Unstable Again

"No... don't... don't leave me alone..."

Li Mucheng, unable to see Ye Feng's figure, seemed almost possessed as she threw off the covers, showing signs of getting out of bed to search for him.

"Lie back down."

The moment Li Mucheng sat up, Ye Feng's voice came from behind her. Hearing that voice—the one that haunted her dreams every night—her delicate frame trembled slightly. She immediately turned to look at him, confirming she wasn’t dreaming before lowering her head again.

"Ye... Ye Feng, I'm sorry..."

"You really don’t care about your own health at all, do you? Why let yourself end up like this? Your body is your own, and in the end, you’re the one who gets hurt."

"I... I know I was wrong..."

From the very beginning, Li Mucheng’s responses to Ye Feng were nothing but apologies, no matter what he said.

Realizing he couldn’t communicate properly with her, Ye Feng sighed helplessly. "I’ve already informed Ah Fu. He’ll be back soon. When he arrives, go back with him. Don’t let something like today happen again."

"No!"

Something in Ye Feng’s tone gave Li Mucheng the unsettling feeling that if they parted now, she might never see him again. Her emotions suddenly spiraled out of control.

"No! Don’t abandon me! Please, Ye Feng... I’m sorry. My selfishness caused you irreparable harm. I’m truly... truly sorry..."

As she spoke, her entire body began to convulse unnaturally. The grief in her heart had reached its limit. Seeing this, Ye Feng had no idea what was happening to her. Just as he was about to call for a doctor, Li Mucheng suddenly burst into manic laughter.

"Mine... mine... Teacher, you belong only to me. No matter what... no matter what happens! You can’t leave me! Stay with me forever... forever!"

"Li Mucheng?"

As Ye Feng moved to restrain her, Li Mucheng’s body trembled again. She clutched her head with both hands, shaking it violently, then gritted her teeth and spoke to him.

"Ye... Ye Feng... run! She... she’s coming again... I don’t... don’t want to hurt you anymore. Please, just go! Leave me here alone."

"Guh... No, no escaping! Teacher, you can’t run! As long as you’re in this world, I’ll chase you... chase you forever! Until we return to that place full of memories."

Had Li Mucheng’s mind truly snapped?

Ye Feng stared in disbelief as she pushed him away with one hand while clutching his sleeve with the other, pulling him back. It was a scene he’d never witnessed before.

"Go! Ye—"

Just as Li Mucheng mustered all her strength to shove him, her arms suddenly went limp. Within seconds, her tone shifted entirely.

"Hah... hahaha... Teacher, I’ve finally caught you~"

"!!!"

A grotesque smile twisted Li Mucheng’s face. Her once-soft eyes turned dull, as if shrouded by thick, dark clouds, seeing nothing.

"Li Mucheng, you—"

Before Ye Feng could even urge her to calm down, she grabbed the IV stand beside the bed and hurled it at him.

This time, Ye Feng wasn’t weakened by drugs like before. He dodged effortlessly, then swiftly sidestepped and seized her wrist, trying to pin her down.

Li Mucheng knew she couldn’t overpower him with strength alone. She opened her mouth and sank her teeth into his arm.

"Tch!"

Ye Feng hissed in pain but kept pressing her wrist down, using his other hand to grab the bedsheet and wrap it around her, pushing her back onto the bed.

"Ghk!"

A sharp sting shot through his arm. When he looked down, he saw teeth marks, blood already welling up.

Just as he prepared to force her into submission, the metallic taste of blood in Li Mucheng’s mouth seemed to clear her vision. Her pupils shrank as she took in the scene before her, and her body went slack.

Slowly, she released his arm, staring at Ye Feng in horror.

"Ye... Ye Feng... what... what have I done...?"

"Isn’t it obvious?" he replied flatly.

"I... I hurt you again... I swore I’d apologize properly... Why did it end like this...?"

Li Mucheng collapsed weakly onto the bed, her gaze unfocused, her expression utterly desolate, as if she’d shut herself off from the world.

Ye Feng glanced at the bite mark on his arm, then back at the motionless girl, his thoughts tangled.

What exactly was wrong with Li Mucheng...?

"Tch."

He exhaled heavily, wiping the blood from his arm before stepping closer to her. His voice softened with concern.

"Li Mucheng, how are you? Feeling better now?"

"Me... are you... asking me?"

Hearing his voice, Li Mucheng had assumed he’d leave her side for good. Yet here he was, speaking to her with such care.

This must be a dream. It has to be. I’ve already lost him—the teacher who patiently guided me all this time.

"Li Mucheng?"

Only when Ye Feng called her name again did the haze in her eyes begin to clear.

"Ye Feng... you... you didn’t leave?"

"Leave? Where would I go?"

"No, that’s not... I mean... you’re not abandoning me?"

"Abandon you? Why would I? Right now, your mental state is unstable. You need further evaluation. Until Ah Fu arrives, I’ll stay. Try to keep your emotions in check, okay? If you feel unwell, tell me immediately."

"......"

Tears welled in Li Mucheng’s eyes as she listened, spilling over in an unstoppable flood.