In the morning, Ding Nan woke up.
“Good morning, Young Master.”
Luo Yao stood by the bed as usual, preparing to help Ding Nan wash up.
Ding Nan looked at the familiar large and small hair buns, the familiar ponytail draped over her shoulder, and the familiar maid outfit.
Her porcelain-like face held a refreshing smile, and her pearl-like eyes were dark and bright.
Looking at someone so beautiful, why did Ding Nan feel a pang of phantom pain?
“Young Master, what would you like to eat today?”
Luo Yao asked, her pale pink lips parting slightly.
Ding Nan rubbed his face and struggled to pull back the quilt.
As his feet hit the floor and he tried to stand, he suddenly felt his legs go weak.
His entire body was exhausted.
For the past few days, he hadn’t had any proper rest.
He had to read books and practice his cultivation techniques, and he also had to repay his debts to Luo Yao.
Because the repayment period was so long and the interest was massive, the amount of each individual installment was staggering.
His labor obligations could not be interrupted, and his cultivation practice could not stop.
Under such exploitation, even a body as healthy as Ding Nan’s was nearing a breaking point, leaving him listless and drowsy.
“Can I just have some cabbage and tofu?”
“Why?”
“I just want to eat something light,” Ding Nan replied.
Luo Yao pressed a finger to her lips, looking up as she pondered.
Then, she said with a smile, “Mhm. In that case, let’s have Buddha Jumps Over the Wall tonight.”
Hearing this, Ding Nan’s expression soured.
“Why did cabbage and tofu make you think of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? Besides, how would we even have that here?”
Ding Nan covered his face with both hands, looking pained.
“Hmm? Didn’t you know? It’s a famous dish from Dongzhou. There will be abalone and sea cucumber to eat.”
‘The abalone and sea cucumber are exactly why I’m afraid!’
Over the past few days, he had eaten abalone more times than he could count.
Eating rich food and meat every single day—this kind of nutritionally imbalanced diet was making his body suffer.
He wanted to eat a simple, light meal, but every time there was only one small plate of greens, while the rest was comprised of delicacies from the mountains and seas.
“As for why Luo Yao was fine after eating it? Why was she so radiant and full of energy?”
It was simply because the girl was strong.
In the days since Luo Yao had “attacked” him, Ding Nan had gained a deep understanding of her strength.
Even when it came to eating, she could eat much more than him.
The Cultivation World of this world was different from the novels Ding Nan had read in his previous life; here, cultivators actually ate meals.
And they ate very well.
The profession of Spirit Chef had existed for a long time and led directly toward the Great Dao of Longevity.
The corresponding Path of the Spirit Chef could even be considered the foundation of a sect.
Its status was equivalent to the path of alchemy in the webnovels of his previous life—the two were interconnected.
Inedia wasn’t nonexistent, but so-called fasting usually involved simple meals or using pills to replace food; it had nothing to do with not eating at all.
Furthermore, the more powerful a cultivator was, the better they could absorb the energy in their stomach.
The ideal state was to take everything in and leave nothing behind.
Therefore, people simply couldn’t be compared.
With delicacies every day, Ding Nan had nearly reached his limit.
Even though the ingredients Luo Yao used were still mundane, for someone in the Body Tempering Realm like Ding Nan, the sheer volume of these ingredients was impossible to absorb all at once.
Besides, just like in a game, there was always a supply drop before a big battle.
Even more troubling was the fact that since Luo Yao saw Ding Nan practicing the Xishan Sect techniques yesterday, it was as if some mechanism inside her had been triggered.
Luo Yao had changed; she had become even more clingy.
‘Is Luo Yao a yandere?’
‘Is she going to imprison me next?’
Thinking about this, and then thinking about his exhaustion over the last few days, Ding Nan felt a surge of panic.
“Miss Luo Yao, since it’s daytime, can I take off the collar?”
Ding Nan asked tentatively.
