Dawn finally broke through the deep night, the morning light gradually dyeing the coastline of Monaco bright.

The hotel staff stood on the steps, each as silent as a cicada in winter, not daring to approach at all.

And the men and women who had gotten out of their supercars had now also stopped their laughter and chatter, looking towards the Maybach with shock, no one daring to make a sound.

The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, only the faint sound of waves could be heard.

Inside the car's backseat.

Xu Qing sat there in a complete daze, her big, dark eyes wide open, her mouth slightly agape.

What was going on?!

(0_0)?!

She, Xu Qing, the female lead!

Taking the male lead out to sea for inspiration, preparing to start the sweet "Overseas Romantic Yacht Dungeon."

She was just thinking about how to elegantly take Tang Song's arm when getting out of the car later, stepping into this Paris Grand Hotel amidst everyone's admiration!

And then what?!

Didn't even get out of the car, and right before my eyes, the male lead was publicly and forcefully kissed by another woman?!

What kind of dog-blood plot twist is this??

The female lead gets NTR'd right at the start??

This Western mare is just too shameless!

The little person in Xu Qing's heart was frantically pounding the ground.

(>_<) So damn mad!Hateful mare!

Just you wait! Later I'll go find my godmother... oh no, Sister Xianyue, and complain about you!

When I start my next new book, I'll definitely give you a script for a vicious female supporting character who scrubs toilets every day and finally gets exiled to Siberia to dig potatoes!

(╬◣д◢)

Just as the barrage of thoughts was frantically scrolling through Xu Qing's mind.

"Smack—"

A blush-inducing wet sound rang out.

That deep kiss, full of strong American style, finally ended.

Annie was breathing slightly heavily as she tilted her head.

Her gaze passed over Tang Song, landing on Xu Qing, who was curled up in the backseat.

"Hi, little one. We meet again."

Xu Qing shuddered all over.

Her English level was just barely passing the university fourth-grade exam.

She only half-understood the accented English Annie and Tang Song had exchanged earlier.

But this greeting, she understood perfectly!

Little one? Little thing?!

Ahhhhh, I've been insulted!!

Hateful mare! This is practically dancing wildly on my bottom line!

Is having big boobs so great?!

I'm going to bite you!

"Y-you... hello... Miss Annie." She braced herself and stammered out a reply.

Annie let out a light laugh, about to continue teasing her a few more times.

Suddenly, from the driver's seat in the front, came Liu Jiayi's calm reporting voice:

"President Tang, Ms. Ouyang is inquiring from behind, asking what happened. Does she need our security team to intervene and forcibly clear the passage?"

Her hand was pressed against her wireless earpiece, her face devoid of any extra expression.

Hearing this, Annie's smile deepened.

She released the hand propped on the car roof, took half a step back, and leaned lazily against the car door.

"Ouyang? Heh, she's still so boring." Her voice was lazy, carrying the casualness unique to an American accent. "Since we've come to a place like Monaco, we should indulge a little. This isn't Huaxia, where rules are everything."

She turned her head to look at the front, raising an eyebrow.

"And you, Jiayi. Facing me after such a long time, shouldn't you show a friendly smile?"

Liu Jiayi kept her eyes on the road ahead, both hands on the steering wheel, offering no response.

"Have them move their cars." Tang Song pulled out a wet wipe, wiped the lipstick mark from the corner of his mouth, looked at the mare outside the car window, his tone flat.

The smile on Annie's lips faltered slightly, then rose again:

"Don't be such a killjoy. This is a welcome ceremony I specially prepared for you. Shouldn't you come down and experience it yourself? We could drive your 'Voice of the Night' together, go for a spin on the mountain roads. The tracks here are very—"

Before she could finish.

Tang Song directly interrupted: "Move aside."

Annie's smile froze on her face, her ice-blue eyes narrowing slightly, a mix of fanaticism and danger swirling in their depths.

She stood there, unmoving.

Staring fixedly at Tang Song, as if engaged in some kind of standoff.

The air around them seemed to solidify.

Xu Qing was so startled she almost jumped up from her seat.

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

Little Song is angry!

The mare is angry too!

I heard from Yanyan that this is the heir of the Kate Family!

A proper European/American aristocratic heiress.

She just kissed you, and you're being so cold.

