Starting Today, I'm a Slave—Ore wa Akunin da

"Are you being a little too brazen?"

Su Qing finally reached the end of his patience and grabbed that little hand.

Was this supposed to be wiping him down? She was clearly trying to take advantage of him!

Letting her have a little taste should have been enough. Was she really not going to stop?

"Young Master, I just couldn't hold myself back. How would you like to punish me?"

Hearing the displeasure in his voice, Little Green Tea Maid spoke in a pitiful tone.

She was quite unconcerned by this sort of dissatisfaction.

Why was he being so stingy? It wasn't like she had done anything strange.

What was wrong with touching him? It wasn't as if he would lose a piece of flesh!

After last night, she no longer took such threats seriously.

His emotions had clearly reached that point, yet he still hadn't done anything. Obviously, he didn't have the nerve...

The moment that thought surfaced, her arm was seized.

Caught off guard, Lian Yin was pulled straight into his arms.

Before she could react, her lips were abruptly sealed.

"Mm?!"

Lian Yin let out a mournful cry.

Her eyes widened as she stared in disbelief at the boy so close before her.

H-how could this happen?!

After her initial shock, she felt a sharp pain on her lips.

The faint pain and taste of blood instantly brought her back to her senses.

"This is a small punishment for you. Don't do it again next time."

Su Qing warned.

"Huh?!"

Only after hearing that did Lian Yin finally react. She looked at her Young Master as though she wanted to cry but had no tears.

Last night, he had been such a proper gentleman, yet today he had done something like this without hesitation.

Even more outrageous, he had not only stolen her first kiss, but bitten her lip open as well.

How could there be such a terrible person?!

"What do you mean, 'huh'? What you did just now was completely improper."

"It would be one thing if you acted that way around me, but if others found out, they would definitely criticize you."

"So this Young Master generously used his own first time to teach you a practical lesson."

"You should be grateful and understand my painstaking intentions."

Su Qing declared righteously.

This was called teaching an unruly maid proper manners.

Was there anything wrong with that?

Absolutely not!

Lian Yin had originally wanted to question him angrily, but after hearing that, she could not bring herself to question him at all.

What was the most frustrating thing in the world?

Probably being so furious that you trembled all over, yet having no way to refute the other person.

That was exactly the situation she faced now.

"What is it, Lian Yin? You look rather unhappy."

Su Qing raised a brow and asked.

"No... Thank you, Young Master..."

After hearing that, Lian Yin could only suppress her grievance and force a smile onto her face.

After all, she was merely a maid now. There was nothing wrong with what he had done.

"Continue. Don't try any more messy nonsense."

Su Qing nodded in satisfaction.

Lian Yin puffed out her cheeks and resumed wiping his back.

Her hands became much more proper. Her only goal was to avoid giving him anything to criticize.

Su Qing narrowed his eyes and enjoyed himself in peace, a thoughtful look in his gaze.

Naturally, what he was considering was the identity of this personal maid.

In the game, there had been no record whatsoever of her background.

In other words, she might have been an obscure supporting character with no real backstory.

But after truly hearing her voice, he dismissed that guess.

Because no matter how he listened, that voice was not one an ordinary maid could possess.

This unusual voice... might even be connected to that Calamity Demoness!

Still, he would need to investigate carefully before determining the exact circumstances.

Before he found out who she really was, it would not hurt to play along with her for now.

It was not as though he was the one serving as a maid. She was the one who had to please him, willing or not.

He had nothing to lose either way, so what was wrong with giving it a try?

Lian Yin wiped his back in a huff, yet inexplicably sensed a dangerous aura.

For some reason, she kept feeling as though a great calamity was about to befall her.

After bathing and changing into a fresh set of clothes, Su Qing left the bathhouse.

The moment he stepped out, he saw Qin Lan Shan, who had been waiting at the entrance for quite some time.

The Shopkeeper had changed into a new outfit today and no longer looked as disheveled as she had yesterday.

A fitted long dress wrapped around her voluptuous body, her mature and alluring figure faintly visible beneath it.

