As the Little Miss of her family’s company, Lin Jianheng held a sinecure. She didn’t have to follow any rules and didn’t even need to ask for leave if she didn’t want to go.
This was the life she had always dreamed of. Lin Jianheng glanced at the clock—it was nine. She decided to head into the kitchen and prepare breakfast for Yan Su.
Yan Su stood stiffly in the room for a while before remembering she had forgotten to apologize to Lin Jianheng.
She was just a pet. How could she sleep in her master’s bed?
In the past, she was supposed to sleep in the kennel in the corner, or be locked in that cage.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried—but Jian Heng had kicked her off.
Right. How could a proud and arrogant master possibly need an inferior plaything like her to warm the bed? She wasn’t a real cat or dog; the master found her filthy.
Last night was just an accident.
The pain of the haphazard marking, combined with the weakness of her heat period, had caused Yan Su to fall into a deep sleep after it was over.
And, uncharacteristically, her master hadn’t stopped her or driven her away, letting her share the pillow until dawn.
Of course, Yan Su’s apology wasn’t sincere. It was simply out of fear.
But the master showed no intention of pursuing the matter.
She collected herself, flicked her tail, a trace of weariness in her eyes.
Without an order, she no longer dared to move freely, so she simply crouched back down in her kennel.
Lin Jianheng fumbled around in the kitchen for a long time.
The original owner’s memories contained no instructions on how to use the stove.
In the interstellar age, technology was far more advanced than in the world Lin Jianheng was familiar with.
Lin Jianheng had become a “primitive person.” She fiddled with it this way and that, finally collapsing onto the table in exhaustion, whining to herself.
“How on earth do you turn this thing on? Why isn’t there even a switch…”
Something suddenly appeared in front of her, scaring her so much her hair stood on end.
“What does the Little Miss require? Just give me your orders.” A disc-like machine hovered in the air, projecting the image of a woman.
Lin Jianheng clutched her heart, struggling to stay upright.
“Detecting an elevated heart rate in the Little Miss. Preparing to administer first aid.” The disc rapidly materialized into a physical form, identical to the projection from moments before.
Striking, with delicate features, and a cold face. But upon seeing that face, Lin Jianheng finally remembered: this was the AI Butler the family had bought for Little Miss Jian Heng.
Lin Jianheng stopped the butler’s outstretched hand, taking a deep breath to regulate her heart rate.
“I-I’m fine. Just… don’t startle me like that…”
After transmigrating, she’d become a fragile Little Miss. Even a butler could scare her into having an arrhythmia.
Lin Jianheng sighed. It was a good thing her family was rich. Even if there was something truly wrong with her body, they could find a solution.
“Understood, Little Miss.” The butler’s appearance was vastly different from Yan Su’s; the only similarity was their indifferent expressions.
Lin Jianheng suspected the original owner had a thing for cold beauties. Now that she had inherited it, she found their cold faces somewhat intimidating.
“Can you adjust your expression?” Lin Jianheng asked tentatively.
After all, the AI Butler was an AI robot, and Lin Jianheng had used conversational AIs before she transmigrated.
She felt much more relaxed with it and gave orders more naturally.
“What expression does the Little Miss require?” A hint of confusion appeared in the butler’s unchanging, mechanical eyes.
“…Never mind. I wanted to cook for Sister Yan. Teach me how to use the stove, and give me a nutritionally balanced recipe.” The cold face was fine, too.
Lin Jianheng had no intention of forcing the robot to adjust its expression. After the butler gave her the recipe, she began to cook at a leisurely pace.
While waiting for the food to simmer, Lin Jianheng had the butler take her to find some medicinal ointment.
Lin Jianheng took a step out, holding the rapid-healing and scar-removal ointments, before it dawned on her.
Where was Yan Su?
She hadn’t seen her leave the room, and there hadn’t been a sound all morning.
“Sister Yan?” Lin Jianheng called out cautiously, clutching the ointment.
Could she have escaped through the window?
If she regrouped with the Demon Clan, she wouldn’t come back to grind my bones to dust, would she?!
Lin Jianheng swallowed hard and shivered at the thought, quickly pushing open the bedroom door.
“Yan Su?” Lin Jianheng didn’t see anyone, but she could still smell the faint scent of lingering pheromones.
“Is there something you need, Master?” a voice came from the corner.
Lin Jianheng breathed a sigh of relief and trotted over, only then seeing Yan Su sitting on a mat that resembled a dog bed.
