Chapter 108: The Viscount Is Also a Lunatic

With a faint creak, the grand hall’s door slowly swung open, and brilliant golden sunlight instantly poured in from outside, making the marble floor shimmer with a dazzling luster, as if coated in a thin veil.

A man wearing a grayish-white metal mask stepped in leisurely.

He was tall and strong, dressed in a well-tailored white tailcoat.

In his hand was a sapphire-encrusted scepter, carved with intricate patterns that emitted a faint, ethereal blue glow.

His face was hidden behind the mask, but his eyes, deep and starry like the vast sea of the night sky, were clearly visible.

Behind him followed Butler Robert and several attendants clad in white.

“Good afternoon, Viscount.”

The maids bowed and lowered their heads in unison, greeting him respectfully.

Viscount Willy said nothing and strode forward, stopping only in front of Xu Yinsheng.

Xu Yinsheng glanced up curiously at Viscount Willy.

His grayish-white mask concealed his features, but those icy blue eyes were impossible to ignore.

Her nose twitched as she tried to confirm whether this man had any connection to Zhao Yicheng, but before she could examine closely, a faint command whispered into her ear.

“You, kneel.”

Xu Yinsheng froze.

What kind of twist was this?

Wasn’t this just supposed to be a simple inspection?

Why was she the only one being ordered to kneel?

She glanced toward Mary, the head maid, who was looking at her with an understanding nod, as if saying, Do as he says.

Xu Yinsheng: …

Well, since I’m a maid now anyway…

Begging on my knees it is.

She slowly sank to her knees, her calves clad in white silk pressing against the cold marble floor.

She lowered her eyelids slightly, looking down and avoiding the surrounding gazes.

Only she was made to kneel among the five maids, and in front of so many people.

She could already imagine how Shangguan Xue and Qin Yumo would tease her mercilessly after the inspection ended.

Fine, fine, I’ll kneel.

At least it was better than Zhao Yicheng dragging her around on a leash while spanking her—an utterly humiliating experience she could never forget.

Suddenly, a large hand landed gently atop Xu Yinsheng’s head, stroking softly like petting a cat. She even felt as if he wanted to pull her in for a cuddle.

Viscount Willy withdrew his hand.

His azure eyes gazed down at the kneeling red-haired maid, and behind the mask, his pale, sickly face curved into a strange smile.

“Not bad. A good little cat.”

The head maid was right—he really was insane.

Wait, why a cat too?

Could it be that she was in conflict with cats?

“Kitty, stand up.”

While Xu Yinsheng was pondering whether she clashed with cats or lunatics, another command, like a master’s order, sounded softly in her ear.

Her lips twitched as she looked at the head maid, who winked at her, as if saying,

This is just how the Viscount is.

You better get used to it.

Fine, so it really was a clash with a lunatic.

Xu Yinsheng stretched a bit, then stood up.

Viscount Willy looked at the tall redhead before him—her figure slender, yet her face still carried a hint of youthful innocence.

He extended a finger, teasingly hooking under her smooth, delicate chin.

The man lowered his head to look at her flawless face.

His voice was cold, but carried a hint of seduction.

“小 kitty, squat down.”

Xu Yinsheng didn’t hide her displeasure, rolling her eyes at him.

This time, she didn’t even glance at Mary, instead squatting down directly.

The Viscount’s cool hand gently caressed the obedient little cat’s pale, delicate cheek.

A trace of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

“小 kitty, shake hands…”

For the next hour, everyone in the hall witnessed a cat-taming performance.

The male actor was Viscount Willy, the female actor was maid Xu Yinsheng.

She knelt and wagged her “tail,” squatted to shake hands, and sometimes pouted her “little butt”…

Thanks to Zhao Yicheng’s earlier taming, Xu Yinsheng still retained much muscle memory.

She imitated a cat perfectly, as if carved from the same mold.

The final result: Xu Yinsheng was successfully tamed and subdued by Viscount Willy, who left the hall fully satisfied, while she collapsed on the floor, drenched in sweat.

