Ye Feng had prepared a few different scripts.
If Kiana took the initiative to put on the collar, he would say he just wanted to hold her hand.
If Kitty-Kiana resisted fiercely, he would say he wanted to use the leash.
After all, what the scoundrel Ye Feng wanted to see today was Kiana's humiliated expression.
A young girl's modesty and shyness were like the juice of a fruit trickling through one's fingertips, incredibly sweet to savor.
Just like at this very moment. Kiana stood as if struck by lightning, petrified, her composure a mess in the wind.
Because upon careful reflection, Ye Feng truly hadn't said she had to wear the pet collar.
Did that mean she had really done it of her own accord?
"My good Chong Chong, you've really changed. You've become… so sensible."
"I have not, meow."
Kitty-Kiana held her head high, a vein popping on her forehead as she argued, "It's all your fault! I was perfectly fine at St. Freya, so why have I become so strange after getting together with you? Yes, it must be your fault!"
"Eh? You even understand the proverb, 'An orange grown south of the Huai River is an orange; grown north of it, it becomes a bitter trifoliate orange'? Kiana, you have the bearing of a sage."
"Huh?"
Before she could even vent her shame and indignation, Kiana was left dumbfounded by Ye Feng's words.
The bearing of a sage? What the hell?
Was this scoundrel sure he wasn't mocking her?
"Chong Chong has surely heard the story of Envoy Yanzi's Mission to Chu, right?"
"What?"
Kiana blinked her big, clear eyes. "Ah, um, I've, I've heard of it. So what?"
Ye Feng smiled. "It tells the story of Yanzi, an envoy from the state of Qi during the Warring States period, who was sent on a mission to the state of Chu. The King of Chu, wishing to humiliate Yanzi, had a captured thief brought to the main hall and jeered, 'This is a man of Qi who committed theft. Are the people of Qi inherently good at stealing?'
Yanzi quickly retorted, 'I have heard that orange trees grown south of the Huai River bear oranges, but when grown north of the Huai River, they bear bitter trifoliate oranges. Their leaves are similar, but the taste of their fruit is completely different. Why is this? It is because the soil and water are different.
Now, this man did not steal when he lived in Qi, but he began to steal upon entering Chu. Could it be that the soil and water of Chu make people adept at stealing?!'"
Kiana was exceptionally bright. As soon as Ye Feng explained it, she understood.
And she immediately endorsed his explanation.
It had to be said, it was remarkably analogous to her current situation.
Kiana put two and two together. "Yes, that's it! I only became like this after coming to your world. It's your world that makes people strange! It's not my fault."
"See, didn't I say Chong Chong has the bearing of a sage?"
On this winter day, Ye Feng held a feathered fan, turned to the side, and pointed at Kiana with a smile.
Ye Feng picked up the leash. "Alright, let's go. Time for our walk."
Kiana suddenly felt an inexplicable force that pressed her down onto her knees, forcing her to support herself with her palms. From her tailbone, a fluffy cat tail extended from her pert rear, swaying in the air.
At this moment, Kitty-Kiana seemed to have truly become a cat.
"??"
Ye Feng explained, "Oh, this is a pet collar. Once you put it on, you are no longer an ordinary human. You can no longer engage in worldly behaviors. If you violate this rule, the collar will inject a 'divine elixir' that will circulate through your entire body with your blood, bringing you unspeakable pleasure."
"…"
No, wait, were they really going for a walk like this?
Outside?
Kiana reached up to pull at the collar, but even though she could feel it around her neck, her hands couldn't grasp it.
It was just like that little pink toy from before; completely impossible to remove.
Kiana knelt on all fours in humiliation, lifting her head to glare at Ye Feng with shame and anger. "Take it off me!"
Ye Feng said innocently, "But Chong Chong, you put it on yourself."
"You tricked me…"
"Eh?" Ye Feng said in surprise. "I remember Kiana being very smart, a fast learner in everything. Is Kiana someone who is easily deceived?"
"Nngh…"
Kiana was caught in a bind, her eyes darting about frequently.
Now that Ye Feng had praised her like that, what could she say?
Admit that she was an idiot? That she was easily fooled?
No, impossible! That wasn't it at all!
Kiana opened and closed her mouth, at a loss for words.
Then, she confirmed, "Are you sure there's no one else around?"
"Relax. When have I ever lied to you? Right now, it really is just you and me at St. Freya."
Only then did Kiana breathe a sigh of relief.
Being led around by Ye Feng wasn't such a humiliating thing.
She had done it many times before; she was even getting a little skilled at putting on the collar.
Kiana had even done it herself—leading the Herrscher of the Void around the room.
Otherwise, why would the Herrscher of the Void be so eager to get revenge on Kiana, telling Ye Feng to "do to her what you did to me."
But how could the Herrscher of the Void know that this was just a little spice they added to their relationship?
The Herrscher of the Void was still too pure. She was no longer a match for Chong Chong.
---o---
At noon, the winter sun climbed to its zenith, shining in the azure sky.
Ye Feng strolled through the school grounds with Kiana in tow, feeling quite content.
Teacher Himeko, Principal Theresa, classmates—familiar figures passed by. Kiana knew they were NPCs, but she still felt nervous.
Her heart pounded like a frightened deer.
As expected, the challenge of being outside far surpassed that of the bedroom.
However, without the tension of "worrying about being discovered by others," it was also much more relaxing.
A shameful act was like cheating on an exam. As long as no one found out, it never happened!
Kiana held her head high and her rear perky, walking gracefully with a cat-like gait.
Ye Feng let go of the leash.
Walking a cat was different from walking a dog; you didn't need to hold the leash at all times.
"I have to say, this hobby of yours is truly twisted, meow."
Kiana gritted her teeth internally but maintained a calm facade.
She had to act as if she didn't care, to prevent that scoundrel Ye Feng's wicked plan from succeeding.
Kiana knew Ye Feng very well; she knew what he wanted to see.
Kiana's azure eyes shone with a determined light. She tilted her head and glared fiercely at Ye Feng.
"One day, I'm going to walk you like a dog, meow."
"Oh? What a lofty ambition, Kitty-Kiana. Good luck."
"Go ahead and be smug now— meow?"
Kiana's gaze suddenly locked with a pink figure.
It was a figure as resplendent as a fluttering flower, possessing an aura as flawless as crystal.
Purer than a true pixie.
Elysia gracefully walked over, a hint of slight annoyance on her face.
"Mister Ye Feng!"
She stopped in front of him. "I've finally found you. How could you do such a thing? Even I will get angry, you know."
Elysia couldn't forget how, two days ago, she could only watch everything that happened in the church like a pink camera.
"Oh, okay."
Ye Feng merely smiled at this, then gestured to his side and introduced, "Look, this is my pet cat. Cute, right?"
"Hmm?"
Elysia followed Ye Feng's gaze, and her eyes met Kiana's once more.