Equally Important People

"Slurp~"

Shen Mengli sipped the fish soup Ye Feng had specially prepared for her, the warmth of the steaming bowl completely dispelling the morning chill.

"How's the taste? I don’t usually make soup, just followed an online recipe."

"It’s delicious. This is the best fish soup I’ve ever had in my life."

"It’s not as amazing as you’re making it out to be, Mengli."

As he spoke, Ye Feng seemed to recall something, his gaze drifting toward the rising steam from the soup, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.

If it were Xie Yuyan, she’d probably make it even tastier. It’s been so long without any news from her... I’m a little worried.

"Xiao—"

Shen Mengli set the bowl down on the table, about to speak, but noticed Ye Feng’s mind was clearly elsewhere, his expression tinged with nostalgia.

Xiao Feng is doing it again... Who is it this time? Who is she thinking about? Is it Li Mucheng? It must be her! He only started acting like this after coming back today...

No! Absolutely not! This is supposed to be our time together—how dare he think of someone else right now!

A flicker of anger rose in Shen Mengli’s heart. She reached out, cupped Ye Feng’s face with both hands, and forcibly turned his head toward her.

"Huh?"

Ye Feng snapped back to reality as he felt her hands on his cheeks.

"Mengli... what’s wrong?"

"You were so lost in thought just now. I called you several times, and you didn’t respond at all."

Shen Mengli spoke calmly, deliberately keeping her tone serious to mask the turmoil inside.

"R-Really? Sorry, Mengli. I was just... thinking about something from the past."

"The past? Would you mind telling me about it?"

"Well..."

Xie Yuyan’s figure flashed through Ye Feng’s mind, but he ultimately shook his head.

Who knows if Xie Yuyan will even come back? Maybe it’s better to wait before explaining anything.

"Sorry, Mengli. Let’s leave it for another time."

"......"

Shen Mengli slowly lowered her hands from his face, her voice losing some of its warmth.

"Is she... important to you, Xiao Feng?"

Ye Feng thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes. She’s someone very important—just like you."

"Just like me..."

At his words, Shen Mengli’s dimmed eyes flickered, her body trembling slightly.

Xiao Feng just said I’m as important as her! That means I’ve already caught up!

A fire seemed to ignite in her heart, her dull gaze reigniting with determination.

If I just keep getting closer to Xiao Feng like this, one day I’ll surpass her. I’ll make sure his heart tilts toward me!

"Xiao Feng, you’re the most important person to me too."

Shen Mengli suddenly spoke up, gripping Ye Feng’s hand, her voice soft and tender by his ear.

"So don’t worry. No matter what happens in the future, I’ll never leave your side. Never!"

"Mengli... thank you."

......

"Skreech—"

In a dimly lit corridor, the last massive body collapsed to the ground, stirring up dust and sending a faint tremor through the earth.

The air was thick with the stench of death—blood and gunpowder permeated the entire hall.

Xie Yuyan panted as she stared at the bespectacled man sprawled before her. Her pale blue eyes were like the unfathomable depths of the ocean, ready to swallow anyone who dared venture too close.

"Drip... drip..."

The long blade in her hand was drenched in blood. At this moment, she resembled a reaper returned from hell, carrying out a sentence of annihilation.

"N-No... impossible... impossible!"

The man adjusted his shattered glasses, staring in disbelief at the fallen giants around him—his prized genetic warriors. In such a hostile environment, this woman had single-handedly wiped out every guard on the island, including his life’s work.

"I must study you! I have to! Your body must hold invaluable research potential!"

Like a man possessed, he struggled to his feet, clutching a syringe as if desperate to extract Xie Yuyan’s blood for his experiments.

"Tch... As expected, no one in this filthy place is worth saving... myself included."

With those muttered words, Xie Yuyan swung her blade once more, fresh blood trickling down the already stained steel.

"Drip... drip..."

"Enough."

Her gaze shifted to the woman seated on a throne at the far end of the hall. Step by step, she advanced.

"Now... it’s time to settle our debt."

"Cold Snake..."

The Dark Palace’s master dug her nails into the armrests of her crimson wooden throne, her eyes burning with hatred and disbelief.

"I should have killed you back then."

"Regrets?"

"Hah..."

As if resigned to her fate, the master leaned back into her seat.

"If I had let you go, would you still have come for me?"

"I would have died."

"Ridiculous."

The master scoffed, clearly unconvinced.

"You slaughtered your way here alone, yet claim you’d have died? That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard."

"No. In fact, I should thank you. Without your schemes, I might never have met him."

A faint smile touched Xie Yuyan’s blood-streaked face as she recalled something precious.

"He is the only reason I keep living."

"Him? Pah. To think a top-tier assassin would debase herself over a man. How pathetic."

"Let’s end this."

The thought of Ye Feng only intensified her longing to return home—to his embrace.

The corners of her lips curled slightly, like a crimson rose blooming amidst a sea of blood—beautiful yet lethal.

"Ahahahaha!"

Suddenly, the Dark Palace master burst into maniacal laughter, her twisted face contorted with venomous hatred.

"Then you’ll have to meet him in the next life! DIE!"

With that, she flipped open a hidden compartment on her armrest and slammed her palm down on a button.

......