Darkstone Code
Chapter 248 - 0246 Unable to refuse [This - is sponsored by "0491zhang" with an added update - 4/8]

Chapter 248: 0246 Unable to refuse [This Chapter is sponsored by "0491zhang" with an added update - 4/8]

"Finished?" A girl touching up her makeup casually asked, seeing the young girl in a school uniform walk in from outside.

The girl in the school uniform nodded. She didn’t speak, went straight into the bathroom stall, and after a while came out holding a complete set of toiletries, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel from her bag.

Watching the girl seriously brushing her teeth, rinsing, and washing her face, the girl doing her makeup sighed helplessly, wanting to say something, but the girl in the school uniform looked at her through the mirror and shook her head, "No need, but thank you."

That simple thank you closed the girl’s mouth. She gave the girl in the school uniform a hug and then left. Shortly after, the girl in the school uniform also left, and the place returned to tranquility.

These days, the strip club’s lobby business has been very good, mysteriously increasing foot traffic and significantly boosting the earnings of lobby dancers, while the clientele in the VIP area has noticeably declined.

Many girls are considering switching to the lobby—those in the VIP area only provide one-on-one services, but the lobby area is not only more complex, they have to showcase their bodies to everyone, which makes some feel...cheapened.

Of course, in a place like a strip club, there is an inherent tension between lobby and VIP dancers, who on one hand envy the VIP girls not needing to work exhaustively yet earn much, while on the other hand, they resent their pretentious demeanor despite undressing, finding it disgusting.

Some girls have already switched areas and earned a lot of money, stirring others to move as well.

The girl in the school uniform finished her shift at dawn and then returned to her rented place, finally feeling some sense of security lying on the bed.

She comes from another city; no one would work in a strip club right next to their home—this would make them playthings for the street punks.

Most girls in this industry choose to work at least halfway across the city, while some opt for different cities; this girl came from the state capital.

The situation over there is not much better than in Sabin City, with most ordinary families, including the girl’s, engulfed in financial crises.

The girl named Annie comes from a very ordinary family, with a beautiful mother and a father claimed to be a high school football team star.

This couple endowed Annie with remarkable looks and a decent figure, but that’s the extent of their contributions.

Annie’s mother doesn’t have a job, and her father is a regular factory worker, rendered unemployed after a major strike, leaving the family facing immense difficulties.

To help with household expenses, Annie’s mother works from dawn till dusk, while Annie too had to choose this path.

For her, indeed...it’s just like that; there isn’t much unbearably difficult in her view.

From where she stands now, she sees her former self as genuinely foolish.

Those punks’ sweet words made her obediently undress and lie on the bed while she gained nothing.

So, she finds nothing of the current work worth worrying about, while it satisfies her monetary pursuits; life requires compromising reality in some aspect.

At noon, Annie was startled awake by knocking. Half asleep, she exuded a unique allure, sitting cross-legged in bed, dazed for a few seconds before cautiously approaching the door, "Who’s there?"

She doesn’t particularly worry about her safety. Financial turmoil wasn’t entirely detrimental; Sabin City’s central district’s rent prices have plunged.

A hundred-dollar apartment is now a little over fifty bucks, situated in the city center, the area with the lowest crime rate.

"Is this Miss Annie’s residence?" asked a young voice from outside, resembling students or adolescents, a type Annie often heard back in school.

This voice eased her vigilance somewhat, leading her to open the door slightly—a chain lock ensured the door wouldn’t open fully.

The lock manufacturer claims their chain lock annually saves at least thirty thousand potential victims from harm, though this figure is misleading, as proven by the fact this lock can’t truly stop someone determined.

Of course, this is another matter.

Through the gap, Annie saw a boy of about fourteen, fifteen, or sixteen standing outside in a perfectly fitting coat, wearing a suit and vest beneath, along with a shirt.

He donned a woolen cap with a beige base and red plaid, clean and pleasing to the eye.

Annie relaxed her guard though she didn’t fully open the door; her demeanor softened considerably, "What can I do for you?"

