This time of the afternoon was peak student traffic. Those who had spent the afternoon studying in the library were heading out for dinner, while those who had eaten early to snag good spots were hurrying their way over.

  The area in front of the library was bustling with people coming and going.

  Even with his head lowered, Elias could feel numerous gazes nding on him.

  Liora's presence was simply too strong. His usual low-key act had completely fallen apart.

  Fortunately, Liora knew how to toe the line. She understood exactly where Elias's bottom line was and was treading it perfectly—making him feel embarrassed and ashamed without pushing him into full social death.

  "Hmm?"

  Elias remained silent. Liora wasn't willing to drop it. As if she wouldn't be satisfied until she got a response, she lowered her voice again. "So you do know what shame feels like? Worried these students will find out you're being kept?"

  There was still a hint of a smile in her tone, but it didn't sound friendly. Instead, it carried a yer of mocking ridicule that made the situation uncomfortable.

  When she said the word "kept," Elias's body tensed up sharply. He suddenly reached out with his right hand and grabbed Liora's arm with such force that even she felt a twinge of pain.

  "Let's go…" Elias kept his voice low, barely louder than a whisper, as if afraid the students walking by would overhear.

  He tried to drag Liora away from the area, but how could a young man's strength budge an adult woman? Liora pnted her long legs firmly like they were rooted to the ground and didn't budge an inch.

  Liora looked down at the hand gripping her sleeve. His five fingers were clenched tightly, the force so strong that the pads of his fingers had gone pale and his slender knuckles stood out sharply against his skin.

  Elias kept his head down, his soft golden hair covering his cheeks so Liora couldn't see his expression. She imagined it must be a pitiful sight, like he was about to burst into tears.

  "Let's go."

  Thinking this, Liora chuckled softly. She stopped tormenting him and finally started walking.

  Elias hurried along, pulling Liora away from the crowded spot. They half-ran into a quiet, tree-lined path where there weren't many people around.

  Only then did Elias raise his head. The expression on his face was nothing like the fragile, pitiable one Liora had imagined. Instead, it was a radiant smile.

  Liora was stunned. A fsh of annoyance at being tricked crossed her mind, but mostly it was a calm "as expected."

  As someone who didn't even care about a man's most important virtue, how could Elias possibly care about what others thought of him?

  The real reason he acted this way was probably because he was worried about his status as a kept boy being exposed, which could lead to disciplinary action or even expulsion.

  The smile on Liora's face faded slightly. She said coolly, "If you keep putting on that act, people will just assume the worst."

  "But…" Elias pouted his lips slightly, looking genuinely aggrieved. His words, however, were the familiar unrestrained lewdness. "…I only want to be wild in front of you, sis."

  Liora's breath hitched for a moment, but her face remained expressionless. "Is that all?"

  [Liora Voss favorability increased. Current: 10%.]

  Elias: "Heh, who are you pretending to be all innocent for?"

  She was clearly enjoying the way he got slutty in front of her.

  "Hmm?" Elias was taken aback. "Why is it censored?"

  [System Theta: My level is still low since I haven't completed any tasks. The censorship program is enabled by default and can't be turned off for now.]

  Elias: "…"

  Querying the mental state of the Trash Trope Intervention Division.

  "Why did you come to find me?" Elias brushed a strand of golden hair behind his ear and asked.

  He was asking something he already knew, but he was genuinely curious why it was Liora who came. This kind of thing should have been handled by Serena's butler.

  Was she both Serena's sister and acting as the butler on the side?

  "Did you forget your own position?" Liora gnced at him.

  "That's not what I meant." Elias put his hands behind his back and suddenly skipped ahead to stand in front of Liora. He bent slightly, looking up at her through his gsses with sparkling eyes full of mischief. "What I'm asking is why the person who came to get me is… you."

  This teasing, pyful posture was full of the vitality a boy his age should have. It left Liora momentarily dazed.

  Which side of Elias was the real one?

  She snapped out of it and smiled—a cold one. "What? Trying to seduce another woman already?"

  The implication was clear: she had come to find him because she didn't want him seducing other women.

  So indirect.

  Of course, with Liora's current favorability, it would be weird if she were actually straightforward.

  "Then let's go." Elias straightened up and started walking.

  He slowed his pace to walk beside Liora. Suddenly he asked, "Is your sister an Energizer bunny or something? How does she have so much energy?" His tone was casual, like chatting with a friend.

  Liora's lips twitched, but she held back the smile and said indifferently, "Avaible on call anytime. It's all written in the agreement."

  Elias immediately turned to look at her. Pying dumb, huh?

  "Your comprehension could use some work. I mean, can Serena's body even handle it?" Elias chuckled lightly, raising a hand to py with his hair, his fingertips twirling a lock at his temple.

  After all, in this world there were only women who died from exhaustion—never the men who got broken.

  Liora couldn't help but smile inwardly. She opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly realized how odd her behavior was. It was almost like Elias was her friend.

  This wasn't a normal retionship. Elias was Serena's kept toy. You were supposed to look down on a toy and make him fear you.

  Even if it wasn't in her nature, how could she possibly gossip about her own sister with him?

  Liora changed course immediately and scoffed lightly. "Who was the one who got fucked until his legs went weak and came down with a fever?" She mocked Elias for biting off more than he could chew.

  Elias fell silent, as if he had no comeback.

  The two of them continued toward the campus gate when Liora's steps suddenly stopped. "Miss Frost."

  Elias followed her gaze and froze.

  How had he run into Giselle here? And right when Liora had come to get him.

  The current situation was…

  Perfect!

  Elias's eyes were practically glowing.

  What are you two waiting for? Fight already!

  Of course, that was just wishful thinking. With their current favorability toward him, Giselle and Liora were nowhere near the point of fighting over him, let alone throwing punches at each other.

  The fact that the two of them didn't attack him simultaneously was already one of the few scraps of decency bitches like them had.

  But this was a heaven-sent opportunity to advance the plot. He had been worrying exactly how to let Giselle know he was just a cheap kept whore.