Sweet Torment and a Bolder Test

The next day, Lin Chen drifted into the office on unsteady feet, with even darker circles under his eyes than the day before.

Although he had managed to fall asleep in the latter half of the night with Little Moon's "soothing," the excitement that had built up earlier and the chaotic dreams that followed had left him with an abysmal night's sleep.

Yan Iceberg... you've really done me in...

He groaned inwardly and opened his computer, utterly listless.

All day long, he did his best to avoid direct contact with Yan Qingyue.

He delivered documents as quickly as possible, never let his eyes wander, and kept his work reports brief and to the point, doing his best to play the part of an emotionless working machine.

Yan Qingyue, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected. She was still the same decisive, formidable female CEO.

She handled the follow-up to the Star Sea acquisition, assigned investigation tasks, and held all kinds of meetings with frightening efficiency.

Only occasionally, when Lin Chen had his head down, pretending to be busy, would her gaze linger on the obvious dark circles under his eyes for a moment. A nearly imperceptible, playful smile would curl at her lips, like a cat that had caught a mouse.

It seemed her "revenge" had produced significant and lasting results.

She was very satisfied.

And she began planning her next move.

During afternoon tea, Yan Qingyue used an inspection of the employee lounge as an excuse to stroll past Lin Chen's workstation, seemingly by chance.

He was staring blankly at his computer screen, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the desk.

*So sleepy... but I can't sleep... every time I close my eyes, I see... stop!

I can't think about it! Work is an anesthetic!*

But Little Moon was really so gentle last night... if only I could hold her...

Yan Qingyue paused briefly, her feelings complicated as she listened to his struggle in the first half and his fantasy in the second.

She took pleasure in his "suffering," but his attachment to "Little Moon" also stirred a subtle sense of... jealousy?

Although "Little Moon" was also herself, the feeling of being jealous of herself was truly novel.

She decided she had to increase the dose tonight.

After work, Yan Qingyue went home but didn't immediately throw herself into work as usual.

She walked into her dressing room, her gaze sweeping over the wardrobe's dazzling array of clothes.

Since she was going to "spice things up," she naturally had to prepare carefully.

She chose a black lace slip nightdress. Its style was sexier than the one she had worn the night before, with more lace and a slightly shorter hem.

She even deliberately paired it with a matching set of underwear edged with delicate lace.

After changing, Yan Qingyue looked at herself in the mirror, so different from her daytime self, alluring with a hint of aggression. Her cheeks grew warm, but her eyes shone more brightly than ever.

This... should be enough "spice," right?

She picked up her phone and adjusted the angle, lighting, and background.

She didn't photograph her face, focusing only on the lines of her collarbones, the curves of her shoulders and neck, and her long, shapely legs, which seemed to glow softly in the light.

The photos were beautifully composed, suggestive without being too explicit. They left plenty of room for imagination, making them all the more tempting.

She carefully selected a few she was most pleased with, then opened the "Little Moon" chat window.

No, she couldn't send them directly. That would be too deliberate.

She thought for a moment, then sent a text first:

"Chenxing~ what are you doing?

[/cute] Work was so tiring today, I just finished a bath~"

Lin Chen was eating his takeout while studying the system interface, trying to find a way to trigger a new task or unlock the shop.

When he heard the notification, he immediately picked up his phone.

"Just finished eating [/sheepish grin]. Was the bath nice? Thanks for all your hard work, my Little Moon~ come on, let me massage your shoulders [/massage]"

He skillfully replied with sweet words.

Yan Qingyue smiled at his reply and began laying her trap:

"Mm-hmm~ if only you really could massage them for me [/sigh]."

"Oh, right, I noticed something funny just now [/snicker]."

"My bestie gave me a very special nightdress a while ago... I tried it on today on a whim..."

"I feel like... it might be a little too... mature? [/blush] I'm too embarrassed to wear it out."