“What are you doing sitting here? Have you washed up?” Lin Jianheng extended her hand.
Yan Su paused for a second, then once again placed her head on it.
The scene was truly like that of a pet dog.
When the master is away, it sleeps in its dog bed, waiting for the master to return.
When the master finally remembers to glance its way, it fawningly presses against the master’s hand, surrendering itself.
Having learned her lesson, Lin Jianheng quickly withdrew her hand. “I was trying to pull you up!”
“…Yes, Master.” Yan Su, seemingly feeling no shame, gently placed her hand on top.
It was like a dog offering its paw to “shake hands” with its master.
Lin Jianheng sighed, watching her fearful yet obedient movements.
She simply squatted down as well and wrapped her arms around Yan Su.
She felt the woman in her arms stiffen for a moment, surely due to a mixture of unfamiliarity and fear.
“We’ve already exchanged names, don’t be so formal.” Lin Jianheng’s voice was very soft, afraid of startling Yan Su.
“And you don’t have to treat my words as commands. I’m not trying to order you to do anything.” She wanted to soothe the succubus in her arms.
Her succubus, who had been abused by the original owner for a month, who was already on the verge of a mental breakdown, was trembling in her embrace.
But her hand on the succubus’s back still brought a great deal of warmth.
Yan Su was very thin. She probably hadn’t eaten well this past month.
The lines of her spine were prominent, the shape of a butterfly imprinted on Lin Jianheng’s palm.
The smooth curve led Lin Jianheng’s hand downward, touching a pair of dimples on her lower back. She only felt that Yan Su was too thin.
She didn’t notice Yan Su’s involuntary shiver.
Further down was the succubus’s sensitive tail. At least Lin Jianheng had the decency not to touch it.
The hug was brief.
Lin Jianheng just felt that if she couldn’t pull her up, she would hug her up. It was better than Yan Su suppressing herself and offering her head like that.
“Go wash up. The food is almost ready. I’ll put medicine on for you after you’re done.” Like a good sister, Lin Jianheng slung an arm around Yan Su’s shoulders and walked her to the bathroom door.
Meeting Yan Su’s backward glance, Lin Jianheng even winked at her. “Go on, now. Or do you want me to help you?”
It wasn’t out of the question. In college, she used to help her roommate get her toiletries ready.
Yan Su left Lin Jianheng with a cold back.
Lin Jianheng thoughtfully closed the bathroom door for her.
Flopping onto the bed, Lin Jianheng couldn’t help but see the depression she had stomped into it.
She’d broken the bed on her first day after transmigrating. She’d have to get someone to replace it.
Between contacting her older sister, the head of the family, and the AI Butler, Lin Jianheng chose the latter.
From Jian Heng’s memories, the original owner and her older sister, Jian Lingxuan, did not have a good relationship, even though Jian Lingxuan had arranged for Jian Heng’s assets and job.
Jian Heng had a pack of hedonistic friends and spent her days fooling around, a standard-issue profligate rich kid.
Her sister, Jian Lingxuan, was the family’s most outstanding successor—prim and serious, she couldn’t stand her younger sister’s decadent and ambitionless lifestyle.
The two would argue whenever they met, and recently their relationship had become as incompatible as fire and water.
Their mother didn’t intervene either. After handing the corporation over to Jian Lingxuan, she went off to travel on another planet, blocking both sisters’ contact information.
Lin Jianheng felt that the older sister she had inherited was a good person; she should be able to reconcile with her smoothly.
But that pack of hedonistic friends… Lin Jianheng frowned. Just thinking about them was annoying.
For the sake of the original owner’s financial situation, she supposed she would reluctantly deal with them.
At Lin Jianheng’s summons, the AI Butler entered the room to inspect the damage and assess whether a replacement was needed.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth, Yan Su came out of the bathroom to see Lin Jianheng talking with a woman.
The woman’s face was unfamiliar. Her voice was mechanical, ethereal yet indifferent, similar to her own when she was irritated.
And the two of them were standing very close.
“Little Miss, what do you think of this model?” The butler was showing Lin Jianheng a picture.
After its assessment, it had concluded that replacement was cheaper and faster than repair. A new one could arrive tonight.
“It’s so extravagant. Are there any simpler ones…?” Lin Jianheng understood that the data the butler had on record all came from the original owner.
But she really didn’t need a giant round bed that could sleep ten people, not to mention the thing was inlaid with real gold and silver and decorated with a pile of minerals Lin Jianheng didn’t recognize.
