Chapter 82: I

(Subsequent dialogue contains parody elements...)

“Evil Qingfeng brat, hand over the photo!”

Zhu Yuan strode straight toward Ye Qingfeng with a poker face, decreeing in an unyielding tone.

“Wait!”

Qingyi stood up with an unusually firm gaze, standing alone before Ye Qingfeng.

“Senior?” Zhu Yuan was utterly baffled by Qingyi’s sudden opposition, “Why?”

Qingyi’s eyes dimmed as she lightly pressed her lips together, “I have my own reasons for doing this...”

“Regardless!” Zhu Yuan insisted through gritted teeth, “The photo must be deleted!”

“No! That photo must be kept!”

“Qingyi, you’ll regret this.”

“Zhu Yuan, I’m the senior!”

Ye Qingfeng felt something was off... but couldn’t quite put his finger on it?!

He could roughly understand why Zhu Yuan insisted on deleting the photo—fear of others seeing it, worry it looked bad; most girls would feel the same.

Better to retreat to advance!

“Cough! Zhu Yuan, you delete it.” Ye Qingfeng feigned reluctance, willingly handing his phone to Zhu Yuan.

Zhu Yuan: ?!

Qingyi: ?!!

After Zhu Yuan hesitantly took the phone, Ye Qingfeng lowered his head to hide his smiling lips, his voice strained yet tinged with disappointment, “I just wanted... when I can’t see you, I’d have a photo to look at you...”

“If it troubles you... then forget it!” Ye Qingfeng turned slowly, his voice firm, “Delete it!”

Zhu Yuan: ?! (blushing face...)

Qingyi: .......

Hearing Ye Qingfeng’s heartfelt yet resolute words, Zhu Yuan suddenly felt like the villain...

Qingyi, standing beside him, twitched her lips—from this angle, she could clearly see his upturned mouth; she glanced between Zhu Yuan, who was lost in self-reproach, and Ye Qingfeng, barely holding back his grin.

A deep silence settled... this tactic was too deep!

If she were in Zhu Yuan’s position, she’d surely soften and be completely taken in...

But from her current perspective, she’d only grow more wary of Ye Qingfeng—and he wasn’t the least bit worried.

Since Ye Qingfeng made no effort to hide his actions from Qingyi, he clearly wasn’t afraid she’d become alert; having used this tactic on Zhu Yuan, he wouldn’t use the same method on someone who witnessed it.

Using such a trick on Qingyi would surely lower her favor if discovered.

Zhu Yuan needn’t worry about that—her favor was already this high, and even if she found out, she’d only be slightly moody, not overthink it.

Besides, he never intended to hide it from Zhu Yuan; he’d explain after she cooled down, sincerely apologize, and handle Qingyi with direct honesty.

Zhu Yuan’s heart instantly filled with guilt, yet she didn’t forget her original goal—quietly opened Ye Qingfeng’s photo album to find her picture.

Far from the ugly image she expected, the photo felt perfect—strikingly contrasting her usual stern demeanor, evoking a carefree, student-like freedom.

But from her current viewpoint, it stirred intense embarrassment...

She didn’t delete it. Instead, she quietly turned off the screen, blushing furiously as she walked toward Ye Qingfeng, gathered courage, and hugged him from behind, slipping the phone back into his hands.

[Ding! Zhu Yuan’s favor increased by 10%]

[Current favor: 65%]

[Reward: 5 lottery draws!]

“Sorry... I’ve always ignored your feelings...”

Zhu Yuan buried her face against Ye Qingfeng’s back, inhaling deeply his unfamiliar scent, her arms wrapping around him, hands resting firmly on his solid chest, finally pressing tightly against his back.

“From now on, whenever you miss me... send me a message. When I have time, I’ll come find you myself!”

This was Zhu Yuan’s first time voluntarily approaching a man other than her father—though she felt deeply shy...

She would memorize Ye Qingfeng’s scent as best she could.

The instant Zhu Yuan’s arms encircled his chest, Ye Qingfeng’s body stiffened unconsciously—he could clearly feel her heavy breaths brushing his back, tickling... yet impossibly warm.

Then, a soft warmth pressed against his back, her heartbeat racing fast and clear; his mind was no longer blank—he instinctively straightened his spine, swallowing a gulp of saliva.

“Okay...” he replied calmly, his voice gentle, then unabashedly grinned, “So... the photo?”

“Keep it. If... you get tired of this one, I can take more and send them to you...” Zhu Yuan spoke softly, her expression tender, “As long as it’s not too extreme... I can pose in whatever you want to see...”

[Ding! Host’s heartbeat accelerating! Approaching critical threshold!]

Done... his heart is already completely filled by Miss Zhu Yuan!

“Zhu Yuan...”

“What is it?”

Under Zhu Yuan’s barrage of tenderness, Ye Qingfeng’s stern face flushed slightly; his feelings for her surged rapidly, reaching their peak—a thought rose in his mind, instantly filling every corner of his consciousness.

Ye Qingfeng no longer concealed his feelings—he declared firmly, “I like you. Be my girlfriend!”

The moment he spoke, he felt Zhu Yuan’s body heat rise, as if wrapped in a soft, warm heating pad.

“Mmm... you’re so unfair...” Zhu Yuan’s tone, no longer righteous and stern, was soft and plaintive as she complained about his sudden confession; then, after a deep breath, she declared firmly, “Please take care of me from now on.”

[Ding! Zhu Yuan’s favor increased by 15%]

[Current favor: 80%]

The instant Ye Qingfeng heard her acceptance, he moved—grabbing her arms sharply, pulling them apart, then spinning around to face her. In her confused gaze, he gently cupped her face, leaning down until their eyes met involuntarily.

Zhu Yuan’s confusion melted into shyness; her cheeks flushed crimson as she slowly closed her eyes, awaiting something.

Seeing Zhu Yuan’s closed eyes and slightly parted lips, Ye Qingfeng decisively pressed his own against hers—driven by boundless longing and devotion, he kissed her urgently, deeply.

Softness! Possession! He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against him, closing his eyes unwilling to wake, sinking utterly into the moment.

Thick pink energy radiated from the two, instantly spreading from their center to fill the entire office.

Time seemed to freeze—now, the entire world held only their heartbeats.

(Sweet enough! Intense enough!)

(Earlier it should’ve been mentioned: favor percentages are just standards. For example, if Zhu Yuan and Qingyi both have 60% favor, Zhu Yuan’s acceptance is nearly 100%, while Qingyi’s tops out at 60%.)