How come I'm the one being conquered?

Unfortunately, Bai Jun didn't grasp Qing Que's intention. Instead, he felt inexplicably relieved. "It's strange, but I feel a chill down my spine, like Fu Xuan is nearby. Why don't we stop playing before she catches us?"

"There's no need for that. We can just talk when she's here."

A young girl's voice, light and pleasant yet carrying a hint of authority, reached them. It caused Bai Jun's ahoge to instantly stand on end, trembling wildly like a radar.

Purple particles swirling around him surged upwards. A profound magic circle stirred a strong gust of wind in the calm space. The wind was incredibly sharp, instantly blowing away the papers on Bai Jun's face. With the papers gone, Fu Xuan, who had been hidden below, appeared clearly in Bai Jun's vision.

"It seems I'm not very welcome, Bai Jun. Considering how well I've treated you, could you perhaps tell me what you meant by 'a little scary'?" Fu Xuan crossed her arms, her soft, slender fingers tapping her shoulders noncommittally. Her shadowed expression appeared particularly dangerous.

"Can I refuse to answer?" Bai Jun subtly took a few steps back, testing the waters.

"You can. I don't have time to bicker with you right now."

The response caught Bai Jun completely off guard. Before he could rejoice at escaping trouble, a smile suddenly appeared on Fu Xuan's delicate and beautiful face. She issued a command in an unrefusably tone, "Be at the Divination Bureau office at precisely 4 PM today. When I'm free, we can have a good chat."

After saying this, Fu Xuan immediately apprehended the speechless Qing Que and dragged her away.

Watching Fu Xuan swagger off as if she were a mountain bandit abducting a virtuous maiden, Bai Jun really wanted to shout, "Let go of my meal ticket!" But thinking about enduring Fu Xuan's wrath that afternoon, his surging spirit immediately deflated.

It was bad enough that his meal ticket was taken. He had also given all his candy to Qing Que just now, meaning he didn't even have a single piece of candy left.

Bai Jun suddenly felt a pain in his stomach. He held his forehead, lamenting that he had truly lost the battle and suffered a double blow.

"How pathetic. It looks like I'll have to eat plain steamed buns for the next week..."

"Oh my, has the esteemed benefactor now fallen to such a pitiable state of gnawing on thorns? Hooo~" A playful, mocking laugh rang out. A warm, delicate body silently and gently pressed against Bai Jun's back, and she playfully blew a breath into his unsuspecting ear.

"Waaah!?" The hot, soft touch came from his ear, and Bai Jun's pupils instantly widened. His body trembled violently, almost instinctively. He flinched back, covering his itchy ear in panic, "Tingyun, why is it you again!"

"Look at what you're saying, benefactor. Couldn't it just be a chance encounter?" Tingyun smiled gently, fanning herself with her folded fan. She was overjoyed to see Bai Jun's flustered and shy appearance.

Bai Jun naturally didn't believe her one bit. Without hesitation, he pointed behind Tingyun and shouted, "Foxkin is the champion again!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he bolted towards the exit of the archway. But halfway there, two light, slender ropes bound his legs from behind, forcefully intercepting him.

"That won't do, benefactor. The same trick won't work on this young lady twice, you know?" Tingyun chuckled and shook her head. With these peculiar ropes, bought for fifty thousand credits, no matter how Bai Jun struggled, he wouldn't be able to break free.

"Quack! No! It's work time now, you can't do this!"

Lying on the ground, letting out a embarrassing cry, Bai Jun could only obediently allow the peculiar ropes to drag him backward, eventually falling into Tingyun's hands.

PS: Please recommend and vote~ Also, an illustration has been added at the end of some previous chapters. If you're interested, you can go back and refresh the chapter to view it.

Chapter 13: Once you've eaten my food, you're mine!

In a corner by the window of a family restaurant in Changle Heaven, Bai Jun and Tingyun sat at a table, their expressions vastly different.

On the table, a basket held several pieces of freshly baked, fluffy bread, emitting a faint warmth. The plate contained thick meat patties, grilled to a crispy exterior and tender interior, dripping with juice. Accompanying them were sweet corn and mashed potatoes slathered in butter as side dishes. A small bowl held a salad made from the freshest vegetables, and even the dressing on top carried the fresh aroma of citrus. The attention to detail in this restaurant was evident in the freshness of the ingredients, the skill of the chef, and even the presentation.

