As Ye Feng followed Li Mucheng down a corridor, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Miss, I remember this isn't where you usually eat. Where are we going?"
Li Mucheng didn't stop walking as she answered Ye Feng's question, "I usually eat in my own living room, but since you're here, we should treat you as an honored guest. Naturally, we'll dine in a private room."
"A private room? Isn't that a bit too much? I’m fine with something casual," Ye Feng replied.
"That won’t do. You’re the person I respect the most. If I were to treat you so casually, it would reflect poorly on my upbringing," Li Mucheng said firmly.
After saying this, she stopped and opened the door in front of them.
"Alright, Teacher, we’re here."
Standing at the doorway and looking inside, Ye Feng saw that the private room was exquisitely decorated. Beyond the dim lighting and luxurious furnishings, a large round table made of redwood stood prominently in the center. Li Mucheng had already taken her seat.
"Teacher, please sit down and eat. We still have class later," she urged.
"This..."
Ye Feng felt a bit uneasy under Li Mucheng's unwavering gaze, as if her deep eyes could see right through him.
*Well, having a meal together shouldn’t be a problem,* he thought to himself.
After a moment of hesitation, Ye Feng stepped inside. The moment he entered the room, the door behind him closed, leaving only him and Li Mucheng inside.
"Gulp."
Ye Feng swallowed hard and turned to see that his chair was placed uncomfortably close to Li Mucheng’s, even though the large table made such proximity unnecessary.
Seeing this, Ye Feng walked over and placed his hand on the chair, intending to move it further away, but Li Mucheng noticed and interrupted him.
"Teacher! What are you trying to do?"
"Uh... I was just thinking of sitting a bit further away..."
"Sitting further away?"
Li Mucheng’s expression shifted from anticipation to visible disappointment. She lowered her head, looking pitiful.
"So... Teacher, do you really dislike me that much?"
"What? Dislike? I never said that."
"Then why do you want to sit so far away? I just... just wanted to have a meal with you. Is that not allowed?"
Li Mucheng kept her head down, her black hair covering her face, making it impossible for Ye Feng to see her expression.
"That’s not what I meant, Miss. You’re misunderstanding me," Ye Feng said, giving up on moving the chair and sitting down reluctantly. He tried to comfort her, "I just thought sitting too close would make it awkward to eat. It’s definitely not about avoiding you."
"R-Really?"
Li Mucheng lifted her head and stared into Ye Feng’s eyes. Only after he nodded again did she wipe her teary eyes.
"Well... alright then. I’ll believe you, Teacher."
"So, does that mean I can sit further away?"
"Of course not! I mean, since you didn’t intend to avoid me, we’ll just eat like this!"
"......"
Perhaps feeling that she was still too far from Ye Feng, Li Mucheng petulantly moved her chair closer to his until they were practically shoulder to shoulder.
"M-Miss? What are you doing?"
"Eating! This is your punishment for trying to move the chair. Now, stay like this and don’t move."
Li Mucheng said this with a red face, while Ye Feng, feeling helpless, worried about whether anyone was watching. If Li Jing got wind of this, he’d be in big trouble.
"Ding!"
At that moment, Li Mucheng pressed a bell on the table, and the door opened. Ah Fu entered, pushing a cart of food.
"......"
Ye Feng noticed the look of admiration in Ah Fu’s eyes and thought, *This is bad.* As Li Mucheng’s butler, Ah Fu reported everything that happened to Li Jing. He was surely doomed now.
Plates of luxurious and sumptuous dishes were placed on the table, but Ye Feng didn’t even glance at them. His mind was already racing, trying to come up with a suitable excuse to leave the room.
"The dishes are all served, Miss. Enjoy your meal," Ah Fu said, barely holding back a laugh as he left the room, his eyes seemingly saying, *Good luck, kid.*
"Teacher, I didn’t know what kind of food you liked, so I prepared a bit of everything."
"......"
Ye Feng was stunned as he looked at the table full of dishes. This wasn’t breakfast—it was a feast.
"Miss... are you sure we can finish all this food?"
"Teacher, just pick what you like. The leftovers will be fed to the animals in the estate."
"Oh, I see."
Li Mucheng rested her chin on one hand and picked up a piece of peeled king crab meat, placing it in Ye Feng’s bowl.
"Teacher, try this. How does it taste?"
"Thank you."
Ye Feng held his bowl, feeling both flattered and surprised. He hadn’t expected the usually proud Li Mucheng to serve him food. It was a bit unsettling.
"Teacher, try this one too~"
Seeing Ye Feng’s reaction, Li Mucheng seemed to awaken some strange desire. She squinted her eyes, looking pleased as she continued to pile food into Ye Feng’s bowl.
In no time, Ye Feng’s bowl was overflowing, and Li Mucheng only stopped when there was no more room.
"Teacher, I’ve served you so much food. Don’t you think you should return the favor?"
"......"
Ye Feng held his chopsticks, unsure of what to say as he looked at Li Mucheng’s triumphant expression. Finally, he gave in.
*Maybe this is just the rich’s idea of fun,* he thought.
"What would you like to eat, Miss?"
"Anything is fine, as long as it’s served by you, Teacher."
"Oh? Anything?"
A mischievous idea crossed Ye Feng’s mind, and a sly smile crept onto his face.
Li Mucheng blinked innocently, clearly sheltered and unaware of what was coming.
"Then... please try this, Miss..."
With that, Ye Feng picked up a piece of food from one of the dishes—a clump of wasabi.
"......"
Li Mucheng stared at the wasabi Ye Feng was holding in mid-air, her face darkening. Ye Feng couldn’t help but laugh, finding it amusing that the usually elegant Li Mucheng could make such an expression.
"What’s wrong, Miss? This is a delicacy I specially prepared for you~"
Ye Feng had clearly gone too far, teasing Li Mucheng without realizing that she was the type to rise to a challenge. With a determined pout, she leaned forward and bit down on the chopsticks.
"Munch... Ugh!"
The moment the wasabi touched her tongue, tears streamed down Li Mucheng’s face. The intense flavor was overwhelming, and it was a miracle she didn’t spit it out.
Meanwhile, Ye Feng was completely stunned.
*Wait, Miss, you actually ate it!*