Lao Zi From An American School Was Raped By A Mixed-Race Daddy Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Pervert, Pay Up if You Want to Keep Looking

Sometimes, the purest enjoyment comes from the simplest trash-talking.

Josh hung up the phone. With his battery critically low, he simply turned the device off. He took a deep breath to shake off the suffocating, noose-like sensation Jacqueline had left him with, then reached out to push open the heavy wooden doors of the lounge.

Under the guidance of an attendant, he soon arrived at the club’s reception room.

As the door slowly opened, Josh, a smile already practiced on his face, blinked in surprise at the scene before him.

Compared to the old-money atmosphere of the rest of the club, this reception room was excessively modern. The tiered layout made the vaulted ceiling seem impossibly high. Silver-blue walls complemented the snowy scenery outside the windows, while large floating screens hovered before dark sofas. A stage large enough for a small performance occupied the left side of the room without feeling out of place, and a silver-grey Steinway stood in a corner, facing a spotless floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside that window was a floating pool encased within a sunroom.

The French chef Jess had mentioned was busy working methodically with his team behind a long bar. Josh tilted his head, shifting his gaze toward the guests.

In such a vast reception room, there were only three guests.

No, more than that. A heavy gaze pressed down on Josh from above, making him acutely aware of a fourth person’s presence.

Jess looked delighted by his arrival and beckoned him to sit. The youthful Christmas tree ornament on her head sparkled with light.

Josh moved forward, approaching Jess, the only person he knew. To be fair, having been a wealthy young master for twenty years, Josh had attended countless private parties. Although he had never been to this specific club, he knew its high-end positioning.

Membership-only, old money, and endless rules—both guests and hosts were expected to dress formally.

But now, the destitute Josh, wearing his only thin spring/summer suit, had somehow become the most formally dressed person there.

Everyone else was dressed extremely casually, as if they were attending a college dorm hangout. Their manners and expressions suggested close, equal relationships. There were no evening gowns, no expensive jewelry, and no suits or ties. Josh was fairly certain the Christmas ornament on Jess’s head was handmade.

Perhaps he was hallucinating from exhaustion. Josh blinked, but his smile remained impeccable. He looked toward the only male guest among the three and immediately recognized him as Paul, the mixed-race man who had picked up Jess the previous night.

Like many American college students obsessed with fitness, Paul’s chest muscles bulged beneath his sweater. He was tall with white teeth and a straightforward smile, and he was the first to extend a hand to Josh. His rolled-up sleeves were casual and unrefined, and there wasn’t a hint of old-money arrogance or superiority in his eyes. For a moment, Josh felt as if he were back on campus, attending one of those student parties that inevitably ended in hangovers and vomiting.

Jess was right, you look exactly like Adonis! Paul exclaimed.

It must be a massive coincidence. I thought Jess only said that because she has a preference for Asian faces. It’s an honor to be an inspiration for creators, even if I’ve shown up a bit late, Josh said.

Josh gave a playful wink with his right eye. That vivid spark of life made Jess catch her breath.

This is insane. It’s like the code is growing flesh and blood, she muttered.

Her fingers tapped unconsciously on the sofa as she leaned forward, wanting to get a closer look at Josh’s face. The brown-haired girl behind her grabbed her by the waist and smiled at Josh.

Don’t mind them. These little geeks immersed in the world of code and technology are always like this. I hope Jess hasn’t bothered you too much. I’m Sue. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Josh.

The affection in Sue’s voice was obvious. Josh immediately realized she and Jess were a couple. He looked back at Paul and caught a flicker of gloom in the subtle shift of the man’s expression.

Oh, this is interesting, Josh thought. Paul wasn’t the male friend Jess had mentioned who was interested in him; Paul’s eyes were glued to Jess. Meanwhile, Jess clearly had no interest in men beyond friendship. If Josh didn’t have such a wicked streak for enjoying drama, he might have felt sorry for Paul’s unrequited crush.

Josh took a drink from an attendant’s tray and smoothly joined the conversation, becoming the center of attention. He expressed just the right amount of interest in the game and the character of Adonis, quickly energizing the three people present. They began talking enthusiastically about the game and the company’s plans, even leaking a few details that could be considered trade secrets.

After a few aperitifs, Josh’s stomach twinged with a slight sting, but his body relaxed considerably. However, he hadn’t forgotten his original purpose for being there.

The man interested in him still hadn’t appeared, yet that poorly hidden gaze from above remained fixed on him, growing more intense.

The potential sugar daddy was still there, and Josh had already deduced the reason for the man’s interest.

