Since their first encounter in the instance, Cheng Xiao had heard Yu Deng's soft and spoiled whining, heard him threatening people clumsily and angrily, and, of course, heard him curse after being mistreated.
However, Yu Deng's cursing vocabulary was quite limited. He kept repeating the same few words, his voice always tinged with a tearful, soft, and hoarse tone, which only made things more exciting.
So, it was probably the first time Yu Deng had clearly expressed praise.
Cheng Xiao smirked, feeling almost elated.
Fortunately, he still had some charm, which earned him Yu Deng's recognition.
"I didn't quite catch that," Cheng Xiao teased with a hint of eagerness. "Say it again, okay?"
Before Yu Deng could respond, the black mist creature roared in anger with an indescribable screech.
Alright, one compliment wasn't enough; now it wanted another.
The black mist twisted angrily, looking like it wanted to beat Cheng Xiao on the spot.
Oh no, not another fight, right? Yu Deng quickly held the black mist down and softly comforted it, "Don't get so worked up."
The black mist immediately changed its demeanor, shifting from rage to a pitiful look, clearly a dark blob but conveying an extremely expressive sense of grievance.
Yu Deng said, "You're not too bad either."
The black mist then calmed down.
Cheng Xiao, who witnessed the whole scene, clicked his tongue in anger.
This troublesome black mist was just like his cheap father—equally annoying.
[Originally, I was really angry since someone was so shameless as to morally coerce our baby, but after watching our baby handle the jealous bad dog, I suddenly calmed down..]
[I understand you, Yu Deng, and your bad dogs. They always manage to turn the instance into a different style.]
[Wuwu, I also want to be praised by the baby.]
Nearby, Zhang Ziyun watched with great interest, taking a big bite of her snack, finding a bit of joy in the grueling infinite world.
Please, a younger dog chasing a beautiful stepmother is just too sweet, and it seems there's another man related to the little widow.
It's wonderful; isn't this an alternative paradise for fan girls? Zhang Ziyun closed her eyes peacefully.
As for the Mediterranean guy, he watched as Yu Deng, the "NPC," completely ignored him, and other players didn't help either.
He felt humiliated and began to curse, using very uncivilized language.
Yu Deng shot a displeased glance at the rude person. Cheng Xiao, aware of the little widow's bluntness, kindly spoke up for him, "Instead of cursing, why not think about how to solve the problem?"
"Yes, since you dared to peep, those eyes are now considered compensation," The woman who was chasing him said with a smile.
The Mediterranean guy suddenly turned around but was grabbed by the woman by the nape of his neck. She dragged him forward with ease, as if she were pulling a piece of plastic.
Soon, Yu Deng could faintly hear the Mediterranean's screams.
Cheng Xiao, who had been watching Yu Deng, comforted him, saying, "He won't remember your kindness. He'll only try to squeeze out every bit of value from you. This is just his own fault."
The other two players nodded in agreement.
Ah, capitalists are all the same, even in the infinite world they're just as disgusting.
Yu Deng responded with an "mm."
He understood that excessive softness and embarrassment only lead to one's own ruin. His family had taught him that from a young age.
...
After this interlude, the group of players exchanged information and analyzed the instance's intentions.
"To kill us, of course," Ke Qisheng said, indifferent to life and death. "I've figured it out. The instance is full of traps. I suspect this second stage was created because the instance thought too few people had died."
Yu Deng thought this was quite likely.
They couldn't determine how much time had passed—perhaps the remaining two days were almost over, or maybe only a few hours had passed.
After a short rest, the group decided to split up to improve efficiency.
Yu Deng headed back to the classroom from earlier.
On the way, Cheng Xiao took advantage of the absence of the annoying Cheng Chaoling and tentatively asked, "Baby, would you be willing to come with me?"
Yu Deng replied, confused, "Aren't we already together?"
Cheng Xiao was left speechless by the clueless little widow and didn't press further.
He would find a way, after all.
Back in the classroom.
When they arrived, it seemed that several days had already passed here. The entire school was bustling, with several distinguished figures in formal attire touring the school, led by the late Mr. Cheng.
Yu Deng witnessed Mr. Cheng specifically picking Lin Zhiyue to inquire about the students' feelings. "Are you the girl who's been mingling with my grandson?"
Lin Zhiyue's face turned pale. "Please be clear, he forcibly harassed me.."
The old man looked at her with somewhat clouded eyes. "Is that so? His taste isn't bad this time."
