Chapter 5 Two Choices!

Arlo was momentarily stunned, the warm and slightly trembling body in his arms making him feel uneasy. He raised his hand, intending to touch Skyler, but hesitated, leaving his hands hanging in the air. Swallowing hard, Arlo said, "Skyler... what are you doing?" Skyler looked up at him with tear-filled eyes and asked, "Arlo, don't you want me?" Didn't want her? The answer was definitely no. "I do..." Arlo nodded with a bitter smile, but then shook his head. "But, it shouldn't be like this." The hope in Skyler's eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by disappointment. She lowered her head and said with self-mockery, "I knew it... I knew a woman like me wouldn't be accepted..." Sensing Skyler's resignation, Arlo quickly grabbed her fragrant shoulders. "Skyler, that's not what I meant." Under Skyler's puzzled gaze, he thought for a moment and said, "Do you think our relationship has reached the point where we should do this?" Skyler thought for a moment and replied, "Arlo, do you like me?" For Arlo, who had just come out of a small village, Skyler was indeed more beautiful than any famous village belle. If it weren't for yesterday when she lied in front of the police, Arlo would have told Skyler without hesitation that he liked her. But some things, once they happen once, will happen again and again. So, even though he had feelings for Skyler, Arlo still restrained himself. He didn't answer Skyler's question, but instead asked, "Do you like me?" "I do!" Skyler answered without hesitation. After a few seconds of silence, Arlo smiled slightly. "In that case, can we take it slow?" Slightly taken aback, Skyler pursed her lips and said somewhat aggrievedly, "But... I've already told you I like you, why do we have to take it slow?" Arlo looked around the small room with only a bed and a chair. "Because I have nothing in Fleross, no money, no house." "I don't care about those!" Skyler hugged him tightly, her gaze determined. Arlo shook his head. "But I do." Just as Skyler was about to speak, Arlo interrupted, "Skyler, if you really like me, then wait for me to earn money, and then we can be together." He paused and added, "Besides, don't you need money to deal with your parents' situation?" Mentioning her parents, Skyler fell silent. After a while, she asked, "How long do I have to wait..." Arlo shook his head. He didn't know how long it would take. Skyler's face darkened, and she leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat in silence. The two of them embraced each other like this for a while. Arlo pushed her away and said, "I need to take a nap, I have things to do later." Skyler tiptoed and kissed him on the lips, saying with a smile, "I'll sleep with you." This time, Arlo didn't refuse. He held her soft body and quickly fell asleep on the bed. When he woke up, it was almost noon. Looking at Skyler sleeping soundly, he felt a bit restless. But remembering what he had said, Arlo restrained himself from acting on his impulses. A man should stick to his words; he couldn't go back on his promise. He picked up his phone and went outside the room, pondering for a moment before dialing Nora's number. "Arlo? Have you come to your senses?" Nora's voice was slightly hoarse, and he could hear how quiet it was on her end. After hesitating for a moment, Arlo spoke, "Ms. Marsh, I've thought it over. Being a mover in the furniture store for the rest of my life is no better than following you." Nora chuckled lightly and said, "When you've figured it out, come to Dreamy Bar on the Bund to find me. I'll be here until two o'clock." "Alright." Hanging up the phone, Arlo turned around only to see Skyler leaning against the door, watching him. "Are you leaving?" Arlo nodded, "Why aren't you going back to sleep?" Skyler shook her head, "I have to go to school soon. Even though I'm a junior, I still have classes to attend." Arlo didn't know what to say for a moment. They looked at each other in silence for a while before he spoke up, "Should I accompany you to the bus stop?" Skyler shook her head, "No need, you go about your business." Arlo nodded and left Urban Village, catching the bus to the Bund. After nearly two hours of bumping along, he finally arrived at the door of Dreamy Bar just before two o'clock. Because it was noon, the bar wasn't open yet. Arlo sent a message to Nora, and she soon appeared at the door. Once inside the bar, Arlo seemed a bit hesitant. Nora smiled and said, "No need to be so tense. Since you've come here, it means you've decided to work with me. Although you saved me, our business is separate. I'll give you two options." "What options?" "The first one is I give you two hundred thousand as your reward for saving me." "The second option is you work as a security guard in this bar first. After a while, when I see your abilities, I'll consider transferring you to another position." Hearing that the first option was a reward of two hundred thousand, even though Arlo didn't save anyone for the reward, he still felt tempted. For a child who grew up in the mountains, let alone two hundred thousand, he had never even seen twenty thousand. With this two hundred thousand, the debts at home could be paid off, and his little sister's tuition would be covered. But if he took the two hundred thousand, would it mean he owed Nora nothing in the future? After some thought, Arlo asked with a thick skin, "Ms. Marsh, is this a multiple-choice question or a single-choice question? Can I choose both?" Nora was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Arlo, you're a bit greedy. But this is a single-choice question. Think carefully about which one you want!" Scratching his head, Arlo chuckled nervously, "Then, then I'll choose the second one!" Upon hearing he chose the second one, Nora was somewhat surprised. She had investigated Arlo and knew he hadn't been in Fleross for long, and his financial situation wasn't comfortable. Yet he managed to resist choosing the two hundred thousand, which made her feel a hint of goodwill towards him. Being able to restrain greed was indeed a rare thing. With a slight smile, she said, "Have you thought it through?" "I have, I'll choose the second one. I'm willing to work with you, Ms. Marsh." Arlo grinned mischievously, a hint of cunning in his eyes. "I don't believe someone like you, Ms. Marsh, who repays kindness, would treat me unfairly." Nora's eyes brightened, a charming smile playing on her lips. "Alright, then you can start working today!" ... As the evening lights came on, the bar began to liven up. Arlo, dressed in a black suit, stood in the corner with his hands behind his back, silently observing the men and women twisting their bodies in the bar. But soon, the commotion not far away caught his attention. A bespectacled young man was angrily chasing another young man with bleached hair. Yelo, the bleached-haired guy, was clearly no match for the bespectacled one; he was soon bloodied. Concerned that things might escalate, Arlo quickly stepped forward and intervened, "Stop it! If you want to fight, do it outside the bar!" The bespectacled man spat on the ground and said fiercely, "You son of a bitch, if someone hadn't stopped me, I would've killed you today!" Yelo wiped the blood off his face and sneered, "Kid, you're dead. I've already called someone!" As soon as he finished speaking, Arlo saw more than ten tough-looking guys with tattoos and piercings pouring into the bar.