Substantive Rewards

"Xie Yuyan."

Before Su Yuxin arrived, Li Mucheng decided to broach the topic first.

"Could you tell me about when you first met Ye Feng?"

Xie Yuyan was slightly taken aback by Li Mucheng's question. She raised her head and glanced at Li Mucheng's earnest expression before finally speaking softly after a long pause, "My encounter with Ye Feng... was quite complicated. But why do you want to know about this?"

Li Mucheng noticed Xie Yuyan's delicate brows furrowing slightly, realizing that her words had stirred some wariness in her.

"I was just asking casually. You should know that among all of us, Ye Feng’s feelings were most inclined toward you."

"Most inclined toward me... Yes."

Xie Yuyan’s guarded expression crumbled at Li Mucheng’s words. Despite the countless regrets swirling in her heart, all she could do was resign herself to them.

"Playing a good hand so poorly—that must be referring to me, right? If only I had stayed happily with Ye Feng, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out like this."

"If you still don’t trust me enough, Xie Yuyan, let me first share my own story with Ye Feng."

Perhaps out of consideration for Xie Yuyan’s somber mood—and to ease her suspicions—Li Mucheng began recounting her own first meeting with Ye Feng.

......

"Are... are you really alright now?"

Shen Mengli supported Ye Feng as they walked back and forth near the wooden cabin. When Ye Feng claimed he could walk on his own, Shen Mengli couldn’t help but ask worriedly.

"I’m really fine. I can already feel my legs regaining strength. Mengli, let me try taking a few steps by myself."

"Alright, but be careful, Xiao Feng."

Shen Mengli loosened her tight grip on Ye Feng’s arm, though she remained ready to steady him at the slightest sign of unsteadiness.

"Okay."

Ye Feng gave Shen Mengli a reassuring look before carefully taking small steps forward. After a brief trial, he found no discomfort and finally exhaled deeply, gazing up at the sky.

At last... at last, I can rest properly. As for that so-called "system," I won’t concern myself with it anymore. Spending the rest of my days here with Mengli might just be the life I’ve longed for.

A faint smile appeared on Ye Feng’s face as this thought crossed his mind, and his eyes met Shen Mengli’s.

"Xiao Feng? You look happy. Did something good come to mind?"

"Of course I’m happy to be alive and well, even if it’s just for a short while..."

The last words were barely audible, but Shen Mengli caught a trace of sorrow in his eyes.

Xiao Feng... is he exhausted because of his secrets? Could something big be about to happen again?

Anxious and no longer possessing her precognitive abilities, Shen Mengli became even more cautious when it came to Ye Feng. She feared that the slightest misstep might shatter their peaceful life together—a thought that would devastate her.

"Xiao Feng."

Shen Mengli stepped closer, interrupting Ye Feng’s thoughts. Rising on her tiptoes, she planted a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Promise me you’ll stay safe, okay? I don’t want anything to happen to you, and I can’t bear the thought of you leaving me!"

"I never said I would leave. Right now, it’s just the two of us in this cabin—of course I’ll stay by your side. Besides, this is the life I’ve always wanted. How could I leave you, Mengli? After all, I’m your guardian."

"Mmm... but you’re more than just a guardian."

Shen Mengli clung tightly to Ye Feng’s waist, unwilling to let go. Though his reassurance eased her worries, it wasn’t quite what she wanted to hear. What she truly longed for was to uncover the secret he had been hiding.

So far, Ye Feng had never revealed his true intentions, which only reinforced Shen Mengli’s belief that his secret was something monumental—something capable of altering the course of his life. The only way to uncover it was to deepen their bond, to truly win his heart.

That way, even if those other women ever found Ye Feng, she would still hold the most important place in his life, ensuring his love belonged solely to her.

As the faint scent of flowers and grass from Shen Mengli enveloped him, Ye Feng averted his gaze, looking away.

"Mengli, you’ve been here for a while now. Are you familiar with the surroundings? Navigating through dense forests like these isn’t easy."

"I think I’ve managed alright. Part of the money you gave me before went into buying this cabin, and during that time, I spent every day getting to know the area—just so I wouldn’t get lost."

"Mm, as expected of you, Mengli. Not only clever but also so thoughtful..."

Just as Ye Feng was about to praise her further, he felt Shen Mengli’s arms tighten around him. Looking down, he noticed the clarity in her eyes had blurred into something far more intoxicating.

"Hehe, I’ll gladly accept Xiao Feng’s compliments. But what I’d really like is a more... tangible reward."

"Ahem..."

Ye Feng coughed twice, pretending to have something urgent as he tried to extricate himself from Shen Mengli’s embrace. The intensity in her gaze was unmistakable—a love so fierce it threatened to consume him.

"Mengli? Haven’t we been hugging for a bit too long? There’s still so much of the area we haven’t explored."

"We can explore all of that later. But if you don’t give me the reward I deserve right now..."

Shen Mengli’s voice shifted, the sweetness giving way to a sultry whisper.

"...then I’ll just have to take it myself~"

Is... is this still the same innocent Mengli from before? Why does it feel like she’s looking at me like she wants to devour me whole? How did this girl change so much in such a short time?

Before Ye Feng’s thoughts could spiral further, Shen Mengli seized her opportunity. In one swift motion, she pulled his head down and pressed her cherry-like lips against his, catching him completely off guard.

"Mmm~"

"Me—mmph—!"

Only when a warm sensation flooded his entire body did Ye Feng snap back to reality. But it was too late—Shen Mengli had already claimed his lips. A sweet, intoxicating taste burst across his tongue, spreading to every corner of his being.