75: This matter cannot be rushed.

After Bai Xinran returned to her room, Yu Heng sat on the sofa for a while.

The warm air from the air conditioner was still blowing. Yu Heng pulled out his cigarette case.

After his rebirth, he didn't really have much of a smoking addiction anymore.

But out of habit, he would still light one up when he was thinking.

He had to think about how to start.

From a psychological perspective, Bai Xinran's tendency was due to nothing more than a few reasons.

For example, an externalization of a desire for control.

On the surface, she looked easygoing, with short hair and a gender-neutral style, acting decisively and efficiently.

This was actually a form of high self-control.

The more someone controls their outward appearance strictly, the more likely they are to long to surrender control in specific situations.

Because being constantly tense is too exhausting; they need a safe place where they can completely relax and no longer be responsible.

Bai Xinran's family of origin was actually quite perfect.

Although her parents could be harsh and controlling, she was at least materially well-off.

And she was free in her spiritual life.

But this kind of freedom was sometimes a burden.

People need boundaries.

Parental restraint is a visible wall.

You know what you can touch and what you can't.

But Bai Xinran's walls were made of cotton.

When you throw a punch, it's soft and yielding.

Over time, a person becomes lost.

What should I do?

How should I do it?

Is doing this right or wrong?

What is the meaning of my existence?

Especially since she was an art student.

Her inner world was richer than that of an ordinary person, and it was easier for emotions to pile up.

She needed a release.

But in reality, there was nowhere for her to release them.

Fighting? Rebellion?

That wasn't her personality.

So she could only turn to the virtual world.

The Night Lingyuan persona during her streams was less of a performance and more of a reflection of her true self.

She could be sharp-tongued, she could be insolent, and even more so, she could wantonly release her desires.

Yu Heng understood this feeling all too well.

He had gone through a similar phase in his past life.

On the surface, he had everything, but inside, he was desperately empty.

Until he came into contact with The Circle.

The greatest satisfaction wasn't doing that kind of thing.

It was the actual practice of trust, surrender, boundaries, and release.

For those who truly have the Attributes and study niche cultures, it's actually a form of personality completion.

They find reflections of their missing emotions in their partner.

Moreover, what Bai Xinran needed was to temporarily shed all responsibility.

To hand herself over to someone she could trust unconditionally and let him tell her what to do and what not to do.

To experience the feeling of losing control within a safe range.

Someone who could catch all her emotions and give her clear instructions.

Someone who could see through her disguise and calmly accept her in her entirety.

Now, Yu Heng could be that person.

However, Training can't be rushed.

Especially for a novice like her; giving too much too fast at the start could easily scare her away or cause her to develop self-loathing.

The instructions for tomorrow's stream had to be carefully designed.

They couldn't be too explicit; after all, it was a live stream, and the audience would be watching.

But he also had to make her clearly aware that she was executing his commands.

Yu Heng thought for a moment, took out his phone, and opened the memo app.

He had to list a few principles.

First: Safety. Both physical and psychological safety. He couldn't actually let her make a fool of herself during the stream; that would ruin her career and destroy their trust.

Second: Gradual progress. Start with the smallest and simplest commands to let her get used to the act of obedience itself.

Third: Timely feedback. Feelings must be communicated. If she doesn't speak, guide her to speak.

Fourth: Reward mechanism. If she does well, there must be positive feedback—not necessarily material rewards, maybe just a word of recognition or a caress.

Yu Heng typed in the memo:

Candidate instructions for tomorrow's stream:

1. Adjust posture. Require her to straighten her back and keep her feet together. Reason: Streamer's poise.

2. Drink water. Take a sip of water at a specified time and describe the temperature. Reason: Protecting the throat.

3. Repeat a certain line using a specified tone. Reason: Program effect.

4..."

He stopped.

These were too simple, like a kindergarten teacher's requests.

He had to add something that would make her heart race.

Yu Heng deleted the words he had just typed and started thinking again.

What could be done during a stream?

Something the audience couldn't see, but both she and Yu Heng would know.

For example... Yu Heng saved the memo and tossed his phone aside.

---

At four o'clock sharp, Bai Xinran sat in front of her streaming equipment and took a deep breath.

What instructions would Yu Heng give her?

Would they be too difficult?

What if she didn't do well during the stream?

Bai Xinran stared at the virtual avatar on the computer screen.

The version of herself on the screen could act recklessly and say whatever she wanted.

But the version of herself outside the screen had a heart beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of her throat because of an instruction that hadn't even arrived yet.

But she had to admit that mixed within the tension brought by the unknown was a secret anticipation.

Like standing on the edge of a bungee jumping platform, knowing she'd be afraid, yet still wanting to jump.

Bai Xinran started her stream on time.

"Good evening! It's Sunday today. How has everyone's week been?"

---

At five o'clock sharp, Qin Ya's stream ended on time.

Qin Ya walked into the living room, plopped down on the single sofa next to Yu Heng, and rested her legs on the coffee table.

"I'm exhausted." Qin Ya let out a long breath. "My mom said she'd pick me up at five. She should be arriving soon."

Yu Heng glanced at her. "It's already five."

Qin Ya leaned in and lowered her voice. "You're not planning to take the initiative and look for her?"

"Look for what?" Yu Heng looked up. "She blocked me. Can I even find her?"

"Can't you go to school to find her?" Qin Ya rolled her eyes. "She definitely has to go to work tomorrow."

"And then?" Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "I go to her office and say, 'Counselor, take my WeChat off your blacklist'?"

Qin Ya was choked up for a moment and curled her lip. "Well, you can't just leave things in a deadlock like this, can you? Even I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable."

Yu Heng didn't speak.

Qin Ya's phone vibrated. She took it out, checked it, and said, "My mom's at the entrance. She just sent me a message telling me to come out."

As she spoke, she stood up and started putting on her coat.

"I'll walk you out," Yu Heng also stood up.

"No need, no need." Qin Ya waved her hand. "I can go out by myself."

"Let's go!" Yu Heng had already reached the foyer and started changing his shoes. "I'll walk you out!"

"Oh~" Qin Ya's eyes lit up, and she quickly followed. "Hehe, you definitely should walk me out!"

The two walked out of the Villa one after the other.

It was already a bit dark after five.

The streetlights weren't on yet. Qin Lu's car was parked on the side of the road, with the driver's side window halfway down.

Her face was turned to the side, her gaze fixed on her phone screen, her finger swiping across it as if she were reading some message.

When Yu Heng walked up to the car, Qin Lu's finger paused, but she didn't look up.

"Counselor," Yu Heng spoke, his voice neither loud nor soft.

Only then did Qin Lu look up. Her face was expressionless, and she didn't even respond, only looking at Qin Ya. "Get in the car."

Qin Ya pulled open the car door, slipped into the passenger seat, and buckled her seatbelt.

She glanced at Yu Heng through the car window, then at her own mother, muttering to herself.

These two—one pretending not to know the other, the other acting completely indifferent—who are they putting on this act for?

Yu Heng stood by the car, hands in his hoodie pockets, looking at Qin Lu.

Qin Lu was actually nervous. Her lips were pressed into a straight line, a habitual little gesture she used to hide her emotions.

But she simply wouldn't look at him, and the car window began to rise slowly.

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow, trying to see if she was wearing stockings today, but he couldn't see clearly from this angle.

She probably was?