After Ye Feng sat down by Shen Mengli's bedside, Shen Mengli threw her soft, delicate body into his arms like a kitten drawn to catnip.
"Xiao Feng..."
"Ahem... Mengli, can you tell me now? Please explain everything from the beginning."
"Alright. Actually, Xie Yuyan, she—"
Just as Shen Mengli was about to speak, a sudden, urgent knock came from outside the door, followed immediately by Xie Yuyan's voice.
"Mengli? Mengli, are you there?"
"Xie Yuyan?"
Hearing Xie Yuyan's voice, Ye Feng instantly sensed something was off. Though Xie Yuyan had called Shen Mengli's name, her tone was rushed, as if she were trying to confirm something.
And why now, of all times? This was the second time she had shown up just as he visited the welfare home. Could it really be a coincidence?
"X-Xiao Feng..."
Shen Mengli hurriedly pulled herself out of Ye Feng's embrace and, before he could speak, leaned close to his ear and whispered.
"Xiao Feng, please don’t tell Sister Yuyan about what happened today, okay? I’m begging you!"
"But—"
"There’ll be time later. Let’s sort everything out together first, and then we can discuss it, alright?"
"O... okay..."
"Good. Until then, I’ll be waiting here for you. Goodbye for now, Xiao Feng."
"Huh?"
The sudden farewell left Ye Feng unsettled, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint why. Before he could figure it out, it was already too late—Xie Yuyan outside the door had grown impatient.
"Mengli, why aren’t you answering me? Did something happen? I’m coming in!"
Click.
Before Xie Yuyan could push the door open, Ye Feng stepped out from inside.
"Meng— Huh? Ye Feng?"
Xie Yuyan didn’t seem overly surprised to see Ye Feng standing there. However, a shadow flickered in her pale blue eyes as she tilted her head curiously and asked,
"Ye Feng, what are you doing here? Didn’t you say you were tutoring Li Mucheng?"
"......"
Ye Feng glanced back at Shen Mengli, who remained silent, then turned to Xie Yuyan, whose expression was one of feigned confusion. He replied calmly,
"Class ended a while ago. I just came to check on Mengli and see how she’s doing. By the way, why are you here?"
Noticing the faint wariness in Ye Feng’s gaze, Xie Yuyan realized Shen Mengli must have told him something. Forcing a smile, she stepped into the room.
"Didn’t you say before that I should find things I enjoy? Well, Mengli and I hit it off, so I thought I’d take some time to bond with her."
"I see..."
Ye Feng nodded thoughtfully, but Shen Mengli’s words had already planted a seed of suspicion in his mind. He needed to verify the truth himself.
"Yuyan, let’s head back for today. I talked to Mengli about leaving the welfare home, but she still hasn’t agreed."
"Alright. Don’t be too upset, Ye Feng. She’ll understand your good intentions someday."
"Yeah..."
Ye Feng responded quietly before turning to wave at Shen Mengli.
"Mengli, I’m leaving with Yuyan now. If you change your mind, just call me, okay?"
Shen Mengli didn’t answer. Instead, she lowered her gaze and made the teddy bear in her arms wave goodbye.
After Xie Yuyan walked out arm-in-arm with Ye Feng, faint footsteps echoed in the hallway. Soon after, the headmistress entered the room.
"Mengli? Are you alright?"
"Headmistress."
Hearing Shen Mengli’s normal voice, the headmistress relaxed slightly. Sitting by the bed, she whispered,
"Ye Feng and that woman have left. If you don’t like her, I can just refuse her entry next time."
"It’s fine, Headmistress. I have my own reasons."
As she spoke, Shen Mengli stood up from the bed and took a few steps around the room.
"How is it? Can you walk without any trouble?"
The headmistress didn’t seem surprised by Shen Mengli’s sudden ability to walk smoothly, as if she had known all along.
"Much better. I just can’t walk for too long yet."
A strange glint flashed in Shen Mengli’s crimson eyes before she turned to the headmistress.
"Headmistress, I’ll need your help from now on..."
"I understand. But Mengli, you must be careful out there on your own, alright?"
"Don’t worry, Headmistress. I’ll take care of myself."
With that, Shen Mengli pulled out her phone and handed it to the headmistress.
"Goodbye, Headmistress. Thank you for everything."
The headmistress’s eyes grew misty as she waved. "Go on, child. Go find your own happiness. This is as far as I can take you. Leave now, before anyone notices."
......
"......"
On the way home, Ye Feng couldn’t stop thinking about Shen Mengli’s farewell. He didn’t understand why she had said goodbye like that. Even if Xie Yuyan had done something behind his back, was it really so terrifying that she couldn’t just tell him outright?
Then again, he shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Xie Yuyan had always been gentle and kind in front of him—nothing like the frightening figure Shen Mengli seemed to see. Besides, he and Xie Yuyan were in a relationship now. Shouldn’t he be focusing more on her?
"Ye Feng, what’s wrong? You’ve been distracted the whole way back. Did something happen?"
Xie Yuyan bent down slightly, blinking her beautiful eyes at him with concern.
"I’m fine, Yuyan. It’s just... Mengli told me some things, and now my mind’s a mess."
"Oh? Can I ask what she told you?"
Xie Yuyan clenched her teeth but maintained her gentle demeanor, even soothingly rubbing Ye Feng’s back to calm him.
"Mengli said..."
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
e school belle recognized by the whole school, a genius girl from the kendo club. She also has a hidden identity, the youngest legendary demon hunter. Chen Shuo just transmigrated and found himself turned into a weak, helpless little vampire. He was caught by Su Xiyen and taken home at the very beginning. Since then, Chen Shuo's life creed only had two items. "First, classmate Su Xiyen is always right." "Second, if classmate Su Xiyen is wrong, please refer back to item one." Many years later, Chen Shuo, who had turned back into a human, led a pair of twins to appear in front of all the vampires to share the secret of how he turned back into a human. "It's simple, I tricked a female demon hunter into becoming my wife!"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
For the sake of his unrequited love, his ex-girlfriend abandoned him at the altar, indirectly causing the death of his parents. Just when he thought his life was plunged into darkness, a clueless yet beautiful girl unexpectedly took him in. Looking back, he realized how many hidden gems had always been by his side. A childhood friend who had secretly loved him for over a decade, a stunning but socially clueless school beauty, a mischievous and playful girl who lived for chaos... His ex, filled with regret, pleaded: "I was wrong—can we go back to how things were?" Before he could respond, the girl stepped in front of Ye Shuang and coldly declared, "If you didn’t cherish him, then he’s mine now." Also known as: "After Losing My Job, I Was Picked Up by a Hidden Gem," "The School Beauty I Raised," and "Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Rich Girls."
