Chapter 9-10

Chapter 9: Power and Desire

A voice, rich with magnetism, drifted through the night breeze, causing Lydia to feel her heart flutter uncontrollably. It took her a while before she finally spoke softly, "Do you treat all other women the same way? Are they all unable to say no to you, and then fall into this sweet trap?"

This was probably the main reason for her resistance; Bruce's charm was overwhelming, and she had heard about his flirtatious behaviors. As a proud heiress of a noble family, Lydia's pride made it hard for her to accept this.

Had she finally spoken her mind?

Bruce smiled slightly, set down his wine glass, wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, walked over to Lydia, and, like a gentleman, took her hand and helped her up to walk to the edge of the garden. In the peak of summer, the rooftop was refreshingly cool, and the unique design of the sky garden made it so that one didn't feel the wind much. However, standing at the edge of the rooftop, one could feel the strong breeze blowing directly at them.

The closely spaced skyscrapers, the bustling streets, and the brightly lit skyline of Manhattan's financial district and the rest of bustling New York lay before them, as if everything was prostrating at their feet.

Lydia looked at Bruce, puzzled, not quite understanding his point.

"I like standing at high places because it allows me to see the world from a broader, more comprehensive perspective," Bruce said gently, wrapping an arm around Lydia. "A great human artist once said, 'everything in the world is about sex, except sex is about power.' Lydia, what do you think?"

"That was Oscar Wilde, wasn't it? His exploration of sex and human nature seems a bit extreme," Lydia said, frowning slightly, showing she didn't quite agree.

"I think it's more apt to say that sex itself explains it better. You see, in the earliest times, primitive men and women reproduced through sex, leading to the next generation. This is how human societies formed. To have the opportunity to be with a woman, men had to compete with other men, sometimes getting injured or even killed in the process. It was a struggle to achieve. To avoid this hardship, they created politics. Women told men they needed to bring home prey to agree to sex, so men went hunting. The surplus prey was then traded with others for necessities. This is how the economy was born," Bruce said with a slight smile. "So you see, everything stems from sex, and Wilde wasn't wrong."

"Rationalizations, just excuses men make, wanting to return to a primitive patriarchal society?" Lydia was completely thrown off by his twisted logic, somewhat exasperated.

"Is it a patriarchal society? Men work hard at hunting and competing with others, while women only have to wait for the victor to show up and enjoy the benefits. It sounds more like a matriarchal society to me."

Bruce continued with his theory, which sounded logical and self-consistent, leaving Lydia momentarily at a loss for words. In fact, he hadn't finished his point. Essentially, this is the different roles nature has given to men and women: men hunt and gather food to create living conditions, while women bear children and ensure the continuation of the species.

"The basic instincts of animals are to eat and mate. The former is about individual survival, the latter about reproducing and ensuring the continuation of the species. Ultimately, it's all for survival. For a male to earn the right to mate, he often has to become stronger and achieve a higher status within the group, just like the alpha male in a wolf pack who has access to more females—thus sex is closely related to power," Bruce explained in plain language, laying bare the instincts associated with sex, without any pretense.

"But humans are more than just instincts. We are advanced beings with rich emotions and intelligence!" Lydia finally found an opportunity to object.

"True, human society is more complex than the animal world, but it still cannot escape the basic instincts of desire. Once the most fundamental needs for survival and physiological desires are met, naturally, one desires more, like safety, social interaction, and respect. Desire is like a black hole, capable of absorbing and devouring everything, endlessly. From appetite evolved the desire to possess, the desire for wealth, from sexual desire evolved the desire for power, the desire to dominate, and vanity... Regardless of the form it takes, the essence of desire is the same," Bruce said, gently touching Lydia's face, carefully tucking her windblown hair behind her ear, speaking with profound implication.

"It's not like that... What distinguishes humans from animals is our ability to control our desires. Freud once said that the human psyche is divided into three parts: the id, ego, and superego. The id represents innate desires, the ego deals with reality, and the superego represents conscience and

morality. With the regulation of the ego and the repression of the superego, humans can avoid being ensnared by the endless desires of the id," Lydia spoke quickly and urgently, as if eager to refute Bruce.

