But when she actually flipped to the page, Wen Ran hesitated.
She didn’t have a Space Card.
Placing such an important order would certainly attract the attention of the higher-ups.
With just a little digging, her IP address would be exposed, and so would her plans.
After thinking it over and over, Wen Ran remembered the small, skinny black market courier, Dodo.
She searched her walk-in closet for a long time before finally finding a gray silk scarf.
Dodo had said to tie it to the manor gate, but she felt that was too conspicuous.
As a compromise, she tied it to the garden fence instead.
Whether he’d see it and make contact was entirely up to luck.
The midday sun grew hotter, and Wen Ran was starting to lose her patience.
Just as she was about to head back inside, she heard a young voice.
“Sister, sister.”
Wen Ran looked toward the sound and saw a little boy squatting in the grass by the garden fence.
Wen Ran glanced around.
Seeing that no servants were paying attention, she furtively moved closer to the fence.
She cleverly hid her body behind a large climbing rose, and Dodo silently crept over to join her.
“Sister Tata, you were looking for me?” Dodo’s dark eyes sparkled, full of youthful vigor.
“Yes, I need you to do something for me.
I want you to help me find a mercenary.
I need to put out a bounty.”
A mercenary and a bounty.
The meaning behind those words was crystal clear.
Dodo was smart enough not to ask any questions.
“I know a guy.
The starting price is 500,000 Star Coins, though.”
“And the price goes up if the target has a high status.”
“No problem.
I’ll give you a photo.
Tell him to name his price, but it has to be a guaranteed success.”
‘As long as I can get rid of the female lead, I’ll pay any price.’
Wen Ran took a photo of Wendy from her pocket.
Dodo took it, studied it carefully, and then handed it back.
Wen Ran tilted her head in confusion.
“What’s wrong?
Can’t it be done?”
“No, it’s not that.
Carrying the photo is risky; it could be traced.
But don’t worry, Sister.
I’ve already memorized her face.
I’ll just sketch it when I get back.”
Wen Ran hadn’t expected Dodo to have a photographic memory.
He was so meticulous, too.
“Alright.
Take this diamond bracelet.
Use it as a deposit.”
She couldn’t do a direct transfer, and paper currency had been abolished long ago.
So, she had to use jewelry for payment.
Besides, this bracelet was quite plain, so she didn’t have to worry about it being traced back to her.
‘Even if Dodo gets caught and rats me out, who would believe a kid from the slums?
I’m not worried.’
Dodo carefully placed the diamond bracelet in his pocket.
“Sister, I’ll come back here tomorrow at the same time with an answer.”
“Okay.
Be careful on your way back.”
Wen Ran reached through the fence, patted Dodo’s cheek, and gave him a few chocolates.
Dodo flashed a wide, toothy grin.
After thanking her, he slipped away into the shadows.
What Wen Ran didn’t know was that their secret conversation had been witnessed in its entirety by You Bufan, who was standing on the second-floor balcony.
The man’s lips curled into a smirk.
‘The little kitten has her secrets.’
When Ize returned that evening, he handed Wen Ran a black box.
Wen Ran took it, pleasantly surprised.
“Is this a new gift from you, Brother?”
When she opened it and saw the black collar inside, she froze.
The black collar had a small bell on it that chimed pleasantly when it moved.
Wen Ran stared at Ize, her expression shifting as a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Seeing her misunderstanding, Ize gently tapped her on the head.
“What are you thinking?
You don’t like You Bufan, right?
This collar was custom-made for him.”
“Whenever you flip the switch, it releases a high-voltage current.
That way, you won’t have to get your hands dirty anymore.”
Wen Ran’s face lit up.
She threw her arms around his neck and nuzzled him.
“You’re the best, Brother!
Ruanruan loves it.”
Ize started to raise his arms to hug her back, but the small figure in his embrace suddenly pulled away.
“I’m going to find You Bufan.”
Ize watched her run off cheerfully and shook his head with a sigh.
「Second-floor bedroom.」
You Bufan had a bath towel tied around his waist and was drying his hair with another.
The muscles of his chest were clearly defined.
He glanced up, his gaze landing mockingly on the young woman before him.
“Miss Mite, don’t you know you’re supposed to knock before entering someone’s room?”
A smile played in his golden eyes, adding a captivating allure to his entire being.
It was undeniable that You Bufan was beautiful.
His wasn’t the rugged handsomeness of Ize, but a melancholic, delicate beauty.
The slightest hint of a smile from him felt like an invitation.
Wen Ran’s cheeks flushed red.
“Who takes a bath in the middle of the day?
You pervert.”
You Bufan was still smiling, his eyes glinting with amusement.
“Aren’t you a little tyrant, Miss Mite?”
“Hmph.
Enough nonsense.
Put this on.”
You Bufan paid no mind to the collar in her palm.
Instead, his gaze fell upon her small, jade-white hands. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
“What are you waiting for?
Put it on, or else…” Wen Ran rattled the black soul stone on her wrist, her threat obvious.
You Bufan strolled over to Wen Ran and bent down, a defiant look in his eyes.
“As long as Miss Mite puts it on me herself, I won’t resist.”
Wen Ran glared at him with her expressive, almond-shaped eyes.
Biting her lip, she retorted stubbornly, “Fine, I’ll put it on!
Who’s afraid of who?”
At this, You Bufan cooperatively bent even lower, his eyes brimming with a smile—a stark contrast to the teeth-gritting hatred he usually showed her.
“There.
Now you can get lost.”
Wen Ran patted You Bufan’s cheek, her eyes filled with revulsion.
“This is my room, isn’t it?”
Wen Ran’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed.
She tapped something on her Smart Brain.
A tingling electric current shot out from the collar, causing veins to throb on You Bufan’s forehead in pain.
“Bad dog.
Your punishment is no dinner tonight!”
“As you command, my master.”
Wen Ran froze.
‘Wait…
Did he get off on that???’
Cursing him as a pervert under her breath, she left the room.
You Bufan touched the lingering warmth on the collar, a shadow falling over his golden eyes.
He ripped the towel from his waist.
…
“You’re telling me the young miss is brought to the mansion to have her blood drawn every month??”
Ize stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, his cool, noble face set in a grim expression.
A voice came from the Smart Brain.
“Yes, Young Master.
About this…
the Family Head should be aware of it as well.”
Ize ended the call and told Hunter to get the car ready.
By the time he reached White Lion Mansion, it was late at night.
Lampposts illuminated the wide road leading up to it.
The flowers and plants in the courtyard had been meticulously manicured, arranged in a new style since his last visit.
Ize was in no mood to admire the scenery.
He drove directly to the main building.
The door to the second-floor study opened.
When Charles Mite saw his son walk in, his deeply furrowed brow relaxed.
“What brings you back so late?”
“Have a seat.
Have you been busy with military affairs lately?”
Ize looked at the middle-aged man across from him, playing the part of a doting father, and couldn’t fathom how he could be so heartless as to have Wen Ran’s blood drawn every month.
“Father, please tell me why Wen Ran has to come to the mansion to have her blood drawn every month.
And why it’s been happening since she was seven.”
Charles opened his mouth to speak, but Ize cut him off in a cold voice.
“The fact that I’m standing here means I’ve already investigated.
Now, I’m asking you to tell me the truth, Father!”