Heavens... I can't be rash!

Han Lie struggled to restrain himself, silently singing "The Punishment of Impulse."

Some things just have to be timed perfectly. Pan Ge and Xi Luting are two entirely different matters; today is definitely not the day to make a move on Pan Ge. Not only should I not touch her, but I also need to send her home as soon as possible. Plus, I have to convince her to help me cover up my lie. Luring a young lady from a wealthy family out of her house in the middle of the night... there's no way I can explain that to her parents without looking like the bad guy.

On the other hand, is Pan Ge truly ready and willing? Clearly not. Otherwise, why would she be clinging to me so tightly, using intimidation? It's obvious she just wants to play but isn't willing to face the consequences if things go south. Truly a blooming Black-hearted White Lotus... This woman is devious!

Han Lie struggled against her assertive advances, and soon, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. In moments like these, a man's willpower is utterly unreliable.

"Stop, stop, stop! Sis, I was wrong!"

"Oh? And where were you wrong?" Pan Ge cooed, wrapping her arms around him and continuing her teasing. "I don't think you were! I felt amazing just now; you should be praised... Aah, you're so good at that, who taught you?"

What a handful! A woman who truly lets herself go is incredibly hard to manage... So, you're running wild just because you know I don't dare to touch you, huh?

"Anyway, I've apologized!" Han Lie steeled himself and decided to play coy. "I'll give you two choices. First, you behave, we keep out of each other's way, and I'll take you home before 5 AM. Second, you keep making a scene, and if you push me too far, I'll be all over you until 5 AM, and then I'll drag you home..."

"Go on, I dare you!" Pan Ge, usually timid, showed surprising resolve today. "Not only will I not resist, I'll cooperate fully. If I can't go home, so be it. What's the big deal?"

Han Lie's eyes widened in disbelief as she continued her defiant tirade.

"Neither of us is backing down today! If you can resist, I'll admit you're incredible; I concede. But if you can't, and we accidentally make a baby, I'll make you a father next year!"

Han Lie was stunned. This is insane! This woman is ridiculously smart! She was terrified of me just a moment ago, but as soon as she realized I wouldn't dare lay a finger on her, she completely turned the tables and started acting recklessly. As for a young lady's composure... After everything that had happened, what composure was left to speak of? Now, it's about salvaging what little dignity I can. If I can't, all my previous restraint will have been for nothing!

Pan Ge had read him perfectly, and now Han Lie was cornered.

Ironically, he was the one who didn't dare touch this 'demure' Pan Ge, terrified that if he lost control, he'd devour her completely. If I bring her home limping tomorrow morning, Panzi is sure to explode. He'd give me a harsh scolding, then Panzi would reluctantly accept it, roping me in to be raised as his son-in-law... Great. Forget Xi Luting, forget Chen Yanfei, forget Ding Xiang. No one else better even think about getting close, or he'd have their legs broken! That's why the order of things is crucial. I have to secure Xi Luting first, then make Pan Ge tacitly accept that she's the latecomer. Only then can I avoid a cascade of future problems. This 'demure' Pan Ge is so easy to get right now; a little force and I could have her. But I can't do that. She's already smart. Giving her such huge leverage would mean being manipulated by her every single day!

Having thought it through, Han Lie decisively wrapped her in the blanket like a spring roll, then swung his long legs over her, pinning her down firmly.

"Be good and sleep! I'm a man of pristine virtue; you can't have me just because you want me!"

Pan Ge struggled with all her might, but to no avail. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she seethed, "Han Lie, are you even a man? Let me go if you have any guts!"

Han Lie stared back, wide-eyed. He dared not leave, nor dared he sleep, so they remained in a standoff.

"You'd better behave, or I'm calling Xi Luting!"

Pan Ge froze. "Why would you call her?"

"To take intimate photos of us to post online; she'd love to do that!"

"Bastard! Are you even human?" Pan Ge thrashed about in anger, sweating profusely, but couldn't break free. Exhausted, she started her provocations again. "Go on, call her! Hurry up!"

Han Lie rolled over, grabbed his phone, skillfully unlocked it, opened QQ, and right in front of Pan Ge, initiated a video call.

Pan Ge was utterly petrified. After a two-second stunned silence, she began to struggle frantically again. "Are you insane? Stop it! Hang up! Hang up now!"

She could accept losing her virginity, but she couldn't bear the thought of Han Lie live-streaming this scene, especially to Xi Luting. Sweat poured down her forehead again.

