A Long-Distance Duel on a Sleepless Night

The video conference—or rather, the one-sided visual torture—lasted nearly forty minutes.

For Lin Chen, those forty minutes were tantamount to torture.

He had to struggle to focus on the complicated flows of funds and financial terminology.

At the same time, he had to desperately suppress the seductive thoughts and physical reactions constantly roiling within him. He felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, every second dragging on like a year.

Yan Qingyue, meanwhile, maintained an efficient, professional manner throughout. She spoke clearly and steadily, occasionally asking questions, her gaze seemingly fixed on the documents.

In truth, she took in every bit of Lin Chen's fidgeting, blushing, and incoherent speech, and her delight continued to climb.

Finally, she closed the folder, as if she had only just noticed the time:

"That should be about it. Let's stop here for today. Take some time to digest these materials, and we'll discuss them again at work tomorrow."

"O-okay! Goodbye, President Yan!"

Lin Chen felt as though he had been granted a pardon. He clicked the hang-up button almost instantly, as if something would crawl out of the screen and bite him if he were a second slower.

The moment the screen went black, he collapsed in his chair and let out a long breath. He felt as if he had just run a marathon, drained all over yet restless with heat.

This is killing me... President Yan definitely did that on purpose!

She must have noticed my thoughts wandering during the meeting today!

This is revenge! Naked revenge!

But... why would she get revenge like that?

Could it be... she feels that way about me...? No, no, no!

Impossible! Get a grip, Lin Chen!

That's Yan Iceberg! She just wants to torture me! To watch me make a fool of myself!

But... what she was wearing... it was too... I couldn't take it...

He rushed into the bathroom and took a cold shower, trying to douse the fire in his body and wash away the seductive images that refused to leave his mind.

It was no use, however.

Once he lay down in bed, all he had to do was close his eyes and there it was: that champagne-colored silk, those delicate collarbones, those tantalizingly half-hidden curves, and those cool, clear eyes that seemed able to see through a person's heart...

He tossed and turned until two in the morning, but Lin Chen still wasn't the least bit sleepy. Instead, he was unusually wired, and a certain part of his body was so wide awake that it drove him to despair.

I'm done for, done for... I really can't sleep... Yan Iceberg, you're ruthless!

He snatched up his phone in frustration, its screen glaring in the darkness.

As if guided by an unseen force, he opened his chat with Little Moon.

Right now, he desperately needed some pure, gentle comfort, untainted by "workplace persecution."

His fingers tapped at the keyboard, his words carrying a hint of grievance and a plea for affection:

"Little Moon, I can't sleep [/crying]. I feel awful..."

Only after sending it did he realize how late it was. He was just about to recall the message when her reply arrived instantly.

"What's wrong? Can't sleep? [/pat on the head] Is something on your mind?"

Yan Qingyue had just finished dealing with a few urgent emails and was about to rest when she saw Lin Chen's tearful complaint.

She could almost picture him scratching his head and tossing and turning in distress, and the corners of her lips rose despite herself.

It seemed her "revenge" had been remarkably effective.

Lin Chen's heart warmed when he saw the reply, and he immediately felt even more aggrieved. His fingers flew as he poured out his troubles:

"Ugh, don't even mention it... Our female devil of a boss really put me through the wringer today!"

"She suddenly dragged me into a video conference tonight. Discussing work would've been one thing... but she, she was actually wearing pajamas!

And they were the kind that were... really, you know!"

"Who could possibly handle that? It left me so distracted I barely took in any of the meeting, and now my head's full of... ahem..."

"She must have done it on purpose! She was definitely getting back at me for spacing out during the meeting today!

Too ruthless! A woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea!"

Reading that long string of "accusations," Yan Qingyue nearly laughed aloud.

Revenge? That's right, it was revenge. Looks like it worked even better than I expected.

Her mood grew even brighter, and she felt like teasing him some more.

She replied:

"Huh? Your boss is that... uninhibited? [/surprised]"

"But... she wore pajamas for you to see, and you still had the mind to hold a meeting?

