Ye Feng and Mei arrived at a dojo that had a massive cherry blossom tree in its central courtyard.
Although it was already autumn, the pink blossoms were in full bloom, their petals scattering like colorful rain.
The morning sun filtered through the gaps in the branches, leaving dappled spots of light on the ground.
Ye Feng sat on the tatami mat directly facing the kitchen, looking inside.
It wasn't a particularly spacious room, but it was neat, clean, bright, and clear. The kitchen counter, wiped spotless, gleamed in the sunlight.
Mei was bathed in the light, her form outlined by a soft glow. The young girl had tied her hair into a ponytail and was tying an apron behind her back. She took out a kitchen knife and placed it on the cutting board.
The vegetables, fruits, and meats were always fresh, set aside and ready for use.
Mei's movements in the kitchen were as smooth as flowing water; the pots, pans, bowls, and plates all seemed to submit to her command.
"Mr. Ye Feng, a letter came from my father."
She hadn't even told Kiana this news yet, choosing to inform Ye Feng first.
Mei's voice was clear, and even her movements became much lighter.
A sweet curve formed on her lips, and her beautiful eyebrows relaxed.
"Is that so? That's wonderful."
"Mm. This is all thanks to you, Mr. Ye Feng."
"Why thank me? I didn't do anything regarding your father. Besides, we don't need to be so formal with each other, do we?"
Mei picked up a tomato still beaded with water. Her slender, fair fingers paused on its smooth skin.
"Mm..." Mei nodded shyly.
She continued, "Speaking of which, it's really quite incredible. When I was a child, I was always immersed in all sorts of strange and fantastical dreams, hoping to be like an anime protagonist and 'fight for the good of the world'."
"Almost everyone has similar fantasies. Me too."
"Perhaps. But when it actually happens to you... you find that it's so heavy."
Mei would never forget Nagazora after the Honkai Eruption.
She walked through a dead city, devoid of life. With every step, she saw the wandering, walking dead.
At first, Mei thought they were zombies; only later did she learn they were Deathservants.
The dense Honkai energy had stolen the lives of everyone in the entire city.
Mei still found it hard to forget that tragic and cruel scene.
And the thought that her mere existence could bring about the same destruction in the future made her stomach churn with acid, as if something was blocking her chest.
Back then, she was filled with an indescribable fear and pressure.
Until now... although she had received "mental therapy" from Ye Feng and had enough courage to face the Herrscher within, there had never been a moment when she could completely relax.
The nightmare of the past still lingered in her mind.
The gloom had never dissipated.
"You are very kind, Mei, and you have a strong sense of responsibility."
Ye Feng stood up and walked behind Mei.
"However, you need to learn to relax sometimes, too."
Ye Feng's hand caressed the young girl's back, his fingers tracing the delicate bones of her shoulders as if measuring them.
"M-Mr. Ye Feng...?"
Mei's body tensed, her whole body going rigid.
Mei was wearing a hip-hugging skirt today, which accentuated her luscious curves.
Ye Feng pressed his scorching forearm against Mei's back, moved close to her earlobe, and blew a light breath.
Instantly, the young girl's body went limp.
"See, it's beating for you."
"——!!"
In an instant, a sensation more intense than lightning shot straight to the crown of her head.
Her body froze on the spot as if under a binding spell, and she could only subconsciously mumble, "Mr. Ye Feng... don't do this..."
"I can't help it, Mei. After seeing Kiana like that today, you don't really think I could remain indifferent, do you?"
"..."
Kiana's live broadcast was indeed enough to make one's blood boil.
"You've probably heard it before, Mei. Men are just this kind of creature."
"..."
The young girl bit her lip tightly, her snow-white face turning visibly red, the blush spreading all the way to her earlobes.
Ye Feng's forearm radiated an astonishing heat as it explored Mei's back.
"Mei, you agreed before, didn't you? You'd let me eat what's down below."
"Eh?"
Mei felt as if her head had been struck by a hammer.
When Ye Feng had asked before, "Can I eat what's down below?", for a fleeting moment, a pink thought had crossed Mei's mind.
But she quickly thought she had misunderstood.
After all, Mr. Ye Feng was always making her noodles (miàn, a homophone for 'below', xiàmiàn).
Therefore, she had readily agreed.
"I, I thought... you were talking about..."
Mei braced herself against the kitchen counter, her long, ivory-like legs stretched taut, a pair of black garter stockings clinging tightly to her snow-white thighs.
"Of course I want to eat the noodles you make, Mei. But I'm even more looking forward to what's down below on you."
"M-Mr. Ye Feng... N-no, you can't... not like this..."
"If you hate it, Mei, then push me away."
Ye Feng hugged the young girl tightly from behind.
A warm, fragrant, and soft jade filled his arms.
Ye Feng always felt that when Mei herself was here, her body was softer and more comfortable than when he was just holding the simple NPC version.
"Mr. Ye Feng~"
Mei tilted her snow-white neck back, on the verge of collapsing against the counter.
She still hadn't pushed him away.
And so, the man turned the young girl around to face him. Her slender hands desperately pressed against the edge of the counter.
As Ye Feng slowly knelt down, Mei gradually clenched her jaw...
---o---
Valkyrie Dormitory.
Everything had returned to tranquility.
Kiana, wearing pure white pajamas, was sitting on her bed in a W-sit. Her hands were placed between her smooth, snow-white legs, and her long, snow-colored hair cascaded down to her waist.
The knight of House Kaslana raised her head, her face completely devoid of expression, a picture of someone who desired nothing.
She stared at the ceiling like a philosopher contemplating life.
Where did I come from?
What am I to do?
Where am I going?
Kiana felt she was finished.
The bedsheets were completely soaked.
The smell in the room was also very strong.
Should I panic?
No, in the first place, why did I do this kind of thing in bed? Wouldn't the bathroom have been better? What was I thinking! My brain must have short-circuited.
But the flood of disaster had already been unleashed, and when it receded, it left a scene of utter devastation.
Kiana looked at Mei's sleeping face next to her, which bore a sweet smile, and suddenly had a jolt of realization.
"No—there's still time! This is no time to give up on myself!"
Kiana jumped out of bed, opened the window to air out the room, and then carried her bedding towards the laundry room...
But the sweat that had accidentally splashed onto Mei's bed and body... there was really nothing she could do about that.
She could only hope Mei wouldn't notice.