TFRLTOP Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – The Tyrant CEO’s Little Plaything (Part Five)

◎ He freeloaded—!!! ◎

It was common knowledge in S City’s high society that Fifth Master Huo had no interest in women.

Years ago, plenty of families tried every opportunity to send women his way, hoping to use that as a bridge to curry favor with the Huo family. Some even schemed to get their daughters into his bed. But without exception, every attempt failed. Later, one particularly bold soul even sent him a boy… and not long after, that entire family vanished from S City without a trace.

No one had ever seen a woman around Fifth Master Huo. So when Huo Xiao instructed Chen Si to invite Chu Yun over to the house, his subordinates were shocked.

Still, having followed Fifth Master for so many years, they didn’t think this woman was anything special. Maybe the man just needed to blow off some steam.

But that morning, Fifth Master slept in for two extra hours—rare for him—and was obviously in better spirits than usual. The men quietly concluded that this “Chu Yun” girl might be sticking around for a while.

They weren’t about to make a fuss over it. After all, whether she ended up a mistress or a wife, unless Fifth Master said so, it wasn’t their place to speculate.

Wasn’t everything just a matter of his whim anyway?

Like right now.

Ming Ming’s sobs stunned Huo Xiao.

She was crying so miserably, it threw him off.

Fifth Master had been running the family business since his teens. He’d seen blood, storms, and chaos—yet never a woman crying in front of him.

And she was crying as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

What was there to be wronged about, being with him?

He drew back his hand, though his other arm still half-held her. His eyes no longer gentle, he coldly repeated the first words he’d spoken upon entering: “What are you crying for?”

Ming Ming didn’t even register the question. Still crying, she swatted at him. “You bastard, you jerk… get away from me…” Her hits landed softly on his chest and arms, without any real force.

Huo Xiao narrowed his eyes. “What? You think you have a choice? Don’t tell me you want to follow Zhang Dexing?”

He’d heard about that man’s sick hobbies—there were plenty of men and women who’d been ruined or killed by him. And he always targeted those without family or connections, people “clean” in terms of social ties.

Ming Ming had no idea what he was talking about. She didn’t even know Zhang’s full name and had never connected “President Zhang” with “Zhang Dexing.”

Right now, she was too busy venting her fear and distress to notice the blanket slipping off, baring her completely.

“I just… I got up… I couldn’t get up… I thought… sob… I thought I was going to die…”

From her choked, incoherent rambling, Fifth Master finally figured out what she was upset about.

He rubbed his forehead.

Last night, he’d gone too hard and scared the poor, inexperienced little thing.

And here he’d been planning to use Zhang Dexing to frighten her.

Huo Xiao’s heart softened instantly.

He sat at the head of the bed, wrapped her up like a cocoon in the blanket, pulled her into his arms, and ran his fingers through her hair, murmuring, “Don’t be afraid.”

“What, you can’t handle that? How are you going to handle me in the future?” His voice was lower now, with a faint laugh.

Her tear-filled eyes froze for a moment, as if silently asking, “There’s going to be a future?”

Instead of feeling comforted, she felt threatened.

Her lips quivered, and she was about to burst into loud sobs when Fifth Master bent down and covered her mouth. Her crying stopped instantly, smothered under his kiss.

He only let her go when she was breathless. She wasn’t crying anymore, just hiccupping against his chest.

His eyes glinted with teasing amusement as his hand slipped under the blanket to caress her smooth back. “I was going to let you off last night, but your eyes were so fierce—I thought you were dissatisfied.”

“What, did I misunderstand?”

He pinched her cheek. Ming Ming had long given up resisting. Logic was his, shamelessness was his. She buried her face in his chest, still hiccupping.

She thought bitterly: Damn those smutty novels, they were right—you should never provoke a man in bed.

Fifth Master had someone bring in clothes and breakfast. Ming Ming kept her head down, too embarrassed to look at anyone. Once the servants left, she blushed and slipped into the pajamas.

She didn’t know if it was because Huo family food was too good or because she’d been starving, but she wolfed it all down and was still a little unsatisfied. Hesitating, she asked, “Um… is there… more?”

Fifth Master burst out laughing and told the servants to bring more.

Before leaving, he gave her a deep look and said, “Stay by my side and don’t play tricks. Be good, and I’ll take care of you.”

At the time, Ming Ming didn’t grasp the weight of those words.

Over the next few days, she learned exactly what he meant by “take care of you.”

Fifth Master had “broken his fast,” and his mood was excellent.

It was obvious to everyone—he was easier to talk to, more accommodating.

Hearing about this change, people from subordinates to distant relatives took the chance to slip in requests and dump tricky matters on his desk. It wasn’t that no one displeased him during this time, but strangely, no punishments followed. No one could figure out where he was venting his temper.

One time, on the way to the group offices, a subordinate realized they’d forgotten a file. Normally, if it wasn’t critical, someone could just go back alone to fetch it—or skip it altogether. But sloppy work always earned a mark against you. This time, though, after the nervous report, Fifth Master—eyes closed in rest—just tapped his fingers and said calmly, “Turn around.”

The whole group went back to the main residence.

That day, the company’s scheduled meeting was delayed by two hours. Aside from a few personal aides, no one knew what had happened. But everyone at the meeting noticed—his mood that day was even better than before.

Since no subordinates took the hit, the only possible victim was Ming Ming.

In just one week, Ming Ming had developed a deep fear of Huo Xiao.

She had barely left the bed in days!

Every night, Fifth Master would come home and keep her busy until midnight—sometimes until dawn. Ming Ming often passed out without knowing when, only to wake up in the afternoon. The servants, knowing her schedule, brought food straight to her room. Not long after she finished eating—bam, Huo Xiao was back.

Over and over, the cycle repeated. Ming Ming felt “worse than dead.”

Even in the middle of the day, when she was sleeping soundly, she’d sometimes be hit with a sudden “return attack.”

The Huo chefs prepared new dishes every day, but Ming Ming had lost all appetite.

Eating was just a means of survival.

Ming “Tolstoy” Ming’s philosophy.

At night, she would cry while begging for mercy. “I can’t… I really can’t…”

“You can. I’m watching.” His voice was soft, but his pace never slowed.

Ming Ming sobbed uncontrollably.

Damn it, I can’t live like this!

The system, which now had to catch her in rare moments to talk, asked, “Can you honestly say you haven’t enjoyed it at all?”

Ming Ming: “…”

Ming Ming: “That’s different!”

Sure, maybe there was a tiny bit of enjoyment, but… but… but what was it again? She lay face down on the bed, struggling to remember. Something important…

Wait.

Huo Xiao hadn’t come back today?

She’d gotten used to his schedule and his “frequency.” Suddenly having free time felt strange. Sprawled across the big bed, scrolling on her phone, she saw a notification in her class group chat:

“@Everyone—Please transfer this semester’s tuition, book fees, and dorm fees to the designated account before school starts.”

Today was August 15.

Ming Ming froze. Oh, right—that’s what she’d forgotten!

She hadn’t paid yet!