I agreed to be a kept man, but I'm still being punished by the system.

The passion in the bathroom faded, leaving only the steamy air and a pounding heart.

Lin Yang leaned against the cold wall, panting heavily, sweat dripping down his taut abdominal muscles, though he still wanted to experience it again.

But once that impulsive impulse subsided, reason regained control of his mind.

He looked at Suman, who was slumped on the marble countertop.

Her cheeks were flushed, and she stared at the ceiling with a dazed look. Her once meticulously styled long black hair was now wet and clung to her cheeks and snow-white neck, outlining a breathtaking curve.

It’s over.

What exactly did I just do?

After going through countless hardships, submitting hundreds of resumes, and going through several rounds of interviews to finally get a job, it's all gone now.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he spoke with a dry mouth.

"President Su...I...I'm sorry."

His voice was hoarse, trembling without him even realizing it.

Suman did not respond, nor did she even look at him.

Her body trembled slightly, as if she wanted to get off the sink, but because her legs were weak, she stumbled and almost fell.

Lin Yang reacted quickly, instinctively stepping forward and wrapping his arm around her waist to steady her.

It feels surprisingly warm and soft to the touch.

Su Man's body stiffened instantly, and she instinctively tried to struggle.

"open……"

Her voice was weak and powerless, utterly intimidating.

Lin Yang didn't let go. Instead, he pulled her arm in and put his other hand under her knees, lifting her up in his arms.

"what!"

Su Man let out a short gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around Lin Yang's neck to maintain her balance.

"I'll carry you to bed to rest."

Lin Yang's deep voice rang in her ear, his tone steady and devoid of any emotion.

He carried her out of the bathroom and back to the messy bed.

The scent of their intertwined bodies still lingered on the sheets.

He carefully put her down, pulled the blanket over her, leaving only her beautiful face, still flushed with pink, exposed.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Lin Yang stood by the bed, at a loss, like a criminal awaiting sentencing.

Finally, Su Man spoke, her gaze unfocused, staring at the ceiling.

"You don't need to go to the company."

A single sentence, seemingly casual, struck Lin Yang's chest like a heavy hammer.

It’s over.

It's time to come, it's coming.

A chilling despair rose from the soles of his feet, instantly engulfing his entire body. He felt as if his blood was freezing.

"President Su!"

He became anxious, and his voice suddenly rose.

"I...I was wrong! I acted impulsively just now! I'm not human!"

"Please give me another chance! I really can't live without this job!"

He pleaded incoherently, vividly portraying the humiliation of a lowly wage slave.

"After graduation, I sent out hundreds of resumes and went through several months of interviews before finally getting this offer! I still have student loans to pay off, and I don't even know where my rent will be next month..."

"Please, Mr. Su, you're so magnanimous, just ignore me!"

As he spoke, his voice trembled with a hint of tears.

This isn't acting; this is his most genuine feeling.

Being fired means that all his efforts in this metropolis will be in vain.

Su Man on the bed finally reacted.

She slowly turned her head, and her originally cold and sharp eyes now held a look of hesitation.

She looked at Lin Yang, a young man almost ten years younger than her.

His face was still flushed, but his eyes were full of fear and pleading, like a big dog that had done something wrong and was about to be abandoned by its owner.

Recalling that domineering and unyielding force just now, the intense impact that left her mind blank and completely overwhelmed...

An experience unlike anything I've had in thirty years.

A tenderness, unnoticed even by herself, quietly swept through her heart.

That's it.

She withdrew her gaze, her voice regaining a hint of coolness, but no longer the icy chill that kept people at a distance.

"Bring me my clothes."

Lin Yang was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and hurriedly picked up her Victoria's Secret lingerie and expensive business suit from the ground, respectfully handing them over.

Su Man took the clothes.

"Turn your back to me."

Then she got dressed quietly under the covers.

Lin Yang also turned around to find his underwear and put on his T-shirt.

A few minutes later, the aloof and arrogant female CEO returned.

