"How is it?" Chu Nanli raised an eyebrow.
The woman felt a sting in her nose, "Very well, thank you, Master."
That word, "Master," was spoken from the heart.
In the end, all three took on their new names.
The woman, once a noble family's eldest daughter, was now called Xinlian. She hoped that after experiencing the upheaval of her family being wiped out and being sent away as a slave, she could remain as pure as a reborn lotus rising unstained from the mud.
The first man chosen by Chu Nanli had once been an adopted son of a minor official in the Hanlin Academy. Now, he was named Chu Yi.
When Chu Nanli asked why he chose this name, he answered with seriousness.
"Since it was you, Master, who granted me a new beginning, I dared to borrow your surname. 'Yi,' because my loyalty to you will always be unwavering."
Chu Nanli was truly surprised. Originally, when choosing people, he found this one to be stable and reliable, but he hadn't expected him to so swiftly adapt to his new identity, letting go of everything from his past.
However, whether he was truly reliable remained to be seen.
The other man had previously worked as a bodyguard and had even helped his former employer train new bodyguards due to his impressive skills.
Later, he had charged into a raging fire to save the former employer's young daughter, burning his face in the process. The former employer, finding his appearance ruined and unsightly, sold him to the slave market.
He was truly a pitiable man.
Now, he reverted to his original name, "Xiangyang." When he served as a bodyguard for his former employer, he had been "granted" a new name and had to discard his own.
"Sir, the three sets of clothes you requested have been bought and brought back for you."
A waiter's earnest voice came from outside the private room.
Chu Yi stood up and brought in the clothing.
"Go and change your clothes," Chu Nanli told the three.
The private room had multiple partitions, each screened off, which was convenient for the three to change clothes.
Before long, Xinlian and the others emerged from behind the screens, and Chu Nanli's eyes lit up as he looked over.
Xinlian, tall and slender, wore a well-fitted dress. After tying up her hair, her beautiful face was completely revealed, and there was an innate grace and boldness in her every movement.
Chu Yi wore a simple black outfit, yet he exuded an aura that combined scholarly elegance and masculine charm. With his properly proportioned features, he presented a handsome figure.
Although Xiangyang's face was rather ordinary and bore the scars of burns, his tightly-bound muscles seemed ready to burst through his clothes, providing a strong sense of security.
Chu Nanli gazed at the three, becoming increasingly satisfied.
The three on the opposite side, however, felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Master, is there something amiss?" Xinlian asked.
Chu Nanli's smile curved his eyes, "Perfect, absolutely perfect."
The three exchanged glances, their eyes showing a hint of confusion.
Chu Nanli lightly coughed into his hand and said seriously, "Alright, from now on, I expect you to completely forget your past identities. Do not involve yourselves with any people or matters from before; I don't want any unnecessary trouble coming our way."
The three responded earnestly.
They either no longer had family or had lost those closest to them during the upheaval when their homes were destroyed, leaving them with nothing to hold onto anymore.
Chu Nanli assessed the three, forming plans for them in his mind.
"Xinlian, can you help me open a brothel, do you have the confidence?"
"Bro... brothel?" Xinlian paused, doubting she had heard correctly.