The scenery outside the car window drifted by slowly. It felt as though a novice driver was at the wheel, yet their hands were incredibly steady.
He wondered if Liu Qingzhu's behavior earlier had rubbed her the wrong way.
Director-General Shen remained silent, resting her head on one hand with her eyes closed to rest.
Her breathing was calm, her full chest rising and falling gently. A few strands of silver-white hair draped over her shoulders like tassels, making her look as though she were faintly glowing.
Bai Xiaodu stole a quiet glance and sighed in admiration from the bottom of his heart.
How could such a beautiful face belong to someone who's practically facial-paralyzed!
And she's a facial-paralyzed woman who wears a sharp suit every single day, with an entire wardrobe consisting of only one outfit!
At least I'm good-looking, and I smile every day.
That's practically a public service. Anyone who sees me should be thanking the government!
After a moment of thought, Bai Xiaodu decided he couldn't let things go on like this.
If it really was because of Liu Qingzhu, he had to rid himself of that label.
He would firmly remind Director-General Shen that he was absolutely only her dog!
As for Xin Hai'an and Lingxin, they didn't count.
Because they paid him too!
The secretary of a vampire family conglomerate executive, a one-on-one exclusive personal gaming companion for a Federation military officer, and Director-General Shen's good boy.
These three identities didn't conflict with each other at all!
As for his schedule, Bai Xiaodu would manage it himself.
With that in mind, he decided to take the initiative.
“Director-General Shen, are you satisfied with my performance in clearing the Secret Realm?”
Bai Xiaodu hugged his arms self-consciously, putting on an insecure expression.
“Or rather...”
“Do I count as valuable now?”
Director-General Shen's pale blue eyes finally opened, and she slowly sat up straight.
Bai Xiaodu widened his eyes.
In truth, Bai Xiaodu had always been self-conscious about his height.
The Federation had a wide variety of races, and he was genuinely on the shorter side compared to normal humans.
Consequently, whenever a tall, mature woman like Director-General Shen leaned in to speak...
Bai Xiaodu would feel an overwhelming, mountain-toppling pressure rushing straight at his face!
Director-General Shen paid no mind to his slight unease, her tone remaining as placid as a calm lake.
“Passable.”
Judging by her tone, she didn't seem angry, which allowed Bai Xiaodu to breathe a sigh of relief.
He did his best to drag his eyes away, defying the laws of gravity.
But her next words immediately brought his heart back up to his throat!
Director-General Shen spoke softly.
“Xiaobai is a very well-behaved dog.”
Bai Xiaodu didn't reply but immediately looked up.
A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Wait!
The driver is still up front!
This kind of flirtatious talk should be saved for private moments!
How could someone as serious as Director-General Shen do something like this?
She might not care about her reputation, but I care about mine!
Drivers are the biggest gossips. What if word gets out?
I've always maintained an image of a hardworking, diligent older brother for the kids at the orphanage!
He quickly racked his brain for a way to change the subject, determined to stop Director-General Shen from calling him a dog in public...
The driver's head slowly twisted around, cutting off Bai Xiaodu's train of thought.
The scene before him made his expression freeze.
If he wasn't mistaken, the driver's head had...
...perfectly rotated 180 degrees from the front to look back at him.
The driver wore a formal suit but had no facial features. His facial skin looked like plasticine.
The driver and Director-General Shen spoke in unison, their voices flat.
“There is no need to worry. We are the only two people in the car.”
“There is no need to worry. We are the only two people in the car.”
“This is a puppet I crafted using certain methods. I only implanted my memories of driving into it.”
Director-General Shen glanced at him.
“Don't think so poorly of me. The materials for the puppet came from the flesh and blood of heretics.”
Bai Xiaodu let out a couple of dry laughs.
Well, aren't you just a saint.
Bai Xiaodu suddenly felt a strong urge to stop being a dog.
Affection points were great and all, but keeping his life seemed far more important.
He quickly sat up straight.
“Um, are you taking me home now? It seems like we've driven past the turnoff.”
“What home?”
Director-General Shen tilted her head.
“A master's home is a dog's home. Wherever the master goes, the dog must follow...”
What the hell?!
Bai Xiaodu's pupils shrank. He realized the route was becoming increasingly unfamiliar.
It was completely foreign. The weeds growing along the roadside reminded him of the time he was hunting down Jedoli.
With the Federation's advanced technology, anything could be delivered, and private doctors were always on call in case of a medical emergency.
As a result, some wealthy individuals disliked living in upscale residential areas because of the noise. They preferred to buy a plot of land in the outskirts and build a small villa.
The surroundings looked more and more familiar, yet Bai Xiaodu was certain this wasn't the villa Jedoli had lived in, nor was it anywhere near it.
This was an entirely different path, one he didn't recognize at all!
Seriously, what are you trying to do?
I'm not playing this anymore! Let me off!
“What is it?”
She seemed slightly displeased by Bai Xiaodu's instinctive attempt to pull the car door handle.
Her elegant brows furrowed slightly.
“Running away and ignoring your home is the behavior of a bad dog. Didn't you make me a promise, Xiaobai?”
After saying this, Director-General Shen looked straight ahead.
She ignored Bai Xiaodu's stealthy attempt to reach for the emergency window hammer.
She spoke as if reminiscing.
“Actually, in the eyes of the general public, cats are considered better-looking than dogs. After all, their features closely resemble those of human infants.”
“On the other hand, a dog's appearance is almost indistinguishable from that of a fierce, threatening wild wolf.”
Director-General Shen gently clenched her right hand.
“But I despise cats.”
“Because their brains are far too smooth to comprehend any complex instructions.”
“When I was young, my mother gave me an orange cat that spent all day rolling around and acting cute. It was very adorable, and my younger siblings adored it.”
“But I did not like it.”
“Because despite my repeated attempts to train it to relieve itself in a designated spot, it failed to do so.”
“I tried to stop it from eating food off the table, and it failed at that too.”
Director-General Shen clenched her right hand tighter, her tone tinged with regret.
“I am someone who loathes failure, and I despise it when others disobey my correct commands.”
“So, I did this, and slowly choked it to death.”
“Because in my eyes, disobedience and stupidity are unforgivable sins in themselves.”
Director-General Shen maintained her placid expression, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward by what felt like a few pixels.
“I have never seen a child more adorable than Xiaobai. Judging solely by your appearance, you really should have been my little cat.”
“But it would be such a pity to choke you to death like a cat. That is why I call you a dog.”
Realizing he would only be dragged back even if he broke the window and ran, Bai Xiaodu decided to give up resisting.
Although he couldn't fathom how this woman's brain worked, killing him wouldn't benefit her in the slightest.
Bai Xiaodu shrugged.
What else can I say?
“I have no objections.”
“But could my master kindly give me a hint as to where you are taking me?”
Seeing how quickly Bai Xiaodu eased into his role, Director-General Shen gave an almost imperceptible nod.
“I have foretold that you will soon be in danger, so we must accelerate your training to boost your strength.”
“You need to raise Mage Hand to the Proficient rank, and you must also practice the dragon-kin's body-tempering method.”
“Also, this is your reward for clearing the Secret Realm. Take it.”
Then, under Bai Xiaodu's widening, utterly bewildered wine-red eyes, she slowly pulled out an object.
She produced a...
...dog collar?!
Rate on N.U.
