Chapter 6: Xiao Lian's Sacrifice (Seeking Collection)

  "That's good, you can go home and won't have to worry about Liu Xiang looking for trouble with you." Xiaolian said with a smile after being taken aback for a moment.

  "Xiao Lian, you're back! Who's this?"

  The speaker was a person who looked about the same age as Xiaolian, but with a face that had been heavily made up with rouge and powder, looking quite common and unpleasant. Even from a distance, one could smell a pungent perfume, and when she smiled, two large yellow teeth were revealed. She wore a bright red blouse and held a bright red handkerchief in her hand.

  Xiao Lian raised her head, and unexpectedly, the two had already walked to Chunxiang Pavilion. She lightly sighed and said: "We've arrived at Xiao Lian's place. If you're willing, sir, please come up with me."

  "Good." Zhang Lei raised his head to look inside, the interior was decorated with a certain taste, if not for the few middle-aged women flirting at the entrance, it would be even better.

  As soon as they entered the hall, a gaudily dressed old woman came over to greet them. "Ah, my little lady, you disappeared early this morning without a word," she said to Xiaolian. "Tsk, tsk, this young man is quite handsome and well-dressed, no wonder you're so taken with him. Is this your first time here? Take the gentleman to your room, dear, Mother won't disturb you." With that, the old procuress sashayed away, swishing her large hips. Xiaolian said, "Let's go, Mr. Zhang."

  Zhang Lei's face showed a very strange expression, as if his throat was suddenly blocked by a fly, feeling sick but unable to express it. He asked in a low voice: "Do all your guests enter your room?"

  "No!" Xiaolian said firmly and somewhat indignantly. "From childhood to adulthood, you are the first man to enter my courtyard, whether you believe it or not."

  Zhang Lei suddenly put his hands on Xianglian's shoulders from behind and said softly: "I won't ask, I believe you."

  Xiao Lian's body was like being struck by lightning, completely stiff and motionless. Two lines of clear tears flowed down her cheeks, her voice choked with sobs, "It's okay, ask me anything you want to know, I'll answer whatever you want, as long as you're willing."

  Affected by Xiaolian's emotions, Zhang Lei's suppressed feelings for a long time also burst out. His throat moved, but he couldn't say anything, and could only hold Xiaolian's hair with both hands, letting her lean against his chest, then softly said: "I won't ask anymore, I won't know, never again."

  "Tsk, tsk, tsk, this little couple is really touching." Just then, a detestable voice came from the doorway. Liu Xiang strolled over with an air of leisure, her eight-character steps seeming to smile yet not quite smiling.

  Zhang Lei's face sank as he said, "What are you doing here?"

  "Haha, joke, this is a brothel, you come, I won't be able to come?" Liu Xiang tapped the folding fan in her palm and said: "It's only been so long since then, it's already good, Xiaolian, are you going to take him in for a room?"

  Xiao Lian's pretty face turned pale with anger, she secretly glanced at Zhang Lei's expression, Zhang Lei seemed to be extremely sensitive about the brothel and its women. Just when she had finally calmed him down, Liu Xiang came again to stir up trouble, instantly making her furious, her whole body trembling, she shouted loudly: "Get out..."

  Her face, as lovely as a pear blossom in the rain, made Zhang Lei's heart ache. He wrapped Xiaolian tightly in his arms and whispered, "Okay, okay, don't cry, I said I'll believe you, no need to lower yourself to their level, good girl."

  That half-old madam heard the sound and ran over, she who had seen countless people could guess eight or nine out of ten with just one glance. She waved the fragrant pink handkerchief in her hand, with half her body hanging on Liu Xiang's arm, saying in a very sweet voice: "Ah, ah, ah, Mr. Liu has arrived, how come you didn't notify me beforehand, I'll prepare a few girls for you." After that, she looked at Xiaolian again, her face darkening as she said: "Mr. Liu is our biggest client, how can you speak to him like that? Go, go, go, Mr. Liu, I'll take care of this, you go back to your courtyard."

  Zhang Lei was also afraid that if he stayed any longer, Liu Xiang would say something embarrassing again, so he quickly pulled Xiao Lian away. Liu Xiang saw the two of them progressing to this point and couldn't help but feel angry and jealous, her face full of resentment as she watched Zhang Lei's back.

  This Chunxiang Pavilion is indeed the largest brothel in the local area. Apart from its luxurious and grand exterior, the backyard has a unique charm of its own. The path made of bluestone slabs, the green grass and weeping willows, the artificial hill and fish pond, the gentle gurgling of water, the soft breeze, and the calm waves all blend together to create a serene and elegant atmosphere reminiscent of a small courtyard in Jiangnan. It's like a different world from the outside. Zhang Lei took a deep breath, closed his eyes in rapture, and said: "This is what life should be like! If someone were willing, I'd really want to find that secluded Peach Blossom Spring, build a small cottage, live a simple life of farming and weaving with my loved one, and be a carefree couple."

  Xiao Lian was still heartbroken, and upon hearing Zhang Lei's words, tears flowed down again. Choking back sobs, she said: "Fate is playing tricks on people. Xiao Lian was born in this place of vanity, with no other choice. If Master Zhang has any resentment in his heart, from now on, Xiao Lian will not bother you again."

