『Rescuing the Fallen, Etched in the Bone』
(Warning: "Saving the Fallen Woman" trope ⚠️ Ill-Fated Woman × Rich Heiress College Student | GL / Yuri 🚫 No Male Lead) Because I lost a game, I ended up on the street before me. There were plenty of cars parked along the curb, but strangely, very few pedestrians around. My good-for-nothing friends had set up a Dare for me: find a shop called "Meihua Hair Washing" on this street, go in, and order their most expensive hair wash package. A hair wash—how expensive could it possibly be? Besides, I come from a well-off background, the typical rich second-generation type. Even if it cost hundreds or thousands of yuan, I could easily afford it. I asked a convenience store owner for directions to the shop. He looked at me with a rather strange gaze, but pointed the way nonetheless. I walked through an alley and found the shop deep inside—it was certainly well hidden. After stepping inside, the woman who came forward to greet me caught my eye completely... Long, messy black hair, delicate and soft features set against cool pale skin, and narrow, elongated eyes that carried an air of weariness and... numbness? "A girl? Are you here for a hair wash?" she asked, furrowing her brows in apparent confusion. Instead of being shy, I replied openly and generously, "Yeah. Aren't I welcome?" She paused for several seconds, pursed her lips, and asked, "What price range are you looking for?" "The most expensive one." "You're a student, right? We have an 88-yuan option, which is cheaper. The most expensive one is 788." "No need. I have money, just give me the most expensive one." She looked at me, seeming to hesitate, but led me upstairs to a private room anyway. It truly lived up to being the most expensive package. Before the hair wash began, there was a foot soak and massage service. Despite her somewhat frail-looking frame, she carried a large bucket of hot water over, gently took off my shoes and socks, and soaked my feet in the warm water. As she massaged my feet, she chatted with me. "You look so young. Are you in high school?" "No, I'm a college student. I'm already 21, I just look young." Her pressure was just right and very comfortable. But seeing the dark circles under her eyes, I couldn't help asking, "Is your line of work that exhausting? You have pretty bad dark circles." She froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "Life forces you to. Can't be helped. Our shop is open 24 hours, and there's more business at night, so it takes a toll." Oh... open 24 hours a day. Her boss must be a monster, exploiting labor like that. I silently cursed the boss in my heart while feeling an unexplainable pang of sympathy for her, prompting me to ask more about her. She recounted her past very calmly. As it turned out, her name was A-Yan. She had once been a college student too, but her parents passed away early, leaving her to grow up with her grandmother. Later, when her grandmother fell critically ill and required long-term hospitalization, she dropped out of school to start working early. She had done all kinds of odd jobs before finally settling down here. Listening to her, I couldn't help but sigh, but she just gave a nonchalant smile, as if she were already used to it all. As we chatted, the foot soak water gradually cooled. She attentively dried my feet, handed me clean disposable slippers, and then got up to pour out the water. After a brief thought, I secretly slipped 500 yuan in cash into the jacket she had taken off. Just as I finished and turned around, she returned. To my surprise, she had changed her clothes—a light gray, chunky knit sweater with an off-the-shoulder cut, leaving one shoulder bare. It suited her unexpectedly well; she looked gorgeous. I admit I was somewhat entranced, so much so that I didn't notice the resolute look in her eyes as she slowly walked over and, without a word, pressed her lips against mine. At that moment, I froze entirely. My mind felt as if a colossal firework had burst, chaotic and loud, yet so soft... such warm lips... She let out a soft chuckle. "Little boss, you seem... very surprised?"
"I would rather suffer than be numb."