As they settled into a quiet corner of the restaurant, Chen Meili took a deep breath, steeling herself for the revelations she was about to make. "Whatever I'm about to share is based on what the previous receptionist at Velvet Shadows once confided in me.
I can't vouch for its complete accuracy, but it's all I have," she cautioned, wanting to ensure that Wang Xiao wouldn't hold her to any potential discrepancies later.
Wang Xiao leaned forward, his eyes fixed on her, a silent agreement to proceed.
Chen Meili let out a sigh, unsure about the veracity of the information she was about to divulge.
She began, her words punctuated by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Velvet Shadows, as it stood today, had a rich history, its origins steeped in the annals of time.
It was originally a well-established and renowned establishment, which Lin Xue's mother, Qian Li, had once managed. Lin Xue had inherited it, but under her leadership, the business had deteriorated rather than thrived.
There was little information about Qian Li, but rumors suggested that she had served a variety of clients and guests.
The place used to function as a full-fledged brothel in the past. Notably, even Qian Li herself had been in the dark about Lin Xue's true father.
Qian Li had always wanted the brothel to continue, and she had hoped that her daughter would carry it forward.
The intricacies of the minds of those in the profession were complex and couldn't be fully understood unless one had experienced that world up close.
For Qian Li, Velvet Shadows was more than just a business—it was her religion, her way of life, a path she had known and embraced since her early years.
Rumors swirled through the hushed whispers of the past, hinting that she, too, had been a commodity traded within those crimson-draped walls during the tumultuous Sino-Soviet border conflicts.
Stories painted a vivid picture of a woman who wielded her beauty as a weapon, rising to dominance through the ruthless use of her own body.
Qian Li's cunning and unmatched cruelty were the tales whispered in the shadows, stories of how she could effortlessly seize control of the entire establishment merely by utilizing her physical allure.
Fifteen years prior to the present day, Qian Li's health began its inevitable decline.
A heavy smoker and drinker throughout her life, the consequences caught up with her as cancer ravaged her body.
Despite her deteriorating health, the fire within her to maintain the legacy burned strong.
In those trying times, Qian Li made a decision that would alter the course of Lin Xue's life forever.
Lin Xue, then only twelve years old, had lived in a different world, one bathed in innocence and brightness, believing that her mother cherished her and wished for a normal life.
But the day of reckoning arrived. Qian Li, facing her own mortality, chose to pass the torch, leaving the burden of Velvet Shadows on young Lin Xue's shoulders.
The transition was abrupt and brutal, shattering the illusion of a normal life.
Forced into a dark reality, Lin Xue was caught off guard by the sudden proposal, a forceful battle that the young girl inevitably lost.
That night, amidst cries and screams, she was thrust into a world she had never chosen, a cruel initiation into the shadows of Velvet Shadows.
In that moment, Qian Li remained detached, her perspective aligned with the beliefs she had held for years.
It was a perspective that would soon unravel when she entered that room and found Lin Xue curled up in the corner.
The stark reality struck her with an unrelenting force, yet by then, it was far too late.
Still, Qian Li steeled her heart and, a week later, attempted to introduce Lin Xue to her second client, as though she wanted to accelerate her daughter's adjustment to her new life.
But the second encounter was even more harrowing than the first. Lin Xue's reaction was visceral and uncontrollable; she was paralyzed by fear as soon as a man entered the room.
She began to scream and cry, causing the man to flee in revulsion.
It marked the inception of a persistent pattern.
Regardless of the man who entered her life thereafter, not a single one could approach her.
Lin Xue's experience at the age of twelve had left her with an enduring trauma, a deep-seated fear that never left her.
Lin Xue's existence became a perpetual isolation from men, her fear of them indelibly etched into her psyche.
She rarely had any close contact with the opposite sex, save for that one traumatic encounter.
As the years passed, Qian Li's depression deepened.
Her health continued its decline, and the once close bond between mother and daughter turned into one marked by resentment and fear.
Lin Xue couldn't hide her hatred and terror.
In the end, the relentless cancer that had plagued Qian Li took her life.
She left the establishment to her trusted aide, who had also been Lin Xue's caretaker and who had vehemently opposed the decision to drag the young girl into the same dark abyss as her mother.
After Qian Li's demise, it was the trusted aide who took the reins of the brothel, assuming the responsibility of not only running the establishment but also overseeing the care and guidance of Lin Xue.
The aide had been the past receptionist who had shared the haunting stories with Chen Meili.
However, much like Qian Li, she, too, eventually retired due to the relentless march of time.
And when she left, she vanished into the unknown, leaving Lin Xue in a state of frustration. It was another disappearance that left her feeling abandoned.
At that moment, Chen Meili was met with the brunt of Lin Xue's anger and resentment.
The first year proved to be incredibly difficult for Chen Meili, who had known the old woman had prepared her for this challenging task.
The aide had forewarned her about Lin Xue's occasional childlike tantrums and urged her to be patient.
One year passed, and Lin Xue finally came to terms with her own behavior, realizing the weight of her actions.
She mustered the courage to apologize to Chen Meili, who awkwardly accepted the apology, knowing that, from that point onward, Lin Xue would be her employer.
Over the years, Chen Meili rarely saw Lin Xue venture outside, confirming what the old aide had mentioned.
Out of pity and a growing fondness for Lin Xue, she became more involved in the brothel's management, a role that would have been long abandoned if left solely to Lin Xue's interests.