"Can you take a look for me? Does it not suit me? [/image][/image][/image]"

Three messages, accompanied by three carefully taken, visually striking photos, were sent one after another.

On the other end, Lin Chen nearly sprayed the mouthful of water he had just drunk all over the screen!

His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the photos on the screen, his breathing instantly growing heavy!

I... holy crap!!!

I... I get to see this without paying?!

*Little Moon... so... you're this well-endowed?!

Those legs... those collarbones... that glimpse of... black lace?!*

Help! My health bar's empty! Who could withstand this?!

He felt as though all the blood in his body were rushing downward. His nose grew hot, and he nearly spurted a nosebleed on the spot!

*This is killing me! What does Little Moon mean by suddenly sending photos like these?!

Is she testing me? Or hinting at something?!*

*How should I reply?! Say she looks good? Would that make me seem too frivolous?

Say she doesn't? That would be a downright lie! And she'd beat me to death, wouldn't she?!*

His fingers trembled and his brain was a jumbled mess. He could barely even type:

"Ahem... um... well... [/sweat][/sweat]"

"You... you look good! Really good!

It's just... you look a little too good, I'm almost afraid to look [/facepalm]"

"It suits you! It suits you perfectly! It's just... it's just..."

He went on saying "it's just" for ages, but still didn't know what to say.

Reading his incoherent replies, Yan Qingyue could almost picture him red-faced and at a loss, not knowing what to do with himself. Her mood soared.

The effect was even better than she had expected.

She deliberately asked:

"It's just what? [/confused] Don't you like this style? [/aggrieved]"

"I do! Of course I do!"

Lin Chen replied instantly, afraid she would misunderstand. "As long as it's you, I like it all! [/heart]"

"It's just... looking at you makes... my heart race a little, and I can't sleep [/cry]..."

He finally couldn't help telling the honest truth.

Yan Qingyue burst out laughing.

Keeping you awake is exactly what I wanted.

Satisfied, she decided to quit while she was ahead. She couldn't scare him too badly all at once.

"Hmph~ so your self-control is that bad~ [/snicker]"

"All right, I won't tease you anymore~ stop letting your imagination run wild!"

"I'm going to do my skincare~ good night, my Chenxing~ [/moon]"

"Remember... dream of me~ [/shy]" (One last log on the fire.)

After sending that, she put down her phone without waiting for a reply and cheerfully began her evening skincare routine.

Meanwhile, staring at the words "remember to dream of me" and the photos above them that set his blood racing, Lin Chen felt as though his whole body were about to burst into flames!

I'm done for... there's no hope of sleeping tonight either...

Little Moon... you've learned to be naughty! How could you tease me like this!

But... I really love it [/lust]...

Clutching his phone, he looked at the photos over and over. His heart felt as though it had been scratched by a cat's claws, itching and tingling, leaving him unable to sit or stand still.

He couldn't eat his takeout, and he had no mind to study the system. His head was full of those images and Little Moon's final, shy invitation.

Sure enough, Lin Chen suffered from insomnia again that night.

And it was worse than the night before.

If last night had been the torment of ice and fire, then tonight was a scorching blaze of pure, sweet torture.

The photos and every little moment since he had met Little Moon replayed in his mind.

Her gentleness, her intelligence, her occasional playfulness, and tonight's sudden, devastating sexiness...

All kinds of thoughts and fantasies churned uncontrollably.

I can't... I can't take it anymore... Little Moon... I miss you so much...

She sent me photos like those... does that mean... she's interested in me too?

Could we... take things a step further? Meet in person?

Once that thought surfaced, he could no longer suppress it.

Yes! Meet in person!

He had to see the real

her! He could no longer be satisfied with communicating through nothing but text and voice messages!

That intense longing even temporarily overwhelmed the discomfort of his overheated body.

He sat bolt upright, picked up his phone, and took a deep breath. As if making a momentous decision, he typed and sent:

"Little Moon! Let's meet!"