In the Present...
"Have you noticed any signs of her waking up?" White Fox asked the nurse.
It was the same nurse who had entered the room earlier and injected TianTian with some medication.
"No, sir. She still hasn't woken up since that day."
"All right. You may continue with your work."
White Fox turned his attention toward the girl lying quietly on the bed.
She had been sleeping for such a long time, just like a sleeping beauty in a fairy tale.
A poor sleeping beauty...
In TianTian's Dream...
TianTian recalled the moment she first arrived at the King's house.
At that time, she was sitting inside the King's car, unusually quiet.
But although her mouth remained silent, her mind was extremely busy.
Are you crazy, TianTian? How could you just follow this beast?
But we have a deal, right? He promised not to touch me...
Are you really that naive? Didn't he forcefully kiss you without permission? What makes you think he won't attack you tonight, especially when you're inside his own house?
TianTian couldn't help feeling nervous.
She stole a quick glance at the King.
Why is he so quiet, too? What's he thinking about? Could he be...
At that moment, the King suddenly turned his eyes toward her.
Their gazes met.
TianTian was startled and immediately turned her head toward the window, pretending to be interested in the passing scenery.
The King smiled.
Right now, he felt victorious.
Well, at least he had already achieved half of his goal.
TianTian would stay with him. She had promised to accompany him wherever he went.
Of course, deep inside his heart, he couldn't help cursing the ridiculous little test she had demanded.
Three months without intimacy!
What a troublesome condition!
But he couldn't go back on his word. He was a businessman, and keeping promises was essential to maintaining trust with his clients.
Very well. It was only three months.
He had lived like a monk before meeting TianTian. How difficult could another three months possibly be?
The King glanced at the girl sitting beside him, who was still pretending to admire the scenery outside.
He silently made a promise to himself.
On the first day of the fourth month, I'll finally have my way with this girl. I'll hold her as much as I want and never let her escape my embrace.
Just wait, little girl! Otherwise, I'm not Li MingHu, the King of the Li Empire!
The car had already passed through the outer gates of the residential complex, but it still took several more minutes before finally stopping in front of the mansion.
What a huge garden!
"We've arrived. Let's go."
As usual, the King spoke in a commanding tone.
TianTian took a deep breath before stepping out of the car.
She couldn't help being amazed by the magnificent house in front of her.
It was enormous, beautifully decorated, and radiated luxury from every corner.
Two Chinese lion statues guarded the main entrance, while traditional Chinese ornaments decorated the sides of the building.
It looked more like a palace than an ordinary home.
The front door opened.
An elderly woman, dressed elegantly like the head housekeeper, appeared with two young servants standing behind her.
"Welcome home, Master Li."
The King merely nodded in response.
Without wasting any time, he introduced the girl standing beside him.
"Aunt Ma, this is TianTian. She'll be staying here starting today."
TianTian noticed a brief look of surprise crossing the elderly woman's face.
It lasted only a second, however, before disappearing completely.
"I'll prepare a room for Miss TianTian immediately."
TianTian hadn't imagined it. Aunt Ma really had been surprised.
But as a professional housekeeper, the elderly woman quickly regained her composure and continued performing her duties.
Meanwhile, a series of questions appeared in her mind.
This is the first time Master Li has brought a woman into this house, and now he's even allowing her to stay here!
Who exactly is this girl? Is she his girlfriend? Could she be the future Madam of this house?
But she looks so... ordinary. Just a common girl. Is she really suitable for Master Li?
To Aunt Ma, the King was almost like a young prince she had personally watched grow up.
She cared deeply about him.
Although she knew she wasn't in a position to question his decisions, she couldn't help wanting to evaluate this mysterious girl further.
"Don't bother preparing another room. Put her belongings in my room later."
The King took off his cloak and handed it to Aunt Ma.
WHAT?!
I have to sleep in his room? Hell, no!
"No!" TianTian immediately protested. "You promised... remember? The test! So you have to give me my own room!"
The King looked irritated at being reminded of that ridiculous agreement.
He turned his eyes toward her, clearly expressing his dissatisfaction.
But TianTian wasn't going to back down.
She stared right back at him.
"Three months!"
"Fine!"
The King finally gave in.
"Aunt Ma, prepare a separate room for her."
Phew! Thank goodness! At least this beast knows how to keep his promise.
"Yes, Master Li."
Aunt Ma immediately instructed the two young servants to prepare a room for TianTian. They quickly disappeared into the inner part of the mansion to carry out their duties.
After making sure the arrangements were underway, Aunt Ma returned to her master.
"Your room will be ready shortly, Master. Is there anything else you need?"
The King began giving her further instructions about dinner and other household matters. Aunt Ma also took the opportunity to report several routine matters to him.
TianTian, however, wasn't particularly interested in their conversation.
Her attention had already been captured by the antique decorations around the house.
She slowly looked around.
So... he's an antique collector?
