Late-night "Punishment" and a Racing Heart Out of Control

The car drove back into the city in silence.

Lin Chen sat stiffly upright the whole way, even breathing cautiously, afraid of angering the female CEO beside him, who radiated an icy "keep away, strangers" aura.

What on earth happened... Grandpa Yan was obviously happy... Did I do something wrong?

Did I pick the wrong gift? Or did I say something at dinner that upset her?

He racked his brains but couldn't figure it out, so he could only chalk it up to "a woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea." Especially the heart of an ice-cold woman like President Yan—it was a needle in the Mariana Trench!

Lin Chen was dropped off at his apartment first.

As he got out, Lin Chen hesitated, but finally steeled himself and said:

"President Yan, thank you... for tonight. I... I'll head upstairs now. Please be careful on your way home."

Yan Qingyue merely gave a cool "Mm," without even looking at him.

Lin Chen watched the Rolls-Royce drive away without the slightest hesitation. He rubbed his nose, even more puzzled.

Well, I must have offended her somehow. I'll just have to pray for my own good fortune tomorrow.

He sighed, turned, and headed upstairs.

Although he was a little down, thinking about how he had successfully completed the system mission and earned the old man's favor lifted his mood a little.

He couldn't wait to get back and check out his newly acquired Reserved Demeanor skill.

Meanwhile, in the car, Yan Qingyue watched the figure disappear into the building entrance through the rearview mirror. Her lips curved into a cold smile, full of vindictive intent.

Relaxed now? Hmph, just you wait. The show has only just begun.

Back home, Yan Qingyue didn't act right away.

She first took a leisurely bath, put on a face mask, and dealt with some urgent emails, as though she had completely forgotten about "punishing" someone.

She was waiting, waiting for the perfect moment.

She would deliver the "fatal blow" when he was at his most relaxed and least guarded!

Time passed slowly until it was nearly midnight.

Yan Qingyue figured the guy had probably finished his bath and might be lying in bed on his phone, or perhaps was already close to falling asleep.

Now was the time!

She picked up the private phone she used exclusively for her "Little Moon" identity and walked over to the enormous floor-length mirror in her dressing room.

She adjusted the angle of the lighting, making sure it was soft and suggestive, perfectly outlining her curves without revealing too much.

Today she had changed into a burgundy silk slip nightdress, its color lending her a touch more mature allure than the black one before.

The silky fabric clung to her skin. The V-neck revealed just the right amount of her delicate collarbones and a tantalizing hint of shadow, while the hem barely covered her buttocks. Her long, straight legs gleamed softly under the light.

She didn't take a photo.

Instead, she opened the video camera, switched to the front-facing lens, and aimed it at the mirror.

Then she began her "performance."

In the video, she had her back to the camera. She slowly turned around, her fingertips seemingly brushing a shoulder strap by accident, leaving the slender strap hanging on her rounded shoulder as though it might slip off at any moment.

She stood sideways to the mirror and glanced back slightly, her eyes flowing with expression and her red lips curving into an utterly seductive smile.

Then she slowly walked toward the mirror, her fingers gliding gently over her collarbone and down along the curves of her body... Her movements were slow and suggestive. Every glance and every tiny movement brimmed with the utmost seduction and teasing, yet remained within a hazy boundary that left endless room for imagination.

She recorded just fifteen seconds.

Then, from different angles, she quickly took five still photos, each capturing the most tantalizing moment.

When she was done, she looked at the "results" on her phone and smiled in satisfaction.

The effect was enough to make even her blush and her heart race a little.

She opened her chat with Lin Chen and selected the video to send, followed by the five photos.

The accompanying text was simple, but carried a queenly command and provocation:

"Good evening, Chenxing~ [/cute]"

"Are you ready? Your punishment... is here~ [/seductive]"

"This time it's a video~ Take your time 'enjoying' it~ [/sly]"

"After you watch it, remember to... tell me what you think~ [/shy] (Of course, it's fine if you don't. I can guess~)"

Click, send!

After doing all that, Yan Qingyue tossed her phone aside, poured herself a glass of red wine in high spirits, and leaned back on the sofa, imagining how he would react when he received this "grand gift."

Mm, she should be able to sleep well tonight.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen had just finished showering. Wearing boxer shorts and a T-shirt, he was sprawled on his bed, happily studying his newly acquired Reserved Demeanor skill.