"Alright, alright, alright! I'll behave and go to sleep! Just hang up the video call, stop pointing that thing at me!"

Only when she had completely surrendered did Han Lie hang up, his expression unchanging.

As the video call interface vanished, Pan Ge finally let out a massive sigh of relief. "You really aren't afraid of making a huge scene, are you..." Her gaze was complex, tinged with resignation.

Who's more scared, you or me? I'm terrified! Han Lie thought. It's just that I know perfectly well that Xi Luting wouldn't accept my video call request anytime soon...

So, the scoundrel, despite his heart pounding in his chest, put on an air of utter nonchalance, maintaining a sophisticated demeanor. "What's there to be afraid of? It's not like we did anything. If she comes, great! We can play Fight the Landlord!"

Pan Ge suddenly sensed something was wrong. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What do you mean, 'we didn't do anything'? After all this, what more do you want? You dog, are you trying to go back on our deal?"

"Aren't we in a pure 'kept man' arrangement?" Han Lie wrapped his arms tightly around her, blanket and all, shamelessly playing dumb. "You provide the money, I provide the service. Right now, you're my client. When we get up, we're still good friends..."

"Let go of me! I'll bite you to death!" Pan Ge was livid.

Han Lie, however, retorted coolly, "Am I wrong? Between actual boyfriends and girlfriends, services are mutual. But you? You just lie there like some grand lord, only knowing how to moan and groan..."

Damn it! Pan Ge fumed internally. How has this scoundrel not been beaten to death yet!

If their earlier antics were just playful, Pan Ge was genuinely furious now. After a considerable struggle, she finally freed one hand and viciously grabbed Han Lie's ear. "You want service, right? Fine! Don't move!"

Han Lie truly didn't dare to move. He hunched over, curled up like a large shrimp, and hastily begged for mercy. "Heroine, I was wrong! Merciful heroine, spare my life!"

The heroine, however, had a short fuse. She yanked herself free from the blanket as if in a tug-of-war and started pinching him—aiming exclusively for the tenderest spots.

Han Lie couldn't dodge and, being pinched in all the tender spots, yelped in pain. He had no choice but to go for broke.

"Let go!"

"You let go first!"

"No way... SLURP!"

"Ah! You're disgusting! GIGGLE, GIGGLE... Stop, that tickles!"

The initial roughhousing was relatively normal, but when Han Lie quietly started chewing a second piece of gum, Pan Ge was soon dumbfounded.

「The night gradually drew to a close.」

A little after 4 AM, Han Lie patiently helped her tidy herself up, then called the hotel car to take her home.

By the time they reached her doorstep, she had regained some of her strength. She gave the scoundrel a very complex look. "Don't think you can get away with this..."

She pressed the fingerprint scanner to unlock the door, then poked Han Lie's chest with her index finger. "You just wait until I've recovered my strength!"

Han Lie lowered his voice. "So... shall we continue tonight?"

Pan Ge shuddered violently, then turned and walked through the gate without another word.

What's the point of a verbal spar? Sooner or later, I'll show you my true skills!

「...」

Dragging her exhausted body, Pan Ge had just reached the foot of the living room stairs when someone suddenly sat up from the sofa.

"Where have you been?"

"Mom! You scared me to death!" Pan Ge clutched her chest, trying her best to stand straight as she faced her mother's scrutiny. Her mind raced, and in an instant, she decided to lie for Han Lie. "Han Lie got beaten up in his dorm. I went with him to the hospital..."

"What?!" Zhao Anni leaped to her feet and hurried to her daughter's side. The first thing she smelled wasn't disinfectant, but the unfamiliar scent of a different shower gel.

She kept her composure and observed her daughter carefully. "Is he badly hurt? How did he get beaten up in his dorm? Goodness, that's outrageous..."

"It's not too serious." Pan Ge suddenly remembered she hadn't even asked Han Lie what had happened; she had been too preoccupied with... AHEM! Feeling a pang of guilt, she lowered her eyelids. "He just had some bruises on his neck from being choked; the rest were superficial injuries, nothing serious. Afterward, I stayed with him at a hotel for a bit. Seeing he wasn't seriously hurt and was incredibly sleepy, I came back."

"Oh, that's a relief then..." Zhao Anni nodded, only half-believing her. "Hurry upstairs and get some sleep. If you have time during the day, go visit Young Han, or invite him over. I'll have your father ask him about the situation."

"Okay, I'm going upstairs then."

Zhao Anni watched her daughter ascend the stairs with a scrutinizing gaze. After a long moment, she let out a heavy sigh.

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