Playing Hard to Get and an Even Harsher "Punishment"

Every second after the message was sent felt like a century to Lin Chen.

He stared fixedly at his phone screen, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest, both hopeful and afraid.

He hoped Little Moon would say yes, but feared she would reject him, or worse—he would scare her.

The seconds and minutes ticked by, but there was still no response from the other end.

What's wrong? Didn't she see it? Or... does she not want to reply?

Was I too forward? Did I scare her?

I'm done for, I'm done for... impulse is the devil!

I finally managed to build up her favorability. It won't just drop back to zero, will it?

Anxiety and regret instantly overwhelmed his earlier impulse and longing.

Like a prisoner awaiting sentencing, he couldn't sit still and wished he could take the message back immediately.

Just as his racing thoughts were about to drive him mad, his phone finally chimed.

Lin Chen practically lunged for it.

It was a reply from Little Moon!

But the contents sent him plummeting from heaven to rock bottom in an instant.

"Huh? Meet up? [surprised]"

"Why are you suddenly in such a hurry?"

"[snickering] Didn't we... didn't we agree to take some more time to get to know each other?"

"Besides, I've been really, really busy at work lately [crying]. I often have to work overtime, and I barely have any time to rest..."

"Can we wait until I'm done with this busy stretch?"

"I'll definitely make time for us to have a proper meeting then~ [cute]"

Her tone was as gentle as ever, even a little coquettish, but her refusal was unmistakably clear.

Lin Chen's heart sank, and a tremendous sense of disappointment swept over him.

Just as I thought... she said no...

She said she was busy... is that an excuse?

Or is she really not ready?

He slumped against the headboard, feeling like a deflated ball.

But he still forced himself to rally and tried to make his reply sound considerate and understanding:

"It's okay, it's okay! I just suddenly missed you so much that I couldn't help saying it [scratching head]."

"Your work comes first, so take care of that! We can take our time. I'm in no hurry! (Actually, I'm dying to meet you! But I don't dare say it!)"

"Whenever you have time, just let me know! I'm free anytime! [sun]"

After sending the messages, he sighed, tossed his phone aside, and collapsed onto the bed.

The burden is heavy and the road is long, Lin Chen... the revolution has yet to succeed, and comrades must keep striving!

Meanwhile, Yan Qingyue looked at Lin Chen's "understanding" replies, which could barely conceal his disappointment, and her lips curved into a sly smile.

Playing hard to get really did work.

Of course she wouldn't meet him now.

The game was only just getting interesting, and she hadn't had enough fun yet.

Besides, she was increasingly enjoying the sense of control and... pleasure that came with her dual identities.

Watching him fret over her as President Yan while pining for "Little Moon," she found the strange contradiction especially entertaining.

And although his "I just suddenly missed you so much" had been directed at "Little Moon," it had made her heart skip a beat too.

Well, since he was being so "pitiful" and "sincere"...

Yan Qingyue's eyes shifted, a mischievous glint flashing through them.

Meeting was out of the question, but... she could give him another little "taste of sweetness," or rather... a "taste of suffering"?

It would make him long for her more, and suffer more.

That was more in keeping with the theme of "punishment."

She picked up her phone again, opened the camera, and adjusted her pose and the lighting.

This time, she didn't take any more of those suggestive close-ups.

Instead, she took an almost full-body photo in the full-length mirror—her face was still hidden, with the frame cutting off at her chin.

In the photo, she wore the highly seductive black lace camisole nightdress, its hem barely reaching the tops of her thighs and outlining her breathtaking curves.

Under the soft lighting, her skin seemed to glow with a lustrous whiteness, contrasting sharply with the black lace and turning the visual impact up to the maximum.

She looked it over carefully, then curved her lips in satisfaction.

Then she sent him the photo with the messages:

"Okay, okay, since you've been so good~ [snickering]"

"Here's a 'goodnight treat' as your reward~ [shy]"

"But... you're only allowed to look, no doing naughty things! Or I won't let you see next time! [hmph]"

"I really have to go to sleep now! Good night, and no more letting your imagination run wild! (Though that might be a little hard? [playful])"

After sending them, she promptly put down her phone again and walked into the bathroom, humming an off-key tune in an excellent mood.

She could foresee that someone's torment would reach a new peak tonight.

Sure enough, the instant Lin Chen saw the photo on his end, his brain buzzed and crashed completely!

His blood seemed to boil in an instant, then all of it rushed to certain places!

*!!!*

His eyes went round, his breath stopped, and he nearly dropped his phone on the floor!

Th-this was no longer a "treat"!

This was a nuclear-level visual bombardment!

It was a hundred times more direct and devastating than the suggestive photos from before!

Those perfect proportions, that delicate, smooth skin, that damned black nightdress that concealed and revealed at once... everything about it was battering his defenses of reason like crazy!

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!!!

Little Moon!!! You're playing with fire!!!

Who could withstand this?! And I'm not allowed to do naughty things?!

How could I possibly not do naughty things?! I'm a normal man!!!

He felt unbearably hot all over! This was going to be the death of him!

His earlier disappointment had long since been blasted to ashes, leaving only the most primal, surging impulses and desires.

His fingers trembled so much that typing was beyond him, and all he could send were meaningless characters:

"Aaaaaah!!!! [freaking out] [freaking out] [freaking out]"

"Little Moon! You... you've gone too far! [spitting blood]"

"How am I supposed to sleep now?! I won't get any sleep tonight! [tears]"

"You must have done it on purpose! [aggrieved]"

But his messages vanished like stones sinking into the sea, and he received no further reply.

Clearly, the culprit had sauntered off after dropping her "bomb," leaving him alone to suffer amid this boundless spring scenery.

Clutching his phone, Lin Chen gazed at the photo that made his blood surge, his face drawn in misery.

What have I done to deserve this...

How was this a reward?

This was plainly the sweetest, cruelest torture in the world!

That night, Lin Chen really did lie awake until dawn.

He counted tens of thousands of sheep, took several cold showers, and even tried reciting pi to distract himself, but nothing worked.

The photo was branded into his mind, impossible to shake.

Only when the sky began to pale did he collapse onto the bed, utterly exhausted and glassy-eyed, with only one thought left in his head:

Little Moon... just you wait...

When I finally meet you, I'll definitely... definitely...

With that "indignant" vow, full of endless fantasies, he finally drifted into a heavy sleep.