Chapter 55: Aren’t You Forcing Me to Kidnap You?
“……” Vivienne fell silent for a moment, finally breaking free from the shock brought on by Nimo’s words, and glanced at her sideways, “Are you sure?”
“Of course!” Nimo nodded, her eyes fixed on “Lan Yi” on the main stage, “Look at her, she’s too perfect!”
“Not only can she handle the host’s job, but she can also double as a lighting technician and DJ, and she even has the allure that rivals that of the dancers. One salary for four jobs, it’s such a bargain.”
Upon hearing this, Vivienne looked towards the main stage. At that moment, “Lan Yi,” was merely doing an above-average warm-up hosting job, yet for some reason, it felt as if she were a human hormone generator, causing countless audience members below to gaze up at her with eyes filled with desire.
Was it just an illusion? It seemed like she, standing on stage and doing a normal hosting job, could rival the vigorous performances of the dozen or so striptease dancers earlier.
Why did it feel like a witch story mixed with an urban legend? But there wasn’t the foul stench of a witch story… Vivienne fell speechless.
Though she didn’t know what “Lan Yi” had been through over the years to transform from a reclusive, timid girl into the current version of herself, which left Vivienne at a loss for where to start her critiques.
However, after downing five bottles of iced beer, she managed to regroup her thoughts and focused on the key point—alchemy prosthetics.
She glanced at “Lan Yi” on stage again, then at Yu Yinchuan in the front row booth, wildly throwing golden coupons, spending lavishly for beauty, shaking her sixth bottle of iced beer in thought.
“……”
Why do both “Lan Yi” and Yu Yinchuan have the same alchemy prosthetics on their left arms?
One is the leader of a small faction in the Solar Eclipse Society, and the other is a direct operative of the Siye Society. What kind of relationship could possibly exist between these two figures, who ought to be at odds with each other?
Moreover, was it just her feeling? Just now when “Lan Yi” was using the chaotic functions of her alchemy prosthetics, Vivienne felt a familiar aura of her own power.
After pondering for a moment, she pulled her focus back and looked at Nimo, who had been enthusiastically pitching to recruit “Lan Yi.” She said earnestly, “Nimo, can you do me a favor?”
She felt it was necessary to confirm whether her powers had fallen under Lan Yi’s control…
Although Lan Yi might temporarily control that power, which could k*ll an ordinary spiritual ability user or urban legend upon contact, it’s impossible for her to withstand the cost of wielding such power.
It’s akin to a preteen having control over heavy firearms; the end result would only be harm to both herself and others!
“Well, I’d need to hear what you want me to do first,” Nimo said, pouting, “There are some things you need that I, a mere striptease theater owner, can’t help with.”
“You’re overthinking it!” Nimo waved her hand, turning back to the main stage and said, “Don’t you want to recruit Lan Yi to work for you? Then after the break, just stop her and ask her a few simple questions for me.”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” Nimo frowned, “Aren’t you two acquaintances?”
“She used to be a confidant of the Elders’ Council, while I’m just an unemployed drifter in the Free City. I recognize her, but she may not recognize me,” Vivienne rolled her eyes, “Besides, it’s not convenient for us to meet right now.”
“Is that so?” Nimo pondered for two seconds and nodded, “No problem. Given our years of friendship, I can help you out this much.”
“Thanks,” Vivienne said.
“Instead of thanking me with words, you should drink less!” Nimo rolled her eyes, “You’ve already had eight bottles… You’ll make me pay for those later, you know?”
“Okay, okay!” Vivienne said as she quickly finished the half bottle in her hand and, with a swift motion, stuffed two bottles into her coat pocket.
———
Accompanied by passionate music, waiters holding trays collected the coupons from the guests, registering the dancer’s names in the booklet or on the tablets equipped at each booth, before hurriedly rushing to the next table.
About thirty minutes passed, and with the break between the two performances halfway through, Lu Xianbei was still shouting passionately, trying to stir the atmosphere, having nearly explored all the banquet modes that the alchemy prosthetics could provide.
Then.
Just as she was considering whether to try out the last remaining banquet mode, 【Banquet Mode Ten: Funeral】, since the M Country people probably wouldn’t understand a traditional Chinese funeral, a staff member dressed in uniform, but with an additional red satin ribbon, approached the stage.
“This lady… um, please announce the voting results now that the voting has ended?” the staff member said softly.
Upon hearing this, Lu Xianbei nodded in acknowledgment, retracting her gaze and promptly transitioning into the right state.
As the alchemy prosthetics powered down the banquet mode, the music came to a halt, and the dance floor quickly quieted down, with everyone’s eyes focused on the woman in a red dress on stage.
“The voting results are in my hands now. Thank you for your generous donations. The exciting moment has arrived! Let’s see which lucky angels will be drenched in the fragrance of roses and stay by your side thanks to your gifts!”
As she spoke, she turned to the large screen behind her, following the instructions from the staff below.
The screen illuminated, displaying fiery and alluring photos of the dancers, each labeled with their names, and below the photos, the numbers of received coupons scrolled rapidly.
