Manipulative Harem God

After a few moments, he spotted her silhouette in the distance, standing in a more secluded area, leaning against the car.

The moonlight cast a soft glow around her, accentuating the determined expression on her face.

Her posture exuded a sense of patience, but within the patience danced a subtle frustration, visible in her furrowed brows and the slight clenching of her jaw.

The moonlight highlighted the angry pout on her face, adding to the mysterious reason behind her anger.

Zhang Wei approached her, the crunch of leaves under his footsteps echoing in the stillness.

As Zhang Wei approached, Yu Lei emerged from the shadows and stepped into the moonlit area, her eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and relief. "Zhang Wei," she greeted, her voice laced with panic, and her breath visibly misting in the cold night air.

Zhang Wei couldn't help but be taken aback by her unexpected, anxious state. "What's going on?" he asked skeptically, his concern growing as she practically threw herself at him.

"T-There are ghosts here!" Yu Lei exclaimed, her finger trembling as she pointed towards her car, her anxiety palpable.

"Ghosts...?" Zhang Wei repeated, his confusion growing. He scrutinized Yu Lei, trying to discern if she was joking or truly afraid, before asking, "What kind of ghosts exactly?"

He glanced around, scanning the surroundings. All he could see were a streetlight casting eerie shadows, a tree swaying in the chilly breeze, and her car parked nearby. There was no sign of any supernatural presence.

"Where are these ghosts then?" he inquired, genuinely perplexed.

In a nervous rush, Yu Lei replied, "Ghosts that steal food!"

"Huh?" Zhang Wei's bewilderment escalated at her unexpected revelation, unsure whether to take her seriously or dismiss it as a bizarre misunderstanding.

____

Minutes before the eerie sighting of the supposed ghosts, a solitary woman sat cocooned in her car during the dead of night, the pale glow of her phone illuminating her face in sporadic bursts.

*Grumble...*

The sudden rumble of her stomach caught her off guard, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features.

Thankfully, if there was anything else Yu Lei cared about second to Zhang Wei, it was food.

With her recent condition, food had ascended to a significant spot on her priority list, her concern heightened to ensure the health of the growing life inside her.

She carefully unwrapped the package, revealing a sandwich within, and began to munch on it. Simultaneously, she rolled down the window, craving the crisp night air to accompany her midnight snack.

Meanwhile, Feng Ruoyan lingered in the shadows nearby, employing her stealth technique with practiced finesse. It had become a habit for her to stay in close proximity to either Feng Xinyue or Zhang Wei.

Currently, Zhang Wei was entangled in something she found distasteful, prompting her to hastily abandon the scene, a deep sigh of frustration escaping her lips.

Annoyance etched her features as she walked along the deserted road.

She had lost count of the number of times she had attempted to spy on him, only to be repelled by his crass and indecent behavior. It seemed Zhang Wei's character never failed to disappoint, leaving her both vexed and exasperated.

Yet, she found herself trapped in this cycle, unable to fully break away from her peculiar duty.

"What's wrong with him!? Didn't he nearly die and still dares to indulge in debauchery? And that sinister technique he used!" Feng Ruoyan fumed, her frustration boiling over like a simmering cauldron.

She had never witnessed someone absorb an entire spiritual weapon and the lifeblood of others to borrow strength.

The very idea of him massacring cultivators to refine their lifeblood for strength sent shivers down her spine, like a chilling gust of wind.

The mere thought fueled her anger, making her seethe with a deep, simmering rage. She had always viewed him as unworthy and mortal, despising his proximity to Feng Xinyue.

Now, as everything spiraled out of control, her frustration knew no bounds, and she found herself cursing the circumstances.

"Argh!"

As she drew nearer to a lone car parked nearby, her expression shifted. "Smells delicious..." she muttered, her gaze shifting to her stomach with a low growl. A complex array of emotions played across her face.

Instinctively, she licked her lips, the scent of the food tempting her senses with an irresistible "Mmm." She walked past the car with a breeze, her movements graceful and precise.

She extended her hand with a deft swoop, swiftly and subtly extracting the package containing the delectable food with a soft "Swoosh."

