TLLKTBD CH 6

Chapter 6: You Are Lion, Forget Jin Lang.

Tonight is the fifteenth. The moon is full.

Jin Lang leaned against the alley wall behind the bar, taking a break. He lit another cigarette.

Sam took the day off today. Last night, he went out with a customer rumored to have peculiar tastes. This afternoon, he called, his voice hoarse. Jin Lang was the one who answered.

“Help me ask Sister Jin for two days off,” Sam said with a chuckle, but his voice was utterly raspy.

“Sam-ge, what happened to your voice?” Jin Lang asked, concerned.

“Ah, last night was just too wild…” Sam laughed carefreely.

Jin Xiaomi took the phone. “It’s me. What happened?” She frowned, quietly listening to the other end. “Damn! Some people are just inhuman. Take two more days off, no rush…” she said in a low voice.

Jin Lang still heard it. No matter how slow-witted he was, after spending six months at You Mu, he understood what happened when young men were taken out by clients.

Frustrated, Jin Lang ran his fingers through his hair and stubbed out his cigarette against the wall before tossing it into the trash. He turned to head inside when a sharp voice called out:

“Hey! The moment you see me, you’re already in a hurry to leave?”

That bitter, sarcastic tone was all too familiar. His body stiffened. Slowly turning around, he softly muttered:

“Mom.”

“It’s good that you still remember I’m your mother. I need money right now—give me some first.” The woman wasted no time and got straight to the point.

Jin Lang frowned. “Didn’t you already take eighty thousand last week? I don’t have any more money.”

“I used that eighty thousand to pay off a gambling debt, but I still owe another sum. You have to give it to me,” she demanded, completely unreasonable.

“I don’t have any money left. That was all my savings,” Jin Lang said, not mentioning that he had even borrowed some from his coworkers.

“You work in a place like this. Money comes fast, doesn’t it?”

“I’m just a waiter,” Jin Lang said coldly.

“A waiter can come up with eighty thousand just like that? Then imagine how much you’d get if you sold yourself,” a mocking male voice sneered.

Su Lin flinched. She hadn’t expected these people to follow her into the alley behind the bar.

“Brother Qiang…” Su Lin stammered. Just moments ago, she had been fiercely demanding money from her son, but now, her imposing manner had completely vanished.

Wang Shiqiang stepped out of the shadows with a few lackeys in tow. He tilted his head, scrutinizing Jin Lang from head to toe, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk. “So, this is your son? Not bad at all. Looks like a fine young man! Tsk tsk, look at that body, that waist, that ass… Come on, give us a little shake!”

His men burst into laughter.

A surge of rage rose in Jin Lang’s chest. His face turned red—from anger and shame. He glared at the men in front of him, his lips tightly pressed together, refusing to speak.

“Oh? The little duckling is angry?” Wang Shiqiang sneered. “Getting mad won’t help. Your mother owes us a huge debt.”

He reached out, yanking Su Lin toward him. Under the streetlight, her bruised and battered face was clearly visible. Blood streaks were haphazardly wiped across her forehead. Her limbs, also bearing wounds, trembled slightly with every movement, causing her to whimper in pain.

“Two million. I’ll give you one month to come up with it. If the money isn’t ready by then, I can’t guarantee your mother will still be standing on two legs.”

He shoved Su Lin aside and turned to leave when she suddenly grabbed his arm. “No, Brother Qiang! Didn’t I only owe five hundred thousand? How did it suddenly become two million? How are we supposed to come up with that in just a month?”

Wang Shiqiang let out a cold laugh. “You signed a bill for two million. What? Trying to go back on it now? That’s your signature on the debt slip.”

Shoving Su Lin away, he walked up to Jin Lang. “Don’t look at me like that. The money was borrowed by your mother. The debt slip was signed by her. If you want to blame someone, blame her.”

Suddenly, his expression shifted. He grabbed Jin Lang’s chin and smirked. “Or do you want to pay with your body instead? I’ve never tried a man before. Tell me, do men moan like women when they’re f*cked?”

His lackeys howled with laughter again.

“But I don’t have time for this today. Next time, I’ll give you a chance. Then, I’ll show you just how good I am.”

Wang Shiqiang teasingly patted Jin Lang’s cheek. Throughout it all, Jin Lang stared straight into his eyes, unwavering.