This, this, this... she won't just pull out a gun and start shooting, will she?

Her mind frantically flashed through various Hollywood gang shootout scenes. Terrified, she clutched her handbag tightly against herself.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Just as Xu Qing was so tense she was about to forget how to breathe.

The danger in Annie's eyes instantly dissipated.

She shrugged, leaned forward, and lowered her voice:

"As you wish, my Master."

"!!!"

Xu Qing's pupils underwent an earthquake.

Although her English was terrible, she heard that last word clearly.

And being well-read, having dabbled in many strange little videos,

Master?!

What the hell kind of ridiculous plot is this?!

Is this mare, like Xiao Jing, some kind of perverted masochist?!

Even the domineering CEO novels she writes wouldn't dare make up something like this!

Annie turned around, raised her arm towards the supercar-driving men and women who were still watching the show.

"Move! Park them properly and clear the way to the main entrance!"

The usually arrogant and domineering group paused for a moment, then, not daring to complain, immediately sprang into action.

Scissor doors, butterfly doors all lowered.

The roar of engines rose and fell once more.

They efficiently moved their cars to the empty spaces on both sides.

In less than a minute.

The passageway leading to the main entrance of the Monte Carlo Paris Grand Hotel was cleared completely.

Annie stood by the roadside, making an exaggerated "please" gesture.

The black bulletproof window slowly rose.

Gradually blocking out Annie Kate's beautiful yet crazed face.

Xu Qing stared dumbfounded, her head buzzing.

Suddenly feeling that Little Song was many times more awesome than the male leads she fabricated in her domineering CEO novels.

Even abroad, he had so much face.

Simply invincible!

The Maybach started smoothly.

Stopping at the drop-off zone in front of the Monte Carlo Paris Grand Hotel's main entrance.

The door was respectfully opened by a waiter wearing white gloves.

The Mediterranean morning sun spilled onto them, carrying a faint salty taste and the freshness of the sea breeze.

Under the gaze of numerous complex looks.

Tang Song stepped out of the car.

The morning light fell on that handsome Eastern face—

Well-defined features, a calm demeanor, completely different from the usual flamboyance found in this circle.

The men and women who had just parked their supercars exchanged glances in unison.

Their faces all showed unconcealed shock and disbelief.

This group of people, from Europe, the Middle East, Russia, with diverse backgrounds, yet all belonged to the same unspoken circle.

Either old-money families with generations of inheritance, or nouveau riche holding the lifeblood of energy resources, each capable of wielding great influence in their own countries.

They understood all too well Annie Kate's current status.

The currently default first-in-line heir of the Kate Family, holding actual control over [Crown Bank].

Moreover, she had always been flamboyant and domineering in her actions, ruthless in her methods.

To have her personally welcome someone with such seriousness.

Just who was this mysterious Eastern man?

...

"Click, click, click—"

The sound of high heels striking the ground was crisp and flamboyant.

Annie Kate followed on her stiletto heels, the fiery red bodysuit particularly glaring in the morning light.

A smile still hung on her face as she pulled a black car key full of mechanical texture from her pocket, casually offering it to Tang Song.

"Your Voice of the Night. Flown in from Zurich just yesterday, all performance aspects tuned to peak condition."

Xu Qing, having just regained her senses, heard this sentence.

Especially those two words—"your."

Her mind exploded with a "buzz."

Holy crap...

So, after all that, this insanely cool, domineering, god-tier car, was, was, was Little Song's?!

Oh my heavens!

(Gasping in shock)!!!

Tang Song's gaze passed over the crowd, landing on that mechanical beast.

The long, low-slung body, under the morning light, reflected a dark, cold, almost light-devouring obsidian sheen.

The perfect fusion of ultimate elegance and ultimate wildness.

W16 engine, 1500 horsepower, all-wheel drive, full carbon fiber body, and those signature six exhaust pipes.

This was the ultimate romance of the automotive industry, also the ultimate dream of countless men worldwide.

This was also one of Tang Song's favorite luxury cars among the many he collected in the game.

Now, as this god-tier car, which had only existed as a string of data and CG animations, truly and realistically sat in reality, right before him,

His heartbeat uncontrollably began to accelerate.

Such a car was really like a top-tier beauty, always able to easily stir a man's nerves.

