Chapter 57 Familiar Faces in the Happy Room, Have I Been Here Before?

Chapter 57: Old Haunt at the Happy House—Have I Been Here Before?

Inside the car, Miao Yuanjin immediately locked the windows upon seeing the scene, then turned to Yu Xing. "What do they want?!"

"What should we do?!"

Yu Xing looked at the two boys outside with a hint of regret—neither was quite her type.

The boy in leopard print, who had been lounging on the hood, had now shifted to a kneeling position, his deep V-neck perfectly aligned with the windshield, his body remarkably flexible. He flashed a seductive smile. "Since you’re here, why not come out?"

The muscular boy beside him blew a kiss toward the car. "I’m half-price today~" he purred.

Miao Yuanjin’s fists clenched, and she pounded the steering wheel in frustration. "Yu Xing! I’m leaving! I’m really leaving!!"

"Why the hell is he on my car?!!!"

Yu Xing couldn’t fathom her agitation and gave her a puzzled look. Yet, respecting Miao Yuanjin’s feelings, she said, "Let me out first, then you can go."

As Yu Xing moved to exit, Miao Yuanjin grabbed her arm. "Wait! Are you really going out there? They’re…"

She glanced at the man pressed against the windshield. "...kinda terrifying."

"What’s so scary about them?" Yu Xing didn’t understand. "Besides, I need to find my brother. How else am I supposed to do that?"

That only made Miao Yuanjin more distraught. "How could your brother be… How could he work here?"

Yu Xing smoothed her dress—it was very pretty today. Miao Yuanjin had given it to her, but since she couldn’t wear ordinary clothes now, she had secretly used the Celestial Serpent Feathered Robe to replicate an identical one.

Her brother would probably be happy to see her dressed so nicely, right?

Thinking this, she answered Miao Yuanjin’s question. "Because we were flat broke."

Miao Yuanjin was still horrified. "But being broke doesn’t mean—"

Before she could finish, Yu Xing continued, "This goes back over two years. Back then, I was going to this dump of a middle school in District D while working odd jobs. Then, I landed a lucky break to study at Seventh Middle School. If I could go there, I’d have a shot at university and eventually land a decent, well-paying job in District C or B. For my family, that was a shot we never thought we’d get."

Hearing this, Miao Yuanjin calmed down a little, but she still didn’t understand. "What does that have to do with your brother working… here?"

"Seventh Middle School’s tuition is expensive." Yu Xing ticked off on her fingers. "If my brother and grandma worked regular jobs, it would take them five years of saving every penny just to cover one year of my tuition."

Miao Yuanjin felt a lump in her throat. Yu Xing spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "There was no other way. This was the only place where my brother could earn enough for my tuition and living expenses in a short time."

Miao Yuanjin’s chest tightened. She had grown up privileged and had never rubbed elbows with the Federation’s lower class before meeting Yu Xing. Hearing that Yu Xing used to scavenge for scraps had already blown her mind. But now she realized the suffering of those at the bottom was far beyond anything she could imagine.

A chance to attend a good school was worth her brother selling his body.

"Hold on before you drive off. I’ll go out and ask him to get down." Yu Xing pointed at the boy on the windshield. "Wouldn’t want him getting hurt. His family might depend on his earnings too."

Yu Xing opened the car door and stepped out. The muscular boy immediately approached, draping his hands over her shoulders. "You look new here. First time visiting us?"

"Yeah." Yu Xing waved at the one on the car. "Come down!"

The boy obediently climbed down and placed his hands on Yu Xing’s other shoulder, now she had an armful of both.

"Customer," the leopard-print boy said with a suggestive smile, "do you want to cut to the chase, or take it slow?"

Yu Xing almost felt guilty for their eagerness—she wasn’t here to spend money today.

"I’m looking for someone." She tried to peek into the shop.

The entrance to the Ladies’ Happy House was narrow, only half the width of a regular storefront. A dimly lit hallway stretched inward, its walls plastered with paintings of scantily clad men in bold poses.

"Is there someone named Yu He working here?" Yu Xing asked.

The two boys traded looks that said it all.

The muscular boy’s eyes said, *Ugh, finally a rich lady, and she’s not here for me.*

The leopard-print boy’s eyes replied, *Total waste of my effort.*

"Yu He?" The leopard-print boy’s smile widened. "No Yu He on the roster, but we do have Xiao He. That’s yours truly—Xiao He, as in lotus. Do you know about lotuses? They were beautiful flowers from the Old Era."

