83: Task completed

Yu Heng leaned against the desk, watching Qin Lu as she pursed her lips and pulled a pack of tissues from her small purse.

Yu Heng squinted at her without saying a word, but his meaning was crystal clear.

Qin Lu frowned and looked up at him.

"Is this not okay?" Yu Heng asked, looking at her.

Qin Lu's throat bobbed as she shot him a cramped look. "Satisfied?"

Yu Heng found it a bit amusing.

This woman was still putting on airs even at this point.

"Sit down," he said, walking over. "I'll massage your knees for you."

She hadn't noticed it before, but now that she was relaxing, she felt it.

Her knees were indeed throbbing with a dull ache; the floor had been quite hard.

After sitting down, she instinctively reached out to rub them herself.

But then she felt that the gesture was too much of a sign of weakness, so she restrained herself.

Yu Heng crouched down. His palms were very warm, and his pressure was just right.

Qin Lu subconsciously drew in a breath.

"Does it hurt?" Yu Heng stopped his movements and looked up to ask her.

"No..." Qin Lu averted her gaze. "It's just... a bit sore."

"They're a bit red, but it's not too bad," Yu Heng said as he continued the massage.

After rubbing for a while, Yu Heng suddenly spoke in a low voice, as if making small talk. "Next time..."

Qin Lu was starting to feel a bit drowsy, but she interrupted him before he could finish. "There won't be a next time!"

Yu Heng let out a low chuckle, continuing to rub her left knee. "You said that last time, too."

Qin Lu was choked up, unable to find a retort.

"That was different!" she tried to struggle. "Last time was an accident. I had too much to drink."

"Oh." Yu Heng nodded. "Then you didn't drink too much this time, right? You seemed quite sober just now, even knowing how to... try a different method."

"Yu Heng!" she called him by his full name.

"Yeah?" Yu Heng responded, looking up.

"Are you done rubbing yet?" she said irritably, trying to pull her leg back.

"What's the rush?" Yu Heng held her leg down. "Let me rub a bit more."

Since they felt so good to the touch, he naturally wanted to massage them for a while longer.

Qin Lu struggled once, but when she couldn't break free, she just let him be.

After another while, Yu Heng finally let go and stood up.

Having crouched for so long, his legs were a bit numb, so he rotated his ankles.

"Alright, that should be better." He looked down at her. "Apply a hot towel when you get back."

Qin Lu opened her eyes and glanced at him without speaking.

The bit of anger in her heart had somehow been diluted by his few words of concern.

She pushed herself up using the armrests of the chair and leaned over to pick up the small shoulder bag that had fallen on the floor.

She then tidied her hair and her shirt.

"I'm leaving. I still have to pick up Qin Ya!"

She slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to leave.

"Counselor," Yu Heng called out from behind her.

Qin Lu's footsteps paused, but she didn't turn around. "What now?"

"Nothing," Yu Heng's voice was tinged with a smile. "You go ahead. I'll head down in a bit."

With her back to him, Qin Lu took a deep breath. She didn't respond, but pulled open the door and walked out quickly... She was going to burst.

Her bladder was going to burst.

The moment it hit nine o'clock.

Bai Xinran turned off the stream and got up from her gaming chair, not even daring to make any large movements.

She shuffled out of the room in an extremely awkward posture, practically leaning against the wall as she edged down the stairs.

Only a single floor lamp was on in the living room.

Yu Heng was sitting on the sofa, holding his phone, the light from the screen reflecting on his face.

Hearing the movement, he looked up. "Finished the stream?"

Bai Xinran was in no mood for pleasantries, her voice trembling. "I'm going to the restroom."

"Wait," Yu Heng stopped her.

Bai Xinran turned back to look at him. "Wait for what? I'm in a real hurry!"

"I know." Yu Heng set his phone aside. "How did the task go?"

"I drank it! I drank it all!" Bai Xinran was almost crying from the urgency. "Not a drop left! Can I go now?"

Yu Heng didn't say anything, just looked at her.

Bai Xinran felt completely uneasy under his gaze. "Boss..."

"You can," Yu Heng finally spoke, "but I have to watch."

"What?" Bai Xinran doubted she had heard him correctly.

"Yeah," Yu Heng's tone was matter-of-fact. "I need to inspect it to see the results of the task."

"No!" Bai Xinran refused without a second thought. "Absolutely not!!"

She'd rather hold it until she died!

"Oh." Yu Heng arched an eyebrow. "Then it seems you aren't in that much of a hurry after all."

"I am!" Bai Xinran was practically jumping. She hunched over, her voice changing pitch. "I'm in a hurry! A huge hurry!"

Yu Heng smiled. "How about this? Come over and lie down for a bit first."

"Lie down?" Bai Xinran didn't understand.

"Yes." Yu Heng patted the spot on the sofa next to him. "Lie down next to me. This is also an order."

Bai Xinran looked at him, pursed her lips, and shuffled to the edge of the sofa. She cautiously lay down on her side, her back to Yu Heng.

"Turn around," Yu Heng's voice came from above.

Bai Xinran stiffly rolled over until she was lying flat on her back, but her eyes were tightly shut, not daring to look at him.

Yu Heng seemed to give a light chuckle.

Then he reached out and took the phone she had been clutching in her hand.

Hers was an iPhone.

Bai Xinran opened her eyes a crack to watch him unlock it.

Her phone didn't have a passcode.

"What are you doing?" she asked warily.

"Setting an alarm." Yu Heng didn't look up. "One that goes off every two minutes to help distract you."

As he spoke, he waved the set phone screen in front of her.

The iPhone's 'Radar' ringtone plus vibration.

It was like a death knell.

Yu Heng reached out and lifted the hem of her nightgown.

The cool air brushed against her skin, making Bai Xinran shudder all over.

"Don't move."

He took the phone that was still counting down and gently placed it, screen-down, on Bai Xinran's lower abdomen.

Immediately after, the phone began to vibrate.

"Ugh..."

The alarm went off three times, and Bai Xinran really couldn't hold it anymore.

"It seems the effect is good." Yu Heng's voice held a hint of playfulness. "Now, will you let me watch?"

"Yes!" she practically screamed. "Fine, I'll let you!"

Only then did Yu Heng unhurriedly take the phone away and turn off the alarm.

"Can you walk on your own?" he asked, his tone even being considered gentle.

She shook her head in despair, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum. "My legs are weak..."

Yu Heng didn't say anything else. He slid one hand under her knees and the other behind her back, picking her up in a princess carry.

Her body suddenly became airborne. The sense of weightlessness made Bai Xinran cry out, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Yu Heng carried her toward the first-floor bathroom.

He kicked open the door, walked in, and then gently sat her down on the cold rim of the toilet.

The moment Bai Xinran touched the toilet seat, her body instinctively wanted to relax.

Yu Heng stood at the door, leaning against the frame, with no intention of leaving.

He even reached out and flicked on the bathroom light.

"Yu Heng..." She still wanted to make one last struggle.

"Do what you need to do," Yu Heng interrupted her. "You can start now."

A crisp and long echo splashed against the floor tiles.

Yu Heng walked over to her.

His hand landed on the top of her head, rubbing it very gently.

"Task completed," Yu Heng's voice came from above. "You did very well. Good job."

Bai Xinran's nose felt sour. She couldn't tell if it was because of the humiliation or because of this direct affirmation. She still didn't open her eyes, but her eyelashes trembled violently.

"Get up and clean yourself. And then..." He paused. "There's a reward."