Looking at the table laden with abundant and delicious food, Bai Jun swallowed in anticipation, but he hesitated to pick up his chopsticks.

"The food has been served for a while now, benefactor. There's no need to be polite with me. If you don't eat soon, it will get cold." Seeing Bai Jun's hesitant expression, Tingyun, thinking it wasn't to his taste, spoke gently.

"I want to eat, but could you please untie this for me first?"

Hearing this, Bai Jun's expression became even more conflicted. He seemed a bit embarrassed to speak, slowly raising his left hand. More accurately, it was a rope tied to his left wrist, with the other end tied to Tingyun's wrist. As Bai Jun moved slightly, the small bell tied to the rope jingled merrily.

"That won't do. The rope is to prevent the benefactor from escaping. As long as you don't try to escape, it won't affect you at all." Tingyun also gently swayed her wrist, feeling the close connection between them. A faint blush crept onto her fair, delicate skin, making even her a little shy.

"Besides, doesn't it look good? It suits the benefactor very well."

"Suits my foot... " Bai Jun grumbled dejectedly. Noticing the strange glances from other customers, his shame threatened to explode. He decided to tell a small lie. "Ahem, I-I'm actually left-handed. If you don't untie the rope, I won't be able to eat."

"Oh, so the benefactor is left-handed?" Tingyun covered her mouth in slight surprise. Just as Bai Jun thought he had succeeded, his well-intentioned lie was quickly exposed by Tingyun's next action.

"But it's okay. Let me feed you, benefactor. Open your mouth, ah~" Tingyun cut a piece of tender, juicy meat patty with her knife and carefully offered it to Bai Jun with her fork.

Bai Jun's face stiffened. He hadn't expected Tingyun's offensive power to be so high. His mind raced, trying to find a way out of this predicament, but unfortunately, he couldn't find any excuse to extricate himself. With a resigned sigh, he ate it.

"It's delicious, thank you." Bai Jun chewed the meat patty in his mouth, subtly shifting his gaze. He silently vowed never to put himself in such a difficult situation again.

Tingyun stared blankly at the fork. She hadn't expected Bai Jun to actually accept her feeding him. Did this mean he had accepted her in his heart?

Thinking of this, Tingyun tightened her grip on the fork. The face looking down blushed deeply, and her delicate, pretty fox tail swayed subtly with her mood. She shyly whispered, "The benefactor is really different from before."

"Before?" Bai Jun blinked in confusion.

"Yes, I remember the benefactor was very fierce back then."

Tingyun recalled fragments of the past. She remembered the first time she saw Bai Jun in Yaoqing. He looked younger than he did now, and his height was similar to hers. However, he wasn't as lazy and gentle as he was now. At that time, his expression was so cold it was almost frightening.

If there was any similarity, it was probably that his stubborn exterior hid a soft heart, which hadn't changed. Of course, she preferred the current Bai Jun.

"Is that so? It's impressive you can still remember..." Bai Jun mumbled, stuffing another piece of buttered bread into his mouth, vaguely avoiding the topic.

"Of course. Speaking of which, the benefactor didn't just stay in Yaoqing before, did he? Can you tell me more about it?" Tingyun fed Bai Jun another piece of meat patty, her expectant eyes filled with intense curiosity. She had wanted to ask this for a long time.

"Uh, before Yaoqing, I lived in Zhuming for a while. My main job was as a tutor. As for why I left? Sorry, that's a bit inconvenient to disclose..." Bai Jun didn't eat the meat patty Tingyun offered. He hesitated and shook his head when asked about specifics, his mood visibly dropping.

"It's okay. Everyone has secrets they don't want to share. If it's inconvenient for you to disclose, benefactor, there's no need to force it." Tingyun quickly interrupted the topic. Although a little disappointed, she cared more about Bai Jun's feelings than her own.

The atmosphere between them became momentarily stagnant. Tingyun pursed her lips, regretting bringing up the topic.

She opened her mouth, trying to restart the conversation, but for some reason, she couldn't think of anything appropriate to say.

