“Compensation?”
Yan Huan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as his gaze settled on Spencer.
Today, she wore a thin white windbreaker over a black athletic T-shirt, her well-toned figure outlined in smooth, wave-like curves. The faint scent of oceanic body wash mixed with her warm body temperature, lingering in her golden locks, exuding vitality like the sun itself.
In this close proximity, her beauty radiated athleticism and power. Her facial features, striking and well-defined, held a wild charm reminiscent of the huntress Artemis—dangerous yet captivating.
It was the first time Yan Huan had scrutinized Aria Spencer up close.
Strangely, while her beauty was undeniable, it was often overshadowed by an instinctive aversion others felt toward her. That unshakable sense of distaste easily trumped any appreciation of her physical allure.
As Yan Huan’s gaze lingered, Spencer’s blush deepened, though her wicked grin never wavered.
She tilted her head confidently and said with a hint of amusement, “Yes, compensation, President Yan~.”
“...”
Yan Huan’s expression remained blank as he nodded slightly and replied, “Alright, let’s consider our previous deal canceled. We’re even.”
“What?! That’s it? No way! Just because I ate a few lousy cookies, our previous agreement is void? You’re so stingy!”
“Then why don’t you tell me what you want for our deal? It’s been a while now.”
Spencer licked her lips but didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she crossed her arms and smirked.
“Trying to end this so soon? What’s so great about Ying Gong anyway? You haven’t even made any progress with her, have you? Nothing’s happened between you two yet, right?”
“And so?”
Yan Huan stared at her, curious to see what absurd logic her shallow thoughts would conjure.
“Ying Gong Tong—flat as a board, boring as a textbook—what can she give you? Me, on the other hand... I know a lot. Let me teach you some grown-up lessons.”
“...”
Both Yan Huan and Meow-chan froze, their expressions collectively screaming,
“You?”
After a beat of silence, Yan Huan finally asked, “So, you’re saying you’re experienced?”
“Of course! I’ve got plenty of experience!” Spencer’s confidence didn’t waver, even as her face turned red. She patted her chest for emphasis, saying, “Like holding hands, or even hugs...”
“And kissing?”
Spencer’s triumphant expression froze. The redness in her face spread like wildfire, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.
Ever since she’d gotten her hands on that “Oxford Dictionary” at the comic convention, she’d been pondering the nuances of such complex behaviors. Holding hands? Easy—she had maids for that.
Hugging?
That was trickier. She’d managed it by hugging her oversized Peppa plushie, though it felt awkward and embarrassing. But anything beyond that…
“Well, of course, I know what kissing feels like! Don’t underestimate me!” she stammered, turning her head away to avoid his gaze.
“Oh?”
Yan Huan’s slight smile grew as he observed her increasingly flustered state.
“Then… what about
that
?”
“!!”
Her composure cracked entirely, though she stubbornly kept her arms crossed and her chin raised. Spencer’s lips quivered, her forced smile faltering as her cheeks grew hotter by the second.
“Y-you’re so annoying! Anyway, I’ve decided what I want for our deal!”
Still flushed, Spencer fumbled over her words in an attempt to recover. Her confidence wavered, but she quickly plastered on her signature mischievous grin. Stretching out five fingers, she declared:
“You’ll treat me like your girlfriend five times—half an hour each time. Deal?”
The time limit had been pulled from thin air. Her mind had only fleeting images of manga panels and storyboards, not concrete durations. After nervously glancing at Yan Huan’s face for confirmation, she revised her offer, “Or… let’s make it fifteen minutes per time.”
“Let me show you what Ying Gong Tong could never give you. How about it?”
Arms folded, Spencer’s smug smile returned. In her mind, she envisioned Yan Huan’s serious, furrowed expression morphing into one of complete surrender.
As these thoughts swirled, her golden hair shimmered faintly, almost as if it was glowing.
An invisible ripple emanated from her, stirring a sense of disgust in Yan Huan’s chest. Meow-chan meowed softly, alerting him to the subtle manipulation.
Yan Huan pushed past the unpleasant sensation, analyzing the situation. Spencer’s Modifier wasn’t random—it seemed tailored to exploit her deepest desires.