Lin Zhiyue was puzzled.
Mr. Cheng looked meaningfully at her. "Girl, your family hasn't paid much attention to you and your sister for a while. If they don't want your sister..." His hand rested on Lin Zhiyue's thigh. "Come with me later."
A sudden gust of wind swept across the open space, signaling imminent danger. Before Yu Deng could act, Cheng Xiao had quickly disrupted the established development, and the scene in front of them turned into a mirage.
At this point, without going into detail, it was already clear about Miss Lin's past.
She had been forced by the Cheng family patriarch and grandson. The two were birds of a feather, threatening her with her family and friends, and even wanting to marry her just to have an easier time playing with her.
After unraveling the plot, Yu Deng was disgusted to the core. "They really got off too lightly."
"Yes," Cheng Xiao soothed Yu Deng's brows. "Think it over, she at least sought revenge."
Yu Deng nodded in a gloomy manner.
Wait, that's not right. Yu Deng pondered slowly. If Miss Lin killed those evildoers, even if it was for revenge, who was the one in the additional task who had to seek revenge?
Outside the illusion.
With Yu Deng absent, Cheng Chaolin showed no signs of soft emotions, gazing coldly at the empty space in front of him.
"Mr. Cheng, I have no idea what happened." Next to him was Lin Zhiyue. She carefully sensed and respectfully spoke, "My consciousness seems hazy, as if I've returned to a past nightmare, but it seems like someone is helping me."
She made an effort to perceive and finally discovered that it was Yu Deng helping her banish the nightmares. Lin Zhiyue lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Cheng Chaolin nodded. "I understand."
He already had a rough idea.
What is the matter? After sensing the trace of black mist for a while, he raised his hand and tore through the invisible barrier in front of him.
"Found it."
Forcibly breaking through the barrier and connecting with the other spatial dimension, Cheng Chaolin immediately received the sights and sounds of the black mist.
At the same time, Cheng Chaolin could feel his emotions becoming difficult to control, edging closer to the nature of the evil spirit.
Hmm, a bit tricky.
So, his troublesome adopted son better pray that he hasn't done anything to anger Him.
Cheng Chaolin's figure disappeared into the void.
In the virtual realm, the players dispersed to act. The two college student players went to search for any overlooked details.
Yu Deng and Cheng Xiao finished watching the main part of the plot together. Cheng Xiao held Yu Deng, sitting on the edge of a flowerbed by the street for a rest.
Because Yu Deng found the flowerbed cold and dirty, he sat on Cheng Xiao's thigh.
Cheng Chaolin arrived at this familiar long street, only to see his little wife sitting on that troublesome person's lap.
That troublesome person even had his arm around Yu Deng's waist, and his mouth was not obediently touching Yu Deng's fair and slender neck.
Quite the sight..
Step by step, Cheng Chaolin walked up to them.
"You're here really late," Cheng Xiao said without mincing words.
That's alright, I don't need you anymore."
As these words fell, the surrounding space began to ripple.
Cheng Chaoling gave a provocative glance at his adopted son, picked up Yu Deng, and then pummeled Cheng Xiao with black mist a few times before vanishing into the darkness behind him.
Yu Deng and Cheng Chaoling disappeared before Cheng Xiao's eyes.
Cheng Xiao clenched his fists.
Damn it.
Yu Deng, bewildered, wondered, "What's going on?"
After a disorienting sensation of weightlessness that lasted for several seconds, it finally ended. Yu Deng groggily opened his eyes to find himself in an office, sitting on a leather sofa, with a familiar long street visible outside the window.
Muttering to his late husband, Yu Deng asked, "Why did you suddenly bring me here without even informing me?"
Cheng Chaolin, with lowered eyes, looked at Yu Deng.
It had only been a moment, and Yu Deng had already run into someone else's arms.
He wanted to leave his mark all over Yu Deng's body, inside and out.
The icy black mist pervaded and shrouded, restraining from harming Yu Deng, yet the powerful force continued to corrode and tear, leaving Yu Deng's clothing below the knees in tatters, eventually turning into fragments.
Yu Deng: "???"
"My wife just praised that kid," Cheng Chaolin looked steadily at his wife, answering out of context, "I've never been praised before."
His deep voice sounded somewhat subdued, hinting at a distinct sense of loss. Cheng Chaolin leaned in close to Yu Deng.
"Is my appearance not to my wife's liking?"
Yu Deng's gaze was filled by Cheng Chaolin's presence, inevitably observing him at close range.
