New workout alert! "Marvel: The Infinite Crown" - let's make our library even cooler!.
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{Chapter: 130 Overwhelmed Chi Qian!}
For a few moments—three or four seconds at most—neither of them spoke.
The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy, neither making a move nor uttering a word. Though brief, the moment felt strangely elongated, as if time had slowed just enough for them to fully absorb the awkwardness of the situation.
Chi Qian was the first to break. Unable to endure the tension any longer, she let out a soft, deliberate cough.
"Ahem…"
The sound was subtle yet effective. It shattered the stillness between them, forcing their eyes apart.
Chi Qian turned her head slightly to the side, pretending to look at something else, though the warmth on her cheeks betrayed her. Lin Yuan, too, glanced away, his expression unreadable.
She knew—without a doubt—that he had been staring at her. Not in the fleeting, casual way people sometimes glance at one another, but in a way that lingered, a way that made her feel… exposed.
That alone was enough to send a small wave of heat rushing to her face.
It wasn't as if she had never caught Lin Yuan looking at her before. In fact, she had enjoyed it in the past. Like that time when she had casually tied her hair in front of him, deliberately drawing his attention just to see if he would react. She had even felt a little triumphant back then when she succeeded in making his gaze waver.
But this…
This was different.
This time, she hadn't been teasing him. This time, she hadn't been prepared.
And worse—had she revealed too much?
Her fingers twitched slightly as she resisted the urge to adjust her shirt. Though she wasn't exactly self-conscious, there was something about the way Lin Yuan had looked at her that left her feeling unsettled. A slow-burning warmth had settled on her face, spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
For the first time in a while, she felt genuinely flustered.
And she didn't like it.
She had always been the one in control, the one who dictated the pace of their interactions, the one who teased and provoked. Yet now, the roles had seemingly reversed, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.
Lin Yuan, on the other hand, was experiencing his own internal conflict.
Yes, he had been staring at her body. And yes, he had done so for a longer time than was probably appropriate. But even though he often prided himself on being somewhat shameless, there was still a limit to how far he would go.
He had always been the type to remain composed, to maintain his cool no matter the situation. Yet now, even he couldn't deny that he had let his gaze linger longer than he should have.
Even for someone like him, that was a little embarrassing.
The atmosphere remained thick with tension, neither of them willing to acknowledge the awkwardness aloud.
But it was fine.
Neither Chi Qian nor Lin Yuan were the type to dwell on discomfort for too long. They were quick to adapt, quick to recover, and within half a minute, the tension between them began to ease.
Almost in unison, they turned back toward each other, both donning polite smiles—polite, yet somewhat forced, as if neither wanted to be the first to address what had just happened.
Chi Qian was the first to speak.
"Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Lin," she said, her voice calm, though a slight hint of amusement lingered at the edges. "But really, it's nothing—it's just a sports undershirt."
As if to emphasize her point, she straightened her posture slightly. The movement caused the fabric of her white shirt to shift just enough to accentuate the natural curves of her frame.
Though most of the moisture from her earlier exertion had dried, a faint stickiness remained on her skin, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. Still, she refused to let it show on her face.
She had already been caught off guard once today. She wouldn't let it happen again.
Lin Yuan, having fully regained his composure, merely smiled in response.
"Of course, it's nothing," he agreed easily. "But I should clarify—I didn't suggest coming to a private room just because of your sports undershirt, Miss Chi."
Chi Qian arched an eyebrow, her smile sharpening.
"Oh? Then I must have been right after all," she mused, her voice laced with teasing. "Young Master Lin, you were just trying to save face, weren't you? Afraid that you'd be thrown again in front of an audience?"
She was enjoying this moment.
After all, Lin Yuan had beaten her in other areas before—in music, in singing, and even in those fleeting moments where he somehow managed to fluster her with his words or actions.
But combat was different.
In combat, she had the upper hand.
And she was going to enjoy every second of it.
Lin Yuan's smile didn't waver. If anything, it grew even more relaxed, his confidence seeping into his tone as he replied, "The other reason I suggested moving to a private room was for your sake, Miss Chi."
Chi Qian tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued.
"Mm? My sake?"
Lin Yuan nodded.
"Of course," he said smoothly. "You're a beautiful and elegant young lady. If you were thrown down in front of so many people, wouldn't that be a little embarrassing for you?"
Chi Qian's amused expression flickered for a fraction of a second before she caught herself.
Then, her smile returned, wider than before.
"Oh? Young Master Lin is quite confident, isn't he?" she said, laughing lightly. "You seem to have forgotten something rather important—you've already lost to me twice in a row. Need I remind you that I'm still your half-master?"
She leaned forward slightly, her voice carrying a playful edge.
"We've only been training for an hour, and yet you think you can beat me?"
Lin Yuan simply smiled.
He could see it in her eyes—she didn't believe him.
She truly thought he was just bluffing, just throwing words around to lighten the mood.
What she didn't know, however, was that his combat skills had already reached the master level.
Chi Qian had been training in martial arts for years, honing her skills since childhood. But Lin Yuan… Lin Yuan had taken a completely different approach. And now, things have changed.
But he wasn't going to tell her that outright.
Instead, he merely shook his head and said, "Practice leads to true understanding. Since you don't believe me, Master Chi, let's test it out."
Chi Qian's grin widened.
Without hesitation, she raised a hand and curled her index finger, beckoning him forward.
"Come on then."
