Chapter 188: The Fifth Star Mender
The bright lights came on suddenly, illuminating the entire bathroom. Everything was visible now—especially the completely naked Yang Jing.
Though she was in the bathtub, the foam had nearly dissipated. To Zhang Yang, it was as if nothing was left to the imagination.
"Ah!" Yang Jing screamed, quickly pulling back her hand, crossing her arms over her chest to cover her soft white breasts. But when she realized that her lower half was completely exposed too, the dark patch between her thighs clearly visible, her face burned red with embarrassment.
She might be bold and not overly shy around Zhang Yang, but right now, even she was utterly flustered, her beautiful eyes wide as she stared at him in shock.
Zhang Yang wasn't much better off. When the lights had flashed on, he froze like a statue. Now, watching Yang Jing's mix of shyness and anger, his heart pounded like a drum.
His eyes stayed fixed on her in the water—unable and unwilling to look away.
"Y-you… get out!" Yang Jing snapped out of her daze, her face crimson, shouting at Zhang Yang to leave.
Without a word, Zhang Yang reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into his arms—her naked body pressed against him.
"No…" Realizing what was about to happen, Yang Jing panicked, weakly pounding his chest. "We can't…"
"I want you…" Zhang Yang murmured the three words before sealing her lips with his. Yang Jing let out a soft moan and melted in his embrace.
"You're terrible… you'll pay for this…" Seeing that it was too late to stop anything, she gave in—trembling, her pale hands reached for his belt.
"Sister Jing… are you ready?" Zhang Yang asked softly, breathing deeply as he held her trembling, snow-white body close, his lips brushing her ear.
Yang Jing turned her flushed face away.
She pinched him hard on his side. "You bastard… you've ruined me… ah… be gentle, you jerk!"
As the saying goes, a spring night's moment of passion is worth a thousand gold…
The bathroom filled with the sounds of soft moans and ragged breaths. Water splashed. White skin rose and fell in rhythm…
No one knew how long it lasted. At last, exhausted, they collapsed together in the tub. After the passion faded, Yang Jing pinched Zhang Yang hard. "You bastard, how am I supposed to face anyone now?"
"Huh… blood?" Zhang Yang said suddenly, eyes wide as he noticed a faint red tint in the water.
"You idiot! You're trying to piss me off, aren't you?!" Yang Jing fumed, swatting him below the waist.
Zhang Yang caught her hand, pressed it to his cheek, and grinned. "I was just surprised. I mean, Sister Jing's so beautiful—I didn't think you were still…"
"Hmph! You think everyone's like you—pouncing on every pretty face you see."
"The water's cold… let's get to the bedroom." Zhang Yang knew that naked, no man could win against a woman.
"Carry me. I can't walk." Yang Jing shot him a glare, curled her long white leg, and let out a soft moan.
Zhang Yang didn't hesitate. He scooped her up, carried her into the bedroom, kicked the door shut, and gently laid her on the soft bed, turning on the heater.
He lay beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her smooth, cool skin made him shiver with excitement. His body stirred again, but Yang Jing, sensing it, twisted in alarm. "That hurts… don't touch me."
Hearing that, Zhang Yang felt guilty. He hugged her tighter and whispered, "Sorry. I won't move."
He reached for the blanket and pulled it over them.
Then a thought struck him—what about the M-level Capture Star Mender Mission? His hand began to wander, tracing slowly upward until it brushed the soft peaks of her chest.
"Ah! Stop, that tickles…"
"Just a bit longer…"
"You… damn it… stop…"
[M-level Mission Activated: Find the Star Menders Program. Target locked—Fifth Star Mender, Yang Jing. Mission complete. Reward: 30 system points. Current system points: 11. Title updated: Promising Youth. Additional optional rewards available: 1. Advanced Shooting Technique. 2. Advanced Cooking Technique. 3. Advanced Management Technique. Please select within five seconds.]
Zhang Yang's eyes lit up. Finally—positive points again! And he'd found the Fifth Star Mender? He could hardly contain his excitement. Heaven really wasn't unfair—Sister Jing turned out to be the Fifth Star Mender!
"Advanced Management Technique…" He chose without hesitation. His Nuwa Company had just launched, and it badly needed a manager—loyal and capable, though such people weren't easy to find.
So for now, he'd just have to fill the role himself.