He was here to be a stand-in. He just wasn’t sure if he was a stand-in for a game character or an ex-boyfriend.

For Josh, this was neither good nor bad news. The character design for Adonis was undeniably beautiful, but it was a sharp, reckless beauty—supposedly based on the former image of the company’s founder, Rob. The character was non-romanceable, seductive yet cruel, and had become a psychological shadow for many players who failed to win him over.

But Josh didn’t think anyone would seek out a stand-in just to be verbally abused, though everyone’s kinks deserved respect.

Before dinner, apprentices brought out some exquisite cold plates. Josh restrained himself, eating only a portion of shrimp cocktail. He noticed Jess and Paul’s phones flashing incessantly; the two were forced to look away from their pleasant conversation with Josh to reply to messages. Sue was Jess’s official girlfriend, so she didn’t need to avoid work matters, but Josh had enough self-awareness to stand up and politely excuse himself to the restroom.

The gaze from the second floor was becoming unbearable. He could effortlessly win the favor of people like Jess, but Josh had never been particularly good at enduring discomfort. He needed some space.

Before even meeting him, Josh’s impression of this sugar daddy had already hit rock bottom. Not only because the man had forced Jess to summon him in a subtly humiliating way—yes, even if Jess hadn’t said it outright to save face, Josh was certain the one who had originally messaged him wasn’t the sunny Jess—but also because that gaze from the second floor carried too many emotions Josh couldn’t understand. It made his skin crawl.

Like a pervert, Josh commented inwardly. Just as he stepped out of the range of that gaze, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the spiral staircase.

What are you doing here? the man questioned. The unfamiliar voice carried a strange sense of familiarity.

Josh was forced to stop in the corridor partitioned by crystal screens. He turned politely to find a young man nearly 190 centimeters tall standing before him. A dark grey bespoke suit fit his broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted frame perfectly. His slightly curly dark hair was meticulously styled with gel, and he was impeccable from his collar down to his leather shoes. On his deep-set, Western features, a pair of hawk-like blue eyes stared intensely at Josh. His expression was anything but friendly.

Josh didn’t recognize him and found this intense attitude baffling.

The corridor wasn’t far from the reception room, but the ambient lighting and the screens made it feel private. Josh smiled and extended his hand.

Mr. Schneider? You must be the tyrant Jess mentioned. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time.

First… time?

The young man’s eyes burned fiercely. His massive shadow was projected onto the wall by the lights, looking like a raging beast. His gaze felt physical as it landed on Josh’s slender fingers, then slowly crawled up his delicate wrist all the way back to his face. His eyes were a mixture of rage and hatred that Josh couldn’t comprehend.

Josh felt as though his body were being entangled by vines. The corners of his upturned lips trembled slightly, nearly dropping. The situation was spiraling out of control. He withdrew his unreciprocated hand and briefly took in the man’s sophisticated, expensive clothing and his hateful, harsh attitude. The fake warmth he had shared with Jess and the others faded, replaced by a cold clarity.

He was here to be kept. He needed to get his attitude straight.

Is this how you dressed? the man suddenly stepped closer, looking Josh up and down.

Versace that went out of style two years ago, no tie, and a pair of white sneakers? Do you realize your watch style and your suit are a total disaster together? The requirement for attending this gathering was to be a doll, and you couldn’t even manage that.

His accent leaned toward British, carrying a natural, condescending arrogance. Josh had been bankrupt for half a year; he was long past the point of losing his composure when his poverty was pointed out. He blinked, his bright, dark deer-like eyes looking harmless and perfectly fragile under the dim light.

It should be enough to satisfy the sadistic ego of the pervert in front of him.

Sir, I’m sorry. I just thought… it would be more convenient without a tie.

He didn’t specify what it would be convenient for, but as he spoke, he slowly began to unbutton his thin suit jacket. He had lost at least twenty pounds compared to two years ago, making his already slender waist look even more startling. Without the cover of the jacket, the light white shirt outlined a breathtaking silhouette. His pale neck and a large portion of his chest were faintly visible beneath the fabric.

The man who had just been critical and mean went silent. His reddened eyes stared fixedly at the living beauty before him. His tall body took on a tense, coiled posture, causing the elegance of his expensive clothes to vanish instantly.

Pretentious pervert, Josh thought with disgust. Yet, he found a subtle sense of pleasure and control in the man’s sudden silence. He didn’t fully unbutton the jacket, giving the man only a tantalizing glimpse.

If you want to keep looking, you’ll have to pay—either with a bed, or with that Argentine beef he hadn’t tasted yet.