Chapter 25: Another Reward for You
Mu Feng felt as if his very breath was being plundered. His gaze fell upon the hand in front of him.
The sleeve was rolled up to the forearm, revealing blue veins that bulged due to the force he was exerting.
How could he choose?
He couldn’t.
He opened his mouth slightly, forcing out a strained sound, “I… I don’t know.”
Then, he felt the fingers around his neck tighten further.
“You don’t know?” Liang Yuhang’s voice was deep and heavy. “You don’t even know what you like?”
Because of the lack of oxygen, Mu Feng felt a brief wave of dizziness wash over his brain. He felt lightheaded, as if he were walking on clouds.
Every second felt like a year.
Liang Yuhang, however, was exceptionally patient, merely staring at him with a fixed gaze.
Mu Feng couldn’t lie, so he could only speak honestly, “I like both. Whatever you give me… I like it all.”
Then, he seemed to hear Liang Yuhang let out a low chuckle.
The grip on his neck loosened.
Fresh air rushed in, bringing with it a joy akin to being born again.
Mu Feng was almost ready to slide to the floor. He looked up at him; that large, well-defined hand was still resting against his neck, unmoving. He wasn’t sure what the other man was thinking. “Professor Liang?”
“That was ten seconds of punishment,” Liang Yuhang said, looking down at him. “Do you want ten seconds of reward?”
Mu Feng didn’t even ask what it was. As if under a spell, he nodded repeatedly.
Then, he felt a palm press against the back of his neck. He was pulled forward, his entire body lurching into a broad, firm embrace.
The uniform was cool, but the breath against him was scalding.
“Only ten seconds,” Liang Yuhang said, cold and ruthless.
Mu Feng, however, felt as if he had hit the jackpot. To think he could experience two different kinds of pleasure on the same day!
It wasn’t a difficult choice after all; it turned out he could have both at once.
He counted the seconds in his heart, then spoke with lingering reluctance, “The ten seconds are up.”
Liang Yuhang laughed again.
Mu Feng had never felt that the man enjoyed laughing this much. Was there something about his behavior that was particularly amusing?
Liang Yuhang said, “Since you followed the rules, I’ll reward you with another ten seconds.”
Mu Feng thought to himself: Maybe Second Brother should call and scold me a few more times. This is truly a blessing in disguise.
He repeated over and over in his mind: Thank you, Daddy. I like you, Daddy. I love you so much.
This time, Liang Yuhang patted his back. “Alright, get up.”
Mu Feng raised his head, the corners of his eyes tinged with a faint pink.
Clearly, nothing had actually happened, yet he looked as if he had been…
The suspicion in Liang Yuhang’s heart became a bit clearer. Was he actually enjoying this?
Could it be that he would accept these things from anyone?
Mu Feng remained extremely polite. “Thank you, Professor Liang.”
“Thanking me for what?” Liang Yuhang arched an eyebrow. “I seem to have caused you an injury.”
Using the word “injury” was a bit of an exaggeration; at most, there was a red mark.
His skin was likely very delicate, as finger marks from a few days ago still lingered near his glands.
Mu Feng asked, “Thank you for helping me. Do you need to take my phone?”
Liang Yuhang felt that he had become obedient again. “Didn’t you say you blocked your ears and didn’t hear anything?”
“I eavesdropped just a little bit.” Mu Feng’s bad mood seemed to have completely vanished.
The corners of Liang Yuhang’s lips curled slightly. “No need. He probably won’t come to bother you again for a while.”
“Boss! The project team is waiting for you! Why haven’t you—”
0717 rushed in like a whirlwind. Seeing Mu Feng, it immediately swerved.
“Ah, busy, I see.”
Its clothes were crumpled, its eyes were red, and its mouth was red.
Holy crap, how wild.
0717 spun in circles on the spot, unsure whether to stay or go. It almost slammed its head into the adjacent wall. “Why are you always doing this kind of thing during working hours lately?!”
“Nothing is happening,” Liang Yuhang said, his irritation rising the moment he saw the robot.
“Nothing! Nothing! If you say there’s nothing, then there’s nothing!” 0717 said cautiously. “So, is it over?”
Liang Yuhang’s pulse throbbed at his temples. “I said, nothing happened.”
“Oh, oh, oh! My apologies for the interruption! I’ll definitely have better situational awareness next time!”
With a thud, 0717 knelt down. Its legs were short, causing it to tumble forward and roll right to Liang Yuhang’s feet. “Old Master, I have realized my mistake!”
Liang Yuhang: “…”
Mu Feng couldn’t help but laugh. “Have you switched to reading ancient novels these past two days?”
“A-Aye, that’s right.” 0717 rummaged through the small pouch on its front for a while, pulling out a tube of ointment, two band-aids, and several… packets. “I’m now fully prepared with everything I need to carry on me.”
Liang Yuhang couldn’t hold back and gave the robot a kick.
Mu Feng didn’t have the heart to reject its kindness and reached out to take the band-aids. “Just these will do.”
He looked at the reflective metal cabinet behind the office desk. Catching his faint reflection, he quickly stuck one on his neck, covering the mark.
Liang Yuhang really wanted to say that this actually made it look like something had happened.
“Today, I’ll be taking Xie Xingchen to visit our latest research and development projects. You come along too,” Liang Yuhang said.
Mu Feng’s eyes lit up. “Me? I’m allowed to see confidential equipment like that?”
“You lived in the lab before; you’re actually quite interested in these things, aren’t you?”
