Cage of the Powerful

Si Yao looked at her on high alert and felt a little speechless.

At the same time, he could sense the Invisible Charm emanating from Su Xiao Li even more clearly.

It wasn't simply the visual impact of her looks or figure, but a deeper Charm Field that stemmed from her genes.

This field silently affected the perceptions and emotions of the creatures around her, making them instinctively curious about her, feel protective toward her, and even develop a stronger desire to possess her.

Even Si Yao, at such close range, felt an almost imperceptible ripple in his mind and an urge to learn more about her—even to bring her under his control.

Though he immediately suppressed the impulse with his formidable willpower, that alone was telling.

If even he was affected a little, how much worse would it be for ordinary people on Earth, those weak-willed "monkeys," when faced with this genetic allure?

Just imagine: over the past thousand years, especially in eras of strict social norms and low status for women, what might have happened to generation after generation of a woman who couldn't help radiating this lethal charm?

Would she become a canary in the Cage of the Powerful? A plaything driven by desire? Or would she struggle to survive amid rumors and moral condemnation, forced to use this sole "gift" as a bargaining chip?

The claim that "every generation has been the other woman" probably concealed countless unspoken tragedies—women swept along by the tide of their times and driven by their own genetic instincts.

Wasting time with a girl whose mind had been knocked off-kilter by her genes and her marginalized experiences didn't fit his standards of efficiency.

Better to get straight to the point.

"Let me ask you something. Would you accept being kept?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Si Yao's thoughts stirred. Using the bank account information he'd just obtained by hacking into Su Xiao Li's phone signal, he completed the transfer.

The phone in Su Xiao Li's pocket vibrated almost at the same time, chiming with a crisp text notification.

She instinctively took it out and looked. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth formed an O.

[Your account ending in XXXX received a transfer of RMB 1,000,000.00 on X/X. Balance...]

One million?!

She rubbed her eyes hard and counted the string of zeroes over and over. Her head buzzed, and she was completely stunned.

Had money just fallen from the sky? The super-deluxe, diamond-encrusted kind?!

A handsome man showed up, transferred a million without a word... and said he wanted to keep her?!

Was this the legendary "getting both money and beauty"?

No, wait—was she getting both the meal and the takeaway?!

Happiness had come so suddenly that Su Xiao Li felt her heart was about to leap out of her throat.

But the next second, a chill ran down her spine.

Wait! How does he know my bank account number?! I've never told anyone!

Could he be a stalker? Or is this some new kind of scam? Give me a taste of the good life, then trick me into getting my kidneys harvested?!

Alarms blared in Su Xiao Li's mind. Horrifying scenes from the news flashed through her head like a montage. Her expression shifted from delighted surprise to sheer terror and deep suspicion as she looked at Si Yao.

Her mind was in such turmoil that she made no attempt at Brainwave Encryption—not that she was likely capable of it anyway.

All those chaotic, melodramatic thoughts barged uncontrollably into Si Yao's far-superior Perception Range like a noisy radio broadcast.

Si Yao: "..."

He could even "hear" the complete plot she'd imagined about an underground black-market organ trade.

Si Yao was utterly speechless. He felt that spending another second with this girl and her bizarre thought process would contaminate his intelligence.

He turned around expressionlessly and tossed out a line:

"I'll give you ten minutes to think it over."

"And," he added, pausing without looking back, "change into something you can wear outside."

Then he headed straight downstairs, as if every extra second he stayed were torture.

Five minutes later.

Si Yao leaned against the mottled wall downstairs and watched Su Xiao Li hurry down the stairs, panting as she lugged a fairly large suitcase. She was exhausted, her little face flushed red.

She had indeed changed clothes: a somewhat conservative short skirt and white blouse, in an attempt to create the image of a pure schoolgirl.

Yet Si Yao immediately recognized it as most likely another outfit she'd worn for one of her suggestive livestreams—a "Uniform Temptation" costume, just not quite as revealing.

