Chapter 4: I’m not doing charity either

Lin Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes, watching the boy’s carefree expression.
She said nothing, just continued wiping the glass.

Zhou Yang, reminded of yesterday’s events, spoke up.

“Your girlfriend… oh, no, my girlfriend now.
You two were childhood friends, right?”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s body trembled.

Then she heard the boy continue.

“Even though she said you could still be friends, I think it’s better if you keep your distance.”

Lin Xiaoxiao clenched her fists, memories flooding back.

‘Xiaoxiao, we’ll always be together, right?’

‘Xiaoxiao, let’s make a deal—if one of us gets lost, we’ll find each other, okay?’

‘Xiaoxiao, can you let me win this exam…?’

Snapping back, Lin Xiaoxiao buried the pain in her heart and said coldly, “I know. You don’t need to remind me.”

Zhou Yang let out a light scoff.

“Good.”

With that, the boy got up and went to his room, ignoring Lin Xiaoxiao, who stood there like a defeated dog.

Lin Xiaoxiao gave a self-deprecating smile.
Even without his words, she wouldn’t go looking for Wang Shanshan again.

After all, she was now…

Just then, the sound of the door opening pulled her attention.

She saw the man who entered—handsome, with deep eyes and sharp, defined features that carried a hint of intensity, making it hard to meet his gaze.

Even in his thirties, time hadn’t left its mark; instead, it added a unique charm.

Lin Xiaoxiao froze, hurriedly looking away in a panic.

Zhou Ting raised an eyebrow at her reaction.
The girl’s boyish attire surprised him.

“What are you doing?”

Lin Xiaoxiao glanced nervously at the room, then approached Zhou Ting, tugging his sleeve.

“Can we step outside? I need to talk to you.”

Zhou Ting, guessing her intent, nodded.

In the hallway, Lin Xiaoxiao took a deep breath before speaking.

“Is Zhou Yang your son?”

Zhou Ting paused but didn’t deny it.

“Why? You know him?”

He hadn’t expected this.
Though his son didn’t care about his affairs, taking in his son’s friend as a mistress…

As a father, it was a bit awkward.

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, speaking softly.

“We’re at the same university. We’ve met a few times…”

“But that’s not what I want to talk about.
To be honest, my ID says I’m male. At school, everyone sees me as a guy.”

Zhou Ting was genuinely surprised.
He’d seen her in the rain, her feminine figure unmistakable—at least her chest wasn’t fake.

But today, looking at her flat chest under loose clothes, he frowned.

“You’re wearing a binder? Why not change your gender back?”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s face flushed.
Could she say she was a man just a day ago?
What would this guy think if he knew?

She definitely couldn’t say that—he wouldn’t believe her, and if he did, she’d end up in a lab somewhere.

So, she lied, saying her parents favored boys and raised her as one.

Now that they were gone, she couldn’t just… and so on.

Zhou Ting found it amusing.

“So? What are you asking me for?”

Lin Xiaoxiao froze, inwardly exasperated.
This annoying guy, assuming she was begging him…

But on second thought, having signed her life away, it wasn’t far off.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she said, “In front of others, can you not reveal I’m a woman?”

At least this way, she could still live as a man in daily life—her last shred of stubbornness.

“And, you asked me to move here. What about your wife and son…”

Zhou Ting cut her off.

“Zhou Yang’s mother passed away.”

Lin Xiaoxiao lowered her head.
“Sorry.”

Zhou Ting continued, “So, you don’t want to live here?”

Suddenly, he grabbed her hand, pinning her against the wall, leaning close.

“Don’t you think you’re asking for a lot?
Have you forgotten the basic requirement of being my mistress?”

Lin Xiaoxiao trembled, the man’s words echoing in her mind.

‘As my mistress, the most important thing is to obey.’

Her heart resisted, but she was helpless.
“I… I didn’t mean to refuse you…”

Zhou Ting scoffed.

“Really? I’m not so sure.”

The next moment, he lowered his head, forcibly kissing her lips.

Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden assault.

A wave of nausea hit her, and she began to struggle.

She’d only just become a woman—her orientation was still toward women, not men.
To be kissed by a man and stay calm? That’d be a real problem.

Zhou Ting hadn’t expected such a strong reaction.
He let go of her wrist.

“So resistant? Fine, leave.
I don’t like forcing people.”

Lin Xiaoxiao clutched her lips, instinctively wanting to flee.

But after two steps, she heard him say, “I’m not a charity.
Figure out your grandma’s treatment fees yourself.”

True, Zhou Ting wasn’t short on money or women.

But he wasn’t a saint.
This was a transaction—if she didn’t agree, he wouldn’t throw away 300,000 out of pity.

If he helped everyone who needed it, he’d have gone bankrupt long ago.

Lin Xiaoxiao froze at his cold words, her heart torn.

She couldn’t leave.
If she did, what would happen to her grandma?

Without this man’s money, she’d have to watch her grandma die—a reality she couldn’t accept.

In the next few seconds, Zhou Ting watched the young woman step back toward him, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s heart burned with anger, but she couldn’t show it.

It seemed like he was giving her a choice, but he knew she had none…

“Uncle, give me one more chance.”

Zhou Ting frowned but didn’t correct her, only saying calmly, “Fine, but this is your last chance.
What we didn’t finish just now—you take the lead this time.”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s body trembled, and she stood frozen for a long time…