Her long hair draped over her shoulders, and her exquisite face was gentle and elegant. She looked every bit the daughter of a distinguished family.

Only, there was a trace of worry in her bright eyes.

The instant she saw the boy emerge, she instinctively went up to him.

Su Qing very naturally looked her over.

Her impressive bosom pushed the slightly ill-fitting garment to a height it should not have reached.

No, it was not exactly ill-fitting. Only the chest area was a little unsuitable.

Not only that, but the collar from last night could still clearly be seen around her snowy-white neck.

The black collar created an incomparably striking contrast against her pale skin.

Mm, seeing it inevitably gave him a sense of accomplishment.

Noticing his gaze, Qin Lan Shan could not help raising a hand to cover her neck.

"You'll get used to it. There's no need to be so shy."

Su Qing smiled.

Naturally, he was very satisfied with this new look of hers.

After hearing that, Qin Lan Shan's expression became somewhat complicated.

She still vividly remembered the terrible things he had done to her yesterday.

Yet even so, she had come.

Su Qing did not seem interested in talking further and headed toward his room.

"Young Master Su, regarding Tang State Residence..."

Qin Lan Shan followed him, her tone urgent.

She had not come to seek him out because she had something to say. She had come to urge him on.

Tang State Residence was currently in dire straits and had to be rescued as soon as possible.

"What should you call me?"

Su Qing asked in return.

As he spoke, he had already entered his room.

"Young Master Su..."

Qin Lan Shan looked somewhat confused.

Wasn't that how she was supposed to address him? What was wrong with it?

"No. You should call me Master."

Su Qing sat down in a chair and corrected her form of address.

He was willing to give this Elder Sister, who had yet to recognize her own status, some time.

The first step, naturally, was correcting how she addressed him.

Qin Lan Shan was left completely dumbfounded after hearing that.

She stared blankly at the boy, even wondering if something was wrong with her ears.

Otherwise, how could she possibly have heard something so absurd?

"What is it? Is there a problem? Today, I can answer some of your questions."

Su Qing asked softly.

Since this was the first lesson, he was showing considerable patience.

This sort of beginner's benefit was something she had better seize properly.

"I-I never agreed to such an excessive demand!"

Qin Lan Shan said in a trembling voice.

She had thought that after enduring one night, she would finally be free.

But looking at things now, why did it feel like a new beginning instead?

"This is merely an extension of the original condition. You have not done what a slave should do."

"When you are qualified, it will not be too late to ask me to fulfill my promise."

Su Qing said casually.

Excessive or not, he did not think there was anything wrong with it.

After all, their statuses were inherently unequal.

Was it excessive for a slave to address her master this way?

It was simply the natural order of things!

Qin Lan Shan sharply caught the key phrase in his words.

His meaning was very clear... if she could not satisfy him, then there would be no discussion.

The atmosphere in the room froze at that moment.

Su Qing poured himself a cup of tea and drank it unhurriedly, casually watching Qin Lan Shan.

Meeting her somewhat pleading gaze, his expression remained as calm as ever.

Time passed second by second.

After several minutes, the silence was finally broken by two trembling words.

"Mas...ter..."

After barely uttering those two words, Qin Lan Shan lowered her head.

As a daughter of a distinguished family, how could she ever have experienced something like this?

A faint blush stained her fair skin, spreading all the way to her earlobes.

Her face felt burning hot, and she had the urge to flee at once.

So awful. He was truly awful!

"That took a little long, but since it is your first time, I will not punish you."

"It's all right. Once you say it more often, you'll get used to it. It won't feel this mentally burdensome anymore."

Su Qing comforted her in a gentle tone.

Compared to the training that awaited her later, what did this little appetizer amount to?

Before long, she would surely feel ashamed of how she had acted today.

Qin Lan Shan rolled her eyes, her gaze full of resentment.

His tone sounded as though he was comforting her, but the content was impossible to be happy about.

He was clearly bullying her!

No, that was not right. Bullying me is one thing, but why are you smiling so happily?

Did everyone in the capital misunderstand something about you, giving you that kind of reputation?!