Luo Yao narrowed her eyes and tilted her head, smiling at Ding Nan.
“Miss Luo Yao?”
Ding Nan asked again.
“What is it?”
Luo Yao’s smile deepened.
An irresistible pressure weighed down on Ding Nan’s head.
“No, never mind,” Ding Nan said.
‘As expected, me using the Xishan Sect techniques yesterday made her jealous.’
“Well then, Young Master, do you have any plans for today?”
Ding Nan’s lip twitched.
She wanted him to go out wearing the collar?
That kind of play was far too advanced for him.
“I think I’ll just stay home and keep studying,” Ding Nan said.
“But Young Master, you haven’t been out for several days. I think it’s time for you to go out. I have things to buy,” Luo Yao said, touching her face.
Ding Nan’s expression froze.
“Young Master, please rest assured. The Magical Collar around your neck has special Inscription Incantations on it. Ordinary people won’t be able to see it,” Luo Yao explained.
“Uh, well, I think I’ll stay home,” Ding Nan said, shrinking back.
“No, we are going out today,” Luo Yao said, her tone brookng no argument.
“Huh?”
Ding Nan pointed at himself and asked, “Who am I?”
“The Young Master,” Luo Yao answered without hesitation.
“And who are you to me?”
Ding Nan pointed at her.
“The maid.”
“Since you’re the maid, why aren’t you listening to the Young Master? What is a maid’s job?”
“To arrange everything for the master.”
Ding Nan was about to nod, but Luo Yao interrupted him.
“Arranging means managing,” Luo Yao added.
‘It’s over!’
Ding Nan thought in shock.
Luo Yao pressed her lips together and smiled.
That smile was respectful, appearing harmless and completely loyal.
But Ding Nan could see the turbulent waves of desire in the depths of her eyes.
It was over.
It seemed his maid was completely addicted to pressuring her master.
Ding Nan wanted to cry.
Having this tradition of the subordinate overcoming the superior appear in his own servant was far too dangerous.
He felt like nothing good would come of this.
He waved his hands repeatedly and said, “Home… staying home is good. I’ll study hard and improve every day. I love studying!”
“That won’t do, Young Master. You’ve been working hard at home for two days already. Study requires a balance of work and rest,” Luo Yao said.
‘If it weren’t for you, why would I be so tired?’
Ding Nan couldn’t help but complain about her double standards in his head.
“I think I’d rather just rest at home…”
“Is that so?”
Luo Yao sighed.
“In that case, let me serve the Young Master properly today.”
***
Ultimately, Ding Nan yielded to Luo Yao’s overbearing power and agreed to go out with her.
Before leaving, Ding Nan tried to put on a high-collared shirt, but Luo Yao stopped him.
He could only leave the house in clothes that did nothing to hide the collar.
‘I want to escape, but I can’t.’
A certain song lyric echoed unbidden in Ding Nan’s mind.
He had been prepared for total social death, but he was surprised to find that no one could actually see the collar on his neck.
Even after leaving the Ding Clan estate, most people remained completely oblivious to it.
Ding Nan breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did he start to relax as he walked with Luo Yao.
Actually, he did want to come out for some fresh air.
A young man and a young woman, walking down the street together…
Ding Nan suddenly snapped to his senses.
‘Isn’t this just a date?’
He looked at Luo Yao beside him.
Her expression was calm, same as always.
How many times had this happened?
They were childhood friends; going out together was a regular occurrence.
‘Maybe I’m just being too self-conscious,’ Ding Nan thought, though he still instinctively checked the spirit stones in his pocket.
“Yao’er, what are you buying? Where are we going?”
Ding Nan asked.
“I want to go to Jinbao Pavilion.”
As she spoke, a faint blush crept onto Luo Yao’s cheeks.
The mere sight of her blushing made Ding Nan feel that this outing was different from their usual walks.
‘I knew it. This really is a date,’ Ding Nan thought.