[Advanced Management Technique loading…]
A flood of knowledge filled his mind—corporate management frameworks, ISO9001 quality systems, TS16949 automotive quality standards, ISO14001 environmental systems, management psychology, leadership art, KPI strategies…
Zhang Yang smacked his lips. "Damn, this stuff's complicated." It was all in his head now, but how well he could use it—well, that was another matter. Unlike Advanced Driving or Bedroom Techniques, this wasn't something you mastered by instinct.
Management required not only knowledge—but also personal presence.
Still, it wasn't a waste. With this knowledge, he could bluff his way through any meeting now.
[M-level Mission Activated: Capture Star Mender Mission. Target: Fifth Star Mender Yang Jing. Requirement: Loyalty level 90. Current loyalty: 82. Mission hint: To increase target loyalty, suggested strategies include—kissing, touching, love, gratitude, money, sex, marriage, etc. Completion grants M-level Reward.]
"Eighty-two, huh? Pretty high."
Zhang Yang was surprised. Xu Danlu had only been sixty-five back then.
Even Gao Qi had been just seventy-five. Sister Jing at eighty-two? That was unexpected.
She really did see him as family.
Thinking that, he hugged her tighter. "Sister Jing, Yangzi will always treat you well."
Yang Jing squirmed slightly at his words but didn't pull away. Instead, she snuggled closer into his arms.
After a long silence, she whispered, "We can't be together. You already have a girlfriend. Let's just treat tonight like a dream. I don't blame you."
"Even if you don't blame me, I'd still blame myself. No matter what, you're my woman." Zhang Yang murmured against her neck. "I mean it. Anyone who dares touch you—if it's a man, I'll castrate him; if it's a woman… I'll slap her."
"Pfft, castrate or slap—what's the difference? How do you even 'slap' a woman?"
"Well… you know, that thing…"
"You're so damn domineering. I can't marry you, and you can't stop me from marrying someone else."
"Because you're my woman."
"And who says I am?"
"Because you slept with me."
"Unbelievable…" Yang Jing twisted his skin. "You shameless bastard."
Zhang Yang grinned, hugging her tighter. "Yeah, shameless."
He hadn't received system points for their earlier act—proof that only Star Menders with over 90 loyalty gave rewards.
Still, with Yang Jing at eighty-two, reaching ninety wouldn't take long—just needed the right moment.
It didn't matter. He had time—and two beauties at home.
Eleven points now, three Star Menders found. Just one more, plus his master's degree, and the F-level main mission would be done.
He was now a direct doctoral student under Professor Zheng and Professor Shangguan. As long as nothing went wrong—and with a little leniency—he could earn his degree in two years.
His only concern was finding the final Star Mender, but he wasn't too worried. It had only been three months, and he'd already found three. Plenty of time left.
They lay together for a while, until hunger struck. Yang Jing rubbed her chin against his shoulder and whispered, "Get up, or Lulu and Gao Qi will freak out."
Zhang Yang was hungry too. Reluctantly, he left the warmth of her embrace, got dressed—his pant cuffs still damp from earlier—but didn't mind.
Before getting into the car, Yang Jing hesitated and looked at him. "Yangzi, no one can know what happened tonight. No—we both have to forget it."
"Once we're in the car, we go back to how it was—brother and sister, okay?"
Zhang Yang didn't answer. He opened the door, lifted her into the passenger seat, closed it, then got in himself and started the car.
"Are you even listening?" Yang Jing fumed. Zhang Yang glanced at her, leaned over, brushing against her chest as he buckled her seatbelt.
Then he hit the gas, grinning. "Alright, let's go pick up the wife."
"You jerk, I'm serious—ah, stop touching me! Someone might see—"
Driving down the City Hall Avenue, Zhang Yang slowed down. They sat in silence, watching the neon lights stream past like a river of rainbows.
Soft music played—Han Xue's old song "Thinking of You". Yang Jing listened quietly. A single tear slipped down her cheek, though her lips curved faintly—whether in pain or joy, even she didn't know.
The phone rang, breaking the moment. Zhang Yang glanced at the caller ID—it was Xu Danlu.
"Uncle Qiao is here. Where are you? Come home, quick."
Zhang Yang looked at Yang Jing, ended the call, and said softly, "Qiao Xier's father wants to see me."
Yang Jing, knowing his relationship with Qiao Xier, understood instantly.