The antiques displayed throughout the mansion looked incredibly old and authentic.
I can't even imagine how much money he has spent collecting all these things!
TianTian had grown up in a traditional family, so she was quite familiar with antiques.
Her grandfather had been regarded as an antique expert by many of his old friends. When she was little, she often spent time at his house, where he taught her many interesting things about traditional art and antiques.
Those precious childhood memories made her smile.
But her smile gradually faded.
Her beloved grandfather had passed away shortly after she graduated from school.
Oh, how she missed him!
TianTian slowly approached one antique after another, carefully observing their details.
Then her eyes fell upon a small Chinese vase.
It was decorated with a beautiful painting of a fairy wearing a long traditional Chinese dress.
She stared at it, completely absorbed in her memories of her grandfather.
Without realizing it, she gently picked up the little vase.
"Do you like it?"
A whisper suddenly sounded beside her ear.
It was so close that she could feel the King's warm breath.
TianTian was startled.
Her hand loosened its grip.
"CRASH!"
Oh, no!
The vase!
The sharp sound of breaking porcelain immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Aunt Ma, who was still nearby, witnessed the entire scene.
The girl had just broken one of her master's precious antique collections!
Aunt Ma knew very well how much Master Li treasured his antiques.
She suddenly remembered an incident from several years ago.
A careless servant had accidentally broken one of his vases. Instead of simply deducting the cost from her salary and forgiving her, Master Li had punished her severely, even breaking one of her fingers before throwing her out of the mansion.
Aunt Ma couldn't imagine what would happen to this girl now.
What a poor girl...
The King hadn't expected TianTian to drop the vase.
His precious little vase!
He remembered that it had cost him at least fifty million.
Perhaps it was one of the cheapest pieces in this particular collection, but its artistic value was priceless.
What a waste!
For a brief moment, a little battle took place inside his mind.
Damn this girl!
She has barely entered my house, and she's already broken one of my precious antiques!
If she were anyone else, I would throw her out immediately!
He turned toward TianTian.
Hmph! Look at her face. She's shocked and frightened.
Fine. Let me give you a proper punishment!
But before he could say anything, he suddenly froze.
Tears were beginning to form in TianTian's eyes.
...Is she really that frightened of being punished?
However, his surprise didn't end there.
TianTian suddenly turned toward him with an angry expression.
"LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
WHAT?!
How come she's angry at ME?
Before the King could respond, TianTian knelt down and began crying.
"What a poor vase! I'm so, so sorry, little vase!"
She carefully reached for the broken pieces.
"It's all his fault! He shouldn't have surprised me like that! But... I'm also wrong. I didn't hold you tightly enough. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you... Hik... hik..."
She continued apologizing to the broken vase while trying to collect its larger pieces.
I'm sorry, Grandpa.
I broke an antique vase that looked just like one of your favorite vases.
TianTian felt as though she had disappointed her beloved grandfather in heaven.
The King and Aunt Ma exchanged bewildered looks.
They couldn't believe what they were witnessing.
What a strange girl!
Aunt Ma was equally astonished.
She can feel more sorry for that little vase than for herself, and she even dares to blame Master Li!
This is the first time I've witnessed something like this.
I wonder how Master will react.
She cautiously glanced toward her master.
And then...
"HA... HA... HA... HA... HA!"
The King suddenly burst into laughter.
He couldn't hold it back anymore.
It wasn't an angry laugh or a sarcastic one.
He was genuinely amused!
The reaction was so unexpected that Aunt Ma and the other servants secretly watching from nearby almost felt their hearts jump out of their chests.
The Master isn't angry?
He isn't punishing her for breaking his precious antique collection?
Instead, he's laughing?!
Has the world turned upside down?!
The King continued laughing.
This girl is really something!
The more I get to know her, the more interesting she becomes.
So she likes antiques, too. That's good! We have something in common.
But then his eyes fell upon her hands.
His smile slowly faded.
Wait...
Why is she so concerned about that little vase?
Look at her! She hasn't even noticed that her finger has been cut by the broken pieces!
"Stop collecting those pieces!"
The King finally spoke.
"Let the servants clean them up. Come with me."
Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the broken vase.
Aunt Ma immediately understood what needed to be done.
Without being asked, she instructed the other servants to clean up the broken pieces carefully.
Meanwhile, she watched her master leading the young woman toward the dining area.
She let out a quiet sigh.
"This girl really isn't an ordinary girl..."
However, she still felt that she needed to observe her further.
"What... Wait! I'm not finished yet!"
As usual, the King didn't bother listening to TianTian's protests.
He brought her into what appeared to be a living room.
It was another luxurious space, equipped with modern electronic devices and decorated with a large painting hanging on the wall.
Another priceless antique painting!
Unfortunately, TianTian wasn't in the mood to admire it.
Her mind was too busy wondering what would happen next.
The King suddenly pushed her down onto the sofa.
"Sit."
