Love Me, Hug Me

In the most famous Glamorous Bar in Cloud City, the lights were fluorescent.

In distress, Nancy Martin stood in Booth 988 on the second floor.

Under the dim light and amid ear-shattering music, men and women were hugging each other.

They were rolling dices, playing games, and even...

"Come on, Sam, restrain yourself in the presence of Mr. Green. Don't groan with the woman there."

"Got it, almost there."

Nancy could barely discern the speaker and only saw him hugging a woman on a shaking chair.

"Eh, who's this, the new girl?"

The man named Sam swiveled his eyes, looked at Nancy, and shouted.

Nancy tugged at her miniskirt that could barely cover her waist.

"Yes... I... I'm here for... sale."

Nancy was so nervous that her teeth chattered and she spoke with a lisp.

No sooner had her voice died away than the whole room burst into laughter. They laughed unscrupulously as if it was a good joke.

"Sis, how much do you ask for? We'll see if we can afford it."

The man continued to ask.

Nancy was so nervous that she could hardly speak.

"I... need... 50,000 yuan. Take me with 50,000 yuan."

Nancy was so diffident that the volume of her voice kept diminishing.

There came another burst of laughter mixed with unabashed sneering, "So expensive, are you clean?"

Nancy stiffened a bit. Was 50,000 yuan expensive?

Nancy bit her lips and hastily corrected herself, "I can be cheap... 2... 20,000 yuan will do. I'm clean, very."

As soon as her voice died away, there was another burst of laughter.

Nancy couldn't understand their laughter.

"Expensive, sis." Someone said.

Nancy felt helpless.

"This... this is my bottom line."

Nancy gritted her teeth and insisted.

"Okay, 20,000 yuan will do, but how do we know if you're clean. How about you get undressed and let us take a look?"

Nancy had never heard such obscene and disgusting words in the past 18 years.

She stood there still.

"Come on, aren't you for sale?"

Nancy hesitated for a long time. Tears of humiliation were welling up in her eyes, and her trembling hands reached for the button.

With cigarettes between their fingers, those men drank wine, held women, and looked sarcastically at Nancy.

Ned Green looked at the shuddering girl who forced herself to remain calm, flicked the ash into the ashtray, and suddenly opened his mouth, "That's enough, I'll take you."

The noisy booth instantly quieted down. Now that Ned, the top dog of the Green family and an omnipotent man in Cloud City, spoke, no one dared to defy.

Nancy halted her trembling fingers and looked over with her red eyes.

Him. She had been observing the man.

He was sitting in the seat of honor silently the entire time.

Like a square peg in a round hole, he got no women around him and sat loftily in the middle all alone.

Noticing Nancy's gaze, Ned reached out for a glass of wine and took it to his mouth for a sip.

Under the dim light, Nancy was unable to discern the expressions on his face, but his hand holding the goblet looked slender and fair. There was a ring on his ring finger but without a diamond.

Nancy hadn't expected such a man to claim her at the most embarrassing moment.

After a moment of daze, she hurriedly buttoned the buttons.

Such a speech of trade somehow warmed her heart.

Carrying his wine, Zack Murray sat next to Ned and seemed surprised, "Ned, pigs fly. Why do you also take girls from the bars? Do you really fancy such girls?"

Embarrassed by his words, Nancy bit her lip.

"Are you a grown-up?"

Ned made no reply but looked at Nancy and asked.

The booth was all quiet at the moment. After all, when the big shot from the Green family spoke, no one dared to make a noise. The booth waiter was even sensible enough to turn off the ear-shattering music.

The surroundings became so quiet that Nancy could hear her rapid breathing.

"I..."

Nancy gripped the hem of her skirt, got sweat in her palms, and faltered.

She was afraid that he would break the deal for her young age.

"I'm 20."

Ned leaned on the sofa, crossed his long legs, and unhurriedly smoked without another word.

Nancy felt a little guilty.

After a while, Ned took out his wallet and produced a wad of cash on the table.

"I don't have much cash with me. Here is around 5,000 yuan for you."

Nancy hadn't tried to reach out for the money.

Zack beat her to lift his hand and flip the money on the floor.

His action was wanton and frivolous.

The red banknotes showered and dazzled her eyes.

"Why are you so nice to such kind of person?"

Following his speech, Zack looked at Nancy.

He raised his chin high and continued, "Don't you want money? Pick it up."

On the hem of her skirt, her fingertips trembled, but she squatted down to pick up the money.

She needed the money and disregarded the humiliation.