"Yes, but why repress the id? The only reason people aim for something is because they want something. Some people are sensitive and shy, others are open, and some desperately hide it, but beneath those disguises, you can't deny that, fundamentally, it's still about desire, and that's human nature. There's nothing wrong with pursuing desires; the mistake is when some people let desire consume their entire mind, losing their rationality. We should face it, master it, not run from it," Bruce replied calmly to Lydia's objection, his voice still steady, while Lydia was completely lost in confusion.

"You cannot deny that throughout history, the most outstanding individuals in human society often had id drives stronger than average, not to mention those who sit at the top of the social pyramid. Even now, the curiosity of scientists, the power desire of politicians, the wealth desire of businessmen, and the desire for fame and fortune are the same. Do I need to provide more examples?"

"Desire is the driving force behind human progress."

Bruce concluded.

Lydia felt like Bruce was a devil, his words penetrating and seductive, unveiling secrets buried deep within her heart that no one had ever touched. What frightened her the most was the realization that Bruce's words mirrored reality, the truths she was reluctant to face, yet genuinely existed.

As a woman who grew up in a prominent family, Lydia had seen countless betrayals and power struggles. Even her father had secret lovers, nearly leading to a broken marriage. And she herself, despite always appearing carefree and composed, never stopped chasing fame, vanity, and beauty. In her midnight dreams, she harbored a desire for fame and power.

Bruce saw all her reactions, lifted his arm slightly, and beautiful music emanated from the embedded speakers around them. It was "Por Una Cabeza," a gorgeous, noble, and moving tango classic, the quintessence of Argentine tango music. The lively and agile melody enveloped them, irresistibly inviting one to immerse and linger.

"May I?" Bruce gently released Lydia's arm, slightly bent forward, and extended an invitation.

In that moment, Lydia's last defenses collapsed... She could no longer resist, completely succumbing...

And as Schopenhauer once said, all passions of love, no matter how elegantly and ethereally they present themselves, are fundamentally rooted in sexual desire; it ultimately remains a more lucid, specific, and in the strictest sense, personalized form of sexual desire.

It was imaginable that for the noble lady Lydia Hearst, this would be an unforgettable night in her life...

Chapter Ten: Enlightenment

Needham Smollett stepped out of the subway, standing still for a moment, seemingly hesitant. Around him, the rush of people moved briskly, and soon someone bumped into him unintentionally.

Needham stumbled a bit but didn't react much, not even clearly hearing the person's apology. Finally, as if making up his mind, he started walking across the crosswalk towards the other side of the street.

He was on his way to attend an event held by the Enlightenment sect, a group he had never heard of before. After asking many friends, none of them had any experience with it and suggested Needham think it over carefully.

So, even this morning before leaving, Needham was still debating whether to give it a try. In the end, he decided to check it out. After all, there was nothing to lose. If it wasn't interesting, he could just leave, Needham reassured himself.

This all started last Friday.

Needham is a consultant at a tech company, often required to make on-site visits to clients. That morning, the streets of Manhattan were as hot as any other day in September. Needham had just left a client's office and was passing by Times Square in Manhattan. At West 47th Street, he suddenly saw a group of young, attractive men and women, gathering at the corner to distribute flyers, behind them a conspicuous banner offering free "stress tests" to passersby.

These good-looking youths were around 20 years old but seemed different from the typical young people of today—they didn't have colorful hair, nose rings, earrings, belly rings, mohawks, or even much makeup or tattoos. They wore very fitting, neatly styled clothes, exuding an air of dignity amidst their youthful vigor, reminiscent of young bank executives in their conservatism.

Their sunny, gentle demeanor, combined with their youthful and attractive appearance, naturally drew the attention of passersby. As Needham slowed down out of curiosity, one of the young people approached him.

"Hi! I'm Emmett," he said, his eyes clear and smiling at Needham. "Can I take a minute of your time?"

"Just over there, at the Enlightenment sect's building, we're organizing a small consultation session," Emmett explained, pulling out a neatly printed, postcard-sized flyer from a stack he was holding and handing it over. "The theme is about reducing stress and self-improvement. Would you be interested in attending?"

Needham, having just finished up and not in a rush, looked over the flyer with some curiosity. Emmett, noticing his hesitation, continued in his cheerful voice, "It's just a suggestion. Trust me, it's worth it. Of course, the decision is yours."

After saying this, Emmett smiled kindly and walked away without pressing further. Emmett's straightforward approach piqued Needham's interest; these people didn't seem like bad folks. The theme of "reducing stress and self-improvement" also sounded intriguing.

