"Smells nice," Qianran muttered as he slipped off Meng Hongchen's high-heeled sandals, his mischievous fingers massaging her foot. His hands quickly absorbed the faint scent of her black-stockinged feet, dampened with a light sheen of sweat.
To say there was no scent at all would be a lie, but it was subtle, far from unpleasant. Most of the aroma came from the interplay of her stockings, sandals, and the natural warmth of her skin, mingled with the faint floral fragrance of her body. Unlike ordinary people, cultivators like Meng Hongchen had far fewer bodily impurities, and their natural scents were inherently more appealing.
Such a delicate aroma might well be the ultimate indulgence for a true foot enthusiast.
Qianran had seen plenty of such obsessions in his past life—on certain niche forums, people would rave over stockings tossed into laundry hampers after a long day. While he wasn't anywhere near that level, he couldn't deny the unique charm of this moment.
If it were an ordinary person, Qianran wouldn't have been interested. But cultivators were different—their bodies exuded a purity and allure that set them apart.
Even Qianran himself, despite sweating heavily during intense training, retained a clean and appealing scent.
"Qianran, stop… don't…" Meng Hongchen squirmed, her face flushed red with embarrassment, her voice tinged with both shyness and protest.
"I like you best just like this," Qianran said, summoning a sphere of icy water to clean his hands before suddenly pouncing on her, his playful energy undiminished. He found an odd satisfaction in her current state—a blend of shy resistance and quiet submission.
"Don't say that…" Meng Hongchen turned her head to the side, too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
But Qianran cupped her face gently, tilting it toward him as his lips pressed firmly against hers. Their kiss deepened, growing hotter and more fervent before they finally parted, both slightly breathless.
Sliding his arm around her slender waist, Qianran deftly unbuttoned her crisp white blouse, revealing the delicate pink undergarments underneath.
Unable to resist, his hand rested against her chest, drawing a soft gasp from Meng Hongchen.
"Qianran… take me," Meng Hongchen murmured, her voice trembling yet determined.
She had heard that Ju Zi and Ke Ke had already given themselves to Qianran, and a sense of urgency grew within her. She didn't want to wait for the uncertainty of the future; she wanted to cement their bond here and now. No matter who objected, nothing could change their relationship.
Besides, she wasn't the only one captivated by Qianran. Many eyes in the academy were fixated on him, and Meng Hongchen couldn't be certain she would always remain the center of his heart.
"Are you sure? Aren't you afraid of making your grandfather furious?" Qianran teased with a sly grin.
Meng Hongchen's wine-red hair cascaded around her like a silky curtain, and the scene reminded Qianran of a certain controversial trope from an old story. Except this time, his "Little Dragon Girl" was far more cooperative.
"I'm not scared. Grandpa dotes on me. If he finds out I've already given myself to you, he'll stop trying to pair me with those so-called 'young talents.' " Meng Hongchen stuck out her tongue playfully, her demeanor a mix of rebellion and affection.
"Your grandpa's precious little girl has gone rogue. If he finds out I corrupted you, he'll definitely give me trouble," Qianran joked, his smile turning mischievous. Jing Hongchen had always been protective of his granddaughter, and Qianran could only imagine his reaction.
"Would it affect you badly?" Meng Hongchen hesitated, her worry surfacing. As the academy's headmaster, her grandfather wielded significant influence. If he targeted Qianran, it might complicate his life at the academy.
"It's not a big deal. But today's not the right time for this. Let's save it for a proper occasion," Qianran said, leaning close to whisper in her ear.
Though Qianran enjoyed taking risks, he wanted Meng Hongchen's first time to be special.
"Alright…" Meng Hongchen glanced around, suddenly aware of their surroundings. Her embarrassment deepened, but the warmth in her chest grew.
Qianran's consideration and respect made her feel deeply cherished.
Despite being a notorious flirt, Qianran had principles—a contrast to the hypocritical gentlemen who pretended to be noble while hiding their desires. Meng Hongchen appreciated his honesty and directness.
Many admired her in the academy, but her status deterred them from approaching her sincerely. Even the candidates her grandfather introduced were often self-serving opportunists.
"Dreamy, put your legs on my shoulders," Qianran said with a teasing smile.
Blushing furiously, Meng Hongchen covered her face with her hands, but she obeyed, lifting her legs and resting them on Qianran's broad shoulders.
Qianran leaned forward, pressing kisses along her neck, shoulders, and collarbones, each one eliciting soft gasps.
The stark contrast between Meng Hongchen's petite frame and Qianran's powerful build created a striking visual.
Qianran's body, weighing over 200 pounds, dwarfed Meng Hongchen's slight frame of just over 90 pounds. Despite his weight, his figure remained lean and proportionate, a testament to the density of his muscles.
Recently, Qianran's body had undergone noticeable changes.
With his cultivation advancing to Soul Emperor, and the enhancements from system upgrades and Life Gold integration, his physique had begun evolving in unprecedented ways.
Though his weight had increased significantly in the past months, his appearance remained unchanged.
As Qianran leaned closer, Meng Hongchen's breath quickened, and she found it difficult to catch her breath.
"Qianran, you've gotten heavier," Meng Hongchen said between gasps, her voice soft and puzzled.
Despite his lean appearance, why did his body feel so heavy?
"Ke Ke, Ju Zi, and Na Na said the same thing. I think my body's evolving again," Qianran explained. His recent upgrades and integrations likely triggered a fundamental transformation, enhancing his physical density without altering his external form.
For Qianran, this wasn't a big deal. But for his companions, it meant they would need to withstand his increased weight and strength—a challenge that wasn't lost on them.
This was why Ke Ke and Ju Zi had shifted their focus so quickly from Soul Tool development to cultivating their soul power. Even with their talent for Soul Engineering, they couldn't ignore the pressure Qianran's growing strength placed on them.
In the future, those below the Soul Emperor level might not even survive Qianran's playful "torments."
(End of Chapter)