The passive skill really did seem to be useful; he felt considerably calmer.

Good stuff! Does this mean I might be able to block out a little of President Yan's death stare from now on?

Just as he was secretly congratulating himself, his phone's special notification tone exploded like a midnight horror-movie phone call!

It was Little Moon!

And... this time she had actually sent a video?! And photos too?!

Lin Chen's heart gave a violent, reflexive leap!

After the previous few times, he had practically developed muscle memory. His hand instinctively covered his nose.

With trembling fingers, he opened the video—

The next second, he sprang upright on the bed as though a high-voltage current had struck his entire body!

His eyes went wide, and his breathing stopped instantly!

On the phone screen, that figure in a burgundy nightdress, seducing to the utmost before the mirror... Every movement and every glance seemed meticulously calculated, striking precisely at his aesthetic preferences and points of arousal!

The impact of a moving video was far beyond anything still photos could compare to!

It was a vivid, sensual, deadly temptation that seemed ready to burst out of the screen!

"Pfft—"

Despite his preparations, warm liquid still poured uncontrollably from his nostrils!

Lin Chen frantically pulled out tissues to plug his nose, but his other hand gripped his phone tightly. His eyes stayed glued to the screen without blinking as he played the brief video over and over, then opened the five photos one by one, with their higher resolution and more angles...

Blood surged madly through his veins, and his heart beat so fast it seemed ready to break free of his chest!

His whole body burned unbearably, and his tool of the trade was so full of vigor it was about to explode!

This is killing me! It's really killing me! A video! It's a video!

Little Moon! You... are you trying to kill me?! Who could withstand this?!

This... this is more deadly than any of the previous times! It's the ultimate nuclear explosion!

I'm done for, I'm done for... Forget sleeping tonight... No number of cold showers will help...

He felt like he was about to suffocate. His mind went blank, leaving only the most primal instincts and surging impulses.

His phone vibrated again. It was Little Moon's provocative message: "Tell me what you think."

What he thought?!

His head was full of mosaics right now!

What else could he possibly think?!

His fingers trembled so badly he could barely hold his phone, and even typing became an enormous struggle.

He typed shakily, then deleted it, repeating this several times before finally sending a string of incoherent wails mixed with countless emoji:

"Your Majesty! Great-aunt! My honored ancestor! [/kneeling] [/kneeling] [/kneeling]"

"I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! Please spare me! [/crying] [/crying]"

"This punishment is too brutal... My health bar is empty... My soul has left my body... I need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation... [/spitting blood] [/fainting]"

"What I think... My head is full of you right now... I don't have the brains left to think about what I think... [/surrender]"

"If this goes on... I might really die young from blood loss... [/pitiful]"

After sending them, he collapsed onto the bed as though utterly drained, gasping for breath. He felt as if he had just run a marathon, and his entire body was soaked in sweat.

At the other end of the phone, Yan Qingyue looked at his wildly exaggerated replies and all those sobbing emoji. Finally, unable to hold back, she hugged a cushion and fell back on the sofa, shaking with laughter until tears nearly came out.

She could imagine him right now, red-faced and incoherent, in a complete mess.

The effect was simply perfect!

Beyond her expectations!

Completely satisfied, she finished the last sip of red wine and replied:

"Hmph~ As long as you know how formidable I am~ [/smug]"

"Be good and go to sleep tonight. No doing naughty things~ Or else... your next punishment will be twice as bad! [/sly]"

"Good night~ My 'fragile' Chenxing~ [/moon]"

After sending the messages, she switched off her phone in an excellent mood and really did get ready to sleep well.

This late-night "punishment" ended in her complete victory.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen looked at "no doing naughty things" and "good night," and felt like crying but had no tears.

Naughty things... Is that even up to me anymore?!

He looked at the video and photos on his phone, his blood surging with excitement and his heart full of grief and indignation. He couldn't bear to delete them, but keeping them made him feel like a bundle of explosives that could go off at any moment.

In the end, he still couldn't bear to delete them. He merely encrypted and hid them away again, then resigned himself to rushing into the bathroom...

For Lin Chen, this night was destined to be another incomparably long, sleepless night of "torment."

And that heart, which had already begun to flutter quietly, seemed to grow even more confused and... out of control in this tug-of-war between extreme "punishment" and "being punished."