Chapter 17: Do You Have Enough Money?

"Woof!" Pupu must have thought that Kylie was complimenting him, the way he happily wagged his tail.

"Don't worry, and it's a secret between you and me. I won't betray you." Kylie embraced Pupu and kissed his face. Pupu's wagged even more crazily. He reached out his tongue to lick her face.

Kylie dodged it with a smile, but Pupu was persistent. At the same time, footsteps sounded behind their backs.

Pupu instantly kept his distance from Kylie and sat in solemnity. Kylie looked behind her; Ethan Parker unexpectedly came into her line of vision.

The man wore a black I-shaped vest, workout shorts, and a towel was wrapped around his neck. His step was energetic as he walked out of the living room.

Normally, Ethan appeared too cool, and often aloof. But his energy after a workout was so different, and aggressively alluring that any woman would find it impossible not to yield.

Kylie stared at him for a long time before she said: "Lord Ethan, you're in charge of the empire, and yet you left me alone here?"

"Today's the weekend," Ethan airily replied.

Kylie wiped the sweat off her forehead and realized that she worked any day of the week and weekend, but big companies provided that two-day holiday.

A big boss like him must usually wake up so early to fit in some gym time before work.

"What happened here?" Ethan was apparently surprised when he saw the mud in Kylie's hands. "Pupu gave it to me as a present. Can I keep it?" Kylie responded, while rubbing down the fur on Pupu's back.

"No," the man interjected, without hesitation. He removed the towel from his neck and began to wipe away some of the sweat on his face. He continued: "If you're uncomfortable in this house, you can get the housekeeper to redecorate it—but both my room and the room beside it are off-limits."

Without thinking about it, Kylie threw the mud in her hand at Ethan, but he caught it easily.

Kylie wanted to ask him about the locked room when the phone in her pocket began to ring and interrupted their conversation.

It was from Lucas Jackson. Had he arranged a new role for her?

"Dear Lucas, hello."

"Kylie Finch. 6 pm. It's the Tea House opening ceremony, at the Baleney scenic zone."

"PM? On what day?"

"Today."

"The Baleney scenic zone?! I couldn't arrive in time even if I bought a train ticket right now!"

"You took this role upon yourself; I don't care whether you can get there or not."

"But the company didn't oppose, and..." And he would get his agent fee, wouldn't he?

"If you regret your decision now, I can help you turn it down. Otherwise, figure out a way to get here on your own." Lucas Jackson hung up before Kylie could say another word.

"Fuck! Bloody sissy, fuck your hole!" Kylie was so angry, that she immediately jumped off the ground. After she had finished swearing, she felt stiff and cold all over.

Pupu looked at her, not knowing what was going on. Ethan also looked at her, speechless. Fine, take back my fortune. Kylie understood that her grand allowance was gone.

Kylie sighed and took out a pen. She glanced at Ethan, and asked: "Hole isn't a dirty word, right?"

"No, but 'Fuck your hole' is," he replied.

After strokes of her pen, Kylie finally threw the slip of paper, with a list of her offenses, at Ethan. "Here's the note...you can calculate the allowance at the end of the month."

There was a smile in Ethan's eyes. "What happened?" he asked.

Kylie angrily raised her hands high up in the air. She forcefully seized two handfuls of airs, before bringing her arms down. "Tea House is shooting at the Baleney scenic zone this evening. I don't think I can make it; I'd have to get a train, then transfer to a bus to get there...If only I could fly!"

"Why not? I believe you can," Ethan replied.

Kylie was struck dumb for a while. Fine, now she regretted saving his toothbrush; this man was so cruel.

Kylie nodded forcefully. "Yep! I'm beautiful, and I can cook. I can stand up to mistress and beat up gangsters! Even though I'm almighty, I could never show up to the opening ceremony without dressing up perfectly!"

Kylie was going crazy, pacing in circles, and angrily tearing at her hair. She had already upset the director by being late the last time. If she was late again, and for the opening ceremony, she would be absolutely despised by the director for her lack of punctuality. Without the director's approval, an actress could never stand out, even if she was incredible at acting.

While Kylie expressed her frustration in this way, the man's low voice reached her ears. "There is another way."

"What could you do?!" Kylie was a little upset and kicked at some loose stones. "It's the summer vacation and high time for tourism. Even if the opening ceremony was delayed an extra day, it would still be near impossible for me to book a train ticket!"

Pupu felt Kylie's exasperation and expectantly turned to Ethan. Ethan coldly looked over Kylie's sadness, then walked into the house, removing his phone from his pocket. He dialed a number.

Kylie walked to the living room, and lay askew on the sofa, with a heavy heart. She thought to herself: I used to imagine every cloud has a silver lining, and that I would eventually be the center of the stage, but it was all a dream..."

Half an hour later, the wind suddenly roared outside the door. The two-story green plants were blown hither thither. A typhoon? Kylie thought. But the weather forecast hasn't predicted that.

When Kylie realized that Pupu was still out there, she immediately ran outside. The massive, powerful airflow blew at the hair, and her eyesight was mostly obstructed.

About ten minutes later, the wind weakened, and Kylie could see again. She looked around wildly.

At the absolute center of the yard, there was a helicopter! The door of the helicopter was open, and a man wearing a leather jacket, leather pants, and a pair of high-top military boots jumped down.

Such a masculine appearance was rarely accompanied by a cunning, and an attractive face. The man smiled mildly, in a manner that could drive anyone crazy!

"Lord Ethan, we're free to go," Nate Bass finished saying, snapping his fingers. Ethan nodded and waved Kylie over.

Kylie sauntered towards Lord Ethan. She pointed at the helicopter and asked: "What's all this about?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately, then spoke: "It only takes three hours from here to Baleney. Are you onboard or not?"

"Onboard, of course!" Kylie accepted without hesitation. Then she cautiously looked at Nate Bass and asked Ethan in a low voice: "How much does it cost?"

Riding in a private helicopter was something Kylie had only read about in-network novels, but now it was part of her reality. Kylie was certainly very eager to attend the opening ceremony, but she still had to consider the cost of such an extravagance.

"Do you have enough money?" Ethan asked, with a smile.

"I don't, but you do!"

"So...do you plan on paying me back with your body?" Ethan wore an expression of kindness, as though he was completely fair.

Kylie suddenly felt cornered. She approached Ethan's ear and spoke in a low voice: "How dare you say it out loud! If you dare to flirt with me in public again, I will..."

"What will you do?" Ethan asked in a very domineering tone.