He had seduced countless women and mastered every technique. Even his casual teasing naturally tightened the nerves of the inexperienced Xia Yihan.

His gaze remained fixed on her. A flicker of flame danced in her clear eyes—no matter how hard she tried to suppress it, she couldn’t hide it.

"With your looks, if you need money, there are much easier ways to get it, don’t you think?"

As he spoke, his thumb pressed harder against her soft lips, rubbing back and forth.

His touch, coupled with the implication in his words, quickly flushed Xia Yihan’s face. She lowered her eyelashes and murmured, "I just want to earn what I want through my own efforts."

Ye Zimo leaned in slightly, his expression wicked. "How do you know being a lover doesn’t require effort? Don’t you still have to figure out which positions excite a man, how to moan to make him addicted?"

Xia Yihan’s face burned crimson with humiliation and rage, the blush spreading all the way to her ears. Her entire body felt as if it were on fire.

Never had she heard such blatant words—especially not at midnight, whispered to her alone by a man.

His devastatingly handsome face was so close, and she feared the faint palpitations and nervousness that came from the scent of his masculinity brushing against her cheeks. She wanted to drop the cloth and run, but she worried that the more flustered she acted, the more amused he’d become.

She lowered her head. "Young Master Ye, it’s late. You should rest. I still need to finish mopping the floor, so I won’t keep you company any longer."

He stood up, and Xia Yihan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking his strange behavior had finally ended.

Focusing her attention, she bent down to continue wiping the marble floor.

Just as she thought he would return to his room, she suddenly heard his leisurely voice: "Didn’t the butler tell you? Starting tonight, someone has to take turns staying overnight in my bedroom. You’re on duty today."

Xia Yihan’s hands froze. He didn’t wait for her reaction, striding away after speaking.

She had no choice but to drop the cloth and chase after him, calling out urgently, "Young Master Ye, please wait!"

He abruptly stopped, and she nearly collided with his back. Fortunately, she reacted quickly, darting around to face him.

He said nothing, merely watching her expressionlessly, waiting for her to speak.

"Young Master Ye, I’m sorry, but the butler didn’t mention anything about staying overnight tonight."

Given the butler’s meticulous obedience to Ye Zimo’s every word, there was no way he would have forgotten such an order. This had to be a last-minute whim, a deliberate attempt to torment her.

If she ended up staying in his bedroom under such ambiguous circumstances, tomorrow the other maids would surely twist it into something sordid.

Their harassment wasn’t her greatest fear—what truly terrified her was him. Ye Zimo was capable of anything. He had just discussed intimate matters with her, and now they were to share a night under the same roof. What if he suddenly decided to take things further?

He coldly retorted, "Are you questioning me?"

"I—"

"You should know—this is the butler’s domain, but it’s also mine. If you want to leave, you’re free to disobey me."

His words were harsh, leaving no room for argument.

Xia Yihan bit her lip, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I’ll do as you say."

So, she really wanted to stay? Just as he’d suspected—she was planning to infiltrate his inner circle. Well, she’d better stay alert.

She was so repressed, so controlled—her heart must be filled with resistance and disgust toward him, right?

Suddenly, he reached out, his slender fingers pinching her chin once more as he leaned down, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze. "What if my order is for you to sleep with me?"

"You—!" She could only spit out the word before biting her lip, unaware of how seductive the gesture was.

Ye Zimo’s body reacted in a way even he found astonishing. His gaze locked onto hers, silently demanding possession.

Those eyes were like a wolf staring at its prey—her heart pounded violently, as if trying to break free from her chest.

Terrified, she hurriedly lowered her lashes, no longer daring to meet his eyes.

"Answer me!" he snapped, his tone sharp enough to hurt.

Her chin throbbed with pain.