Xiaotong's soft voice was barely louder than a mosquito's hum, audible only to Min Moyou—a fellow Dragon Descendant—and the six Death Guards lurking in the shadows.
Yet Xiaotong was already so dizzy with embarrassment at the thought that she had just confessed her own body measurements to a man she had met only last night, she had no idea whether Min Moyou could even hear her whispering.
Though soft, her voice sent tumultuous waves crashing through Min Moyou's mind: *An E? She's that well-endowed?*
He looked at her with newfound respect.
Men were truly miraculous creatures; sometimes, a single letter was enough to unleash boundless imagination.
Take Min Moyou, for instance. The moment he heard that letter, he had nearly grown so excited he could burst.
Outwardly maintaining his composure, he spoke into the phone:
"E, free size."
The receptionist on the other end of the line was equally startled—*An E, really?*
She instinctively glanced down at her own modest curves. *No wonder he didn't give me a second look...*
She felt a surge of inferiority.
Since she couldn't win the genetic lottery, she would just have to work for it—from now on, she was going to hit the gym and focus entirely on squats!
If it didn't kill her, she would push herself to the limit!
Even if it hurt to sit on the toilet, she would keep squatting!
She was determined to outdo that free-size bitch!
She might still have a chance yet!
Though resentment simmered in her heart, her tone remained as warm and breezy as a spring breeze:
"Very well, sir~ Do you have any preferences regarding style and brand? Are there any specific styles you usually prefer? Or perhaps, sir, what do you think of the style I'm wearing right now? If sir isn't sure what style I have on, I can always pop into the washroom and snap a few photos for you to use as reference..."
*Oh?*
She really couldn't help herself; she was pushing her own sales pitch every single second.
Min Moyou silently complimented his own good looks. So his charm was really this great—or rather, the charm of money.
Was this what they called a wealth-to-charm bonus?!
Meanwhile, Xiaotong, usually so poised and carefree, was squatting in the corner like an ostrich, head bowed as she nervously played with the hem of her shirt.
She actually looked like she was having fun playing with it?
In any case, she completely missed the questions about styles and such coming from the phone.
Min Moyou sighed helplessly and finally spoke up:
"Styles?"
"Ah...?! I am definitely not...!"
Head still bowed, Xiaotong jerked her head up at the sound of Min Moyou's voice, her eyes even slightly red-rimmed as she eagerly tried to defend herself.
It wasn't until her brain finally caught up that she choked the rest of her sentence right back down her throat.
"Oh, oh, styles..."
Yet her newly re-engaged brain seemed to stumble even more over Min Moyou's questions. *You already got something as private as my body measurements, what more do you want?!*
*Ask, ask, ask!*
*Why are you asking for such specific details?!*
*Could I possibly admit that I usually have no money to spare for high-end, comfortable brands, and can only pick through old, unnameable discount brands from clearance bins?!*
*Ahhhhh, this is so annoying, so annoying, so annoying!*
Even though Boss Shen occasionally reminded Xiaotong that she needed to be a bit more meticulous when choosing intimate wear, Xiaotong would always smile and thank the boss for caring about her subordinates while secretly cursing in her heart: *Why don't you fucking pay me enough so I actually have the right to be picky?!*
"I'm asking you. Styles."
Min Moyou had no choice but to interrupt Xiaotong's mental spiral—because the receptionist on the other end was already rambling about how she had reached the washroom or something...
"Whatever! Whatever you want!"
"Asking so much, are you an expert or something? Are you some kind of pervert who specializes in researching women's undergarments?!"
Xiaotong's little volcano of anger was thoroughly triggered by Min Moyou's prodding. It wasn't that he had done anything particularly wrong, or that she was entirely in the right, but she just felt a fierce urge to lash out, a desperate need to raise her voice—in short, she was flying into a rage from embarrassment.
"I'm not an expert. She is."
Min Moyou calmly pointed at the phone, forcing Xiaotong's erupting volcano to instantly deflate—she could no longer find a reason to vent her anger, so she could only turn her head away with an ugly expression and mutter:
"Fine, fine! Any style, any brand is fine!"
Could there possibly be anything worse than the cheap stuff she usually wore anyway?!
