Chapter 24: Even the Most Beautiful Feet Are Forbidden

The day’s high-intensity schedule finally drew to a close.

At exactly eight in the evening, Guo Jinshu returned to her spacious, luxurious yet lifeless mansion.

A day of relentless work had drained her energy; even the sharp, cold lines of her face could not completely mask her fatigue.

She slipped off her constraining high heels and walked directly toward the second-floor bedroom, like a weary bird returning to its nest.

The heavy blackout curtains had already closed automatically; she didn’t turn on any lights. Feeling her way, she approached the bed and collapsed into the soft bedding like a discarded piece of machinery.

Her taut nerves immediately relaxed, the fatigue washing over her like a tidal wave. Consciousness felt as if sinking into a cold, dark ocean, rapidly becoming blurred and fading…

But only moments later, the body that seemed to be in deep sleep suddenly opened its eyes without warning.

The fatigue in those eyes, the ice-cold control she wielded by day, vanished in an instant.

In its place was a sharp, brilliant light.

“Ha!” A lively, slightly mischievous laugh rang out in the darkness.

“Guo Qiantang is online again!”

The voice was no longer the steady, cold timbre of Guo Jinshu; it was crisp, youthful, and energetic, a stark contrast to the daytime persona.

Qiantang flipped upright efficiently, completely devoid of the weight and exhaustion that had burdened Guo Jinshu moments before.

This was the secret arrangement she shared with her sister: the daytime belonged to the rigorous, high-efficiency “Boss Guo,” while after eight at night, it belonged to Guo Qiantang—brief, precious freedom!

From childhood, they had realized that another personality resided in the same body. They did not share memories, though their knowledge database was common: what one learned, the other would know, but without recollection of the learning process.

Qiantang eagerly reached for her own phone—distinct from the businesslike device her sister used, with a dreamy gradient casing.

The familiar social app icons lit up with two conspicuous red notification badges.

A message from Aiyo Wei—could it be the new paid audio package for this month? But the date was unusual; previously it always arrived on the 26th.

Another notification came from her sister’s avatar. The two could not converse mentally, only leaving notes or journals to communicate.

Qiantang tapped Aiyo Wei’s avatar, her heartbeat quickening, cheeks flushed with excitement.

She had taken a liking to this little streamer.

Although his sleep-aid skills were mediocre compared to other professionals and his equipment sometimes crackled…

It was his feet that captivated her.

Exposed in full during live broadcasts, they were flawless: slender ankles, elegant arches, round, delicate toes, and feet so fair and smooth the likes of them surpassed even her sister’s treasured jade collection.

This perfection alone outweighed all technical shortcomings.

“Your Majesty, here is my upcoming paid content. Please listen first and give your feedback. [Audio Attachment]”

A playful note followed:

“Please be sure to give me feedback after listening~ (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ”

Qiantang couldn’t help but giggle at the cute heart-shaped sticker.

“This little streamer knows how to charm people,” she murmured, fingers poised to download the ‘tribute.’

But the download prompt froze her.

“Wait… 20 GB?!”

Just an audio file—normally even in lossless format, this would be far smaller.

Could it… be a video?

Had the little streamer finally… included something special?

Her heartbeat raced, a secret thrill rising.

“I said, I don’t want you doing these things. I want you to focus on your studies.”

Qiantang edited these lines in the chat window.

She hesitated, then refrained from sending them. If he truly stayed on the right path, how could she intervene?

No… she couldn’t think that way. Such a cute boy should grow up healthy and safe. Her hand trembled slightly as she held the phone, swallowing nervously.

She decided to listen first.

The house’s internet was lightning-fast.

Qiantang stopped worrying and tapped to download.

As the progress bar crawled forward, she happily set the phone on the bedside charging station.

“Mm~ I’ll take a shower first, then listen!”

She hummed a tune, walking lightly toward the bathroom.

Passing a full-length mirror, she playfully made a face at her own reflection—identical to her sister’s but radiating completely different energy.

In the softly lit, steamy bathroom, she indulged in the relaxation of bathing, already imagining what the “extra-large” audio might contain.

Closer, clearer whispers?
Immersive surround sound?
Or… an unexpected surprise?

Drying off, she slipped into a comfortable silk nightgown, wet hair dripping, and returned to the bedroom.

Her eyes immediately landed on the phone on the bedside table.

The download had finished. The file, titled “Requiem for His Majesty”, lay quietly in her device’s memory.

Qiantang eagerly grabbed the phone, put on her high-end professional monitoring headphones, and settled against the headboard.

Opening the chat again, the red notification on Aiyo Wei’s avatar had vanished, but her sister’s remained.

Tapping into it, she read:

“Sister, stay away from men—they’re all liars, especially online. They just want your money.
Remember that boy we grew up with in the orphanage? He left after a few words from another woman, chasing his so-called true love. Men are always like that. Don’t be fooled by a few pictures of feet.
I do not consent. I will never allow my body to be touched by these wild men.
Not in person. Not ever.
Even if the feet are beautiful…
Even if the feet are beautiful…
Even if the feet are beautiful…”

The warning repeated three times, the gravity in her sister’s words unmistakable.

It left Qiantang silent for a moment, a shiver running down her spine—an ironclad line drawn, no matter how tempting.