The touch in her palm was warm and firm, even enough to feel the subtle movement of his jaw as he spoke.
Chu You froze on the spot—pulling her hand back was impossible, but pressing it closer was equally out of the question.
Lin Mo’s gaze slowly drifted down to her helpless fingertips.
“Senior’s hands are a bit cold~” he chuckled softly, his breath sweeping over the skin of her wrist, stirring a faint shiver.
Chu You’s throat went dry, her mind buzzing wildly.
She looked at Lin Mo, so close that she could see the familiar depth in his eyes, which now clearly reflected her panicked shadow.
All or nothing.
Her fingertips curled slightly, but instead of pulling away, she gently brushed them against his cheek.
“So… what kind of repayment do you want?”
Her voice was softer than before, tinged with nervous trembling.
“As long as I can do it.”
Lin Mo seemed taken aback by her compliance; his eyes flickered like a still lake disturbed by a tossed pebble.
At last, he loosened his grip a little.
Chu You immediately tried to withdraw her hand but was stopped again as he firmly grasped her wrist—not forcefully, but with undeniable intent.
“Anything you can do, you promise?”
He repeated her words, stretching the last syllable playfully, his gaze teasing and appraising.
Chu You bit her lip, hesitated, then nodded.
Lin Mo’s smile deepened.
He leaned close to her ear, whispering, his warm breath almost brushing her earlobe, “Senior, do you remember what you made me do when we were recruiting new members back in university?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Chu You’s expression froze completely, her pupils dilating slightly in shock.
Lin Mo’s sentence struck like thunder, splitting open the blurred memories she had long buried.
Back when she took over as president of the Martial Arts Club at Beifu University, she had forced Lin Mo, her famously obedient junior, to do countless embarrassing things for the annual recruitment.
Wearing all sorts of uniforms, shouting humiliating recruitment slogans, rewarding new female members with abdominal muscle rubs…
Back then, Lin Mo was her shadow, always compliant and resigned, doing whatever she asked.
But now… well, what goes around comes around!
Her eyes shifted instantly; the earlier flattery and feigned helplessness now mixed with genuine panic and pleading, even a hint of hopeful “You wouldn’t hold a grudge, would you?”
Lin Mo caught every flicker of emotion in her eyes, the corner of his mouth curling into a deeper, unabashedly mocking smile.
He leaned in slightly, close to her ear again, speaking slowly so only they could hear, “What, didn’t you say… you’d promise me anything you could do?”
His warm breath brushed her sensitive earlobe, making Chu You shudder all over.
She instinctively tried to pull back, but her wrist was still firmly held.
His fingertips traced her wrist lightly, teasing, “Why so quiet? I haven’t even told you what I want yet, and you’re already looking so pitiful. Trying to morally blackmail me?”
Chu You’s eyes flickered, reluctant to meet his gaze.
Her voice was faint and laced with an unrealistic hope, “Can I… really morally blackmail you…?”
“Mm.” Lin Mo raised a brow, nodding seriously, “Of course you can.”
Hearing that, Chu You’s head snapped up, her face lighting up with surprise.
But Lin Mo immediately added in a slow, teasing tone, a wicked smile tugging at his lips, “But too bad, I have no morals.”
The glow on Chu You’s face instantly faded, her expression sagging with resigned frustration that screamed, ‘Just as I thought.’
She always knew Lin Mo was a bastard who wouldn’t show any mercy!
But the situation was beyond her control—his strength, his status, everything was firmly in his hands.
Thinking this, Chu You closed her eyes, took a deep breath, as if making a big decision.
When she opened them again, only determined resignation remained.
She relaxed her body, no longer trying to break free from his grip.
Instead, with her free hand, she gently tugged on Lin Mo’s sleeve, her voice soft and pleading, as if throwing everything on the line: “Junior… no, my good boss~~ I was wrong before. You’re so generous, please don’t hold it against me? Help me out—I’ll serve tea, do the laundry, cook… If you tell me to go east, I won’t dare go west!”
But you better sleep with one eye open every night, hoping I never flip the script and become the master!
Chu You silently cursed in her heart, teeth clenched tight.
Lin Mo looked at her utterly defeated and submissive figure, a satisfied gleam flickering in his eyes.
He finally released her wrist but then used his fingertips to gently lift her chin, forcing her to look at him, saying lightly, “Good.”
Their eyes met.
Lin Mo’s smile was sincere, but it sent a chill rising from Chu You’s feet.
“The school stuff still needs to go on as usual. After all, the rat hiding behind the scenes hasn’t been caught yet…” Lin Mo’s tone was calm as he arranged things, “But at home, I want senior to properly fulfill the duties of a personal assistant.”
He paused, his gaze traveling over her body, his tone as tender as a lover’s whisper, but the content made Chu You’s scalp tingle:
“Let’s start with the outfit…”
“OL uniform or maid outfit—senior, which do you prefer?”
After holding back for so long, hearing “maid outfit” finally broke Chu You’s composure.
She suddenly waved away Lin Mo’s hand lifting her chin, pointed at his nose, her face flushed crimson, her breath quickened, voice trembling with extreme shame and indignation: “Lin Mo! Don’t push your luck!”
“I’ve made myself clear—you’ll help whether you want to or not!”
“Even if it kills me, even if I jump out of here, I will never wear that kind of outfit!!!”
Her voice echoed through the ward, filled with tragic defiance.
…
Two days later, evening.
Lin Mo lounged lazily on the living room sofa, fingers scrolling through messages in the Internal Swordsman Communication Group.
Deliberately softened footsteps approached from a distance.
He looked up to see Chu You walking toward him carrying a cup of coffee.
She wore the classic black-and-white maid outfit, impeccably tailored.
The black dress perfectly outlined her slender waist, and the skirt swayed just above the knees with her slightly stiff steps.
A white lace headband held back her softly curled chestnut hair, a few strands falling to frame her flushed cheeks.
Most eye-catching were the over-the-knee white fishnet stockings, the delicate black bows at the cuffs swaying gently with her movement—both exquisite and cute.
Chu You lowered her eyelashes, forcing herself to maintain a calm exterior.
But inside, she kept reminding herself—she wasn’t wearing the maid outfit because Lin Mo forced her!
It was just life experience—expensive, precious experience!
Exactly that.
When she reached him, she forced a smile that was almost too sweet, gently placing the coffee on the table, her voice soft and silky: “Minister, your iced Americano. Please enjoy.”
Lin Mo raised his eyes, briefly meeting hers, a faint, barely noticeable smile twitching at the corner of his mouth as he nodded toward the coffee table, “Put it there.”
His tone held a trace of amusement.
“Looks like Assistant Chu’s tolerance level isn’t too bad~”.
Hearing this, Chu You instinctively clenched the lace at the hem of her skirt, her smile stiffening as she gritted her teeth and replied, “Work is work. You have to keep a professional attitude.”
“Oh?” Lin Mo narrowed his eyes, his smile deepening, “Senior really means that?”
“Yes, yes!” Chu You nodded vigorously.
“Good…” Lin Mo took a sip of coffee, then pointed to a neatly wrapped gift box beside the sofa.
“Since senior’s so willing, wearing this new OL uniform to pick me up from work tomorrow shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Chu You’s breath caught sharply, her chest heaving violently.
She bit down hard on her back molars, swallowing the curse that nearly spilled out, forcing a sweet but icy smile: “Tomorrow, huh?”
“All right, all right!” Chu You ground out through clenched teeth. “I, know, got it!”