When he and his wife were dating, she owned a donkey. The first time the donkey bucked her off, she calmly got up and dusted herself off, saying, "First time."

Later, the donkey bucked her off again. She remained calm, saying, "Second time."

The third time the donkey threw her, she didn't say a word. She simply shot it. After every argument they had, his wife would use the same phrasing. So, he never dared have a third argument with her.

She remembered this story now because the situation felt eerily similar. But as her eyes met Yue Linze's, she suddenly realized she wasn't the husband in the story, but the donkey.

Yue Linze glanced indifferently at her delicate, pink-tipped ears. After a long moment, he finally spoke, "Next time any such insignificant people come to bother us, you're responsible for getting rid of them."

Tao Yu hadn't expected her impulsive act of assistance to land her an extra job. However, the fact that he was giving her instructions meant he acknowledged her. The more he acknowledged her, the easier it would be to get close to him and understand his inner turmoil.

With this thought, Tao Yu smiled gently. "If it will make Mr. Yue happy."

Yue Linze gave her a thoughtful look but didn't reply. Tao Yu inwardly cursed. She was so focused on getting closer to him that she'd forgotten his suspicious nature. A rehabilitation therapist who readily took on extra work—it all looked incredibly suspicious.

She thought for a moment, then added with a smile, "But this is extra work, so there will be an additional charge."

Yue Linze's gaze turned cold. "How much?"

"At least triple my rehabilitation therapist's salary." Tao Yu made an outrageous demand. Yue Linze was inherently distrustful. If she didn't reveal her "ugly" mercenary side, he would likely never trust her. So, she might as well embrace her true nature and play the greedy woman.

Yue Linze was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "Forget it." Allowing her to stay was already an act of immense mercy, yet this woman had the audacity to make demands.

"...?" 

Any normal rich person would gladly pay for peace and quiet. Why was Yue Linze different?

Yue Linze pressed the button on his wheelchair remote and moved towards the stairs, his body radiating coldness. At the bottom of the stairs, he looked back at Tao Yu. "Also, your rehabilitation therapist salary is now halved."

"...." 

What an idiot. She forced a mechanical smile. "Of course, even if Mr. Yue didn't want to pay me, I'd still be happy to help."

She wouldn't easily give up such a good opportunity to get close to him.

Yue Linze saw she was still standing there and said indifferently, "Oh."

Oh? What did "oh" even mean? Tao Yu forced a smile, deciding to move past it. 

"Mr. Yue, let's go to the rehabilitation room." This particular personality was far stingier than the real Yue Linze. He had none of the magnanimity of a true tycoon. No wonder he was the first alternate personality to be discovered.

They walked to the rehabilitation room in silence. Tao Yu hurried ahead to open the door, closing it behind him once he was inside.

He sat on the sofa, his face expressionless. "What are we doing now?"

"You don't have to do anything, Mr. Yue. Just leave it to me." Tao Yu smiled.

"You?"

Yue Linze narrowed his eyes, distrust practically etched on his face. He looked at her professional facade, but all he could see was her grimacing after choking on toothpaste. 

He finally managed to banish that image from his mind, only to be replaced by the memory of her arrogant nostrils flaring. He'd have to tell his men to chop her up into tiny pieces when they fed her to the sharks.

Tao Yu glanced at his light-colored casual clothes, maintaining her smile. "Yes, you just need to sit here and receive my massage."

A personality's physical condition was determined at the moment of its formation. While his disability was irreversible, she could at least make him more comfortable.

Yue Linze looked at her coldly, noncommittal. He considered his injured leg a source of shame. After accepting it would never heal, he'd never shown it in public. This was why he'd always resisted rehabilitation.

"Mr. Yue?" Tao Yu had already seated herself on the small stool opposite him, looking up at him questioningly.

Yue Linze slowly lifted his pant leg, revealing the horrific scar on his calf. This woman was truly foolish. Anyone, even the lowest of the low, could look down on her intelligence. Compared to her idiocy, his leg injury almost made him feel superior.