It seemed this was the most "normal" outfit in her wardrobe.

"I... I'm ready!" Su Xiao Li ran up to him, her cheeks flushed from exertion and excitement, her eyes sparkling. The million yuan had sent all her earlier wariness and suspicion flying.

Si Yao nodded and turned to lead her toward the sports car parked at the mouth of the alley.

It was a sleek luxury sports car, clearly not designed to carry bulky luggage.

Si Yao was about to use Dark Plane Technology to stow the troublesome suitcase when Su Xiao Li moved faster than he did.

Without hesitation, she flexed both arms and tossed the stuffed suitcase straight into a roadside trash can with a loud clatter!

Her movements were swift and decisive, without a trace of regret.

Then, entirely naturally—almost eagerly—she opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, smoothly buckling her seat belt. The whole process was seamless.

Si Yao: "..."

He looked at the suitcase abandoned in the trash can, then at Su Xiao Li in the car, wearing an expression that said, "I'm ready, let's go!" Once again, he had to concede that this girl's thought process was truly unusual.

The sports car's engine gave a low growl as it drove smoothly away from the old residential neighborhood, leaving the weathered buildings and the abandoned suitcase far behind.

Su Xiao Li was like a curious little kid, touching this and looking at that, her eyes shining. "Wow, this car is so high-end! The seats are genuine leather, right? They feel so nice! And that screen is huge..."

She chattered on and on, trying to ease her nerves and excitement this way. It was also an instinctive attempt to get Si Yao's attention.

Si Yao kept his eyes on the road and drove intently, paying no attention to her amazement or curiosity.

Su Xiao Li talked to herself for a while. When it became clear that Si Yao had no intention of responding, the conversation stalled.

She sneaked a glance at his stern profile, feeling a little nervous.

This "sugar daddy" seems... hard to approach. He's a lot more difficult than the losers in her livestream who sent a few gifts and wanted her to call them "husband."

She cleared her throat and decided to take the initiative with the most important step: introducing herself and sounding him out.

"Um... boss?" she ventured, making her voice a little more coquettish. "I'm Su Xiao Li. Su as in Suzhou, Xiao Li as in Little Fox. What should I call you?"

"Si Yao."

"I'm good at lots of things! Dancing, singing, keeping you company and chatting... Um, anyway, I'll do whatever you ask!"

After speaking, she gazed at Si Yao's profile with big, watery eyes, brimming with anticipation as she waited for his response, like a little animal eager to show what she could do and hoping for approval.

Si Yao glanced at her. "Can you feed fish?"

Su Xiao Li paused. "Feed fish?"

The sports car finally stopped in front of a Luxury Villa in the suburbs.

Su Xiao Li had spent the whole drive wondering what "feed fish" meant. Was it some kind of euphemism? Or a special code among rich people?

All kinds of outrageous, slightly suggestive guesses ran through her mind.

Only after Si Yao parked did he lead her into the villa, through the spacious Living Room, and toward the glass door leading to the Backyard.

"The fish are out back," Si Yao said calmly, pushing open the door.

Su Xiao Li followed, nervous but curious. Then she froze.

There was no Fish Pond on the Backyard lawn. There was only a... a crocodile—huge, covered in orange-red and black-gray scales, and clutching a whole roast lamb as it chewed with greasy relish?!

And it was standing upright?!

Suo Dun heard the noise and raised his enormous head, looking over with clear, slightly goofy eyes.

When he saw the petite, fragrant "girl bun" behind Si Yao, he instinctively sniffed and mumbled,

"Boss, can this thing... uh, can I eat this?"

The moment he finished speaking, Su Xiao Li's face turned as white as paper. Her legs gave way, and she almost collapsed onto the ground.

Feed fish?!

Feed a crocodile?!

Was this guy planning to feed her to the crocodile?!

Was the million yuan hush money for her life?!

Rich people's weird hobbies are terrifying!!