Chapter 1: Encounter at the Bar

  In the sweltering heat, Ye Xuanmo suddenly felt like she was in a cold ice cellar. She thought that woman had already died, or even if she hadn't, she should be in France, how could she possibly run into her in A City?

  She knew Ye Xuan's past, knew how unbearable she was for survival, knew her filth, knew her desperation, knew her tragic fate...

  Ye Xuanmo wanted to escape, but her feet seemed to have taken root, and she could only stare blankly as the woman approached her step by step. The woman's shadow was like a whirlpool, slowly pulling her into hell!

  Ou Mu Xuan didn't know who the other person was, nor did she have any interest in knowing. But when she saw Ye Xiang's terrified expression, she suddenly felt a pang of heartache. She was just one person, so why was she so scared?

  "Ada, is that really you?" The woman's face was painted with exaggerated makeup, almost obscuring her true features, except for those triangular eyes which carried a hint of acidity and viciousness. However, when she saw Ou Mu Xuan beside her, a glint of evil light flashed in her eyes.

  Ye Xuanmo barely regained his composure, smiled, but the smile was stiffer than ever before. "How did you end up here?"

  "I was sent to the Chinese consulate, so I was naturally deported back home," the woman said nonchalantly. "Were you also deported?"

  "I..."

  "Is this your guest?" The woman looked up at Ou Mu Xuan's perfect face, "You must be very expensive now, guests are all top-notch like you."

  Ye Qiong's face turned even paler, and excessive explanation would only reveal more about herself. She grasped Ou Mu Xuan's hand, "We still have things to do, excuse us!"

  Ou Mu Xuan didn't know what the woman was saying, but he felt Ye Xuan's hand turn cold, as if it was trembling. Guest? Price?

  "Hey, wait a minute!" The woman stopped them and quickly pulled out a business card from her body. "Anyway, we're from the same nightclub, this is my card, if you meet a generous customer, don't hesitate to contact me..."

  "I know!" Ye Xuan cut her off, took over her business card, and hastily pulled Ou Mu-xuan away.

  She walked quickly in any direction, regardless of who she bumped into on the road or what was in front of her. Ye Xuanmo just wanted to get rid of this place and stay far away from that woman, all the past events, all the pain, and unbearable memories, she wanted to shake them all off!

  All that was in the past, she didn't want to think about it anymore, didn't want to be afraid of it. She was Xingkong, Ye Yunmo, not Ada, not a pole dancer at Lawrence's bar, no, she wasn't!

  Ye Xuanmo continued to walk aimlessly forward, even when she was about to bump into the trash can in front of her, she didn't show any intention of dodging!

  "What are you doing?!" Ou Mu Xuan promptly pulled her back, preventing her from crashing into him!

  The icy voice made Ye Xuan's mind clear for a moment, but she couldn't maintain her composure and just stared at Ou Mu Xuan in confusion.

  What is she doing? She promised not to be afraid of past things. She promised that she was a fearless starry sky, so what is she doing now?

  "Come with me!" Ou Mu Xuan frowned, pulling her into a small alley, pinning her against the wall, and leaning in close to her bewildered face. "Who is that woman? What are you afraid of?"

  Ye Xuan's eyes wandered aimlessly over his face, and suddenly she was worried that he knew about her past, if he knew how unbearable it was, if he knew that she had sold herself for survival...

  She didn't want to, but she had no choice. Her son, Xiao Ze, was ill and needed money for treatment, but she didn't have any. Other people's children who fell ill would be hospitalized and receive the best medical care, undergoing expensive tests, but she couldn't afford it. All she could do was buy some fever-reducing medicine from a pharmacy and hold her son's burning body in her arms every night, praying desperately.

  She's at her wit's end. Little Takane needs to be hospitalized, but she has no money. The savings she had accumulated before giving birth to Takane have been used up.

  Caesarean section, originally the cost required is much more expensive than normal delivery, let alone she had a premature birth, Sawa must be kept in an incubator, her money was far from enough!

  She had no money to hire a nanny, and she had to take care of Xiao Ze, so she couldn't do several part-time jobs like before. She could only stay at home and modify clothes for others, but the money she earned was just enough for Xiao Ze's milk powder.

  At that time, if she still had a way out, if there was still a road to take, she would not have gone to that nightclub. She thought it was just dancing, but she didn't know she'd also have to strip and accompany customers overnight...

  She wanted to leave, she wanted to escape, but what she got in return was a flogging from that group of people.

  Tears raged on, while Ye Qianyu was completely unaware, only looking up at Ou Mu Xuan like a helpless child without a home, searching for the only hope!

  Such an expression, such a Ye Xuanmo, made Ou MuXuan heartache. What had happened to her? Why could one person, with just a few words, easily shatter all her stubbornness?

  Ou Mu Xuan felt a pang in his heart, stretched out his hand and pulled her into his arms, wishing he could use all his strength to warm her up and comfort her. "I won't ask anymore, I won't ask anymore, silly girl, no matter what happened in the past, it's all over, don't think about it again!"

  Ye Xuan tightly grasped his clothes, as if clutching at the last straw of salvation, "Ou Mu Xuan?"

  "I'm here!"

  "Don't pry into my past, don't investigate anything about me!" Ye Xuanmo suppressed her sobs and said fiercely, "Otherwise, I will hate you and never forgive you!"

  "Alright, I won't investigate!"

  Ye Juan's eyes were welling up with tears, she had promised not to cry in front of anyone, but yesterday she was sobbing silently behind his back, and today she was whimpering sadly in his arms. Ye Juan, where has your stubbornness gone?

  That woman shouldn't pose a threat to her, right? After all, they don't have any conflicting interests now. If she needs guests, she can just introduce her to a few upper-class gentlemen. So, about those past things, that woman probably won't go around spreading rumors, will she?

  Clutching the last thread of hope, Ye Xuanmo tidied up her emotions, wiped away the tears on her face, took a deep breath, and continued to maintain her bright side.

  And from start to finish, Ou Mu Xuan quietly watched her collapse and then watched her put on a disguise again, watching her transform back into that dazzling and radiant Starry Sky.

  What has she actually been through?

  "Sorry, I just remembered some unpleasant things from the past," said Ye Xuan with a bright smile. "Let's go, there are still several stores we haven't seen yet!"

  But just as Ye Xuanmo took a step forward, her body was pulled back by Ou MuXuan, "Go eat!"

  "Huh?" Ye Xuan was taken aback for a moment. "Didn't you just have breakfast?" Is it already time for lunch? No way?

  "This is lunch!" Oumu dragged her, without saying a word, to go find a restaurant. He couldn't bear the sight of this dead girl pretending to be strong, clearly very sad but deliberately acting as if nothing was wrong!

  Since he decided to disguise himself, then he would give her enough time!

  "But time..."

  "I'm hungry!"

  Ye Xuan's eyes were filled with disdain for him. If he was hungry, then just be hungry, why did he have to say it so loudly and with such a self-righteous tone?