"Ah."
Ye Feng let out a heavy sigh, his throat feeling slightly parched. He lifted the blanket and got out of bed.
As the faint sound of footsteps gradually faded from the bedroom, Shen Mengli, who had been feigning sleep with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them...
"Gulp... gulp... hah."
After finishing the cold water he had just poured, Ye Feng stepped onto the balcony. The cool night breeze washed over him, easing the melancholy in his heart.
Being bound by this system was no way to live—he needed to hurry and complete tasks to earn more life time. Even though he currently had over half a year’s worth, it still wasn’t enough for him.
Now, aside from Yu Xin, he had unlocked the profiles of everyone else. Earlier, Ye Feng had taken the time to check Shen Mengli’s profile display. Like Xie Yuyan and Li Mucheng, hers also showed two separate progress bars.
However, while the other two had consistently received progress rewards, Shen Mengli’s progress had already reached an astonishing 99% upon unlocking—yet the system hadn’t given any rewards this time. Unless… had the system bundled the rewards when he completed the "Kidnap Shen Mengli" mission?
But aside from life time, the only other reward was that Bone Marrow Restoration Pill. Thinking about it now, he had really gotten the short end of the stick.
Sigh, life was getting harder by the day. Tomorrow, he had to go out with Yu Xin, and who knew what would—
Wait! Outing!
Ye Feng latched onto this keyword, and a perfect plan to "kidnap" Su Yuxin began forming in his mind.
If the system’s kidnapping criteria required the victim not to realize who he was for it to count as a success… then all he had to do was separate from Su Yuxin during their outing, tie her up, and then "accidentally" reveal himself so she could escape safely!
With the initial idea in place, Ye Feng gradually refined it into a foolproof kidnapping plan.
Sorry, Yu Xin… I’ll make it up to you later…
The thought of subjecting the sweet and well-behaved Su Yuxin to such treatment made Ye Feng’s conscience twinge. But in the end, he clenched his teeth and steeled himself.
Hopefully, everything would go smoothly.
After closing the balcony door, Ye Feng returned to his bedroom. When he pulled the blanket over himself, he suddenly noticed how unusually warm it was.
"Huh?"
Just as he was puzzling over it, a small hand reached around his waist from behind and clung tightly to him.
Since Ye Feng was wearing a short-sleeved shirt to sleep, he could clearly feel the warmth of that hand—and the soft, supple body pressing against his back.
It was like a wobbly pudding, swaying gently with the motion of a spoon.
"Mengli..."
"..."
"Mengli?"
"Hehe… Mr. Teddy..."
"Mr. Teddy?"
Ye Feng froze at the drowsy murmur from behind him. He gently pried Shen Mengli’s hand away to make room to turn over and see what was going on.
When he did, he found Shen Mengli lying under his blanket, eyes shut, fast asleep. The teddy bear she had been holding had somehow ended up on the floor.
"Did she get confused in her sleep…?"
Ye Feng got out of bed, picked up the teddy bear, and tucked it back into Shen Mengli’s arms. He then pulled the blanket over her properly before finally lying back down and closing his eyes.
Only then did Shen Mengli quietly slip the teddy bear under the covers.
......
"I’m sorry for the trouble, Director."
"Ye Feng, what are you talking about? I’m just grateful you brought Mengli back. Besides, you’re already a familiar face to the children here. You’re always welcome."
"Thank you… I’ll be back by evening."
"Of course. Mengli, aren’t you going to say goodbye to Ye Feng?"
The director looked down at Shen Mengli, who sat in her wheelchair. Suddenly, Shen Mengli reached out and grasped Ye Feng’s hand tightly, staring straight at him.
"Xiao Feng… be careful on your way."
"Mm, Mengli, be good, okay?"
"Okay."
......
After their simple farewell, Ye Feng left through the gate. Shen Mengli watched his retreating figure until he disappeared from sight before finally lowering her gaze.
"Alright, Mengli, let’s head inside now."
"Okay, Mom Director."
Along the way, they exchanged greetings with some of the children—even Wenwen, who was heading to class. Eventually, the director wheeled Shen Mengli to her favorite spot in the orphanage: the depths of the garden.
"Back here again…"
As Shen Mengli took in the familiar surroundings, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. Strangely, the place she had once loved no longer felt as perfect as before. If not for Ye Feng’s special circumstances, she would have much rather stayed at his house.
Even without the beauty of the garden, being at home with him felt far more comforting.
"Mengli… how have you been lately?"
The director sat down beside the pavilion, her voice warm with concern for the child she cherished most.
"Thank you for asking, Mom Director. Xiao Feng has been taking really good care of me. But…"
"But what?"
"But it’s always been him looking after me. I can’t do anything to help him, and it makes me feel so guilty just watching."
Seeing Shen Mengli’s downcast expression, the director quickly understood how things had been for her at Ye Feng’s home. Clearly, his meticulous care had left Shen Mengli feeling flustered and indebted.
"Mengli, you need to understand—Ye Feng didn’t choose you because he expected anything in return. He just wanted you to have a better life."
"I know that… but I still want to do something for him."
"Hehe… it seems you’ve grown up, Mengli."
The director smiled, recognizing the hints of something deeper in Shen Mengli’s expression.
"So, how does it feel? That flutter in your heart?"
"Huh? W-what flutter?! Mom Director, don’t say nonsense…"
Though she denied it, the way Shen Mengli clutched her teddy bear gave her away—she just didn’t dare admit it outright.
"Mengli, did you really think I wouldn’t notice? From what I can tell, Ye Feng holds very special feelings for you too."
"R-really?!"
At those words, Shen Mengli immediately dropped her act. She pushed her wheelchair closer, eyes wide with hope.
"Mom Director, please, tell me more~"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!
with Taming My Adopted Niece) (Multiple Heroines + Power Fantasy) Before transmigrating, Wang Jianqiang suffered greatly from novels with no female leads. Holding firm to the belief that "women only slow down my blade," he stubbornly maintained his virginity even after decades in the Sect of Dual Cultivation. In his twilight years, with his cultivation stagnant at the third level of Qi Refining, he finally succumbed and "rewarded" himself once—triggering the awakening of the Godly Cultivation System. From then on, he realized women might actually be his lucky stars on the path to immortality. Deciding to indulge freely and savor life, he found his ungrateful adopted niece knocking at his door...
