The Female Leads Regret After the Villain Severed Ties, Leaving the Protagonist Broken - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: What Kind of Law-Abiding Citizen Goes Out With Dozens of Men in Black?

“…” Chen Mengyao stared blankly at the roses in front of her, looking slightly dazed. She raised her eyes for a brief moment, then quickly shifted her gaze away. After hesitating for a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do we know each other?”

“No.” Lu Chen replied indifferently.

Chen Mengyao fell silent, not knowing what to say. She felt that Lu Chen must have some other intention. Lu Chen’s lips curved faintly as he said, “Don’t be nervous, I mean you no harm.” With that, he stuffed the flowers into her arms.

Chen Mengyao subconsciously hugged the bright roses. Her body shifted uneasily as she tried to push them back, flustered and repeatedly refusing, “Tha… thank you, but this… this is too expensive…”

“You’re Chen Mengyao, right?” Lu Chen ignored her rejection and continued to ask.

“Mm… I’m Chen Mengyao…” she replied softly.

“From today on, you’ll be my personal maid. This is the contract. Take a look, and if there are no problems, sign it now.” Lu Chen spoke as he pulled out a contract from the back of the car and handed it over.

Chen Mengyao was stunned, then her face flushed red as she cried out, “P… personal maid?! What nonsense are you talking about?!”

The moment she heard those words, she understood what Lu Chen meant. So, this so-called Young Master wanted to keep her as his mistress? Did he think she was some kind of toy? A plaything? Chen Mengyao was overwhelmed with both shame and fury. She hadn’t expected this rich young man to be such a degenerate. Disgust and resentment surged inside her. How could she possibly agree to something like this?

“Don’t be so quick to react. Take a look at the contract first, maybe you’ll be satisfied.” Lu Chen smiled, not the least bit bothered by her outrage, and calmly continued.

Chen Mengyao took a deep breath and forced down her humiliation. Word by word, she said coldly, “No need. I will never sign that contract.” If not for fear of retaliation, she would have slapped him already. She wanted this so-called Young Master to understand that there were things more precious than money in this world.

“Oh?” Lu Chen raised his brows, surprised at how decisively she refused. He studied her with interest and laughed, “Are you sure you don’t want to even look? This is what countless women dream of. If you’re willing, you can enjoy the most privileged life and endless wealth.”

But Chen Mengyao remained unmoved, her expression resolute. “Then go find another woman. I have no interest in this.” She shoved the contract back at him, placed the flowers on the console, and looked at him with undisguised disgust.

Lu Chen simply smiled and asked, “Don’t you want to leave here? Don’t you want to escape your current life?”

“No.” Chen Mengyao shook her head firmly. “I don’t need anyone’s help. I like the life I have now.”

Her days here were poor but peaceful. As for escaping, of course she wished she could be free of this cage. But she wanted to do it through her own efforts, not by selling her dignity, her soul, or even… her body.

“Alright, since you insist, I can only respect your choice.” Lu Chen shrugged, shaking his head as if in pity. “Then I won’t keep you. Open the door yourself and get out.”

Chen Mengyao finally let out a breath of relief. She had feared he might force her, but hearing his words made her heart ease a little. Quickly, she reached out to open the door.

The next moment, however, she realized awkwardly that she didn’t know how to open it.

“What’s wrong? Can’t bear to leave?” Lu Chen asked, looking amused.

“I… I don’t know how to open the door,” Chen Mengyao said, biting her lip in embarrassment.

“This car’s door works by voice control,” Lu Chen explained with a smirk. “If you want to get out, you just have to say: Darling, I want to get out.”

Her face turned crimson instantly. She stared wide-eyed at him in disbelief and stammered, “You’re not joking, are you?”

“Of course not,” Lu Chen chuckled. “Why don’t you give it a try?”

“I… I won’t say it!” Chen Mengyao blushed furiously, refusing outright. What kind of nonsense was this? This was pure harassment!

“Then what do you want to do?” Lu Chen arched his brows, his tone turning faintly dangerous. “If you won’t get out, then sign the contract.”

“Give up already, I’ll never sign it!” Chen Mengyao retorted stubbornly.

At that, Lu Chen suddenly reached out, pulling her into his arms.

“What… what are you doing?! Let me go!” Chen Mengyao’s heart pounded wildly as a wave of heat spread through her body. She struggled desperately, her voice panicked.

But Lu Chen held her tightly with overwhelming strength. Leaning close, he whispered in her ear, “If you don’t obediently sign it, do you believe I’ll take you right here and now?”

Chen Mengyao trembled violently, her heart filled with humiliation and fear. She curled into herself, her delicate face showing nothing but terror.

For a moment, Lu Chen’s gaze lingered on her. It had been a long time since he had seen such a pure and beautiful girl. In the original novel, a girl like her would belong to the protagonist. But now, she had fallen into his hands.

“You… what are you trying to do?!” Chen Mengyao’s body shook again. One hand guarded her chest while the other hovered near her pocket, ready to draw the utility knife hidden there. This scoundrel! If he pushed her too far, she would fight to the death.

Lu Chen coughed lightly, suppressing the fire in his chest, then said slowly, “Relax. I was just scaring you. I’m a law-abiding citizen, I wouldn’t actually do something like that.”

Chen Mengyao still glared at him warily, her expression clearly saying, do you think I’ll believe that? She was naïve, but not stupid. After all, what kind of law-abiding citizen went out accompanied by dozens of men in black?

While she was lost in thought, Lu Chen suddenly lowered his head, his cheek brushing hers. Their faces were mere centimeters apart, close enough to feel each other’s breath. Chen Mengyao’s body froze, her mind going blank, when his voice sounded softly in her ear, “Maybe you don’t need help, but what about your mother? She’s still sick. And your younger sister, Chen Xue Ning—are you going to let her stay home forever and not attend school?”

He straightened slightly and added, “I’ll give you a few days. Think it over. If you change your mind, contact me anytime. Keep the contract; my number is on it, don’t lose it.”

Chen Mengyao sat frozen in the passenger seat, her mind blank. By the time she came back to her senses, she was already outside the car, holding the contract in her hands. The flashy sports car she had just been sitting in had already sped away, its engine roaring like a wild beast as it disappeared with its convoy, leaving only the murmur of gossiping voices around her.

She stood motionless, staring at the receding line of cars. Lu Chen’s words echoed in her ears, leaving a faint sting in her heart, as though a thorn had pierced it.

The drizzle fell endlessly from the sky, dampening her hair and streaking down her delicate face until she couldn’t tell if it was rain or tears. She had never liked crying. Since childhood, she had only wept once—on the day her mother’s illness was diagnosed. No matter how hard life had been afterward, she hadn’t shed a single tear.

After a long while, she turned and started walking home. Passing a trash bin, she looked down at the contract in her hands. She hesitated, then gritted her teeth and threw it in.

She knew that if she ever signed that agreement, her life would truly be over. She didn’t know exactly who Lu Chen was, but just from the luxury cars and dozens of bodyguards, it was clear that once she signed, she would never be able to escape him.

Chen Mengyao quickened her steps, not daring to look back.

…

At a street corner, Lu Chen lowered the car window, watching her toss the contract away. The corners of his mouth lifted into a playful smile. “As expected of the female lead, still so stubborn. But that’s fine. If things were too easy, the system mission might not even trigger. I wonder what you’ll be like after 100 days. I’m really looking forward to it…”

…