42: Chapter 42, "Master," is that alright?

The iron gate let out a heavy groan as it was pushed open from the inside.

The wind on the rooftop was still somewhat boisterous, causing Su Muxue's skirt to flap loudly.

She was like a pre-programmed statue, maintaining that waiting posture until she saw the figures of Huang Mao and Leng Qingxuan reappear, and suddenly, two flames sparked in her dim eyes.

That look in her eyes didn't seem like she was looking at a future landlord, but rather like she was looking at some kind of lifeline, or to be more blunt—a god.

Huang Mao felt his scalp tingle under her gaze and subconsciously touched his nose.

The "hooligan" air he had deliberately put on earlier had completely faded, replaced by a seriousness akin to that of a dean of students.

Since he had decided to take in this trouble, he had to set the rules upfront.

He walked up to Su Muxue, not deliberately closing the distance this time, but maintaining a polite and distant position.

"Classmate Su." Huang Mao began, his voice steady, "Leng Qingxuan told me a bit about you earlier."

"Although I think the troubles of you rich people are quite pretentious, since you've begged to come here, I can let you move in."

Su Muxue's eyes lit up instantly, and just as she was about to bow and thank him, Huang Mao raised his hand to stop her.

"Don't rush to thank me yet. I have two conditions. If you can accept them after hearing them, we can discuss the next steps."

Su Muxue immediately straightened her body, hands folded over her lower abdomen, looking as obedient as if she were listening to an imperial edict: "Please, go ahead."

"First," Huang Mao raised a finger, "my place is a proper private residence, not some runaway shelter, and certainly not a lawless zone."

"You can move in if you want, but you must follow the proper procedures."

He paused, his gaze fixed sharply on Su Muxue: "You must openly and honestly contact your family, tell them you are moving out, and obtain their permission."

"Even if it's just formal permission, that's fine. In short, you cannot be in a 'missing' state, and you cannot play the 'runaway' game."

"I don't want the police or your family's bodyguards to break down my door one day and haul me away with the label of 'abducting an innocent girl'."

As soon as these words were spoken, Leng Qingxuan, who was standing nearby, stiffened slightly, her gaze drifting elsewhere.

After all, she had started out with the mindset of a 'runaway game.'

Although she had spoken to her mother on the phone by now, the content of that call was full of fluff.

Nonsense like "studying with a female classmate" or "group projects" came right off the tip of her tongue.

Huang Mao's words were like a shotgun blast; although aimed at Su Muxue, the stray pellets hit Leng Qingxuan painfully as well.

Su Muxue evidently hadn't expected the first condition to be this.

She was stunned for a moment, having expected Huang Mao to make some tricky or bizarre demands, but she hadn't expected him to ask her to... communicate?

"But..." Su Muxue hesitated, "if they don't agree..."

"That is your problem, not mine."

Huang Mao interrupted her, his tone unquestionable, "If you can't even take control of your own life, then you'll be a bird in a cage no matter where you live. I can't save you here."

These words were heavy.

Su Muxue stared blankly at Huang Mao.

From childhood, what she had learned and what outsiders had praised her for was being "obedient" and "well-behaved."

All along, she had also been subconsciously executing that old method.

No one had ever asked her to "rebel" or to "strive" for anything.

This tough attitude, this command forcing her to face her fears...

Ah, right... that's the feeling.

Su Muxue felt a current of electricity run up her spine. Instead of feeling the pain of being made things difficult for, she felt a sense of relief from being pushed forward by someone.

"I understand." Su Muxue took a deep breath, her eyes becoming firm, "I will go and talk to them. No matter what method I have to use, I will obtain permission."

"Very good." Huang Mao nodded and raised a second finger, "Second."

This time, his expression became even more serious, even carrying a hint of coldness.

"I solemnly retract that absurd theory of 'paying rent with your body' from earlier, and the same applies to you."

"I'm letting you move in because Leng Qingxuan vouched for you, and also because I think you really need a place to catch your breath."