TianTian was caught off guard.
Before she could protest, he had positioned himself so close that his body blocked her way out.
"What... What are you doing?!"
She tried to push him away.
"Quiet!"
His short, commanding voice made her stop.
But her mind continued racing.
This beast is really strange!
He was laughing so loudly just a moment ago, but now he looks angry again!
What is he going to do?
What should I do now?
Then she remembered the broken vase.
Well, I suppose I should accept the punishment for breaking it. Maybe I can try to repair it later or pay him back.
I need to talk to him. I shouldn't run away from something I've done wrong.
"Mr. Li... I..."
The King silenced her with a sharp glance.
Then he sat beside her and turned his attention toward her hands.
He noticed the small cut on her finger.
Without saying anything, he gently took her wounded hand.
TianTian was confused.
What was he doing?
Before she could understand his intention, he slowly lowered his head and placed his lips against the small wound.
He gently licked the cut.
TianTian's eyes widened.
She immediately tried to pull her hand away, but he held her wrist.
Instead of letting go, he began kissing her palm and moving his lips along her hand.
"Stop... Stop it! You're... you're breaking your promise!"
As an inexperienced girl, TianTian's cheeks quickly turned red.
The King looked at her with amusement.
"I'm not breaking our agreement. This is a punishment."
"What... What punishment? STOP!"
But he continued.
He kissed her palm, then slowly moved toward her arm, eventually reaching her shoulder.
Finally, he leaned toward her ear and whispered,
"Your hand broke my precious little vase. So I'm giving this hand a little punishment, girl."
What kind of punishment is this?!
He's so perverted! He simply can't resist taking every opportunity to do something inappropriate!
"I understand! I know I did something wrong! I'm sorry! I'll pay for the vase, all right? Now please get away from me!"
TianTian glared at him angrily.
The King smiled.
"I bought that little vase for fifty million. It was also extremely difficult to find another one like it."
He paused before asking,
"Do you want to pay me in cash?"
TianTian's eyes widened.
Fifty million?!
What an outrageous price for such a small vase!
With her salary as a teacher, it would probably take her ten years or even longer to pay him back!
The King noticed her expression and smiled mischievously.
"Well, if you can't afford it, then you should be a good girl and accept your punishment."
TianTian's face grew even redder.
This man is unbelievable!
The King noticed her reaction.
Hmm...
Could it be...?
Curious about her sensitivity, he leaned closer and gently kissed her ear.
"Aah! No!"
TianTian suddenly felt an unfamiliar sensation spreading through her body.
Her ears seemed particularly sensitive.
The King noticed her reaction and became even more intrigued.
He gently brushed his lips against her ear, then lightly nibbled it.
"Aaah! No... Stop! I can't..."
TianTian felt confused and frightened.
Something strange was happening to her body.
What's wrong with me?
Why am I becoming so weak? Why can't I resist him properly?
This is dangerous! If he continues...
She couldn't hold back her tears anymore.
"Please... let me go..."
She begged him softly.
Fortunately, at that very moment, Aunt Ma appeared.
She became TianTian's unexpected savior.
Ignoring the awkward atmosphere, she gave a light cough to announce her presence.
"Ehem... Dinner is ready, Master Li."
The King finally stopped.
He let out a deep sigh before giving TianTian a light kiss on her right cheek.
"It's about time, Aunt Ma."
He smiled mischievously.
"Because I'm very hungry..."
He glanced at TianTian.
"...so hungry that I'm willing to eat the person sitting right in front of me!"
The King laughed at his own teasing.
He stood up from the sofa and helped TianTian get up as well.
Then he headed toward the dining room, expecting her to follow.
But TianTian didn't move.
She remained standing silently, considering whether she should escape while she still had the chance.
Her heart was screaming a warning.
Run!
Before it's too late, you should run away from this man!
As if he could read her thoughts, the King suddenly stopped and turned around.
"I'll keep our agreement for these three months."
His expression became serious.
"But if you try to run away from me, I'll use all my power to bring you back here. And once you're back, I'll do whatever I want!"
There was no way he would let this girl go.
"Besides..." he added, giving her a mischievous smile, "don't you think you should eat something first before trying to fight me?"
As if responding to his words, TianTian's stomach suddenly made a loud noise.
"GRRRRR..."
TianTian froze.
Her face turned bright red.
Damn it, stomach! Why do you have to make noise right now?!
But she knew exactly why.
It was already the time when she should have eaten dinner.
She had been so busy dealing with the King that she had completely forgotten about her hunger.
After a moment of hesitation, she decided to accept his suggestion.
No matter what happened next, she needed to eat first!
She straightened her clothes, took a deep breath, and walked steadily toward the dining room, following the direction Aunt Ma had indicated.
Behind her, the King laughed again.
He was clearly enjoying himself as he followed his little bunny into the dining room.
What an interesting girl.
Living with her is going to be much more entertaining than I expected.