Forbidden Deep Affection (GL) - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“You came all this way to have fun, so why are you still busy with that stuff? Ting Shuang, this is a bar, not your office.”

The surroundings were noisy and chaotic, accompanied by the pounding beat of loud music. Hou Ying had to lean close to Ye Ting Shuang’s ear to shout a couple of times. Seeing her finally put down her pen, Hou Ying grinned and poured her a drink.

“You rarely come here to have fun, so just relax and stop obsessing over those design drafts. I can tell your eyebrows haven’t relaxed once.”

Hearing this, Ye Ting Shuang touched her forehead and sighed helplessly. “Do you think I’m avoiding something right now?”

“Avoiding what? Aren’t you out here looking for inspiration? I know you—when you’re out of ideas, you just take off and wander around, and no one can find you.”

Ye Ting Shuang gave a wry smile.

Her inspiration had been dried up for a while now, so she had flown from E Country to M Country specifically to attend an old classmate’s birthday party. The two of them had only been casual high school classmates, but since they were both international students, they naturally kept in touch more often.

After celebrating Hou Ying’s birthday yesterday, Hou Ying learned about her lack of inspiration and brought her to the bar tonight to liven things up.

Ye Ting Shuang rubbed her temple painfully. “It’s been over a month since I’ve designed anything.”

“Just a month. Why panic?”

Ye Ting Shuang gave her a helpless look. It was hard for an outsider to understand her anxiety, especially since she had never felt this kind of anxiety before.

After graduating, she and a classmate had founded Seeli Studio. The past two years had finally put it on the right track, but her schedule had been so packed with business that when she finally had time to sit down and focus on creating better designs, she found herself dissatisfied with everything.

“How long are you planning to stay out here this time?” Hou Ying asked.

“My partner gave me a month to do whatever I want.”

“That’s awesome!”

Ye Ting Shuang said, “That’s because I’ve barely had a break. In the first year of starting the studio, I could churn out two or three designs a day. I was even designing in my dreams. I probably burned out my inspiration. Now I can’t come up with anything I’m happy with, so my partner gave me this long break to rest. But when the break’s over, I’d better have some designs to show for it, right?”

Hou Ying glanced at the overflowing pile of crumpled paper in the trash can beside her, pulled out a cigarette, and handed it to her, comforting her. “You’ve got a whole month. No rush. I remember you used to draw so fast—swish, swish, swish, and a sketch was done.”

“That was just sketching.” Ye Ting Shuang took the cigarette, lit it with Hou Ying’s lighter, put it in her mouth, and took a melancholic drag.

“No big deal. Worst case, you go home and inherit the family fortune.”

“Not interested.”

“Then go fall in love.”

“Topic change that fast?”

“Doesn’t everyone say love sparks inspiration? Think about it—falling in love gives you that rush of newness, pain, joy, possessiveness, jealousy, s3x. Isn’t that the ultimate experience you artists chase?”

“Not interested. You know I’m committed to staying single.”

“I really don’t get you single-by-choice types!” Hou Ying glanced at her phone and grinned. “Jack’s coming. He’ll be here soon. Super hot, blond, blue eyes. Tonight, I’m definitely taking him down!”

“Well… good luck with that.”

The music finally shifted to something softer. Ye Ting Shuang propped one hand on the bar counter, resting half her face in her palm, her gaze drifting aimlessly around the room.

The bar was crowded with people of all skin tones, eye colors, and hairstyles. There were plenty of Chinese people too. Once you’re abroad, you tend to feel a natural closeness to anyone with dark eyes and dark hair. Of course, that didn’t apply to the ones throwing flirty glances.

Ye Ting Shuang glanced at a guy winking at her from across the room, lowered her head to sip her drink, and suddenly heard Hou Ying hiss.

“What’s up?”

Hou Ying looked away from somewhere else, scoffing disdainfully. “See that woman over there? She funded her studies abroad by being a mistress. Now she’s working at this bar, hooking up with guys. She goes after anyone with money, makes a ton, and struts around in designer clothes and bags every day.”

