Her house is quite spacious.

“So… you want to leave her here with me?” Chiyo crossed her arms, her gaze icy as she looked at Chen Shang and his two immortal friends.

“It’s been a while, Miss Asashiro,” Chu Jianlai said, his demeanor as refined as a young noble, bowing politely to Chiyo. “Thank you for your help last time.”

“So you’re the Asashiro Chiyo from the plan? It’s nice to meet you!” Baihu puffed out her chest, feigning confidence, though her ears twitched nervously.

To prevent Baihu from being targeted by the Xu Corporation again before the finals, Chen Shang decided to hide her somewhere safe.

His own home was out of the question—not only would his sister never agree, but the crowded neighborhood meant prying eyes everywhere. The neighbors would surely notice something and spread the word.

After much consideration, Chiyo, the wealthy senior, undoubtedly had spare rooms, and the Tokugawa Society was secluded enough to avoid casual visitors.

“She’s easy to take care of—you can just toss her in the basement,” Chen Shang said with a grin.

“You think you’re leaving a pet with me?” Chiyo shot back coldly. “Bringing a woman to my house for safekeeping is enough to get you executed a thousand times over, and now you bring in a woman wanted by the Xu Corporation?”

“So?” Chen Shang tilted his head.

“So if the Xu Corporation finds out, I’m the one who’ll be in trouble!” Chiyo stamped her foot, furious.

If not for the madman Chu Jianlai—who had butchered three major sects—standing here, she’d have marched over and punched Chen Shang’s smirking face.

“You don’t have to worry,” Chen Shang wagged his finger. “Baihu will hide quietly. No one will ever find her.”

“And she doesn’t need food? Even if I have the staff prepare an extra meal, someone might notice. I can’t guarantee there aren’t spies from other groups in the Tokugawa Society,” Chiyo said, frowning, her face full of skepticism.

“Um…” Baihu scratched her head, interjecting proudly, “You don’t need to bring me food. I’ll just eat the rats and cockroaches in the basement.”

“Huh? That’s pretty impressive, Miss Baihu,” Chen Shang raised his brows in admiration.

“Though my stomach will explode afterwards…” Baihu scraped her cheek with a finger, still puffing out her chest, “but it keeps me fed.”

“That’s just pitiful. Senior Chiyo, aren’t you going to help her out?” Chen Shang nodded, questioning Chiyo in a tone that was oddly humorous.

“Don’t ask me about things like this!” Chiyo’s forehead veins nearly popped as she slammed the table. “The Tokugawa Society isn’t a charity, no matter how pitiful she is—it has nothing to do with us!”

“True enough. Maybe I should give you half the world instead,” Chen Shang said offhandedly, nodding with feigned seriousness.

“Are you the Demon King? …No, don’t try to brush me off with such lame jokes!” Chiyo could hardly retort, feeling her blood pressure rise. “Fine, she can stay, but you have to pay rent!”

“No problem,” Chen Shang tilted his head again. “How much?”

“Five hundred thousand!” Chiyo snorted disdainfully, smiling with contempt.

In her mind, while Chen Shang was capable, there was no way he could come up with that much money on the spot.

But Chen Shang simply picked up his phone and dialed, “Hello, Black Calis? I need to borrow five hundred thousand. I’ll pay you back later… Yes, even at loan shark rates.”

Under Chiyo’s stunned gaze, a transfer notification for five hundred thousand sounded from his phone. He handed it to Chiyo and asked, “How should I send it to you?”

“You’re serious?” Sweat beaded on Chiyo’s forehead, shocked at how decisively this man acted.

And all for another woman.

Chiyo took a deep breath, fighting to maintain her dignity. “That’s only part of the rent.”

“What else do you want?” Chen Shang asked.

“I want you to move into the Tokugawa Society as well. I’ll arrange a room for you. For this week, you’ll follow my orders and help me with whatever I need,” Chiyo declared.

“So that’s your real aim, huh?” Chen Shang smiled knowingly, taking Baihu’s hand. “Let’s go, Baihu. You can stay at my place. We don’t have a spare guest room, but you can sleep under my bed.”

Hearing this, Chiyo’s heart seemed to skip a beat, her blood pressure soaring, breath growing shallow.

—This infuriating man… He’d rather spend a fortune than obey me, and he’s letting another woman share his room?

Chen Shang was truly gifted at breaking down proud women.

Seeing Chiyo don the mask of misery, stamping her feet in frustration yet unable to speak, Chen Shang quickly stepped up and whispered in her ear:

“Don’t be angry—once this is over, I’ll take you on a two-day date.”

“A week!” Chiyo’s cheeks flushed, biting her words in annoyance.

“A week is fine too,” Chen Shang laughed, stepping back. “So you agree?”

Chiyo glanced at Baihu’s twitching ears, her expression regaining composure. “She can stay for a week. Once the competition ends, she’s out!”

“Huh? It’s okay now?” Baihu blinked, whispering to Chen Shang, “What did you say to her?”

“Kids shouldn’t ask about grown-up matters,” Chen Shang patted Baihu’s shoulder, giving her a kindly ‘you’re still young’ smile.

“Hm?” Baihu found the remark odd, but couldn’t pinpoint why.

Watching this group of troublemakers who threatened to give her a headache, Chiyo sighed helplessly, then called her personal secretary:

“Honbu, clear out the basement for me… Yes, don’t tell anyone, handle it yourself.”

Chiyo was always cautious. Apart from Honbu Sakura, who had served her father for years and was sent to look after her, she trusted no one.

Not long after, Honbu Sakura, dressed in a tailored suit, knocked and entered.

“Miss, I’m here…”

Halfway through her words, Sakura’s face darkened. She quickly shut the door behind her.

“The wanted Baihu, and this swordsman reeking of blood… What’s your connection to them?”

“Seems Ms. Honbu has strong opinions about you two,” Chen Shang teased, looking at Baihu and Chu Jianlai with innocent amusement.

“And that little scoundrel who torments the young lady, deserving a thousand deaths!” Honbu Sakura glared fiercely at Chen Shang. “Are you here to trouble the young lady again?”

“So I’m the most disliked one, huh?” Chen Shang shrugged, shaking his head.

Just as the tension mounted, Chiyo interjected, “Honbu, take Baihu to the basement. She’ll be staying at our branch this week.”