Hungry Wolf Pounces on Prey

Just as Shen Mengli arrived at Li Mucheng's door and was about to raise her hand to knock, Li Mucheng, as if already aware of her presence, opened the door. The unexpected move left Shen Mengli momentarily stunned, frozen in place until Li Mucheng reached out, pulled her inside, and closed the door behind them.

"Mu... Mucheng?"

As soon as she entered, Shen Mengli withdrew her hand from Li Mucheng's grasp, puzzled by her actions while glancing around the room.

Though the layout of each room was identical, Li Mucheng's space was strikingly simple—devoid of excessive decor, save for a faint scent of incense lingering in the air. After a brief survey, Shen Mengli averted her gaze.

"So, Mucheng... did you want to talk to me about something?"

Seeing the confusion on Shen Mengli's face, Li Mucheng voiced her thoughts.

"Mengli, this is for you."

Slowly, Li Mucheng retrieved a key from behind her and placed it in Shen Mengli's palm.

"This is... a key?!"

Upon realizing what she held, Shen Mengli's bewilderment only deepened.

"Mucheng, what does this mean? Why are you giving me a key?"

"This key leads to the teacher's room~"

Li Mucheng answered nonchalantly.

"Wh-what?! The key to Xiaofeng's room..."

Shen Mengli trailed off, finally understanding why Li Mucheng had sought her out. Yet, she still couldn't fathom why Li Mucheng would entrust her with it.

Seemingly sensing her confusion, Li Mucheng explained softly, "I'm giving you the key to the teacher's room because you're very important to all of us."

"I'm important to you?"

"Yes. If you hadn't accepted things back then, our relationship with the teacher might not be as good as it is now. And we’ve all seen how much the teacher cares for you. You're the only one who’s never hurt him..."

At this, Li Mucheng lowered her head in shame, as if the memory of that incident still haunted her like a thorn in her heart.

"Honestly... I was just lucky."

Shen Mengli clenched the key in her hand, reflecting on the ability she once possessed—the very thing that had drawn her closer to Ye Feng.

"You're too modest, Mengli. Now that we’re all living together, I’ve come to accept this life. So I hope... you can let go of your burdens too. Let’s work together for the teacher’s sake... okay?"

Meeting Li Mucheng's gentle gaze, Shen Mengli hesitated before nodding slowly.

"Now I understand why you were the first to accept all this, Mucheng. You’ve truly... embraced it."

"Mhm. But my love for the teacher hasn’t diminished one bit."

"I know..."

Shen Mengli took a deep breath, tightening her grip on the key.

"Thank you, Mucheng. I won’t disturb you any longer."

"Just for today, okay? This is... our shared compromise."

"Alright..."

As Shen Mengli quietly slipped out of the room, Li Mucheng's smile gradually faded. Only when the faint sound of footsteps upstairs disappeared did she prepare to close her door—until Xie Yuyan’s door across the hall swung open, revealing her graceful figure leaning against the frame.

Xie Yuyan, as if privy to everything, cut straight to the point: "Mengli went up?"

"Yes."

"How nice..."

"......"

......

"Hah..."

Meanwhile, Ye Feng, lost in slumber, was immersed in a hazy dream. One moment, he was admiring a breathtaking landscape; the next, he found himself in a scorching desert. The heat grew unbearable, sapping his strength until he collapsed, slowly buried beneath the endless dunes, swallowed by the desert’s silence.

"Haah! Haah! Haah!"

He jolted awake, gasping for air, his chest still heavy. As he tried to throw off the covers and get water, his body refused to move—as if pinned down by some unseen force.

What’s happening?! Why can’t I move?!

Panicked, Ye Feng yanked the sheets away, only to discover the source of his discomfort.

Shen Mengli lay atop him, her affectionate gaze locked onto his, her delicate form pressed tightly against him, her sweet fragrance filling his senses.

"Men... Mengli?! How did you—"

"Shh~"

She pressed a finger to his lips, whispering,

"Xiaofeng, keep your voice down. I snuck in here with great difficulty."

"Snuck in? But I’m sure I locked—"

Before he could finish, Shen Mengli dangled the key in front of his eyes.

"A key?! But how do you have a key to my room?!"

"Because... I’ve earned it~"

Without another word, Shen Mengli pounced on him like a starved wolf, sealing his lips with hers.

"Mmph... mmm..."

"Mmm... slurp..."

"Hah... hah... nngh..."