"This is purely out of humanitarianism, or perhaps friendship."

Huang Mao took half a step forward, his gaze looking straight into the depths of Su Muxue's eyes, as if he wanted to wash away all her twisted thoughts.

"I am a physically and mentally healthy adult male; I have my bottom lines and principles. I don't engage in unspoken rules, and I don't need any female slaves."

"In this home, you are the tenant, I am the landlord, and we have an equal contractual relationship."

"After you move in, if you are willing to help with some things, that's great; if you don't want to, that's your freedom too."

"Do not mention anything like 'any request is fine' again."

"That is insulting yourself, and it is also insulting me."

The rooftop fell into a brief silence. Only the wind continued to howl.

Leng Qingxuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief on the side, her eyes softening as she looked at Huang Mao.

This guy, although usually sharp-tongued and prone to playing dumb, his values on key issues were truly upright enough that no one could find fault with them.

Although this point also caused her and An Ran a little distress...

But now, Su Muxue should be able to be a bit more normal, right?

However, when Leng Qingxuan turned to look at Su Muxue, her heart skipped a beat.

Su Muxue didn't show any shame after being reprimanded, nor did she feel dejected because her "devotion" had been rejected.

On the contrary, her cheeks flushed with an even more moving rosy hue, and those eyes, which had originally been like stagnant water, were now rippling with an incomprehensible, almost fanatical adoration.

In Su Muxue's logic, Huang Mao's image was undergoing a world-shaking transformation.

A second ago, he was that "tyrant" who whispered in her ear, full of a dangerous aura, capable of easily seeing through her most hidden desires.

This second, he had turned into that "gentleman" who held fast to his bottom line, respected women, and was filled with righteous integrity.

He clearly possessed the ability and opportunity to dispose of her as he pleased, yet he had actively chosen to exercise restraint.

This self-control of "being able to do something but choosing not to," this contrast of switching freely between "beast" and "saint"... was too charming.

This was simply the most perfect... image of a superior that she had dreamed of.

If she had just wanted to find a cage to crawl into before, then now, she truly wanted to put this man on a pedestal.

"I... I understand."

Su Muxue's voice trembled slightly, and she struggled to suppress the heart in her chest that was about to jump out, bowing deeply once more.

This time, she bent her waist even lower, her posture even more humble.

"Thank you for your guidance. It was I who was too frivolous, misunderstanding your character."

She looked up, her eyes shimmering, her voice as soft as a feather: "You truly are a... gentle yet powerful person."

Huang Mao: "..."

Although these words sounded like a compliment, why did it feel strange coming from her mouth?

And that look in her eyes didn't look like she was looking at a "landlord" in any way.

Forget it, as long as she doesn't pull anything too outrageous...

"Since you have no objections, then it's settled." Huang Mao took out his phone and opened the QR code business card of his social media app.

"Let's add each other as friends, and I'll send you the address. Go back and handle your family; whenever you've handled it, come over with your luggage."

"Yes!"

Su Muxue quickly pulled her phone from her pocket, the speed as if she were afraid Huang Mao would go back on his word.

A soft "beep" sounded. Friend request added successfully.

Huang Mao casually sent over the villa's location, along with an "Electronic Version of Co-living Precautions."

This was something he had just had the AI urgently generate in the stairwell. He had roughly checked the content, and it should be fine.

Su Muxue held her phone, looking at the simple profile picture and the string of address characters on the screen as if she were holding some rare treasure.

She pressed her phone tightly against her chest, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, a heartfelt, even slightly silly, happy smile appearing on her face.

"Finally..." she murmured to herself, "finally there is somewhere else to go."

Leng Qingxuan watched this scene from the side, her temples throbbing.

That ominous premonition was growing stronger and stronger.

Was this woman... really the Eldest Miss of the Su Family known for being "aloof and elegant" in social circles? How did she look like anything other than a fanatical fan who had just gotten an idol's autograph!