Fortunately, Bai Jun quickly collected his lost emotions and returned to his usual self, sighing. He reopened the conversation for the awkward Tingyun. "Don't just focus on me. You should eat quickly too. If you could learn half of Yukong's eating speed, you'd probably be full and gone by now."

Tingyun chuckled. Her recent nervousness immediately vanished. "Look at what you're saying, benefactor. Everyone in the Tianbo Division is imposing and valiant, especially Lord Yukong. Not only is she a ace pilot, but she's also a warrior who's been through thick and thin. Although I rely on her in many ways, I'm still far behind. Compared to her, I guess I'm only good at exaggerating and showing off with my words."

"That's true," Bai Jun nodded, rapidly devouring the food on the table.

"...Shouldn't you be saying something like, 'Miss Tingyun, there's no need to be modest, the future belongs to you,' at a time like this?" Tingyun's smile faltered. Logically, Bai Jun should have understood her humility.

"One of the things I, Bai Jun, love most in life is speaking my mind!" Bai Jun wiped his mouth clean and, as usual, stood up to express his gratitude. "Alright, I'm very grateful for the lunch Miss Tingyun provided. I will repay this kindness handsomely another day!"

With that, he stood up and prepared to leave.

"Hey! Wait, benefactor!"

Tingyun suddenly reached out a small hand and tugged at Bai Jun's sleeve. As he looked at her in confusion, she insisted, "The onsen tamago at this shop is incredibly delicious, you absolutely must try it. Please stay and eat before you go, benefactor!"

Bai Jun pondered for several seconds before obediently pulling out his chair and sitting back down. He was only curious about the taste of the onsen tamago, not because he was craving it, of course.

After a little more small talk, the server finally brought out the signature onsen tamago.

Bai Jun wanted to quickly peel and eat them before leaving, but Tingyun stopped him with a serious expression. Her reasoning was that "onsen tamago aren't peeled like that, benefactor." She then demonstrated, meticulously and patiently peeling the eggshells bit by bit. Although Bai Jun felt it was a bit too slow, he couldn't say anything.

By the time the server delivered the bill, Tingyun had slowly finished peeling two onsen tamago and reached out to take the bill.

As Bai Jun looked at the bill in Tingyun's hand, a strong sense of unease instantly washed over him.

"Benefactor, this meal cost me 7,642 Interstellar Peace Credits. Given our relationship, I'll waive the odd change and just charge you 642 credits. Will that be cash or card?" Tingyun said with a smile, playfully shaking the bill in her hand. The shrewdness of the Foxkin was fully displayed on her at that moment.

As expected, the bad feeling in his heart always came true. Bai Jun, whose pockets were emptier than his face, couldn't even afford 42 credits, let alone 642. His expression immediately darkened, and he quickly snatched the two onsen tamago and stuffed them into his mouth. His cheeks, stuffed full, made him look like a squirrel from a distance, but he didn't have time to care about that now. He turned and ran towards the exit.

Unfortunately, Bai Jun seemed to have forgotten the mystical rope connecting his wrist to Tingyun. After only a few steps, he was yanked back.

"Since Benefactor has no money to repay the debt, you'll have to put yourself up as collateral!"

"Waaah—!"

As expected, this fox never had any good intentions from the start!

Chapter 14: He's So Handsome

There's no such thing as a free lunch; this was basically the earnest teaching everyone heard since childhood. However, after hearing it for so many years without ever experiencing it, the edges gradually blurred and dulled, and it naturally faded from memory.

Yet, today's incident successfully made Bai Jun's dormant memories surge back like a raging tide. He never expected that after so many years, something like this would happen to him again!

Sighing at the unpredictability of life, Bai Jun, who had been severely tricked, reluctantly sold himself to Tingyun at the exorbitant price of 400 credits per hour. She said she needed his help with some matters, but she didn't reveal where they were going or what they would be doing, which made Bai Jun quite uneasy.

They took a starcruiser to the Starcruiser Sea Hub. After taking several turns on the wide streets, they finally entered a large market located south of the Starcruiser Sea Hub. Most people rarely came here for shopping; it was usually the source and wholesale market for procurement for various downstream businesses. Even the Xianzhou only had a few markets of this caliber, all controlled by the helmsmen of the Tianbo Division. This particular market happened to be under the command of Yukong, the helmsman of the Luofu Tianbo Division.