[/snickering] Did you sneak lots of looks?"

Lin Chen's face turned red, and he felt guilty, as if she had seen right through him:

"No way! Am I that kind of person? [/pouting]"

"I tried hard to restrain myself, okay?

But... but the visual impact was too strong... You can't blame it all on my lack of self-control. My opponent was too powerful!"

"Besides, she's never like that normally! She must have taken the wrong medicine today!

Or else she's cooking up something nasty!"

Yan Qingyue smiled with her lips pressed together, her fingers flying:

"Mm-hmm~ Looks like our Chenxing still needs to cultivate his self-control~ [/cute]"

"But... hearing you say that, I'm a little curious... [/thinking]"

"Compared to me... how is she?"

She deliberately paused before sending the second half of the question: "I mean, her figure?"

Even Yan Qingyue felt her cheeks grow slightly hot as she sent the words, but the thrill of a successful prank made her ignore the slight discomfort.

She wanted to see how this fellow, who entertained improper thoughts about "President Yan" while pledging his loyalty to "Little Moon," would answer this deadly question.

On the other end of the phone, Lin Chen nearly threw his phone away when he saw it!

Holy crap! That's a death-trap question!

How am I supposed to compare them?! President Yan is... she's nuclear-weapon level!

I haven't seen Little Moon, but judging by her voice and the way she talks, she seems like the gentle, lovable type. She's not the same type as a domineering mature beauty like President Yan!

Wait! What am I thinking?! Little Moon is the best! President Yan is a devil!

His survival instinct made him choose at once:

"There's no comparison at all! [/resolute]"

"She's aggressive, she's workplace oppression! She's a sugar-coated cannonball!"

"Our Little Moon is gentle as water, thoughtful and lovable, a harbor for the soul! [/heart]"

"I like someone like you better! (Of course, I haven't seen what you look like either, but I trust my feelings!)"

Looking at that swift yet "sincere" declaration, especially the words "aggressive" and "workplace oppression," Yan Qingyue couldn't help letting out a soft laugh.

At least he knew where to draw the line.

But "sugar-coated cannonball"?

That was quite an apt description.

She decided to quit while she was ahead and drop the subject, lest she really scare him away.

"Hmph, smooth talker~ [/shy] But I'll let you pass~"

"All right, it's very late. Hurry and go to sleep! Close your eyes and count little sheep~"

"If you still can't sleep... I might consider singing you a lullaby~ [/snickering]"

As Lin Chen looked at the message, it was as if he could really hear Little Moon's gentle voice coaxing him to sleep. The restlessness in his heart strangely subsided quite a bit.

"Mm-hmm, I'm going to sleep now! Good night, Little Moon! [/hug]"

"Good night, my Chenxing~ [/moon]"

After putting down his phone, Lin Chen hugged his pillow, a silly smile on his lips. The seductive images in his mind did seem to have been driven away somewhat, gradually replaced by a warm, reassuring feeling.

Little Moon really is the best... so gentle and cute...

He mumbled to himself. At last, exhaustion from being awake for most of the night washed over him. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he gradually drifted into sleep.

At the other end of the city, Yan Qingyue put down her phone and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the scattered city lights outside.

It seemed she had won tonight's long-distance "duel."

But had she won?

Why, when she heard him say so firmly that he "liked someone like her better," did she feel a trace of inexplicable... secret delight?

And when he complained that she was a "sugar-coated cannonball," why wasn't she angry, but instead found it... interesting?

She found herself increasingly enjoying the curious experience of these dual identities.

On one hand, she controlled him and tested him in real life, watching him grow flustered or excited because of her;

On the other, in the online world, he depended on her, trusted her, and even... admired her?

This complex, secret relationship was like a thrilling game full of temptation.

And she seemed to be enjoying herself a little.

"Lin Chen..."

She whispered his name, her gaze growing ever more inscrutable in the night.

This game had only just begun.

She looked forward to their next "clash."

Perhaps it was time to consider adding a little something extra to that "sugar-coated cannonball"?