"Well now… seeing how pitiful you are, I might give you another option."
Lin Feng figured the timing was about right and said it with a grin.
Gu Qingqian's head shot up, eyes wide with urgency. "W‑what… what option?"
Lin Feng leaned forward, his gaze openly sweeping over her in an aggressive, appraising way — from her delicate collarbones, to the slim curve of her waist still visible under the school jacket, down to her straight, evenly shaped calves wrapped in white ankle socks.
Gu Qingqian squirmed under his stare, instinctively shrinking back, her cheeks burning.
His eyes finally settled on her pure‑yet‑seductive little face, and he said in a low voice:
"How about paying off your debt… with yourself?"
"Huh!?"
Gu Qingqian's brain went buzz — blank.
Am I… dealing with a bad guy?!
"I… I can't…" She shook her head frantically, voice cracking with panic. "You… you can't do that… That's illegal!"
[Ding! Gu Qingqian imagined scenes of humiliation and training. Corruption Value +5! Current: 5. Alertness increased!]
"Illegal?" Lin Feng laughed at her naivety. "What are you even thinking?"
Of course, with Gu Qingqian's pathetically low Corruption Value, trying to get her to do anything too lewd was impossible right now.
But he had patience — he could train her, slowly.
"What I mean is, be my personal maid for a year. On call 24/7, do whatever I say. If you perform well and keep me satisfied over that year, the twenty grand gets wiped clean. Deal?"
"B‑be a… personal maid?" Gu Qingqian froze. That condition was way outside her expectations.
But the name alone sounded kinda… suggestive!
"Obviously, I'm not asking you to do anything bad," Lin Feng said, as if reading her mind. "Just run errands, give massages, wash clothes, maybe have a meal with me — simple stuff, right?"
"Just that?" She blinked.
It actually… sounded acceptable?
"What, you don't want to?" Seeing her hesitate, Lin Feng's tone cooled. "Then I'll just call the cops. Let the police handle it — that's fair."
"I will! I will!"
At the mention of "police," Gu Qingqian nodded like a startled rabbit.
"Words aren't enough." Lin Feng pulled a pen and notebook from the center console, tore off a page, and slid it over.
"Put it in writing. State you owe me twenty grand, voluntarily repaying with labor for one year. Sign it."
Gu Qingqian knew she had no choice.
Her hands trembling, she carefully wrote out what amounted to a "slavery contract" — an unfair agreement — and signed at the bottom.
Lin Feng looked at the freshly minted "IOU" and smiled in satisfaction.
He folded it neatly and tucked it into his pocket.
"As your Master, I have my first order." His gaze locked onto Gu Qingqian.
Her heart leapt to her throat; her big eyes watched him nervously.
"From now on, you'll address me as 'Master' — in WeChat, in person, every time. Got it?" His tone allowed no argument.
"M‑Master?"
Gu Qingqian's face flushed crimson, spreading from her cheeks to her pale neck.
In anime and cartoons, maids calling someone "Master" seemed normal.
But saying it herself? She felt an indescribable wave of shame.
Call a guy I just met minutes ago "Master"?!
"What, you don't want to?" Lin Feng gave her a sidelong glance. "Or do you prefer paying the money?"
"N‑no… not that…" She shook her head rapidly, hands twisting together.
Biting her lip, summoning every ounce of courage, she squeezed out two tiny words:
"Ma… Master…"
So quiet it was nearly inaudible — but Lin Feng heard.
[Ding! Gu Qingqian addresses Host as Master for the first time, Corruption Value +2! Current: 7!]
"Speak up, didn't you eat?" Lin Feng deliberately made it harder.
Gu Qingqian's eyes instantly reddened, like she'd been wronged beyond bearing.
But seeing Lin Feng's smirk, she knew resistance was futile.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, as if bracing herself, and shouted:
"MASTER!"
The moment she finished, she buried her face, her skin burning hot enough to fry an egg, wishing she could leap out of the car right then.
"That's more like it." Lin Feng nodded in approval, in a great mood.
Tempting a pure little bunny like this was endlessly entertaining.
"Get out." Lin Feng commanded.
Gu Qingqian felt like she'd been pardoned, hurriedly unbuckled, and went for the door to escape the stifling space.
"Wait." Lin Feng stopped her.
She froze, turned back, eyes timid. "Ma… Master, is there something else?"
Seeing her so obedient, instantly remembering to call him "Master," Lin Feng chuckled inwardly.
This silly girl is really innocent.
High execution too!
Looks like she'll actually complete her year as a maid without trouble.
Lin Feng took out his phone and waved it. "Remember — as my personal maid, you stay online 24/7, respond anytime I call. If I contact you and you ignore it or don't answer…"
He left the threat hanging, obvious enough.
Gu Qingqian looked troubled. "But… I have classes. I can't be available 24 hours…"
Lin Feng waved a hand, shamelessly. "That's your problem. You signed the contract, so you follow the contract. You're a college student — I shouldn't have to teach you this."
"I… I understand, I'll do my best!" She nodded vigorously, feeling like she was about to cry from being bullied.
"Sit tight." Lin Feng gave a flat command, then started the car.
Soon, they pulled out of Jiangnan Normal University.
Gu Qingqian's heart rose with the speed of the scenery flashing past. Nervous, she asked, "Ma… Master, where… where are we going?"
"That's not something a maid needs to ask." Lin Feng kept his eyes on the road, tone icy. "You just remember — wherever your Master is, that's where you need to be."
Terrified, she didn't dare ask again, sitting like a frightened fawn, hands clutching the seatbelt.
Before long, the car rolled to a stop in front of a pharmacy.
Lin Feng unbuckled. "Wait here. Don't wander off."
Gu Qingqian nodded automatically, but her gaze was caught by the giant LED screen above the pharmacy entrance.
Red letters scrolled across:
Emergency Contraception — Choose Yu Ting! Today's Special Price! Plus XX, XX products on a limited‑time discount. Member points redeem gifts!