*Hmph~*
Seeming to sense Xiaotong's embarrassment, Min Moyou stopped pressing her and said into the phone:
"No need to send photos, I'm not interested."
"Styles can be random, but the brand must be the absolute best. Bring a few sets."
*A few sets?*
Crunched in the corner, Xiaotong pricked up her ears, her heart tightening uncomfortably. *He couldn't have figured out that I usually can't afford to buy undergarments for myself... right?*
Come to think of it... the set she was wearing right now... she'd bought over a year ago and had been wearing forever... not only was it getting a bit uncomfortable day-to-day, but it didn't even really fit right anymore...
The voice on the other end of the line dropped to the absolute depths of disappointment. She couldn't help but wonder: was she really that unappealing?
Was she really that inferior to that woman...?
Even so, despite her utter disappointment, she maintained her professional facade and replied warmly to Min Moyou:
"Understood, sir! But most shops selling intimate apparel are closed at this hour. To ensure we don't delay your business, would the 'Kowloon Brand Intimate Apparel' included in Kowloon Residence's exclusive welcome gifts for VIPs be acceptable?"
"Our Kowloon Residence welcome gifts are a part of our signature storefront. The materials used are absolutely the most top-tier in the Kowloon District, and the designers and tailors are industry elites. They're strictly limited-edition across all of Kowloon District—truly prestigious, stylish, light, and comfortable. If that's acceptable, shall I go retrieve them from the gift room right now? I can have them delivered to your room in five minutes."
*Oh?*
Was this the legendary spending someone else's money without a care?
Why did this receptionist have so much authority?
Was she secretly a manager or something?
Min Moyou continued:
"How many sets?"
"Sir, for the size you requested, we have seven sets left here, all in different styles and materials. Each set has an estimated market value of around Jiufang Coins, but at Kowloon Residence, we only gift these to VIPs who meet a certain spending threshold. Therefore, they aren't available on the Zhongpu District market yet, nor have any been given away."
"However, if sir wishes to take a set for your companion, I can go ahead and 'apply' for one on your behalf."
"How much do I need to spend to get a set?"
"Our rule is a single transaction of one million Jiufang Coins to invite a VIP into the gift room to select a welcome gift—of course, I've witnessed your capabilities, sir. If it's you, I can directly 'apply' for a set on your behalf."
"No need. Just bring all seven sets up to me. I recall Kowloon Residence has a member savings service, right? Bring the card reader along while you're at it. I'll just open a membership here at Kowloon Residence and deposit seven million, and that will cover the rules, won't it?"
*(Remember this? The protagonist's Jiufang Coins can be withdrawn in any form. To elaborate here, he can withdraw equivalent items at any time, or cards and checks containing the protagonist's assets.)*
"Very well, sir! Thank you for your understanding! You truly pamper your wife! It's so enviable! If I had a man like you, I'd find new ways to satisfy him every single day, using all eighteen arts of seduction just to cling to him and keep him from ever leaving the bed... Oh, by the way, sir, would you like to know what eighteen arts I possess? Would you like me to demonstrate some for you..."
"Alright, cut the chatter. Go take care of it."
"Understood, sir~ See you in five minutes!"
.........
Xiaotong, who had been pricked up and listening intently, shut her ears a moment later.
*Great, I'm his wife again.*
*What kind of Jiufang Coins? Are those things made of gold or studded with diamonds?*
*And seven million?!*
*And eighteen arts? Truly shameless! Always trying to seduce—well, fine, let her try to seduce him! What does he have to do with me anyway? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!*
........
Neither of them spoke, quietly letting the time tick away.
Xiaotong stared down at the floor, utterly speechless.
Min Moyou looked at Xiaotong's flushed, pretty face, admiring her quietly.
Though he could discuss women's underwear with a straight face, internally he actually felt rather awkward...
"Ding-dong—"
The room's doorbell rang, and Xiaotong scurried over to open the door—she really didn't want intimate items like this passing through the hands of a person of the opposite sex before she put them on.
It just felt kind of weird...
As soon as the door opened, the other person's sycophantic voice poured in:
"Sir~ I'm here~!"
Yet the moment the receptionist caught sight of Xiaotong opening the door, her forced smile vanished, though she still professionally and politely handed the seven golden-nanmu gift boxes in her hands to Xiaotong.
