Estelle spent the entire day at the AI program center and left as dusk approached, with the sky already darkening.
The Rosaline caused her to lose water continuously throughout the day, leaving her feeling uncomfortable. Upon returning home, she couldn't resist taking a bath. Crescent was in the kitchen cooking dinner for her when he suddenly heard her call out halfway through making the soup.
The hot water and steam prompted an early peak of the drug's effects, and Estelle clung tightly to the showerhead as the water slowly flowed down.
Crescent opened the bathroom door and quickly came over to hold her. Without her saying a word, he seemed to understand and immediately offered his assistance, holding her firmly with his arms.
"It's already the third day, why is it still like this?" Estelle murmured. "I can't take it; this medicine is too powerful..."
Crescent didn't say anything but gently pulled at her. Estelle broke out in goosebumps all over.
He lowered his head and gently pressed against her cheek. "Don't be afraid, it'll be over soon."
These words sounded familiar; once, she had helped him relieve his distress in this very bathroom, watching him shiver. Now that someone else was falling apart, he was the one offering comfort instead.
Estelle felt both angry and amused, but her physical reactions were uncontrollable, and she lacked the energy to hit him. Fortunately, Crescent was skilled enough that she reached her climax soon after. She was panting, and Crescent turned her around and gently embraced her in his arms.
This was a programmed act of tenderness, and Estelle, lacking strength, let him hold her.
She could hear the sound of his bioengineered heart beating steadily and powerfully. Crescent was slightly hunched over, his body far from hers, and Estelle looked down to see his protruding area again.
It was built robustly. Estelle reached out to touch him, and Crescent immediately shuddered. She asked, "Does that cause discomfort?"
"A little." Crescent didn't look at her.
While finishing the soup back in the kitchen, he gradually returned to his normal size.
Dinner was sumptuous, but Estelle had little appetite. Soon, it was time to meet Soren, and Crescent accompanied her to the Bosen Hotel. In the night, someone was already waiting by the roadside.
Estelle recognized the person—it was Charlie Mullen, Soren's secretary.
"I'm sorry, but the 67th floor is Mr. Hoffman's private residence. Please stay here, sir."
Crescent's expression shifted slightly, but before he could speak, Estelle had already agreed, "Okay."
Charlie nodded apologetically at Crescent.
"Miss Grey, please follow me."
Soren always stayed at the Hotel.
It was said that he had many enemies, both open and hidden, and feared assassination, so he didn't dare live at home. Instead, he rented the top floor of a luxury hotel and had numerous bodyguards stationed around it.
However, rumors often contained exaggerated elements. When Estelle encountered Soren at the hospital yesterday, she hadn't seen any bodyguards around him.
Estelle followed Charlie up to the 67th floor via a private elevator. After a day, she saw Soren again. He was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the luxuriously decorated apartment, drinking. The room was unlit, while the night lights of the city outside were bright and flickering, reflected into his eyes from a bird's-eye view.
"I thought you wouldn't come," he said.
"Mr. Hoffman, if you want to see someone, you always find a way. Drones spying on me and giving me aphrodisiacs... Since whether I come or not isn't up to me, there's no need for unnecessary gestures that might displease you."
Soren looked at her for a moment and smiled. "You're smart. It seems then that we've settled the business deal tonight?"
"I didn't say that," Estelle said. "Whether we can agree on terms, I need to hear what the business is first."
Soren glanced sideways at Charlie, who understood and added a chair for Estelle.
Wine was poured into a tall glass. Estelle looked down, watching as a few drops splashed onto the pristine white tablecloth, somewhat jarring, resembling fresh, murky blood.
"It's simple. I need some robots with specific functions. I heard that Manager Grey is no longer working at Stella Technology. So coming to work for me now shouldn't be inappropriate. If the work is done well, the compensation will naturally..."
Estelle interrupted him. "What kind of functions do you want for these robots, Mr. Hoffman?"
"Harvesting robots," Soren said.
Seeing her expression waver for a moment, he ignored it and continued. "It's really not difficult, is it? Manager Grey, if I'm not mistaken, this is your forte."
