(Allow me to refuse.)

(I don't plan to continue in this line of work.)

Felyn's two sentences made Serafinia's hand tremble slightly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Ever since the thought of signing a long-term contract with Felyn emerged, Serafinia had subconsciously considered Felyn her property.

After all, she had a great figure, a beautiful face, and was extremely wealthy.

Her lifespan was also very long. Even when Felyn was old enough to have lost all his teeth, her appearance would not have changed much compared to now.

He could forever see her as she was at 20 years old in human terms.

Moreover, dragons were also very loyal. After signing a long-term contract with Felyn, Serafinia would not casually abandon him.

From a human perspective, Serafinia felt she was the most high-quality human female.

But, Felyn had directly refused, without even a hint of hesitation.

(Why?)

(This makes no sense, does it?)

(Aren't all humans selfish? Aren't they all profit-driven?)

(Willing to give up everything for money and honor, isn't that what humans are?)

She had more money than Felyn could ever spend in his lifetime. He could even play the role of her master for his entire life. It was a win-win in terms of both fame and fortune.

But why would he refuse?

Serafinia stood stunned in front of Felyn, her lips forgotten to be closed.

Felyn knew she found it hard to believe he would refuse.

He was just a down-and-out noble, with no money and no power, just good looks. And yet he could refuse her.

Admittedly, the conditions Serafinia offered were extremely attractive.

A young, beautiful, and incredibly alluring rich woman wanted to marry him. In any novel, this would be the pinnacle of life.

But this wasn't a novel; this was the real world.

What would be the consequence of signing a long-term contract with Serafinia?

He would be lonely with a lifetime of money he could never spend, having to follow Serafinia around at all times.

Besides eating, drinking, and buying things, he could do nothing else. He would have money but no way to spend it.

When he got old, the empty mansion and luxury brands wouldn't bring him any memories worth cherishing.

‘I like money. I can occasionally be a slave to money, but I don't want to be like this for my whole life.’

The Felyn who had just arrived in this world might have considered this demonic contract.

But now, he could no longer bear the loneliness.

Felyn understood this. He knew he was no longer the person abandoned by the world.

He still had Olivia to raise, and many entanglements with young ladies that were not yet over.

Felyn felt Eitani's breathing beside him start to quicken and knew she was about to start whimpering again.

‘Well, I'll just explain quickly and then get out of here.’

"Miss Serafinia, I took this job to pay for my sister's medical treatment and to pay off debts. Now that my sister has woken up, I plan to quit this line of work after the debts are paid. Therefore, a long-term contract does not fit my life plan. That's all."

"Then what about me?" Serafinia subconsciously asked this question.

She couldn't leave Felyn now.

Without Felyn, the old scales on her body couldn't be removed.

Felyn shrugged, indicating he was helpless. ‘I can't give you a lifetime warranty, can I?’

"Miss Serafinia, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving with Eitani. She's starting to lose consciousness."

Eitani, who had just been fighting with Serafinia, had now collapsed into Felyn's arms, her nose constantly rubbing against his neck.

This time her reaction was even stronger than before. She had probably suffered a backlash.

"Wait, Felyn, I know what you mean," Serafinia called out to the departing Felyn.

She knew that in negotiations, one shouldn't reveal one's purpose, shouldn't let the opponent know the cards in one's hand.

But when Felyn was really about to leave her, Serafinia panicked.

Without Felyn, she couldn't survive in the human world.

"I was inconsiderate. I can allow you to have other feelings for me. You can fall in love with me, you can care for me in the name of love. I allow you to do so."

Having been in the human world for so long, Serafinia naturally knew what human emotions were all about.

She knew that love was a very important emotion for humans, so Felyn's rejection of her might be because she had deprived him of the right to love her.

This was Serafinia's biggest concession. She wouldn't love Felyn, but Felyn could love her.

"I'm sorry, Miss Serafinia. Under no circumstances will I fall in love with a client from a contract."

Felyn's refusal was decisive, just as firm as when he had rejected Serafinia's proposal just now, without any hesitation.

Because he had learned his lesson.

Even when meeting a client in private, he had to maintain a sense of propriety, especially when it came to such ambiguous issues.

So even though Felyn knew Serafinia might get angry, might make things difficult for him, he still said the words of refusal.

He didn't want to go through that kind of thing again, nor did he want to hold Serafinia back. Being ambiguous on such issues would harm both himself and others.

As for what Serafinia thought of him and humans in her heart, Felyn didn't want to know, nor did he want to correct her. There was no right or wrong in this world. As long as you didn't hurt others, it didn't matter what you thought.

"Felyn, are you really going to reject me?"

Serafinia stared at Felyn, her arms crossed over her chest.

Facing Serafinia's tone, which clearly carried a hint of unwillingness and threat, Felyn showed a perfect professional smile that he had practiced countless times.

Even though he knew he might be targeted by Serafinia, even hated, he still said the words.

"Yes! Miss Serafinia, allow me to refuse." Felyn's voice was particularly clear in the night wind.

Serafinia did not get angry.

She just stood there quietly, looking at the elongated, lonely shadow on the ground. A few withered maple leaves rested by her high heels, not daring to disturb her silence.

‘What is she thinking?’

Felyn looked away, no longer looking at Serafinia. He didn't want to guess.

There were only a few times left in his contract with Serafinia. Soon, he and she would be like two intersecting lines, separating forever after a brief encounter.

"Well then... we'll be taking our leave."

The words of farewell dissipated into the air, receiving no response.

Serafinia was like a dragon statue placed in a square, only the night wind stirring the tips of her snow-white hair.

The school festival fireworks bloomed in the night sky, and the sound of laughter drifted over with the night wind, yet it made the surroundings seem particularly deserted.

Felyn picked up the constantly moaning Eitani and turned to run towards the bathroom.

As he turned the corner, Felyn glanced back at Serafinia in the distance.

Under the moonlight, the proud dragon maiden still stood there.

Her hands were clenched tightly on her skirt, letting the wind blow her hair about.

Felyn no longer worried about being discovered. He ran towards the bathroom with reckless abandon.

Anyway, no matter how he hid, Felyn felt that his act of carrying Eitani would be seen. First Linda, then Serafinia, who knew who would be next.

And Eitani in his arms clearly couldn't hold on for much longer.

As he ran past the banquet hall, he passed a pink-haired young lady.

As he ran past the Wishing Lake, he passed a young lady with rose-tea colored hair.

But even though they saw Felyn, they didn't stop him, and Felyn was able to smoothly arrive at the building where the bathroom was located.

"Saved! Finally made it!"

Felyn said breathlessly, but Eitani in his arms no longer responded. She had her eyes tightly closed, and it seemed her breathing had stopped.

‘This girl, is she dead?!’

"Eitani?! Pull yourself together, don't die on me!"

He saw Eitani's mouth twitch, as if she were constantly saying something, so Felyn leaned his ear closer.

"It's over, my horns were touched by a man... I'll never get married..." she repeated this sentence over and over, her eyes even starting to roll back.

‘Oh no, I broke Eitani!’

‘What does it mean to have your horns touched?’ Felyn really wanted to know the answer.

But he didn't dare to ask. He was afraid.

He carried Eitani towards the fourth floor and arrived at the bathroom entrance.

The door to the student bathroom was tightly closed, with a notice posted on it.

[To ensure the safety of the school festival, all school bathrooms are temporarily closed.]

Felyn looked down at Eitani in his arms, whose breathing was becoming more and more rapid. He watched as her eyes gradually became hazy again, and her body began to writhe in his arms.

"It's over. This is really over."

(End of Chapter)