Satisfaction surged through Qianran as he held the two beauties close, their breath still uneven, their bodies soft and pliant.
To have two women of such high standing willingly submit to him—one the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, the other a celebrated teacher—was intoxicating.
And yet, Qianran's mind wandered. If only Cai Mei'er were here in place of Zhou Yi.
Not that Zhou Yi lacked beauty—far from it. But Qianran fantasized about having Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er together, a combination that seemed impossibly fitting.
As he gently stroked the silk-clad legs of the two women, the sensation of high-grade stockings beneath his fingers sent a thrill through him.
"This is the life," he sighed, eyes half-closed in bliss.
Back on Earth, he'd never have dared to dream of such a scenario.
"Don't get used to this," Xian Lin'er chided, furrowing her brows. She had allowed herself to indulge this time because Qianran had just returned—and because Qian Duoduo was nearby, providing an additional layer of excitement.
But now that it was over, a twinge of guilt crept in.
"Oh, we'll see about that!" Qianran grinned mischievously, giving Xian Lin'er a playful squeeze.
Having tasted victory, there was no way he was letting her—or this arrangement—slip away.
His goal of having Xian Lin'er and Cai Mei'er together was still firmly in sight.
"Such a scoundrel," Xian Lin'er muttered, biting her lip as Qianran's hands roamed freely over her body.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu were deep in discussion about soul tools, blissfully unaware of the "reward" their esteemed colleagues had just received.
After cleaning up and changing into fresh stockings, Xian Lin'er and Zhou Yi returned to their professional attire. They moved to a small basin to wash their faces and rinse their mouths. Bent slightly forward, their poses were completely unintentional—but to Qianran, the sight was utterly tantalizing.
When the three finally emerged, Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and Fan Yu were still in animated conversation.
Though Shrek Academy's victories in the Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament were no longer surprising, each one brought immense pride.
With the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy rising in power, the days of Shrek's unchallenged dominance were numbered. The pressure on Shrek was mounting, making each triumph all the more precious.
For now, they cherished the fleeting sense of superiority.
"Heh, Fan Yu," Qian Duoduo said with a sly grin. "Your Zhou Yi's looking better every day. She used to dress so frumpily, always hiding behind that dull, aged mask. But now? She's positively radiant. You must be enjoying yourself."
In typical male camaraderie, their conversation alternated between work and women.
"Of course," Fan Yu replied, forcing a smile. "But she only dresses like that outside of class. During school hours, she's as professional as ever."
"Man, you don't know how lucky you are," Yan Shaozhe quipped. "With a stunning wife like her, why are you spending all your time in the lab?"
He wasn't wrong. Zhou Yi's sharp, professional attire, paired with her natural beauty, gave her a uniquely captivating allure.
Even her title as a class teacher seemed to awaken certain… fantasies in those who admired her.
Not just Yan Shaozhe—Qian Duoduo, too, found himself silently judging Fan Yu's apparent lack of appreciation.
If only Lin'er were mine… Qian Duoduo thought wistfully.
Meanwhile, Fan Yu squirmed under the weight of their remarks. It wasn't that he didn't notice Zhou Yi's charm—it was that he simply couldn't rise to the occasion.
The issue wasn't Zhou Yi, but him. Something wasn't working, and no amount of medicine or effort had helped.
Little did Fan Yu know, his condition wasn't natural—it was Zhou Yi's doing, a secret she guarded carefully.
Fan Yu, oblivious, rushed to change the subject. "Speaking of changes, doesn't Lin'er look even more stunning these days?"
"Absolutely," Qian Duoduo said smugly, shooting a glance at Yan Shaozhe.
Though Lin'er hadn't fully accepted him yet, Qian Duoduo still felt a sense of victory. She was bound to need a man eventually, wasn't she?
Yan Shaozhe's expression remained neutral as he replied, "Still no progress with Lin'er, huh, Duoduo?"
The grin on Qian Duoduo's face froze.
Before the tension could escalate, Cai Mei'er walked in, her sharp gaze sweeping the room.
"And here I thought you men didn't have anything better to do," she said dryly. "Where are Lin'er and Zhou Yi?"
"They took Qianran to check on his condition," Yan Shaozhe answered, smiling brightly. "They were worried about him after that ambush."
"Oh, I'm sure they're checking on him," Cai Mei'er muttered under her breath. She had her suspicions about the kind of "examination" taking place behind closed doors.
Turning to Yan Shaozhe, her tone sharpened. "Speaking of concern, you seem awfully invested in Lin'er's well-being. Why don't you show the same care for me?"
"I… What? No, Mei'er, you've got it all wrong!" Yan Shaozhe stammered, his face paling.
"Oh? So you don't care about Lin'er, then? That's funny—your eyes tell a different story."
"Mei'er, you're taking this the wrong way! I'm just thrilled you're back. Please, let me make it up to you."
Cai Mei'er's glare didn't waver. "There's nothing to explain. If Lin'er's on your mind, go to her."
With that, she stormed off, her expression icy.
Yan Shaozhe, now thoroughly panicked, chased after her. "Mei'er, wait! Please, let me explain!"
Meanwhile, Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu exchanged bewildered glances.
"Well, that escalated quickly," Qian Duoduo muttered.
In reality, Cai Mei'er wasn't truly angry. She had deliberately provoked the argument as part of a calculated plan. By creating tension with Yan Shaozhe, she could justify spending more time with Qianran without raising suspicion.
Unlike Zhu Ying with Dai Hao, Cai Mei'er had no illusions about Yan Shaozhe. He was the kind of man who wouldn't hesitate to risk his life for revenge if he ever discovered her betrayal.
This made her cautious—but also determined.
Now, with Yan Shaozhe momentarily out of the picture, Cai Mei'er's path to Qianran was clear.
(End of Chapter)