Punishment

Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi were assigned to the same group and got into a car headed for the city center together.

He turned to look at the scenery outside the window. The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat tense and chilly.

A cool sensation landed on the back of his hand.

Shen Ranxin instinctively pulled his hand back. "What are you doing?"

Lu Zhi raised his eyes to look at him, his fingers smeared with white ointment. "Applying medicine."

Shen Ranxin looked at the bruise on the back of his hand, pursed his lips, and said coldly, "No need."

Lu Zhi fell silent for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. "Who are you mad at?"

Shen Ranxin had just steeled his resolve and was determined to uphold his role as the villainous background character. Hearing that, he sneered. "None of your business."

Lu Zhi leaned closer, slipping his ointment-smeared fingers directly beneath Shen Ranxin's shirt hem. The cool salve warmed against his body heat as it brushed over the skin of his abdomen, spreading a slick, damp sensation that made the spot itch densely, as though ants were crawling over it.

Shen Ranxin's breath caught. He quickly grabbed Lu Zhi's wrist and gritted out in a low voice, "Don't push it too far, Lu Zhi."

"Am I pushing it too far, or are you just being temperamental, sweetheart?" Lu Zhi gave a soft snort. "You weren't giving me this cold face last night."

It would have been better if he had not mentioned last night. The moment he did, Shen Ranxin reacted. "What happened last night? Even if we didn't do anything—and even if something really did happen—do you think you can use that to threaten me? Lu Zhi, don't you think the way you've been desperately throwing yourself at me is really pathetic?"

The hand gripping Shen Ranxin's slender waist tightened slightly. Lu Zhi seemed thoroughly angered by those words, curling his lips into an almost sinister smile.

"What is this, Teacher Shen? Tossing me aside after using me?"

Shen Ranxin's waist was practically about to be crushed by Lu Zhi's grip, but he still refused to yield. "Have you ever considered that maybe you just think too highly of yourself?"

"Heh..."

A quiet laugh slipped from Lu Zhi's lips.

But the gloom in his eyes made Shen Ranxin's heart race.

Though he knew provoking Lu Zhi like this would not end well for him, he had no choice but to keep acting the part.

Once the dating show ended and the whole world's plotline was complete, who cared about Lu Zhi or Cheng Cheng? He could just take his money and fly far away!

The next moment, a scorching palm... (omitted, not allowed by review).

Shen Ranxin's expression changed.

He knew Lu Zhi had little shame.

But he had not expected him to be this shameless!

They were still in the car. The driver and the cameraman were sitting right in front of them!

"Lu Zhi!" Shen Ranxin called out in a muffled voice.

Though quiet, his voice trembled unmistakably with tension and fear.

Lu Zhi, who had nearly been driven mad with anger by Shen Ranxin's mocking words, ultimately stopped his downward-moving hand.

He raised his eyes and saw that Shen Ranxin's were slightly red.

He was afraid, his eyes filled with fragile terror.

"..."

Lu Zhi pulled his hand out and raised it to brush against Shen Ranxin's eye.

Warm tears left a damp trail across the back of his hand.

"...If you're this scared, why deliberately provoke me?" Lu Zhi said. "Teacher Shen was the one who said such infuriating things, but now it looks like I'm the one bullying you."

Shen Ranxin sniffed and turned his head away without speaking.

He was not someone who loved to cry, but when facing Lu Zhi, he was willing to shed a few tears.

Because they seemed to have a miraculous effect on Lu Zhi.

When the car finally reached their destination, Shen Ranxin quickly fled the cabin that was filled with Lu Zhi's pheromone scent.

Lu Zhi got out after him.

The cameraman was slower getting out because he had to carry his equipment.

Lu Zhi grabbed Shen Ranxin's hand and pushed him into a small alley behind the passing crowd.

The cameraman had only just finished arranging his equipment. He hoisted his camera and was about to film the two leads when he turned around and discovered that the two people who had been waiting nearby had vanished in an instant.

The cameraman: "?"

Before Shen Ranxin could react at all, Lu Zhi lowered his head and sealed his lips.

The scent of brandy spread through the alley like a tidal wave, while Shen Ranxin's long, snow-white neck rested in Lu Zhi's palm.

His knuckles gently rubbed over the gland at the back of Shen Ranxin's neck.

"Let..."

This kiss from Lu Zhi was unlike all the previous ones, as though he were venting the anger in his eyes.

Shen Ranxin's vision swam in waves. By the time the world contained nothing but the intoxicating scent of liquor, he could barely breathe.