Moreover, this expression of "having found a home" made her feel very, very annoyed.

Although she couldn't absolve herself of the responsibility for this either.

"Um..."

Su Muxue put away her phone and readjusted her expression. She calmed her excited mood slightly, looked up, and gazed at Huang Mao with shimmering eyes.

At this moment, the afterglow of the sunset spilled onto the rooftop, gilding all three of them with a golden edge.

Su Muxue clasped her hands in front of her, tilted her head slightly, exposing that long, fair neck, with an extremely gentle smile playing on the corners of her lips.

"Student Huang Mao, since we will be living under the same roof from now on..."

She paused, her voice carrying a hint of just-right shyness and probing: "How should I address you to be appropriate?"

Huang Mao was just putting his phone back in his pocket. Hearing this question, he thought she wanted to learn from some movie or TV show and change how she addressed him to 'landlord' or something, so he casually replied:

"That's obviously up to you. Call me whatever you want, as long as it's not insulting."

Hearing this, Su Muxue nodded slightly.

Names are too distant. Landlord is too mercenary.

Su Muxue quickly vetoed these two options in her mind.

Since he said "whatever," since he had already accepted her, since he was the master of that home, and she was an existence that longed to be taken in and disciplined by him...

Then, there was only one answer.

Su Muxue lowered her eyelids slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering twice, concealing the flash of cunning and fanaticism in her eyes.

Subsequently, she bowed slightly, performing an extremely standard Western court etiquette move that seemed carved into her bones.

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice clear and soft, yet like a thunderclap.

"Then—"

"'Master,' is that okay?"

Boom!

In that instant, Huang Mao felt like his skull was about to be blown off.

"Wha... what the hell?!" Huang Mao widened his eyes, a look of seeing a ghost on his face.

"You are the master of this home, aren't you?"

Su Muxue blinked, looking at Huang Mao with an innocent and matter-of-fact expression, as if she weren't the one who had just dropped a nuclear bomb,

"I am a guest staying over, and you are the master of the house. Calling you 'Master,' logically speaking, is completely fine."

A logic genius.

Huang Mao opened his mouth, but couldn't find a reason to refute her for a moment. Interpreted literally, it was indeed fine, but this context... this atmosphere...

"Cough, cough, cough!"

A violent coughing sound suddenly came from the side.

Leng Qingxuan clutched her chest, her face turning a liver-colored purple; it was from choking on her saliva, and also from being stifled by shame.

At this moment, the one who received the highest critical damage was not Huang Mao, but she, Leng Qingxuan.

Because when An Ran had just moved into the villa, she too, in order to establish her status in the household, had worn an apron and affectionately called him "Master."

And after being teased by Huang Mao, she finally woke up from the environment called "FGO," realizing that the meaning of the word itself was a bit subtle.

She remembered that she had similar thoughts to Su Muxue at the time, but in the end, because of shame, she stopped calling him that after that, except for some special circumstances.

But now, facing Su Muxue's clear and standard "Master"...

There is no harm without comparison.

Su Muxue's calling out like this directly helped Leng Qingxuan recall that feeling of being so ashamed her toes curled, and it was amplified tenfold.

"You... you..."

Leng Qingxuan pointed at Su Muxue, her fingers trembling, unable to say a complete sentence for a long time.

She regretted it. She really regretted it.

She shouldn't have been soft-hearted! She shouldn't have let in this woman who looked harmless but was actually outrageously high-level!

How is this finding a new roommate? This is clearly inviting a wolf into the house!

Su Muxue turned her head, looking at the flushed Leng Qingxuan, and once again revealed that gentle smile: "Classmate Leng, you also think this form of address is very appropriate, right?"

Leng Qingxuan: "..."

Appropriate my ass!

Looking at Su Muxue's eyes, which seemed clear but actually hid an abyss, alarm bells rang in Leng Qingxuan's heart, and an unprecedented sense of crisis instantly swept through her entire body.