Gradually Warming Up

"Dreamli... isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Ye Feng couldn't help but frown as he watched Shen Mengli sitting on his lap, happily eating from her bowl.

"How is it inappropriate? I’m just following what you said, Feng. You were the one who said it’s fine to eat anywhere."

Though her words sounded confident, the blush on her cheeks betrayed her shyness. Yet, despite her embarrassment, she stubbornly refused to get off his lap—her reasons unknown.

"I did say that, but at least let me have a bite too. After all, I’m the one who cooked. It wouldn’t make sense for the chef to starve, right?"

"Pfft—"

Hearing his humorous remark, Shen Mengli, who had been trying to maintain a serious expression, burst into laughter. She set her bowl down on the table before turning back to gaze intently at Ye Feng.

"Feng, you’re so silly. How could I ever let you starve~?"

Leaning closer, she rested her body against his chest, listening to the rapid thumping of his heartbeat. A faint, knowing smile curled at the corners of her lips.

Just as Mom from the orphanage said... Feng really does have a soft spot for girls like me.

I’m so happy...

"Meng... Mengli?"

The sweet fragrance of her hair wafted into his senses, and Ye Feng swallowed nervously. With her hairpin in place, Shen Mengli looked even more delicate and endearing—enough to make his heart race.

No... I need to get her to sit properly soon. If this goes on, I won’t be able to keep my composure.

"Mengli, if you’re done eating, why don’t you go rest on the sofa?"

"Okay~"

Shen Mengli didn’t want Ye Feng to go hungry either. More than anything, she wanted him to stay healthy.

"But Feng, could you carry me to the sofa? For some reason, I don’t have any strength left in me..."

She wasn’t lying. The moment she leaned against his chest, surrounded by his scent, her body had gone weak, relying entirely on him for support.

"R-Really? Then, can you hold onto my clothes, Mengli? I don’t want you to fall."

"Mm... Sorry for the trouble, Feng..."

"Alright, hold on tight."

Feeling her small hands gently clutch his shirt, Ye Feng effortlessly lifted her into his arms. As her feet left the ground, Shen Mengli stared up at him with wide, crimson eyes.

Feng... is always so patient. No matter how much I act up, he indulges me.

I’m so happy... really, so happy...

Ye Feng carefully set her down on the sofa.

"Feng."

"Hm?"

"Feng~"

"What is it?"

"Feng♡"

"......"

Watching her tilt her head and repeatedly call his name without saying anything else, Ye Feng couldn’t help but pinch her cheek in exasperation. The moment his fingers touched her soft, tender skin, he quickly pulled his hand back, afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

"Mengli, if you call my name, you should say what you want. Otherwise, how will I know if you need help?"

"Mm, got it. Feng, you should go eat now."

"Okay..."

Only after Shen Mengli finally settled down did Ye Feng return to his seat and resume his meal. But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her gaze never left him. Though he hadn’t minded her staring before, something about the way she looked at him now stirred an indescribable feeling in his chest.

It’s like... like a sense of happiness?

"Ah!"

Under her watchful eyes, Ye Feng finished his rice in just a few bites. As he set his chopsticks down and prepared to clean up, a sudden realization struck him. He immediately stood up from the table.

The dress he’d ordered online for Shen Mengli, along with the clothes Su Yuxin had bought earlier, were still sitting in the parcel collection area downstairs. Worried they might have been there too long, he hurried toward the door, calling over his shoulder.

"Mengli, I’m going to pick up a package—it’s the clothes I bought for you. I’ll be right back."

"Clothes? Got it. Be careful, Feng~"

"Don’t worry, it’s just down the hallway."

With that, he stepped out, leaving Shen Mengli alone on the sofa, lost in thought.

"Th-There’s so much?!"

Ye Feng’s lips twitched at the sight of nearly half the parcel area filled with packages addressed to him. How many clothes did Yuxin buy?! There’s no way I can wear all of this in a lifetime!

Resigned, he stacked all the relevant boxes together, hoisted them into his arms, and slowly made his way back home.

Click... Thud.

"Whew!"

Letting out a long breath, he set the mountain of packages down.

"Feng... what’s all this?"

Shen Mengli blinked in surprise at the sheer number of boxes, already piecing together the situation.

"Ah, these are all the things Yuxin bought when we went shopping earlier. I told her we didn’t need so much, but... well, this happened."

"Honestly... buying all this just puts us in a tough spot! It’s not like Teacher owes her anything, and now we owe her a favor—we’ll have to pay her back properly!"

Unconsciously, Shen Mengli had fully aligned her perspective with Ye Feng’s, even slipping into saying "we" without realizing it.

"Feng, we can’t just owe people favors like this. It’s like handing them leverage over us! If someone with bad intentions finds out, they could use it against you! Mom always said never to accept gifts recklessly, even from close friends!"

"Don’t worry, Mengli. I know my limits."

Touched by her concern, Ye Feng smiled and sat beside her.

"But if we go by your logic... since I’ve always been so nice to you, does that mean I’m planning something bad?"

"Ah! Th-That’s..."

Like a startled rabbit, Shen Mengli’s eyes darted about. She glanced at Ye Feng once before immediately lowering her gaze to her hands in her lap.

"If... if that’s what Feng wants... I... I can endure a little... for your sake..."

"Eh?"