Chapter Nine: Deep Bonds Between Master and Servant

Grace returned home, lazily half-reclining and half-sitting on the sofa. With a mischievous glint, she lifted her foot slightly. "Little slave, don’t you know the rules?"

Xiao Feng was truly clueless. Staring at her foot, he finally understood and quickly knelt down to help her remove her high-heeled sandals.

"You must kneel to take them off!"

"Alright, as long as it pleases my mistress!"

Xiao Feng genuinely obeyed Grace’s words. After Hu Shan gave him a lesson, he realized what kind of people he should be with. It wasn’t that he was fickle; at least Grace hadn’t toyed with him. He didn’t have to act as her sycophantic servant, but rather maintain a proper hierarchy out of respect for both Grace and Megan Venturi.

Kneeling, Xiao Feng helped Grace put on her high-heeled sandals, then took them off again, gently massaging her feet. "Mistress, when it’s just the two of us, I’ll call you mistress. When others are around, I’ll call you sister. Is that alright?"

"I’ll reluctantly accept that. You actually know how to massage feet!"

"Yes, Mistress. I promise after I finish, you’ll feel refreshed and at ease!"

Grace, satisfied, fiddled with her phone. Suddenly remembering something, she grabbed her bag and took out a contract. "Little slave, I don’t want to keep this contract anymore."

"How can that be? That’s proof I’m your slave. Without it, I’d have no legitimate standing as your servant!"

*Snap, snap...*

Grace tore the contract into pieces and tossed them into the air. "I don’t want to bind you with this anymore. I want you to beg me every day!"

"Mistress, you’re so cruel, truly humiliating. Then I’ll beg you right now, alright?"

"Say something I like to hear!"

"Please, Mistress, don’t abandon your little slave..."

Before Xiao Feng finished, Grace’s phone abruptly rang. She answered impatiently, her expression instantly darkening. On the other end came Megan Venturi’s noble voice: "Grace, come to the Jewelry City at once!"

Grace ended the call and urged Xiao Feng to help her put on her shoes quickly. Xiao Feng dared not ask questions, carefully helping her slip on her high-heeled sandals. Grace hurriedly stood, leaving Xiao Feng with a warning: "Little slave, behave well at home while I’m gone. When I return tonight, I’ll be inspecting your performance. Dare to slack off, and you’ll regret it!"

With that, she stormed out, leaving Xiao Feng kneeling alone, staring at the shredded contract fragments with mixed emotions—both relieved and inexplicably forlorn.

"Still my mistress, but she won’t take me with her. Fine, I’ll go myself!"

He and Grace left in quick succession. This time the servants didn’t stop Xiao Feng, assuming it was Grace’s command, so he easily left the villa and stepped onto the bustling street. He felt a rare sense of relaxation but also unease. Without Grace and Megan Venturi, it was as if he’d lost everything. In just a few short hours, he hadn’t realized how deeply attached he’d become to this mother and daughter.

Lost in thought, his feet instinctively led him to Grace’s Jewelry City. The sign above the entrance read “Nordic Style Jewelry City” in large characters. The establishment was vast, spanning five floors and covering at least ten thousand square meters. The surroundings were elegant, nestled in a thriving district, bustling with people.

Xiao Feng plunged into the Jewelry City. It was his first time there. Upon entering the lobby, the dazzling display counters glittered with jewels. The entire space was brilliantly lit, shining radiantly. Cabinets full of treasures stood one after another, and customers flocked continuously.

"My goodness, how wealthy must Sister’s family be!"

Xiao Feng was overwhelmed, having never dreamed of seeing so much gold, jade, and rare treasures.

In the fifth-floor office, Megan Venturi was discussing matters with Grace. Grace recounted Xiao Feng’s recent visit to Hu Shan. Megan’s expression grew serious as she paced by the window, deep in thought.

"Mother, what are you thinking about?"

"Grace, that boy is no ordinary one. He defeated that old man in an instant, which shows his great strength. What we’ve seen is probably just the tip of the iceberg."

"Indeed. If you hadn’t asked me to come, I was planning to study that little sword of his!"

Megan turned and said, "Daughter, I brought you here so you could familiarize yourself with the Jewelry City. I need to return to Northern Europe."

"Mother, is there trouble at our mines?"

"Our mines are fine. I just suddenly thought about that map from yesterday. It seems the ‘Dark Night Star’ map might be near our mine."

Grace's eyes gleamed greedily. "Mother, if that’s true, we should buy it and start mining. We’d be rich!"