Like Ye Shiyu, whose meticulous nature aligned with her Modifier’s abilities, Spencer’s power clearly stemmed from a core psychological trait.
Every time Ying Gong Tong came up, Spencer would say, “What’s so great about her?” Her dismissiveness wasn’t genuine; rather, it betrayed a deep insecurity.
Those who belittle others often do so out of an acute awareness of their own inadequacies. For Spencer, it was jealousy—of Ying Gong Tong’s refinement, intelligence, and grace.
Her desire to steal what others cherished was rooted in a need to validate herself, to fill the emptiness born of envy.
The key to countering Spencer’s Modifier was simple: deny her success in her attempts to plunder.
And as it happened, her target was Yan Huan himself.
As long as he remained steadfast and didn’t let her savor the taste of victory, her efforts would be in vain.
Though... wasn’t there something oddly familiar about this situation?
Yan Huan studied her outstretched hand and five fingers, suppressing a sigh as he nodded.
“Fine, I agree… but as before, Ying Gong Tong cannot find out.”
Spencer licked her lips again, entirely unbothered by the condition.
“Got it, President Yan. Now let me show you...”
As she spoke, Spencer opened her arms wide. The loose white windbreaker she wore slipped off her shoulders, falling to her elbows with a soft rustle.
“Shhh...”
The motion revealed her toned arms and the expanse of pale skin beneath her black athletic tank top. The straps clung to her figure, highlighting her athletic build.
Her golden hair shimmered under the fluorescent lights, and her confident grin grew wider.
“Let me show you the difference between me and that uptight Ying Gong Tong.”
A golden, invisible ripple emanated from Spencer, enveloping Yan Huan in its grasp.
In his mind, an involuntary comparison began to form between Spencer and Ying Gong Tong.
Ying Gong’s conservative attire and slender, delicate frame contrasted sharply with Spencer’s athletic build and perfectly toned muscles. Her exposed, luminous skin seemed to radiate vitality, while her curves—so unlike Ying Gong’s petite form—left an undeniable impression.
So big!
While Ying Gong’s smaller figure had its own charm, the sight of Spencer’s strikingly feminine and athletic beauty overwhelmed Yan Huan’s thoughts.
Her words echoed in his mind:
"As the old saying goes, 'The wise bird chooses the right tree to perch on.' It's clear which is better, isn't it? You have the right to choose something better—something even Ying Gong Tong can’t stop you from pursuing."
For a fleeting moment, Yan Huan found himself searching for a reason to admire Spencer’s beauty.
“Meow!”
Meow-chan’s sharp hiss brought Yan Huan back to his senses, jolting him free from the spell. His logic returned swiftly as he realized Spencer’s Modifier had activated once again.
She already used it in the hallway. How is it back online so quickly? No cooldown at all?
In comparison, Ye Shiyu’s hypnosis ability—limited to twice a week—seemed outright modest.
Shaking off the lingering effects, Yan Huan refocused his gaze on Spencer. Her slightly flushed face, feigned confident smile, and the glimmer in her blue eyes betrayed a mix of arrogance and uncertainty.
“I know we don’t have a full half-hour right now,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “But since I promised to give you a taste of your compensation, I don’t mind starting early, President Yan…”
She took a deep breath, her bravado faltering under the weight of her own words. Nevertheless, she opened her arms toward Yan Huan, stammering, “C-come on… let me teach you… this…”
Yan Huan’s throat tightened, and his body stiffened, an unfamiliar dryness creeping into his mouth.
This… unrelenting Modifier!
Tap… tap…
Before he could respond, faint footsteps echoed outside the restroom.
Yan Huan’s eyes sharpened as unease crept into his chest. Meow-chan, who had vanished earlier, reappeared on his shoulder, her expression tense.
“It’s Ying Gong Tong, meow!”
“!”
Yan Huan’s pupils contracted, and without hesitation, he grabbed Spencer’s wrist.
Her face turned crimson as she nearly jumped out of her skin.
“You—wait—”
Her flustered protest was cut off as Yan Huan turned sharply, his expression a warning.