Wang Shiqiang felt a little unsettled under his gaze. With a dismissive wave, he led his men away.

Su Lin watched them go. She opened her mouth, as if wanting to call after them, but in the end, she just trembled and swallowed her words.

Expressionless, she turned to Jin Lang and said, “You heard him. Two million.”

“I told you, I don’t have money.” Jin Lang was so furious that he gritted out each word through clenched teeth.

He couldn’t understand how, in just five minutes, someone could inexplicably fall into two million in debt.

“No money? Then go sell yourself!” Su Lin suddenly shrieked. “I gave birth to you with such a pretty face and a great body. Now it’s time for you to give back!”

She let out a strange laugh, or perhaps it was a sob. Her expression flickered between confusion and hysteria as she shook her head and staggered away, muttering under her breath:

“Two million in one month… ha…”

“You owe me. You and your father both owe me…”

Jin Lang stared in disbelief at Su Lin, who staggered away into the distance. He thought to himself—she must be crazy. What kind of mother tells her own child to sell themselves?

Jin Lang felt heartbroken. It had been a long time since he last experienced this kind of sorrow, but today, he felt it deeply.

He looked up at the bright and luminous moon. He still remembered that on a night like this, he had lost his father. After that, he lost his entire family.

“Jin Lang, we have customers! Come inside and help!” A waiter ran to the back door, calling for him.

“Oh! Okay, I’m coming.” Jin Lang snapped back to reality, tugging at his shirt and straightening his collar. After making sure he looked presentable, he hurried inside.

A dead father, a crazy mother—he could only leave them behind in his thoughts.

A week later, in the afternoon, Jin Xiaomi sat at the bar, feeling bored.

Suddenly, she caught sight of Jin Lang sitting in the corner. He looked increasingly pale and thin, and she couldn’t help but frown. The people she had sent to investigate had already reported back to her—Jin Lang’s mother was a gambling addict. Every time she lost a massive amount of money, she would come to her son for cash. It turned out that the reason he worked so hard was to pay off his mother’s gambling debts. But a high school graduate working as a waiter—how could he possibly earn money faster than his mother lost it? Eventually, he ran out of money and had no choice but to start borrowing.

Thinking of this, Jin Xiaomi couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. She had heard that the woman came again last week, screaming at Jin Lang, demanding that he sell himself. What kind of mother says such things? Even Sam, who was usually indifferent, couldn’t stand it anymore. He had planned to go out and talk some sense into her, reminding her that Jin Lang’s earnings came from his hard work and that she should stop exploiting him. But the conversation quickly turned into a near physical altercation. When Jin Xiaomi rushed out to intervene, she heard the woman screaming, “No money? If you have no money, why don’t you sell yourself like him?! Why am I so unlucky to have a son who won’t take care of his own mother…?”

Sam had been so furious that he rolled up his sleeves, ready to slap her. Jin Xiaomi had barely managed to hold him back.

And now, Jin Lang was once again slumped in the store. Lately, whenever there were no customers, he would sit there in a daze, as if his soul had left his body.

Jin Xiaomi narrowed her eyes and observed him carefully—broad shoulders, long legs, thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, red lips, and white teeth. The sharp contours of his face framed a handsome apple-shaped chin, with a small dimple in the center that carried a hint of sensuality. The short hair at the back of his head was neatly trimmed, exuding a youthful charm. His once lively eyes now carried the weight of exhaustion.

A twenty-year-old young man, yet he bore the weary look of someone who had traveled through endless hardships.

Jin Lang’s shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing arms with well-defined muscles. His hand, long and slender, rested on his thigh, fingers lightly supporting a glass of liquor. The shadow of his eyelashes concealed the dark circles under his eyes.

Ever since Su Lin came and left, leaving behind a two-million-dollar debt, an entire week had passed. On the surface, he appeared calm, but he hadn’t been able to sleep for nights on end.

Two million.

Even if he worked nonstop for over a year, he wouldn’t be able to make that much money—let alone in a single month.

Jin Lang remained motionless, his head lowered, staring at the glass in his hand as if lost in deep thought, or perhaps struggling with something.

Finally, he tilted his head back and downed the strong liquor in one gulp, as if trying to summon the courage he needed.

Then, with a sudden motion, he stood up.

