The Price of Freedom

Mu Yaochen was unaware of Luo Yao’s true opinion of her.

Yet, observing the resentment etched across his face, she surmised he must harbor considerable dissatisfaction.

‘Oh well,’ she decided, ‘a slap followed by a sweet date it is.’

Mu Yaochen waved a hand, and the nearby maids swiftly moved to clear away the steak Luo Yao had dropped earlier, a casualty of the electric shock.

Moments later, Chen Xi emerged from the kitchen, carefully carrying the iron basin.

Chen Xi steadily placed the basin on the table, casting a meaningful glance at Luo Yao, who remained slumped before Mu Yaochen.

“What are you still staring at?” Mu Yaochen inquired, her eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded Luo Yao with a gentle gaze. “Go eat.”

“Mm…” Luo Yao responded with a perfunctory hum.

After all, Mu Yaochen was not merely a lunatic; she was also utterly devoid of any tenderness or appreciation for beauty.

Not everyone could endure both electric shocks and suffocation and still remain as lucid as he was; any other man would have surely fainted by now.

Mu Yaochen showed no pique at Luo Yao’s lukewarm response.

Instead, she simply swayed with an elegant, cat-like gait, slowly making her way to the other side of the table.

This time, a silver knife and fork lay before Luo Yao’s place.

The dog bowl that had been thrown to the ground earlier was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by a similar basin, also reflecting a silvery sheen.

Upon closer inspection, one could faintly discern Luo Yao’s name delicately carved upon it, an exquisite detail.

Yet, the shape of this basin was almost identical to the dog bowl Luo Yao had purchased.

“Eat,” Mu Yaochen said, a hint of indulgence gracing her features.

The distance between them was minimal, allowing Luo Yao to perceive the warmth emanating from her eyes, yet her gaze simultaneously sent a shiver of cold down his spine.

Soon enough, both Luo Yao and Mu Yaochen had finished their lunch.

“All right, you can go rest now,” Mu Yaochen said, having been the first to finish her meal. “If you’re bored, feel free to watch TV in the living room.”

She made no haste to do anything else, merely propping her chin on one hand and silently observing Luo Yao eat—no, *feed*.

Once Luo Yao had nearly finished, Mu Yaochen spoke in a quiet tone.

She wouldn’t have much time to toy with Luo Yao that afternoon, as Mu Yaochen had her own work to attend to.

“Um, but… what about the money… the money?” Luo Yao asked, seeing Mu Yaochen begin to rise.

He suddenly recalled the promise she had made before lunch.

“Oh, you truly are a little money-grubber,” Mu Yaochen purred. “Since I promised you, I’ll certainly deliver.”

Having just stood up, she froze in place upon hearing Luo Yao’s words.

To be honest, if Luo Yao hadn’t mentioned it, Mu Yaochen might very well have forgotten about it entirely.

But… now that it was brought up…

Mu Yaochen simply stared directly at Luo Yao.

By all appearances, Luo Yao was anything but the kind of depraved man she had envisioned.

Her initial reason for acquiring Luo Yao wasn’t his stunning appearance that captivated a crowd.

Partially, it was for amusement, and partially because of the pure aura he exuded.

Perhaps the idea of using Luo Yao to earn money was merely a self-deceptive justification on Mu Yaochen’s part.

Rather than profiting from him, she yearned more to witness Luo Yao’s gradual descent beneath her sway, transforming until his mind, his eyes, and even the very contours of his body reflected only her.

“Do you like money very much?” Mu Yaochen asked, not waiting for Luo Yao’s reply, a hint of playful manipulation glinting in her eyes.

“No,” Luo Yao responded, his expression somewhat stiff, sensing the teasing undertone in Mu Yaochen’s voice.

His own voice was frigid, devoid of almost any emotion, and completely lacking the timidity he had initially shown towards Mu Yaochen.

Observing Luo Yao’s answer, Mu Yaochen merely offered a soft chuckle.

Concurrently, she raised one long, fair leg, her tender, pale skin exposed by her shorts, causing the slipper on her foot to naturally slip off.

“Five hundred thousand, lick my foot,” Mu Yaochen uttered, her voice mirroring Luo Yao’s coldness, yet her face still bore her characteristic smile, and her five slender fingers playfully waved before him.

“If you don’t do it, then our previous arrangement is off the table, you know,” she added.

Seeing Luo Yao remain motionless, Mu Yaochen showed no impatience, simply extending her leg quietly towards him.

At the same time, the nearby maids discreetly withdrew.

Chen Xi, in particular, kept her eyes fixed on Luo Yao’s reaction until the very last second her companions pulled her away.

‘Luo Yao, don’t you dare agree…’

Chen Xi’s heart felt a pang of despair; she couldn’t bear the thought of Luo Yao being tormented by another woman.

Before Luo Yao could even react, Chen Xi was pulled into the kitchen by her colleagues.

Among all the maids, they were the most privy to the true nature of Mu Yaochen and Luo Yao’s relationship.

“What are you still hesitating for?” Mu Yaochen prodded, feeling a slight ache in her leg from holding it up. “Just a gentle lick will do, no need for anything overly passionate.”

She stretched her leg slightly as she spoke.

‘Luo Yao, once you lick it once, there will be a second time, a third.’

‘Eventually, I’ll see you on your knees, begging me, won’t I?’

“No…” Hearing this, Luo Yao merely furrowed his brows.

‘What is wrong with this woman? Why is she always fixated on her feet?’

“No?” Mu Yaochen shook her head regretfully upon hearing Luo Yao’s refusal. “Then everything I promised earlier is off the table.”

Withdrawing her pale leg back into her slipper, she then slowly approached Luo Yao.

“Are you really sure?” Mu Yaochen pressed, drawing closer to Luo Yao.

Luo Yao felt a profound discomfort—no, *disgust*—at Mu Yaochen’s current actions.

“No,” Luo Yao reiterated, shaking his head, his eyes gleaming with resolve.

“Hmph,” Mu Yaochen hummed, a hint of awkwardness coloring her expression.

She had previously imagined Luo Yao would prostrate himself like a dog, respectfully licking her toes; it seemed she had misjudged him this time.

“Then do you like money or not?” Mu Yaochen asked, seeing Luo Yao’s resistance, posing the question that truly weighed on her mind.

In truth, Mu Yaochen rather hoped Luo Yao didn’t care for money.

After all, she didn’t want Luo Yao’s feelings for her to be built upon worthless paper.

“I have no feelings for it,” Luo Yao stated, looking directly into Mu Yaochen’s eyes, offering an ambiguous answer.

“No feelings? Very well then,” Mu Yaochen echoed Luo Yao’s words, then dismissed him from her thoughts, quietly moving to the sofa.

“This afternoon, if you wish to go out, you can have Frost take you for a stroll,” Mu Yaochen said, settling elegantly onto the sofa, her fingers constantly swiping across her phone screen.

“As for the money?” she continued. “Since you want to play, I’ll play along.

The rules remain the same.

I can give you a portion of money for three months… let’s simplify it.

Five hundred thousand… no, that’s still too much.

Thirty thousand, then.”

Mu Yaochen mused thoughtfully, then extended three fingers.

“Three months, thirty thousand.

What do you say?

If you can’t manage it, then you’ll obediently warm my bed.”

Mu Yaochen smiled, already envisioning Luo Yao pleading with her from her bed.

She had also conveniently lowered the initial amount; after all, a million was still too much for a high school student.

Moreover, coercion was not Mu Yaochen’s style.

After all… Mu Yaochen would never force Luo Yao to do anything; she would only guide him.