What was he doing?
An Li’s apricot-shaped eyes widened in disbelief. She froze for several seconds before she could even open her mouth, speechless.
He Nian, ever impatient, couldn’t stand their silent exchange. “What? What’s going on? If there’s something good, tell everyone. Don’t hog it all to yourself.”
Was this a “good thing”?
And something to hog?
An Li wondered if she had misheard. She touched her ear.
“Don’t touch your ear. You heard me right. What I just said—yeah, what you’re thinking… damn it, me,” Duan Zhuo continued, lowering his head, his warm breath brushing her ear.
An Li’s ear flushed instantly. She stammered, “N-no… don’t…”
He Nian’s face lit up with gossip. “Don’t? What don’t you want? What are you two even talking about?”
Duan Zhuo remained silent. He Nian grabbed the note from the table, the one with the “conditions” written earlier.
Just two characters.
Even He Nian, worldly as he was, twitched at the corners of his mouth after reading it. No wonder Duan Zhuo couldn’t say it aloud—so crude.
“What’s written there? Let us see,” someone else tried to peek.
He Nian decisively crumpled the note into a ball. No one could see it.
Seeing it would be catastrophic.
Master Zhuo’s lifelong reputation would be ruined in an instant.
“What exactly is Master Zhuo’s command? Not telling everyone is boring,” the curly-haired woman challenged.
Duan Zhuo didn’t care to say, mainly because the person next to him was shy.
He even had a small desire to confess. Pretending to be formal, he asked An Li, “Can I tell them?”
“No! You can’t!” An Li frowned, annoyed. “I won’t do it either.”
Duan Zhuo’s peach-blossom eyes, usually sharp and commanding, softened into a pitiful, innocent expression, like a scolded little dog. “Why? You’re cheating.”
Everyone was curious about his command, waiting for An Li to act and satisfy their curiosity.
But she cheated, doing nothing.
How could that be allowed?
“This little sister can’t cheat. Don’t chicken out.”
“It’s just a game. Whatever Master Zhuo asks, just do it. We’re not serious.”
“Yeah, don’t be so stingy. Do it for everyone to see.”
The questioning voices began to corner An Li.
He Nian, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. “This command isn’t for you to see. It’s a private little game between the two of them.”
“Can’t see? Then at least tell us!” the curly-haired woman pressed.
“Can’t say either,” He Nian shrugged.
“Then she’s cheating,” the woman sneered. “If you can’t handle the game, don’t play and waste our time.”
An Li’s face turned bright red. She raised her voice, enunciating each word, “I… I can handle it…”
If the chosen person didn’t want to follow the command, they could opt to drink a punishment drink.
But it was a full glass of whiskey.
Even an old drinker would hesitate with this kind of whiskey.
She firmly stated, “I’ll drink.”
Duan Zhuo suddenly spoke, holding her glass. “Are you sure?”
“Sure.”
She would rather drink than do… that.
The whiskey smelled strong, with a lingering kick.
Luckily, He Nian poured only half a glass for her.
Even a small sip made her eyes water.
When she tried to continue, Duan Zhuo caught the glass in one hand. “Enough. I’ll drink it for you.”
She glared at him. “You…”
He barely reacted to alcohol, finishing the glass effortlessly. He set it down, still composed, a faint teasing smile on his lips. “No need to thank me.”
She wasn’t thanking him. It was all because of his command.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up being laughed at by everyone.
Now he was acting all innocent in front of her.
An Li ignored him and returned to the wheel. “It’s my turn to spin, right?”
Finally, she could issue a command.
Duan Zhuo’s only motivation in the game was interacting with her, the novelty as thrilling for him as for her. He asked slowly, “What’s your command?”
“I… haven’t decided yet.”
“You can think of anything. Or target someone in particular.”
Target someone…
After a moment of thought, An Li suddenly had an idea. “Then… whoever the pointer lands on, stay away from me. Don’t talk to me.”
Duan Zhuo, who had just been smiling, suddenly darkened.
This command seemed directed at him.
An Li spun the wheel.
She noticed something.
The wheel had a bug.
The final pointer position could be manipulated.
Press the table slightly, and the pointer would end up pointing at someone lower down.
Not a 100% guarantee, but about a one-third chance.
She rested a hand on the table while spinning.
Duan Zhuo noticed the little trick.
The little rascal was clever, discovering the trick after several rounds.
He didn’t expose her, waiting silently for the pointer.
The pointer stopped.
It initially pointed at Duan Zhuo, then slowly drifted toward He Nian.
In the end, it landed on He Nian.
An Li stared, dumbfounded.
Her hand almost pressed the table crooked. The pointer wouldn’t obey.
She furrowed her brow, muttering, “Weird… why did it point to He Nian?”
“Then who did Baby want it to point at?” Duan Zhuo’s voice stretched out.
“N-no one… I just said it randomly.”
His handsome face seemed casual, but his gaze deepened. He subtly pinched her waist, smiling. “Randomly? I thought Baby was targeting me.”
Very clever.
Definitely aimed at him.
An Li asked, “What if I was targeting you?”
“Even if you were, I wouldn’t stay away. I’d want to come closer, stick to you.”
His voice was low.
An Li instinctively covered his mouth.
What nonsense was he spouting?
“I… feel a bit uncomfortable.” She feared another sudden declaration, instinctively retreating. “I’m going to the restroom. You guys keep playing.”
When she came out, Duan Zhuo followed.
He took off his coat and handed it to her.
An Li looked up. “Why?”
He glanced at her. “There’s blood on your skirt.”
She looked down, realizing her period had started unexpectedly. The blood had soaked through her skirt.
Blushing, she said, “Oh… thanks.”
The blood was too much; the coat alone couldn’t cover it.
“You can’t wear this skirt anymore.” Duan Zhuo dialed a number. “I’ll have someone deliver a clean set of clothes for you.”
“Okay.”
It was just the two of them here, but wherever Duan Zhuo went, bodyguards and assistants followed. One call was all it took to get things done.
When his assistant asked what size to buy, Duan Zhuo looked at An Li. “Measurements roughly 92-58-86. Prepare one set in M, one in S.”
He casually recited three numbers. An Li was stunned. “Y-you know my size?”
“My eyes are a ruler.” His smile deepened, intentionally slowing his words. “Besides, I measured with my hands before.”
She glared at him.
“Baby doesn’t believe me? I can measure again with a ruler.” He spoke like a mischievous rogue, trying to pull her.
An Li raised her hand to block him, cheeks faintly red. “D-don’t come closer…”
He didn’t, but his peach-blossom eyes never left her. His lips curved in a teasing half-smile. “Hmm? My wife is shy?”
“Don’t… call me wife…” She glanced around, worried someone would see. “And don’t call me Baby either.”
“Why not?”
“You’re making me uncomfortable…”
“Say it more, and you’ll get used to it.”
“No.”
He pretended to think seriously. “Then if not wife or Baby… what should I call you? Mistress?”
An Li: “?”
“Or Mommy?”
An Li: “?????”