"I’m Thorn." The muscular boy tilted his chin, showcasing his neck and chest muscles. His voice dropped lower, dripping with suggestion. "I’m one of the most highly rated here… if you know what I mean."

He leaned in, his breath warm against Yu Xing’s ear. "Customers say I’ve got great skills… and stamina."

Before Yu Xing could respond, someone tapped her shoulder.

She turned to see Miao Yuanjin, her face pinched with tension. "Weren’t you looking for someone? Why’re you still parked here?"

Xiao He and Thorn exchanged another glance. Xiao He immediately released Yu Xing and reached for Miao Yuanjin. "This customer is also here to find someone?"

"Don’t touch me!" After hearing Yu Xing’s story, Miao Yuanjin had some sympathy, sure, but that didn’t mean she’d let them lay a finger on her.

She stepped forward, hooked arms with Yu Xing and shaking her impatiently. "Hurry up. I want to leave soon."

"Chill, will you…" Yu Xing sighed, then turned back to Xiao He. "Xiao He, Thorn—those aren’t your real names, right?"

Xiao He’s face twitched before forcing a chuckle. "Customer, names are just labels, baby. If you like, I can be Yu He too."

Yu Xing guessed they didn’t recognize Yu He because her brother had probably changed his name to something like Xiao He or Thorn after starting work here.

Before she could ask more, Miao Yuanjin hit her limit. "We already said we’re here to find someone, not to… *spend money*. Do you know Yu He or not?"

Her words ruined everything. The moment Thorn and Xiao He realized they weren’t paying customers, their attitudes flipped.

Thorn dropped his hand from Yu Xing’s shoulder and rolled his eyes. "If you’re not here to spend, say so sooner. Time’s money, sweetheart!"

Xiao He also looked annoyed. "All that effort for nothing. My legs almost cramped from climbing the car."

"Go away." Thorn waved dismissively. "Move your car. Don’t block our business."

That tone, those words—Miao Yuanjin’s temper flared. "Do you two even know who I am? I—"

Yu Xing quickly covered her mouth and pulled out her terminal, addressing Xiao He. "I’ll take you. I’m booking you right now. I’ll transfer the money—today, you’re mine to command."

…

Once paid, Xiao He’s attitude did a complete 180, oozing charm and sweetness again.

"Customer," he said, his gaze shimmering with allure, "what would you like to experience first? Should I take you to my room now?"

"I’m here to find someone." Yu Xing remained unfazed by his advances—Xiao He wasn’t her type. In both lifetimes, she’d always preferred the chaste and loyal kind.

"I’ve paid for you, so you listen to me." Yu Xing adopted a domineering tone. "From now on, you’re helping me search."

"Huh?" Xiao He’s face fell. After a hesitant pause, he asked cautiously, "If we don’t find him… will you ask for a refund?"

"No refunds—we'll even pay extra if you find him," Miao Yuanjin grew increasingly impatient. "Just take us to Yu He already!"

"But..." Xiao He looked even more troubled. "There's no one here named Yu He."

He asked Thorn, "Right? There isn't, is there?"

"Never heard of the guy," Thorn snapped, bitter about missing out on payment.

By now, Miao Yuanjin had figured out the rules of this place. Seeing Thorn's unpleasant attitude, she whipped out her comm device and said sharply, "Watch your tone."

Thorn rolled his eyes halfway before Miao Yuanjin declared, "I'm claiming your time!"

His eye-roll froze mid-motion, leaving him wincing in pain.

Neither of them had heard of anyone named Yu He in the joyhouse, but Yu Xing believed her brother had changed his name, so she had them lead her inside to search.

They passed through a dimly lit hallway before emerging into a spacious dance floor. The lighting was even darker here, with couples pressed together in the haze of sultry music, lost in each other.

"He came here two years ago," Yu Xing said. If not for her medical treatments, she might not have been able to see the path clearly. "He's a little taller than you, thin, and... has my features."

Xiao He and Thorn studied Yu Xing's face for a moment before shaking their heads in unison.

"Haven't seen anyone who looks like you," Xiao He chuckled. "If someone like you worked here, they'd definitely be our main attraction. We'd know them."

"We've only been here for less than a year," Thorn mused. "Rare to last two years in this trade."

"Why?" Miao Yuanjin wrinkled her nose. The air smelled strange—cloying and oppressive, making her head feel heavy and her skin warm.