However, his face didn't show too much emotion.

"Park the car properly first."

After saying this, he lightly patted the still-dazed Xu Qing beside him.

Xu Qing gave a start, then quickly followed like a little lackey, scurrying along.

Butler Dubois had already been waiting to the side, giving a slight bow, leading them towards the hotel interior.

Due to her special status, and as this trip involved cooperation between the [Tangjin Family Office] and [Crown Bank],

Ouyang Xianyue's itinerary this time was extremely low-key, completely non-public.

She didn't flaunt herself as usual, wearing a wide-brimmed French retro sun hat and sunglasses, covering most of her dignified, elegant face.

After getting out of the car, she simply followed quietly in the side rear of Tang Song's group, surrounded by Secretary Chen and others, like an ordinary accompanying executive, not drawing any attention.

As she passed by Annie Kate, she gave a slight nod, then quietly disappeared into the hotel's main entrance.

...

Outside the hotel entrance.

Annie Kate stood where she was.

Still holding that car key she hadn't managed to give away.

She watched Tang Song's tall, straight back disappear into the revolving door.

Not only was she not angry, the corner of her mouth slowly curved into a smile of excitement.

So utterly captivating.

My Master, I can't wait to f**k you anymore.

"Anne, that person just now... who exactly is he?"

Only after Tang Song's figure had disappeared did the stunned scions of the financial clans gather around, lowering their voices to inquire.

Annie turned around, having regained that haughty, wild queen-like demeanor.

She casually tossed the Bugatti key to a trembling bellboy beside her, coldly instructing, "Park it in the most prominent main spot by the main entrance. I don't want a single millimeter of scratch on this car, understand?"

The bellboy caught the key with both hands, nodding repeatedly in fear.

Then, Annie swept her gaze over her companions, her red lips parting: "He is from Tangjin."

As the words fell, the expressions of the people around instantly underwent subtle changes.

If it was that joint family office from the East, then it made sense.

[Tangjin Family Office].

In recent years, this mysterious institution rising from the East was like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea.

It silently opened its bloody maw, swallowing countless core assets in the capital markets, casting an ever-longer, ever-more awe-inspiring shadow within the top circles.

There were even rumors that the actual liquidity it controlled was far more terrifying than that of many old-money families.

And the relationship between Annie Kate and this mysterious family office had always been a hot, unspoken topic within the circle.

Especially after she secretly gained control of [Crown Bank] and wreaked havoc in the European financial world, many even suspected she might be one of the invisible controllers behind [Tangjin], or a top-level partner.

Seeing her like this now...

A few people exchanged glances, all wisely refraining from further questions.

Annie paid no mind to their complex looks, waving her hand casually as a farewell.

"Alright, boys and girls, game over. You can all scurry back to your yachts and open champagne. I have more important 'business negotiations' to attend to."

After saying this, she walked with a seductive gait, heels clicking, into the hotel's main entrance.

She had been looking forward to this for so long, finally seeing him here.

Now, at the peak of her life's power, Miss Annie naturally had to indulge herself without any restraint.

As for the so-called in-depth business negotiations and cooperation signings written on the itinerary.

Heh.

They were just formalities, done for those who needed to see them.

She understood Tang Song's true purpose for this trip very well.

He wasn't here to negotiate; he was here to take over.

To take over the secret and vast financial network of [Crown Bank].

In other words, to take over Annie Kate's loyalty.

For her, this was an incredibly thrilling game.

Immediately after.

Annie's mind flashed with the image of that Eastern woman wearing the wide-brimmed sun hat earlier.

Ouyang Xianyue.

That so-called "Precision Queen," that orthodox noblewoman representing the local forces of Huaxia.

In the past, whether in [Tangjin]'s internal meetings or any public occasion, when facing Ouyang Xianyue, Annie Kate could only be in a position of looking up.

After all, back then, Ouyang Xianyue was the true family controller holding a real industry empire, Tang Song's biggest domestic trump card and protector.

And she was merely a somewhat rebellious heir candidate, ranked far outside the top ten in the Kate Family.

The gap back then was like a chasm.

But now, the positions of offense and defense had reversed.

She now held the lifeblood of [Crown Bank], she was about to trample the entire Kate Family underfoot, she had become a queen capable of influencing the entire capital landscape.

