As Han Feng walked up to the second floor, he habitually turned right, but froze the moment he pushed open the door. His room was still in the same terrible state as after the last battle, with cracks spreading across the walls like a spider web and dust covering the bed.
Han Feng, realizing he and Liu Mengran had already taken that step, called out to the living room, "Mengran, can I use your bathroom?"
Liu Mengran's room was filled with a faint fragrance. The bed was neatly made, and several company documents were spread out on the desk. Han Feng easily found his change of clothes from the closet. He didn't know when this place had been prepared as his private space.
Even after the bathroom door closed, Han Feng could still faintly hear Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan chatting in the living room, followed by laughter. The hot water washed away his fatigue, making Han Feng feel incredibly refreshed.
When Han Feng walked out of the bathroom, drying his hair, Liu Mengran's bedroom was already empty. He had changed into a clean t-shirt and casual pants, and smelled faintly of lavender.
The living room lights shone softly. When Han Feng came downstairs, he saw Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan still sitting on the sofa. Su Wanwan was gesturing wildly as she talked, while Liu Mengran covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons.
"That's not true!" Su Wanwan looked up and saw Han Feng. Her rebuttal stopped abruptly, and her cheeks suddenly turned red at a visible speed, like a shrimp that had been scalded by boiling water.
Liu Mengran turned her head following her gaze and gave Han Feng a gentle smile. This simple expression warmed Han Feng's heart, as if someone had lit a small lamp there.
"I...I'm going to take a shower too!" Su Wanwan suddenly jumped up, speaking at a speed like a machine gun, "You guys chat!" She practically fled, losing one of her slippers in the process without even bothering to pick it up.
Han Feng raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong with her?" He walked over and sat down next to Liu Mengran, naturally putting his arm around her shoulder.
Liu Mengran leaned against him, her laughter trembling slightly: "It's nothing, we were just talking about some embarrassing things that happened to someone in R country..."
Han Feng touched the tip of his nose and said, "What did this little girl say to you?"
Just then, a loud "bang" came from upstairs, followed by the sound of running water in the bathroom. Han Feng looked at the girl in front of him. Liu Mengran's eyelashes cast tiny shadows under the light, and the curve of her nose was so exquisite that he wanted to trace it with his fingertips.
"Are you tired?" he asked softly.
Liu Mengran nodded and gave a small yawn: "I didn't dare to sleep while waiting for you."
These words were like a fine needle, gently pricking Han Feng's heart. He tightened his arms and scooped Liu Mengran up in his arms: "Then let's go rest."
"Ah!" Liu Mengran exclaimed softly, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. "Put me down, Wanwan is still here..."
Han Feng strode towards the stairs: "She won't be out of the shower for at least half an hour." He lowered his head and planted a kiss on Liu Mengran's forehead. "Besides, we're doing this openly and honestly, what's there to be afraid of?"
Liu Mengran buried her face in his chest, her ear tips turning bright red. Before she could speak, Han Feng had already carried her to the room.
The moment the bedroom door closed, Han Feng pinned Liu Mengran against it and lowered his head to capture her lips. The kiss was salty and bittersweet, filled with longing. Liu Mengran initially resisted gently, but quickly softened in his arms, her fingers running through his half-dry hair.
"I missed you." Han Feng whispered to her lips, his hand stroking her slender waist.
Liu Mengran's breathing became erratic, but she gently pressed down on Han Feng's hand as it slipped under her clothes: "Stop fooling around..." Her voice was so soft it had no persuasive power, but her hand stopped Han Feng's next move.
Han Feng's lips were still on Liu Mengran's neck, his breath filled with the faint scent of jasmine emanating from her. Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, Liu Mengran suddenly pressed against his chest, her strength gentle yet resolute.
"Wait a minute." Her voice was soft but firm, "I have something to tell you."
Han Feng stepped back slightly, watching Liu Mengran pull him to sit on the edge of the bed. The warm yellow bedside lamp cast a soft golden glow on her profile, but also revealed a rare seriousness in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Han Feng gently stroked Liu Mengran's hair.
Liu Mengran took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye: "What are your feelings for Wanwan...?"
This question was like a bucket of ice water poured over Han Feng's head. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He was well aware of Su Wanwan's feelings for him—from her deliberately avoided glances, her feigned casual physical contact, and her hesitant worries before every dangerous mission.
"I..." Han Feng's Adam's apple bobbed. "She's an important teammate, she's..."
"Be serious," Liu Mengran interrupted him. "If one day I'm gone, will you look for me?"
Han Feng practically sprang out of bed: "Of course! I'll search heaven and earth for you, I will—"
"And what if one day Wanwan leaves?" Liu Mengran continued calmly, "What would you do?"
This question was like a dull knife, slowly but resolutely piercing Han Feng's heart. He stood there, stunned, Su Wanwan's bright smiling face appearing before his eyes.
Seeing Han Feng remain silent, Liu Mengran sighed softly: "You'll have to face this problem sooner or later." She raised her eyes, "I believe you can also sense that Wanwan likes you."
Han Feng didn't refute. He slowly sat back down on the edge of the bed, running his fingers through his hair. "I..." Han Feng's voice was hoarse, "Meng Ran, do you think I'm being too selfish?"
To his surprise, Liu Mengran smiled, her eyes curving into gentle crescents: "No, not at all." Her fingers lightly brushed through Han Feng's disheveled hair. "But if you don't face it, if you don't express your true feelings, it's not only unfair to Wanwan, but also unfair to me." She paused, "She's practically made it clear that she likes you."
Han Feng's chest tightened: "But how can I be with you while also..." He couldn't finish his sentence because Liu Mengran's fingers pressed against his lips again.
"Ever since you told me your secret at the hospital," Liu Mengran's voice was as light as a feather, "I'm destined to be yours." Her gaze suddenly deepened, "And I have a feeling you'll never be an ordinary person."
Han Feng's heart suddenly raced a beat.
"I've met Grandpa," Liu Mengran continued, tracing Han Feng's features with her fingertips, "I know Grandpa wasn't an ordinary person. But the feeling you give me..." She tilted her head slightly, "is even stronger than Grandpa's."
Han Feng was about to speak when Liu Mengran suddenly stood up and pulled him towards the door: "Besides, Wanwan and I have already agreed."
"What did we agree on?" Han Feng was pushed to the door, completely bewildered.
Liu Mengran's face suddenly turned as red as a ripe apple. She quickly pecked Han Feng on the lips: "Oh, don't ask anymore!" Saying this, she opened the door and pushed Han Feng out, "You should go find Wanwan quickly, and you'd better tell her your true feelings. I'm tired, I'm going to sleep now, bye!"
"Wait, Mengran!" Han Feng turned around, wanting to ask more questions, but a closed door blocked his way. He knocked gently. "At least tell me what you talked about?"
A muffled voice came from inside the room, as if she had already crawled into bed: "Go ask Wanwan yourself! I'm going to sleep!"
Han Feng stood in the corridor, completely dumbfounded.
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com