Ye Ting Shuang didn’t care much. “Is that true?”

“Of course it’s true. She hooked up with one of my classmates before and spilled everything. She’s upfront about making money this way—mutual consent, clear pricing. Monthly packages start at a hundred thousand, with discounts.” Hou Ying tsked twice and pointed behind her. “Look, she’s over there flirting with a bunch of guys again.”

Ye Ting Shuang followed her gaze.

Colorful lights spun overhead.

People moved back and forth in front of her.

As the crowd blocking her view gradually parted, a striking figure came into sight.

Leaning against the railing, holding a glass of wine, she was smiling and chatting with five or six men around her.

Red light slanted across her eyes, white light spread over her profile and red lips, and a blue halo glowed on her pale chest.

Ye Ting Shuang’s pupils slowly focused, studying her figure and features through the shifting lights.

“The one in the maid outfit?” Ye Ting Shuang asked slowly.

“Yeah, all the workers here wear maid outfits.” Hou Ying took a sip of her drink, about to look back, when she suddenly spotted the tall, handsome Jack. Her eyes lit up, and without turning back, she patted Ye Ting Shuang’s arm. “Jack’s here. I’m going to hang with him. If you’re tired, head back early.”

“Go ahead.” Ye Ting Shuang nodded, flicked her cigarette ash, and turned her head to keep staring at the woman.

Her hair was thick like seaweed, like Medusa’s, exuding a fatal allure in this bizarre, colorful world.

Ye Ting Shuang’s fingers tightened around the cigarette, instinctively wanting to press it onto her sketchbook. When the cigarette tip scorched the paper, leaving a faint yellow burn, she quickly pulled it away, giving a dazed, self-mocking smile.

After putting the cigarette back in her mouth, she took out a pen and drew a few arcs to capture the woman’s voluminous curls, feeling like there were still more interesting ideas to explore.

What were they?

She looked up, only to see the woman saying goodbye to the others and turning to leave.

In a moment of impulse, before she could even process it, Ye Ting Shuang was already standing in front of her.

If life were a movie, those few seconds would surely have been a romantic, slow-motion scene.

But reality wasn’t a movie.

At that moment, Ming Shuang was about to leave when she saw a woman stumbling through the crowd, grabbing her wrist and staring boldly into her face.

Looking like she owed her eight million and was proud of it.

Ming Shuang: “?”

The woman took a deep breath and said, “I’ll pay you.”

Ming Shuang: “Huh??” Was there such a good deal???

The woman: “For the next month, you’re mine.”

Ming Shuang: “Huh???”

Ming Shuang was completely baffled.

Who was this person, and what nonsense was she spouting?

She leaned forward, her nose brushing near Ye Ting Shuang’s neck.

Ye Ting Shuang tilted her head slightly, studying her features up close. Her thick, delicate eyelashes looked like they’d been drawn on with a fine pen, each one perfectly varied in length, tempting her to reach out and touch them.

“You’ve been drinking?” Ming Shuang sniffed, then looked up and noticed the unusually intense gaze.

Great, just another poor soul captivated by her beauty.

“I’m not drunk.” Ye Ting Shuang glanced around at the foreigners and said, “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Ming Shuang shrugged. “Talk about what?”

“Business.”

“?”

“Come with me.”

Ming Shuang watched her stride off, feeling puzzled but mostly curious.

Once curiosity takes hold, even the most absurd things can happen.

So she followed this woman out of the bar, and they stood on the street, staring at each other.

“One hundred thousand for a month. I can pay you,” Ye Ting Shuang said first.

“One hundred thousand?” Ming Shuang’s eyes widened in disbelief, intrigued. “For what?”

“To buy your time. For the next month, just stay with me.”

“Wait… you mean you want to pay a hundred thousand to keep me?”

Seeing her nod, Ming Shuang pointed at herself in disbelief. “Do you even know who I am?”

“I know, but I don’t care.”

“…”

Ming Shuang got it. This woman was after her looks, thinking money could win her over.

She’d seen plenty of people like this.

But she’d never seen someone this stingy!