The two arrived at the market entrance. Several Cloud Cavalry were stationed at the entrance to maintain order. The captain in charge recognized Tingyun's identity as a Tianbo Division harbinger, so he let them pass directly without much questioning upon seeing them.

Tingyun nodded slightly and then dragged Bai Jun straight into the market. Looking at the endless stream of people inside, including many major merchants from Luofu, compatriots from other Xianzhou Alliance ships, and Outworlders of various peculiar appearances, Bai Jun rubbed his lips with his thumb, wondering what Tingyun's purpose was in bringing him here.

Sensing Bai Jun's questioning gaze, Tingyun smiled charmingly and explained softly, "It is said that the Creation, Khepri, is the most ancient Aeon. He is silent and prudent, building barriers around the galaxy on a light-year scale, never intervening in the disputes and complexities of other forces within the galaxy, nor paying heed to the mockery and ridicule of fellow Aeons. He maintains the balance of the universe, affecting the rise and fall of various civilizations."

"His tireless actions inspired mortals, who spontaneously gathered and began to emulate him by building barriers to protect planets. The most famous among them is the now renowned Interstellar Peace Corporation. They are guided by destiny to dedicate everything to the Creation as selfless support."

"I heard that the Corporation has made new moves recently, seemingly to support the Lord of Preservation. The price of Sky-Prism shards has nearly quadrupled. Coincidentally, our Xianzhou is rich in mineral resources, and Sky-Prism shards are among them. The General and the Helmsman are discussing whether we can use the ore as a springboard to re-establish and clarify the regulatory relationship between the Corporation and Luofu, to gain more benefits."

"However, as leverage, the Sky-Prism ore held by the Crafting Department alone is far from enough. Most of the ore is mainly concentrated in the hands of the major merchants in the market. They control the mining rights of many planets, so obtaining the ore in their hands is very important."

"So, you brought me here to purchase ore?"

Bai Jun lazily followed Tingyun, who was strolling casually. After listening to her explanation for a while, he shrugged helplessly.

Tingyun imitated Bai Jun's gesture and shrugged cutely. "Yes, who else but me would be tasked with the arduous job of purchasing ore?"

"So you admit it's an arduous job. Then why bring me along? Dividing one person's suffering into two parts won't change the nature of the hardship at all!"

"It can't be helped, who told Benefactor not to be more careful? But it's alright, once this is done, I'll treat Benefactor to another meal tonight, okay?" Tingyun slowly unfolded her folding fan, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Gulp… Do you think I'll fall into the same trap twice!"

Hearing Bai Jun's soft grumble, Tingyun played her trump card: "Then tonight I'll take Benefactor to eat the Mandarin Duck hot pot you like the most, and after that, we can pack some of the newly released desserts from the Gourmet Pavilion. What do you say?"

"Deal." Bai Jun's expression brightened, and he unhesitatingly chose to comply.

This wasn't succumbing to Tingyun's tyranny, but choosing to endure humiliation for the sake of the goal!

Speaking of which, those new cream dumplings from the Gourmet Pavilion seemed quite delicious recently.

Following Tingyun's lead, they wound their way through the market and soon entered its depths. The goods sold in the deeper parts of the market were more precious and rare than those outside, and the prices were also more expensive. Consequently, the customers who could afford to come here were significantly fewer.

The roads were no longer crowded, and the surrounding buildings became increasingly luxurious. The two arrived at a classical courtyard and walked up the stairs that extended straight upwards, their footsteps finally stopping before a bronze gate guarded by two stone lions.

The attendant at the entrance was quite surprised to see them. He first contacted someone using a Jade Omen, and then quickly invited Tingyun and Bai Jun inside.

While Tingyun was talking with the attendant, Bai Jun stood idly by, marveling at the luxurious and grand interior decoration and sighing at the evil nature of capital.

The two on the other side chatted for a long time without getting to the point. Just as Bai Jun was getting bored and preparing to sidle up to Tingyun to listen to their conversation, a gentle laugh suddenly echoed from within the courtyard.

"Quick, let me see which distinguished guest has arrived?"

Hurried footsteps approached, and a woman with a somewhat pale complexion gracefully hurried over, greeting Tingyun: "The renowned Harbinger of the Tianbo Division, Miss Tingyun. It is a great honor for your esteemed presence to grace my humble abode."

