Louis suddenly pulled Yu Zhizhi forward. She braced her hands on the floor, her body lurching as her head nearly slammed into his chest.

His figure drew closer...

Louis lowered his gaze, his fingers lifting the silver necklace from her neck.

"Louis...?" Yu Zhizhi gripped the young man’s wrist with both hands, trying to make him let go.

In the dark private room, the Firefly Lamp flickered with a faint glow.

At such a close distance, Yu Zhizhi could see his eyes, hidden beneath his eyelids, like green gemstones set in a deep pool.

"Looks like it’s not," Louis said as he slowly tightened his grip on the necklace. With a sudden tug, the silver chain snapped.

The sudden force made Yu Zhizhi shut her eyes. The rabbit ears on her head trembled slightly.

He was doing this purely for his own amusement.

The young man sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the little female just inches away. He planned to settle the score with this rabbit for what happened last time.

His right hand, already on her neck, squeezed lightly. He moved closer, his deep green eyes filled with aggression.

"Remember the last time we met?"

Yu Zhizhi felt her breath catch. She frowned in pain and looked up at the young man before her—

’Those green eyes... I only caught a glimpse of them last time as the door was closing.’

But the image was seared into her memory.

"...I remember."

"You ruined my fun."

"..."

Yu Zhizhi didn’t know what he was talking about. She tried to struggle, but he was too strong. She couldn’t break free at all.

The young man lowered his voice. "How do you plan on compensating me?"

"..." The corners of Yu Zhizhi’s eyes grew moist.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The air grew thin, and her breathing gradually became difficult.

The young man coldly released her. He didn’t feel like killing this little female rabbit just yet.

Freed, Yu Zhizhi propped herself up with one hand while the other clutched her collarbone, and she coughed a few times.

The young man saw that the corners of the young female’s eyes were red, tears threatening to spill over.

She sniffled pitifully. "But I clearly helped you."

The young man spoke coldly:

"You helped Louis. Not me."

Yu Zhizhi shuffled backward half a step, wary. She sat on the carpet, staring blankly at the person in front of her.

"Who are you?"

She saw his deep green eyes, like eerie will-o’-the-wisps on a summer night, sinister and terrifying. He held out his right hand, and a five-pointed star pattern slowly materialized in his palm.

At his Summon, a vial of dark green medicine appeared.

"Drink this."

Yu Zhizhi stared blankly at the thin glass tube. "What is this?"

"Something that will make you happy."

"...I won’t drink it!"

"You don’t have a choice." The young man moved in, easily pinching her cheeks with one hand to force her mouth open.

The entire vial of medicine was poured in. She tried to cough it out, but he clamped a hand over her mouth, only letting go after she had swallowed it all.

’It’s over!’ Yu Zhizhi thought in that instant.

’It’s like I’ve been poisoned! I’m going to die!’

Her consciousness began to fade. She struggled to keep her eyes open, feeling dizzy and disoriented. The pair of eerie green eyes before her flashed with a hint of triumphant, malicious glee.

"Hahaha! Louis, you’re so dead!"

He laughed with great satisfaction.

Yu Zhizhi felt her body heat up. A strange, tingling itch spread from her abdomen, as if she were being devoured by countless ants.

She reached out, trying to grab the male in front of her. She saw him sitting perfectly still, a smirk frozen on his lips, as his green eyes gradually faded away...

When Louis came to, he saw Yu Zhizhi curled up on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. Her light-colored dress was hiked up, her long hair was a mess, and her breathing was rapid and tinged with sobs.

’What’s going on?’

A possibility occurred to him. "Did that guy show up?"

In the pitch-black room, the lights began to flicker. Knowing someone would be here soon, Louis wrapped the young female in his coat and held her in his arms.

Yu Zhizhi’s whole body was burning up, her cheeks flushed crimson. Her eyelashes were damp with sweat as she murmured endlessly:

"I... I’m going to die..." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Her voice trembled. "He made me take a medicine, sob sob—"

Tears streamed down Yu Zhizhi’s face instantly.

She didn’t understand why Louis had suddenly become a different person.

Louis froze.

He looked down and saw the young female in his arms. Her body was soft, her fair skin flushed, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with moisture, and her lips a full, vibrant color. The faint scent of jasmine from her was stronger than usual. Just smelling it left him in a daze.

Because of his past experiences, he understood immediately.

"That son of a bitch...!"

A sudden headache struck Louis. He stood up, still holding Yu Zhizhi, just as the door to the room was pushed open.

Elk saw the state they were in and froze in his tracks. "Er..."

He wasn’t sure if he should come in.

Louis walked out, carrying Yu Zhizhi. "Put the Holy Medicine in the car."

"...What happened to Ms. Zhi Zhi?"

Noticing the young man’s displeased glare, the Elk Host quickly shut his mouth.

The snowmobile sped all the way back to the entrance of Zero Star Street.

Louis didn’t dare to delay.

He had been afflicted by this poison before; he knew how agonizing it was.

Back at the log cabin.

The room was very warm, which only made Yu Zhizhi feel hotter. She wanted to tear off her coat, but she didn’t have the strength.

She could only whimper for help, "Louis, I’m so hot..."

Louis wet a towel and wiped the sweat from her forehead. During the short trip, the young female’s cheeks had become so flushed they looked like they were about to give off steam.

The little rabbit was sobbing and whining, burrowing into his chest as he wiped her sweat.

Louis’s reason was still intact. He held the girl’s shoulder with one hand.

"Miss, do you have any more Calm Potions on you?"

Yu Zhizhi could no longer understand what he was saying. Her mind was a complete blur. If the person in front of her wasn’t holding her up, she would have already collapsed onto the carpet.

Waves of heat surged through her body, one after another...

She was like a fish on the verge of death, mouth agape, desperately trying to breathe.

Yu Zhizhi felt herself fall into a warm embrace.

Louis held her close and asked softly, "Do you need my help? If you do, just say my name."

Yu Zhizhi trembled slightly. She thought she heard Louis speaking—

’Do you need help?’

Sob...

Yu Zhizhi gently tugged on his collar, her faint voice reaching his ears.

"The... the Mermaid..."

Trembling, the young female uttered the word "Mermaid."

Louis’s dark eyes showed a hint of surprise.

He didn’t press further. He just picked her up and walked toward the bathroom.

The Mermaid, chained in the bathtub, showed no reaction to the noise. He lay in the clear, azure water as if in an eternal slumber.

However...

The Mermaid instantly caught the rich scent of jasmine.

It was different from usual.

This time, it was an even deeper fragrance, one that shamelessly stirred the desires in a male’s heart.

Louis stood by the edge of the tub, holding Yu Zhizhi.

"Ms. Zhi Zhi, I’ll ask you one last time."

The young man’s voice was calm and serious. "Do you want the Mermaid, or do you want Louis?"