“Shh!”
“...”
Staring at his no-nonsense gaze, Spencer’s panic gave way to a begrudging calm. Still, annoyance bubbled up within her.
How is this not going like the manga scenes? He’s not affected at all!
Her frustration deepened—if this continued, how would she succeed in even one of her five attempts, let alone all of them?
Meanwhile, Yan Huan listened as the footsteps outside paused right by the restroom door.
A cold, bone-chilling voice called out, “President? Are you done yet?”
“Ah, Ying Gong, sorry… stomachache,” he replied smoothly, though tension laced his words.
“...”
Hearing Ying Gong Tong’s voice, Spencer’s initial surprise quickly turned into mischief.
Outside, Ying Gong paused before speaking again.
“The club meeting is about to start, and you’re still not back. So—”
“I know, Ying Gong. Go ahead without me. I’ll be there shortly.”
“...”
There was no immediate response, and Yan Huan’s brow furrowed slightly.
Outside, Ying Gong Tong moved deliberately, stepping into the adjacent women’s restroom to check each stall. Finding them empty, her narrowed eyes darkened as she turned toward the men’s restroom.
“President,” she called again, her voice carrying an ominous weight. “By the way, I didn’t see Spencer in L501 or L502 earlier.
“Do you know where she went?”
Yan Huan’s unease solidified into certainty—Ying Gong Tong suspected something.
Just as he was about to respond, a warm sensation abruptly wrapped around his abdomen.
“!”
Spencer’s hands circled his waist from behind, her fingers pressing against his stomach muscles.
Caught off guard, Yan Huan staggered back into the stall door, the resulting
thud
echoing through the restroom.
He whipped around to see Spencer’s flushed face and mischievous grin.
You little…!
“Hehe…”
She licked her lips playfully, her hands on his stomach shifting downward.
Yan Huan quickly caught her wrists, but her strength was shockingly formidable—like grappling with a bull. His grip barely slowed her movements, and the second
thud
from his retreat against the stall door rang out louder.
“...President?”
Ying Gong Tong’s voice became more focused, her proximity to the restroom unmistakable.
Spencer, reveling in the chaos, silently mouthed,
What now, President Yan~?
Her intent wasn’t truly indecent—she wasn’t that kind of person. Instead, she thrived on causing trouble, increasing the chances that Ying Gong Tong might walk in.
Yan Huan’s expression darkened as he relayed instructions to Meow-chan mentally.
In a swift motion, he spun around to face Spencer. The sudden movement startled her, causing her to stumble into his arms.
The proximity was electric. Pressed against Yan Huan, Spencer froze as her mind blanked entirely.
Her cheeks flushed even deeper as her senses were overwhelmed, her thoughts echoing the same mental overload she’d experienced when first encountering “those” comics.
Outside, Ying Gong Tong, now at the men’s restroom door, reached out to push it open.
“Meow~!”
A soft, adorable sound halted her in her tracks. Turning her head, she saw a chubby black cat sprawled lazily on the floor, licking its paw.
Its large, clear green eyes blinked at her, its round belly exposed as it mewed again, “Meow~!”
So… cute!
Ying Gong Tong stared, her frosty demeanor cracking slightly. She adored cats.
The black cat swayed its tail enticingly, walking up to her before brushing against her ankle.
“Aaaah!”
Ying Gong Tong’s heart melted as she knelt down to reach for the cat. But just as she extended her hand, the cat darted off, pausing briefly at the end of the corridor to glance back with an inviting flick of its tail.
“Don’t run!”
Momentarily forgetting her suspicions, Ying Gong Tong pursued the cat, her heels clicking as she moved farther from the restroom.
Inside the stall, Spencer, still pressed against Yan Huan, was paralyzed with embarrassment. With nowhere to retreat, she was stuck between him and the toilet.
Her golden curls lightly brushed against his throat, their faintly citrusy scent teasing his senses.
Yan Huan, stunned for a moment, glanced down at her flushed face. Her blue eyes, shimmering with vulnerability, stared back at him from mere inches away.
Their noses were almost touching.
And, of course, so were their lips.