Xiao Feng, welcome home~

"Haah... haah..."

Shen Mengli gasped for breath, her forehead drenched in sweat as her hands clutched her throat, as if confirming something.

Just as the sharp blade was about to pierce her throat, Shen Mengli jolted awake from her wheelchair. Her trembling pupils betrayed sheer terror.

"Wh-what in the world is going on? Why did I fall into that same scenario again... Was it an illusion?"

Her frantic emotions gradually settled with each steadying breath. She didn’t even bother sending a message to Ye Feng—she needed to sort out the mystery of these recurring visions.

......

"Repeated medication leads to the body adapting to the drug—this is what we call resistance. Do you understand, Mucheng?"

"Oh, I see... That explains why..."

Listening to Ye Feng’s explanation, Li Mucheng lowered her head in contemplation.

"Mucheng, what did you say? 'That explains why' what?"

"Ah~ Nothing. I just meant, so this is what drug resistance is."

"Exactly. And the body's resistance varies depending on one’s constitution. For example, a healthy, illness-resistant physique also builds stronger immunity."

"I understand. Thank you for the lesson, Professor~"

Li Mucheng pressed her lips together, offering Ye Feng a soft smile before rising from her chair with a regretful sigh.

"It’s just a shame class is over. I still had so much more to ask you."

"Don’t worry, there’ll be time. Our lessons aren’t finished yet. Once the manor renovations are complete, we can always go back."

Ye Feng pulled out the phone Li Mucheng had gifted him to check the time, noticing Shen Mengli still hadn’t messaged him. He stood up as well, meeting Li Mucheng’s lingering gaze.

"Then it’s settled, Mucheng. We’ll go together next Thursday when I have class with Su Yuxin."

"Alright~ Let me walk you out, Professor~"

......

As they left the apartment, Ye Feng and Li Mucheng walked side by side. Suddenly, Li Mucheng reached out and looped her arm through his. Feeling the pressure against his arm, Ye Feng turned to her with a questioning look.

"Mucheng, what’s this about?"

"Professor, I still feel a bit dizzy. Would you mind if I leaned on you for a bit?"

Li Mucheng rested her head weakly against his arm, her voice laced with a sultry charm that plucked at Ye Feng’s heartstrings like a well-played melody.

"Are you really okay? You push yourself too hard—you should be resting, not overworking. What goes on in that head of yours?"

"Hehe~ I’ll take your advice to heart~"

The two walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way...

"Alright, Mucheng, you don’t need to go any further. It’s not safe past the apartment."

Ye Feng glanced at the passing cars outside the complex, his concern easing slightly as he noted Li Mucheng’s improved complexion.

"Mhm. By the way, Professor, you’re still carrying the phone I gave you~ That makes me happy~"

"Ah... haha..."

Ye Feng knew her words carried a veiled warning—he usually only brought her phone to their lessons. Yet her tone made him wonder if she could see right through him.

Strange... Was it just his imagination? Or was Mucheng genuinely pleased?

"Well then, goodbye, Professor~"

"Take care, Mucheng."

After parting ways, Ye Feng hailed a taxi and left. Watching the car disappear into the distance, Li Mucheng turned expressionlessly to Ah Fu, who stood nearby.

"Father has a meeting to attend tonight, correct?"

"Yes, Young Mistress."

"What about Uncle Su? Will he be there?"

"President Su should also attend."

"Oh? Good. Prepare the car."

"Wh-where to?"

Ah Fu swallowed hard. Li Mucheng never voluntarily attended such events—something was definitely amiss.

"The banquet. There are things I need to confirm."

Her voice was icy as she turned back toward her apartment, an air of authority radiating from her.

"Understood."

......

"Hmm..."

Shen Mengli lay on her bed, staring blankly at the door. According to her vision, this was where the shadowy figure in her dream had killed her... Yet no matter how long she dozed or zoned out, the hallucination refused to return.

It felt less like a mere illusion and more like a dire warning—one that, despite its surreal nature, had felt terrifyingly real.

"I have to figure this out. It can’t just be random... Why am I suddenly seeing these things? Unless—it’s a side effect!"

Shen Mengli suddenly recalled Ye Feng’s warning when she took the "Marrow Restoration Pill"—he’d mentioned possible strange side effects, though he couldn’t specify what. Now, after all this time, the anomaly in her body was these visions.

Which meant...

This hallucination was the pill’s side effect!

Click.

A faint noise at the door made Shen Mengli flinch. She grabbed her phone, relaxing only when she saw the time—Ye Feng’s class should be over by now.

"Did I really lose track of time? Is Xiao Feng back?"

The sound of the front door opening was followed by Ye Feng’s voice.

"I’m home!"

"Xiao Feng!"

Hearing him, Shen Mengli finally exhaled in relief—the visions had shaken her more than she cared to admit.

"Huh?"

Noticing her voice from the bedroom, Ye Feng stepped inside. The moment he saw Shen Mengli’s crimson eyes fixed on him, he flopped onto the bed with open arms.

"So you’re here, Mengli. Did you eat properly?"

Watching him drop his guard like this, Shen Mengli couldn’t help but giggle softly. His behavior was proof he saw her as family now.

With that thought, she crawled closer, cradling Ye Feng’s head in her lap as she murmured tenderly,

"Welcome home, Xiao Feng~"