“What about this one, then? It’s simple, has temperature control, can simulate various environments, and has excellent reviews.” The butler brought up another bed.
Hearing the bathroom door open, Lin Jianheng turned and beckoned to Yan Su. “Sister Yan, come take a look, too.”
Yan Su’s steps faltered almost imperceptibly, but she still obeyed the command.
Even if Lin Jianheng had other lovers… playthings. So what?
Did she have any choice but to accept?
Yan Su’s expression grew even more detached. She guessed Lin Jianheng wanted them to choose something… indescribable.
Perhaps in the future, she would even want them to… together.
Lin Jianheng naturally shifted over, gesturing for Yan Su to come closer.
Yan Su didn’t hesitate this time. The two of them were practically pressed together. At first, she was a little annoyed, a sense of irritation rippling through her.
But after seeing what Lin Jianheng wanted her to choose, she turned her head and got a clear look at the butler’s face.
—So it was the household’s AI robot.
And Lin Jianheng was just asking her to help choose a replacement for the bed that was broken last night.
“Master, why ask me to choose? This should be your own affair.”
Yan Su felt a strange reaction in her chest, but she couldn’t put a name to the feeling.
It didn’t seem to be just the simple weariness, irritation… and other negative emotions that had been building up over the past month.
“You’ll be sleeping on it too, won’t you? How is it just my affair?” Lin Jianheng was genuinely treating Yan Su like a roommate.
She had shared apartments before. During her poorest year, she and a beautiful, kind-hearted young woman had shared a single bed, holding each other every night to keep from falling off.
Yan Su was the target she had to “win over”—Lin Jianheng wanted to raise her favorability as much as possible to avoid the ending where she was ground to dust.
As a straight woman, she truly had no other intentions. She figured that since this was a “switch the top” story, Yan Su would have her true love later on, and that person wouldn’t be her.
She just needed to take good care of Yan Su and make a graceful exit when the plot point arrived.
After hearing Lin Jianheng’s completely natural words, the fluttering in Yan Su’s chest instantly dissipated.
So, it was still about… with her.
Forget it. Being allowed to sleep on the bed was better than the kennel, at least.
Although deep down, Yan Su felt there was no difference. The physical sensation was still not the same.
“My opinion doesn’t matter. Whichever one the Master likes, that’s the one you should choose.”
Yan Su retreated slightly—to avoid direct physical contact with Lin Jianheng and prevent any offense.
“Are you indecisive?” Lin Jianheng didn’t catch the sarcasm and exhaustion in Yan Su’s voice, tilting her head and pulling her back.
“Me too. We’re doomed.” Lin Jianheng displayed the ten models she had just selected and had the AI Butler project them.
We… Yan Su silently repeated Lin Jianheng’s word. She closed her eyes, a flicker of struggle crossing her brow.
Lin Jianheng was already beside her, analyzing the pros and cons of each one.
It was as if… she was genuinely respecting her opinion.
But before…
Memories flashed through Yan Su’s mind. As an individual with powerful spiritual power, she remembered everything clearly, including the feelings at the time.
That pain still affected her to this day. But worse than that was the overwhelming humiliation, accompanied by mockery.
Yan Su’s eyes snapped open, meeting the culprit’s gaze, who was looking at her with pure and innocent eyes.
Yan Su couldn’t stop herself from shrinking back, trembling.
“Don’t you like this one? Then what about this one?” The voice was still the same person’s voice.
The tone was one she had never heard before. Yet it gradually overlapped with the cruel teasing during her punishments.
—Don’t you like the whip? Then what about this one? It has barbs. I think you’ll like it.
Yan Su turned her head away, not daring to let her master see her loss of composure.
“I-I’m fine with anything.” How could she dare to have an opinion?
Lin Jianheng was troubled.
The AI Butler at her side spoke up, suggesting, “Little Miss, our family isn’t short on money. You can buy all the ones you like and try them out. At worst, you can just rotate them. The Little Miss also has several other properties; you can furnish each one in turn.”
“…Fine.” Lin Jianheng was starting to feel a bit of resentment toward the rich.
“Let me put the ointment on for you, Sister Yan.” Having settled the matter of the bed, Lin Jianheng took out the ointment.
Yan Su shot her a sidelong glance and directly undid the buttons on her chest.
“No, no, no, not now! Sister Butler, please leave first!” Lin Jianheng’s ears flushed red as she quickly shot a look at the butler.
She immediately grabbed the collar of Yan Su’s clothes to prevent her from being exposed.
