After three days in which Yibo and Emily did not speak to each other, he contacted her and asked her to talk to him. For a long time he had thought about how he could bring some peace between him and her again and calm her down, at least for the time being, so that they would no longer argue continuously and their relationship would not suddenly fail.

When Emily came to his apartment, the two of them sat down in the living room and provocatively with her arms folded in front of her chest, Emily waited to hear what Yibo had to say to her. First, however, he gave her a box of her favorite chocolates and a red rose. She paid little attention to both, however, preferring to hear what Yibo had to say to her.

Without beating around the bush, Yibo explained that he had thought about everything she said and told her that he would first take a week off to spend more time with her and to prove to her that he was still serious about her and their relationship.

However, this was not enough for Emily and she demanded that Yibo start thinking about his and their future together. Yibo then told her that he had and promised her that if he still hadn't made a breakthrough as a dancer in six months, he would look for an education and follow through with it to get a decent job.

He then told her that once he had a decent job, he would be happy to talk to her again about marriage and children. "But everything in its own time," he said. And finally she gave in and the two reconciled again.

After a relaxed week, during which Yibo also had his audition and unfortunately had not been selected again, it was time for Yibo to start his work again. Already by this one week vacation, which he took only because of Emily, he had lost a lot of money. Money that he actually urgently needed and now had to try to somehow catch up.

For this he picked out the best escort requests, of which he knew that these women always pay more than demanded. And he also gave an appointment to Xiao Zhan. This was all he had requested for this week anyway. Which surprised Yibo a little, since Xiao Zhan usually asked him for three evenings a week.

But to worry about that, Yibo didn't have much time. Emily was complaining again about the fact that he would now go back to his work as an escort and how rarely they would see each other now, and anyway she was annoyed again because even in the one week that Yibo had vacation, they didn't even sleep with each other.

And it wasn't even Yibo's fault. Because it was Emily who had her menstruation and therefore could not. However, Yibo didn't really feel like sleeping with her either. Because lately he just didn't seem to have fun doing it with her anymore. So he kind of didn't care that they hadn't had sex in three and a half months.

And once again, just before Yibo left for his escort appointment with Zhan, there was an argument between him and Emily. This time, however, it was because he had forgotten that her birthday was on Saturday and had made an escort appointment for that evening with a woman who booked him for an evening at a club. Although Yibo apologized to her and promised to spend the whole day with her for that, Emily was still mad at him.

"You forgot my birthday! As my boyfriend, how can you forget that my birthday is on Saturday?" She asked him angrily.

"Emily, I don't really want to play this card. But you forgot my birthday too, didn't you?" Replied Yibo, who was already getting annoyed with the whole thing.

"I didn't forget it! You promised not to do any escorting on your birthday, and then you went out with some chick."

"That was a wealthy woman who offered to pay me more. And as you may remember, I desperately needed the money."

"So what? However, you weren't there on your birthday. So don't claim I forgot that one."

"That's not a claim Emily. You hadn't wished me happy birthday, nor did you come to see me during the day. And the next day you apologized for forgetting my birthday. But did I ever hold that against you?"

"Except right now? No. But just so you know, I didn't forget your birthday. I was just extremely pissed because instead of staying home like you promised, you made an escort appointment. And that was just one night before your birthday."

"We're just going in circles again Emily. We're not getting anywhere like this. You know I needed the money and that I had been waiting for you all day. At least I admit that I forgot your birthday, while you lie in one tour. I don't even know what to believe anymore. You're constantly lying to me instead of just being honest with me about everything and not waiting until you're already almost bursting with anger to then throw everything at me."

"I don't know how to make you understand what's going on inside me Yibo. You just don't understand me."

"That's right, I don't understand women. You always tell us men only what we want to hear so that we believe and trust you. And then, when there's a fight, you hit me with the truth and I have to see how I deal with it. And then you always make me sound like the bad guy."

"We women are just complicated."

"Yeah, but surely not everyone is like you and lies so they can get the guy they want. But I don't have time to discuss this with you anymore. I have to get ready now. Let's talk in peace tomorrow and then we'll figure something out together about your birthday."

"Sure, whatever you say." Replied Emily annoyed and left. Yibo couldn't think of anything more to say in response than shaking his head.

That evening, Yibo didn't have to pick up businessman Xiao Zhan from his home and instead met him right away at a club, where he was already waiting for him with business partners. Yibo did not like most of Zhan's business partners because they seemed shady to him. From time to time he even had the impression that they were from a triad and therefore the deals were mostly done in a crowded club and with a handful of pretty young buyable women.