From a peripheral advisor, she had grown into a true core member.

It was time.

It was time to establish her own irreplaceable position by this man's side with a brand new identity.

A light mixing bloodlust and desire flickered in Annie's ice-blue eyes.

Monte Carlo Paris Grand Hotel, top floor.

At this moment, this area symbolizing Monaco's highest standard of reception was in a state of exceptionally busy yet orderly activity.

The entire top floor had been booked out by the [Tangjin Family Office].

Security personnel holding professional detection equipment, with standards approaching a carpet-sweeping clearance, conducted checks one by one on the corridors, ventilation ducts, electrical hidden slots, and even the hidden corners of every guest room.

After confirming there were no listening devices or pinhole camera installations, they reconfigured the entire floor's network system, cutting off all non-essential public signals, retaining only encrypted communication lines.

Simultaneously.

The private butler team of Tangjin Estate, led by Dubois, had already taken over all services on the top floor.

From room butlers, beverage waiters, to the kitchen team, almost all came from [Tangjin Estate].

Even the head chef and core catering team had been flown in from the estate via the private jet.

The entire top floor was like a private mansion temporarily relocated to Monaco.

Tang Song and Xu Qing were staying in the Royal Suite with the best view on the entire floor.

The room was primarily white, with gold decorative lines subtly accentuating.

Several authentic Impressionist paintings hung on the walls.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the Port of Hercules.

Ouyang Xianyue was arranged in a private suite on the other side of the same floor, away from the main reception area.

Convenient for work coordination at any time, yet maintaining an appropriate business distance.

Secretary Chen and other accompanying personnel were distributed in the business suite area further away on the other side of the floor.

Everything was settled.

The time was already 9 AM local time in Monaco.

Tang Song changed into a set of comfortable casual wear, and in the top floor's private meeting room, held the first informal meeting after landing with Ouyang Xianyue, Secretary Chen, and five staff members from the [Tangjin Family Office] European headquarters.

The meeting lasted over an hour.

11 AM.

Everyone moved to the top-floor viewing restaurant to enjoy their first meal after landing.

The long table was set with Monaco's most representative top-tier cuisine.

Brie cheese with truffle honey, slow-cooked blue lobster with champagne foam, Wagyu Wellington, Mediterranean wild sea bass, Saint-Honoré puff...

Xu Qing ate heartily, showing almost no signs of jet lag, fully displaying a foodie's tenacious vitality.

In contrast, Ouyang Xianyue.

Due to the several emotional shocks on the plane last night, she was clearly somewhat fatigued now.

After a few dishes, the weariness between her brows was already hard to conceal.

After finishing lunch, she politely excused herself, returning to her room early to rest and recuperate.

...

When Tang Song and Xu Qing returned to the Royal Suite.

Everything had already been meticulously tidied up again.

The changed suits were sent to the constant-temperature sterilizing wardrobe.

Shirts were re-ironed smooth.

Their usual brand of skincare products were neatly arranged on the bathroom counter.

The room's temperature, humidity, and even the scent of the aromatic essential oils were adjusted to the most comfortable parameters.

Xu Qing stood in the center of the living room.

Looking out the window at that endless expanse of azure sea, she slowly began to come back to her senses.

From getting off the plane until now, the series of shocks had been too intense.

Especially Little Song.

Far more unfathomable than she had imagined.

Before, when her best friend said even Director Jin had an ambiguous relationship with him, she was half-believing, half-doubting.

But now, she truly believed it!

Noticing her direct, fixed gaze.

Tang Song casually took off his jacket, smiled, and asked, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Xu Qing's cheeks flushed hot. She hemmed and hawed for a while, then sneakily leaned closer to him, asking in a low voice, "Tang Song, what kind of person are you really? You feel so mysterious, how can you... be so amazing?"

Her face was full of the expectation of "Tell me quickly."

As a web novel writer with an extremely large imagination, a cosplayer who frequented the anime world, her curiosity had now swollen to the extreme.

They both graduated from Yanke University, how did he manage to get to this level?

Even abroad, he had so much prestige?

This plot was even more exaggerated than the novels she wrote herself.

"Are you sure you want to know?"

Tang Song looked at her, his eyes suddenly becoming profound.

As if something flickered indeterminately within, bottomless.

