Chapter 3: Anyway, Just Take It Off

“…”

Meng Wange’s hand tightened slightly around the bedsheet.

Although she had already guessed before coming here that the young lady of the Su family wouldn’t show her a kind face, she had still held onto a sliver of hope.

Maybe Su Wanli had her own pride and wouldn’t stoop so low as to make trouble for her directly.

But it had only been a few minutes since their first meeting, and Su Wanli had already snatched away the keepsake her mother left behind, barged into her room while she was unpacking, and now blatantly ordered her to go to her room.

‘So be it. Wasn’t that the real reason Uncle Su brought her here?’

No matter what, she couldn’t afford to lose this opportunity.

Even if… Meng Wange sighed silently in her heart, straightened the backpack by her bedside, and stood up.

“Alright, Miss Su.”

This time, it was Su Wanli who looked surprised.

“…Eh? You’re just agreeing like that?”

…?

This young lady who had just treated her so roughly was now asking for her opinion?

Did that mean she actually had room to negotiate with Su Wanli?

Meng Wange looked at her suspiciously, trying to see any hint of her true intentions in her eyes—but she found nothing.

Su Wanli slightly turned her head, deliberately avoiding Meng Wange’s gaze.

‘Her expression even looked… a little guilty?’

‘Guilty about what?’ This was the Su family home, and she was taking Meng Wange to her own room.

‘What was there to feel uncertain about?’

‘Then… what was she worried about?’

‘Could it be that Su Wanli had prepared something in her room that would seriously disadvantage her? Something so cruel that even someone as arrogant and domineering as her would feel a trace of guilt?’

The thought sent a chill down Meng Wange’s spine.

No—she had to avoid provoking her as much as possible.

If she appeared obedient enough, Su Wanli might gradually lose interest in her.

If she resisted now, it would only bring a string of trouble later on.

Meng Wange shook her head, exhaled deeply to clear her chaotic thoughts, and then gave Su Wanli a gentle smile.

“Of course. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”

If she kept her posture low from the start, the other party would see her as non-threatening.

Only then would an opportunity eventually present itself.

But strangely, after hearing those words, Su Wanli looked… confused?

‘Had she gone too far with her act? Had this infamously malicious heiress seen through her?’

…Forget it. Soon, Uncle Su would be holding a welcome banquet for her. Even if Su Wanli really planned to do something now, she probably wouldn’t go too far.

Hopefully, whatever happens won’t leave any visible injuries.

Seeing Meng Wange—whom she had just bullied moments ago—now cooperating so readily, Su Wanli blinked in a daze, but quickly stepped forward and grabbed her by the shirt sleeve.

“Alright, then we’d better hurry. Otherwise, we won’t have time.”

Meng Wange was still trying to digest what “won’t have time” was supposed to mean when she was already being pulled into the next room by Su Wanli.

***

Su Wanli’s room was filled with her personal collection.

In addition to framed photos with various celebrities, there were many paintings in wildly different styles hanging on the walls.

But the most eye-catching thing was the pile of dazzling jewelry.

They were scattered messily across the vanity like cheap trinkets at a street stall, as if the girl who loved jewels had no interest in organizing them.

It looked like a dragon hoarding treasure—wildly fond of gems but too lazy to arrange them—decorating her lair with gleaming trophies in chaotic abandon.

Among all these luxury items, the only thing that felt completely out of place was her simple white hair clip.

It had been mockingly placed by Su Wanli in the most conspicuous spot, like an ugly duckling among a flock of elegant swans.

“…”

For a moment, Meng Wange had the impulse to rush forward, snatch the hair clip—her only keepsake from her mother—back into her hands, and flee from the Su family, flee from this nightmare.

But that was only a fleeting thought.

For the future she longed for, Meng Wange had to endure.

She had to swallow her pride and step into the dragon’s lair of her own accord—offering herself up like some sort of collectible for Su Wanli’s amusement.

“Alright, she’s here. Anyway, shouldn’t she take it off first?”

Su Wanli spoke lightly, almost to herself, still with her back turned to Meng Wange.

‘Take… it off?’

Meng Wange clenched her fists at once.

“…Su Wanli.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Su Wanli turned around with a pair of innocent, clear eyes, as if none of this had anything to do with her.

Such deceptive eyes.

‘Had Su Wanli always worn that look while doing those cruel things to others?’

‘Stripping a girl naked, leaving her with marks that couldn’t be shown in daylight—just for her own entertainment—was that what she had always done?’

If there had been any kind of weapon nearby, Meng Wange honestly wasn’t sure she wouldn’t have thrown it at Su Wanli in the next second.

But… this was the Su household.

And there were still things Meng Wange had to accomplish.

No matter what, she couldn’t burn everything down here.

Maintaining her polite smile, Meng Wange shook her head.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to remember your name properly.”

“Oh…”

‘Weird girl,’ Su Wanli thought.

‘Saying that out loud just to remember a name? And why had she said it through gritted teeth?’ It gave Su Wanli goosebumps.

She shrugged and went back to struggling with her sleepwear.

‘Damn it—where was the clasp on this thing? It couldn’t be… worn under the gown, could it?’

‘Wait, weren’t bra clasps usually on the back? Maybe the sleepwear was the same?’

‘If I’m going to use her anyway, I might as well go all the way.’

Still facing away, Su Wanli casually waved a hand behind her.

“Meng Wange, come help me with this. I can’t figure out—”

Rustle.

A soft sound of clothing falling reached her ears from behind.

‘Wow, that was fast.’

‘But… it didn’t sound like my clothes falling?’

Su Wanli turned around—only to be met with the stunning sight of smooth, pale skin and the cold expression of the brown-haired girl.

For some reason, Meng Wange had already taken off her white shirt, exposing her bare shoulders, delicate collarbones, and flat abdomen.

The only thing she had left on her upper body was a simple white bra.

She even seemed to be unfastening the side of her skirt—half of it was already undone.

Su Wanli felt a strange rush in her nose, and her ears suddenly flushed red.

“M-Meng Wange! What the hell are you doing?!”

Meng Wange kept her trademark polite smile, though the blush spreading across her ears betrayed the storm beneath the surface.

“Miss Su, isn’t this what you wanted…”

Before the last word could fully leave her lips, a light pink sleep dress flew through the air and landed right on Meng Wange, covering her eyes with a scratchy rip.

“Hmm?”