That night again such in Yibo's eyes dubious business partners of Zhan were in the club and having a great time with the young women. Yibo sat down beside Zhan annoyed after a short greeting and drank his beer almost on ex.

Of course, Zhan didn't miss how grumpy Yibo was and asked him to talk to him. They both went outside to the front of the club, where Yibo clearly asked, "What kind of business partners are they? Are you working for a triad?"

"It's not my business partners that are bothering you tonight, is it? There's something else that's bugging you." Replied Xiao Zhan.

"It's nothing."

"Oh come on Yibo. I've been seeing you regularly for almost four months now and I'm starting to recognize when something is bugging you. Was there a fight with your girlfriend again?"

"Yes, there was."

"And you parted unreconciled again?"

"Yes."

"So your week off didn't get you anywhere?"

"No."

"You know Yibo, maybe you should get your personal problems under control first. I can't use you as bad as you are. I pay a lot of money for an evening with you and then have to see that annoyed and angry face. I'm sorry. I'll pay you for the evening as we agreed, but you can leave now."

"You're sending me away?"

"Yes. As much as I like you. But I don't imagine an escort like that."

"Then you don't have to pay me for the evening either."

"I know you're not in a good place financially, so take the money. However, I will book someone else in the future."

"No Zhan, please. I promise you, I'll be in a better mood next time."

"Yibo, no. However, I'll make you today a third and final offer to spend one night with me for 5 million yuan."

"I already told you the last few times, I don't do that. I'm selling a service but not my body or soul."

"Okay. Then this is it for us. I'll give you your money, we'll shake hands and then we'll each go our separate ways."

"Can't you give me another chance?"

"No. You see Yibo, I'm a businessman and I'm good at my job. I managed to work my way to the top on my own. I couldn't have done that if I had always gone soft and kept giving others chances. And as you just said, you're providing a service. And since you're not fulfilling it to my satisfaction because of your personal problems, I hereby end the business relationship."

"Zhan..."

"Yibo, I wish you all the best and hope you succeed in paying off your family's debts and making your dream come true. Take care." Said Xiao Zhan. He put an envelope with the money into Yibo's hand, shook Yibo's hand and went back into the club.

Yibo was completely speechless. He knew that Xiao Zhan was right in saying that he could not bring his private problems to work. But he would not have thought that this man, who had always been so nice to him in the past almost 4 months, could be so cold-hearted and would not book him from now on.

Completely perplexed, Yibo made his way back home where his best friend was totally confused because Yibo was already back. "Did you forget something Yibo?" He asked.

Yibo sat down next to Youn, shook his head and said, "He sent me away and he doesn't want to book me anymore either."

"Why is that? I thought he liked you so much?"

"He does. But because I was in a bad mood for the second time because of a fight with Emily, he said he can't use me like that and will book someone else from now on. He still paid me for the evening. But doesn't want to see me anymore."

"Shit. She's going to ruin your whole life!"

"What am I going to do? Through his money I always had a little plus on my account."

"Well, I don't know. You can't do anything I guess."

"You know, I'm really ashamed of myself for being so unprofessional. He was always good to me and treated me very well. He always paid double and sometimes more and I couldn't manage to keep my personal problems out of my work."

"Well what can I say about that?"

"I was in a really bad mood because of Emily. I even asked him if he worked for a Triad!"

"Fuck what? Why would you ask him something like that?"

"I don't know! I was so pissed and then I got there and saw those shady business partners of Zhan's again, who had lots of young paid girls with them again, and I just got angrier."

"You usually didn't mind that, did you?"

"Yeah right. I just saw the young girls sitting on the laps with them and the one hanging on Zhan's arm and I just got more annoyed and angry."

"Why don't you email him tomorrow and apologize to him? I'm sure you'll think of something to write. Maybe he'll give you a chance after all."

"I can try. But I don't think he'll give me another chance. And somehow that makes me sad. Ah, I don't know. I guess I'll go take a shower and then go to bed. Tomorrow is another day and then I'll see."

"Mn, get some sleep. And then talk to Emily again. But you know if it's up to me, give her a kick in the ass and break up with her already."

"I'm not going to comment on that right now. Good night."

"Night Yibo." Replied Youn.

Yibo went to shower and then to his room. He lay down in his bed but couldn't fall asleep, so he already wrote Xiao Zhan an email in which he sincerely apologized to him and that he hoped he would reconsider after all and give Yibo another chance. After that, Yibo went back to bed and fell asleep. But it was a restless sleep from which he woke up again and again.