The butler was just an AI and had no opinion on the scene. It reverted to its flying saucer form and flew out of the bedroom.
Yan Su said nothing about it, as if she weren’t the one being humiliated, as if she weren’t the one who had been hurt.
No matter how Lin Jianheng apologized, she had only one reply.
“As long as the Master is happy. My thoughts are not important.”
“But you can’t just… Ugh, it’s my fault. I should have asked Sister Butler to leave first. Please don’t be angry.” This time, Lin Jianheng really wanted to slap herself.
Of course, she hadn’t expected Yan Su to start undressing so directly.
From this, Lin Jianheng gained a bit more understanding of Yan Su’s reactions. She swore she would be more careful next time.
Throughout the process, Yan Su kept her eyelashes lowered, letting Lin Jianheng do as she pleased without resistance or a single word.
If not for the fact that she was still breathing, Lin Jianheng would have suspected she was dealing with a rag doll.
Lin Jianheng was very careful to cover Yan Su’s private areas as she meticulously applied ointment to her wounds.
With the AI Butler watching the stove, she didn’t have to worry.
The more Lin Jianheng applied the ointment, the more horrified she became.
There were so many wounds, big and small, on Yan Su’s body. Each one was a testament to the original owner’s crimes.
How could someone be so cruel, so indifferent, so lacking in the basic empathy and compassion of a living being?
Someone who took pleasure only in their pain.
What a vile original owner. Lin Jianheng thought that if she had known Jian Heng in her original world, Jian Heng would have been the person she hated most.
“I will never let you get hurt again.” After treating the last whip mark, Lin Jianheng knelt before Yan Su and made a solemn promise.
“As long as you are happy,” Yan Su’s voice was hoarse, her disbelief obvious.
“I’m serious,” Lin Jianheng said, taking Yan Su’s hand and making her meet her gaze.
Only her eyes could convey her sincerity. She wasn’t that irredeemable original owner, that sociopathic scum with no empathy.
“I know it might be hard for you to believe me right now. But I won’t change my actions, my attitude, or my promise. We’ve exchanged names. I will respect you, just as you respect me. We are both independent individuals, living beings of the Empire. I will take responsibility for the injuries Jian Heng caused you before, and I won’t cause any more harm like that.”
“When your body has healed, if you want to leave, I will let you go.”
As Lin Jianheng said this, her eyes held a pair of brilliant points of light.
Yan Su pressed her lips together and looked at her, knowing full well that the shimmering light came from the crystal chandelier above their heads.
But she still didn’t dare to look directly, lowering her eyelashes to avoid Lin Jianheng’s overly fervent gaze.
“Come and eat. I have to go to work in a bit, so I won’t be able to join you.”
Jian Lingxuan had just left a message on her optical computer, so Lin Jianheng had to go to the corporation.
She released her tight grip and called for Yan Su to leave the room.
Feeling the faint, itchy pain of her wounds healing, Yan Su only felt a chill on the back of the hand that had been held.
The October weather wasn’t cold enough to require heating. Yan Su rubbed her hands at her sides for a moment, but they still wouldn’t warm up.
Was her constitution naturally cold? Yan Su wondered blankly, seeing the chair Lin Jianheng had pulled out for her and the lunch she had prepared, its colors tempting and its presentation exquisite.
“I’m heading to the company first, my sister is rushing me… I’ll be back later!” But Lin Jianheng couldn’t have lunch with Yan Su. She hurriedly grabbed her bag and ran out the door.
Having received no further orders, the AI Butler autonomously returned to its charging station and went into sleep mode.
Barely a minute passed. With the departure of the house’s owner, the entire home fell as silent as death.
Yan Su stared at the food before her.
A succubus’s proper nourishment was something else entirely.
The pheromones her master had given her last night were abundant, enough for her to survive for some time without eating or drinking.
And yet, Yan Su still picked up the spoon and took a small bite.
It was a very ordinary taste. Not stunning, but sweet and fragrant enough.
The hand Yan Su used to hold the spoon began to tremble uncontrollably. Her throat ached and her stomach churned.
Yesterday, that person had dislocated her jaw to force medicine down her throat.
Today, she was supposed to eat the food she made.
Who knew if this food was poisoned.
Yan Su threw down the spoon. The clattering sound struck her heart, making her flinch as tears of fear welled in her eyes.
At least she didn’t flip over all the food her master had made. She just endured the mist in her eyes and the pain in her body and mind, retreating to the place where she belonged.
Yan Su curled back into that dog bed.