"Madam Shen Sha, you are too kind. I am the one who has long heard of your great name. It is a great honor to meet you today," Tingyun replied with a flat tone, her lips pursed slightly.

This woman named Shen Sha had an innocent appearance. A piece of warm jade was pinned to her slender, cinched waist. Her delicate and gentle face was unnaturally pale, and her thin frame looked as if a gust of wind could blow her over. However, the smile on her face was bright and gentle, and combined with her identity and wealth, it was difficult to feel any dislike towards her.

"And who is this beside Miss Tingyun?"

Shen Sha's gaze shifted slightly, and she noticed Bai Jun standing beside Tingyun. Her gaze then involuntarily lingered on his face for a moment.

It wasn't anything else, I just genuinely thought he was good-looking.

Sensing the unusual gaze, Bai Jun frowned slightly in displeasure. He glanced at Shen Sha briefly before looking away, then let out a listless yawn.

Realizing her serious lapse in composure, Shen Sha hastily shifted her gaze away from Bai Jun's face. Her eyes drifted down a bit, and she happened to catch sight of the thin red string tied around both their wrists, suddenly understanding everything.

Prominent figures in society often brought their spouses to important events, usually for social etiquette and to showcase their status and image. However, Shen Sha felt that Tingyun's intentions were likely not that superficial.

She recalled a saying from the ancient Xianzhou era: during negotiations, when men were engaged in various discussions and exchanges, and the talks reached an impasse, they could use an outstanding woman to leave a good impression on the other party, thereby facilitating smoother negotiations.

She seemed to remember that tactic was called... the honey trap?

Thinking of this, Shen Sha secretly glanced at the man's cool and handsome appearance before her, and it all seemed to make sense.

Hmph, but I'm not that superficial a woman. A mere honey trap is nothing to be concerned about... Just one last look.

He's so handsome.

"This is my dear friend. As he was free today, he playfully offered to act as my escort. I hope Ms. Shen Sha won't mind." Tingyun also noticed Shen Sha's fixed gaze on Bai Jun. Although her expression didn't change much, she subtly moved to stand in front of Bai Jun, her exquisite, beautiful Foxkin tail seeming to protect his arm as if to declare ownership.

"Given Ms. Tingyun's status, bringing an entire escort team wouldn't be excessive at all. Oh! Todd, you idiot, you absolute imbecile, why aren't you hurrying to the living room to make tea for our guests? Remember to bring out my prized Huntian Mao Feng!"

Shen Sha gave a few awkward laughs, her gaze shifting with slight annoyance to the attendant standing foolishly to the side. After a brief reprimand, she resumed her smile and gestured to the side, "My apologies. It's improper to keep guests standing in the courtyard. Please forgive my lack of hospitality. I hope Ms. Tingyun and Mr. Escort will join me in the main hall."

Stepping into the living room, the air was as cool as if submerged in a pool of water. The light was filtered, flowing into a comfortable honey hue. The floor of the vast living room appeared to be carved from a single, impossibly large piece of moonstone. Even more astonishing were the ceiling beams, their structural framework seamlessly embedded into the roof – like metallic veins naturally growing from the mineral's texture.

The spacious living room was so quiet that the echo of their shoes on the moonstone floor could be heard. Walking through the opulent and expansive hall, their steps halted at the luxurious sofa in the center, before which sat a complete tea set.

"Please sit, I'll prepare tea for both of you." Shen Sha was completely without pretense. After they were seated, she proactively got up, taking the attendant's place, and began preparing the tea with practiced movements.

"I never expected Ms. Shen Sha, who holds mining rights for six planets at such a young age, to be so approachable. If all major merchants had Ms. Shen Sha's demeanor, the Divination Bureau's workload would be significantly lighter."

This was not insincere praise from Tingyun. In fact, despite her extensive experience, she had rarely encountered such a top-tier magnate.

"It's all thanks to my ancestors' glory; it's really not my own ability. In the past, I only enjoyed the benefits left by my ancestors' hard work. But now that such a vast family business has fallen upon me, I realize I still have a long way to go..." Shen Sha shook her head with a wry smile and handed the prepared tea to the attendant beside her.