“One hundred thousand? That’s too low,” Ming Shuang said with a laugh.

“I can add more.” Ye Ting Shuang figured she probably hadn’t taken a deal like this before, especially since she was a woman.

“How much more?” Ming Shuang asked, curious.

“Twenty thousand?”

“…”

“Fifty thousand?”

“…”

“One hundred eighty-eight thousand, eight hundred eighty-eight. Lucky number.”

“”

Seeing she still wouldn’t agree, Ye Ting Shuang thought for a moment and stated her terms. “This money is just for your time. You don’t have to sleep with me.”

“Oh?” Ming Shuang perked up. “Then what do I have to do?”

“Just stay with me. Do whatever I ask, except sleeping with me.”

“Oh, so you’re hiring me as a maid, but not the kind that warms your bed.”

“…If you want to put it that way, sure.”

“That simple?”

“Yeah. So, you in?”

Ming Shuang crossed her arms, sizing up the woman in front of her.

How to put it? She’d seen plenty of beauties, and this one wasn’t exactly stunning, but she had a unique vibe—a kind of fearless aura.

In short, she was curious about this woman.

So, something even more absurd happened.

“Fine, I’ll take the deal.” Ming Shuang’s eyes gleamed with a playful smile.

“Let’s add each other on WeChat first,” Ye Ting Shuang said.

“Sure.”

They added each other, and Ming Shuang immediately checked her Moments, finding nothing.

“Are you using a side account?”

“Aren’t you?” Ye Ting Shuang showed her own blank Moments page. “What’s your name?”

“Hm… Xiao Ming.”

Pretty cautious, using a random alias.

“And you?” Ming Shuang asked.

“Just call me Boss.”

“Alright, Boss.”

“Second thing: do you have any contagious diseases?”

“Does yawning count?”

“…No, I mean… occupational diseases,” Ye Ting Shuang said tactfully.

“Oh, occupational diseases? Well, I’m already nearsighted. My neck and back are fine for now, but who knows about the future? I might get insomnia, nightmares, or hair loss. I’m not officially employed yet, so who knows what’ll happen?”

Seeing her dodge the question, Ye Ting Shuang asked directly, “Have you had a physical exam?”

“Every year. Last year, they even found I have allergic rhinitis.”

“Got it. Third thing: during the contract, you can’t catch feelings for me.”

“????”

Ming Shuang scoffed, lifting her head arrogantly and glaring at her. “You’d better watch yourself. Who knows who’ll catch feelings for who?”

Ye Ting Shuang didn’t dwell on the topic and asked, “Do you have a place to stay?”

“Why?”

Ye Ting Shuang sent her a hotel address. “Starting tomorrow, move in with me. You can leave after the month is up.”

“Moving in already? You sure you don’t want me to sleep with you?” Ming Shuang asked with amusement.

“No. I’m sexually dysfunctional, alright?”

Ming Shuang choked. “…You’re something else.”

“Here’s the deposit. I’ll pay the rest after the month.” Ye Ting Shuang transferred her some money. “Alright, it’s getting late. If there’s nothing else, go pack your things. See you tomorrow.”

“Got it.” Ming Shuang turned to head back into the bar.

“Hey, um… Xiao Ming?” Ye Ting Shuang called after her.

Ming Shuang stopped and turned back, she raised one of her eyebrows. “Boss, anything else?”

“If you’re with me this month, you won’t have time to work at the bar, right? Make sure to take leave later. I don’t want you taking other jobs while working for me.”

Ming Shuang’s lips curled slightly. “Don’t worry. After tonight, I’m done working here.”

Ye Ting Shuang nodded, studying her features again, very satisfied.

Her direct gaze landed on Ming Shuang, who took it in stride, sizing her up under the bright light.

A strand of hair blew across Ye Ting Shuang’s nose, but she didn’t move, still staring at her.

Ming Shuang smiled, reaching out to brush the strand away. “Boss, if you keep staring at me like this, aren’t you afraid you’ll break the contract and fall for me first?”

“No way. Goodbye.” Ye Ting Shuang said flatly.