As the numbers soared, the leading photos gradually enlarged, while those trailing behind shrank and eventually disappeared from the screen.
It felt somewhat like a talent show? But it wasn’t that different in nature, was it? Lu Xianbei internally chuckled, just as she saw the dancer named Annie, with three hundred seventy-two golden and thirty-two red coupons, dominating the front position, and she shouted.
“Tonight belongs to Annie—! Let’s give her a cheer and a round of applause for Mr. Yu Yinchuan, who presented the most flowers to her!”
Before her voice even faded, she cast a spell, and golden sparks shot up from the ground, with rose-colored light swirling like snowflakes under the ceiling.
Through the dazzling light and shadow, Lu Xianbei furrowed her brow as she glanced at the paper cicada fairy below.
Where did this guy get so much money?
Meanwhile, while she was watching the paper cicada fairy, Nanling Yaohua was also paying attention to her.
This guy seems to not be new to this line of work?
———
On the main stage, amidst the blurry light and shadow, Miss Rabbit stared intently at “Lan Yi,” feeling an inexplicable sense of déjà vu rising within her, one that stirred a sense of revulsion.
Before long, a waiter hurriedly rushed over, interrupting her gaze at “Lan Yi.”
“Miss Fox, Mr. Yu Yinchuan has invited you to meet in the private room upstairs, you…”
“Please tell Mr. Yu that I will go,” before the waiter could finish, Miss Rabbit had already made her decision, as if unable to wait to be alone with her benefactor, lacking in any pretense.
But… why should there be any pretense?
Pretense won’t bring her closer to Lan Yi!
The waiter hadn’t expected Annie, who typically refused guest invitations, to agree so readily this time. She was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained herself and said, “Okay, I’ll go arrange the private room for you.”
“Thank you!” Miss Rabbit nodded, watching the waiter walk away, and immediately turned to look for “Lan Yi,” only to find that in the brief minute she had spent speaking with the waiter, “Lan Yi” had already left the stage and disappeared.
“……”
Where could she have gone?
Did she meet up with Yu Yinchuan first and gone to the private room?
Speaking of which… what were Yu Yinchuan and Lan Yi doing sneaking into the 【Angel Rose】 theater? Miss Rabbit wondered, puzzled.
———
Miss Rabbit would never expect that as soon as Lu Xianbei stepped off the stage, she was surrounded by a dozen burly men dressed in black sunglasses.
“Is Ms. Lan Yi here? Our boss requests your presence!” The leading burly man addressed her in a tone that was cold yet polite, gesturing for her to follow.
“Um, alright, please show me the way!” Lu Xianbei nodded expressionlessly.
In fact, from the moment she unexpectedly rose to the main stage and took on the role of the host, she knew there was no escaping. In this situation, being aggressive wouldn’t work, so she put in a lot of effort working.
At least she could leave a good first impression!
Now it seemed, the result was fairly decent?
Being able to meet the theater’s boss meant she could try to negotiate! And should the negotiation fail, she could always take the boss hostage and escape! Lu Xianbei secretly thought.
Thus, the security personnel who came to escort “Lan Yi” under Nimo’s orders had no idea that this lady, exuding a rose-like alluring aura, was secretly plotting to kidnap their boss and was quietly preparing for it as they led her towards the elevator to the theater’s third floor.
Along the way, Lu Xianbei attempted to strike up a conversation with them multiple times but failed each time, leading her to settle down quietly.
When the elevator reached the third floor of the theater, as the doors opened, Lu Xianbei suddenly understood the origin of the name 【Angel Rose】 for this theater.
The main color scheme on the entire floor was rose red, with rose red walls and rose red carpets. The decorations along the corridor featured pure white clouds, and the passing staff members all sported white feathered wings on their backs.
A soft rustling sound reached her ears, and looking over, she saw the burly men accompanying her all had small, pure white wings on their backs. Lu Xianbei’s eyes twitched as she weakly asked, pointing at herself, “Uh, do I need to wear one? Wouldn’t it be awkward if I didn’t?”
This time, the accompanying burly men finally responded.
“If you want, you can wear one.”
“No, no, no!” Lu Xianbei shook her head, “I was just asking. I thought it was your rule! If I don’t have to wear one, then never mind.”
It was already embarrassing enough to wear a tight skirt over a small coat; adding a bunch of wings on top of that, like a Victoria’s Secret model, was truly too much to handle.
“Then just go in without it! The boss is waiting for you in the reception room at the far end.”
“What do you mean? Aren’t you coming in?” Lu Xianbei tilted her head.
Aren’t you worried I’ll kidnap your boss?
After waiting a few seconds and seeing the burly men standing like statues without any response, Lu Xianbei shrugged and quickly walked forward.
Reaching the end of the corridor, she pushed open the large door decorated with gold borders and clouds. Before she had a chance to see the situation inside, she heard a woman’s voice.
“Miss Lan Yi, do you know that before tonight, every dancer who received first place at each performance had received at least five hundred golden coupons?”
Lu Xianbei, “???
What the heck? Is this an inquiry into shortfalls in revenue? Aren’t you forcing me to kidnap you?