It had to be said that his late husband had a striking appearance, with narrow, sharp phoenix eyes, malice and ambition hidden beneath golden-rimmed glasses.
In the illusion, Cheng Chaolin wore a solid color suit with a black overcoat instead of a traditional robe, exuding an elegant and mild demeanor, possessing a mature charm of strategic thinking.
Yu Deng followed his own aesthetic and answered, "Um, quite good-looking."
Cheng Chaolin finally heard Yu Deng compliment him, easing the pent-up frustration and anger slightly.
However, at the same time, the agitated emotions turned into a surging desire.
The increasingly uncontrollable nature dominated his actions. Cheng Chaolin lowered his head and skillfully began kissing.
Yu Deng let out a short muffled groan.
Compared to previous kisses, Cheng Chaolin's current actions were much more aggressive and voracious.
The lips were repeatedly sucked on, not even sparing the inside of the mouth, with moist sounds sticking together, aggressively exploring every inch.
Plundering, possessing, marking repeatedly.
In just a few tens of seconds, Yu Deng's eyes filled with warm tears, dripping down, his delicate and pretty face blushing with tears. The fine sob emerged from the parted lips, only to be suppressed again.
The black mist truthfully reflected the entity's emotions, agitatedly swirling and intertwining with Yu Deng's delicate and sensitive snow skin.
Yu Deng could feel the icy black mist touching him, the cool sensation quickly turning into a subtle heat.
As Yu Deng moved in Cheng Chaolin's embrace, he tried to turn his face away.
"Stop, don't kiss me anymore. You're not allowed to kiss my lips; they haven't healed from the last time when you said you wouldn't use force!
It's so annoying, always nibbling on him.
Cheng Chaolin, still unsatisfied, apologized smoothly, "Sorry, I got carried away and lost control. Can I kiss my wife elsewhere?"
Yu Deng's intuition was unusually sharp for once.
Continuing to kiss might lead beyond just kissing.
So Yu Deng firmly refused, commanding sternly, "No! you're not allowed to touch me!"
Cheng Chaolin paused at the rejection.
Looking at Yu Deng's misty eyes, Cheng Chaolin slowly backed off obediently, half-kneeling in front of Yu Deng like a fierce beast turned submissive.
Yu Deng cautiously touched his lips, frowned, and muttered, "You don't cooperate with me, nor do you tell me the Cheng family's secrets."
"I'll tell you later, my wife."
The ghost obediently refrained from touching his fragile little wife, looking submissive and obedient.
However, a few wisps of black mist still lingered around Yu Deng, sticky and clinging.
The ghost's self-control was not very reliable. Before long, Cheng Chaolin spoke again.
"See, I'm listening to my wife and not making any erratic moves. Shouldn't there be a reward for that?"
Yu Deng looked at Cheng Chaolin in puzzlement. "Um."
"I can't touch my wife, so how about my wife touches me instead, okay? Please don't ignore me."
Yu Deng felt something was off, but Cheng Chaolin's sincere plea seemed to alleviate any concerns.
"Okay."
Yu Deng was tired from the kisses and didn't want to move significantly. He glanced at his late husband in front of him, lifted his leg, extending his white and slender leg straight, with the tip of his foot pressing against Cheng Chaolin's firm chest.
Yu Deng's fingers were round, and his nails were pink, neatly trimmed.
Cheng Chaolin's breathing suddenly intensified.
Maintaining this posture was a bit tiring. After a few seconds of touch, Yu Deng naturally lowered his leg, running the tips of his toes down his chest.
With just one touch, Yu Deng managed to arouse the already-cold blood of Cheng Chaolin.
Feeling the subtle touch under his foot, Yu Deng curiously ground his foot, taking a few seconds to react slowly before widening his eyes in surprise.
Rogue.
Blushing, Yu Deng increased the pressure and, in a fit of anger and embarrassment, stomped his foot again.
This stomp carried a tone of reprimand, even of disdain.
But what Yu Deng felt was a more obvious change.
Squinting, his voice hoarse, Cheng Chaolin requested, "My wife, touch me again."
"You have no manners!" Yu Deng exclaimed in disbelief, trying to retract his foot.
Mid-retraction, his ankle was grabbed by Cheng Chaolin.
Lowering his head, the ghost gently pecked at the slender ankle, then bit into the soft flesh on the calf, grinding his teeth.
Raising his eyes, filled with a sickening satisfaction.
"Thank you, my wife, for stepping on me so comfortably."