So, with some time to spare, Needham headed in the direction Emmett had pointed out. At the end of the street, indeed, there was a building made of limestone, granite, and marble.

Despite its seven stories and a large metal awning constructed outside, with "Enlightenment" inscribed in gold letters, it wasn't particularly eye-catching and could easily be overlooked by passersby.

Walking up the tall steps and entering the sect's lobby, Needham was greeted by two young women in long white dresses at the reception. Like the young people outside, they were also around 20, blonde, and without any adornment, looking stunningly beautiful, fresh, and pure, instantly endearing themselves to anyone.

Needham was reminded of Mormon missionaries, although these young people seemed even more approachable and sunny. One of the girls led Needham through a corridor to the hall, which was spacious and brightly lit, with simple yet pleasing decorations and rows of seats under the rosy-gold light.

The hall was large, with nearly a hundred people seated, yet it didn't feel crowded. People were talking in small groups, their voices soft, creating a peaceful, not noisy atmosphere.

Soon, a tall, slender woman approached Needham and sat next to him. She introduced herself as Laura and appeared to be close to 50. Like everyone Needham had encountered so far, she was polite, sunny, and neat, wearing a uniform but with a demeanor that was steadier and more affable. Needham noticed three silk-stitched golden rings on Laura's uniform, subtle yet eye-catching.

Laura asked sincerely, "Tell me about yourself. What made you interested in Enlightenment?"

In the next half-hour, Laura asked Needham a series of questions: Are you married? Is your family harmonious? Do you feel happy? What are your goals? Do you think you've fulfilled your potential?

Despite the many questions, Laura made Needham feel warm and comfortable, not at

all aggressive or intrusive. Surprisingly, Needham found himself opening up about his relationship with his girlfriend and his wish to quit smoking.

Throughout their conversation, Laura was patient and attentive, making Needham feel genuinely listened to and responded to, which relaxed him completely, unaware of how time flew.

Finally, Laura asked if he was interested in attending an introductory coaching session with Enlightenment: a one-hour discussion.

Needham thought, here it comes, the sales pitch for those "starter packages." He'd heard friends say that many sects seem nice at first but ultimately aim to sell packages, consultations, and services, costing from tens to hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

What? This doesn't seem reliable? Maybe, but still, many are willing to try. Given the thriving liberalism and the goal of stress reduction, many Americans seek spiritual support. In New York, a 45-minute session with a professional psychologist costs between $160 and $280, making these sect activities a bit more affordable.

Yet, Needham felt disappointed, having had a good impression of Enlightenment so far. Everything about this place, from the environment and atmosphere to the conversations and attire, gave off a positive, uplifting vibe, making it hard to want to leave.

That's why he hesitated but didn't immediately refuse when Laura mentioned the price:

$10.

The price was far lower than he expected, almost making him think he'd heard wrong. He looked surprised and then glanced around the hall, noting the simple yet detailed decor, obviously not cheap—could this be a charity?

"We sincerely hope to engage more people with the teachings of Enlightenment, to understand, liberate, and improve oneself. All our programs only cover operational costs without making a profit," Laura explained, unsurprised by his reaction.

"Mr. Smollett, of course, you're not obliged to participate," Laura said with a gentle smile, patting Needham's arm. "I just think it could be helpful for you."

This sect seemed amazing, Needham thought to himself. Even after leaving, he kept thinking about it, despite friends advising him to think carefully. He couldn't help wanting to see for himself. After all, it was only $10, not much of a loss.

So, Needham found himself back at this place today.

Emerging from the subway, he didn't walk far before seeing those sunny young people again, still in the same uniforms and smiles, though not as many as last time. Emmett, the young man he met before, was there, talking to an old lady with a hunched back but recognized Needham and nodded with a smile.

Even though it was just a brief exchange of looks, it felt like a huge encouragement to Needham. Following Laura's instructions from last time, he entered another small room inside the sect, where about ten people were already gathered, most seeming to know each other and chatting comfortably. This made Needham feel a bit out of place, but the others were welcoming, with two people even greeting him.

Needham arrived a bit early, so he wasn't the last to come. After him, three or four more people entered, both men and women, of varying ages.

It was an odd mix, Needham thought to himself.