Brushing against his lips, Lu Zhi said hoarsely, "Teacher Shen is so bad. One moment, you call my name so sweetly, and the next, you can say such hateful things. Tell me, how should I punish you?"

Shen Ranxin's lips were red and swollen. His tongue swept over the corner of his mouth, bringing a sting of pain as the taste of rust spread through his mouth.

He pursed his lips, pushed Lu Zhi away, and straightened his rumpled clothes, (omitted, not allowed by review), but what he said was far from pleasant. "You should know when to stop taking advantage. Someone like President Lu is fine for a little fun, but getting serious would be troublesome. You're childish and clingy, and hard to shake off."

Lu Zhi's teeth itched with rage. He wished he could bite this moody, ever-changing Alpha to death. He stared at Shen Ranxin darkly. "Teacher Shen, you were the one who first (omitted, not allowed by review) me... and now you want to get away? Is that possible?"

Shen Ranxin sneered and shot him a sidelong glance. "By President Lu's standards for 'seduction,' I'd have to take responsibility for every dog by the roadside. President Lu probably wouldn't even make the list."

After saying that, he ignored Lu Zhi's dark expression and turned to leave the alley.

The cameraman was still waiting by the car. When he saw Shen Ranxin emerge from the crowd, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and shoved the camera toward him.

"Where did Teacher Shen go just now?" the cameraman asked. "I thought you two had left me behind and gone on ahead."

Shen Ranxin coughed and steadied his voice. "Nothing. There were a lot of people over there, so I went to see whether there were any work opportunities."

The cameraman nodded. "Where's President Lu?"

Shen Ranxin raised his brows. "No idea. Didn't see him. Maybe he died."

The cameraman: "?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the supposedly dead Lu Zhi appeared in the distance. Silver-haired and pale-eyed, he radiated killing intent, as if the words "sexually frustrated" were carved across his forehead.

The people nearby saw Lu Zhi and immediately pulled out their phones to take pictures.

Lu Zhi frowned and swept a cold glance around. His liquor-scented pheromones exploded outward, carrying a sharp, aggressive force.

Several passersby who had practically shoved their phone cameras into his face instantly went pale and collapsed to their knees, unable even to hold their phones. The people around them went weak in the legs and backed away several steps.

Shen Ranxin stood ten meters away from him, yet even he felt his legs weaken from the blast of pheromones. He hurriedly braced himself against the car beside him to avoid collapsing to his knees like the surrounding crowd.

"...So what if your rank is high?" Shen Ranxin gritted out. "Releasing aggressive pheromones in public—do you have any manners?"

Lu Zhi glanced at Shen Ranxin and silently withdrew his pheromones. With a smile that did not reach his eyes, he said, "Isn't it because sweetheart made me angry?"

Shen Ranxin lifted his foot and kicked him. "Try calling me that one more time, motherfucker."

Lu Zhi looked at the shoeprint on his pants and sneered. "Teacher Shen, does kicking me make you feel good?"

Shen Ranxin: "?"

Lu Zhi walked over, grabbed Shen Ranxin by the collar, and forced his face closer.

There was a description here that could not be written due to review restrictions.

Shen Ranxin: "..."

Fuck, did kicking him actually turn him on?

The cameraman was thrilled beyond measure. He wished he could split into several copies of himself and film the two men's suggestive pose from every angle.

[Teacher Shen, why did you reward Lu Zhi?]

[That felt so good. Teacher Shen, kick me a few times too.]

[Who gets it? Shen Ranxin's leather shoes are seriously so sexy.]

[I really want to kiss Shen Ranxin's feet... It's hard to imagine what it would feel like if, in (a place not allowed by review), Shen Ranxin's long legs were hooked around my (body part not allowed by review)...]

[Teacher Shen, step on me!!]

[Question Lu Zhi, insult Lu Zhi, understand Lu Zhi, become Lu Zhi.]

[Watching Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi's combined livestream is exhausting. One hand can't hold my phone steady, and it keeps falling on my face.]

[No, you?]

[Actually, couldn't the two of them count as mutually rushing toward each other?]

[Perfect summary.]

The next moment, Lu Zhi and Shen Ranxin's livestream was banned again.

Several startled cries rang out from the little villa.

"Director Chen! Director Chen, are you okay?!"

"Director Chen, don't pass out yet! You still need to negotiate with the platform and tell them we really weren't making porn!"

"Director Chen, get up already, Director Chen!"

"Where are the Quick-Acting Heart Rescue Pills? Bring them over!"

"Doctor! Doctor! Where's the doctor? Director Chen fainted again because Shen Ranxin's group pissed him off!"

