“Open the door!”
I glared at Meng Bao.
Meng Bao lifted a hind paw to scratch its ear, still looking utterly indifferent toward me. “October didn’t say you could leave. I don’t dare let you go.”
“What is he to you? Why do you listen to him so obediently?”
“He’s the master. Of course I have to listen to him.”
“Open the door!”
“No. Don’t keep making things difficult for me.”
“This is illegal confinement. I can call the police and have them arrest you.”
“You’d better not do that.”
“Sorry, but I’m going to do exactly that.”
As I spoke, I pulled my phone from my pocket and quickly dialed 110. Before the call could connect, Meng Bao swiftly rushed over and pounced on me.
It swung a front paw and smacked the phone right out of my hand.
Watching the phone fly through the air and crash heavily onto the floor, the body and battery separating, my anger finally erupted uncontrollably.
I grabbed Meng Bao by the scruff of its neck and yanked it off me.
After all, Meng Bao was a cat. The moment it was lifted by the scruff, it instantly went still and docile.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to throw you down just like you threw my phone.”
“I didn’t mean to. Let’s talk this over.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
With that, I flung it forcefully onto the ground.
The remarkable flexibility and agility of a cat’s body were fully demonstrated at that moment. Instead of crashing painfully to the floor as I had imagined, it landed steadily on all fours, completely unharmed.
Turning its head to glance at me, Meng Bao leaped effortlessly back onto the square table and said arrogantly, “A mere human like you could never hurt me.”
“Tell October to let me go.”
“He’s taking a nap.”
“Go wake him up.”
“When he’s sleeping, I don’t dare disturb him.”
“Where is he?”
Meng Bao gestured toward upstairs and added, “The room at the end of the hallway, on the right. If you have the guts, go wake him up yourself. I can’t let you leave anyway.”
“Fine, I will!”
It was almost noon now. I had skipped classes all morning. If the teacher hadn’t noticed, it might be fine, but if I got caught, I’d definitely lose credit.
To get out of here as soon as possible, I stormed upstairs in a rage.
When I was cleaning earlier, the door to the room at the end of the hallway on the right was locked, so I couldn’t go in and didn’t clean it. Turns out, October was inside sleeping the whole time.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Why should I stay here and clean? Why should whether I can leave depend on October? Who is he to me? Why does he get to control and manipulate me?
Reaching the door, I banged on it loudly.
“October, come out here!”
No response.
I kept knocking, pounding incessantly. When my hands hurt, I started kicking. I made as much noise as possible.
I refused to believe October could still sleep through such a racket.
“October, come out! Don’t hide in there…”
Finally, after my relentless disturbance, the door opened.
October appeared before me, bleary-eyed. He was still wearing that white bathrobe, leaning casually against the doorframe, looking utterly nonchalant.
Staring at me for a few seconds, he murmured, “Finished cleaning?”
“Finished a long time ago. Open the door and let me go.”
“Go?”
“Open the door and let me leave!”
“Who said you could leave?”
“You…”
I gritted my teeth in fury, while he merely curled his lips faintly, smiling without a word.
He stared straight at me, his eyes suddenly narrowing, then raised his arm and heavily draped it over my shoulder. This move of his made my heart flutter with unease.
“Pervert, what are you doing?”
I shook off his hand. He chuckled, “I just wanted to bond with you a little. After all, from now on, you’re my person.”
“Who’s your person?”
“I mean, you work for me.”
“I thought we had already reached an agreement. You asked me to clean this place, and I did as you said. Now shouldn’t you let me go?”
“Not in a hurry.”
“What else do you want?”
He reached out and patted his stomach, grinning as he said, “I’m hungry. Make me something to eat.”
“I’m not your servant.”
“You do whatever I tell you to do. Right now, I’m telling you to make me something to eat.”
“You’re going too far.”
“I don’t know how to cook, and Meng Bao doesn’t either. It has to be you.”
“Sorry, I don’t know how either.”
Even if I did, I wouldn’t cook for him.
“How can a girl not know how to cook? Besides, you cleaned up pretty well, which proves you must be good at housework. Cooking shouldn’t be a problem for you either.”
“…”
“The kitchen is on the first floor. Go make dinner like a good girl.” October gave my shoulder a push. Though he didn’t seem to use much force, the strength in his hand sent me stumbling forward several steps.
Steadying myself, I turned back to look at October. He stretched lazily, glanced at me briefly, and urged, “What are you looking at? Hurry up and make dinner.”
“No.”
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“I said no. Let me go.”
“Not yet.”
“You’re bullying me.”
“How is this bullying?” As he spoke, he walked toward me, stopping in front of me for a few seconds. Suddenly, he pinned me against the corner of the wall, his handsome face drawing close. His starry eyes stared unblinkingly at me, making me tense up.
His face was inches away. I could clearly feel his breath and his body heat.
“Do you know what bullying is?” he said.
I swallowed hard, but in the next moment, he raised his hand and grabbed my chest, kneading it with just the right amount of pressure. Then, with a serious expression, he said, “This is bullying.”
My face flushed hot, and I was instantly furious with embarrassment.
I slapped his hand away and shouted angrily, “Pervert! Shameless!”
“I was just demonstrating what bullying really is.”
“You…”
Unable to hold back any longer, I swung a slap at him, only for him to easily block it.
“Girls shouldn’t be so violent.”
“You jerk, you bastard.”
“Girls shouldn’t swear either. It’s not ladylike.”
“You…”
I was so angry I felt like my lungs were about to explode, but he remained completely calm.
I couldn’t leave, was treated like a servant, and now I was being bullied and taken advantage of.
In all my life, I had never been treated like this by a man. To me, it was an absolute humiliation.
I felt wronged, as if something hard was stuck in my throat, and in an instant, tears uncontrollably fell.
“Why are you crying?”
October took two steps back, quickly putting some distance between us.
“I didn’t do anything to you,” he frowned, looking slightly anxious.
I glared at him hatefully, “You’re shameless, despicable.”
“I already said, I was just demonstrating.”
“You’re shameless, you filthy scoundrel.”
“I… I was just demonstrating… If you really care so much, fine… I’ll take responsibility.”