Hearing the girl’s words, a strangely familiar feeling washed over me. Had I… met her somewhere before? Her voice sounded oddly familiar too.

But no matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn’t recall her name or where we’d met. Like a hazy silhouette flickering in my mind—sometimes near, sometimes far; sometimes clear, sometimes dim—always just out of reach.

“I… I feel like I’ve seen you,” I said, scratching my head awkwardly. “But I can’t quite place it…”

Seriously, forgetting someone this stunning? That’s kinda disrespectful…

At my reply, her aura shifted instantly. She enunciated each word slowly: “You… really… can’t remember?”

Uh!

It was visible—and palpable. Her expression cooled the moment I failed to name her. Demeanor, attitude—all reverted to a chilling, haughty coldness that sent shivers down my spine.

“Uh? Sorry, I… I’m a bit face-blind…”

Face-blindness was such a convenient excuse. Didn’t some CEO famously claim he couldn’t see his wife’s beauty because of it?

She was clearly unsatisfied. The air turned razor-sharp—I swear I felt an invisible blade against my neck.

Just as the suffocating pressure threatened to choke me, she let out a cold snort.

“Pick up the money on the floor and get out.”

So suddenly cold…

Fine. What choice did I have? I was at her mercy. And honestly, I was desperate. Earlier, fleeing that nightmare of being forced into adult films, I’d bolted so fast I left my phone behind—forget wallet or cards. No going home now. With only the clothes on my back… was I supposed to beg on the street?

Swallowing my pride, I stepped forward to grab the ten thousand yuan.

But before I could bend down, she let out a icy chuckle. “Did you forget something?”

“Huh? What?”

“Are you brainless? I said—you kneel first and thank me for my kindness. Don’t you know basic etiquette? Tsk. Handsome face, but as foolish and ungrateful as a barnyard pig.”

Since when did she get this sharp-tongued?! Where’d the cold-but-polite girl go?!

Her words burned my cheeks red, then pale. I’d never been so blatantly humiliated in my life.

Shaking her head in annoyance, she strode over. Barefoot except for sheer black stockings, she planted her foot firmly on the cash stack, face twisted in disgust.

“Guess I need to teach this barnyard pig some manners. Kneel and thank me *before* you’re worthy to touch this money. Did you think *I* was begging *you* to model? No. *You* should be begging *me*. Understood?”

So terrifying…

Her overwhelming presence made me tremble. Had I really angered her?

“Is it… because I didn’t recognize you? Are you… angry with me?”

She stood like an iceberg, and I couldn’t stop shivering.

She gave a cold laugh. “You? Worth my anger? And why should my mood concern you?”

“So… are you angry or not…?"

But right then, a far more urgent problem loomed.

Her right foot, sheathed in tight black stockings, pressed firmly on the thick stack of red bills—not for show. Hands on hips, she looked down at me with utter contempt, like I was a bug.

“Crawl over like an obedient puppy. Kneel and thank your master. Then lick my foot with your filthy tongue to show gratitude.”

Wait… isn’t this too much?!

Admittedly, her foot was perfectly shaped—plump, rounded toes elegantly outlined by the stockings, like ripe, juicy grapes. Tender. Soft—

But abandon my dignity? Lick a girl’s foot? For that stack of cash? Absolutely not! This is about a man’s pride! I’d rather starve or freeze than do something so degrading! No matter how… *tempting* her feet looked!