"Wow, Master, your skills are absolutely unbelievable!!" Yara Zen exclaimed in awe, even leaning in to give him a passionate kiss.
"Hehe—Not bad, I guess—" Shawn Young said smugly, touching the cheek that Yara Zen had just kissed.
At that moment, the hostesses in the private room helped each other to stand up. Though their faces were bruised and battered, their first concern was for Yara Zen: "Yara, are you okay?"
Yara Zen quickly thanked them, "Mm—I'm fine now, sisters. Thank you so much for what you did just now. If you hadn't stepped in to protect me, I... I might've already been—been ruined by Stanford and those Japanese guys—thank you all!"
Having run bars and entertainment venues for years, Yara Zen knew very well that many of these hostesses were from the mainland, each with their own reasons for 'entering the trade.' Some came on tourist visas, some even snuck across the border, but most were driven by hardship, with nowhere else to turn—true 'drifters in a foreign land.' Back in the day, if she hadn't been lucky enough to be rescued by the former Thirteen Enforcers boss and Grace Gu, she would've ended up just like them. That's why Yara Zen always looked out for these women—struggling to survive, forcing a smile as they sold themselves to make a living.
"Hehe—It's nothing! Yara, you're the best manager we've ever had, always looking out for us and treating us like real people! We may be humble, but we still have loyalty—" the hostesses said with cheerful smiles.
"Thank you—really, thank you, sisters. But—I'm... I'm leaving with my boyfriend soon—so I might not be able to look after you anymore—" Yara Zen said, deeply moved, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"Oh—Yara, you're not working here anymore? Then... what will we do?!" The hostesses instantly grew anxious when they heard Yara Zen's words.
"Mm—yes, sisters, all good things must come to an end—I'm going back to the mainland with my man. I won't be able to take care of you all anymore, but Grace Gu will take over my job. I'll talk to her and make sure she looks after you—" Yara Zen said apologetically.
"Yara, I never realized how much everyone loves you! Sigh—if you come back to the mainland with me, these girls won't have such a caring manager to look after them anymore." Shawn Young looked at the hostesses who had stepped up at this crucial moment, and couldn't help but feel moved.
The hostesses all gazed at Shawn with bright, admiring eyes. Then Maggie, looking envious, said, "Heh—now I get it! Yara, you're so lucky to have landed such a handsome and capable guy! If any of us met a man like him, we'd leave without a second thought too!"
"Heh, that's right, Yara! You should go with your man! A beautiful woman like you deserves someone who can give you security. We totally understand your choice," the hostesses chimed in, voices overlapping with support.
"Girls—you’re all so sweet—honestly, I really don’t want to leave you, especially now… but I…" Yara Zen was overwhelmed with emotion. She rushed over and hugged the hostesses, crying together with them. For a moment, the atmosphere was heavy with sadness.
Shawn Young looked at these women, struggling at the very bottom of society, and suddenly felt a deeper understanding for their lives. Moved, he said, "Hey—if you really can’t bear to part with Yara, I could invest in an entertainment club back in the mainland and let Yara manage it! She can run it however she likes, and if any of you want to come along, you’re absolutely welcome!"
"Heh—handsome, we appreciate your kindness! But in our business, it’s all about youth and looks. New girls join all the time, and we quickly become yesterday’s news. Our youth only lasts a few years, and when it fades, we get pushed out. So the most important thing is to save up some retirement money before that happens. In this society, women like us are looked down on, and we don’t have other skills. Wherever we go, it’s tough. At least in bustling Hong Kong, there’s still business to be had!" said Maggie, who’d been in the trade for years despite her youth, giving Shawn a bittersweet smile.
"Yeah—Maggie’s right. Most of us don’t get happy endings. We can’t even dream of a normal life—getting married, having kids, living peacefully. If we can save up enough for retirement, that’s already a win."
"Exactly—smiling for the customers, lonely behind the scenes. Once we get older, we just can’t keep up anymore. That’s why we’re all working so hard to earn as much as we can now!"
"Yeah, I can cook a few dishes, so I’m hoping to save up enough and go back to the mainland someday, maybe open a little restaurant in a small city."
"Mm-hmm, I’m thinking the same. Even if we can’t keep working in this business, at least we could find a quiet rural spot, start a small business, and live out the rest of our lives." The hostesses started sharing their hardships and dreams for the future, voices mingling with bittersweet hope.
"Whoa—so you all have your reasons… But there are other ways, you know! Since you’ve helped Yara before, I can help change your fates—just trust me," Shawn Young nodded, encouragingly.
"Uh—how exactly are you planning to do that? Like opening an entertainment club? You need capital and connections for that!" Yara Zen asked, surprised. To her, Shawn was just a regular college student with no money for such ventures.
"Oh—it doesn’t have to be an entertainment club! Even if it’s some other business, as long as it’s not too big, I can help them out. I’m pretty sure I can help them live well," Shawn Young said, smiling. He was confident because he knew about his big influence and wealth in Myanmar—more than enough to support these hostesses and let them live worry-free.
"Really? Yara—do you think we could really keep following you?" Maggie asked, seeing Shawn wasn’t joking and getting excited.
"Well—I’m not sure where his confidence comes from… but if he says so, I believe he can do it," Yara Zen said with a smile.
"Heh—don’t worry, I keep my promises! Count up how many of you want in! I’ll let my people know and get things set up for you!" Shawn Young said, grinning.
"Awesome—thanks, boss! We’ll stick with Yara and go with you!" The hostesses were all buzzing with excitement.
"Heh—don’t worry, Yara will take care of you all. She’s my housekeeper, you know! So you can rest easy!" Shawn Young joked, laughing.
"Hey—Yara’s the boss lady now! Sticking with her makes us feel safe—heh!" Maggie joked, laughing.
"That’s right, we’re all sticking with the boss lady!" The hostesses excitedly started making plans together, their voices full of joy and anticipation.
"Well, well—look at you, troublemaker! I don’t see you for a bit, and now you’re poaching my girls, recruiting right under my nose. You know what? Count me in too—might as well find a place to spend the rest of my days!" At that moment, a charming female voice called out from the stairway.
Shawn Young was stunned. He quickly turned to look, and when he saw the woman at the stairway, his eyes lit up—he could feel his blood boiling with excitement!