Chapter 11: The First Signs Emerge

Shi Ran thought for a moment before falling into a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes and checked the time, she hurriedly tidied herself up and rushed outside the villa. Watching the ride-hailing app's status updates anxiously, she realized she had overslept. She wasn’t sure if there would be enough time left for her to make it in time. Come on, car, please come quickly! Shi Ran stared intently at the screen, silently praying.

“Assistant Shi, get in,” Su Yu said as he drove to a stop in front of her.

Shi Ran glanced at the darkened rear window, unable to see inside. She looked back at the app — still no vehicle response. Gritting her teeth, she opened the car door. Her movement froze upon seeing the tall figure in the back seat.

“Get in,” Zuo Yelin shot her a glance.

Shi Ran seemed to lose all thought, becoming like a puppet as she instinctively sat in the back and shut the door behind her.

“Change your clothes,” Zuo Yelin sneered, eyeing her with disdain before tossing a bag of clothes her way. She didn’t recognize the brand, but it certainly didn’t look cheap.

Taking the bag, she hesitated as she looked at Su Yu in the front seat. “Change here?”

“Assistant Shi, don’t worry. I’ll pull the curtain up now,” Su Yu said, pressing a button. A thick privacy curtain slid across the back of the car, separating the space.

Biting her lip, Shi Ran looked at the unbothered Zuo Yelin. “Young master, could you please turn around?”

“Stop dawdling. If you don’t change, get out,” Zuo Yelin said, glancing at her sideways but making no move.

Well, she thought, he’s seen much worse before.

With that in mind, Shi Ran began to remove her clothes, but as she reached into the bag to retrieve the new outfit, a large hand landed on her chest. Her earlobes flushed deep red, and she bit her lip tightly, trembling as she fumbled to open the packaging.

“You’re too skinny,” Zuo Yelin commented, as if selecting vegetables in a market, full of disdain that echoed through the car.

Shi Ran made no reply and continued struggling with the difficult packaging, thankful she had kept some nails; otherwise, she might have needed a tool to open it.

Throughout, Zuo Yelin’s large hand never ceased its intrusion.

“From now on, stick to the meal plan I provide every day. Your skin-and-bones frame will make me uncomfortable,” he said coldly, his tone brooking no refusal.

Shi Ran silently continued unpacking, saying nothing.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her.

Looking down, she saw the culprit: Zuo Yelin was pinching a sensitive spot between two fingers.

“I don’t remember you being mute,” he said, increasing the pressure sharply, causing her to scream.

Fortunately, the car had good soundproofing, so she wasn’t worried about the noise escaping.

“From now on, every word I say must be answered,” Zuo Yelin said, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hand, pretending nothing had happened.

Shi Ran reluctantly nodded in agreement.

She understood that if she didn’t comply with the man’s wishes, she might face further humiliation and torment.

Thankfully, once the packaging was opened, there were no more troublesome designs.

She pulled out the garment inside.

It was a cheongsam-style evening gown.

Made from sky-blue fabric with a delicate texture, embroidered with cloud patterns.

Moreover, Shi Ran detected a faint, subtle fragrance on the dress.

It was floral but also seemed a blend of several scents.

“This is borrowed clothing; wear it carefully,” Zuo Yelin’s voice reminded her.

Shi Ran adjusted the disheveled underwear Zuo Yelin had disturbed, then slipped into the evening gown.

As the dress extended down, it gradually concealed her alluring curves.

“Looking more like it now,” Zuo Yelin commented mercilessly.

Shi Ran clenched her fists in anger.

“Young Master, lending me unwashed clothes someone else has worn is one thing, but humiliating me like this? If you don’t want me to go, just say so, and I’ll get off,” she said, hurt.

Changing clothes inside a car was a first for her.

Aside from the humiliation she endured during the process, the fact that the clothes were secondhand was even more unsettling.

That faint fragrance wasn’t just floral—it was the scent left by another woman’s wear.

“Take it off. Get out,” Zuo Yelin said sharply, brows raised.

Su Yu hit the brakes just in time.

If she didn’t want to go, fine.

After all, she was on her period and couldn’t really enjoy food and drink.

Shi Ran pouted, feeling no attachment.

She raised her hand to remove the evening gown.

But as her eyes scanned the interior, she couldn’t find the clothes she had taken off earlier.

She clearly remembered throwing them beside her just moments ago.

Could Zuo Yelin have taken them?

Shi Ran glanced suspiciously at him, but his aloof expression revealed nothing.

After a moment’s hesitation, she remained silent.

If she questioned him, would she still have a job?

Besides, offending Zuo Yelin and getting fired was different from quitting voluntarily.

Being fired might mean she’d never find work again.

And she was somewhat attached to her new place, its soft, cloud-like mattress she hadn’t yet fully enjoyed.

Leaving now would be a regret.

Moreover, since Zuo Yelin had already toyed with her, if she didn’t get something in return, how would she survive afterward?

Even if she married one day, she’d need savings as a dowry.

“Want me to help you take it off?” Zuo Yelin’s cold voice echoed inside the car, breaking her train of thought.

Take it off?

She was already outside her residence’s vicinity.

Taking off the gown meant walking back in just her underwear.

If that happened, she might as well live on another planet.

“Young Master, I was reckless earlier,” Shi Ran said after a pause, deciding to admit her mistake.

She certainly didn’t want to walk back in her underwear.

If she met anyone on the way, she could become the next day’s viral news.

With the internet so advanced, how could she survive afterward?

“Get on,” Zuo Yelin said, undoing his belt and spreading his legs.

The prominent bulge was impossible to miss.

Shi Ran bit her lip, shyly scooting over.

If she had known this would happen, she never would have questioned the packaging.

The scent on the clothes had seemed faint, but now she realized her suspicions had only made things worse, leaving her trapped and humiliated.

“Boring,” Zuo Yelin said coldly, eyes devoid of emotion.

Just as Shi Ran was about to straddle him, she saw he had already redressed.

She was utterly confused.

Did she just get played?

But this was better; she didn’t have to suffer anymore.

After all, she was on her period, and having no experience, she didn’t know if she might have bled excessively.

If that happened, with Zuo Yelin’s temperament, she shuddered to think what punishment he might inflict.