Nancy slightly bent down to pick up the scattered banknotes.

When she picked up the last one, Zack lifted his foot and trod it underfoot.

"Please lift it." Nancy looked at the devilish man.

"Oh."

Zack somehow listened to her and lifted his foot.

Nancy wondered why he suddenly relented.

But an excruciating pain came from her hand the next second.

"Ah!"

Nancy screamed in pain.

Zack used the sole of his leather shoe to step heavily on the back of her hand.

"Zack, have your fun but don't go too far. You should know that this woman is mine now."

Ned shot a warning glance at Zack.

Following his words, he bent over, clasped Nancy's wrist, and pulled her hand out of Zack's sole.

His palm, wide and thick, sent a stream of warmth to her wrist and her heart.

Nancy looked into his deep eyes and blushed.

She remembered his declaration 'This woman is mine.'

Her heart convulsed as she heard such explicit words for the first time.

Ned tugged her wrist and led her to the door.

Obediently she carried the wad of money and followed him.

When they reached the door, Nancy heard a loud noise, followed by the crash of glass and women's squeal.

She looked back and saw Zack's livid face.

Nancy stopped many times during her walk through the corridor. Along the way, people greeted Ned respectfully.

"Are you the owner of this place?"

When they arrived at the underground parking lot, Nancy asked curiously.

Ned looked back with awe-inspiring eyes, and Nancy immediately looked away.

She lowered her head and faced the floor.

She had to admit her fear for him.

She feared his dashing face and awful air. In a word...

She was afraid of him.

"Do I look like the owner here?"

"They all greeted you... so..."

"I'm not."

"Oh."

After a moment of silence, Nancy heard his voice, "What are you waiting for? Come here."

Nancy looked up, found him already sitting in the backseat of the car, and hastened over.

She gingerly closed the door, sorted out the money, and counted it three times carefully.

Including the one under Zack's foot, it was a total of 7,900 yuan.

Ned took 8,000 for 5,000.

Nancy had a reason not to tell him.

Leaning on the seat, Ned sat upright with his eyes closed, and Nancy stole a glance at him.

"Well, when can I get the balance? My grandma is in the hospital in need of money."

While speaking, she saw him suddenly opening his eyes.

Nancy immediately bowed her head.

Maybe she was guilty of taking extra money, her voice became lower, "They are urging me to pay for the surgery."

Ned reached out his arm and lifted her chin. She was forced to raise her head.

Afraid of his gaze, Nancy dropped her eyes and looked at the collar of his shirt.

"Why are you afraid of looking at me? Guilty conscience?"

Ned suddenly asked.

Nancy's heart gave a physical lurch.

Sure enough, he knew the amount of his money.

He looked so smart, so how was it possible that he took 8,000 for 5,000?

It should be a test.

Nancy quietly looked at Ned, reached out for the money, and held it before his eyes.

Ned watched her action with emotionless eyes, but his facial expressions became playful.

Nancy spoke in a low voice, "Here is 7,900 yuan and 2,900 more than 5,000. In this case, you need to pay me the balance of 12,100."

She emphasized the extra 2,900 and thought it should be fine.

She raised her eyes and looked at Ned timidly, only to find his lips curving up.

Ned loosened the grip on her chin and spoke in a deep, calm voice, "We had a deal, and I'll pay the bills. Only I need to inspect the goods."

Nancy blushed, "No... no problem."

After a silent trip, she was taken to a beautiful house.

He turned on the lights.

The light was as bright as daylight, and Nancy had to shield her eyes.

"The house was renovated a long time ago, but no one has ever lived here. Nevertheless, it's cleaned regularly, and there's no shortage of daily articles. If you're willing to follow me long-term, I can give the house to you."

Seemingly unfamiliar with the place, Ned rummaged through several cabinets before finding a bottle of wine.

He added ice into the wine glass and stood upright by the refrigerator.

Nancy shook his head, "Mr. Green, I don't plan to follow you for long."

Ned raised his eyes, looked at her, and then nodded, "Go take a bath."

Nancy stood there, hesitated for quite a while, and asked, "Where's the bathroom?"

He took a sip of his wine and looked at Nancy for a moment. As if something crossed his mind, he walked to her.

"The bathroom is on the second floor in the master bedroom. Do you know how to use it? I can teach you and wouldn't mind bathing with you."

When he said the last part, his lips leaned to her so close that she shuddered.

Nancy hurriedly took a step back, "Yes, I know."

Ned stared at her, "You sure?"