Inside the top-tier suite.
Hu Liena was tightly bound with ropes, writhing and struggling on the sofa.
Across from her stood Qin Jiuxiao and the women, including Zhu Zhuqing, who was dressed in a bathrobe.
Ning Rongrong sat beside Qin Jiuxiao, her cheeks puffed up in anger.
If looks could kill, she would have killed Hu Liena hundreds, if not thousands, of times already.
That had been her first time with Brother Jiuxiao. Being stopped just short was like having her parents murdered, damn it!
"Speak!"
"Who exactly are you, and what were you trying to do by sneaking into our room?"
Ning Rongrong pointed down at her, her eyes nearly spitting fire.
"Mm! Mm!"
Hu Liena made a few muffled sounds, indicating that her mouth was blocked and asking them to let her go first.
But Ning Rongrong did not care. Seeing that Hu Liena was not speaking, she immediately picked up the small whip from the table.
"Fine, fine, fine. You're staying silent to provoke me, are you?"
She walked over to Hu Liena with a little devilish smile.
Swish!
Before Hu Liena's widened eyes, the whip came down.
Smack!
The sound was crisp, and Hu Liena let out a soft moan.
"Are you going to talk or not? Still refusing to talk, huh?"
As she spoke, several more lashes came down.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Muffled groans continued without end.
At last, Ning Rongrong seemed to have tired herself out and tossed the whip aside.
"Quite the tough nut, aren't you? Good!"
"This young miss has plenty of ways to deal with tough nuts!"
The other women more or less guessed why Ning Rongrong was so angry.
A meaningful glint flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as she looked at Qin Jiuxiao.
Zhu Zhuyun crossed her long legs and revealed a seductive smile.
Xiao Wu appeared thoughtful. Remembering what Zi JI had told her, a blush rose to her face, though she seemed to have made some kind of decision as well.
Just as Ning Rongrong was about to try another method to teach Hu Liena a lesson, Qin Jiuxiao stepped forward.
He had wanted Ning Rongrong to vent her anger just now, so he had not said anything.
But they could not actually beat the woman senseless.
When they had tied her up earlier, the prompt entry had already revealed the identity of the person before him.
Although Hu Liena was one of his targets too, he had not even been to Spirit City yet.
Shouldn't Hu Liena have been staying at Spirit Hall right now? Why had she come here?
And she had even eavesdropped outside his room.
But since she had disguised herself, she obviously did not want to expose her identity. He might as well play along with her.
"Alright, Rongrong. Your stockings are still stuffed in her mouth. She can't talk."
"Take them out!"
Only after Qin Jiuxiao spoke did Ning Rongrong reluctantly comply, though the upturned corners of her mouth showed that she was in a much better mood.
Once the white stockings were removed, Hu Liena could finally speak.
Just as she was about to curse Ning Rongrong, Qin Jiuxiao took Ning Rongrong's place.
He walked to her side and brought his hand down in a slap.
Smack!
Her perky backside swayed, clearly showing that she had an excellent figure.
"Not bad to the touch!"
Under Hu Liena's gaze of shame and fury, Qin Jiuxiao spoke with righteous indignation.
"What are you glaring at me for?"
"You're a criminal who broke into my room. I haven't even questioned your background yet, and you're already glaring at me?"
As he spoke, another slap came down. Hu Liena's delicate body trembled, and no matter how wronged she felt, she could only swallow it down.
Damn Qin Jiuxiao, damn Ning Rongrong.
Once Elders Ju and Gui came looking for her, she would reclaim everything she had lost today.
When she revealed her identity as the Saintess of Spirit Hall someday, she would definitely whip Ning Rongrong with a little whip too.
Then she would have someone capture Qin Jiuxiao and lock him in her secret chamber for a proper lesson.
She would let him know the consequences of offending the Saintess.
For now, what she needed was patience and to keep her identity hidden.
After all, word of the Saintess of Spirit Hall sneaking into someone's room would damage Spirit Hall's prestige and ruin her own reputation as Saintess.
With that thought, Hu Liena immediately concocted a tragic backstory in her mind. Tears came as soon as she wanted them to.
"Young Master Qin, I have my reasons."
"My parents died when I was young, and I grew up alone and helpless, cultivating until I reached this point."
"After coming to Suotuo City, I was fortunate enough to receive the Qin Family's protection and found work to make a living."
"And Young Master Qin is the Qin Family's genius. I am grateful to the Qin Family and admire you, Young Master Qin. In my heart, you are my only sun."
"I thought I could simply watch Young Master Qin from the shadows and live out this ordinary life."
"But fate is cruel. Misfortune always seeks out the unfortunate, and a rope always snaps at its thinnest point."
"Several shameless men harassed and threatened me. I even lost my job, and with nowhere else to turn, I could only risk coming to seek refuge with Young Master Qin."
After saying that, she put on an expression of having suffered tremendous injustice while stubbornly enduring it.
Even Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing felt a little sorry for her.
Zhu Zhuyun, however, narrowed her eyes and saw through Hu Liena's act.
But she did not say anything. She merely glanced at Qin Jiuxiao as if by accident.
Everything she had now belonged to Qin Jiuxiao, so naturally, she had to put her master first in all things.
If Qin Jiuxiao was interested in this woman, she only needed to remind him in private or secretly stay on guard.
A smart woman never tried to steal a man's place in any matter.
She only needed to support him silently from behind, give him a hand—or perhaps several hands.
"Oh? You came to seek refuge with me, but I never take in useless people."
"What skills do you have?"
"Massaging, kneading shoulders, stepping on backs, or singing and playing instruments?"
Qin Jiuxiao's gaze swept over Hu Liena's alluring figure, and he raised a brow.
"Or you could be my little maid and warm my bed."
The moment those words came out, Zhu Zhuyun and the others immediately became alert.
She quickly came to Qin Jiuxiao's side and wrapped her arms around his arm.
"Master, warming your bed is my duty. If you do this, Zhuyun will lose her job."
Zhu Zhuqing immediately moved behind Qin Jiuxiao as well, wrapping her arms around his neck and massaging his shoulders while glaring provocatively at Hu Liena.
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu also crowded around Qin Jiuxiao, guarding him tightly.
Hu Liena's mouth twitched, but seeing the half-smiling look in Qin Jiuxiao's eyes, she gritted her teeth and spoke.
"I... I can carry things for you, Young Master Qin. Whatever you buy while shopping, I can help carry it, and I can do the same for all the younger sisters."
"Younger sisters?"
Ning Rongrong raised a brow at her.
Enduring the humiliation, Hu Liena changed her words.
"Elder sisters."
Only then did Ning Rongrong nod in satisfaction, raising her head like a victorious hen.
Qin Jiuxiao smiled as well. "In that case, you'll have a one-month probation period first. If you fail, there'll be no pay."
Hu Liena's eyes lit up, and she immediately agreed. Successfully infiltrating the enemy from within was the first step to success.
"Thank you, Young Master Qin."
Qin Jiuxiao nodded, untied the ropes around Hu Liena, then rose and walked to the center of the women.
"Ladies, pack up. We're leaving for Shrek Academy."
"I'll take you to see what the academy is like. If it isn't suitable, I'll take you to another academy."
"I'll use the best resources to cultivate all of you.
"Then every one of you will become gods and share the years with me!"
Before you continue