Chapter 11: You’ve Grown Bolder

Yan Man lounged bonelessly on the sofa, her bathrobe loosely draped over her body. Her fair, long legs rested on the edge of the couch, looking especially white against the gray fabric.

Her graceful figure was fully visible in Tan Qishen’s peripheral vision, and he happened to glance at her.

A flush of pink spread across Yan Man’s porcelain-like face. Though the room was clearly air-conditioned, she looked as if she were being roasted by fire.

“Are you hot?”
Tan Qishen’s deep, dark eyes fixed on her as he asked.

“Mhm,” Yan Man responded without even lifting her head.

The person on the other end of the video call had just finished their report, and now it was Tan Qishen’s turn to speak. He had no choice but to unmute himself.

“The short-term price trend isn’t ideal. Next, we should shift our investment focus domestically…”

Just as he finished his first sentence, he heard the woman on the sofa nearby suppressing a sound.

He instinctively looked up and saw Yan Man’s toes curling, her breath quickening, and her body barely trembling—but not enough to escape Tan Qishen’s sharp eyes.

His gaze narrowed dangerously, dark as a misty night. He suddenly understood the real reason behind Yan Man’s flushed cheeks.

A surge of anger flared in his chest.

“Out.”

Tan Qishen’s cold, emotionless voice echoed across the room, and since the call wasn’t muted, everyone online heard it clearly.

“President Tan, I—”
The executive who had just finished his report panicked, thinking the comment was directed at him, worried he’d said something wrong.

Yan Man finally moved. She put the book down, and once her face was visible, Tan Qishen’s suspicion was confirmed.

Their eyes met midair. Yan Man gave him a charming, bright smile, sat up, closed her legs, and softly said, “Don’t be mad.”

Though her voice was low, it was amplified in the quiet study room.

The executive who had just started nervously explaining himself immediately fell silent after hearing a woman’s voice.

Then came a flood of messages in the group chat.

[Anonymous 1]: Vocal confirmation! There’s really a woman there!
[Anonymous 2]: President Tan is into some wild stuff, huh?

…

Assistant Wen had no clue what was happening on Tan Qishen’s end, but as the meeting host, he had enough tact to mute the call.

Tan Qishen glanced at the screen. Everyone on camera maintained composed expressions, as if they hadn’t heard anything.

His deep, intimidating gaze locked onto Yan Man, and with intense pressure in his voice, he repeated,
“Yan Man, get out. Now.”

Yan Man shifted into a new lounging position on the couch, her voice soft as ever,
“I’m not disturbing you. You do your meeting, I’ll play my game.”

[Note to content reviewers: The female lead is playing a video game here!]

Not disturbing him?!

Tan Qishen’s eyes darkened further.

But Yan Man had already achieved her goal.

He let out a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. His tone was cool.
“Where’d you get it?”

It was clear what he meant.

He and Yan Man were the only two here—something like that shouldn’t exist.

Yan Man smiled indifferently, fully understanding what he was implying.
“You told me to take care of it myself.”

Tan Qishen’s emotions were in disarray. He didn’t know whether to be angry at her for being so brazen—daring to enter his study and do this in front of him—or angry at himself for his lack of self-control. Sitting here, surrounded by subordinates and staff, he felt like a hypocrite: polished on the outside, rotten inside.

But ultimately, the source of his unraveling was the woman right in front of him.

The two locked eyes for ten long seconds without saying a word. As his gaze grew darker and more dangerous, Yan Man suddenly found it boring.

She stood up and walked past him, her scent—a mix of rose, perfume, and body wash—drifting by.

Just before she left, she said coolly,
“Won’t disturb you anymore.”

Tan Qishen’s brows furrowed. His fingers clenched around his pen. Just as Yan Man’s hand touched the doorknob—

He abruptly shut his tablet.

Instantly, the online meeting showed “President Tan has disconnected.”

Everyone in the meeting: “……”

But Assistant Wen, who had been by Tan Qishen’s side since he became the heir, reacted instantly.

“President Tan had an urgent matter. The meeting is now on hold…”

—

Meanwhile…

Tan Qishen stood up, took just two steps, and wrapped Yan Man tightly in his arms.

His voice was low and hoarse.
“You’ve grown bolder.”

Held tightly in his embrace, Yan Man looked up at him with a smug smile and said slowly,
“You taught me.”

And it was true.

Tan Qishen’s black eyes were deep and unreadable. A lazy chuckle escaped his lips—but hidden within that laugh was a blade.

…

Everything left unfinished last night was finally satisfied tonight.

The moon couldn’t sleep, swaying in soft, tender shadows.