Wait…

Something’s definitely wrong…

Where exactly is the problem…?

Using his foot to take off a girl’s socks…

Sounds thrilling, right?

But that’s not normal at all!

Since when is using hands “dirty” but using the mouth suddenly fine?!

No, no!

How could he—Lu Huai—ever use his *mouth* to take off a girl’s socks?! Isn’t that straight out of some R-rated movie?!

What does she even look like? Ugly, maybe…? Is *this* really the time to wonder that?!

Lu Huai! Would you really abandon your principles over this?!

She’s humiliating you! This isn’t a blessing. Not a reward. It’s *humiliation*!!

Having steadied his inner turmoil, Lu Huai’s anger flared.

So fierce he trembled, fists clenched tight.

“No… impossible… I could never do this for you…”

Lu Huai summoned what courage he had left and chose to resist.

He—

*Bang!*

“…”

Lu Huai froze…

“Aaah…!!”

Searing pain exploded through his leg.

Blood splattered across his skin.

He nearly collapsed, clutching his leg, a choked cry tearing from his throat.

He never thought—even holding a gun… even a *real* gun… she wouldn’t actually shoot, would she? This country isn’t America. Power and status don’t let you shoot an innocent person here.

But… she *did*.

One bullet nearly shattered his calf. Agony beyond words.

Pain so absolute he couldn’t scream, couldn’t even shed tears. In that despair, Lu Huai saw her true nature: cold. Ruthless.

She… would really kill him.

“Clear now? Don’t cling to false hope.”

Still writhing, hands yanked him up from behind, forcing him back to his knees before the merciless girl.

“…”

Lu Huai’s eyes burned red.

Not with tears—with raw, seething rage.

What had he *done* wrong…?

Why was *he* punished for something any normal person could do?!

Who had he offended?!

Shot with a gun… All he wanted was to live quietly, normally—how…

“Angry? Looks like you want to devour me… See? Fists clenched tight. So choose: take off the socks… or resist and die bravely by my bullet. Oh—and your parents? Care to guess what I’ll do to them?”

Lu Huai was furious.

Truly, deeply furious.

Romantic atmosphere? Gone.

This wasn’t some fantasy where a cute girl descends to grant blessings. This was humiliation. A deliberate, soul-deep shredding of his dignity.

So…

Lu Huai unclenched his fists. Leaned toward the leg sheathed in black over-the-knee socks.

No choice.

Dying by gunshot? A joke.

His parents… they didn’t deserve suffering because of him. He’d already been a burden. If *this* happened to them…

She *would* kill. No room for hope. *Survive.*

*Must survive.*

That single thought consumed him—abandon pride, abandon shame, abandon *everything*.

If only *he* died… fine. But his parents… family… friends…

A faint fragrance hung in the air.

Every tiny sound echoed: the slowing thud of his heart, once frantic, now still as stagnant water.

He leaned closer.

In his bloodshot eyes, only one mantra remained:

*Survive… call police… don’t get hurt… this isn’t fair…*

*Not fair…*

His body moved against his will—almost pathetic.

Closer…

Staring at the line where black fabric met pale skin.

Just as he shut his eyes, steeling himself for the shame—

A devil’s whisper cut through:

“Eyes open. Touch *only* the sock. Touch my leg? Second shot goes into your other leg. I’ll make sure you spend your life as a cripple in a wheelchair.”

Devil… bastard!

He raged inwardly—but the thought held firm: *live*. Don’t break.

So Lu Huai focused every ounce of his precision.

Using such care for *this*? Ridiculous.

He bit the sock’s edge, suppressing tremors. Strangely, as his mind went blank, the shaking faded.

Slowly… tugged.

Sweat stung his eyes.

He didn’t blink.

Watching the sock peel away. No strong scent—just her faint, natural fragrance.

Her leg: flawless, gleaming like polished jade.

But Lu Huai saw only hollow hatred.

No room for admiration.

Especially with her mocking voice weaving through the act:

“What a pathetic man… Deleted me so fast back then. Now serving so *diligently*…”

“…”

“See my kindness? You deleted me—I still give you this ‘reward’. Be grateful. Worship me as your one true god.”

*If you’re a god… my only goal is to slay you.*

Finally, the sock slipped free from her ankle. Lu Huai shifted back. It dropped.

As he moved to spit it out—

“Spit it out, and you die.”

“…”

He froze. Head still bowed, he could only guess her expression from that icy tone.

Not a joke.

What more did she want?! Wasn’t this enough?! Could power and a gun really let someone do *anything*?!

He didn’t spit.

Because yes—they *could*.

“Heh… good.”

A light chuckle. Another command. His hell deepened.

“Take off your clothes.”

“You—”

“Yours. Not mine.”

The demon’s laugh was soft.

*This… this bastard… She’s a sadist. Has to be! What is she DOING?! Why not just shoot me?!*

His mind screamed.

But the gun pressed against his face.

“Twenty seconds. Any fabric left? I shoot where it remains.”

Lu Huai had never undressed faster.

No hesitation. Dignity discarded.

*Just survive.*

Stripped bare. Utterly exposed.

Shame burned through him—pushing past every limit.

“…”

Silent.

Sock clenched in teeth. Naked.

No future hardship could ever feel worse.

Because nothing had ever made him wish for death more.

Then—a sound.

The girl, one leg bare, rose before him.

Pale calf. Delicate foot. Toenails painted rose-red.

Living a “rose-colored life”…

*Heh… rose-colored life…*

She watched him.

Pistol in hand. Lu Huai calculated: *Snatch it? Escape?*

Abandoned instantly.

Her people surrounded him. Someone behind. One move—shot. All suffering wasted.

Lu Huai opened his eyes.

*See her face. Must see it. Then revenge. Brutal revenge.*

*Kill her. Then die. Worth it.*

Closer… closer…

Through the strange taste in his mouth, he strained upward.

Higher… higher…

Almost…

*There!*

Lu Huai’s eyes widened—

—and he woke up.

From the dream.

And realized… the leg that “should’ve been shot” was just cramping.

…