"Madam, these are what the sir requested. Would you like to try them on?"
As the receptionist spoke, she occasionally cast a defiant, evaluating glance at Xiaotong's chest.
"N—no need, thanks."
Xiaotong shook her head in refusal. With her brain completely failing to process the situation, her mind was entirely filled with the prospect of trying on intimate apparel in front of Min Moyou—how could she possibly do that?!
"Very well, madam. Now, here is the card reader. As for the seven million member deposit..."
The receptionist offered the card reader, bowing slightly with an eager and expectant gaze.
Xiaotong pointed at herself in disbelief.
*Me?*
*You're holding the card reader out to me?*
*You're asking me for seven million?*
*Look at us—if we were a married couple, do I look like the one who manages the money.......?*
*Pch! No, wait!*
*Do I look like someone who has money?!*
Just as Xiaotong was panicking, a black gold-plated card flew spinning out from inside the room, landing right at Xiaotong's feet as Min Moyou's indifferent voice drifted from within:
"The PIN is six zeros."
Xiaotong stared dazedly at the card on the floor, her mind echoing with a single word: *Seven million, seven million, seven million, seven million, seven million...*
That was seven million!
There was at least seven million in that card!
If she grabbed the card and ran, he wouldn't be able to catch her, right?
She was a Dragon Descendant, she could run super fast!
Take the money and run, and she wouldn't have to put up with his attitude anymore, and she wouldn't even have to go back to Longchao Pavilion—if there was enough money in the card, maybe she could even buy Longchao Pavilion?!
When that time came, she'd make Boss Shen warm her bed as a body pillow, and dock Old Master Du's cat food budget~ Wahahahaha~
*(The six Death Guards lurking in the shadows: Think whatever you want, we're watching you.)*
*Should I just snatch it and run?*
*You're one step away from the peak of your life, Xiaotong!*
*In this treacherous world, the only person you can truly trust is yourself!*
*Capital is right in front of you! Capital that doesn't rely on anyone else is right in front of you!*
*What on earth are you hesitating for?!!*
*Was that Min Moyou really so completely defenseless? He just tossed the card over like it was nothing and even blurted out the PIN...*
*He must have been too sheltered by his family, completely ignorant of the evils of society!*
*It couldn't possibly be because he's already let down his guard around me from the bottom of his heart... right?*
Lost in thought, Xiaotong zoned out for a moment...
This terrified the receptionist, whose arms were growing sore from holding up the card reader. *Oh no! Is she having second thoughts?*
*That gentleman had promised...*
*Seven million was no small performance quota!*
Seizing the gap while Xiaotong was deep in thought, the receptionist moved with lightning speed, picking up Min Moyou's card from the floor, swiping it for the seven million, thanking Min Moyou, handing the card back to Xiaotong, and scurrying back downstairs with the card reader to process Min Moyou's membership deposit.
Xiaotong took the card in a daze—*Eh? When did the card get into my hand?*
So, *should* she take it and run now?
What if there was only seven million in the card, and it had already been swiped? Wouldn't she look like an absolute idiot running away with an empty card?
Just to be safe, she'd better return the card.
Clutching the seven expensive-looking boxes, Xiaotong returned to Min Moyou's side, sat on the edge of the bed, placed the boxes down, and then reluctantly handed the card back to Min Moyou.
Min Moyou took the card back with an expressionless face.
"Oh, you still know how to return it? I thought you were going to snatch my card and run."
"You're a Dragon Descendant, and I'm just an ordinary person. If you grabbed my card and ran, I wouldn't be able to catch you."
This remark struck right at Xiaotong's guilty conscience—she *had* indeed just been thinking about doing that...
In an instant, cold sweat drenched Xiaotong's back, dampening her shirt.
"Ah... haha, of course not... As a top-tier agent, my moral baseline is extremely high..."
"Besides, don't underestimate me as a top-tier agent! I... why would I violate morals and laws for a little pocket change? It's not like I've never seen money..."
Xiaotong offered a dry chuckle, explaining herself with zero persuasion.
"Oh, is that so impressive?"
"Billions in a card aren't enough to shake your moral baseline? Looks like I still underestimated you."
Min Moyou pocketed the savings card, deliberately scanning Xiaotong with an expression of feigned astonishment.
