26：The Price of Beauty

As they walked, despite the silence between Shen Hao and Ji Dongge, Ji Dongge inexplicably felt a sense of safety and comfort.

As they continued, Ji Dongge noticed Shen Hao's quick pace, and she found herself lagging behind. She hurriedly lifted her skirt and jogged to catch up.

However, after just a few steps, Ji Dongge was already out of breath.

But her heart felt oddly light, and she even considered humming a little tune.

Still, not wanting to make a fool of herself in front of Shen Hao, she suppressed the thought.

Ji Dongge didn't even glance back at Yihong Pavilion, or the bustling Fengming Street. She didn't care at all for the place she had lived in for years.

What woman would willingly choose to be a prostitute?

She thought of Liuli, who was killed for refusing to entertain a guest arranged by Lai Yuejing. Liuli was thrown into a coffin, suffocated to death.

There had been worse cases. Once, a prostitute who had been pregnant for three months was forced to take abortion pills and was kicked in the stomach by the slaves until she bled. Despite the severe injury, she still had to go out and entertain clients, or else she would be beaten to death.

Their lives were trapped in a never-ending cycle. Only death could free them.

Ji Dongge considered herself lucky. She was bought by Lai Yuejing, and she had encountered the reforms in Yihong Pavilion. Otherwise, she wouldn't be walking behind Shen Hao today.

Women were cheap commodities. When one died, another would take their place.

As they walked, the night in Yangguan Town was much quieter than the bustling cities of the modern world. There were no street lights, and the visibility was poor. Thankfully, the moonlight was bright, casting a frosty glow over the ground.

The street was empty. Most people were already asleep, leaving only the sound of Shen Hao and Ji Dongge's footsteps breaking the silence.

Ji Dongge felt an odd sense of security from the rhythmic sound of the steps. She wished they could just keep walking like this forever.

Yet, she was also afraid—afraid of what her life would become. She feared that once they reached Shen Hao's home, he would change, drop the act, and pounce on her.

Suddenly, Shen Hao stopped in his tracks. He stood still, saying calmly, "You've been following me for a while. Come out."

As soon as the words left his mouth, two men dressed in black emerged from the shadows.

"Throw the gold and the woman over here, and we'll spare your life," one of the men said in a hoarse voice.

Shen Hao raised an eyebrow, and without hesitation, tossed the box filled with gold over to them.

The black-clad men smiled in anticipation, ready to catch the gold.

Suddenly, two loud gunshots rang out, reverberating through the night sky. The sound echoed for miles.

Flashes of light lit up the dark night, and the two men dropped to the ground in shock, their bodies stiff and lifeless.

"Unfair...using hidden weapons," one of the men muttered before they died.

The men hadn't expected Shen Hao to be so skilled with hidden weapons.

Ji Dongge, watching the scene, turned pale with fear. The white cat in her arms glowed curiously, watching the black lumps in Shen Hao's hands.

Shen Hao looked at the two dead men without a second thought, then fired two more shots.

At this, Ji Dongge's white cat gave a look of disdain, seemingly mocking Shen Hao for being overly cautious.

The cat rolled its eyes and curled up in her arms, falling back asleep.

The night was eerily quiet, and the crisp sound of gunshots echoed through the streets, causing many to stir in confusion.

Shen Hao picked up the bodies and walked to a corner before tossing them into his personal space.

He wanted to see who was behind the ambush.

Shen Hao never held grudges, but when it came to enemies, he always retaliated immediately.

After disposing of the bodies, Shen Hao temporarily ignored the situation and took Ji Dongge back to the house he had purchased.

When Song Yongci saw Shen Hao walking in with a stunningly beautiful young woman, her eyes flashed with a hint of jealousy, but it quickly disappeared.

She smiled and said, "Young Master, would you like to take a bath?"

Shen Hao shook his head and replied, "No need. Please arrange a room for her."

"Of course, Young Master," Song Yongci responded without hesitation, quickly arranging a room for Ji Dongge in the next room.

Ji Dongge looked around at the simple room. Though it wasn't as luxurious as the rooms in Yihong Pavilion, she felt oddly at peace.

She was going to live here from now on.

With that thought, Ji Dongge began to help arrange the bedding.

"Madam, it's better if I do this," Song Yongci quickly said.

Ji Dongge waved her hand. "You misunderstand. I'm not a madam. I'm just another servant, bought like you. I was once a prostitute."

Hearing this, Song Yongci paused for a moment but quickly returned to her duties.

"Since it's Young Master's orders, I'll do my best," she said as she continued to arrange the bedding.

Ji Dongge remained silent, not used to doing such things, though she was fine with dancing.

After everything was arranged, Song Yongci said, "Madam, please bear with me tonight. If you need anything, I will report it to Young Master tomorrow."

She then quietly left, closing the door behind her with a small sigh.

Ji Dongge was not unaware of the discomfort she felt seeing another woman in Shen Hao's life. However, she understood her position as a servant and could not afford to feel envious.

After a while, Song Yongci returned with warm water and entered Shen Hao's room.

When Shen Hao saw her, he waved for her to come closer.

"Is something the matter, Young Master?"

Shen Hao smiled faintly and pulled her into his arms, kissing her pale cheek before saying, "Are you jealous?"

Song Yongci blushed and shyly replied, "No, I'm just your servant. I know my place, how could I be jealous?"

Shen Hao smiled but said nothing.

"You say you're not jealous, but I can already smell the sourness," he teased. "Don't worry, she's just another servant I bought. You will always be number one in my heart."

Song Yongci's heart fluttered at his sweet words, and the little bitterness she felt melted away.

With his comforting words, her mood lifted, and the slight discomfort vanished.

"Young Master is always teasing me," she said with a smile.

Shen Hao lightly tapped her nose and grinned, "Tonight, you won't be able to escape. I've been waiting for this day, and now that you're well again, it's the perfect time."