After cleaning the room, Xu Yinsheng slept for a while on the bed.
For her, this was a perk of the job, and Zhao Yicheng generally tacitly allowed it.
When she woke again, dusk had already fallen.
The sun had set, twilight stained the sky, and if one looked up, only a few scattered stars could be seen.
Bin Coastal City’s myriad lights illuminated, brilliant and bright; traffic flowed endlessly.
The black vintage car parked in front of the villa had left at some unknown time.
As she descended the stairs from the second floor, she happened to see Zhao Yicheng serving a steaming bowl of delicious-looking braised pork onto the table.
“Little Yin, time to eat.”
Zhao Yicheng’s gaze at her was full of doting affection.
Xu Yinsheng paused slightly.
She then nodded, took her cat bowl, and squatted by Zhao Yicheng’s leg.
Rule three of the “Kitty Obedience Sutra”: cats are not allowed on the table without the master’s permission.
Xu Yinsheng didn’t truly see herself as a cat, but the problem was if she didn’t act this way, she would be punished with a black Little Yin Star.
She had just barely managed to offset this week’s black Little Yin Stars; where would she get more silver Little Yin Stars to offset another?
“So obedient.”
Zhao Yicheng praised, reaching out to embrace her slender waist, pulling the silver-haired loli into his arms.
“Truly worthy of being master’s little good kitty.”
“Meow~ Today, kitty poured tea for master and master’s friend, kitty wants silver Little Yin Stars~~”
The silver-haired bloodline loli’s crimson lips parted slightly as she spoke softly.
“Good, good, good, I’ll give them to you.”
Zhao Yicheng nodded.
One cherishes what one loses; in other words, one doesn’t want to lose what one cherishes.
Just like now, he hadn’t stripped Xu Yinsheng of everything; instead, he had given her some autonomy, allowing her to “possess” some things.
Before, Xu Yinsheng, having lost everything, was like a stubborn piece of meat.
She believed she was already at rock bottom, couldn’t get any worse, possessing a “barefoot fears no shoes” demeanor.
But now, the Little Yin Star reward and punishment system gave Xu Yinsheng, who previously only ate cat food, something to look forward to.
It clarified what she could and couldn’t do.
At the same time, Xu Yinsheng, now “owning” things, also had burdens.
She thought twice before acting, unable to be as mischievous and naughty as before.
Zhao Yicheng took out an exquisite invitation, resembling jade, from his embrace and handed it to Xu Yinsheng, telling her to open it.
“Tomorrow, I’ll be attending a high seas auction. Little Yin, guess which item I like the most.”
Warm breath brushed Xu Yinsheng’s ear, causing a tingling sensation.
Xu Yinsheng secretly cursed him as an old pervert.
If it were before, she would definitely have been sarcastic.
But now, with braised pork, with rice, and if she saved up more in the future, she could even exchange silver Little Yin Stars for her own bedroom—good days were something to look forward to.
She was now “wearing shoes.”
Opening the invitation, Xu Yinsheng looked for a long time before nodding affirmatively.
Her fair little hand pointed to a picture of a noble royal Persian cat with deep blue fur among the auction items on the invitation.
“This one.”
She raised her small head, looked at Zhao Yicheng, and pointed at the invitation.
“This royal-blooded Persian cat.”
You’re a cat person; you currently have me and Garfield, do you want to get another one?
Xu Yinsheng said this, completely unaware of anything amiss.
“No, not that one.”
Zhao Yicheng’s lips curved slightly.
He took Xu Yinsheng’s small hand and turned the invitation.
At the same time, his other hand traced down Xu Yinsheng’s calf, his rough thumb gently stroking, making Xu Yinsheng shiver.
Finally, he lightly held her ankle.
“It should be very suitable, my little good kitty, my little naughty kitty. You are my favorite treasure,” he whispered with a low chuckle into Xu Yinsheng’s ear.
Xu Yinsheng’s gaze shifted slightly with Zhao Yicheng’s movement, finally fixating on an exquisite picture.
Her crimson pupils suddenly contracted!
***
~ The next day ~
The car pulled up to Binhai City Pier, where a colossal cruise ship was docked.
Before boarding, two young men in suits first checked Zhao Yicheng’s invitation, then offered him warm smiles and invited him up the gangway.
The cruise ship had six decks, nearly a hundred meters tall, and Xu Yinsheng estimated it was close to three hundred meters long.
It was fully equipped with radar and weapons, as necessary defenses were crucial for an auction held on the high seas.
Those attending this auction were all incredibly wealthy or powerful.
Due to the international waters’ “hands-off” principle, most of the auction items were acquired through illicit means: female slaves of varying allure, ancient porcelain from distant eras, and even captured princes and princesses from small, war-torn nations.
Zhao Yicheng, with Garfield in his left arm and Xu Yinsheng in his right hand, followed a designated guide to his reserved private room.
All along the way, Xu Yinsheng drew considerable attention.
On one hand, a red-eyed, silver-haired loli like her was not merely rare but truly uncommon.
Her skin, whiter than snow, and her black-and-red Lolita dress accentuated her tender, youthful curves.
Her eyes, innocent and clear as water, made her seem as if she had stepped right out of a film.
On the other hand, Zhao Yicheng was leading her, not by holding her hand, but as one would lead a dog on a leash.
A red string was tied to a cat collar around Xu Yinsheng’s delicate neck.
Zhao Yicheng walked ahead, and Xu Yinsheng followed behind.
Even when Xu Yinsheng saw something that piqued her interest, she dared not stop.
“Whooosh!”
After a whistle blast, the colossal cruise ship, the “Pakeaij,” departed from the pier.
The luxurious behemoth, concealing its sordid black market dealings, glided slowly across the water, parting wave after wave.
It was night.
A bright, full moon hung above the Pacific.
The high seas shimmered, unusually calm and still.
Dark, shadowy figures of armed personnel were faintly visible on the deck, rotating shifts, forming an eerie contrast to the sounds of revelry emanating from the ship’s interior.
The high seas auction lasted for a full day and night.
During this time, they were responsible for ensuring the safety of every legitimate passenger on board.
Inside the cabin, explosive, suggestive music played.
The auction of artifacts and antiques had just concluded, but the various powerful and wealthy individuals, not yet fully satisfied, were eagerly anticipating what was next.
They knew that compared to the cold antiques, the upcoming items were “piping hot.”
One after another, seductive star-slaves of various skin tones and scantily clad were pushed out in cages by white-uniformed attendants.
White, black, yellow—diverse skin tones; male, female, gender-fluid—different genders; young girls, young boys, shota, loli, older women, burly men—a myriad of forms.
Most of them were young and beautiful, sturdy and powerful, but their eyes were vacant, their minds unclear, as if they had lost themselves.
Inside their cages, they were displayed like merchandise on small iron stage platforms, rotating numbly and stiffly, showcasing their bodies.