Yang Ru felt she must be losing her mind.

In the past, she used to treat the practice of passing women around like commodities as an amusing anecdote, adopting the detached air of a noblewoman hearing that a certain concubine had caught the eye of some lord.

Like acquiring something purchased at a high price.

In what was laughably termed high society, such matters were never scarce, and through constant exposure, she had long become desensitized to it.

But this time, she was one of the parties involved in the transaction, even if she wasn't the one being transferred.

As the giver, she felt profoundly awkward and deeply embarrassed.

What good was embarrassment? When living under someone else's roof, one must bow their head.

Her husband, Liu Jieming, was determined to avoid this affair entirely, and her brother, Yang Jian, was too proud by nature to ever stoop to such a thing.

Yang Ru had no choice but to step in personally, enduring the humiliation for the greater good.

She took the express train back to the capital overnight, found a hotel nearby for a few hours of snatched sleep, and as dawn broke, she drove straight to the meeting place arranged with the matchmaker, Little Xu.

It was a mid-range, mixed-use commercial-residential building.

Property here started at least at twenty thousand per square meter, and renting even a modest unit would cost no less than five thousand a month.

It seemed Little Xu paid attention to the 'soft environment.' When dealing with beauties, some people could only manage to make them look like uncouth hicks, but others could cultivate them into dazzling sirens.

A connoisseur recognizes a fine steed; cultivating women was no different.

Rumor had it Little Xu was a master of this craft, quite renowned in their circles, which was why Yang Ru trusted him enough to rush back from Jiangzhou overnight.

Little Xu was a man about 1.7 meters tall, thin as a rail, effeminate in every gesture, yet possessing a voice that was strangely gravelly, almost like a drake’s.

Seated in the living room of the apartment, Yang Ru dispensed with pleasantries. "I want to see them first." Little Xu seemed to have arrived just before her; his jacket wasn't even off, still carrying a slight chill.

He chuckled, nodding repeatedly. "No problem, Sister Yang.

No problem at all.

Please, have some water.

I’ll call the girls right away." He used the room’s landline, spoke a few clipped sentences, then hung up, diligently pouring Yang Ru water and preparing tea. "What? They aren't here?" Yang Ru's expression chilled. "How dare I keep Sister Yang waiting," Little Xu said with a grin. "They’re staying upstairs.

Just one elevator ride away..." Yang Ru showed a flicker of surprise. "Then what is this unit for?" Little Xu smiled but didn't answer the question.

Since he wouldn't say, Yang Ru didn't press the issue.

These people dealt in shady business anyway; strange setups were to be expected. "Sister Yang, may I ask you a question?" Little Xu asked, feigning caution.

For someone like Little Xu—though he often handled 'good stock'—his status was rather low, below even that of a mere hanger-on to some rich young master.

Those he usually dealt with were the lackeys; having someone like Yang Ru approach him directly was rare, hence his excessively deferential posture, daring not to show the slightest disrespect.

However, boundaries were boundaries.

While he gave Yang Ru face, he could detect her urgent need.

The Yang family was wealthy; even if he didn't dare fleece her outright, he certainly wouldn't lack the nerve to take a bite or two when the chance arose.

Yang Ru glanced at him and said coolly, "Don't ask what you shouldn't." "Yes, yes! How could I be so foolish?" Little Xu quickly agreed, then asked with a strained smile, "Sister Yang, are you selecting someone to impress some big shot, perhaps? But as you know, men are all different.

Each has their own preference: some like them tall, some short, some plump, some slender, some with large busts, others prefer flat-chested.

Some only like them very young, others prefer those who've already had children..." Yang Ru shot him a look and asked irritably, "You have all those?" "Not quite," Little Xu waved his hands dismissively. "I only meant to ask if you know the target's specific preferences? If we know, we can tailor the offering.

That ensures half the battle is won." The logic was sound.

Yang Ru frowned slightly, mentally reviewing the women around Wang Zhuo one by one. "I absolutely have the finest available, ones guaranteed to satisfy you.

But even if you are satisfied, it might not appeal to the target’s taste..." Little Xu said, sounding troubled. "You might have heard my rule, or maybe not: those who leave my care are non-returnable." Yang Ru ignored him.

Problems solvable by money weren't problems anymore.

At this juncture, she had no inclination to worry about returns.

Thinking this over, Yang Ru suddenly realized Wang Zhuo seemed...

indiscriminate.

The older ones, there was Ning Yao, that much was certain.

The younger ones, the little girl often seen beside Wang Zhuo named Siyuan hadn't even fully blossomed yet.

And there was a pair of sisters, surnamed Meng, whose relationship with Wang Zhuo was also rather ambiguous! As for plump versus slender, sweet versus cold beauty—it seemed he had them all.

One almost 1.8 meters tall, another just over 1.5 meters.

This man had quite the diverse palate.

After a moment of thought, Yang Ru understood, letting out a cold laugh. "He's not picky; as long as she's a beauty, that’s all that matters." "That makes things much easier!" Little Xu slapped his thigh. "Why hasn't he come down yet? I'll call up and hurry them." In truth, he knew the score.

After all, selling an image required presentation; the appearance of the women accounted for at least half the success in his line of work.

Even though it was early morning, they needed to be properly composed and made up to present themselves to Sister Yang.

As he spoke, the doorbell rang.

Little Xu smiled at Yang Ru and said, "They're here," before quickly moving to open the door.

Yang Ru turned toward the entrance.

When the door opened, a young girl in a dress stood brightly framed in the doorway.

She was about 1.65 meters tall, with a sweet and adorable baby face, skin so fair it looked ready to burst, and a pair of large eyes that shyly met hers for a second before darting away.

Her thick lashes fluttered a few times.

Yang Ru frowned slightly.

After Little Xu ushered the girl in and closed the door, she asked, "How old is she?" "Tell sister, how old are you?" Little Xu asked the girl with a smile.

The girl smiled sweetly at Yang Ru, two shallow dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth. "Sister, I’m sixteen.

My birthday just passed not long ago..." Her voice was as clear and pleasing as an oriole from a valley, spoken in flawless standard Mandarin.

When she smiled, her teeth, like rows of white jade clamshells, were perfectly aligned.

The entire person radiated sunshine and vitality.

Yang Ru’s expression clouded slightly.

She examined the girl repeatedly, asking Little Xu, "The one you said would satisfy me—is it her?" "