The boy showed a trace of a smile, "A gentleman wishes to speak with you..."

After Annie heard this, she shook her head, "Sorry, tell that gentleman I don’t do callouts."

This is Annie’s bottom line; everyone holds personal boundaries—some do everything but refuse to kiss, as these actions hold a sacred significance to them.

Annie has her limits too, which is not doing callouts. While this may seem hypocritical to some, she disregards others’ opinions; she simply doesn’t do callouts.

The boy didn’t seem disappointed; he pulled out a card and handed it through the door gap, "The gentleman said if you dial this number, you might gain some unexpected benefits."

After speaking, the boy adjusted his hat’s brim and sprinted down the hall. Listening to the fading footsteps, Annie shook her head, returning to her room.

She no longer felt sleepy, though she usually sleeps until the afternoon.

Getting up earlier today, she took a shower, changed clothes, and decided to go out for a meal.

Perhaps due to some mysterious force, before leaving home, Annie hesitantly glanced at the card she had casually placed on the shoe rack and eventually decided to bring it along.

After enjoying a cheap lunch, Annie browsed a few shops, finding them mostly abandoned and quite empty.

The mannequin in the display case wore outfits and accessories every woman wished to own, showcasing the latest trends of the new season.

Simultaneously, it implied past years’ fashions were outdated; fashion is a circle, endless and perpetual.

Arriving at a corner phone booth, Annie suddenly thought of the card with only a phone number and stepped inside, dialing the number.

The call was quickly answered, followed by a voice Annie perceived as incredibly gentle, "It’s me..."

This phone greeting made her slightly anxious, her voice stuttering, "Well, someone instructed me to call this number..."

The person on the other end seemed to instantly grasp the call’s purpose, "Is this Miss Annie?" After Annie confirmed, the voice resumed, "Before proceeding, I must apologize; what I’m about to say might affect your mood, and I hope you’ll forgive my impertinence."

The voice paused briefly; Annie hesitated for a moment, "Sorry, I don’t do callouts."

The person on the other end chuckled, "I recently encountered some troubles, and Miss Annie, you happen to be able to assist me. If you’re willing to help me resolve these issues, I can present some monetary aid to improve your situation..."

Just as Annie was about to refuse, an irresistible figure was mentioned through the phone, "Twenty thousand dollars, Miss Annie, twenty thousand dollars for resolving this issue for me. Do you find this offer fair?"

The thought of hanging up made Annie falter; she wished to muster the courage to refuse but couldn’t deny or gather bravery to do so.

The girl’s silence seemed to concede; the person on the other end persisted, "Before tonight’s work, someone will deliver some details to you, along with my sincerity."

"But before that, I must inform Miss Annie, once you don’t refuse now, I’ll assume our agreement is sealed, and should there be any issues later..."

The voice abruptly halted, resuming after a few seconds, "I need to confirm your stance one last time. Are you declining?"

...

At three thirty in the afternoon, the same boy from earlier knocked on Annie’s door, holding a square box, "A gentleman wanted me to hand this to you, Ma’am."

Normally, Annie would correct the boy’s mistake, stating she’s a Miss, not a Ma’am, but she lacked the mood.

Taking the box and saying thanks, preparing to return to her room, she suddenly halted as if remembering something and seized the boy’s hand, "What’s the person who gave you this look like?"

Any clues she could gather identifying the other party, however worthless they seemed, she desperately desired, making her slightly more at ease.

But the boy simply shook his head silently, again adjusting his hat’s brim before departing.

Back in her room, Annie sat dazed on the bed, before finally opening the box.

On top lay a check; looking at the figure, Annie’s heart involuntarily raced. Since starting in this field, she hadn’t really made much money; the sum on the check was undeniably substantial for her.

After a brief surprise, her spirits dampened; the sensation of being controlled wasn’t pleasant.

Inside was also a notebook, a portfolio, and an old-looking bracelet.

What is the mysterious person up to?

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