Allure: Peerless Beauty

Do you love the city where you live? Or do you hate it? Is it because of its ostentatious soul? Or because of its beautiful body? When you think of it, do you smile or shed tears? Or do you feel the boundless emptiness of life... The air conditioning in the meeting room was too strong, and Ada couldn't help but shiver. Perhaps it was because she didn't sleep well last night, or perhaps it was just because of the cold, her lips were slightly blue. Her black-and-white eyes stared fixedly at the crystal coffee table in front of her, and the girl on the table was also staring at her. Those eyes were bloodshot, which reminded her of the deer on the edge of the cliff. Because there was no way to escape, despair was the only option. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the building, a sudden cold rain began to fall, and the large raindrops tapped against the transparent windows. She turned her face, looking somewhat dazed at the gray sky outside. This was the twenty-eighth floor, so high that it seemed like you could reach out and touch the gray clouds. The sky turned into a huge lead plate, instantly breaking into countless pieces, rushing towards her. The sky darkened... Ada thought she might remember this day forever. October 25, 2019 she had just turned 21. This should have been a happy day." Today was her birthday, as well as the anniversary of her and Sherry's meeting. Seven years ago, on this day, in that rundown orphanage on the outskirts of the city, 14-year-old Ada met the equally 14-year-old Sherry. The goddess of fate seemed to smile mysteriously from her lofty perch, as if deliberately orchestrating their encounter. Sherry didn't know her own birthday; she had been abandoned by her parents at birth and simply adopted Ada's birthday as her own. This morning, as soon as the nearby bakery opened its doors, Sherry, who was not accustomed to getting up early, rushed there with panda-like eyes to order a cake. Ada, on the other hand, went to the art school as usual, taking the earliest bus. After class, she received a notification from the department head that, due to her outstanding performance, the college had decided to apply for a special scholarship for her. In that moment, she felt like a happy little bird, almost soaring into the sky. Yes, the sky today was so lovely, even the smell of earth was so fresh. Everything was so rounded and perfect, fulfilling her wishes, making her almost want to burst into song. It would have been a rare happy day if it weren't for that phone call, if she didn't have to meet that man, if she didn't agree to that thing. The phone in her backpack suddenly rang, its monotonous and urgent ringtone piercingly loud. Ada felt her heart pounding faster and faster, her body trembling uncontrollably. But then, the door opened, and someone walked in. Ada stared at the door blankly, feeling as if she were in a dream. The phone continued to ring, its sound incredibly intrusive in the silent conference room. The newcomer seemed oblivious, walking straight to her. She stood up awkwardly. "Miss Lamb, I'm Mr. Bruce's assistant, Jimmy. Mr. Bruce is in a meeting, which will end in about thirty minutes. He asked me to inform you about tonight's schedule..." The man's tone was completely formal, his indifferent voice almost devoid of emotion. "Tonight's schedule?" Ada repeated subconsciously. Did he really need to plan meticulously for something as simple as spending time together? It's not like they were engaged in a business showdown; it was just a matter of pleasure. "Yes, Mr. Bruce is a perfectionist and plans everything meticulously," Jimmy said earnestly. It was quite black humor indeed. Ada smiled. He was truly the pride of the financial world, the most successful capitalist in the city. It made sense; at this moment, she was also a commodity he had purchased, so naturally, he would meticulously plan and make the most of it. Jimmy hadn't finished announcing his schedule yet when the phone rang again, and he looked up at her, asking, "Do you want to take the call first?" The phone? Yes, she should take the call first. But Ada couldn't muster the courage as she stared at the familiar number on the screen. Sweat soaked her thin vest, yet her whole body felt cold and hollow. "Miss Lamb, are you okay?" Jimmy asked expressionlessly, noticing that she had been staring at her phone, hesitant to answer. He couldn't help but remind her, "Miss Lamb, you should take the call first. I think..." He paused slightly, then smiled, "You should handle everything before Mr. Bruce arrives. It's necessary to remind you that Mr. Bruce dislikes wasting time, especially on trivial matters." With that, he left, leaving Ada alone in the spacious meeting room, feeling chilled to the bone. Trivial matters? Yes, to people like them, she was trivial. Perhaps she should be thankful he didn't say anything more humiliating, leaving her even more embarrassed. But what did it matter? This was how life was with Sherry, spending a third of her time enduring insults, another third waiting for them, and the final third dealing with the damage caused by those insults. After all, life continued even after humiliation. The phone rang again, and Ada knew she couldn't avoid it any longer. She finally answered. The call connected, and the other end was filled with the sound of pouring rain, mixed with honking