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As Dai Chengfeng thought about it, he glanced around the room, a gentle yet mischievous smile spreading across his face.
"Time is tight. I must finish everything before she returns."
With that, Dai Chengfeng wasted no more time.
First, he walked to the window and drew the heavy curtains, leaving only a small gap so that a single ray of light fell perfectly onto the small round table in the center of the chamber.
Next, like a magician pulling a trick, he retrieved several exquisite soul-guided lamps from his storage device. He adjusted their angles, replacing the previously cool light of the setting sun with a soft, intimate glow focused on the dining area.
He then swiftly took out a deep purple tablecloth embroidered with intricate golden patterns that he had prepared in advance.
With deft movements, he spread it over the table, covering the cold, polished surface with its warm, luxurious texture.
Then came the main event.
Carefully, he arranged sets of fine silverware neatly on the table, leaving space in the center for the dishes.
Afterward, he went to the kitchen to prepare the food…
And as Dai Chengfeng returned, he began taking them out one by one.
Richly fragrant, tender stewed spirit beast meat; vibrant green, fresh vegetables; a pot of soup simmered for hours; and several mouthwatering, delicate pastries.
Each dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, clearly crafted with great care.
Finally, he took out an expensive-looking bottle of red wine and two crystal-clear, elegant wine glasses.
He didn't open the bottle immediately but placed it beside an ice bucket, ready to be uncorked when Bibi Dong returned.
After finishing all this, he stepped back a few paces to examine his masterpiece:
The dim yet focused lighting, the table adorned with a lavish cloth, the enticing food, and the unopened bottle of fine wine…
This corner of the chamber near the dining area had transformed from its previous solemn elegance into an atmosphere of warmth and romance, starkly different from the coldness it held before his preparations.
Dai Chengfeng nodded in satisfaction, his gaze sweeping toward the direction of the inner chambers. A deeper smile curved his lips.
He didn't enter but patiently stood in the hazy interplay of light and shadow, like a hunter waiting for his prey to step into the trap…
Except, his eyes shimmered not with malice but with anticipation.
Time passed second by second. As daylight faded completely and Spirit City lit up with its dazzling lights…
Faint footsteps, growing closer, finally reached the entrance of the chamber, accompanied by a familiar, slightly weary sigh.
Squeak—
The heavy, ornate doors of the chamber were gently pushed open.
Bibi Dong entered slowly, clad in her resplendent Pope's robes, her head adorned with a crown of purple gold.
Her breathtakingly beautiful face bore traces of fatigue that she couldn't quite conceal—clear evidence that a full day of official duties had left her mentally and physically drained.
Out of habit, she closed the door behind her without looking up immediately. Instead, she bent slightly and extended her slender fingers…
Casually hooking the heel of one gem-encrusted purple high heel and slipping it off with ease.
Tak…
The delicate shoe landed on the smooth floor with a crisp sound.
She was about to remove the other when her movements abruptly froze.
Her gaze finally shifted to the interior of the chamber.
Something was off.
The lighting, the atmosphere… even the air itself felt different!
What should have been a cold and dim chamber was now bathed in a carefully curated, warm, and intimate glow.
In the air, mingling with her familiar cold fragrance, was another scent…
An enticing aroma of food?
And a faint, almost imperceptible trace of something familiar that made her heart race inexplicably.
A sharp glint of alertness flashed through Bibi Dong's deep violet eyes, and the imposing aura of the Pope instinctively gathered around her.
But as she took in the sight of the exquisitely set table under the soft light—the beautifully arranged dishes, the bottle of wine—her sharpness quickly gave way to surprise and intense curiosity.
Who?
Who dared to enter her private chambers without permission and make such arrangements?
Hu Liena?
That girl wouldn't have the audacity, nor would she lean toward creating such… suggestive romantic ambiance. She preferred girlish trinkets.
The maids? Impossible.
As her mind raced, her violet eyes narrowed slightly, and her powerful soul force began to stir quietly, preparing to expose this brazen intruder.
But just then, a thought struck her mind like lightning.
The style of the arrangement…
The seemingly casual yet meticulously thoughtful details…
And that faint, barely perceptible trace in the air—a scent that soothed her very soul…
Could it be…
Her heartbeat skipped a beat involuntarily, then began to quicken.
The frosty weariness that had settled over her brows seemed to melt away instantly. A faint blush, so subtle she didn't even notice it herself, crept onto her pale cheeks.
Just as her mind wavered, on the verge of confirming her suspicions—
A figure moved like a ghost, silently emerging from the hazy shadows behind her.
Two strong arms, carrying the scent of travel and dust, yet infinitely gentle, wrapped around her slender, tense waist from behind.
"!"
Bibi Dong's body stiffened instantly. Almost reflexively, a surge of overwhelming soul power surged forth, ready to deliver a fatal blow to whoever dared to desecrate the sacred body of the Pope!
But at the same moment, an unmistakably familiar presence—a scent deeply etched into her soul—enveloped her like the richest of wines.
That scent carried the fresh aroma of the Star Dou Great Forest, the dust of a long journey, and a warmth and dominance that both reassured and intoxicated her.
All the soul power she had gathered dissipated in an instant, melting away like snow under the sun the moment the scent reached her nose.
Her once tense, rigid body, brimming with terrifying strength, went limp, nearly collapsing entirely into the warm, solid chest behind her.
Vigilance, dignity, exhaustion…
All of it was replaced in this moment by an indescribable swirl of complex emotions.
There was surprise, relief, and a hint of subtle embarrassment at being held by someone younger—or perhaps, someone who transcended the concept of "younger."
She didn't turn around. Instead, she allowed herself to lean into his embrace, feeling the steady heartbeat against her back.
After a silence that lasted three full breaths, she finally spoke in a voice that sounded calm but carried a faint, barely noticeable tremor and hoarseness:
"When did you return?"
Dai Chengfeng rested his chin gently on the fragrant crown of her hair, greedily inhaling her scent. His arms tightened around her, as if trying to meld her into his very being.
He answered softly, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive ear:
"Just now."
"I didn't even go back to my own room. I rushed here to see if my teacher missed me enough to grow thin."
In that instant, an uncontrollable wave of warmth surged from the softest part of Bibi Dong's heart, spreading rapidly through her entire body.
She was accustomed to scheming and solitude, bearing burdens alone. It had been far too long since she last felt the sensation of being someone's priority, of being so eagerly missed.
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