And so, Ye Feng carried Shen Mengli in his arms to a public beach chair, where the two of them lay together, soaking in the scent of the ocean.
Under the gentle caress of the sea breeze, waves crashed rhythmically against the golden sand, sending ripples across the water's surface. Shen Mengli gazed intently at the long-dreamed-of scenery, finally fulfilling her wish to see the sea.
Sitting beside her, Ye Feng didn’t disturb Shen Mengli’s moment. Instead, he quietly watched the ocean alongside her, his heart tangled in complicated thoughts.
What path should he take from here? Should he remain a machine controlled by the system, or find a way to break free from its shackles?
At this moment, Ye Feng felt as though the road ahead was like the unfathomable depths of the sea—mysterious and fraught with danger.
What... should he do...?
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Mengli snapped out of her reverie and realized Ye Feng had been silent for a while. Curious, she turned her gaze toward him.
"Xiao... Feng?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing her call, Ye Feng withdrew his distant gaze and turned to face her.
"What’s wrong, Mengli? Is the sea breeze too cold?"
Shen Mengli shook her head, shifting her legs slightly to lean closer to him. Then, with a sweet smile, she stretched out her arms and said, "Xiao Feng, can you carry me to your chair? There’s something I want to tell you."
"Wouldn’t it be easier if I just sat next to you?"
"Ah... right."
Seeing that her little trick hadn’t worked, Shen Mengli let out a soft huff but quickly adjusted, making space for him by propping herself up with her hands.
The moment Ye Feng settled onto the sun lounger, Shen Mengli immediately scooted closer, resting her head against his shoulder and pursing her delicate lips, savoring the warmth radiating from him.
"Mengli... with so many people around, isn’t this a bit... inappropriate?"
"What’s inappropriate about it? Xiao Feng, don’t worry about what others think. Our relationship isn’t for them to judge."
"You always see things so clearly, Mengli."
Seeing how unbothered she was, Ye Feng didn’t press further.
"Alright, Mengli, what did you want to talk about?"
"Actually, it’s nothing major. I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart with you."
Shen Mengli tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her voice softening as if confiding in someone dear to her.
"Xiao Feng, do you ever feel lost?"
Ye Feng hadn’t expected her to bring this up. Caught off guard, he replied,
"Lost? W-what are you talking about? Look at how carefree I am—does it seem like I’m lost?"
"Seems like Xiao Feng can lie too~"
Shen Mengli covered her mouth with a quiet giggle, then reached out to cup Ye Feng’s face, gently pulling him closer.
"Mengli?!"
Ye Feng’s pupils dilated as her face nearly touched his. Just as he was about to turn away, Shen Mengli withdrew her hand. Still, he averted his gaze, trying to steady his racing heart.
"See? You can’t even look me in the eyes. Still saying you’re not lying?"
Shen Mengli tilted her head, locking eyes with him, clearly pleased with his reaction.
"......"
After a brief silence, Ye Feng finally explained,
"The only reason I didn’t look at you was that we were too close just now. I thought—"
"Thought~ what~?"
Shen Mengli narrowed her eyes like a sly little fox, practically wagging her tail in anticipation of his flustered response.
"Never mind. How did you know I’ve been feeling lost?"
Ye Feng deftly sidestepped the question, steering the conversation back to the original topic.
"Because of your eyes."
Shen Mengli didn’t press him further. Her playful expression softened as she took Ye Feng’s left hand and placed it on her lap.
"Eyes never lie, Xiao Feng. Yours... they look just like mine did when I was lost."
"Like yours back then..."
Ye Feng repeated her words, lowering his head to gaze at her with clouded eyes.
"Am I really that lost? Why can’t I feel it?"
"Yes. I can tell something’s troubling you."
With that, Shen Mengli cupped Ye Feng’s face in her hands, looking up at him with deep affection. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the world slowing around them.
Her bell-like voice whispered gently in his ear.
"Back then, it was you who pulled me from the abyss. It was you who stayed by my side and gave me hope when I had none. So... let me help you find your way too~"
Ye Feng froze, as if wrapped in a warm current. Before he could react, Shen Mengli leaned in closer.
"Mwah~"
Their voices faded, leaving only the sound of the waves—each ripple like a plucked string resonating in Ye Feng’s heart...
Time slipped by before Ye Feng finally snapped out of his daze. The lingering sweetness on his lips sent an electric tingle coursing through his body.
"Mm!"
Only when he jerked backward did he break free from her embrace. Seeing Shen Mengli’s smug smile, Ye Feng immediately stood up from the lounger.
"Mengli! You... I..."
"Xiao Feng, what are you talking about? I don’t know anything~"
Shen Mengli stuck out her tongue playfully, feigning innocence.
Breathing in the salty air, Ye Feng found his heart still racing, as if shattered by a hammer.
"I... I need to walk for a bit..."
Without another word, he strode away from the beach chair, leaving Shen Mengli lying there, thoroughly pleased.
"Mmm, hehe~"
Resting a slender finger on her lips, Shen Mengli couldn’t help but giggle like a lovestruck girl. Because as Ye Feng left, she had seen it all—the way his eyes darted away, the flustered fumbling as he stood, and most telling of all, the faint blush creeping up to the tips of his ears.
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.”
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
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…
