Goodbye, Mr. Fox

"Click, click."

The sound of a key turning in the lock echoed, but Li Mucheng's movements abruptly stopped at that moment.

"Heh... hehe..."

Ye Feng watched in confusion as Li Mucheng, her face obscured by her long hair, occasionally shuddered, her shoulders trembling. A sense of foreboding crept over him.

"Tea~cher~"

Li Mucheng's eerie voice whispered in his ear, and then, right before his eyes, she pulled the key back out.

Through the gaps in her hair, Ye Feng caught a glimpse of Li Mucheng's eyes—now entirely pitch-black, the sockets around them filled with darkness. The sight was terrifying, a stark contrast to the Li Mucheng whose eyes had once held light. It was as if she had become an entirely different person.

"Do you really think she would let you go?"

Li Mucheng swept aside the hair covering her forehead, revealing a grotesque smile—like a hunter who had finally cornered her prey, ready to end the delightful game.

"She? What do you mean?"

Ye Feng didn’t react emotionally to Li Mucheng’s sudden betrayal, but the keyword she’d dropped made him realize something alarming.

"Oops... I let it slip, didn’t I~?"

Li Mucheng covered her mouth with one hand, then casually tossed the key aside once more. Without warning, her hands shot out, clamping around Ye Feng’s throat.

"Ghk—!"

Ye Feng hadn’t anticipated this violent turn. With his only free hand, he grabbed Li Mucheng’s wrists, struggling to push her away.

"Ah... such a strong teacher. Your resistance makes the game so much more fun."

Li Mucheng’s strength was no match for Ye Feng’s, and soon he managed to pry her hands away, gasping for air.

"Cough! Cough!"

While Ye Feng was still recovering, Li Mucheng, seated on the bed, seized the moment to reach beneath it. A moment later, a sharp knife glinted in her hand.

"I told her to be ruthless, but her indecisiveness disgusts me. If it weren’t for me stepping in, she’d still be wallowing in self-pity~"

Li Mucheng waved the knife tauntingly at Ye Feng. Since her eyes had darkened, she showed no mercy, her actions relentless.

"To conquer a man like you, teacher, one must be even stronger. Now, stay still~ Or I can’t guarantee where this knife might land."

"Who... are you?"

"Isn’t it obvious? I’m your dear student, Li Mucheng~ How forgetful of you, teacher."

"......"

Ye Feng suddenly recalled reviewing Li Mucheng’s medical records during a lesson plan. There had been a note about psychological issues, but an expert evaluation had attributed it to trauma from her mother’s death. At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it—grief was natural.

But now, it seemed Li Mucheng’s condition was far more severe than he’d imagined.

"Teacher, do you know how much I love you? Why won’t you just accept my feelings?"

Li Mucheng traced the knife’s tip lightly over Ye Feng’s chest. Even with one hand free, he couldn’t fully restrain her.

"Can we talk this through?"

"Talk? Listen to yourself, teacher."

Li Mucheng’s lips curled into a chilling smirk, her eyes filled with scorn.

"I’ve been trying to talk to you all this time. But you kept pushing me away, even sneaking around with other women. Is that your idea of ‘talking’?"

"You’re projecting your own delusions. I’ve only ever seen you as my student."

"......"

Li Mucheng fell silent, the knife halting just above Ye Feng’s heart.

After what felt like an eternity, her voice dripped with venom. "How cruel, teacher. After all my love and devotion, this is what I get?"

"You... truly break my heart."

"Beep, beep, beep—"

Before Ye Feng could respond, a rapid series of alarm bells blared in his mind, louder and more urgent than before.

"If I can’t have your soul, teacher, I’ll settle for your body~ Don’t worry, I’ll preserve you perfectly. You’ll belong to me alone~"

"Shink—!"

Just as the blade flashed toward him, a deafening crash erupted from the front door, followed by the sound of it being unlocked.

"Ding-a-ling!"

"Who’s there?!"

Li Mucheng whipped her head toward the noise. Seizing the distraction, Ye Feng lunged, wrenching the knife from her grip and pressing it against her throat.

Li Mucheng turned back to him, a faint smile playing on her lips as she felt the cold steel.

"As expected of my teacher. I could never win against you."

"Let me go. It’s not too late to stop this."

"No... for me, it’s already too late. It’s time to end this..."

A single tear of blood trailed down her cheek as she leaned forward, driving her neck toward the blade.

"Forgive me... teacher... Goodbye, my Mr. Fox~"

At the last moment, Ye Feng yanked the knife away. He hadn’t meant to harm her—only to keep her in check. But the lifeless tone in her voice told him she had already given up.

In the chaos, Li Mucheng collapsed into his arms.

Just then, the door burst open. Through the swirling dust, a slender figure stood silhouetted in the doorway.