However, her slightly disheveled hair and the lingering weariness between her brows betrayed that she was not truly unharmed.

She walked to the door without looking back.

"You are not allowed to utter a single word about what happened last night or this morning."

"Otherwise, you won't be able to bear the consequences."

"I swear!"

Lin Yang immediately raised three fingers and assured her firmly, "I will keep everything that happened today a secret! Don't worry, President Su!"

Su Man didn't say anything more. She opened the guest room door, and her high heels made a dull "thump-thump" sound on the carpet in the corridor before quickly disappearing at the end.

boom.

The moment the door closed automatically, Lin Yang felt as if all his strength had been drained, and he collapsed onto the soft carpet.

He survived.

The relief of surviving the ordeal made him gasp for breath.

The air still lingered with the unique scent of Su Man's expensive perfume mixed with her natural body fragrance.

He raised his hand, looking at his fingertips, where the smooth touch of her skin seemed to still linger.

The system's cold blue text resurfaced in my mind.

The quest "The First Gift" has been completed!

[The new player gift pack has been sent to your system space. Would you like to open it now?]

Lin Yang's heart began to pound violently again.

This time, it wasn't out of fear, but out of an irrepressible excitement and anticipation.

"Activate!"

He was silent.

[Ding! New player gift pack successfully opened!]

[Congratulations, host, you have acquired the skill: Massage Mastery!]

As soon as he finished speaking, a vast and warm stream of information surged from the depths of his mind and flowed through his limbs and bones.

Every muscle, every acupoint, every meridian in the human body... countless pieces of knowledge about massage, physiotherapy, and relaxation are deeply imprinted in his memory, as if he were born with them.

His hands even produced a strange tingling sensation, as if they were born to touch, knead, and relieve all the fatigue and soreness in the world.

Lin Yang subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed his shoulder.

The force, angle, and depth of the pressure from the fingertips were just right.

In just a few moments, he himself felt that the soreness caused by long hours of desk work and mental stress had actually been relieved quite a bit.

The feeling of holding Su Man just now involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

He clearly remembered how stiff the muscles in her shoulders and neck were on her seemingly perfect body.

It was a body that had been under high pressure for a long time, a shell wrapped in fatigue and anxiety.

This skill...

Lin Yang's eyes gradually brightened.

This is by no means a simple life skill.

This is another key to unlocking the heart of Suman's icy exterior!

Just then, the system notification lit up again.

[Congratulations, host, on completing your first strategy. You have been granted one chance to randomly choose one of three skills.]

[Select now?]

"yes!"

Lin Yang did not hesitate.

On his retina, three cards shimmering with blue light slowly appeared, like virtual screens floating in the air.

Option 1: Beginner Cooking Skills

Option Two: Increase Stamina

Option 3: Invincible Lucky Card (Limited Time Offer: One Day)

Lin Yang's breath hitched slightly.

For beginners, the key to winning a woman's heart is her stomach—this is an age-old truth.

His physical strength had improved, and after this morning's frenzy, he knew the importance of this ability. Greater physical strength meant greater power to conquer.

That one-time lucky card is full of unknowns. It may bring tremendous good fortune, or it may just bring a small, insignificant happiness.

How to choose?

Lin Yang's gaze shifted back and forth between the three cards.

After a moment, he made a decision.

"Not for now."

The situation is still unclear. Although Su Man let him go, their relationship remains as fragile as a spider's web.

These three options may be his important trump cards for the future.

It must be used at the most critical moment.

He then logged into the system's new feature, "The Guide to Soft Rice Recipes".

[NO.1 Suman's obedience rate: 62%]

Holy crap, what's going on with this guide? Didn't I already complete the mission? Why is there still an obedience rating?

"System, could you explain it to me?"

A string of small words appeared on my retina.

[Obedience level refers to the degree to which the target obeys the host's requests. If the obedience level is below 50%, the target will refuse any request from the host. If the obedience level is 100%, the target will agree to any request from the host.]

There's such a good thing: if Su Man's obedience is 100%, then she will become a great support for him in the company.