Chapter 47: The Sick Sister and the Broken Him

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: The Sick Sister and the Broken Him

Leaving The Tipsy Abode, Rian Sinclair didn’t feel like going home just yet. She decided to find a random bar to kill some time, looking up a highly-rated spot on her phone.

Upon entering, Rian was nearly deafened by the blasting music. She paid for a booth, ordered some drinks, and sat by herself. Around her, people gathered in groups, while the dance floor was packed with swaying bodies, losing themselves in the rhythm and freely releasing their stress.

Sitting alone in a booth, Rian inevitably drew quite a bit of attention—after all, a beautiful face was a huge advantage. She didn’t mind the lingering gazes. If someone came over to clink glasses, she wouldn’t refuse, but she politely smiled and turned down any further invitations.

Before long, excited shouts and a chorus of whistles erupted from the dance floor. Four or five gorgeous girls were dancing on stage, freely showing off their graceful figures and smooth moves. They hyped up the crowd, pushing the atmosphere to a new climax.

A moment later, the stage lights dimmed. When they flared back on, a man wearing animal ears and a deep V-neck shirt stood center stage. What followed was his solo routine. His agile moves, the teasing glimpses of his abs, and his chest subtly heaving from the intense exertion exuded pure sexual tension. The cheers from the women in the bar grew deafening, completely overpowering the men’s voices.

Rian glanced around and noticed that there were noticeably more female patrons than male. Only then did she return her gaze to the man dancing on stage.

[Ding! Spending target detected! Appearance rating: 94 points. Target meets spending requirements. Please tip immediately to obtain cashback!]

Rian was a little surprised to hear the system prompt. In the past, she could exhaust herself scrolling through Sharkstream and still not trigger this notification. Yet today, she had casually strolled into a bar and stumbled upon a high-scoring individual. It seemed bars were actually a goldmine! Were they just teeming with beauties?

As she watched the man dance, people around her began screaming the name "Cameron," and some even threw "money" onto the stage. From the chaotic chatter, Rian managed to piece together some details. The guy on stage, Cameron, didn’t come to the bar often and danced even less frequently, which gave him an elusive, mysterious appeal. As a result, whenever he did perform, the crowd went wild. Taking a closer look, she realized the cash being thrown wasn’t real; it looked custom-made. She guessed it was just a gimmick the bar used, similar to digital tipping.

She flagged down a bartender and learned that throwing real money was prohibited. Instead, the bar offered custom gifts that could be purchased from nearby staff. The paper bills were the cheapest, exchanging at a one-to-one ratio, but they were also the most popular. After all, many people chased the high-rolling thrill of making it rain. Rian took the gift menu, which listed a variety of options. The most expensive was 98,888. It included the dancer personally delivering the alcohol. Looking at the descriptions, she had to admit the bar really knew how to put on a show.

The bartender took the menu back and asked with a smile, "Would you like to order anything, miss?"

Rian pointed at the 98,888 tier. "This one. Give him one hundred of these."

The bartender couldn’t quite believe his ears. "Miss, are you sure you mean one hundred and not just one?"

Rian confirmed it again. As the bartender walked away, his steps were practically floating. One hundred! What did that mean?! That was nearly ten million! Furthermore, while the gifts were provided by the venue, the recipient got a one-thousandth cut. The dancers already received a base salary, but any gifts they received were pure bonus cash. Basically, even if someone was just dancing for passion, a sudden massive tip from a generous patron was the ultimate windfall!

Rian sat patiently in her booth. When the bartender left, he mentioned that another patron had ordered a gift right before her, so she would have to wait until that delivery was finished. Coincidentally, that patron was in the booth right next to hers. Rian wasn’t in a hurry. Although spending that much money technically gave her the clout to demand immediate service, she didn’t want to cause unnecessary drama, so she quietly bided her time.

There were three men and two women in the adjacent booth. Right then, Cameron walked over carrying drinks. Because the booths were so close, Rian got a clear look at him. Despite his mature outfit, the youthful innocence in his eyes created a stark contrast. He looked more like an innocent high schooler who had accidentally wandered into a nightclub.

Rian wasn’t the only one watching Cameron; a small crowd of onlookers had also gathered around.

Cameron smiled and placed the drinks on the table. "Sir, miss, here are your drinks."

The lead man looked at Cameron, pointing a finger at the drinks. "You drink it."

A woman next to him, visibly thrilled, noticed Cameron’s confusion and explained, "He means he bought it for you to drink!"

Although a bit baffled, the customer’s request wasn’t out of line. Cameron reached for a glass, only for a powerful hand to clamp down on his wrist. It was the man who had just ordered him to drink.

A deep voice followed, "I’ll feed it to you."

Cameron hesitated, but the man didn’t wait for an answer, reaching out to tilt his chin up. Frowning, Cameron dodged the touch and tried to stand up. The man’s expression darkened. Being significantly taller and broader, he reached out and clamped his fingers tightly around Cameron’s cheeks. Gravity forced Cameron’s body flat against the man’s chest. Startled by the aggressive move, Cameron froze, and the man took the opportunity to force the alcohol down his throat. Cameron was forced to tilt his head back, his hair brushing against the man’s jawline as the latter looked down at him.

The bottle was large, and the volume of alcohol was immense. A flush crept onto Cameron’s fair cheeks. When the man finally let go, Cameron collapsed onto the booth’s sofa, his chest heaving heavily. He had been force-fed the drink, with the man showing zero regard for his limits. The man gripped the back of his neck, staring down at him, taking in the tearful, hazy glint in Cameron’s eyes.

The intense stare made Cameron’s heart race in panic. "Sir, I need to deliver drinks to the next table."

Without waiting for a response, Cameron bolted.

Rian took in the entire scene as the surrounding crowd cheered, whistled, and laughed. The man sitting on the sofa seemingly sensed her gaze and looked straight in Rian’s direction.

[Ding! Spending target detected! Appearance rating: 90 points. Target meets spending requirements. Please tip immediately to obtain cashback!]

Their eyes met. Rian held his gaze for a second before looking away. He was quite alert. She hadn’t expected to encounter two cashback targets in one night. However, compared to Cameron, this man would likely be a tough nut to crack. Her first impression of him was clear: cautious and exceedingly dangerous.

Cameron ran off quickly, but he returned just as fast. When he learned that his second delivery was for the booth right next to the first, he felt a spike of fear. That man had been far too domineering and insanely strong, easily forcing him to chug all that liquor. Given the man’s towering build, Cameron didn’t dare confront him. First, the man was a paying customer. Second, he knew he’d lose in a fight.

Cameron moved swiftly, bringing over the expensive alcohol Rian had ordered. He half-crouched by the table, picked up a corkscrew, and popped the bottles open.

Watching Cameron, Rian suddenly remembered the cheesy angst novels her best friend used to read. One particular trope popped into her mind:

An abusive father, a dead mother, a sick younger sister, and a broken him.