"Thousands of miles of ice and snow—nothing’s that easy."

"Sigh, you’re right. But Mother, won’t you be lonely going alone?"

"It’s alright. You just manage the business here. I’m just taking a chance."

Grace suddenly thought of Xiao Feng. "Mother, why not bring the little slave with you?"

"What could he do?"

"I think he’s extraordinary. Maybe he can help you, or at least protect you. Since you stepped on his head yesterday, he’s been obedient!"

Megan smiled approvingly. "That boy really is special. I didn’t want to let him go, so I tried to awaken the most submissive part of his heart. Only then would he faithfully protect us forever. That was my test."

"Exactly! He even tried to please me, saying he’d always be my little slave and begged me not to abandon him!"

"He’s pure and kind, easy to control. As long as we oppress and enslave him, he won’t resist but will willingly accept. That proves our success."

"Mom, then why don’t you bring him? He seems more afraid of you."

"No need. It’s good for him to stay with you. I can continue training him when I return."

No wonder they said women could be the most ruthless. The mother and daughter were truly merciless, scheming such a cruel plan to control Xiao Feng. They were deep in discussion when Megan’s driver knocked at the door.

*Tap, tap, tap!*

"Madam!"

"Come in."

The driver was a Nordic woman, attractive and dressed elegantly in a black professional suit with tailored trousers and British-style flat leather shoes, exuding poise.

"Lucy, what is it?"

"Madam, Xiao Feng is downstairs."

"Ah! That little brat dared to disobey me and went out on his own!"

Grace stood, eager to go scold him, but Megan stopped her. "Daughter, don’t rush. If he went elsewhere, maybe he was truly disobedient or had special reasons. But he came here."

"Mom, you mean he can’t let me go?"

"That seems to be the case."

"Then what should we do next?"

Megan ordered Lucy, "Go fetch him."

"Yes, Madam!"

After Lucy left, Megan turned back to Grace. "We’ll use both reward and punishment and see how he reacts."

"Yes, Mom, you’re really impressive..."

---

In the lobby, Xiao Feng was still enchanted by the dazzling world of jewels when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Startled, he turned to see Lucy. "You’re Madam’s driver, right?"

"Good eye. I only met you once, and you remembered me."

"Is there something you need?"

"Madam and Miss want you to come to the office."

Excited, Xiao Feng nodded. "I’m here to see Sister!"

"Follow me."

Lucy led Xiao Feng to Megan’s office. Upon entering, Megan sat on the sofa, Grace perched on the boss chair behind the desk. Xiao Feng immediately knelt before Megan, whispering, "Mistress, hello!"

"Grace is your true mistress!"

"I’ve agreed with Sister. I’ll call her Sister and you Mistress."

"Trying to flatter me?"

"I do so willingly, Mistress. Please accept it!"

A noble smile appeared on Megan’s face, while Grace crossed her legs on the desk and began questioning him. "Didn’t I tell you to wait at home for me?"

Xiao Feng nervously glanced at Megan, then anxiously knelt beside Grace, confessing, "Sister, I wanted to stay by your side, so I followed you!"

"Do you have feelings for me?"

"Absolutely not, Sister. I don’t know why, but when I don’t see you, I feel an inexplicable fear and loss."

Grace’s lips curled into a playful smile. She lightly hooked Xiao Feng’s chin with her high-heeled foot, eyes gleaming with sovereign pride. "Fear and loss? Interesting. Here’s a task for you: if you complete it, I’ll consider letting you stay by my side all the time. How’s that?"

Hope flickered in Xiao Feng’s eyes as he eagerly nodded. "Any task, I’m willing to do it!"

At that moment, Megan spoke softly, "I’m planning a trip to Northern Europe, and Grace wants you to come with me."

Hearing this, Xiao Feng quickly crawled to Megan’s feet, whispering, "Mistress, what can I do to help on the trip?"

His eyes shone with curiosity and anticipation. Megan smiled slightly. "No matter where Grace’s little stone came from, that night’s map seems to be near our family’s mine. I want to go back and verify."

"Mistress, I’ll always obey you. But can Sister come too?"

"Why must Grace always follow?"

"Mistress, I can’t bear to be apart from Sister even for a moment. Please forgive my bold request!"

"Haha, little slave, we truly didn’t misjudge you. You’d better guard Grace well!"

Excited, Xiao Feng embraced Megan’s leg. "Mistress, I’m willing to protect you and Sister forever, forever and ever..."