After glancing around to ensure all the children were quietly eating their small cakes, Shen Mengli quickly blinked her eyes, seemingly trying to calm her nervousness.
Just as she was about to take a bite of the cake Ye Feng handed her, she suddenly noticed him staring at her in a daze.
"......"
"......"
The two of them locked eyes until Shen Mengli finally broke the silence.
"Aren't you going to eat the cake, sir?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Shen, but I'm not very hungry right now."
"Mm."
Shen Mengli nodded slightly and then raised her glass of milk to take a sip, though her gaze no longer dared to meet Ye Feng's.
Just as she was about to set the glass down, something unexpected happened. Usually calm and composed, she accidentally brushed her hand against Zhao Wenwen's glass, causing it to tilt.
"!!!"
As the glass of milk was about to spill onto Shen Mengli's lap, Ye Feng quickly reached out and steadied it.
"Are you okay?"
After confirming that no milk had spilled, Ye Feng turned to look at Shen Mengli, who was still in a daze.
"I... I'm fine."
Shen Mengli slowly withdrew her hand and placed it on her teddy bear. Though her words and actions appeared normal, the rapid flicker in her eyes betrayed her true emotions.
"That's good. Be more careful next time."
"......"
"Hmm?"
Feeling his phone vibrate, Ye Feng pulled it out and saw a message from the salesperson at the real estate office he had visited earlier.
"Ah... it's already this late."
"Are you leaving, sir?"
Shen Mengli suddenly spoke up.
"Hmm? Ah, yes, I should be going. It wouldn't be right to keep disturbing you and the director any longer."
"......"
Seeing that Shen Mengli remained silent, Ye Feng was about to say his goodbyes. Though it seemed like no progress had been made today, he at least knew who his target was. Strangely, however, he felt no desire to carry out the kidnapping.
How could I do something so inhumane when she's already in such a state? I want to live, but not at the cost of betraying my conscience.
"Zzzzt"
As soon as the thought of abandoning the mission crossed his mind, a sharp, electric pain shot through Ye Feng's head. His expression twisted into a frown, though the pain gradually subsided, as if the system was subtly warning him not to defy its orders.
I thought the mission was cruel enough, but it turns out the system is the real monster here. First, it's kidnapping, then it's saving someone—are you deliberately torturing me?
"No."
Just as Ye Feng's expression relaxed, he heard Shen Mengli's voice.
"Hmm?"
"I said no... you didn't disturb us, sir. In fact, Wenwen was really happy today because of you."
"Is that so..."
"Yes."
Shen Mengli gripped her teddy bear a little tighter, her crimson eyes fixed on Ye Feng's as if she were a blooming red spider lily before him.
So beautiful...
"Thank you, Mr. Ye Feng."
"Ah... it's nothing. Well, if there's nothing else, I should get going. I have some personal matters to attend to."
Just as Ye Feng turned to leave, that melodious voice called out to him again. Despite the surrounding noise, her unique tone stood out clearly.
"Will you come back, Mr. Ye Feng?"
"Hmm? What did you say, Miss Shen?"
"Never mind."
"I'll be back."
"......"
"Take care, and don't spill your milk again, okay?"
With that, Ye Feng walked down the hallway and out of sight. Shen Mengli, however, lowered her head, lost in thought. After a long while, her lips parted slightly.
"Goodbye..."
......
"Huh? Sister, where did the big brother go?"
"Mr. Ye Feng went home, but don't be sad, Wenwen. He said he'll come back to see you."
"That's what my parents told me too..."
"......"
......
"Mr. Ye Feng, we really owe you a lot today. If Wenwen hadn't met someone as kind as you, something terrible might have happened."
When Ye Feng informed the director that he needed to leave, the director insisted on walking him to the gate. As they strolled, they chatted.
"Director, I've already said there's no need to thank me. Meeting these lovely children made me happy today."
"By the way, Director, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, Mr. Ye Feng. Please go ahead."
"How are the finances at the orphanage? With so many children to feed and care for every day, are you able to manage the expenses?"
"Well, we're getting by."
The director forced a smile.
"On one hand, we occasionally receive attention from kind-hearted individuals or companies, and sometimes we get donations of goods or money. On the other hand, some of the children who've grown up and become independent send money back to the orphanage. I've told them repeatedly that they don't need to, but you know how it is..."
"But that still can't be enough, can it?"
"When it's not enough, we use our own salaries to make up the difference. We don't want to take anything from the children. As long as they can grow up healthy and happy, that's all that matters."
"I see. Thank you for sharing that with me, Director."
"You're too kind, Mr. Ye Feng. As long as you're willing to visit, the doors of Hope Orphanage will always be open to you."
"Thank you. I'll take my leave now."
"Safe travels."
......
After stepping out of the orphanage gates, Ye Feng turned back to look at the words "Hope" bathed in the glow of the setting sun, feeling a warmth in his heart.
"Hope... it truly is a place that brings hope to children."
As the director closed the gate, she suddenly noticed Shen Mengli and Zhao Wenwen standing behind her.
"Mengli? What are you two doing here?"
"Sister said she wanted to... mmmph!"
Before Zhao Wenwen could finish, Shen Mengli covered her mouth with one hand and replied in a calm tone, "I just brought Wenwen out for a walk after she finished her cake."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Shen Mengli turned her wheelchair to face Zhao Wenwen and said,
"Alright, Wenwen, let's go see the flowers in the garden."
"Okay, but why didn't you let me finish what I was saying, Sister?"
"Because you weren't expressing yourself clearly. Next time, don't speak carelessly, understand?"
"But what counts as careless talking?"
"......"
Watching the two of them walk away, the director's eyes filled with both pride and sorrow.
"Sigh, why did heaven make such a good child like Mengli end up like this?"
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
