A Desperate Bargain

The hours that followed were tense and awkward, with Jian trying to make sense of his situation and the women trying to gauge their new surroundings. Mei and her daughters, Ling and Lin, huddled together, whispering among themselves as they cast nervous glances at Jian. He, in turn, paced back and forth in front of them, trying to think of a way out of this predicament. As the silence grew thicker, Ling, the younger of the two daughters, spoke up. "Jian, can I talk to you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Jian stopped pacing and turned to face her. "What is it?" he asked, trying to sound calm. Ling took a deep breath before speaking. "I don't want my mother or sister to... to have to do it. They're not strong, Jian. They won't survive if Wu gives them to the others." Mei shot her daughter a warning glance, but Ling continued. "I'm the same age as you, Jian. I'm not... I'm not experienced, but I'm willing. I'll do it, if you'll let my mother and sister go." Jian's face went hot with surprise. He had not expected Ling to offer herself up so readily. He looked at Mei, who seemed to be holding back tears, and then at Lin, who looked like she was about to cry. "Why?" Jian asked, his voice shaking slightly. "Why would you do that?" Ling's eyes met his, and for a moment, Jian felt like he was drowning in their depths. "Because I don't want them to suffer," she said, her voice firm. "And maybe... maybe we can figure it out together." Jian felt a surge of gratitude towards Ling, mixed with a healthy dose of anxiety. He had no idea what he was doing, and the thought of taking her to bed made his stomach twist with nerves. As he hesitated, Ling took a step closer to him. "It's okay, Jian. I'm scared too. But I'm willing, if you are." Jian took a deep breath and nodded, feeling like he was making a desperate bargain. "Okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's... let's do this." The two of them stood there for a moment, looking at each other uncertainly. Then, Ling took Jian's hand and led him to the bed. They sat down together, and Jian tried to think of what to do next. Ling seemed to sense his uncertainty, and she leaned in close. "Is this... is this okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Jian nodded, feeling his face grow hot with embarrassment. "I... I think so," he said, trying to sound confident. Ling smiled, and Jian's heart skipped a beat. She leaned in closer, and Jian felt a rush of excitement mixed with nervousness. As they tentatively kissed, Jian realized that they were both just as inexperienced as the other. They awkwardly fumbled through the foreplay, making sure the other was comfortable, but neither of them knew what they were doing. Despite the awkwardness, Jian felt a sense of relief wash over him. Ling was gentle and kind, and she seemed to understand his nervousness. As they lay together, Jian realized that maybe, just maybe, this desperate bargain wouldn't be so bad after all.