When Shen Mengli stepped out of the bathroom, Ye Feng was still in the kitchen, cooking.
"Hmm?"
Noticing movement behind him, Ye Feng didn’t turn around, keeping his focus entirely on the stir-fry sizzling in the pan.
"Mengli, you’re done washing up? Go dry your hair quickly—dinner’s almost ready."
"......"
Shen Mengli didn’t respond, which Ye Feng took as silent agreement, so he didn’t pay her any further mind.
Just as he was finishing the last dish, a pair of slender arms wrapped around his waist.
"Eh? Meng... Mengli? Did you dry your hair?"
Ye Feng freed one hand to gently pat the back of Shen Mengli’s hand, signaling her to go take care of her own business. But this time, she seemed unusually defiant, not even answering him.
Was she upset because he’d been too indifferent earlier?
As Ye Feng hurried to finish the dish so he could explain himself, Shen Mengli suddenly moved. She slipped around his arm and pressed herself against his chest, then tilted her head up to gaze at him intently.
Her long silver hair still glistened with droplets of water, like a freshly bloomed lotus—radiant and breathtakingly beautiful.
"Mengli?"
With Shen Mengli blocking his view, Ye Feng momentarily forgot what he was doing. He stared at her, swallowing hard.
"Xiao Feng."
Only when she sensed his full attention did Shen Mengli finally murmur softly.
"What’s wrong, Mengli? I’m here."
"I... I really... really like you."
"Eh?"
Ye Feng had expected her to voice some complaint, but instead, she confessed her feelings so earnestly.
"Uh... Mengli, are you... okay?"
"Of course I’m okay. I just... just want you by my side."
"I’ll always be by your side. But if you’re fine, could you please go dry your hair first? You might catch a cold otherwise."
"No~ I just want to hug you."
Faced with her coquettishness, Ye Feng couldn’t resist. He turned off the stove—just before the dish burned—and took her hand, leading her back to the room.
"Hehe, Xiao Feng is the best~"
"Alright, alright, I’m the absolute best."
"Whirr—"
As the warm air from the hairdryer hummed to life, Shen Mengli closed her eyes, basking in Ye Feng’s care.
"Mengli, be honest with me—did something happen?"
While meticulously drying her hair, Ye Feng probed gently.
"Something happen? N-no, not at all."
Shen Mengli tilted her head in confusion, her bright eyes blinking up at him.
"Then why do you seem so... dazed today? Like something’s on your mind."
"Mm..."
Instead of answering, Shen Mengli suddenly sprang up from the bed. The abrupt movement startled Ye Feng, causing the hairdryer to slip from his grip and land on the sheets. Just as he reached to steady her, she cupped his face in her hands, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to his.
"Mmph... mwah..."
Ye Feng’s eyes widened in surprise, but he soon wrapped his arms around her waist, returning her affection with quiet tenderness.
Though he didn’t understand why Shen Mengli was acting this way, he cradled her carefully, gently patting her back to soothe her fervor.
"Nngh... mm..."
"Hah... haa..."
"Xiao... Xiao Feng..."
The hairdryer continued to whirr on the bed, but Shen Mengli’s restless heart gradually calmed in the warmth of their embrace.
"Mmm~"
Only when she pulled away did Ye Feng pick up the hairdryer again, resuming his task.
"Xiao... Xiao Feng..."
Her cheeks flushed, Shen Mengli stole a glance at him, calling his name softly once she confirmed he wasn’t upset.
"Finally willing to settle down?"
Ye Feng pinched her cheek playfully, then booped her nose.
"Mm... I don’t know why I acted like that. I just suddenly wanted to be close to you."
"Oh? So now you’re not even bothering with excuses?"
Though his words sounded teasing, his eyes brimmed with nothing but adoration.
"It’s okay. If you ever need to vent your emotions, that’s fine. But don’t hide any troubles or negative feelings from me, alright? Otherwise, I’ll get mad."
"Don’t worry, Xiao Feng! I... I won’t do that."
Satisfied with her earnest expression, Ye Feng said no more. After ensuring her hair was fully dry, he put the hairdryer away.
"Then it’s settled. Let’s go eat."
As he turned to leave, Shen Mengli grabbed his wrist. Her once-tender gaze turned serious, her voice low.
"Xiao Feng, did you forget something?"
"Forget something...?"
Ye Feng repeated her words, racking his brain for any promises he might’ve made. But his memory failed him. As her eyes grew more intense, he gave up and asked outright.
"Mengli, what exactly are you talking about? I don’t think I..."
"Did you forget what you just said?"
"......"
The hint gave him pause. After a beat, he raised a brow.
"You mean... wanting to be close to me?"
"No! Next guess!"
Shen Mengli’s brows furrowed, her displeasure clear. If he kept guessing wrong, she might just pounce like an irate kitten.
"Uh... then, was it about hiding things from each other?"
"Bingo."
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?"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!