  "Alas..." Zhang Lei let out a deep sigh, not knowing what to say. The two of them remained silent for a long time, until Xiaolian finally broke the silence and said: "Master Zhang, why don't you go sit in my room for a bit?"

  Along the bluestone path, I walked a circle and came to the side of a three-story small pavilion at the innermost part. Along the outdoor staircase, I wound my way up, the green gauze curtain blowing up, brushing against my cheek, making it itch. The second floor room was where Xiaolian usually practiced, and going up another floor would be her boudoir.

  Pushing open the door, a fragrance wafts in, refreshing the heart. On the embroidered bed lies an unfinished piece of needlework. The wicker table and chairs appear fresh and elegant. Opposite, the bookshelves are filled with books exuding a scholarly atmosphere. The carved window is wide open, offering a view of the artificial hill below at a glance.

  "Please sit down, Master Zhang." Xiaolian helped him brew a cup of fragrant jasmine tea and sat beside Zhang Lei.

  Zhang Lei took a look around and gazed at the artificial hills outside, as well as the fragrance on Xiao Lian's body, and couldn't help but feel a little intoxicated.

  Xiao Lian suddenly sat on Zhang Lei's thigh, her jade-like hands wrapped around his neck, their faces less than two inches apart, and they could feel each other's breathing.

  Zhang Lei was startled by Xiaolian's actions and his body became somewhat unresponsive, speaking in a stutter: "Xiaolian, what are you doing?"

  "Zhang Gongzi, do you like Xiaolian?"

  "I like it."

  "Why do you like it?"

  "Love has no why, conditional love is a transaction."

  Xiao Lian's rose lips lightly opened, blowing a refreshing breath into Zhang Lei's ear, making him feel ticklish. "Hold me tight," Xiao Lian said.

  Zhang Lei wrapped his hands around Xiaolian's slender waist, and through the thin layer of silk clothing, he could still feel her body temperature. Her smooth and delicate skin made him irresistible, and his hands began to wander over her back.

  Xiao Lian raised her orchid finger and pulled Zhang Lei's left ear, whispering: "Young Master Zhang, you're getting hard down there."

  "If it's not hard, then it's not a man." Zhang Lei's eyes were dazed, his mind had already stopped thinking, only the male instinct was supporting him, and with Xiaolian taking the initiative, they were already on the bed.

  Xiao Lian gently untied the ribbon, and her body was already naked. She parted her legs and sat on Zhang Lei's thigh root, gently removing all his clothes, leaning on his chest, smelling the unique scent of a man, she lightly kissed Zhang Lei's lips.

  Zhang Lei closed his eyes, feeling the sweet and slightly fragrant lips of Xiao Lian. He involuntarily opened his mouth, like a parched person who had suddenly discovered a clear spring, using his tongue to pry open Xiao Lian's teeth, sucking on her tongue, and caressing the soft and boneless back with both hands.

  After a long time, Xiaolian felt that the time was about right, so she used her hand to support it, found the position, and sat down gently...

  "Hmm..." Xiaolian furrowed her delicate eyebrows, biting her lower lip tightly, her face deathly pale. For the first time in over a decade, something foreign had entered her body, and she seemed to hear the sound of things breaking inside.

  At this moment, she suddenly thought of something and reached out to grab a white handkerchief, placing it between the two of them.

  An hour later, outside the main gate of Chunxiang Pavilion, Xiaolian wore ordinary clothes, carrying a backpack, turned her head to take a look at the signboard above her head, and disappeared into the crowd.

  After a few hours, Zhang Lei felt a headache and opened his eyes. The embroidered bed of Xiaolian was still in front of him, but Xiaolian was nowhere to be seen. He suddenly sat up, only to realize he was naked, and hastily put on his clothes.

  The room was still as it was before falling asleep, but in this house full of fragrance, there was a hint of sadness. Turning his head, he saw the bright red color bursting like fireworks. Zhang Lei held up the handkerchief with both hands and suddenly understood about 70-80%. He also found a letter on the table, written in elegant small characters "Zhang Lang opens".

  Looking at the small characters above, Zhang Lei's face became more and more solemn as he read on, and by the end, tears were streaming down his face. His hands trembled violently, and with a sudden burst of strength, he tightly clenched the letter and handkerchief in his fist, causing his joints to turn white from the force.

  He rushed out of the door, ran to the entrance, and naturally couldn't see anyone. He unfolded the letter, tears fell down, just wetting the sentence "...for this humble strategy, to express my heart, hoping for a good name, my daughter's body has been given to you, worldly affairs have no worries, from now on I will hide, if you are a person who values emotions, after achieving success and fame, I will come to serve you..."

  After a long, long time, he finally suppressed the emotions in his heart, wiped away his tears and stood up, saying in a low voice: "Xiao Lian, I will definitely find you." He carefully folded the letter and handkerchief and put them into the pocket closest to his body, walking out slowly.

  "Outstanding... haha... you want me to be outstanding..." Zhang Lei muttered to himself as he walked towards his residence near the dock, but soon heard a commotion and saw a crowd of people gathered there.

  Suddenly, a red thing the size of an egg flew out from the crowd and landed right at his feet, smashing into pieces, with juice splashing everywhere.

  Zhang Lei was about to get angry, but when he saw what was on the ground, his eyes lit up.