Escort

"You're quick, escort."

Xiu Rong was still scrambling on her knees at that time, but she abruptly pressed both palms on the floor when she heard the deep baritone.

She froze in her crawling position like a four-legged animal and fixed her gaze on the white squares on the ground.

When she closed her eyes shut, she saw nothing but darkness.

As she gritted her teeth, Xiu Rong hoped that darkness also applied to her current surroundings or maybe, that would only happen in her fantasies. She didn't even see the man yet.

Xiu Rong only heard his voice, but she wished the man hadn't seen her in this heaven, but that would only happen if she had gouged his eyes out before he turned on the lights in this huge space like magic.

Wait.

Maybe, he was the owner of heaven!

This man must be a real god who came to punish her for her insolence—for being a dark shaman who played a god's role on earth, deciding who lived and who died when she signed a spiritual contract with the 'gu' to obtain the power to curse the Emperor's enemies.

Xiu Rong was just a mere shaman—a speckle of dirt on his feet that didn't deserve to be in his presence.

But wait, did he call her an 'eskirt' or 'skurt'?

What is that?

If he told her that she was quick, was the god expecting her to come and visit heaven?

Wait, what if this odd stranger wasn't a god in the first place?

The clicking of the shoes have stopped, and it made Xiu Rong pray to any god who would hear her make her invisible from this stranger.

Xiu Rong could literally feel his eyes travelling on her head down to her spine so intense that it felt like his gaze alone were tangible things.

"Before I turned on the lights, I saw you moving around in the dark, clambering around like a cockroach looking for crumbs in the kitchen. Why didn't you turn on the lights? Were you planning to surprise me?" The stranger drawled in a husky tone which made her gasp in shock because she didn't realize the full extent of how that deep resonance affected her inside.

Xiu Rong swallowed hard as her entire body trembled under the scrutiny of the god. "Surprise?"

"Indeed. I admit that you surprised me with that cosplaying kink of yours."

Her ears perked up at the unfamiliar word as she opened her eyes and blinked. "Cosplay?"

"You're the first escort who showed up in full-covered Hanfu instead of corsets, stockings, fishnets and lingerie." She can sense the arrogant sarcasm bleeding out from his words as he slowly paced. "Weird kink, but if that's what you like, I won't judge." A short pause. Then, he added, "—but I would have preferred if you surprised me while you are naked."

"Naked?"

"The lingerie would have done the trick to turn me on——not this elaborate traditional clothing." What is lingerie? Is it related to being naked in front of this god? "Hmm. It wouldn't be bad to spice it up from time to time in the bedroom." He said, and she could imagine him rubbing his chin in contemplation or crossing his arms over his chest as he observed her with immense curiosity. "I like black lingerie, by the way."

"Black?" Xiu Rong's brows knitted in confusion. "Lingerie?"

WHAT IS THIS ODD LANGUAGE HER EARS PICKED UP ON AS THEY FLEW OVER HER HEAD?

She was certain that they were speaking the same language, but why couldn't she understand?

"--that Hanfu of yours will do as long as you striptease in front of me."

Xiu Rong replied in a shrill voice. "I don't know striptease."

He growled. "Why are you repeating my words, escort?"

"Ah."He snapped a finger as if an idea crossed his mind. "I think Jian Yu had fully granted my exact request. I asked for the prettiest escort from his Emperor's Club, but I didn't add if the escort should be smart."

Her muscles quivered with anger at the insult, but she just had to make sure. "Are you implying that I'm not smart?"

Xiu Rong heard loud clicks on the white squares, and she knew he was stalking towards her, approaching her until she saw the tip of his leather shoes.

He clicked his tongue. "Don't worry, darling. I'm not asking you to be smart. All you have to do is obey my orders like a good pet." He said as he patted her head like she was a dog.

Good pet?!

Her fingers closed into fists.

This god was asking for a good kick in his family jewels.

He must want her to bite his family jewels until it falls off.

She would make this god a eunuch if he kept these insults coming.

"You didn't bring other things aside from yourself. It's your first time in my penthouse. Good that you are following the rules before coming here. Nothing aside from yourself." As lines marred her forehead, Xiu Rong couldn't follow what he was talking about, so there was no point in interrupting him.

Xiu Rong wouldn't dare look at the god's face because he might turn her into stone for that insolence. "If you are lucky and my friend trusted you enough, you shall be given a key to my luxury suite instead of waiting outside the Penthouse Hotel Lobby alone. Now, if I'm satisfied with you, I will not get the key from you depending on your special skills."

The god was talking about special skills…

Did he want her to show him some shamanic rituals to judge how well she can perform magical skills?

You will be my escort and will remain that way until I said otherwise." He said bluntly. "Do you understand?"

Xiu Rong lowered her voice out of fear. "No, I don't."

"Is ten thousand dollars a night not good enough for you?"

"What is ten thousand dollars?"

His next words were as sharp as a blade from the force of his anger. "I'm starting to think that this is a prank by Jian Yu. Now, look at me. Jian Yu should fulfil his promise to find me a beautiful escort. Why aren't you looking at me? Are you ugly?"

"I am confused." Xiu Rong's pulse sped up as her nostrils flared, squinting at the small ant on the floor she had fixed her gaze with. "You called me a good pet earlier, and now you are calling me ugly?"

She would crush this guy like this ant, and if he disrespected her one more time--

"Then, don't hide your beautiful face in that silky dark hair of yours and look at me."

"I don't want to."

"Why aren't you obeying me, escort?" His palm stroked the back of her neck, and she went rigid. He taunted her. "I didn't ask for a stubborn one from Jian Yu."

As he crouched down, Xiu Rong could feel the stranger breathing down her neck.

He said softly. "You are making this simple transaction difficult."

It sent shivers down her spine.

She saw the god's large hand as he cupped her chin and forced her to glance up at his face.