A man's shrill screams mingled with the sickening SLAP of flesh on flesh.
Yu Lan's pretty face paled instantly, and she bit her lip, unsure what to do.
As if that weren't enough, Huo Zhanting decided to frighten her further. His golden eyes locked onto Yu Lan, her small form reflected in their depths.
"What? Does our Female Master want a look at the backyard to see how we punish traitors?"
"N-no, no, that's not necessary."
Frightened, Yu Lan frantically waved her hands in refusal. Staring at Huo Zhanting's tall, powerful frame, she was terrified he might just haul her to the backyard with one hand. She couldn't help but crane her neck and back away.
She was like a startled kitten, her pretty face filled with terror, every hair on her body seemingly standing on end.
She took several steps back, and her head bumped right into the hard chest of Su Xingye, who was standing behind her.
At the sight, a flicker of dissatisfaction flashed in Huo Zhanting's golden eyes.
'A lion in front, a wolf behind.'
Startled, Yu Lan scrambled to stand upright and scurried to the side. She puffed out her cheeks, took a breath, and then squared her shoulders, clearing her throat with a couple of small coughs.
"I have something to tell you both."
Huo Zhanting simply stood his ground, his gaze fixed on her. His expression was unreadable, as if he had no interest whatsoever.
Su Xingye was a little better. Perhaps due to their previous intimate contact, his deep green eyes were fixed on Yu Lan. His gaze soon slid uncontrollably down the delicate, upturned bridge of her nose to settle on her soft, fragrant, red lips.
'She smells so, so, so good!'
A scalding blush crept up from Su Xingye's neck.
Yu Lan cleared her throat and began to speak.
"First of all,"
"I want to apologize for tonight. It was my fault."
Then, she gave a quick bow to them both.
The apology on her face was especially pronounced when she faced Su Xingye.
"I'm sorry, Xingye. I knew you didn't like me, but I still secretly drugged you with an induction agent to force you into heat. I shouldn't have done that."
'Even though the original owner was the one who did it, I've transmigrated into her body now. In everyone's eyes, her actions are my actions.'
'I can't just let this slide. Given my personality, I have to apologize to Su Xingye.'
A female apologizing to a male?
This was truly a first.
If word got out, other males would mock them, saying they must be dreaming or had gone soft in the head.
Su Xingye froze for a second, then his eyes curved into a slight smile as he gave his reply.
"Don't worry about it. It's okay. You gave me the soothing agent in the end."
Hearing Su Xingye forgive her,
Yu Lan breathed a sigh of relief.
She then pursed her lips, forming a full, round pout.
All the two men present saw was Yu Lan's eyes suddenly brighten as she looked at them with utmost sincerity and said:
"Since that's settled, let's break off the engagement."
"And you don't have to call me Female Master anymore."
"Let's just pretend this whole period never happened. Like you never even met me. How about that?"
This was the best solution Yu Lan could come up with for now.
'If I keep associating with these powerful, high-status fiances—these chosen ones—I'm just a useless female with no Healing Power.'
'If I accidentally offend one of them, I won't even know what hit me before I'm dead.'
'It's better to just cut ties completely. No more contact.'
'With my status as a Princess, I can probably live a long, peaceful life. That sounds pretty good.'
Yu Lan indulged in this naive fantasy.
A sudden scoff cut through the air.
It came from Huo Zhanting. The man's cold, imposing features seemed to soften in amusement, the corners of his lips lifting into a slight smirk.
Utterly bewildered, Yu Lan looked at Huo Zhanting and asked cautiously,
"Did I say something wrong?"
Huo Zhanting let out another, merciless scoff.
"Female Master, if this is some new 'playing hard to get' tactic you've learned, then I'm sorry to say it's another failure."
"Without the support of a male, are you sure you can survive for more than three days on the Central Star?"
"Why don't you check your bank balance before you say another word."
'What?!'
Yu Lan's eyes flew wide.
She quickly looked down, pulled out her phone, and checked her bank account.
She had to admit, the glaring "0.00" in the balance field shattered her heart.
"H-How can this be?"
Yu Lan stared blankly, the light instantly draining from her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes.
'I thought I'd get to live the good life after becoming a princess.'
'Why am I completely broke?'
"You might want to take a closer look,"
Huo Zhanting reminded her, his tone anything but kind.
Was there anything in the world more devastating than waking up to find yourself broke?
Yes, there was: waking up to find yourself broke and saddled with crushing debt.
Total debt: units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands, hundred-thousands, millions, tens of millions…
Yu Lan's finger tapped on the screen, and her heart finally gave out.
Ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety thousand!
'Oh, heavens!'
Yu Lan's legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed to her knees.
Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes blinked as the reality of the situation sank in.
'The original owner might have been a Princess, but that didn't mean she had unlimited funds. What's more, she'd lost her Healing Power—in a way, she lacked the most fundamental ability of a female.'
'That's why her monthly allowance was so limited.'
'Provoked by Louisa's constant, overt and covert comparisons, the original owner had gone mad, spending money like crazy, completely indifferent to racking up massive debt.'
'Imperial law stipulates that to protect the rights of females, upon uniting with a male, a female has the right to share his assets.'
'So what if she was in debt? All she had to do was find a few rich and powerful males, and the problem would be solved.'
No wonder the original owner had flown into a humiliated rage when rejected by the seven men, even stooping to drugging one with an induction agent.
The memory of her own bold declaration just moments ago—that she wanted to cut ties with Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye—made Yu Lan's face burn with shame. No wonder Huo Zhanting accused her of playing hard to get.
'They must think I was trying to trick them.'
Yu Lan's voice was strained as she spoke with great difficulty.
"It's... it's fine. I can pay it off myself."
'A Princess of the Royal Family gets a monthly stipend of one million Star Coins.'
'If I sell off all the luxury goods the original owner bought, I can definitely pay it back, bit by bit.'
"Hah!"
Huo Zhanting sneered, his golden eyes fixed coldly on Yu Lan.
"I hope you can keep your word."
"Don't come bothering us again."
Yu Lan nodded quickly, promising frantically.
"I'll definitely keep my promise!"
'Boohoo... ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety thousand…'
'How many years will it take to pay that off?'
'Ah! Wait.'
'I don't have a single cent in my account right now. How am I supposed to live tomorrow?'
Yu Lan's brow furrowed in distress.
The next second,
her phone chimed with the sound of a fund transfer.
Su Xingye, still standing behind her, spoke up. "I believe that you genuinely want to change for the better."
"You can borrow this for now. Pay me back slowly when you can. There's no rush."
Su Xingye had transferred ten million to Yu Lan.
'Sniff…'
Yu Lan was so moved she could have cried. A blush of shame still on her face, she said, "Don't worry, I'll find a job and earn money to pay you back as soon as I can."
A female... working to earn money?
That was something only incompetent males did.
Su Xingye's brow furrowed, and he was just about to say something.
But the next second,
a piercing alarm blared across the entire Central Star.
[Warning, Warning. The Dark Planet has launched another surprise attack. Five hundred thousand civilians are trapped in Zone 13. Requesting Marshal Huo and Major General Su of the First Legion to return to your posts immediately, proceed to the battlefield, and assist with evacuation.]
[Requesting Marshal Huo and Major General Su of the First Legion to return to your posts immediately, proceed to the battlefield, and assist with evacuation.]