She must have done it on purpose!
Looking at the shattered pieces of the porcelain bowl scattered across the floor, Ye Feng sighed helplessly and got up to head toward the door. This movement startled Li Mucheng, who thought Ye Feng was fed up with her unreasonable behavior. She reached out to grab his hand but missed. Just as she opened her mouth to apologize, Ye Feng, standing at the door, spoke first.
"Miss, stay where you are. I’ll go get a broom. The sharp pieces could easily hurt someone."
"Teacher..."
Li Mucheng hadn’t expected Ye Feng’s actions to be for her sake. Hearing his words, warmth filled her heart, and she felt deeply ashamed of her earlier behavior.
I should apologize to him.
In no time, Ye Feng returned with a broom, swept up all the porcelain fragments, and disposed of them in the trash bin nearby. He then washed his hands before sitting back down.
Once Ye Feng was seated, Li Mucheng clenched her small hands and looked at him. "Teacher... I’m sorry... I shouldn’t have been so willful."
Ye Feng didn’t hold it against her. In fact, he was pleasantly surprised that Li Mucheng would apologize for something like this. In the past, such a thing would have been unimaginable.
"It’s fine. Recognizing your mistakes and correcting them is a great virtue."
Ye Feng adjusted his chopsticks, carefully picked up a piece of bamboo fungus, and held it to Li Mucheng’s lips.
"This is your reward, Miss."
"Reward!!!"
Li Mucheng’s eyes lit up instantly at the sight of the bamboo fungus Ye Feng offered. Without hesitation, she opened her small mouth and bit onto the chopsticks.
"Om nom~"
Blushing, Li Mucheng ate the bamboo fungus Ye Feng had fed her, then obediently released the chopsticks, savoring the delicious taste in her mouth.
"Thank you, Teacher~"
"N-no problem."
For some reason, after feeding Li Mucheng once, Ye Feng felt a slight sense of anticipation, even wanting to feed her again, as if he were feeding a carrot to a little rabbit. However, he quickly dismissed the thought with his rationality.
"Teacher, I’m full. Let’s go back to class."
After greedily swallowing the last bit of bamboo fungus, Li Mucheng wiped her mouth with a napkin, her eyes secretly glancing at Ye Feng’s dazed expression.
What is Teacher thinking about? He hasn’t even put down his chopsticks yet.
"......."
It seemed Ye Feng hadn’t heard Li Mucheng’s call, still lost in his thoughts. This made Li Mucheng’s lips curl into a mischievous smile.
Since you’re so distracted, Teacher, you deserve a little punishment~
Li Mucheng quietly circled around the table to Ye Feng’s back, bent down, and brought her face close to his ear.
Hehe... How should I startle him? Should I blow in his ear like before? Or... maybe... kiss his cheek...
Li Mucheng stared dreamily at Ye Feng’s profile, her warm breath brushing against him. Now she knew what she wanted to do, and she slowly leaned closer to his face...
Just as her cherry lips were about to touch Ye Feng’s cheek, he suddenly felt a warm sensation on his left cheek and realized someone was behind him. When he turned to look, their lips were almost touching.
"M-Miss..."
"!!!!"
Li Mucheng’s mind boiled like a kettle at the sight of this scene. Her body went weak, and she uncontrollably leaned backward.
"Careful!"
With quick reflexes, Ye Feng caught Li Mucheng’s back, preventing her from falling. When Li Mucheng’s lips had been so close to his, Ye Feng’s mind had turned to mush. He had thought he could easily control his desires, but when she actually got close, he couldn’t even move. Thankfully, nothing serious happened.
"T-Teacher..."
Li Mucheng’s shy face was almost dripping with embarrassment. Her restless hands clutched her chest, and she couldn’t bring herself to look into Ye Feng’s eyes. She was also kicking herself for not seizing the moment—she could have kissed him...
"Miss... let’s get up first..."
"Mm..."
With Ye Feng’s help, Li Mucheng stood up, but her legs trembled uncontrollably. After all, having never experienced romance before, she had no idea how to handle such a situation.
"Uh... Miss, we should head to class now."
"Mmm... okay..."
Li Mucheng nodded, her head lowered like a quail’s as she walked ahead, her lips pursed as if deep in thought.
......
The two walked in silence until they entered the room. Ye Feng coughed twice, assuming his teacher’s authoritative demeanor to signal that it was time for class.
Just then, Li Mucheng suddenly lifted her head. Her fair neck was tinged with a faint blush, like a pure-hearted girl in a manga who had fallen in love.
"T-Teacher... about earlier... I... I didn’t mean to..."
Her voice grew softer as she spoke, her head almost burying itself in her arms.
Ye Feng had never seen Li Mucheng so shy before. He had already dismissed the earlier incident as one of her pranks. If this meant she was becoming more lively and cheerful, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Although Ye Feng had only been tasked with teaching Li Mucheng theoretical knowledge, through their interactions over the past few days, he had noticed that she was gradually changing. She was no longer as aloof and cold as before—perhaps this was her true self.
"It’s fine. Of course, I know you didn’t mean it, Miss."
"R-Really? Teacher... you won’t dislike me because of this, will you?"
"Of course not. I’ve been enjoying our time together during lessons too."
"Teacher..."
Li Mucheng suddenly stood up from her chair, her fists clenched as if she had made up her mind. She turned to face Ye Feng.
"Miss?"
Ye Feng was puzzled, but Li Mucheng stepped forward and sat down on his lap, her back to him and a faint smile on her lips.
"M-M-Miss!?"
Feeling the softness of the girl’s body, Ye Feng was at a loss. He hadn’t expected Li Mucheng to suddenly sit on his lap.
"Teacher... can we take the day off today?"
Li Mucheng placed her restless hands on her own legs, feeling the strength of Ye Feng’s thighs beneath her. She stared at the floor as she spoke.
"I... I want to sleep in your arms for a while."
"Huh? But... Miss, wouldn’t you be more comfortable sleeping in bed?"
"It’s different... It’s you who brings me warmth, Teacher. It’s you who taught me the things I’ve come to love. That’s why I feel that in my heart..."
"You’re so reliable! As long as I’m by your side, I feel... so happy... so happy..."