This time, she wasn't just playing around.
This time, she was serious.
She planned to throw him to the ground a little harder—to remind him who the real master was.
And, of course, to make up for the earlier embarrassment he had caused her.
Lin Yuan, watching her closely, could already see the mischievous glint in her eyes.
He knew exactly what she was thinking.
But instead of preparing for a normal exchange, he did something unexpected.
He lunged forward—but instead of attacking with a punch or kick, he opened his arms wide, lowering his stance slightly.
It was a grappling move.
He was planning to use his height, weight, and sheer strength against her.
Chi Qian's eyes widened slightly in surprise before narrowing again.
So… he had learned something after all.
She smiled.
"Interesting," she murmured.
And then they moved.
Lin Yuan made his move.
With a sudden burst of strength, he lifted Chi Qian off the ground, attempting to take control of the fight.
In mid-air, Chi Qian would have no leverage—no way to properly exert her strength. If his plan worked, she wouldn't be able to resist, and he could easily secure victory.
But Lin Yuan had underestimated one thing.
Chi Qian's reflexes were faster than his.
She had spent years honing her martial arts skills, training her body to react instinctively to sudden changes. The moment she felt herself being lifted, she didn't panic. Instead, she reacted on instinct.
With a sharp intake of breath, she twisted her body mid-air, using her momentum to break free from his grip. Before Lin Yuan could fully secure his hold, Chi Qian had already shifted her weight and landed lightly on her feet.
How could Lin Yuan hope to hold her down so easily?
She moved immediately, capitalizing on the brief opening. One hand shot up to press against Lin Yuan's shoulder while the other found its way to his waist. At the same time, she spread her feet wide, positioning herself for a throw.
Her intent was clear.
She wanted to send him crashing to the ground—again.
But Lin Yuan was no longer the same opponent she had faced before.
His fighting skills had reached the master level, and while his reflexes couldn't quite match Chi Qian's raw speed, his instincts and technical knowledge had evolved far beyond what they once were.
By the time Chi Qian initiated her move, Lin Yuan had already seen through her plan.
He couldn't match her reaction speed in a direct contest. However, he didn't need to counter her move outright—he only needed to adjust.
The moment he felt her grip tighten on his waist and shoulder, Lin Yuan responded with precise control. He placed his own hand firmly on Chi Qian's shoulder, subtly redirecting some of the force she had exerted back onto her.
It was a simple yet highly effective maneuver.
The height and weight difference between them worked in his favor. No matter how skilled she was, there were physical limits to what she could accomplish in a head-on struggle. Lin Yuan wasn't so easy to throw this time.
Chi Qian immediately noticed the shift in force.
Her sharp eyes flickered with understanding—he had learned.
But that didn't mean she was going to let him win.
Gritting her teeth slightly, she adjusted her stance, attempting to shift more of her weight into the throw. Her legs, already spread wide, gave her a lower center of gravity, making her footing incredibly stable.
Lin Yuan, despite his superior strength, found himself unable to completely overpower her.
The two of them were now locked in a stalemate.
Both had used almost all of their strength, their bodies tense with exertion. Neither could afford to make a mistake.
The clash wasn't just physical—it was mental as well.
Their gazes met, neither willing to back down.
And yet, beneath the intensity of the struggle, there was something else—a subtle, unspoken awareness of their closeness.
Lin Yuan could feel the pressure of Chi Qian's hands on him, gripping him tightly.
Chi Qian, in turn, could feel the firm grip of Lin Yuan's fingers on her shoulder.
Their bodies were pressed close together, and with every small shift, they could feel the tension between them—not just in the fight, but in the air itself.
Pain began creeping in.
Chi Qian's delicate shoulder was aching under Lin Yuan's grip, while Lin Yuan's waist throbbed slightly from where Chi Qian had pinched him in the heat of battle.
The struggle continued for several more seconds, but then—
Lin Yuan exhaled sharply.
He let go first.
That single moment of relaxation was all Chi Qian needed.
With a swift motion, she completed her throw.
Snap!
Lin Yuan's back hit the floor with a resounding impact.
Once again, he found himself looking up at Chi Qian from the ground.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Chi Qian should have been triumphant. She had won yet again.
But instead of celebrating, her expression shifted.
Panic flickered in her eyes as she realized what had happened—Lin Yuan had let go voluntarily.
"You—!"
She immediately crouched down, reaching for his hand.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I got caught up in the fight and didn't expect you to suddenly relax and let me go!" Her voice was laced with genuine concern, her usual teasing completely absent.
She pulled him up without hesitation, her grip firm but gentle.
Lin Yuan allowed her to help him up, a small smirk playing at his lips.
"Don't worry about it," he said, dusting himself off. "I just figured you'd feel bad if I actually threw you instead."
Chi Qian narrowed her eyes at him.
"Are you saying you let me win?"
Lin Yuan shrugged.
"I'm just saying that in a fight like this, the outcome isn't always so simple."
Chi Qian pursed her lips, clearly unconvinced.
The truth was, their battle had been evenly matched in a way neither of them had expected.
Chi Qian's advantage lay in her superior technique, reaction speed, and footing. Lin Yuan, on the other hand, had the upper hand in strength and physical endurance.
It was impossible to predict the winner in a fight like this.
Perhaps, in the end, victory would always come down to the last decisive moment.
*****
New workout alert! "Marvel: The Infinite Crown" - let's make our library even cooler!.