Afterward, head maid Mary and Butler Robert exchanged a glance, each seeing deep helplessness reflected in the other’s eyes.

Qin Yumo helped Xu Yinsheng up and had her rest on the spot for a while.

Butler Robert said a few words to Mary before leaving.

Mary then led them back to the maid quarters and personally brewed a cup of oolong tea for Xu Yinsheng.

Xu Yinsheng sat on the sofa, cradling the warm tea.

The heat spread through her abdomen, easing some of her exhaustion.

She looked at Mary openly, showing her discontent.

“Head Maid, I want to quit.”

“Viscount Willy is truly mentally ill. Even though I’m a maid now, kneeling to beg, I can’t stand this daily kneeling.”

Mary didn’t answer immediately.

She took a sip of tea, brushed her long hair behind her ear, lowered her gaze slightly, and after a moment, a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes before settling back to calm.

Setting down her cup, Mary took Xu Yinsheng’s hand and motioned for Qin Yumo and the others to come closer.

“Yinsheng, I know it’s hard for you, but first, listen to a story I want to tell you.”

“After this story, I can take the compensation and leave?”

Xu Yinsheng brightened.

Wealthy households never lacked money.

For this kind of personal humiliation, millions were out of the question, but tens of thousands was doable.

Take the money and leave, live quietly on the island for a month, then meet her parents’ ship when it docks to identify herself.

“First, listen to your sister’s story. After all, Yinsheng, you are the Viscount’s personal maid.”

Mary said meaningfully.

Once upon a time, there was a Viscount…

Mary’s clear voice flowed into the ears of the maids like a sweet spring, brief yet precise, weaving a tale in just a few words.

Once, a Viscount lost both parents in a great fire and had to uphold the family alone.

Later, he fell in love with a woman, but due to the mental trauma caused by the fire, he did some irrational things.

The woman he loved fled, and his mental illness worsened.

Originally planning to take the compensation and enjoy a foot massage on the island, Xu Yinsheng was stunned by the story.

She pointed at herself: “So I’m a substitute?!”

Mary tucked a stray lock behind her ear and nodded, “You could put it that way.”

“What about the previous interview?”

“A rigged setup.”

“I thought it was because I didn’t want money.”

Xu Yinsheng complained.

***

In a secluded room inside the manor.

A man in white just finished reading a medical report and stepped out.

Li Yuan swiftly approached, offering a cigarette as he asked,

“How’s the boss?”

“He just took double the sleeping pills and finally fell asleep.”

The white-clad man accepted the cigarette but didn’t light it; instead, he put it back in the pack.

He looked at Li Yuan.

“What has he been through recently that his condition worsened so much? How big was the trauma?”

“Got cheated on? Dumped? Or went bankrupt with debts in the billions?”

Li Yuan frowned. “I don’t know the exact details, but it’s probably related to that red-haired woman just now.”

“You noticed it too. The boss’s lunacy was practically oozing out—he didn’t even treat people like people.”

Just as he spoke, someone stormed down the stairs in a rage.

“Ahhh! Who changed my script!!!”

“The Viscount isn’t supposed to appear this early in the script, and he doesn’t wear a mask! What’s with this overused substitute plot!”

Bai Yu slammed the now unrecognizable script on the table, furious.

He glared at the two men, teeth nearly grinding to dust.

“You two tell me, who changed the script?”

The man in white shrugged, eyes falling on Li Yuan.

Li Yuan walked over and patted his shoulder with a sigh.

“Old classmate, calm down. The boss changed the script. He’s your biggest patron right now.”

“And this isn’t the time to argue about the script.”

“We need to consider that the boss’s current mental state isn’t suitable for continuing the performance.”

“That last scene was no different than taming a cat.”

“As for what comes next…”

Li Yuan sighed, leaving the rest unsaid, but everyone understood.

Not afraid of a lunatic being crazy, but afraid of a lunatic with money, power, and guns!