Danger Approaches

In the end, Li Mucheng had no choice but to abandon the millet porridge she had painstakingly prepared for breakfast. Despite following the guidance of the manor's cook, her first carefully crafted breakfast for Ye Feng ended in such a casual manner, which left her feeling quite disheartened. Yet, deep down, she also felt a surge of joy at having won Ye Feng's affection.

"Teacher," Li Mucheng suddenly spoke up, nestling obediently against Ye Feng's strong, warm shoulder and closing her eyes contentedly. "It seems we’ll have to ask the chef to whip up something simple for breakfast. You must be starving by now, right?"

"Starving? Not really. But Mucheng, aren’t you going to tidy up your hair and appearance?"

Teacher... are you looking down on me?

"Don’t put words in my mouth, Mucheng. I just think your image deserves a little upkeep. After all, this is the first time I’ve seen you like this."

Is that so... Well, teacher? Does the contrast feel like a pleasant surprise?

Li Mucheng looped her arms around Ye Feng’s neck, snuggling into his embrace with a dreamy giggle.

"Well, you might not look as poised and elegant as before, but..."

"But what?"

"But it feels real, like watching a documentary of your daily life."

"Hehe, so by that logic... starting today, there’s a new character in this documentary, right?"

"How can I be called a 'new character'? At the very least, I’d qualify as a guest star."

"Oh no, teacher. You’re not a guest star—you’ve been the leading man from the very beginning."

With that, Li Mucheng spread her arms, signaling for a hug. Free of his earlier reservations, Ye Feng gladly accepted her affection, scooping her up and carrying her toward the room.

"Breakfast will be ready in half an hour. Until then, we can use this time to... deepen our bond~"

"Deepen our bond? Mucheng, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Why, of course... this!"

Before Ye Feng could react, Li Mucheng pounced, expertly burrowing into his arms and savoring every moment of the bright morning with him.

She nestled against his chest and closed her eyes, still feeling the exhaustion from the morning’s efforts. It surprised even her how recklessly she’d thrown herself into preparing breakfast for Ye Feng. Though the outcome wasn’t perfect, she was relieved he didn’t seem to mind.

"Teacher..."

"Hmm?"

"Don’t you think it’d be wonderful if we could stay like this forever? Living carefree with you and having everything I’ve ever wanted."

"What you’ve ever wanted? You’ve never mentioned that before."

"Because I didn’t need to. The thing I want most is already right here with me."

It was clear that what Li Mucheng desired most was Ye Feng himself, hence her words.

"Hehe..."

Noticing her sudden laughter, Ye Feng asked, "And what’s got you laughing this time?"

A mischievous glint flashed in Li Mucheng’s eyes as she pressed her forehead against his, covering her mouth with a hand. "Because your lips are still swollen... and it reminds me of what happened this morning~"

"Alright, alright! Let’s not talk about that, please. And from now on, you’re forbidden from doing anything that extreme again. If I hadn’t stopped you in time, you might’ve bitten my lips clean off!"

"I’m not as unruly as you make me out to be~"

Pouting, Li Mucheng nestled quietly against Ye Feng’s chest.

"Teacher’s embrace really is the warmest place."

"You little..."

......

"No! If this goes on, Ye Feng will be completely taken over by Li Mucheng! If I don’t do something soon, his heart won’t belong to me anymore."

Su Yuxin clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she muttered anxiously.

"Xie Yuyan, should we move the plan forward? According to my informant in the manor, Ye Feng and Li Mucheng are growing closer by the day. They even went out for a walk together recently."

She turned to Xie Yuyan, who sat on a chair in the basement, her back turned as she worked on something unknown.

After a long pause, Xie Yuyan’s icy voice finally cut through the silence. "Are there still many guards outside?"

"Far fewer now. After all this time, they wouldn’t waste resources searching for one person."

"Good... Then we’ll execute the plan tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Are you sure that’s the right time?"

"Why wouldn’t it be? Once we lure Ye Feng to that place, capturing him will be as easy as catching a turtle in a jar."

"Fine... I’ll go call Ye Feng now."

Su Yuxin nodded and headed for the door but stopped abruptly, turning back with a guarded expression.

"Oh, and don’t forget—you promised I’d have Ye Feng all to myself. If you go back on your word, I have a hundred ways to make you regret it."

"Relax. All I want is Ye Feng back. A few sacrifices are worth it."

Xie Yuyan remained with her back turned, but a flicker of murderous intent flashed across her face before she quickly suppressed it. In her mind, Su Yuxin was nothing more than a pawn to locate Ye Feng. Once she reclaimed the runaway, everyone—including the missing Shen Mengli—would face her reckoning...

"Hmm... Breakfast should’ve been ready by now. Why hasn’t there been any word?"

"Don’t worry, Mucheng. Just wait a little longer."

"No, if we delay any further, it won’t even count as breakfast anymore. I’m going to check."

Li Mucheng made to leave, but Ye Feng grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Eek!"

She let out a startled cry, tumbling into Ye Feng’s arms. Blinking in confusion, she looked up at his faintly amused expression.

Gulp... What’s teacher planning? Could it be one of those blush-inducing scenes from books? We’ve already done it once, and I’d love to again... but isn’t it a bit too early? It’s still morning!

"Ah, whatever! The early bird catches the worm! If teacher wants it, I’ll agree to anything!"

"Eh?"

The room fell into dead silence after her declaration...