First day of work

The next afternoon, while I sat stiffly attentive in class, my mother was already walking alone toward Genting Highlands.

She wore the outfit Shen Yanxi had given her yesterday—a soft blouse, flowing wide-leg pants, and low-heeled shoes that lent her an elegance for the first time, unlike anything seen on the sports field.

On the way, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

She pulled it out to find a WeChat message from Shen Yanxi.

"Darling, where are you? Everyone's here already, just waiting for our star of the show to make her grand entrance~"

The affectionate nickname, the coquettish tone—it seemed like playful banter between best friends, yet it felt like an invisible rope, binding Mom once more.

She didn't reply. Silently tucking her phone away, she quickened her pace.

She walked into the Grand Hyatt with practiced ease. Guided by a valet, she took the elevator once more to the presidential suite.

Standing before the heavy door, Mom raised her hand and knocked.

The door swung open quickly from the inside.

It was Shen Yanxi who answered.

She had changed her outfit today—a white silk blouse, black high-waisted trousers, and a pair of silver stiletto heels. Her hair was meticulously pinned up, her makeup flawless, and her lips a fiery red.

She exuded elegance and efficiency, radiating the commanding presence of a business queen.

"You're here, my darling!"

Shen Yanxi immediately opened her arms wide in a warm embrace the moment she spotted her mother. "Come on in! Everyone's been waiting impatiently."

Before her mother could react, Shen Yanxi affectionately hooked her arm through hers and pulled her into the room.

A thick cloud of cigar smoke instantly hit them, making her mother instinctively wrinkle her nose.

The living room was no longer the empty, quiet space it had been yesterday.

Three middle-aged men in sharp suits sat on the large leather sofa.

The coffee table between them was laden with expensive imported liquor and fruit platters. Several crystal ashtrays were packed with thick cigar butts.

A balding man with a receding hairline was engaged in a heated conversation with a potbellied man, spittle flying from their mouths. Another, slightly older, leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed in relaxation.

Not far from them, a young man with a stout build and black-rimmed glasses was bent over, intently adjusting a camera that looked highly professional.

Hearing movement at the door, the three men on the sofa stopped talking and turned their gaze toward the entrance in unison.

When their eyes landed on Mom, a predatory, greedy light instantly flared in them.

"Well, well, our leading lady has finally arrived!"

The bald man was the first to rise, his eyes roaming unabashedly over Mom's body—from her ample bosom to her shapely legs.

"Mr. Wang, Mr. Li, Mr. Zhao,"

Shen Yanxi linked arms with Mom, her smile as radiant as a flower as she guided her to the center of the living room. Her posture resembled that of a seasoned madam presenting her girl to the guests. "Allow me to introduce you to Zhu Ling—the one I've mentioned before."

"Former athlete, 5'10"."

She paused, deliberately building suspense, then added in a suggestive tone, "As for her measurements... you gentlemen know what to look for."

She gave her mother a gentle push on the back, nudging her half a step forward.

Mom's body instantly stiffened.

She instinctively tried to step back, but Shen Yanxi quietly held her waist in place.

"Yanxi..." Mom turned, her voice hushed. "Didn't you say... we were just here for photos?"

Her words were veiled, but the subtext was clear: I'm not here to sell myself.

"It is a photo shoot, my dear sister. No need to be nervous."

Shen Yanxi murmured soothingly in her ear, "Be more confident. Channel that champion spirit. Everyone here today is your fan."

As she spoke, she playfully wrapped an arm around her mother's waist, guiding her toward the three men.

"Allow me to introduce,"

Shen Yanxi's voice grew effusive again, "This is Mr. Wang Jianjun, CEO of the women's sportswear brand 'Veloss'. After reviewing your portfolio, he couldn't stop thinking about your tennis dress look from yesterday. He insists on inviting you to shoot a high-end promotional campaign for their brand."

She then pointed to the pot-bellied Mr. Zhao: "This is Mr. Zhao, a finance tycoon who admires your professional, elite vibe. He said he'd love to see you in black stockings and high heels, sitting in his office giving him work reports."

Finally, she introduced the oldest-looking Mr. Li: "As for Mr. Li, he's our most art-savvy and tasteful client. He fell head over heels for that royal blue fishtail dress of yours the moment he saw it."

Every word Shen Yanxi uttered felt like she was putting a price tag on her mother, matching the three outfits Mom had tried on yesterday to each of these three greasy men.

Behind the lofty excuses lay a naked transaction of desire.

Now, pushed by Shen Yanxi, Mom stood frozen before the three executives, separated only by a wide rosewood coffee table.

Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson as blood rushed to her head with a buzzing sensation.

She hadn't expected the so-called shoot to involve so many men.

What terrified her even more was the look in their eyes—utterly different from the glances she’d encountered on the streets or at the stadium.

This wasn’t mere admiration or lust.

It was the gaze of a child drooling over a cream cake, a starving beggar fixated on a steaming bowl of rice, a pack of ravenous wolves eyeing a lone lamb!

It was the look of men who wanted to devour her whole, tear her apart, and swallow her alive!

"Mr. Shen really didn't lie to us. She truly is top-notch! Absolutely top-notch!"