Stole My Boyfriend,I'll Be Your Stepmom

Chapter 1: Bargaining Today is my twentieth birthday, and just now, my campus heartthrob boyfriend unilaterally informed me that we're breaking up because he's gotten himself a new girlfriend, one who happens to be the daughter of a wealthy family. My best friend told me that the quickest way to get over a man is to find another, more handsome one. So I decided that today, I would find someone better looking than him and do some adult things. She brought me to a bar called "Elegance." This bar wasn't the kind where the music was deafening and everyone was crazily shaking their bodies. On the contrary, it was rather quiet here, with dim lighting, and the smooth, warm saxophone music that played felt sexy and ambiguous, with each note tugging at the heartstrings. The patrons of the bar were all dressed meticulously, with quite a few good-looking young men and women mingling softly and flirtatiously. The air was filled with a mixture of alcohol, perfume, and a faint trace of tobacco, overwhelming my senses. “Achoo!” I sneezed and rubbed my nose. “Delilah, are you sure we're looking for men in a place like this?” With an experienced air, she patted my hand. “Trust me. By tomorrow, you won't even remember who Adrian is.” She turned and called over the bartender, “One Bailey's on the rocks and one whiskey sour.” The Bailey's on the rocks was for me. It was my first time drinking, so I took a sip—it tasted like sweet, creamy ice cream. No wonder so many people like drinking; this stuff is delicious. I downed my drink in two gulps and asked the bartender for another. “Hailey, you've spent more than a hundred thousand on that scumbag over these three years, haven't you? And what did you get in return? Just a few sweet words? You didn't even get to sleep with him—don't you feel wronged?” My sexy, fiery best friend started to poke at my sore spot. “Look at these handsome guys—good looks, great bodies. Sleeping with them doesn't cost a hundred thousand, does it? You don't have to be responsible for them, you don't have to invest emotionally, you just need to pay a little money. So what's the point of a boyfriend? He spends your money while he's off seeing other women and making you angry?” I couldn't blame Delilah for being indignant on my behalf. Adrian and I had been dating since our freshman year. His family wasn't well-off, his father had been in prison for years, and his mother had raised him all by herself. My family, on the other hand, was doing okay. My dad owned a small clothing factory, so while we weren't super rich, I'd never wanted for anything. When I first met him, I thought he was an especially inspiring guy. My mom would send me six thousand yuan a month for living expenses, and I'd give half to him, leaving myself with just three thousand. I lived on a tight budget. “Do you think handsome guys are expensive?” I asked, a bit nervous. I still had ten days left in the month and only fourteen hundred yuan to my name. “Don't worry, pick whoever you like, tonight's on me!” Delilah was generous. She came from a southern coastal city, had a bold and open personality, and was my closest friend in the dorm. Her view on relationships was that she didn't do relationships. As she put it, “I'm rich and good-looking—why should I have to invest emotionally in a man if I want one?” She'd told me that her mom had been deceived by a foreign scumbag, who left as soon as she got pregnant. So, she didn't even know what her dad looked like. After giving birth to her, her mom channeled her heartbreak into building a career and was now a wealthy businesswoman in their hometown. Delilah had the classic look of a mixed-race beauty: honey-toned skin, long brown curls, delicate features, and a tall, curvy figure that even I couldn't take my eyes off of, let alone men. Seeing the deep cleavage peeking from her neckline, I felt a bit insecure—she was taller than me, bustier than me, and I still had a bit of baby fat on my doll-like face, which made me look underage. My mom always said my face made me look younger. Damn it, looking young is for women in their forties, not someone who just turned twenty. I wanted to be bold, sexy, and womanly! I discreetly tugged my neckline down a bit, but still, no cleavage. “You don't have to pay. I'll cover whatever I order myself.” After two glasses of Bailey's, my face was starting to feel hot, and my tongue was getting a bit thick. Even if I drank too much, I knew better than to let someone else pay for this kind of thing. I ordered a third glass of Bailey's. Damn it, why is this stuff so tasty? “See if there's anyone who matches your taste. It's your birthday, you've got to pick the hottest guy in the place. Don't worry about the cost—I'll cover it. Consider it a birthday gift.” My little rich friend was being very generous. I was shamelessly tempted. Next month, I wouldn't have to split my living expenses with Adrian—I could afford this. “So, how do I know which men are available for hire?” I asked, genuinely curious. “The good-looking ones!” Delilah looked very clever. I thought what she said made sense. “How much do they cost for one night?” She hesitated for a moment. “I've heard it's about a thousand yuan.” “You've never hired one?” I asked, puzzled. “I've never been dumped,” she replied matter-of-factly. Fair enough. I grabbed my fourth glass of Bailey's and, with Delilah, pretended to casually stroll around the bar. Suddenly, my gaze was drawn to a man nearby. In the innermost booth sat two men, one in his twenties and one in his thirties, both very handsome. I was drawn to the older one. Even though he was a bit older, his looks were exactly my type. It was the first time I realized that men could be described as stunning, and if it were him, I'd say a thousand yuan would be worth it. But based on the frugal habits ingrained in me since childhood, I figured I should at least try to bargain. I wobbled over to his side and flashed a sweet smile. “Uncle, may I sit here?” As soon as I said that, I saw Delilah rolling her eyes, looking like she was about to die of exasperation. I wasn't sure what I'd said wrong, but then she plopped down next to the younger man, giving him a sultry look. “Hey, handsome, my feet are killing me. Can I sit here for a while?” The younger man smiled kindly at her. “Suit yourself, miss.” Oh, I get it—I was too blunt. The man next to me remained silent, just giving me a mysterious smile. Feeling awkward, I coughed lightly. The alcohol had slowed my brain down. I started to think, why did I come over here again? Oh, right—bargaining. I needed to do it gracefully and femininely. A little tipsy, I looked at the handsome uncle. “Do you think I'm pretty?” I'd been told I was pretty since I was a kid. Like my mom, I had a doll-like face, so all my clothes were of the cute and sweet variety. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a polite smile. “You're very pretty.” Hearing him call me pretty made my heart bloom with joy, and I seized the opportunity. “Then, since I'm pretty, can you give me a 20% discount?” Even though my tongue was a bit heavy, my mind was still clear. “I'm sorry, what are you talking about?” His eyes were full of confusion. Trying to sound experienced, I explained, “I know the going rate is a thousand yuan, but you're older than them.” I pointed unsteadily at the younger, handsome men nearby. “You probably don't have as much stamina as they do, so give me a discount. Plus, I'm good-looking, so how about eight hundred, okay?” By the end, I was batting my eyes at him, tugging at his sleeve.