"I know I'm wrong, okay? Just let me off this time. I promise I'll be good. Today, if you point east, I absolutely won't go west, and if you tell me to chase dogs, I definitely won't catch chickens!"

Han Lie let out a cold laugh. "Nah, you might as well keep at it..."

"AH!"

Pan Ge suddenly let out a scream, and then there was silence.

「Three hours later...」

Han Lie smirked wickedly, asking leisurely, "So, still want to swagger at my class reunion?"

"Yes! Why wouldn't I?!"

Pan Ge was stubborn in her reply. Sadly, when she fiercely tried to sit up, she only managed it for less than a second before falling heavily back onto the bed.

"OUCH..."

She whimpered softly, sprawled out as if her bones had turned to jelly, and cursed bitterly, "You're not human! Beast! Animal! Dog!"

Clearly, the battered Pan Ge was convinced that Han Lie couldn't do anything more to her, so she decided to throw caution to the wind and vent, seeking some verbal relief.

Han Lie indeed couldn't do anything more to her at that point. If they continued, she definitely wouldn't make it back to her own home today without her situation being exposed. When that happened, even if just to preserve the Pan Family's reputation, Ma Honglian would very likely bring out the rolling pin and severely punish her daughter to uphold the family's honor.

However, if harsh methods wouldn't work, how could she defend against the soft ones?

Han Lie sneered and took out a decorative feather pen he found on the desk, grabbing one of her feet...

Then, only the sound of pig-slaughtering screams echoed throughout the suite.

...

By the time Hu Jing replied to Han Lie, Pan Ge had thoroughly given in. She was so unbelievably well-behaved; she did whatever she was told.

"Ah, my legs are so sore from working hard all afternoon..." Han Lie feigned concern, furrowing his brows. The now-docile Pan Ge immediately sidled up like a loyal puppy, placing his thigh on hers, and started gently massaging and patting it.

"Your Majesty, how's the pressure?"

"HMM, a bit harder."

"Okay, no problem! Do you want me to walk on your back too?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Han Lie raised an eyebrow with a wicked smirk. "Do you think you can even stand steady?"

Pan Ge assessed her physical state, cursing angrily to herself. Then, she pouted and said aggrievedly, "Not really... How about I order a spa treatment for you?"

Actually, her massage was more symbolic than practical; her fingers were as soft as noodles.

"This is fine. Continue!"

Han Lie, thoroughly pleased with bullying her, was in high spirits. Humming a tune, he opened Hu Jing's message.

Hu Jing's response was quite enthusiastic. "WOW! You're actually going? Hold on, let me check..."

Huh? With one sentence, Hu Jing revealed some very interesting information—she hadn't planned to go either, so she wasn't even clear on what everyone had arranged. But now? Knowing I'm going, will she change her mind?

Han Lie wasn't blindly narcissistic; he could simply sense that Hu Jing was very curious about him. If they interacted more and he flirted precisely and effectively, that curiosity would often turn into fondness.

Unfortunately, Han Lie truly didn't have the energy for that now. So he quickly sent her a message to manage expectations: "I didn't really want to go, but my girlfriend came to Dream City, and she's keen on joining the fun."

Hu Jing took a while to reply. When she finally did, she sent two surprised emojis. "WOW! You're actually in a relationship with that rich, pretty girl...?"

Ha, quite subtle, huh?

Han Lie simply told the blunt truth. "Well, it's not just *one* rich, pretty girl..."

"HAHAHAHA!"

Hu Jing didn't reveal whether she believed him or not, but she laughed joyfully and then sent Han Lie the address and time.

"Dinner is at the Chinese restaurant in the Sheraton Hotel, in the Prosperous Room, at 6 p.m. sharp. Then we'll go sing karaoke. Those willing to join the third round at midnight will go clubbing, and finally, we'll have a late-night snack… That's roughly the plan."

Han Lie glanced at the message and couldn't resist complaining to her, "The same old torturous routine."

Hu Jing sent a snickering emoji, then suddenly asked, "When are you coming over to my place for a visit?"

Pan Ge, who had been staring at the screen, suddenly grabbed that scoundrel hard, causing Han Lie to HISS in pain.

"You weren't just lightly flirting, huh? You're already at the stage of visiting her home?"

Han Lie immediately tried to clear his name. "She might want me to, but it only counts if I'm willing to go…"

Then he typed a reply: "Sorry, but I have to return to Magic Capital soon. Looks like I won't have time this year."

Pan Ge, satisfied, helped Han Lie by massaging the spot she had just grabbed, narrowly avoiding being pinned down and thrashed again...

The two were wrapped up in each other for the entire afternoon. Around 5 p.m., the now-submissive Pan Ge got up to shower. Then, she pulled out a pile of clothes from her suitcase and began trying them on with great fanfare.

In the end, she chose a close-fitting top with an exquisitely fine design and cut. Han Lie couldn't quite describe the garment—it was part shirt, part skirt, featuring numerous diamond-shaped cuts. The fabric itself was incredibly luxurious and, while revealing very little, masterfully showcased her enchanting curves.

Next, she put on a Cartier cactus necklace—yes, the top-of-the-line model, studded with over a hundred diamonds and tourmalines. It was stunningly beautiful.

After that came the watch. She rummaged around in her watch box and pulled out a Royal Oak. Han Lie didn't know the exact model, but the sheer number of diamonds told him it was anything but cheap.

Her lower half was relatively simpler: grey silk stockings and white thigh-high boots. These items would still be stylish a decade later; at this point in time, they were the height of fashion.

Last was the handbag—a small Hermès Birkin bag in a rare color of saltwater crocodile leather.