Su Qing did not hide his extremely pleased mood.

Of course, it was not because he had successfully bullied her.

The key was that, amid this wave of emotional fluctuation, she had transmitted new true qi to him again!

It had replenished three whole months' worth in one go, more than enough for him to stabilize his foundation.

This Shopkeeper truly was a treasure!

Listening to her address him while enjoying tangible feedback.

This was double the pleasure—the proper way to enjoy it!

Su Qing's gaze grew increasingly delighted.

The way he looked at her was like looking at an inexhaustible treasure chest.

Qin Lan Shan: "..."

She felt that his gaze had become even more disrespectful, leaving her on the verge of tears.

He really was happy. She had not seen it wrong!

"Come over and massage my legs."

Su Qing gave the order quite decisively.

Qin Lan Shan heard this and immediately stepped forward, kneeling on the ground.

It was not that she was particularly eager, but compared to the previous demands, this order was truly too normal.

Compared to wearing a collar and calling him master, this massage option was infinitely better!

What's more, she had to gain his approval first so that he would be willing to help.

Therefore, she had to be proactive, at least to the point where he could not find any fault with her.

Her slender, white hands rested on his legs and she began to massage them.

The former wealthy Eldest Miss had now transformed into a maid serving others.

If it were anyone else, they would surely feel a great sense of loss.

Yet she still performed the task impeccably, even with what could be called patience.

Su Qing watched the posture she displayed and sighed in admiration.

In terms of attitude, she was beyond reproach, truly worthy of being a model of a virtuous wife and good mother.

It was just that her expression was not bright enough, looking somewhat sorrowful.

"Your plan has already succeeded halfway, you should be happy."

"The capital is buzzing with rumors of my righteousness; it seems I have no choice but to do something about it now."

Su Qing said this while enjoying the service, which was still a bit clumsy.

Qin Lan Shan's hands trembled upon hearing this.

She instinctively wanted to clarify the misunderstanding, but he cut her off directly.

"It doesn't matter, I don't care about these things, and you are nothing more than a puppet on a string."

Su Qing pointed out the truth quite casually.

"You... how did you know?"

Qin Lan Shan looked at him with a stunned expression.

At this moment, she even forgot to continue the massage.

He knew she was being directed by someone else; he knew everything?

Then all her actions from yesterday... didn't they make her look like a clown?!

At this moment, her heart was filled with complex emotions.

Ever since she met him yesterday, Qin Lan Shan had felt that something was not quite right.

He was as calm and confident as ever, without panic or distress.

It seemed as if he had anticipated everything, unfathomable and unpredictable.

While she, on the other hand, was like a naive rabbit, foolishly jumping into a trap...

What was his next goal, and how would he treat her?

"Are you afraid? Am I really that terrifying?"

Su Qing felt her trembling figure and asked with a smile.

Qin Lan Shan did not answer.

Whether it was her or that Goddess... he seemed to have anticipated it all.

"At the very least, compared to those who wantonly use you, I am quite honest, am I not?"

Su Qing said in a gentle tone.

He reached out and took the hand of this Elder Sister, pulling her into his arms.

The two pressed against each other, chest to chest.

Unfortunately, the abundance of flesh on her chest hindered any further connection of their hearts.

Qin Lan Shan did not resist, instead looking at the young man with a dazed gaze.

The intimate contact between them brought a warm sensation.

But in the heart of this Shopkeeper, there was only deep confusion.

"What... exactly do you want to do?"

Looking into his eyes, Qin Lan Shan finally asked the question.

What should she do next, and how could he help her?

"My request is actually very simple, and the cost is minimal—be obedient!"

"From now on, you will follow my every word and unconditionally agree to execute whatever I ask."

"And this will determine whether your family can be saved, do you understand?"

Su Qing looked at the stunning face inches away and said softly.

With a beauty in his arms, his tone did not betray any excitement.

His gentle appearance was the same as ever, enough to make anyone who saw him feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Wrapped in such warmth, Qin Lan Shan instinctively swallowed her saliva.

Are you asking me to not only be your slave... but also a Little Slave who obeys your every word?