern about it.'
If I blatantly pushed the topic, Gao Xusen would take it amiss. Is business always more important than me to you? Especially with his faction subordinates present, it was a matter of face.
In the midst of this, Linfei—perhaps thinking she'd gauged my tastes, or bothered by the temperature difference with other tables—slid a hesitant, cautious hand across my abdomen. Her eyes widened slightly in admiration.
"Wow...... So firm. You must work hard at maintenance."
"Nothing special. Just what's necessary."
Exactly what's needed for survival—plain fact.
At my words, Linfei glanced around the raucous surroundings, leaned in, and whispered.
"I shouldn't say this, but at least here, it seems 'nothing special' is right."
I whispered back in kind.
"I shouldn't say this either, but that's nothing to be proud of as a human."
"Heh."
The second heh leaked out. Her shoulders shrugged as my breath tickled her skin.
"Um, if it's okay, could we switch seats?"
"To where?"
"......Here."
Emboldened, Linfei's hand trailed to my thigh.
"It'd be easier to serve you sitting here. And, better for me too......"
"Do as you like."
"Yes."
A warm human—one whose fangs hadn't fully grown—climbed shyly onto my lap, feigning bashfulness. This beast seemed greatly relieved that her first hunt wasn't as perilous as feared. In wild or civilized lands alike, one misstep meant being trampled by an enraged quarry.
Her leaning weight was as light as her slender waist—a facet of ruthless self-discipline to win against rivals.
As the physical distance between Linfei and me neared zero, Gao Xusen and the others finally deemed the rice ripe and began showing signs of broaching the main topic, slow as it was. They started idly chatting about ability mining.