The temptation was too strong to resist.

!?

As Yu Lei sat inside the car, enjoying her midnight snack, she felt an unexpected breeze brush past her face. In the same moment, she extended her hand to grab another sandwich, but to her astonishment, the package flew out of her grasp, unfolding before her very eyes.

"What!?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.

Instantly, she flung the car door open, ready to chase after her food. But what happened next left her rooted to the spot in sheer amazement.

"I-its flying??" Yu Lei stammered in disbelief.

The surreal spectacle continued to unfold before her. The package wasn't just floating; it was open, and her sandwiches were disappearing before her eyes, as if an invisible entity was stealing and devouring her meal. The food seemed to vanish, with a subtle *Poof*.

Staring in bewilderment at the floating and disappearing snacks, Yu Lei was at a loss for words, torn between fascination and frustration.

Grrr...

Another grumble from her stomach, however, brought her back to reality. It reminded her of her own hunger, causing her to purse her lips in frustration.

She couldn't deny the strange unease of a ghostly presence lingering nearby, leaving her puzzled and intrigued by the curious events of the night.

________

"So... A ghost ran off with your sandwich?" Zhang Wei repeated, his eyes wide in playful surprise as he listened intently to Yu Lei's account of the peculiar events.

"Hm! Hm!" Yu Lei nodded vigorously, her eyes beseeching him to take her plight seriously.

Zhang Wei couldn't help but burst into laughter, finding the situation both amusing and perplexing.

"A ghost, really?" he chuckled, feigning disbelief.

Yu Lei folded her arms, giving him a mock stern look. "Yes, there really is a ghost," she insisted, a hint of frustration in her tone.

Zhang Wei continued to chuckle, ruffling her hair playfully. "Alright, let's say there's a ghost. But why on earth would it steal food?"

Yu Lei huffed, realizing her ghost tale might not be as convincing as she thought.

Just then, Zhang Wei noticed Yu Lei shivering in her thin clothing. "Aren't you feeling cold?" he asked, concern in his eyes.

"Uh-huh!" She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself, feeling the chill.

*Snap*

Intrigued, Zhang Wei watched as Yu Lei excitedly snapped her fingers, creating a small flame that danced and crackled, casting a warm glow in the dark.

"See!" she exclaimed, a proud smile on her face.

Zhang Wei raised an impressed eyebrow, acknowledging her unique ability. "Advantages of having a Phoenix bloodline," he murmured, appreciating her resilience.

He then gently took her hands in his, offering comfort and warmth. "Let's go and get you some food," he suggested, leading the way. Yu Lei followed, a smal yet faint smile replacing her earlier frustration as they ventured off in search of a late-night meal.

"By the way, how did you find the address to this place?" Zhang Wei inquired, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity, as they strolled through the mansion row, heading toward the nearest 24x7 noodle restaurant.

With their hands intertwined, Yu Lei reached for her phone, and her nimble fingers deftly pulled up her recent chats with Wu Xue.

She held the screen up for Zhang Wei to see.

As he skimmed through the conversation, realization slowly settled in.

He recalled not providing her with the address and had left her messages and calls unanswered whole night due to the ongoing events.

Concerned, Yu Lei had taken the initiative to embark on a little detective work, eventually discovering the location through Wu Xue's detailed explanation.

"??" Zhang Wei looked at her with raised eyebrows, his expression a complex interplay of surprise and intrigue.

He was both impressed and slightly taken aback by her resourcefulness and her ability to piece things together.

Without the concrete evidence of her chats and call logs, he might never have guessed that those inncocent eyes were already aware of everything that happened today.

The incident served as a reminder that people, especially someone as clever and resilient as Yu Lei, could hold more depth than met the eye.

Women, he mused, can be remarkably resourceful when driven to seek the truth, proving that appearances often masked hidden abilities and determination.

Zhang Wei found himself both slightly surprised and impressed by Yu Lei's actions.

Despite knowing about the chaotic situation at Wu Xue's home, including the fight with monks and her newfound homelessness, she hadn't inquired about any of it.