At this, a trace of sadness flashed across Xiao He's made-up, pierced-nose face. "Our kind don't keep our health for long."

"Huh?" Miao Yuanjin didn’t understand. "Why?"

Xiao He smirked. "What do you think? Clients have all kinds of demands. Pills to stay functional are just part of the job. How could our bodies stay fine? By the time we save up a little, we don’t want to waste it all on hospitals. Eventually you're forced out."

Beside him, Thorn sighed in agreement.

But Miao Yuanjin still didn’t get it. "What kind of pills? What state do you need to maintain?"

Xiao He froze, his expression shifting pricelessly. Was she really this naive?

Yu Xing took pity and explained, "Didn’t you take health class? The one about what happens between men and women?"

"Of course I did," Miao Yuanjin said proudly. "I know all about it. It's when the cerebral cortex gets excited, the sympathetic nerves transmit signals, causing arterial dilation, increased blood flow, localized congestion, rising internal pressure—"

Thorn and Xiao He listened, baffled. They sort of understood, but it also sounded way too academic—and awkwardly intimate.

Yu Xing let her finish before remarking, "You must’ve been a top student, huh?"

"Obviously," Miao Yuanjin beamed. "Top of my class!"

Yu Xing nodded, then continued, "But what if the cerebral cortex doesn’t get excited? Or the arteries don’t dilate?"

"Uh..." That stopped her short.

"That’s when they take pills," Yu Xing pointed at Xiao He. "That's what they take."

"Oh..." Miao Yuanjin’s eyes widened in realization, and her gaze turned sympathetic.

Xiao He: "..."

Thorn: "..."

"So, how do you plan to find him?" Xiao He quickly steered the conversation away.

Yu Xing thought for a moment. "How much would it cost to hire every worker in this place?"

Xiao He: "..."

Thorn: "..."

Though clients could spend their money however they liked, Xiao He and Thorn could tell these two young women were respectable types who’d never normally come here. They were dead serious about finding someone.

So Xiao He made a suggestion. "You said this Yu He came two years ago? I know someone who’s been here for three. If Yu He really was here, he’d know."

Hearing this lead, Yu Xing immediately said, "Take me to him!"

They crossed the dance floor, edging past several grinding couples along the way.

Seeing Miao Yuanjin’s discomfort, Thorn grinned. "You came at a slow hour. If you’d arrived at night, you’d bump into at least three people just turning around."

Beyond the dance floor was another long, winding hallway lined with rooms.

As they ventured deeper, the music faded behind them, replaced by increasingly audible, unmistakable moans from behind the doors.

At first, Miao Yuanjin didn’t understand the noises. But once she did, she flushed scarlet.

"Are the walls just thin, or are the doors not closed properly?" she hissed through gritted teeth.

Xiao He stifled a laugh. "Newbies always wonder that. Some clients like the ambiance—it turns them on."

They stopped at a closed door without a "Do Not Disturb" sign.

Yu Xing glanced at the number: 041.

For some reason, the sight of it filled her with an odd sense of familiarity.

Miao Yuanjin leaned in, listening. "Why’s it so quiet inside?"

Xiao He scoffed. "041’s past his prime. Not as pretty, not as healthy. Can't pull clients like before. What else can he do but sleep with the door shut? Being awake means eating and drinking—just money down the drain."

He knocked loudly. "041! 041! Wakey wakey!"

"Why call him 041?" Miao Yuanjin frowned. "Doesn’t he have a name?"

Yu Xing stared at the door number, two words flashing through her mind: "Time..."

When no answer came, Miao Yuanjin turned to Yu Xing—only to find her slumped against the wall, pale-faced, a hand pressed to her heart.

"What’s wrong?" Miao Yuanjin asked, alarmed. "Are you sick?"

Yu Xing did feel unwell. She didn’t know why, but seeing "041" had triggered a sickening sense of dread—like she was about to face something she desperately wanted to avoid.

She hadn’t felt this way since she was a child, when her parents dumped her in their divorce.

"You really don’t look good," Miao Yuanjin fretted. "I've got meds in the car—should I get it?"

Just then, shuffling footsteps sounded from behind the door.

"He’s stirring," Xiao He said, hearing the movement inside.

"What a sleeper," Thorn remarked sarcastically. "Sleeping like this every day would make anyone dumb."

