Thinking this, a sly smile tugged at the corner of Dai Chengfeng's lips as he slowly stepped closer, lowering his voice with a hint of huskiness.
"Oh?"
"Just to check if I've rested?"
"I thought…"
"Our little Nana was worried about me, couldn't put her mind at ease, so she came all this way to personally confirm that I'm unharmed?"
He leaned in close, his warm breath almost brushing against Hu Liena's earlobe.
The familiar, slightly aggressive male scent enveloped her, causing her heartbeat to skip involuntarily.
Hu Liena's body stiffened slightly, and she instinctively wanted to retort, defending her small pride and modesty.
But when she looked up and met Dai Chengfeng's deep, amused eyes—so close they seemed to pierce through her soul—the denial on the tip of her tongue got stuck in her throat.
A visible blush crept up her pale cheeks. She quickly avoided his gaze, trying to steady herself as she stammered:
"Wh-Who's worried about you!"
"Don't flatter yourself. I… I just happened to pass by and check!"
"Passing by?"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled softly, his teasing utterly unmasked, and took another step closer.
The distance between them was now so close that they could feel the heat radiating from each other's bodies.
He reached out, his fingertips gently brushing against her burning cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was gentle but carried an undeniable sense of authority.
"To get from your room to mine, you'd have to take a deliberate detour, wouldn't you?"
"Nana, did you know your ears turn red when you lie?"
This intimate action and revelation shattered a large part of Hu Liena's defenses.
She was forced back half a step, her waist pressing against the edge of the round table in the center of the room, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
The overwhelming scent of sunshine and grass invaded her senses, leaving Hu Liena flustered and disoriented.
She glared at Dai Chengfeng in frustration, but in his eyes, her glare only appeared coy and inviting.
It lacked any real intimidation and instead added to her allure.
"I… I just came to check, is that not allowed?"
Hu Liena stubbornly insisted, but her voice had already taken on a slight tremble she didn't notice—a tone that sounded more like a pout than defiance.
Dai Chengfeng gazed at her flushed earlobes, flickering eyes, and slightly parted lips. The irritation caused by the interruption had long been replaced by a desire to tease this contradictory fox.
He leaned in even closer: "Sure, of course it's allowed."
"But… Is just 'checking' enough?"
"You…!"
Hu Liena was about to open her mouth and tell this troublemaker to back off when…
Knock knock knock!
Dai Chengfeng's door was knocked again!
This time, the knocking was crisp and clear, with a distinct rhythm of calmness.
The sudden sound was like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, instantly shattering the room's lingering atmosphere of intimacy!
Hu Liena, startled like a rabbit, snapped her eyes open and pushed Dai Chengfeng away, her face instantly losing all color, filled with panic.
"There's someone!"
She whispered, her breathing uneven, frantically looking around for a place to hide.
At this late hour, if anyone discovered her in Dai Chengfeng's room—especially in this state…
Dai Chengfeng also frowned slightly, feeling a strong wave of annoyance wash over him.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and asked: "Who is it?"
From outside the door came a cool, calm female voice, devoid of any emotion: "Me."
It was Zhu Zhuqing!
Hu Liena's expression rapidly shifted through shades of red, white, and then green.
Almost instinctively, she wanted to crawl under the bed, but after a quick glance, she deemed the space insufficient and too obvious. Her eyes immediately locked onto the sturdy wooden wardrobe in the corner of the room.
"No, no! She absolutely cannot see me here!"
She hissed urgently, not caring about anything else. Practically crawling on all fours, she rushed toward the wardrobe, quickly opened the door, slipped inside, and carefully pulled the door shut from within, leaving only a tiny crack.
Dai Chengfeng watched Hu Liena's series of lightning-fast, guilt-ridden hiding actions with a mix of exasperation and amusement. He whispered softly:
"What are you hiding for?"
"We weren't exactly doing anything shameful."
Although…
He had indeed planned to do something "not-so-convenient-to-be-caught-doing" just moments ago.
From inside the wardrobe came Hu Liena's muffled, anxious, and frustrated voice: "You shut up! Hurry and open the door! Don't keep her waiting!"
Dai Chengfeng shook his head helplessly, straightening his slightly disheveled clothes that Hu Liena had pushed aside. He walked to the door, adjusted his breathing, and opened it.
Outside stood Zhu Zhuqing, quietly poised.
She had changed into a form-fitting black outfit that accentuated her well-developed curves. The soft moonlight bathed her figure, draping her in an icy veil, making her appear even more ethereal and aloof.
Her beauty was starkly different from Hu Liena's seductive charm.
She looked at Dai Chengfeng, her deep cat-like eyes calm and unruffled, asking simply:
"Why did it take so long to open the door?"
Her gaze casually swept over Dai Chengfeng's face, as if searching for something.
Dai Chengfeng stepped aside to let her in, maintaining a composed expression as he explained:
"I was just about to start cultivating, so it took a moment to gather my soul power."
"It's late. What brings you here?"
Internally, he grumbled: What's going on tonight? Did they plan this? One after another, right when things were getting interesting…
Zhu Zhuqing walked into the room. Her gaze appeared casual but was sharp as it scanned the area.
There seemed to be a faint trace of fragrance lingering in the room—a sweet, slightly alluring scent that didn't belong to either Dai Chengfeng or her.
Her steps faltered imperceptibly, but she said nothing, walking directly to the table and sitting down. Her tone remained calm:
"So, am I not allowed to visit at this hour?"
"Of course not."
Dai Chengfeng smiled as he walked to the table, picking up the teapot only to find the water inside had gone cold.
"I'll pour you some water… uh, it's cold. Should I ask the staff to bring some hot water?"
"No need."
Zhu Zhuqing stopped him, her gaze settling on his face for a moment before speaking:
"The incident earlier this evening… Are you really sure you're fine?"
"I can't shake the feeling that the energy… felt special. It doesn't seem like an ordinary secret realm."
Dai Chengfeng understood. Zhu Zhuqing was perceptive and meticulous, and she clearly didn't fully believe his fabricated story.
He sat down across from her, naturally placing his hand over her cool one resting on the table. His gaze was gentle yet apologetic as he looked at her:
"I'm really fine."
"See? I'm perfectly fine here. My soul power has even broken through."
"I've worried you, Zhuqing."
He deliberately softened his voice, imbuing it with a soothing tone.
His palm was warm, exuding a comforting strength.
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