It was still before opening hours, so aside from a few staff members preparing for the night, there weren’t many people in the bar.

Jin Lang walked toward Jin Xiaomi. He knew that as soon as he opened his mouth, he would be stepping into an abyss with no return. But he had to. He was afraid that if he hesitated any longer, he would lose the courage to speak.

“Jie, I need your help. Do you have a moment?”

His voice was hoarse and deep, startling Jin Xiaomi.

“Ah! Are you sick? Why is your voice so raspy? Quick, sit down first,” Jin Xiaomi asked with concern.

Jin Lang didn’t sit down. He hesitated, looking at her with uncertainty. Seeing this, Jin Xiaomi had no choice but to stand up and lead him into the office.

“Sit,” she said.

Jin Xiaomi studied him carefully and became even more certain—his eyelashes cast shadows over the dark circles under his eyes, and the stubble on his face made him look even more exhausted. He seemed as if he hadn’t slept at all.

But Jin Lang didn’t notice her scrutiny—or rather, he didn’t care. He just kept his head down, staring at the tips of his shoes.

Jin Xiaomi didn’t rush him. She had a feeling she knew what he wanted to say, so she waited for him to sort out his thoughts.

Jin Lang took a few deep breaths before finally speaking.

“Jie, I need money.”

He was afraid that the longer he delayed, the harder it would be to say it.

“Is it for your mom again? How long are you going to keep paying off her debts?” Jin Xiaomi couldn’t help but scold him. But seeing that he remained silent, she knew lecturing him was pointless. With a sigh, she asked, “How much this time?”

“Two million.” Jin Lang forced the words out with difficulty.

“Two million?” Jin Xiaomi’s voice rose in shock. “You know that even if you start working as a host here—just drinking with guests and singing—it won’t be enough to earn that kind of money…”

Jin Lang’s gaze remained fixed on the table as his hoarse voice interrupted her, “I know.”

“If you know that, then why are you still asking me? You…”

Jin Xiaomi suddenly understood.

This time, he was really going to sell himself.

She looked at the silent young man in front of her, his body faintly trembling, and suddenly, a pang of sorrow hit her.

“Is it worth it?” she asked softly.

Jin Lang clenched his teeth and remained silent.

“That woman isn’t worth your sacrifice,” she tried to reason with him.

“That woman is my mother.”

It was a simple statement of fact.

At that moment, Jin Xiaomi couldn’t help but think—sometimes, for people like them who grew up without mothers, maybe they were the lucky ones. At least they wouldn’t be dragged down for a lifetime.

“I have some connections with certain underground transactions,” Jin Xiaomi finally said after a moment of contemplation. “I can introduce you to someone.”

Jin Lang remained silent.

“What kind of sponsor are you looking for?” she asked.

“I don’t know. As long as they have money.”

A sponsor? Did he even have the right to choose?

Thinking of the perverted clients that Sam had to deal with, Jin Lang couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

“Although You Mu secretly caters to male clients, if you’re looking for a female patron, I can arrange that too. I know you’ve had a girlfriend before—do you have any experience?”

Jin Lang lowered his head, recalling that so-called ex-girlfriend of his. He shook his head.

“And with men? I suppose you have no experience either?” Jin Xiaomi pressed on.

Jin Lang kept his head down and silently admitted it. He was as inexperienced as they come.

“The price for male patrons is higher. But… can you handle it? Or should I help you find a female patron?”

It wasn’t a matter of whether he could or not—he had to. Jin Lang clenched his teeth. “I… I can do it. A male patron. I need two million.”

Jin Xiaomi looked at the man in front of her, who seemed like he was walking toward his doom. Then, she thought of Lu Qian.

Lu Qian wanted to buy a relationship, and now, someone who had never sold himself before was putting himself up for sale. This was a good opportunity.

“Alright, I understand what you mean. I’ll negotiate the price for you. But before that, you need to undergo a medical examination. That’s the rule. I have to make sure you’re clean—I can’t have you ruining my reputation. Once the test results confirm you’re fine, you can meet with the client.” Jin Xiaomi stated the procedure in an emotionless, businesslike manner.

“I understand. But… the money…?” Jin Lang forced himself to suppress the nausea churning in his gut, but his mind remained fixated on the life-saving sum. To save his mother’s life, he was willing to sacrifice the last shred of his dignity.