Xu Qing's heart trembled under his gaze, and she instinctively took half a step back.

(Gasping in shock)!!!

"I, I, I... that... I'm suddenly not curious anymore!"

But Tang Song reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her back.

His warm lips lightly brushed past her cheek.

"You, you, what are you doing?"

Xu Qing instantly froze, her voice cracking.

"Of course, to tell you my most deeply hidden secret." His voice was low and magnetic. "In this world, no second person knows about it yet."

"I, I don't want to hear it! Really don't want to hear it! You don't need to tell me!"

Xu Qing covered her ears with both hands, shaking her head desperately.

Tang Song leaned down close to her ear, his warm breath brushing past her hair.

"Actually, I have a system. A very powerful kind."

"..."

Xu Qing was momentarily stunned.

The hands covering her ears slowly lowered.

She blinked, then let out a long sigh of relief.

She thought she was about to hear some earth-shattering secret that would get her killed.

Like being an international arms dealer.

Or the boss of some dark organization.

But... a system?

That was just too chuunibyou, too cliché!

As a veteran web novel author, she was all too familiar with this trope.

She pouted, "Pfft~ scared me to death! I thought you were going to say you were a transmigrator, or the reincarnation of some ancient great power, or that you were the big boss of some mysterious assassin organization or something."

She counted off on her fingers as she spoke, getting more and more excited.

Tang Song, looking at her expression, couldn't help but reach out and grab her little butt, giving it a firm squeeze.

"What? You don't believe me?"

"Ah!"

Her bottom suddenly assaulted, Xu Qing's alarm bells rang instantly. Her whole body stiffened, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, fur standing on end.

"I, I believe you! I believe you, okay?!"

She admitted defeat quickly, but her face uncontrollably turned red.

Usually in private, Little Song liked to spank her butt.

Especially last time, with Yanyan, this guy went even further...

Those images flashed through her mind, making Xu Qing's face even hotter.

She bit her lip, her eyes darting around, feeling both shy and cowardly, wishing she could shrink into a ball.

Right at that moment.

A gentle prompt tone sounded from the intercom at the foyer entrance.

Tang Song walked over to the control screen by the door.

On the screen, Butler Dubois gave a slight bow.

"Sir. Miss Kate wishes to visit you."

Xu Qing's eyes instantly widened.

Oh no, oh no!

This mare is coming to NTR me, the legitimate female lead, again!

Simply bullying people too far!

(Furious)

"Let her in."

Tang Song pressed the unlock button.

Xu Qing: (°-°")

Hey! You're just letting her in like that?!

What about my plot? My resistance? My female lead halo?!

In less than ten seconds, a light sound came from the foyer, the main door gently pushed open by a waiter.

Annie Kate walked in slowly on her high heels.

She had already changed into a brand new outfit.

A crisp, sharp black tailored blazer draped loosely over her shoulders, paired with a beige deep V bodysuit underneath, and high-waisted trousers of the same color scheme.

The outfit perfectly outlined her devilish figure with its curves in all the right places.

Every line exuded a healthy, athletic physical allure.

Within the flamboyant sensuality was also wrapped the sharp aura unique to a financial clan heiress.

Just standing there, not needing to do anything, made Xu Qing feel her own presence instantly suppressed into the floorboards.

"Hi, Song." Annie first threw a seductive glance at Tang Song, then turned her head, her ice-blue eyes settling on Xu Qing with a hint of amusement, greeting in fluent Chinese: "And Qingqing. We're quite fated."

Xu Qing shuddered all over. "Y-you... hello, Miss Annie."

Her voice was as small as a mosquito's hum.

The corner of Annie's lips curved up. Those eyes, like a cat watching a mouse, swept over her body once, carrying a trace of playful danger.

"You came directly to find me, what's the matter?" Tang Song spoke up, his tone flat.

Annie withdrew her gaze, turning it towards him instead.

A flicker of meaning, only he could decipher, passed through those ice-blue eyes.

"What you asked me to do, I've done it."

She paused, her fingers lightly stroking over her flat, toned abdomen, then slowly moving downwards, coming to rest at the dangerous absolute territory at the edge of her trousers.

"Your tasks, I always take seriously. Those characters, I wrote stroke by stroke. I came specifically to ask you... to personally inspect them."

