NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54: Chapter 54
Chapter 54: Comforting the Kitten (Part 3)
Peaceful days passed, one after another.
Every morning after breakfast, Ye Feng and the Shrek Seven Devils would start a new day of training. Every day, Ye Feng carried a hundred kilograms of weight, a basket on his back, and heavy iron plates strapped to his legs, running back and forth between Shrek Academy and Soto City—thirty times a day.
As for Xiao Wu, Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Dai Mubai, they carried 30 kilograms of weight and ran five times daily. Ning Rongrong, in particular, struggled the most. Whenever she felt like giving up, Ye Feng's words echoed in her mind—Junior Sister, you should lose weight. That alone was enough to reignite her determination.
Tang San, on the other hand, was driven by Ye Feng's presence. The weight he carried increased daily, and he had set Ye Feng as his goal. One day, he vowed, he would catch up to him—and surpass him.
Xiao Wu, however, had barely spoken to Ye Feng for four days. His casual remark that he might not have only one woman in his life left her conflicted. As a spirit beast, she wasn't sure if she could accept such a thing.
On the seventh day after Ye Feng entered Shrek Academy, while walking along a quiet path, he suddenly heard a noise coming from the bushes.
Without hesitation, he leaped onto a tree, silently observing the scene below.
Beneath him, a large rock sat under the tree's shade. A man was pressing a girl beneath him, forcefully pinning her wrists. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free.
"Let me go! Please, let me go!"
"Zhuqing, don't be like this..."
"Let me go right now!"
"Zhuqing, are you still mad at me? I haven't gone out to play for days because of you. I'm a prince—I can do this. Can't you see how serious I am about you?"
"Then let me go first!"
"Zhuqing, help me… I really can't hold it in anymore. It's all Ma Hongjun's fault. He's got a girlfriend, and he even brings her to the academy to relieve his lust. He doesn't care about how we feel at all."
No matter how much Zhu Zhuqing struggled, Dai Mubai was like a starving beast that refused to loosen its grip.
"Mu Bai."
Ye Feng's voice broke the tense silence as he dropped down from the tree, landing smoothly. His gaze was indifferent as he said, "I shouldn't be interfering in your business. But since Zhuqing hasn't agreed to give herself to you, even if you two are engaged, you shouldn't force her."
"Zhuqing?"
Dai Mubai immediately caught onto Ye Feng's choice of words and coldly replied, "Ye Feng, why are you acting so familiar? This is between me and Zhuqing. I suggest you stay out of it."
"Alright. Then I won't care." Ye Feng smiled faintly.
With that, he casually hopped onto the large rock, squatted down, and rested his elbows on his knees as he watched Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing without blinking.
"...You…"
Dai Mubai's expression stiffened. He glared at Ye Feng and growled, "Then why are you still here?"
Ye Feng smirked. "This isn't the Xingluo Empire. I feel like resting here for a bit. You got a problem with that?"
Dai Mubai: "…"
Zhu Zhuqing: "…"
The two of them were completely dumbfounded.
Ye Feng shrugged. "I said I wouldn't interfere, and I meant it. Dai Mubai, please, continue."
Dai Mubai: "…"
For a moment, Dai Mubai simply stared at Ye Feng. Then, his face darkened as he clenched his fists. Did Ye Feng really want him to continue? What, was he supposed to put on a live show for him?!
After an intense glare-off, Dai Mubai finally let out a frustrated huff. He pushed himself off Zhu Zhuqing, his hands trembling with anger. He wanted to hit Ye Feng—but he knew he couldn't. Even though Ye Feng was a Level 49 Spirit Master specializing in support and control, his strength and speed were terrifying, even compared to an agility-type fighter.
"You're a real bastard, you know that?"
Dai Mubai spat the words before turning around and storming off.
With Dai Mubai gone, Zhu Zhuqing curled up, hugging her knees. Though she didn't sob, silent tears rolled down her cheeks, illuminated by the silver moonlight.
If Ye Feng hadn't shown up just now…
Ye Feng didn't leave. Instead, he took out a handkerchief from his storage bracelet and held it out to her.
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated but ultimately accepted it, wiping away her tears.
"Zhuqing, I've got a question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it," Ye Feng suddenly said.
"Just say it."
"If you put aside Dai Mubai's status, would you still like him?"
Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffened. She hadn't once thought about it like that. If Dai Mubai weren't a prince… if there was no royal marriage tying them together… would she still care about him?
She wasn't sure.
"They say forcing something that isn't meant to be only leads to misery," Ye Feng continued. "If two people don't truly love each other, staying together will only bring them pain."
"He would suffer too?" Zhu Zhuqing scoffed bitterly.
If Ye Feng hadn't shown up, Dai Mubai wouldn't have hesitated to take advantage of her. She didn't believe he'd feel any pain over it.
"Dai Mubai has been seeing prostitutes long before you arrived at Shrek Academy," Ye Feng said. "Sometimes, he even spent time with two women at once. You know that already, don't you?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
"You were the one watching outside the Rose Hotel, weren't you?" Ye Feng's gaze met hers. From the moment Xiao Wu beat Dai Mubai up at the hotel, Ye Feng had sensed someone lurking nearby.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded again.
Dai Mubai never knew she had been in Soto City long before enrolling at Shrek Academy. She had seen him enter the Rose Hotel with women multiple times. At first, she didn't care—she was furious at him for abandoning the competition back in the Xingluo Empire. Seeing him act so self-indulgently only made her angrier, so she never intervened.
"Dai Mubai has been at the academy for a while now, and he's been visiting brothels for just as long. Ma Hongjun said he went almost every other day," Ye Feng continued. "The fact that he resisted for six days after you showed up proves he does care about you, at least."
"He wanted to hit you just now, and you're still saying good things about him?" Zhu Zhuqing was surprised.
"I'm just stating the facts," Ye Feng said. He looked up at the sky, eyes reflecting the moonlight. "Honestly, this is kind of my fault. If I hadn't helped Ma Hongjun get all those women, he wouldn't have brought them to the academy to relieve himself. Dai Mubai wouldn't have been tempted, and tonight wouldn't have happened."
Ye Feng sighed. Since he arrived in this world, things had started to shift in unexpected ways. He had no idea what kind of butterfly effect his presence was creating.
"It's late. You should get some rest," Ye Feng said.
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
Afraid that Dai Mubai might try something again, she stuck close to Ye Feng as they walked back to Shrek Academy.
Not long after they left, a shadow emerged from the darkness.
Dai Mubai stood there, watching Ye Feng's retreating figure. His expression was unreadable.
No one knew what he was thinking.
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