Deceit and Trickery

"Are... are you okay?"

Ye Feng asked awkwardly, his voice full of concern as he looked at Xie Yuyan, who was covering her mouth with furrowed brows and tear stains at the corners of her eyes.

"Gulp... Sniff... I-I'm fine! I just didn’t expect you to be so... energetic today, Ye Feng..."

Xie Yuyan sniffled, trying to steady her emotions with deep breaths.

"Whew~ I’m... I’m really fine now!"

"Are you... really okay? Wait here, Yuyan, I’ll get you some water."

Ye Feng hastily stood up from his chair and rushed to the water dispenser, returning moments later with a cup.

"Thank you, Ye Feng~"

Xie Yuyan took the cup with both hands and downed the water in one go. Meanwhile, Ye Feng sat back down and gazed at her with a solemn expression.

"Yuyan, you really don’t have to go this far for me."

"What do you mean I don’t have to?!"

Xie Yuyan’s eyes cleared as she placed her hands on her hips and pouted.

"Helping you with your troubles is something I should do!"

"Who said this was a trouble?! You’re just making assumptions—"

"Wow~ After that appetizer, I suddenly feel hungry! Stop talking, Ye Feng, let’s eat already!"

Xie Yuyan cut him off and began digging into the dishes on the table. Ye Feng knew better than to press further—if she didn’t want to answer, nothing he said would get through. Still...

Never mind. Time to eat.

......

"Beep... beep..."

In a dimly lit bedroom, Li Mucheng lay on her bed, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. The gloom in her eyes made it clear—she was agonizing over how to apologize to Ye Feng.

"Sigh... Why... why can’t I control my emotions? I’ve always been calm in the past, so why do I lose my composure so easily around him? How can I ever make it up to him... What should I do?"

Just then, her phone buzzed on the pillow. Li Mucheng picked it up and saw the caller ID: Su Yuxin.

"Su Yuxin?"

She frowned, already guessing what this was about. Su Yuxin was probably calling to vent about Xie Yuyan and scheme together. But Li Mucheng knew her relationship with Ye Feng was already strained—if she got involved now, she’d lose him for good. Without hesitation, she ended the call.

"Li Mucheng..."

On the other end, Su Yuxin gritted her teeth, whispering the name. She couldn’t understand why Li Mucheng would hang up—hadn’t they agreed to work together? Had Xie Yuyan made her give up? No. Anyone else might quit, but not Li Mucheng!

After a moment’s thought, Su Yuxin gave up on calling again. She’d confront Li Mucheng in person. The mere thought of Xie Yuyan controlling Ye Feng made her skin crawl.

Ye Feng must be under her spell. If I can just free him from Xie Yuyan’s claws, we can go back to how things were before. As for Li Mucheng... she’s just a tool to bring me and Ye Feng closer.

......

"Xiao Feng..."

Shen Mengli murmured his name in the pavilion. It was late, well past bedtime, but sleep eluded her. Every night, an inexplicable dread seized her—she couldn’t bear to dream of Ye Feng hurt again. The sight of him bloodied felt like a knife twisting in her heart. Yet, strangely, as the nightmares repeated, her pain had begun morphing into something darker... something almost pleasurable, as if guided by an unseen force.

"No... I can’t! Hurting Xiao Feng is unthinkable!"

She clutched her head, shaking violently, as if trying to fling the twisted thoughts away.

"Rustle—"

A sound from the garden bushes snapped her to attention. Before she could react, a shadow emerged—followed by a flash of silver. A dagger pressed against her throat.

"Shh~ We wouldn’t want to wake everyone, would we?"

Pale blue eyes locked onto hers, freezing her in place.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hmm? I expected a more surprised reaction. Guess you knew I’d come?"

Xie Yuyan smirked, withdrawing the blade when Shen Mengli showed no fear.

"Ye Feng came alone today. I had a feeling."

Shen Mengli’s gaze trailed Xie Yuyan’s graceful figure, her brow furrowing.

"Smart girl. Then you’ll understand the deal I’m offering."

"Deal?"

"Exactly~"

Xie Yuyan’s mocking eyes lingered on Shen Mengli’s white-knuckled grip on her wheelchair. The girl was barely holding it together—terrified of something being exposed. Time to break her.

"Leave Ye Feng, and I’ll give you enough money to start a new life. Let’s be honest—with your condition, you’re just a burden to him."

"That’s not true!"

Shen Mengli fired back instantly, as if struck to the core.

"Xiao Feng would never think that!"

"Then what about you? Do you think you’re a burden?"

"I..."

Xie Yuyan’s words hit their mark. People like Shen Mengli—broken, dependent—were easy prey. One push, and their defenses crumbled. One less rival.

"You can’t do anything for him. Instead, he has to accommodate you. Isn’t that dragging him down? If you really care about him, cut ties. Stop making his life harder."

"I... I am a burden to Xiao Feng..."