horns, creating a noisy background. "Ada... where are you?" Ada didn't speak. She didn't really know what to say or how to explain everything to the person on the other end in a way that they could accept without going crazy. "Ada, where are you?" the other person repeated, sounding impatient. Ada took a deep breath, ultimately deciding to lie, "Um... Sherry, I'm really sorry, but you'll have to celebrate your birthday alone this year. A classmate of mine is leaving to study abroad in a few days, and we're celebrating for him today..." "What classmate of yours can afford a Bugatti, and who is close enough to make you give up celebrating your birthday with me, someone I don't even know?" Sherry's tone was sharp when she was angry. Ada was surprised, "How did you..." "I got it from Ben downstairs. You know, he loves to research those ridiculously expensive cars. I was walking to the street corner just now, and he came over and said that a Bugatti had picked you up. He also emphasized that it was a Hermes special edition, with only 14 of these models produced worldwide each year, and even if you have money, you might not be able to buy one. Ada, when did you make friends with someone so wealthy? I'd like to meet him." "Sherry, I..." "Ada, you never lie to me. Now that you're not telling the truth, shouldn't I be more worried?" Ada fell silent, only the sound of the rain filling the air. After a moment, Sherry gritted her teeth and asked, "Is it that bastard Noah Chance, isn't it?" Ada didn't respond, and Sherry suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Is it Gilbert Bruce?" Ada took a deep breath and simply replied, "Yes, it's him. But you don't have to worry, he just invited me for dinner and tea. You know, he's the most distinguished gentleman in the city, he wouldn't..." "Ada Lamb, do you think I'm a fool?" Sherry shouted, "He's giving you 20,000 just for dinner and tea? Don't tell me those two stacks of cash at home were picked up by you! 20,000, ten times the price of a first night at 'Allure', he's really generous. Ada, he's humiliating you, do you realize?" "I know! I'm more aware than anyone." Ada took a deep breath, biting her lips until they hurt, "But what can I do? Didn't you say this morning that a madman splashed water on your face? After that, our boss Wilson called and told me that if I didn't come today, next time it wouldn't be water splashed on your face." At this point, Ada laughed self-deprecatingly, "You know, this guy is always creative when he's angry, and we've experienced it more than once." Sherry looked at her trembling fingers in the rain and spoke with a quivering voice, "Ada, let's... let's leave, get out of here. The world is big outside, we'll find our way..." Ada shook her head helplessly, tears streaming down her face, "You know better than I do, we can't leave. We've worked at 'Allure' for so long, we've long known that Wilson has connections everywhere. He's only afraid of two people, Gilbert Bruce and Noah Chance. Which one of them would help us? And... why should we run away? We have my studies, your dreams, everything we've worked so hard for. Why should we flee because of a few people who hurt us? Even if we're degraded and despicable, we still have the right to survive. No one has the right to take that away from us. Sherry, do you understand?" Sherry wanted to say something else, but Ada didn't have time to listen. She closed her eyes and murmured in a dreamlike voice, "Don't be afraid, like we did when we were kids, close your eyes and sincerely pray. Believe me, the dark night will pass, and tomorrow... will be a new day." With a stumble, Sherry Kert fell to her knees in the rain-soaked street, the cake in her hand soaked by the downpour, the beautiful box almost turned to pulp. She bent over, grief-stricken, unable to make a sound. "Ada, do you understand at all? That man, he won't let you off like this..." This was the last sentence Sherry Kert said to Ada Lamb before she turned off her phone, sitting in the pouring rain at dusk, collapsed on the ground. The rain was too loud, she didn't know if Ada heard clearly. But it didn't matter anymore. They both knew what would happen in the future, but they had no choice. A life without choice is tragic, but they couldn't escape it. They didn't die in the chaotic night, in the pitch-black alley, or in the cold orphanage. They had to keep living. But living such a bone-chilling life was unbearable for them. The rain outside gradually subsided, and the clock on the wall continued to tick. Waiting in the endless fear of the future became an eternal torment. When the heavy door was pushed open again, it was just at the moment when the rain stopped and the sky cleared. The gloom retreated, the clouds dispersed, and the golden sunlight felt like sharp lightning, piercing her eyes. In the midst of her astonishment, Ada turned around, only to see Gilbert Bruce, the man she had been waiting for so long, standing silently behind her like a god, as if an inevitable fate was approaching. Not without fear. Ada involuntarily stepped back, and back... until her back pressed against the cold floor-to-ceiling window, she stared fixedly ahead with wide eyes. Her back was like an abyss, and she had nowhere to escape. Seeing her fear, he smiled even more triumphantly, like a predator towering above, with a charming smile, leisurely approaching her—ending her life.