"He fainted because it was too pornographic, right..."

The livestream had been shut down, but Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi still had to continue their task.

The two walked one after the other for over half an hour before the livestream was turned back on.

Shen Ranxin spotted a restaurant in the distance with an extremely lavish interior design, and a huge sign stood outside its entrance.

[To celebrate our grand opening, our restaurant is holding an event. Teams of two who complete the in-store challenge will receive a luxurious gift package!]

Shen Ranxin turned to the cameraman. "Ask Director Chen whether rewards earned from completing the restaurant's task count as labor income."

With a blank expression, the cameraman said, "Director Chen is still being resuscitated. The assistant director says it counts."

"..." Shen Ranxin said sympathetically, "If his health is that bad, he shouldn't be working. Has he finished the Quick-Acting Heart Rescue Pills?"

The cameraman: "...Not yet."

"Take a couple more as a precaution. Buy Director Chen another two boxes, and put it on Lu Zhi's tab." Shen Ranxin clicked his tongue. "Poor guy. Tell Gu Yifei and the others to stop making the director so angry."

The cameraman: "..."

You and Lu Zhi were obviously the most infuriating ones!!!

After receiving confirmation, Shen Ranxin stepped forward and asked the restaurant server standing at the entrance, "Excuse me, can anyone participate in this event as long as there are two people?"

When the server saw Shen Ranxin, a flash of amazement passed through her eyes. "Yes, sir. As long as two people form a team successfully, you can take on the challenge. If you succeed, you'll receive the ultimate grand gift package~"

Shen Ranxin got straight to the point. "What is the ultimate grand gift package?"

"That needs to remain confidential for now. It's a surprise for the challengers!"

Shen Ranxin changed his question. "Then how much is this ultimate grand gift package worth?"

The server hesitated before answering softly, "It's worth a fortune. I'm only telling you because you're so handsome—I wouldn't tell just anyone!"

Shen Ranxin eyed her suspiciously. "It's just an event. Can it really be worth that much?"

If the server was not exaggerating, then based on the current price of gold, a thousand jin would be worth five hundred thousand yuan.

The server puffed out her chest and said proudly, "Look at our restaurant's decor. Do you think our boss is someone short on money?"

Shen Ranxin's gaze fell on an ornament by the entrance.

He did not know much about it, but he recognized the luxury brand logo on the bear.

That brand was absurdly expensive in the country. Even a tiny bear sculpture like that had been speculated up to a price of over a million.

So spending five hundred thousand yuan on an event was not impossible.

Shen Ranxin grabbed Lu Zhi and said, "We're signing up!"

The server's gaze shifted from Shen Ranxin's face to Lu Zhi's, and her expression suddenly turned strange. "You..."

Lu Zhi frowned and interrupted her. "What kind of event is it?"

The server paused, swallowed the rest of her words, and introduced the event to Lu Zhi again.

Lu Zhi looked at Shen Ranxin with a half-smile. "Do you really want to participate in this?"

"Five hundred thousand yuan. There's no reason not to take it." Shen Ranxin lifted his chin. "There isn't a challenge in this world that I can't overcome. If you don't want to participate, go wait in the car. I can find someone else..."

Lu Zhi raised a brow. "I'll participate."

Shen Ranxin signed the registration form.

The server glanced at Lu Zhi, then led them into the restaurant.

Shen Ranxin followed her inside and surveyed their surroundings.

The owner of this restaurant really was exceptionally wealthy. Every corner of the interior exuded understated luxury, and the people coming and going were all dressed like they came from money...

Restaurants like this were usually membership-only. Ordinary people could not get in even if they wanted to, so why did it need to hold an event to attract customers?

Just as Shen Ranxin was wondering about that, the server led them into a room. It seemed to be a lounge of some sort. Inside was an enormous waterbed, soft wool carpeting on the floor, and all kinds of suggestive mood lighting...

The more Shen Ranxin looked, the more something felt wrong.

How the fuck did this look like a restaurant?!

He turned to leave the room, but the server moved with lightning speed and locked the door at once, shutting the cameraman carrying the camera outside.

Shen Ranxin: "?"

He went up and slapped the door, gritting his teeth. "What are you doing? What does this mean?"

The server's voice came from the smart lock on the door.

"It's like this: the challenge is to find all the family-planning products in this room and use them all! You have forty-eight hours. Complete the challenge successfully, and you'll receive the prize money!"

Shen Ranxin: "??????"

Shen Ranxin: "Fuck! Are you even a legitimate restaurant?!"