Liang Yuhang pulled his sleeves down and straightened them. “There’s no need to pretend anymore. Let’s go, little seventh-place genius.”
Mu Feng felt those words were a bit hot on his ears. He raised a hand and rubbed his earlobe. “Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep people waiting.”
0717 struggled to climb up from the ground, grumbling as it led the way. “Unlucky, unlucky! I’m very unhappy today! I’m going to blow up the base and take everyone down with me!”
Then, it was kicked by Liang Yuhang again.
When they arrived, a large crowd of people was indeed already waiting.
Lu Zhuo teased in a low voice, “How did a post-exam review end up producing two band-aids?”
Liang Yuhang swept a glance at him. “It’s certainly not as heartwarming as serving someone a bath to help them study.”
Lu Zhuo clicked his tongue. “Are you ever going to let that go?”
“Did you find time for some practical application?” Xie Xingchen turned his head, his face full of curiosity. “You sure make the most of your time.”
Mu Feng really couldn’t take it anymore.
He leaned in and lowered his voice, “I have someone I like. Stop spreading rumors about me and Professor Liang.”
Xie Xingchen arched an eyebrow.
Is this kid having a battle between his left and right brain? Aren’t they the same person? He still refuses to admit it.
“Fine, no rumors.” Xie Xingchen didn’t press the issue and tilted his head. “So, can I still text you tonight?”
Mu Feng: “…”
Liang Yuhang watched the two of them with their heads close together, whispering about who knows what. He called out, “Mu Feng, take notes.”
0717 followed behind, whispering in a mocking tone, “Mu Feng, take notes! As if the great 0717 can’t remember everything! Still need to take notes… take notes…”
“Yes, Professor Liang.” Mu Feng warned Xie Xingchen, “Give me two days off, I beg you. Let me get some good sleep.”
Xie Xingchen sighed and said magnanimously, “Fine. Tomorrow night, then.”
Zhang Luyan watched as Mu Feng obediently followed behind Liang Yuhang, recording with a pen while bowing his head to write and take notes.
He sighed to the professor next to him, “I’m telling you, I have a keen eye for talent when it comes to this kid. Back then, everyone said not to bring in someone with poor grades. I said we have to give young people a chance. Sure enough, in three days—just three days—he passed the difficult exam I set. I bet he’ll be in the top three next time.”
Mu Feng: “…”
You were the one who couldn’t wait to throw me out like trash back then.
Who could possibly beat you at changing faces?
The professor next to him was completely hoodwinked. “Ah, so Xiao Liang taught him? You really are impressive, and your students are all so clever. Not like mine… I can’t even look at them. They can get a perfect score at school, but here they get a fifty.”
Zhang Luyan reached out, grabbed Mu Feng, and patted his shoulder. “Make sure you do well next time too, you hear me?”
“What happens if I don’t do well next time?” Mu Feng asked sincerely.
Zhang Luyan narrowed his eyes. “Impossible. I can tell at a glance that you have innate talent. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have lent you the lab for three months.”
“Was that ‘lending’ it?” Mu Feng muttered softly. “I clearly paid for it, you smelly old man.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I’ll do my best not to embarrass you.”
Zhang Luyan was satisfied and turned back to continue bragging. “Thinking back to when I taught Xiao Liang, he was also a genius with innate talent…”
Mu Feng shook his head, clutching his notebook as he hurried back to Liang Yuhang’s side.
The man was currently introducing a mechanical repair device specifically developed for the post-war period. It not only restored disabled soldiers to full normalcy but also allowed them to return to the battlefield with increased combat power.
Mu Feng’s eyes were full of admiration. “Did you research this?”
“Lu Zhuo and I led the project,” Liang Yuhang said, not taking all the credit. “I was responsible for the medical side, he was in charge of the mechanics, and the rest is thanks to our colleagues’ hard work.”
Xie Xingchen sighed. “Truly impressive. My father’s bio-company should come and exchange ideas with you guys when they have time. If we want to make a purchase, could you give us a discount?”
Liang Yuhang replied, “Stop harassing my student, and I might consider giving you a discount.”
Xie Xingchen felt truly wronged. “I’m not harassing him. Don’t be so protective. We’re having a peaceful exchange based on mutual needs, right?”
Mu Feng: ?????
I don’t have that need, okay.
He suspected this guy Xie Xingchen was deliberately fanning the flames. His “Major” filter was completely shattered.
Mu Feng looked at him with a gaze full of resentment. “You really seem like a scumbag when you’re like this. Do you know that your reputation as a playboy has already spread throughout the base?”
Thinking of something, he suddenly gave a naive smile. “Who knows, in a few more days, it might reach the Ninth Galaxy and be heard by the person you have a crush on.”
Xie Xingchen immediately turned serious. “Alright, say no more. A man’s reputation is very important. Colonel Liang, please help me dispel the rumors.”
Liang Yuhang couldn’t be bothered. “I won’t. If you talk less, there naturally won’t be any rumors.”
Mu Feng mulled over those words. They sounded sour, full of possessiveness.
Although he didn’t think Liang Yuhang had any hidden intentions, he just wanted to tease him.
So he looked up at Liang Yuhang, who met his gaze. “What are you looking at me for?”
With so many people around, it wasn’t convenient to speak. Mu Feng just lowered his head to write.
After a moment, he handed the notebook over, his finger pointing at a line of small black characters, signaling for the other to read.
Liang Yuhang looked down and saw it clearly. Though he didn’t speak, he felt as if his heart had been scratched.
Professor Liang, you couldn’t possibly be jealous, could you?
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