Progress Information

[Ding]

Just as Ye Feng was about to take Li Mucheng for another stroll around the area, a sudden system notification echoed in his mind.

"Huh? How could that be..."

"What's wrong, teacher? What do you mean?"

Hearing Ye Feng muttering to himself, Li Mucheng, who had been following closely behind, leaned in and cautiously asked.

"Ah!"

Ye Feng turned his head and glanced at Li Mucheng, whose eyes were filled with confusion, then waved his hand to signal that it was nothing.

"It's nothing, Mucheng. I was just wondering why there’s a flowerbed here with such a variety of blooms. But then I thought, even though this is the back hill, there must be gardeners who tend to it, right?"

"That’s right. Although the back hill is behind the estate, it’s still part of the property. To ensure safety and aesthetics, gardeners and other staff come by regularly to inspect it."

"Ah... no wonder we can see such beautiful roses here."

"I’m glad you like them, teacher."

Li Mucheng smiled sweetly, delighted to see the rose tightly clutched in Ye Feng’s hand.

"Mucheng, let’s call it a day here. We should head back to the estate soon. There’s something I need to take care of as well."

"Of course. Do you need my help with anything, teacher?"

"Hmm..."

Seeing the eager anticipation in Li Mucheng’s eyes, Ye Feng pondered for a moment. If he didn’t ask her for a favor, she might feel disheartened. So he replied,

"Could you prepare a room for me to rest in? I’m feeling a bit unwell for some reason."

"Wh-what?! You’re not feeling well?!"

The intensity of Li Mucheng’s reaction made Ye Feng realize his offhand excuse wasn’t the best. But before he could backtrack, it was too late.

"Teacher, wait right here! I’ll have Ah Fu bring the best doctors in the city—"

"N-no, no need, Mucheng!"

Ye Feng quickly grabbed Li Mucheng’s arm as she was about to dash back to the estate, stopping her in her tracks.

"It’s probably just that my wounds haven’t fully healed yet, so walking too much makes me tired. I just need a quiet room to rest."

"R-really? Teacher, you’d better not lie to me! I don’t want anything to happen to you!"

Though Ye Feng’s intervention stopped her from running off, Li Mucheng’s voice was still laced with worry.

"Don’t worry, Mucheng. I’m really fine. Let’s just head back first, okay?"

"Mm..."

Despite his reassurance, Li Mucheng’s concern didn’t fade. She stepped forward, circling around to face Ye Feng, and scrutinized him with a critical gaze, checking every inch of him. Only after confirming he was unharmed did she nod reluctantly.

"Alright... but if you feel even the slightest discomfort, you have to tell me, okay? I... I’m really worried about you."

Why does Mucheng suddenly seem so much more obedient and considerate?

Ye Feng couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion as he looked at the anxious Li Mucheng. The old Li Mucheng had never been outright arrogant, but she’d always carried a self-centered air, especially when interacting with him, often acting recklessly under the guise of being the young mistress.

But now, that attitude was nowhere to be found. Instead, she had become gentle and attentive. Had she really taken his words to heart?

When Ye Feng remained silent for a long moment, Li Mucheng mistakenly thought she had annoyed him with her chatter and quickly apologized.

"S-sorry, teacher... Did I talk too much—"

"Mucheng."

"Huh? Y-yes?"

"I’ve already told you, there’s no need to be so reserved. As long as you avoid repeating past mistakes, you don’t have to hold back."

Ye Feng reached out and gently patted Li Mucheng’s head, hoping to ease some of her worries with this mature gesture.

"Mmm..."

On the other side, Li Mucheng visibly relaxed under his touch. It reassured her that Ye Feng was paying attention to her actions—her efforts weren’t in vain.

"Hehe~"

She giggled foolishly, closing her eyes to savor this brief but precious moment. Ye Feng couldn’t help but flick her forehead lightly.

"Stop grinning like an idiot. Let’s get back inside."

"Okay~"

......

"Teacher, is this room alright?"

After returning to the estate, Li Mucheng led Ye Feng to a luxurious suite.

"This..."

The opulent furnishings left Ye Feng speechless. He couldn’t believe this was just a resting room.

"Mucheng, isn’t this a bit too much? A simple room would’ve been—"

"No way! You’re an honored guest to me, teacher. Of course I have to treat you with the highest respect!"

Li Mucheng was adamant, planting her hands on her hips and blinking earnestly.

"Now, go ahead and rest, teacher. I’ll arrange a car for you to go home after your break."

"Mucheng, I already said—"

She didn’t let him finish, pushing him firmly into the room with both hands.

"Teacher, you’re too important. This isn’t up for debate. Have a good rest~"

With a playful wink, Li Mucheng hummed a tune and skipped away down the hallway.

"Sigh..."

Ye Feng closed the door behind him with a resigned sigh. Though he had initially been wary of Li Mucheng, today’s interactions had finally put his mind at ease.

"She’s really changed so much... Good thing I didn’t hesitate back then in the car. Who knows what might’ve happened if I had..."

Once his thoughts about Li Mucheng settled, Ye Feng turned his attention to the system panel in his mind. He needed to figure out why the system notification had sounded earlier. Normally, new missions would appear immediately, so this likely had something to do with a reward or a minor update—but he hadn’t completed any missions recently. How could there be a notification?

No point overthinking it. The answer would be clear once he checked.

With that, Ye Feng opened his inventory and spotted a black box floating before him.

What’s this...

[Max Progress Gift Pack: Acquired Charm Skill Explanation, Unlocked Basic Progress Information, +1 Year of Lifespan]