Chapter 622 - 622: Theory Isn't Enough, I Want to Practice

Jiang Xinghai saw the expectant look in Lin Yue's eyes, and his heart stirred.

He understood that Lin Yue wasn't just joking. She genuinely wanted to learn this so-called "Art of Taming Men."

"Alright, since you're so interested, let's find a place and get started," Jiang Xinghai replied with a smile.

They entered a suite.

"I'm going to take a quick shower. Wait for me," Lin Yue said, heading toward the bathroom.

"I want to wash up too. How about we go together? We could even scrub each other's backs," Jiang Xinghai said with a serious smile.

"In your dreams."

Lin Yue gave Jiang Xinghai a shove and hurried into the bathroom.

Left feeling a bit let down, Jiang Xinghai decided to call Cao Qing, the Prince of the East.

"Young Master Jiang! You're... you're back?" Cao Qing had been waiting at home for Jiang Xinghai's return from Kunlun.

"I just got to my hotel. I'll come to your place tomorrow morning." Jiang Xinghai hadn't forgotten his promise to treat the heart condition of Cao Qing's great-grandson, Cao Can.

Cao Qing was ecstatic. The day had finally come. "That's wonderful, Young Master Jiang! I will be ready to welcome you at a moment's notice."

"However, I need to trouble you to procure some medicinal herbs for me. Have them ready by noon tomorrow."

The main purpose of Jiang Xinghai's trip to Kunlun had been to ask his master, Yao Gu, for a way to treat his father's Dantian Seal. Naturally, he had obtained the true solution from her.

"Rest assured, Young Master Jiang. Even if the herbs you require are the rarest treasures on earth, I will do everything in my power to procure them for you," Cao Qing promised without a moment's hesitation. "Just tell me, what do you need?"

"Don't worry about that. The herbs I need aren't particularly rare. The key is their age. Each one must be at least fifty years old. A hundred years or older would be even better," Jiang Xinghai said gravely.

Cao Qing nodded. "Then I'll start making arrangements tonight and do my best to have everything for you before noon tomorrow."

Jiang Xinghai then listed the names of thirty-six medicinal herbs and their required dosages.

Cao Qing noted them down one by one.

After they ended the call, Cao Qing immediately mobilized his most powerful connections and began an all-night procurement effort.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xinghai stood before a large floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the Shanghai cityscape by night.

It was now past one in the morning, but the Shanghai nightscape was still a blaze of brilliant lights.

"Jiang Xinghai, I'm done. You can go wash up now."

Just then, Lin Yue emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a white bathrobe.

"Could you call me Brother Jiang, or Brother Hai? Or even just Xinghai? Calling me by my full name makes it feel like we're strangers," Jiang Xinghai said, turning to her with a completely serious expression.

"Alright, alright. Brother Jiang. Brother Hai. Go take your shower," Lin Yue said, smiling and trying to suppress a giggle.

It was true. She and Jiang Xinghai had known each other for less than three days.

But the level of intimacy they'd shared was beyond what most people could imagine.

Jiang Xinghai went into the bathroom and began to wash off the day's sweat.

When he came out of the shower, he saw that the main room lights were off. Only a single, dim lamp on the nightstand remained lit.

On the large, soft bed, Lin Yue was already nestled under the covers, apparently fast asleep.

Jiang Xinghai walked over quietly and looked at the sleeping woman. A crafty glint appeared in his eyes. 'Oh well. I'll just have to teach her the Art of Taming Men another day.'

With that, he slipped under the covers as well and prepared to sleep.

He knew, of course, that Lin Yue wasn't actually asleep.

And just as he expected, once Jiang Xinghai's snores began to fill the room, Lin Yue finally couldn't hold back any longer and gently turned on her side to look at him.

'Is this guy really that tired? A beautiful woman is lying right next to him and he doesn't feel a thing?' Lin Yue pouted, puffing her cheeks in a huff. She began to tickle his face with the strands of her hair.

Jiang Xinghai hadn't been asleep to begin with, so of course, he was stirred by the feel of her hair.

But he decided to hold back. He had to make Lin Yue be the one to break the silence.

When her repeated tickling failed to get any reaction from Jiang Xinghai, she finally grew bolder.

Her body slowly slid down under the covers.

Jiang Xinghai felt a wave of heat wash over him, originating from his lower abdomen.

The next instant, he felt her gentle, warm presence. To continue feigning sleep at this point would be simply too cruel.

But just as he was preparing to show signs of waking, Lin Yue slowly slid back out from under the covers.

Her face was flushed bright red, and she seemed to be savoring the memory of what just happened.

'Never mind. He's probably just too tired. I'll ask him to teach me the Art of Taming Men tomorrow.'

It seemed Lin Yue also knew Jiang Xinghai was faking sleep, and was now playing her own game of hard to get.

However, she had underestimated the Dragon Locking Secret Technique that Jiang Xinghai cultivated.

Jiang Xinghai merely released a tiny bit of his aura, and Lin Yue found herself unable to resist.

"Oh, Xinghai..." Lin Yue purred, coiling herself around him. "On such a beautiful night, shouldn't we be doing something... meaningful?" she whispered, jostling him with a bit more force, determined to wake the man up.

"What's wrong, Lin Yue? You're not asleep yet?" Jiang Xinghai asked, letting himself be "shaken awake," his expression one of utter confusion.

"I've been waiting for you to teach me the Art of Taming Men," she said. Even in the dim light of the bedside lamp, the blush on her cheeks was visible.

"Oh, I completely forgot about that."

Jiang Xinghai put on an expression of sudden realization. "But when I got out of the shower, I saw you were already fast asleep. I didn't have the heart to wake you, so I just went to sleep myself."

"Well, are you awake *now*?" Lin Yue asked, giving his side a sly pinch.

"I'm awake. Wide awake."

Jiang Xinghai didn't feel the pinch. Instead, he said with a perfectly straight face, "You know, I was just dreaming. I dreamt a beautiful woman was giving me a... wake-up call. Was that you in real life?"

"Isn't it obvious? Of course it was me," Lin Yue said, giving him a disdainful look.

Jiang Xinghai feigned confusion. "Oh? And what did you call me for?"

Lin Yue wasn't an idiot. She finally caught the double meaning in his words. She clapped a hand over her mouth, her expression turning to one of embarrassed fury. "Jiang Xinghai, you absolute bastard! You..."

"Do you still want to learn the Art of Taming Men?" Jiang Xinghai asked with a sly chuckle.

"I do! Of course I do," Lin Yue said, settling into his arms in a huff.

Just like that, it seemed their relationship was settled.

Jiang Xinghai stopped joking around. He began to explain to Lin Yue the principles of mindset and emotional regulation that Yao Gu had taught him—the true essence of the Art of Taming Men.

"The Art of Taming Men is actually more about the art of understanding and communication," Jiang Xinghai explained. "You need to learn to understand your partner's needs and feelings, while also being able to clearly express your own thoughts and expectations. It's about finding a balance in the relationship that makes you both feel comfortable and fulfilled."

Lin Yue listened very attentively, occasionally asking questions. "Jiang Xinghai, this is all just theory," she finally said. "I don't think it's enough. I need to practice! How else am I supposed to learn?"

"In that case, we'll just have to do some hands-on practice."

With that, Jiang Xinghai flopped onto his back, spreadeagled on the bed. He looked at Lin Yue and said, "Well? What are you waiting for?"