Manipulative Harem God



*Click!*

The door's lock disengaged, and with a hesitant shuffle, Xiong Mei entered the car. Her fingers absently brushed through her hair, a nervous reflex to steady herself in this unfamiliar territory.

The engine roared to life with a palpable vitality as Zhang Wei ignited the car's power, causing a subtle jolt that sent ripples of surprise through Xiong Mei's tense frame. The low growl of the engine seemed to mirror the turmoil in her mind.

Her eyes, betraying her thoughts, involuntarily stole glances in Zhang Wei's direction, her contemplations enshrouding her in a cloud of uncertainty.

'What's the plan now?'

'Why is he so eerily quiet?'

'Should I break the silence? But with what words?'

'Why did I even listen to him? Are all wealthy people this manipulative?'

Out of nowhere, Zhang Wei abruptly tossed an object onto her lap, causing Xiong Mei to startle with a sharp, startled exclamation. Her unpreparedness was evident in her wide eyes and the unsteady rise and fall of her chest.

Zhang Wei's face twitched, a minuscule reaction to her surprise, but he maintained his hands firmly on the steering wheel, his demeanor deceptively calm. "It's your bag," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh," Xiong Mei mumbled, her heartbeat gradually calming as she recognized the familiar shape of her handbag. She let out a relieved sigh, the tension easing slightly.

Yet, the awkward silence stretched out once more, engulfing the car like a heavy fog.

Curiosity gnawed at her, coaxing her thoughts into the territory of uncertainty. What did Zhang Wei have in store for her? What would he demand in exchange? The grim truth lingered in her awareness — she had only one thing to offer, her body.

Doubt gnawed at her, tugging at her hesitations. Had it not been for the allure of a young and handsome boss like Zhang Wei, she would never have taken this audacious step of blindly following him into his car.

Yet, an insistent voice inside her head, like a persistent echo, whispered that she was about to commit a crime, that she should abandon this path immediately.

Her gaze, heavy with contemplation, zeroed in on the door handle. If the car's speed weren't a constant barrier, she might have been tempted to leap out, consequences be damned.

Regret, insidious and consuming, began to snake through her thoughts. She felt herself sinking, shrouded in a cloud of shame. She grappled with the uncomfortable realization that she was treading a path no better than that of a prostitute.

Suddenly, Zhang Wei's voice pierced the suffocating silence. "...Why do you want to become an actor?" His question, though unexpected, shattered her internal chaos.

Xiong Mei cursed in her heart: Wasn't the answer already obvious — money?

However, in that moment, faced with his direct inquiry, she found herself at a loss for words.

Suppressing her inner anxiety, she summoned a smile and replied, "I want to lead a comfortable life."

Zhang Wei, however, responded with a wry smile and a shake of his head, dispelling any notions of glamour. "Stars don't have comfortable lives," he remarked.

"Huh?" Xiong Mei blinked, taken aback by his candidness.

Zhang Wei elaborated, "They're constantly tied up in shoots, managing endless responsibilities, and fending off the relentless pursuit of paparazzi."

Understanding dawned on Xiong Mei's features. "Ah... I see."

Pushing further, Zhang Wei pressed on, his curiosity piqued. "So, what's your real motivation for pursuing acting?" he inquired once more.

The thought couldn't escape Zhang Wei that Xiong Mei had a strikingly attractive face.

He wasn't about to let such potential go to waste.

Instead of relegating her to some mundane community service, a notion began to take shape in his mind: he could potentially make her his personal asset.

Judging from her demeanor, it was evident she hadn't yet stepped into the shady side of society.

Caught in a moment of hesitation, Xiong Mei fell into silence. Eventually, she admitted, her voice determined albeit with a tinge of reluctance, "I... I want to become an actress for the money."

Upon hearing straightforward reponse, Zhang Wei's eyebrows arched in suprise, and he chuckled softly, "Haha!"

But his laughter was tragically misinterpreted by Xiong Mei.

His unexpected reaction left Xiong Mei utterly perplexed, her fists clenched and her lips trembling as she wrestled with her own thoughts.

"What? It's foolish, isn't it?" She voiced her thoughts, her words trembling. "I simply don't want to go back to my village and waste away there! I've become addicted to the city lifestyle."

"I desire money, I crave a better life. What's so wrong about that?"

Zhang Wei's laughter subsided, and he regarded her with a bemused expression. "Girl, I wasn't laughing at you. I was taken aback by your honest response."

"Huh!?" Xiong Mei blinked, the realization washing over her.

A flush of embarrassment rapidly spread across her face, and she scrambled to apologize for her brashness.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that earlier. It's just..." Her voice trailed off as she found Zhang Wei's gaze fixed on her, his eyes filled with amusement.

"Are you still a lady?" Zhang Wei's sudden question hung in the air, his tone both curious and mildly teasing.

"Lady?" Xiong Mei blinked in puzzlement, her brow furrowing as she grappled with the intent behind his words.

Slowly, realization dawned, and she found herself momentarily frozen.

"Mm.." With a weak nod, she confirmed his unspoken inquiry, a sheepish smile touching her lips in response to his amused one.

However, his curiosity remained unabated. "Do you have a boyfriend in school?" he inquired further, his tone nonchalant.

Xiong Mei, "..."

A silence hung between them, and Xiong Mei hesitated, torn between her reservations and the pressure of his gaze.

Ultimately, she relented, feeling the weight of the moment.

After all, she wasn't here on a saintly mission; there was no reason to hold back.

"Most of the girls in the art school avoid physical relationships," she clarified, a hint of explanation in her voice.

Zhang Wei's expression twisted in bewilderment, his eyebrows furrowing into a question mark of confusion.

He found himself at a loss to comprehend this seemingly peculiar tradition.