"Th—at, o—f, cooouurse... Hehehe..."
*Billions?!?!*
*Now that was something she truly hadn't seen before!!!*
*That was entirely worth compromising her morals for!*
*Such heartache! Such painful regret! A split-second mistake! A split-second mistake ahhhhhh!!!!!*
Unable to hold back her tears of frustration, Xiaotong had no choice but to distract herself by tearing open the golden-nanmu gift boxes containing the undergarments.
She opened one, looked bewildered, and closed it.
Xiaotong stood at attention.
*What on earth??*
*I must have opened it the wrong way.*
She opened it again, reached out to feel the fabric, grew completely bewildered, and closed it again...
In short, it contained styles that censorship would never allow to be put into writing.
Xiaotong felt she couldn't go on like this. If she kept going, she was going to get weirder and weirder...
She left the gift boxes on the bed, stood up, and told Min Moyou:
"I—I—I don't want them. Those... you can give them to someone else. I'm not taking a bath either, I'm just going to sleep... no, I mean, to gather my strength, I'm going to go find a blanket, heh..."
With that, she turned to leave.
How could Min Moyou possibly let her off that easily?
*You want them when you say you want them? You don't want them just because you say so?*
*What do you take me for?*
He rose swiftly, grabbed Xiaotong's hand, and pulled her back just as she was about to flee.
"You say you don't want them, and that's it?"
"I don't want them..."
Xiaotong replied weakly, not knowing how to explain herself—after all, she was the one who had asked for them, and he had gone to great lengths to have them delivered, yet now she was rejecting them. Being so fickle, Xiaotong knew such behavior would be irritating, but she simply couldn't cross that mental hurdle in her heart.
"You think you can push your luck?"
Min Moyou suddenly raised his voice, startling Xiaotong into shrinking back. After all, she was in the wrong here.
"You can just give them to someone else..."
"Well, what if I insist on giving them to you?"
"I..."
Min Moyou was determined to see what on earth these items were that made Xiaotong resist them so stubbornly!
He randomly flipped open a box. *Oh wow~*
*Aren't these patterns quite pretty~?*
*Doesn't this material look quite high-end~?*
*And isn't this size a match, too?*
*What right do you have to refuse them!*
The box Min Moyou opened happened to be the very first one Xiaotong had inspected.
Without another word, Min Moyou grabbed the garment straight out of the box, shoved it into Xiaotong's hands, and then wrapped his large hand over her small one, squeezing her hand tightly around the item.
"Don't want them? Fine. Go return them yourself. If you can manage to get that seven million refunded to me, you don't have to keep them."
"Can you do that?!"
"You couldn't sell yourself for seven million even if you tried..."
Xiaotong (aggrieved): *What kind of madness is he on suddenly...? So terrifying...*
"You know it, too?"
"If you can't do it, then honestly keep them!"
Min Moyou cupped Xiaotong's cheeks with one hand, straightened her lowered and averted head, brought his face close, and forced her to lock eyes with his cold, unyielding gaze.
"The things I give you, you! Still! Have! No! Right! To refuse!"
"Understand? You ungrateful wretch!"
As a Dragon Descendant who was usually immensely confident, Xiaotong was actually suppressed by the overwhelming aura Min Moyou suddenly unleashed. Forced to pout her lips, she hurriedly replied to him:
"Yuyuuyou fah kai wa, wo tildao tildao hai pu hing ma... (You, you, you let me go, I know, I know, isn't that enough...)"
"Hmph!"
Min Moyou let go and shoved her away. The moment she was free, Xiaotong scrambled as far away from Min Moyou as she could, dashed into the bathroom, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Leaning her entire weight against the door, she slid down to the floor in an exhaustion-like slump, staring with a complex gaze at the exquisite undergarment still clutched tightly in her hand as turmoil raged within her.
After a moment, Xiaotong finally chose submission. She filled the bathtub with water, stripped off her clothes, and slipped into the tub, stretching out her limbs. Wrapped in the warm water, her strange bodily sensations finally began to ease.
Seeming to recall something else, her face flushed beet red. With no other choice, she submerged half her face in the water to cool down, her puckered lips blowing bubble after bubble beneath the surface.
"I hate him..."
"I hate him so much..."
"I hate him to death..."