"Young master."

"What is it?"

Baiyi paused mid-bite into his steamed bun, turning to look at Xiao Ling seated beside him.

Well, as a proper maid who’d graduated top of her class from the Maid Academy, Xiao Ling knew she shouldn’t share a meal at the same table as her master.

But Baiyi had insisted—firmly—that she sit right next to him.

Though her textbook knowledge was flawless, she’d obeyed his orders anyway.

Maybe because she was still a rookie maid, unsure how to handle such situations.

"Young master, forgive my boldness," Xiao Ling murmured, pressing her soft, pale shoulder tightly against his as he’d demanded.

Baiyi’s distinctly masculine scent drifted from his body.

Being a young girl, Xiao Ling felt a blush creep onto her cheeks within a minute.

She wondered if her face had turned crimson.

*He mustn’t see this—it’d be unprofessional for a maid.*

She turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

"The Ghost Lady?"

At Xiao Ling’s mention of the girl who’d arrived with soldiers, Baiyi’s brow furrowed slightly, a trace of worry on his face.

"Ugly… ugly!"

Lian Ye, perched on Baiyi’s lap, waved her spoon dripping with milk, trying to chime in.

"My apologies, young master! I shouldn’t have brought it up!"

Seeing Baiyi’s expression darken, Xiao Ling bowed her head instantly, chiding herself for her carelessness.

She’d missed his reaction when the Ghost Lady arrived.

Now she’d worsened his mood by prying into his private affairs—unforgivable for a maid.

"No, it’s fine. Just a bothersome pest. Not exactly a good person, either."

Baiyi reached out, ruffling Xiao Ling’s hair to calm her panic—he wasn’t angry.

"Bad… person?"

Lian Ye stared at her bowl of milk.

Hot. Scalding.

It hurt her mouth. Not nice at all.

"It means ugly," Baiyi said, noticing her lips flushed from the heat.

He handed her a glass of cool water to sip slowly.

"She’s the boss of Beast Rat Street. Kept trying to recruit me out of the military."

Baiyi’s eyes lit up at the free malt beer on the table.

His hand instinctively stretched toward it.

Then he froze—remembering Lian Ye covering her nose, complaining about the stench of alcohol.

He yanked his arm back with a deep breath.

"She’s relentless. I’ve told her countless times to stop bothering me, but she won’t quit. Keeps dragging me into her Black Street mess."

"Never mind that. What really bothers me is agreeing to discuss military command with Sain earlier."

"Military command…"

Xiao Ling’s eyes darted around nervously.

Only when she confirmed no one was nearby did she relax, refocusing on Baiyi.

"Tch. What’s there to fear? Who’d dare eavesdrop?"

Baiyi scoffed at her caution.

This wasn’t some top-secret matter.

As a Great Empire general, commanding vast troops was only natural.

"So… you dislike her?"

Xiao Ling noticed his displeasure whenever the Ghost Lady was mentioned.

"It’s nothing. Forget it. Eat up—we’ll go out after."

Baiyi cut off the topic.

Xiao Ling had asked too much.

"Dad… dad."

"What is it?"

Baiyi looked down at Lian Ye on his lap.

She stunned him with a sudden move.

Without hesitation, she ripped her tiny princess dress clean in half.

The delicate fabric tore under her strength, failing to cover her snow-white skin.

Her small, tender body was fully exposed to the air.

"Hot… hot!"