As he spoke, there was movement behind the door—the sound of it opening. Slowly, the door swung ajar, revealing pitch-black darkness inside. Only when it was two-thirds open did the dim hallway light spill in, allowing Yu Xing to catch a glimpse of a gorgeous face.

Pale and gaunt, with a sickly flush on his cheeks, his curly brown hair was disheveled, the strands at his temples damp with sweat and stuck flat to his skin.

It was an utterly exhausted face, his half-lidded eyes beneath long lashes like empty pits.

Those eyes barely opened, gliding over Thorn and Xiao He at the door before he let out a weary yawn, his voice raspy like he’d smoked cheap cigarettes all day and night.

"Customers for me?" he asked, leaning lazily against the doorframe.

"Pfft." Xiao He’s tone was odd. "Yeah, customers—two fancy ones, no less."

The man against the doorframe didn't bat an eye, replying calmly, "Oh. Then I’d better go ask William for some pills."

As he spoke, he hauled himself upright with the doorframe, finally looking forward—and then he saw Yu Xing leaning against the wall.

"You—" His eyes suddenly widened before his brows furrowed deeply. "Why are you here again?!"

Again...

Yu Xing zeroed in on that word immediately. Had the previous me been here before? Why didn’t she have any memory of it?

She couldn’t let Miao Yuanjin find out, or her weird act would be exposed.

"I need to talk to him alone," Yu Xing said to Miao Yuanjin. "Go wait somewhere for me."

Without waiting for a response, Yu Xing marched up to Room 041, giving the man a quick shove back into the dark room before stepping in herself. The door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang.

Faced with the closed door, the three outside just looked at each other.

Miao Yuanjin clenched her fists and swung them in the air angrily. "How dare you ditch me?! You—just you wait!"

With the door closed behind her, Yu Xing could see nothing, only the heavy smell of alcohol in the room.

"Where’s the light?" Yu Xing wanted to turn it on.

Snap! Light suddenly flooded the room—but not ordinary light.

Dim, mood lighting flickered and shifted, illuminating the huge circular bed in the center.

"That’s the only kind of light here," the hoarse voice said from behind. "Find a seat yourself."

Yu Xing scanned the room. It was pretty barebones, with just the basics—the most extravagant thing being that enormous round bed, the biggest she’d seen since arriving in this world.

Without overthinking it, she walked forward and sat down on the bed.

The messy guy turned back and saw Yu Xing casually sitting on the bed, his cheek giving a little twitch.

"Why are you here again?" His frown was deep enough to trap flies.

"Oh." Yu Xing sat on the bed, palms planted on the mattress, tilting her head slightly. "I came to find my brother."

His frown deepened. "I already told you he’s not here. Don’t believe me? What reason would I have to lie?"

So the original owner had come before—but Yu Xing couldn’t recall a thing.

"Well... you might not believe this," Yu Xing said, thinking fast to cook up a good story, "but I was sick. Really sick."

The man immediately looked concerned, stepping closer and bending down to check her over. "What kind of sickness? Did you run out of money?"

"How much do you need?" he asked without hesitation. "I’ve got some set aside."

"I’m better now, thanks to some good folks. Hospital Seven treated me for free." This wasn’t technically a lie—they had performed surgery on her at no cost. "But there were side effects. I forgot a lot of things. Honestly, I don’t even remember who you are. I thought today was my first time coming to look for my brother."

Yu Xing felt her story was airtight. She really wanted to know when the original owner had been here and what she’d learned.

"I’ve been here before, right?" Yu Xing studied the man. "What’s your name?"

He froze, clearly not expecting this. Amnesia sounded like something out of a bad soap opera.

But as he looked into Yu Xing’s honest eyes, they didn’t seem deceitful—and she had no reason to lie to him.

His throat worked as he turned away, walking to a table by the wall and pulling open a drawer. He fished out a smoke.

Holding it between his fingers without lighting it, he said, "You have been here. We met once."

After a pause, he added:

"Just call me Suiyue."

"When did I come here?" Yu Xing asked.

"When?" Suiyue rubbed his temples. "Time... I don’t remember clearly. Not long ago, though. Less than a month, maybe just over two weeks."

That would’ve been around the time she’d transmigrated.

"What about my brother?" Yu Xing pressed. "He said he worked here."

"He left." Suiyue brought the unlit cigarette to his nose, taking a whiff. "Worked here for a year, then disappeared. I don’t know where he went, don’t have his contact. Alive or dead—no idea. I told you the same thing last time. And I’ll say it again—stay away from this place."