Xu Qing was stunned.

Characters? What characters?

She instinctively looked at Tang Song, then at Annie.

Annie's fingers were still gently rubbing against herself, that movement carrying a certain suggestive implication.

Xu Qing's mind "buzzed," completely exploding.

(⊙□⊙)!!

No... it couldn't be...

It couldn't be characters written on that, that kind of place, could it?!

Wasn't this the plot Xiao Jing described to her?!

Using a marker?! Or some strange paint?!

Mom! This circle is too scary! I want to go home!

Tang Song's expression remained unchanged, only saying calmly, "Very good."

Receiving affirmation, Annie smiled.

She suddenly took a step forward, coming right up to Xu Qing, lowering her head slightly.

"What's wrong, Qingqing? Looking at your expression, you seem very surprised?"

"Actually, this kind of game is quite fun. Do you want to play with us? I don't mind you observing from the side, or... you could also choose a color you like, have him write it on your... here?"

She extended a fingertip, tapping lightly on Xu Qing's slightly rising chest.

Xu Qing's body trembled.

"I, I just remembered! Sister Xianyue isn't feeling well, I need to go check on her, show some concern!"

After saying this, she dashed out the door in a flash.

Her slippers tapped out a series of hurried, chaotic sounds on the floor.

"Bang."

The door was slammed shut heavily, her escape speed comparable to a hundred-meter sprint.

Within the vast, luxurious Royal Suite, only the two of them remained.

Annie turned around, licking her red lips.

"She's really cute, isn't she? Like a frightened little bunny. Song, your taste is always so unique."

"Tap, tap—"

Steady footsteps sounded in the quiet living room as Tang Song walked unhurriedly to stand before her, stopping.

He lowered his eyes, looking at this flamboyant, dazzling mare before him, his gaze cold and calm, like a horse trainer looking at a spirited, eager-to-buck stallion beneath him.

Annie slightly raised her chin, meeting his gaze without evasion.

That pair of ice-blue eyes slowly surfaced with a layer of crazed excitement.

Like flames, like tides, like a beast suppressed for too long finally awaiting release.

Tang Song didn't speak.

He simply reached out, his fingertips lightly tracing the contours of her abdominal muscles.

Through the thin fabric, slowly moving upwards.

Feeling her rapid, powerful heartbeat.

Annie's body instantly softened, letting out a low moan:

"Oh, boy. You miss me, huh? You missed me, right? Missed my body, you missed it, right? Come on, tell me."

She tried to use words to regain the initiative, her voice full of temptation.

Tang Song's hand didn't stop, continuing upwards, stopping at her collarbone.

His slender fingers suddenly tightened, gripping the mare's throat.

"Watch your address, Annie."

Annie, having her neck gripped, was forced to raise that beautiful face, her fair skin gradually flushing red due to asphyxiation.

But she didn't struggle.

The crazed light in her eyes instead grew stronger.

"Okay, okay...."

She squeezed out the words from her throat, yet the corner of her mouth curved into a smile.

"Song, it's just an address, why so serious, huh?"

"Take it off."

Annie was momentarily stunned. "What?"

"Weren't you here to have me inspect it?" Tang Song's fingers pressed slightly against her artery, feeling that rapid pulse. "Or are you just here to perform being tough-talking for me?"

Annie's breathing instantly became ragged.

Looking at this cold, ruthless man before her, her bones tried to rebel, but her body's instincts were screaming for submission.

This extreme contradiction made her whole person tremble.

She slowly reached out her hands.

The sound of metal clasps colliding was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

"Rustle—" The trousers fell.

Thin fabric cinched at both sides of her hip bones, outlining a breathtaking curve.

On her snow-white, toned skin, a line of bright red characters was written.

And they were actually in Chinese.

Tang Song released his grip, his thumb slowly descending, gently stroking over that line of script.

The coldness in his eyes gradually faded.

"Good girl."

He praised softly, his fingers applying a bit of pressure.

Annie instinctively tried to straighten up and resist, but pulled by his force, her knees went weak, and she took the opportunity to kneel down onto the thick carpet.

She raised her head, gazing up at the man standing before her, licking her dry red lips.

"Come take over your [Crown Bank], Master. But first—you need to have the ability to declare your sovereignty over me."