"Hoo, hoo, hoo..."
For a moment, Liu Erlong's breathing quickened slightly. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the bags, her knuckles turning white.
A surge of heat uncontrollably rushed to her cheeks and ears, making her face feel hot.
"... Hmm… wait… let me put these groceries in the kitchen first…"
In the end, Liu Erlong didn't refuse.
After all, the power—the kind of immense power that could break through the Soul Emperor level, even reaching the Title Douluo level—was simply too tempting for her to resist.
Thus, she took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the flutter in her heart and her embarrassment, striving to make her voice sound calm and detached, almost businesslike.
But after taking only a couple of steps, Liu Erlong seemed to remember something…
She slowly turned around and looked at Dai Chengfeng. "Liu Erlong?"
"You used to call me 'Principal Liu.' I don't like you calling me that…"
However, before Liu Erlong could finish her protest, Dai Chengfeng interrupted her.
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng's lips curved into a smile, his expression carrying an indescribable meaning. "Liu Erlong, I think calling you 'Principal Liu' makes us seem too distant…"
"Isn't distance good? I'm deliberately correcting you because I want to keep my distance from you, you little brat!"
Liu Erlong felt a bit annoyed as she watched Dai Chengfeng explain without any regard for her feelings.
But Dai Chengfeng acted as if he hadn't noticed Liu Erlong's irritation and continued speaking. "Look, we've known each other for some time now and have experienced… certain special things together. You could say we're friends despite the age gap, right?"
When mentioning the "special things," Dai Chengfeng intentionally paused, savoring the fleeting embarrassment and awkwardness in Liu Erlong's eyes.
Then, he continued: "What's wrong?"
Instantly, Dai Chengfeng leaned forward slightly toward Liu Erlong, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he slowly added: "Could it be… you want me to call you… Elder Sister Erlong?"
Dai Chengfeng deliberately drew out his words, his eyes filled with playful teasing.
"Stop!"
As soon as Dai Chengfeng finished speaking, Liu Erlong reacted as if she had been burned, almost reflexively shouting to stop him!
The term "Elder Sister Erlong" made her heart race uncontrollably. The images of the two previous incidents where her soul power had gone out of control came flooding back.
Her face flushed red involuntarily, and she quickly composed herself to hide her inner turmoil.
"Just call me Liu Erlong! Use my name! It's fine! Very appropriate! Never call me Elder Sister Erlong!"
Liu Erlong spoke rapidly, as if afraid that Dai Chengfeng would utter any other "tingling" nickname. Without waiting for his response, she turned abruptly and hurried toward the kitchen, her high-heeled boots clicking urgently against the floor.
The figure wrapped tightly in her outfit revealed a rare hint of haste and disarray.
Dai Chengfeng leaned back in the stone chair, watching Liu Erlong's nearly "fleeing" figure disappear into the kitchen. The smile on his lips gradually deepened into a lazy and contented curve.
He picked up his teacup, leisurely sipping it again, his gaze casually drifting toward the direction where Yu Tianheng had fled earlier.
The steam rising from the tea blurred the fleeting depth in his eyes: "Hmph, Uncle…"
"I wonder what expression that 'Master' Yu Xiaogang would make if he heard his nephew calling me that…"
Soon, Dai Chengfeng shook his head, no longer dwelling on Yu Xiaogang and Yu Tianheng, focusing instead on savoring the warm tea in his cup.
"Good tea. I didn't expect Liu Erlong to have some taste—I previously thought she had questionable preferences…"
"After all, she likes Yu Xiaogang."
Dai Chengfeng lounged comfortably in the stone chair, his gaze subtly sweeping over the kitchen door, patiently waiting for Liu Erlong.
---
Inside the kitchen.
Liu Erlong set down the vegetables but didn't immediately step out of the door.
She leaned against the cold doorframe, the door blocking the outside view but failing to block the turmoil within her heart.
At the last moment...
She hesitated.
The scene from the last time she lost control was still vivid in her mind. If she hadn't managed to break free at the critical moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
The feeling of being dominated by instinct, with reason evaporating, wanting nothing more than to sink into his presence… made her want to dig a hole and hide every time she thought about it afterward.
If she went out now, would history repeat itself?
What if… it got worse?
Her fingers unconsciously dug into the cold door, her fingertips feeling cool.
"But…"
A red glow flashed in Liu Erlong's eyes. Deep inside, a greedy, insistent voice whispered like a murmur from hell:
"That power is so strong. If you can just master it… Soul Emperor…"
"Even a Title Douluo level is within reach!"
"You've been stuck at the Soul Sage level for years because of Yu Xiaogang. Do you really not want to grow stronger?"
"Remember, even those faint wisps of energy from the last two incidents caused your stagnant cultivation to loosen significantly…"
"And this time will be different!"
Soon, Liu Erlong suddenly opened her eyes wide, her hesitation swiftly replaced by a near obsessive determination.
She straightened her body and slapped her burning cheeks firmly. "I already know there'll be backlash. As long as I… as long as I maintain full control this time, carefully guiding it, only absorbing a tiny bit… just a little!"
"I won't be greedy! I won't let the soul power react violently!"
She walked to the sink, turning on the icy cold tap water. The freezing stream washed over her wrists, sending a shiver through her.
Looking at her blurry yet determined reflection in the flowing water, she repeatedly whispered to herself: "Stay clear-headed! Take only what you need! You can definitely control this power…"
"Liu Erlong, you can do it!"
She gambled! She bet that her willpower could overcome the damned, intoxicating "side effects."
Facing the mirror, Liu Erlong took a deep breath, forcing all her surging emotions back into the depths of her eyes. A deliberate layer of cold detachment and seriousness, fitting for "Principal Liu," returned to her face.
A faint "click" sounded as the kitchen door opened.
Liu Erlong stepped out, her gait much steadier than before.
The flush on her face had mostly faded, leaving only a faint pink hue at the tips of her ears.
Soon, she returned to the stone table, sitting opposite Dai Chengfeng without unnecessary words.
"Let's begin."
Liu Erlong extended her hand, her voice calm and steady, as if discussing something utterly ordinary.
But deep within her intense, beautiful eyes, she closely watched Dai Chengfeng's outstretched hand.
"Alright."
Dai Chengfeng nodded, placing his hand into her open palm and clasping it.
It felt slightly cool, with a barely noticeable stiffness, betraying Liu Erlong's inner tension.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)