"Why is your face always so red whenever you see me?" Ye Feng stepped forward, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he joked.
His gaze, however, was unabashedly appraising Zhu Zhuqing, taking in every detail as if he had every right to do so.
Since they were in a private training room, Zhu Zhuqing was only wearing a tight-fitting top that revealed most of her sweat-drenched abdomen, with an exaggerated curve above…
Her lower body was clad in a pair of snug athletic shorts, accentuating her perfect figure, and below were her full, round, and snow-white long legs.
Her proportions were nearly flawless, enough to make anyone's head spin with just one glance.
"N-no… it's just because I just finished training…" Zhu Zhuqing quickly averted her gaze, her voice as soft as a mosquito's whisper, naturally unaware of Ye Feng's lingering stare.
Of course, even if she had noticed, she wouldn't have minded. After all, she had dressed so lightly precisely to let Ye Feng see more…
"Hmm, you've been training a bit too intensely lately. You're already strong enough; you don't need to push yourself this hard." Ye Feng walked over, gently wiping the sweat from Zhu Zhuqing's face as he softly reassured her.
His movements were tender and gentle, his eyes filled with a hint of concern.
Recently, Ye Feng had noticed that Zhu Zhuqing's training had reached an almost obsessive level.
She trained for over 20 hours a day, and at night, she replaced sleep with cultivation.
This was way too extreme. No Soul Master should be pushing themselves like this…
It made Ye Feng feel guilty every time he indulged in food, drink, or leisure.
This unhealthy grind had to be stopped! Zhu Zhuqing, of course, had no idea what Ye Feng was thinking. Instead, his concern warmed her heart in a way she couldn't quite explain.
Still, she shook her head lightly and said, "It's nothing. I just want to become stronger…"
Her voice carried a note of determination, and a flicker of stubbornness flashed in her eyes.
The competition within her family was her own burden, and she didn't want it to involve Ye Feng.
She was already deeply grateful for all the help he had given her.
"Is it because of the competition within your family? Did you learn about Zhu Zhuyun's strength and feel the pressure?"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing like this, Ye Feng decided to drop the pretense of ignorance and brought it up directly.
His voice was serious, but his eyes still held a touch of gentleness.
"Ah… how did you know?"
Zhu Zhuqing's body trembled slightly, her gaze darting away, clearly surprised that Ye Feng knew about this.
After all, she had never spoken to anyone about her personal matters, not in Shrek, and not since coming to Star Sect.
Moreover, while this wasn't exactly top-secret information, only the Zhu and Dai families knew about it. Yet Ye Feng seemed to know all the details.
"Of course, every disciple who joins Star Sect undergoes a background check," Ye Feng said with a light chuckle.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hide it from you…"
Zhu Zhuqing quickly lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong, her voice tinged with fear—fear that Ye Feng might expel her from Star Sect because of this.
"Hmm, you deliberately hid it from me, which makes me very unhappy. So, I'm going to 'punish' you," Ye Feng said sternly, sounding genuinely displeased.
"Okay… any punishment is fine, but please don't expel me from Star Sect… I promise it won't happen again…"
Zhu Zhuqing was seeing Ye Feng with such an expression for the first time. She instinctively shrunk her neck, feeling an inexplicable fear, truly resembling a child who had done something wrong.
"Alright, that's what you said~"
Ye Feng's tone shifted, and he gently hooked Zhu Zhuqing's chin, lifting her head to meet his gaze.
"Mmm... any punishment is fine..." Zhu Zhuqing clenched her silver teeth, clearly preparing herself for the "punishment."
However, the expected punishment did not come.
Zhu Zhuqing only felt a slight dimness before her eyes, followed by a strange sensation on her lips.
When she focused, she realized that Ye Feng had leaned in.
"Mmm..."
Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes widened instantly, her mind going blank, as if she had short-circuited.
She clearly hadn't processed what was happening.
Wasn't this supposed to be a "punishment"?
This felt more like a "reward," didn't it?
Their eyes met.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was somewhat dazed.
While Ye Feng's eyes were filled with an unbridled intensity.
Zhu Zhuqing gradually regained her composure, but instead of feeling angry, an endless joy surged within her.
"So... he likes me too..."
Zhu Zhuqing slowly closed her eyes, her mind now occupied solely by this thought. It was as if she had discovered that the person she secretly admired also had feelings for her—the astonishment of it all was beyond words.
Instinctively, Zhu Zhuqing reached out, actively wrapping her arms around Ye Feng's neck, applying a slight pressure.
Her long, powerful legs entwined around Ye Feng, bringing them tightly together.
"Huh??????????"
Ye Feng was momentarily stunned.
Originally, he had thought that his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing had progressed enough, and he had just been looking for a reason to confirm their status, making it easier for future developments.
He hadn't expected Zhu Zhuqing to be so proactive...
Who could resist this? Ye Feng, holding Zhu Zhuqing, immediately rushed into a small restroom nearby.
Although the training room wasn't large, it had the basic facilities.
The restroom didn't have a bed, but it did have a large sofa.
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The two of them tumbled onto the sofa together.
Then...
(...)...
...
Two hours later.
Zhu Zhuqing lay on the sofa in an M-shape, utterly exhausted.
"Punishment over~"
Ye Feng lay on top of Zhu Zhuqing, leaning close to her ear, gently blowing air.
"You're such a monster... who bullies someone like this..."
Zhu Zhuqing weakly glanced at Ye Feng, her eyes still glistening with tears, clearly having been thoroughly "bullied."
"I just wanted to try something new; you were the one who came onto me," Ye Feng shrugged, speechless.
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed inexplicably.
After all, Ye Feng hadn't made any further moves at the time; it was she who, in a moment of impulsiveness, had actively leaned in.
"I don't care... you did this... you have to take responsibility!" Zhu Zhuqing, upon hearing this, immediately became anxious, grabbing Ye Feng's hand and pressing it beneath her, clearly afraid that Ye Feng might leave on the spot.
"Oh? And how do you suggest I take responsibility?"
Ye Feng, feeling the softness in his palm, spoke with a heavy tone of teasing.
"I..."
Zhu Zhuqing was momentarily at a loss for words.
Today's incident was entirely unexpected, a case of her bringing trouble upon herself, and it was also something she had willingly done. Forcing Ye Feng to take responsibility didn't hold up logically.
Most importantly, she was merely a member of a family who was almost deemed a failure.
She had no background, no strength.
And Ye Feng, he was the Young Master of the entire Star Sect.
In the eyes of others, the fact that she could curry favor with Ye Feng was already a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes, something those wild women outside could only dream of. How could she possibly ask for more? Not to mention others, even she herself thought so.
She was unworthy of Ye Feng.
As for making Ye Feng take responsibility, that was even more absurd.
At the thought of it, Zhu Zhuqing felt an inexplicable sense of grievance and confusion... Tears began to fall, drop by drop.
Already exhausted from Ye Feng's antics, she was now completely drained. She buried her head in the sofa, softly sobbing, her heart filled with indescribable sorrow and pain.
She didn't blame Ye Feng, only herself for being too foolish...
"Haha, alright, alright, I was just teasing you."
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was once again imagining some strange things, Ye Feng quickly explained, "From today onwards, you're one of my own."
"One... one of your own?"
Zhu Zhuqing slightly raised her head, clearly a bit dazed.
"Yes, one of my own."
Ye Feng gently leaned down, pinched Zhu Zhuqing's chin, and turned her head to face him. Staring directly into her eyes, he said earnestly, "From today onwards, your matters are my matters. I will help you become stronger, help you defeat all your enemies!"
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