“Why are you in such a rush? You’ll only get paid once you officially start working. What, worried about your mother suffering? She doesn’t even care about you, yet you’re still worried about her? I’m telling you, you should stay as far away from her as possible. Sooner or later, she’s going to be the death of you.” Jin Xiaomi said irritably.

What difference does it make if I die now? Maybe dying would be better. A man who sells his own body, who loses his last bit of dignity—what does he have left? The sickening feeling welled up in his throat again, almost making him vomit. He felt utterly filthy.

“I’ll have Sam take care of you for now. Follow him around for a few days, watch and learn. If you have any questions, ask him.” Jin Xiaomi pressed the intercom and called for Sam, instructing him to take Jin Lang under his wing for the time being.

A few minutes later, Sam walked in.

“Brother Sam.” Jin Lang greeted the club’s top host politely. Sam’s peach blossom eyes scanned him up and down, sending a chill down Jin Lang’s spine.

“Have you thought it through? No regrets?” Sam suddenly reached out and patted Jin Lang’s face before pinching his cheeks and pulling them outward. “Since you’ve made your decision, stop looking so stiff. No one’s forcing you. The first lesson in dealing with clients—smile.”

Jin Lang finally broke free, rubbing his face as he nodded.

“Stick with me, and you’ll live the high life.” Sam ran a hand through his hair, using his delicate fingers to tuck a stray lock behind his ear.

“…” Jin Lang wasn’t so optimistic. Just yesterday, Sam was indeed living the high life—by slurping down a cup of instant noodles at the bar.

“Oh, right. What’s your name?” Sam asked, looking at Jin Lang.

“Jin Lang,” Jin Lang replied instinctively, his voice unconsciously rising by eight pitches in surprise. It wasn’t like this was their first time meeting—why was Sam suddenly acting like he had amnesia?

“Are you kidding me? Who asked for your real name? Your stage name—what’s your stage name?” Sam smacked Jin Lang a few times in frustration. “Or do you seriously think you can take on the world with your real name, Jin Lang?” Losing interest in waiting for a response, Sam turned to Jin Xiaomi. “What should we call him?”

Jin Xiaomi, already annoyed, waved him off. “I don’t care. You pick one for him.”

“Jin Lang… Lang… Let’s go with Lion. Easy to say and remember.” Sam clapped his hands in satisfaction. “Little Lion, come with me and see how things work around here. Not sure if Qian-ge will show up today, but let me tell you, Qian-ge, he—”

“You! Get back here!” Jin Xiaomi snapped. “I told you to stop messing with Lu Qian, but you just won’t listen. You’ve scared him so much he barely comes here anymore. Get lost! And hurry up and take Jin—Lion to change his clothes.”

“But Qian-ge is fun,” Sam whined, slumping onto Jin Lang’s shoulder. “Come on, Jin—Lion, let’s get you changed.”

“Thank you, Sister Jin. I’ll be going now.” Jin Lang replied numbly as he walked out.

“Sam, stay behind for a moment.” Jin Xiaomi called him back and gave a serious reminder, “I’m only letting Jin Lang observe for now. Keep an eye on him. I want him clean.”

Sam nodded. Perhaps he had a hunch that Boss Jin had plans for Jin Lang, so for the next few days, he stayed close and watched over him.

Over the next few days, Brother Sam guided him through everything. At first, he even helped block drinks and fend off wandering hands. But Jin Lang knew deep down that from the moment Sam gave him a stage name, he was no different from the others. Why should Sam have to shield him?

Once he came to terms with it, it didn’t seem so bad. He started carefully observing Sam’s every move—how to sell drinks, how to sell oneself, how to get clients drunk while staying sober, how to let a client touch him without feeling disgusted—or, conversely, how to touch a client without feeling disgusted. Most importantly, how to swallow down that feeling of nausea.

“There’s no secret to it—it’s all about money. Just think about how much you’ll earn in tips later. Hell, if someone paid me enough, I’d grab a pile of shit without hesitation.” Drunk, Sam patted Jin Lang’s cheek and said, “Remember, once you put on this uniform, you’re Lion. Forget Jin Lang.”

Jin Lang nodded. The moment he was given the title of “Little Lion” Jin Lang ceased to exist.

(To be continued…)