Watching a dark silhouette slowly emerge from the apartment building, even the well-trained Ah Fu failed to notice it. If not for the automatic hallway light flickering on, he might still have been apologizing to Ye Feng.
"Ah Fu, who are you calling?"
Li Mucheng's icy voice rang out, sending an involuntary shiver down Ah Fu's spine. Though her expression gave nothing away, Ah Fu, having served as her bodyguard for years, knew all too well that Li Mucheng was like a powder keg at this moment—one tiny spark would ignite an explosion.
"Young Miss, I was just—"
"I won’t ask again."
"I was calling Ye Feng."
Ah Fu instinctively straightened his posture and confessed, adhering to the unspoken rules of his profession.
"Oh? So late at night, and the teacher still has the mood for small talk? Could it be he’s celebrating after deceiving me?"
Li Mucheng let out a cold laugh, her dark, fathomless eyes resembling a stagnant swamp—anyone who stepped into it would slowly sink and be consumed.
She extended her hand toward Ah Fu, her silent demand unmistakable: she wanted his phone.
"Uh... cough..."
Ah Fu feigned discomfort, clearing his throat before obediently handing the phone over.
Li Mucheng knew exactly what game Ah Fu was playing—sending a signal to Ye Feng. But none of that mattered now.
"What’s wrong, Teacher? Why call at this hour?"
Hearing Li Mucheng’s voice, Ye Feng faltered, at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected her to be here.
"Ah... Good evening, Mucheng. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Good evening, Teacher."
Li Mucheng maintained her poise, greeting him politely before her tone turned glacial—so cold that even through the phone, Ye Feng felt a chill seep into his bones.
"It’s already so late. Isn’t it improper for you to disturb me now? Whatever it is, let’s discuss it tomorrow, alright?"
"Mucheng, actually, all of this—"
"Teacher."
Li Mucheng cut him off, unwilling—or perhaps unable—to hear his explanation.
"Tomorrow... We’ll talk... Alright?"
"......"
Ye Feng realized the gentle Li Mucheng he once knew was gone. Reluctantly, he acquiesced.
"Fine. Understood."
"Good. I expect you to be punctual. Goodnight, Teacher."
"Goodnight... Mucheng..."
The call ended abruptly, leaving Ye Feng to exhale in relief, his nerves finally uncoiling. Staring out at the night, his thoughts were a tangled mess.
This is bad. Really bad. But why is Mucheng reacting so strongly? Isn’t Yu Xin her close friend?
His agitation grew, an invisible hand tightening around his heart, suffocating him.
What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel so uneasy? Maybe I’m just exhausted...
Drip... drip...
The sound of water droplets snapped him out of his thoughts. Turning, he saw Shen Mengli standing there, clad in the white dress he’d recently bought her. Her damp silver hair cascaded like a shimmering galaxy down her shoulders.
"Mengli, you’re done showering?"
"Mm. You looked troubled, so I came to check. Is everything alright?"
Hugging the teddy bear she’d taken from the couch, Shen Mengli spoke softly, every movement cautious. An inexplicable intuition told her Ye Feng was inching toward a precipice—unaware of the danger ahead.
"Of course, everything’s fine."
Gazing at his little angel, Ye Feng’s unease gradually settled. Pocketing his phone, he headed back inside.
"Come on, let’s dry your hair."
"Mm..."
Disappointment flickered in Shen Mengli’s eyes when he avoided sharing his thoughts, but she mustered a smile. She understood—what he needed now was silence.
Whirr...
As the hairdryer hummed to life, warm air tousled her silky strands.
Basking in the warmth and Ye Feng’s gentle strokes, Shen Mengli tilted her head slightly, swaying like a contented kitten. Even his lightest touch could brighten her entire day.
Click.
Once satisfied her hair was thoroughly dry, Ye Feng turned off the dryer.
"All done. You should head to bed. I’ll take a shower soon."
"Okay. Thank you, Xiao Feng."
"No problem. Sleep well?"
"Mm! Goodnight."
After exchanging goodnights, Shen Mengli wheeled herself into the bedroom. Normally, she’d insist on Ye Feng carrying her to bed, but tonight, she wouldn’t trouble him further.
So pretty...
Clutching the crystal hairpin in her palm, Shen Mengli smiled blissfully. At the orphanage, the most she’d ever used was the director’s hair tie—luxuries like this were beyond her dreams.
Though she’d initially protested when Ye Feng gave it to her, what girl could resist something that made her feel beautiful—especially when it was for someone she adored?
"I’ll treasure this forever..."
The memory of Ye Feng handing her the hairpin flashed in her mind. Carefully placing it on the nightstand, she hugged her teddy bear and climbed into bed.
"Mm..."
Only after hearing the shower running did she inch toward Ye Feng’s side of the bed, slipping under his blanket...
Sigh...
Fresh from the shower, Ye Feng toweled off and exhaled heavily. Today was a disaster. Tomorrow’s lesson with Li Mucheng will be nothing but resentment. Collapsing onto the couch, he stared blankly at the ceiling.
What a mess...
Just as he’d resolved the issue with Yu Xin, he’d stumbled into another with Li Mucheng—and his peace offering hadn’t even reached her. Worst of all, Li Mucheng wasn’t as easily placated as others. After making so much progress, he’d undone it all in one fell swoop.
Exhausting doesn’t even begin to cover it.
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
