176: One is willing to hit, and the other is willing to be hit.

It was past nine in the evening, and Yu Heng sat on his bedroom bed scrolling through his phone.

Recently, a few Streamers in the Douyin Guild had decent data, and their daily revenue had far exceeded the base guarantee.

This showed that the online model was viable and should be rolled out as soon as possible.

The door was pushed open gently, and Bai Xinran pushed in a foot-soaking bucket, its wheels rumbling softly.

"The water is ready," she said, placing the bucket on the rug beside the bed. "Please test the temperature."

Yu Heng put his phone on the nightstand, moved to the edge of the bed, and dipped his feet into the hot water.

The temperature was just right—a bit hot, but bearable.

He leaned back and patted the mattress beside him.

Bai Xinran took off her slippers, climbed up, and sat down next to him.

Yu Heng reached out and pulled her into his arms. Bai Xinran leaned in naturally, rubbing her head against his shoulder.

She was already quite used to this intimacy and genuinely enjoyed it in her heart.

"This weekend," Yu Heng suddenly spoke, his hand slowly massaging her shoulder, "we can hold the Master-recognition ceremony."

Bai Xinran's body stiffened slightly, and she looked up at him.

"Really?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Yes," Yu Heng said. "I've prepared everything that needs to be prepared."

Bai Xinran pursed her lips and leaned her head back against him.

"Thank you," she said.

Yu Heng didn't respond to that, instead pressing his fingers into the area between her shoulder and neck.

"How are you getting along with Zhou Mengqi?" He changed the subject.

Bai Xinran thought for a moment. "It's okay?"

"Do your personalities get along?" Yu Heng asked.

"It's fine," Bai Xinran said. "As long as she listens to you too, it's fine."

She actually felt Zhou Mengqi was a bit too lively, but there was no need to say that.

Yu Heng smiled. "Actually, these girls all have pretty good personalities."

He paused. "Yue Ling and Yu Tong as well."

Bai Xinran hummed in agreement, and the room fell silent for a while.

"Master," Bai Xinran suddenly spoke, her voice even softer than before, "may I ask you a question?"

"What is it?" Yu Heng asked.

Bai Xinran hesitated for two seconds.

"Yu Tong... doesn't have an Attribute," she said. "Why do you..."

She didn't finish, but Yu Heng knew what she wanted to ask.

"Why am I so persistent?" Yu Heng finished for her.

Bai Xinran nodded.

Yu Heng didn't answer immediately. He stared at the swaying surface of the water in the bucket, his toes moving slightly.

Because of an obsession? he thought to himself.

He had missed out in his past life, so he wanted to have her in this one.

But he didn't say that.

"She's different," Yu Heng finally said.

Bai Xinran waited for a moment, realizing Yu Heng didn't intend to elaborate.

"I'm worried Yu Tong will overthink things," she whispered.

Yu Heng's hand slid down from her shoulder, patting her back gently through her pajamas.

"She won't," he said.

Bai Xinran looked up at him.

"She knows what I'm doing," Yu Heng continued, his voice steady, "and she knows what she's doing."

He paused, narrowed his eyes, and went on.

"She's not a child. If she were truly unwilling, she would have grabbed my hand when I touched her waist in the car."

"But isn't that because she likes you?" Bai Xinran said.

"If, because of liking someone," Yu Heng smiled, "one still allows themselves to be taken advantage of despite having their clear confession rejected..."

He paused.

...then she deserves to be played with."

Bai Xinran didn't speak. She understood, but she also felt his words were somewhat cruel.

However, she agreed with Yu Heng. There was no restriction of freedom, no threats or coercion; ultimately, it was a mutual arrangement.

Yu Heng's hand rested on her waist for a moment, then moved up to pinch her earlobe.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"Nothing," Bai Xinran said. "I just feel... Yu Tong must be quite upset."

"Suffering is inevitable," Yu Heng said. "Besides, she might not necessarily be upset."

Bai Xinran fell silent. It was true.

Ning Yutong wasn't a child, especially since Yu Heng had been so blunt with her.

If she could still be treated this way, it wasn't just simple innocence anymore.

One could only say it was a case of one being willing to hit and the other being willing to suffer.

Yu Heng pulled her closer, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"The ceremony this weekend," he returned to the previous topic, "are you looking forward to it?"

Bai Xinran's ears warmed up.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Are you nervous?" Yu Heng asked.

"A little," Bai Xinran said honestly.

Yu Heng chuckled softly, his warm breath fanning over her hair.

"No need to be nervous," he said. "Just do as I say."

Bai Xinran nodded.

She leaned against him for a while longer, then suddenly remembered something.

"Master," she said, "during the ceremony... will Sister Yueling be there?"

"She'll definitely be at home," Yu Heng said, "but she won't come in."

Bai Xinran breathed a sigh of relief.

She wasn't that she didn't want Shen Yueling to know; she just felt it would be embarrassing to have someone else present at such a time.

Yu Heng seemed to know what she was thinking, his fingers lightly tracing the back of her neck.

"It'll just be the two of us," he said.

Bai Xinran hummed in response and buried her face in his chest.

The foot-soaking water gradually grew cold.

Yu Heng lifted his feet out, and Bai Xinran immediately got off the bed to grab a dry towel from a nearby shelf.

She knelt on the floor, carefully drying his feet.

Yu Heng looked down at the top of her head, noticing her small hair whorl.

After drying his feet, Bai Xinran picked up the bucket.

"I'll go pour the water out," she said.

"Leave it," Yu Heng said. "Empty it tomorrow."

Bai Xinran hesitated but put the bucket back on the floor anyway.

"Stay with me and sleep upstairs tonight," Yu Heng said. "It's been a few days since we just chatted."

"Then I'll go down and tell Sister Yueling," Bai Xinran said, about to get up.

Yu Heng caught her wrist. "No need. I'll just tell her on WeChat."

Bai Xinran paused and looked at him. "I should go tell her myself, otherwise Sister Yueling might..."

"It's fine," Yu Heng interrupted, letting go of her hand to pick up his phone from the nightstand. "I'll tell her."

Bai Xinran sat back down and watched him type.

She was actually a bit worried that Shen Yueling would be unhappy, after all, she was the one staying with Yu Heng upstairs tonight.

Although Shen Yueling wouldn't say it, she would certainly care in her heart.

"Thank you," Bai Xinran whispered.

Yu Heng finished sending the message, put down his phone, and smiled as he patted her head.

In reality, no matter who told her, Shen Yueling's feelings would be the same.

Bai Xinran was sleeping with Yu Heng today, and she had to sleep alone.

Regardless of whether Yu Heng ordered it, Shen Yueling would feel a sense of isolation.

However, if Bai Xinran were the one to say it, Shen Yueling might resent both of them together.

In that case, a rift could easily form between the two girls.

But if Yu Heng said it himself, the resentment would be directed at him.

At most, Shen Yueling would curse him as a bastard in her heart for having A Ling stay with him again, but she wouldn't blame Bai Xinran.

It didn't matter if she resented him; the important thing was to make the two girls feel like they were on the same side.

It was just like the relationship between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law; whether the relationship was good or not often depended on what the man in the middle did.

Sometimes, playing the villain himself to let them reach an understanding was actually the best choice.