Meng Hongchen's delicate feet, clad in sheer garter stockings, occasionally revealed their soles as she tiptoed. The way she balanced on her toes, her heels slightly lifted, was enough to make any foot enthusiast's heart race.
Perhaps sensing Qianran's gaze, Meng Hongchen seemed to move even more provocatively, her back turned to him, teasing him deliberately.
Qianran kicked off his shoes and sprawled on her bed, watching her with a playful smirk.
"What are you looking for?"
"Clothes. I haven't organized my wardrobe in ages, and now everything's a mess. Some of my outfits are meant to be worn together, but they've gotten all mixed up," Meng Hongchen admitted, a little embarrassed.
As a soul engineer, she was essentially a "science girl." Keeping her appearance as polished as Meng Hongchen's was already commendable.
"Don't you have servants for this?" Qianran teased, his eyes still lingering on her alluring figure.
"Ugh, I don't like having others in my private space. Even if they're servants, I'd feel uncomfortable with them going through my things."
"And what about me?"
"You're not an 'other,' silly," Meng Hongchen replied, clutching a pile of clothes she'd just pulled from her wardrobe. Searching for matching outfits was a tedious task, especially when everything was jumbled together.
The sentiment wasn't unfamiliar to Qianran. In his previous life, women often faced similar dilemmas.
There was even a saying: if a girl pounces on you wearing matching bra and panties, you're the one being "hunted." It meant she had prepared in advance for a certain outcome. For many, finding a matching set from a chaotic wardrobe was a chore in itself.
By comparison, men had it easy.
"Hey, Qianran, how do I look?" Meng Hongchen set her clothes aside, placing a hand on her hip. "Honestly, if I don't plan on going out, dressing like this is fine too."
As she spoke, she ran her hand down her side, tracing her curves. She even hooked her finger under the lace trim of her panties, pulling them slightly to the side in a playful, teasing motion.
The display sent Qianran's heart racing.
What a masterful move!
Clearly, she had picked up a thing or two from Ke Ke. Even Ju Zi wouldn't attempt something this bold.
Although Ju Zi had recently begun dressing more daringly, she maintained a reserved demeanor. Her natural elegance made such actions feel out of character, no matter how much she loved Qianran.
Ke Ke, however, was a different story. Mischievous and daring, she often found creative ways to tease Qianran.
"You're playing with fire," Qianran warned, his eyes narrowing as he tried to maintain composure.
"Am I?" Meng Hongchen's tone turned even more provocative as she leaned into her teasing.
In an instant, Qianran reached out and pulled Meng Hongchen into his arms, pressing her beneath him on the bed.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Mm-hmm," Meng Hongchen nodded eagerly, her expression a mix of shyness and determination. Now that even her grandfather had stopped opposing their relationship, she wanted nothing more than to give herself to Qianran. She wasn't concerned about romance or creating the perfect memory; she simply wanted to solidify their bond.
Meng Hongchen believed the most important thing was claiming Qianran as her own. Love and happiness could follow afterward.
"Grandfather has already given his blessing. Even if we do something now, no one will say anything," Meng Hongchen murmured, her face flushed.
Her bold words reflected her unwavering resolve. As long as Qianran was by her side, she didn't care about the setting or circumstances.
Just as Qianran's fingers reached the clasp of her bra, a loud knock interrupted the moment.
"Again?" Meng Hongchen's frustration was palpable. The perfect atmosphere had been ruined. If not for this interruption, she was certain Qianran would have fully claimed her just now.
Her anger only grew as she thought about the lost opportunity.
"Who is it?"
"That annoying pest, Huo Yuhao. If it weren't for Grandfather valuing him so highly, I would've had him beaten up long ago. Since Grandfather used to try setting us up, he's been allowed to come here. I forgot to tell the gatekeeper to stop letting him in," Meng Hongchen said irritably.
What she didn't realize was that Huo Yuhao's arrival had only heightened Qianran's interest.
Meng Hongchen quickly slipped into a dress and blouse, put on her slippers, and went to open the door.
"Huo Yuhao, why are you here again? Didn't I already tell you we're not a good match?" Meng Hongchen said coldly as she opened the door.
"You… you've been in Qianran's lab?" Huo Yuhao asked anxiously, ignoring her tone.
His original plan had been to win Meng Hongchen over gradually, using reason and emotion to sway her.
But now, she had gone to Qianran's lab. What was her intention? With her strength and status, she could have easily entered Mingde Hall for further study.
Why would she forsake Mingde Hall to spend time with Qianran?
"Is that a problem?"
"You like Qianran? What's so great about him?" Huo Yuhao clenched his fists. Meng Hongchen was the granddaughter of Jing Hongchen, the headmaster of the academy. Surely Jing Hongchen wouldn't allow her to be with Qianran.
Did Mingde Hall not realize how dangerous someone like Qianran could become if left unchecked? How could they let such a monstrous talent grow unopposed?
Huo Yuhao's dissatisfaction boiled over. Why hadn't Mingde Hall just eliminated Qianran outright?
"He's amazing in every way. Most importantly, he's competent. Are you?" Meng Hongchen replied, giving Huo Yuhao a once-over. While Huo Yuhao was technically a genius, he was nothing compared to Qianran.
When Qianran pressed his full weight onto her, the overwhelming sensation was exhausting but thrilling. Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, seemed frail and unimpressive. Meng Hongchen had no interest in men like him.
"You're being unreasonable! Don't you realize Qianran is destined to be Mingde Hall's enemy? Even your brother sees him as a rival. By siding with him, you're betraying your family!" Huo Yuhao shouted, trembling with anger. Compared to her brother, Meng Hongchen seemed utterly clueless. If she had half the intelligence of Xiao Hongchen, she would see that allying with Mingde Hall was her best option.
Meng Hongchen's expression turned icy. "Huo Yuhao, are you trying to make your mother a widow? You're an unfilial son."
(End of Chapter)