Shen Mengli's Fear

"Please... Xiao Feng, I'm begging you, don't do this!"

Shen Mengli resisted fiercely, her expression clearly showing disapproval of Ye Feng's actions.

"Mengli, I'm afraid you don’t have a choice this time. Even if you end up hating me for it, I have to do this—for your own safety."

Ye Feng's voice was resolute, as if nothing Shen Mengli could say would sway his determination.

"Xiao Feng!"

Shen Mengli pushed against Ye Feng's shoulders, trying to free herself, but her strength was no match for his. Within moments, he had lifted her from the bed once again.

"Mengli, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Xie Yuyan about this. You don’t need to carry this burden alone. Let’s just settle this today—"

"Ye Feng!"

Just as Ye Feng was about to carry her out the door, Shen Mengli stiffened and shouted his full name—something she hadn’t done in a long time.

"......"

Her cry made Ye Feng pause. He knew his approach was too forceful, but he couldn’t stand by and watch Shen Mengli suffer alone in the welfare institution. He had promised to take care of her.

"Xiao Feng, put me down, okay? Let’s just leave things as they are today."

Shen Mengli spoke softly, her final plea an attempt to make him abandon his plan.

"I’m sorry, Mengli. I can’t do that. Whatever difficulties we’re facing, we’ll work through them together at home, alright?"

"Xiao Feng, you know how I am. I don’t want this to ruin what we have."

Shen Mengli turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. She couldn’t bear to see the stern look on his face, but she would never agree to his proposal.

Faced with her unwavering resistance, Ye Feng finally played his last card.

"Mengli, legally speaking, I’m your guard—"

"Not anymore."

Before he could finish citing the regulations, Shen Mengli cut him off. Her words struck him like a knife to the chest.

"If I recall correctly, the agreement states that I have the right to terminate your guardianship, doesn’t it?"

Ye Feng fell silent. He hadn’t expected Shen Mengli to invoke their legal agreement just to avoid going back with him.

"Mengli, please don’t do this. Why would you say that?"

"I’m sorry, Xiao Feng. I didn’t want to..."

"You really don’t want to come home?"

"It’s not that I don’t want to!"

Shen Mengli shut her eyes tightly, but her voice trailed off as her body suddenly began to tremble.

Ye Feng, still holding her, noticed immediately. "Mengli, just tell me the truth. Why won’t you come back?"

"I’ve already told you everything, Xiao Feng. There’s nothing more to say."

"......"

Wordlessly, Ye Feng turned and placed her back on the bed. Their conversation had revealed that Shen Mengli did want to live with him—but Xie Yuyan’s presence made her refuse. The real reason? Shen Mengli had feelings for him...

"Xiao Feng, I know you’ve always had my best interests at heart. I don’t want this to ruin what we have."

"Mengli, please. You’ve always listened to me before."

"Because Xie Yuyan wasn’t around then. Just being with you, even in this broken state, was enough to make me happy."

Her voice wavered, laced with tears, her fragile demeanor heartbreaking.

"So please, Xiao Feng, just go. Let me stay here alone, okay?"

"Don’t be ridiculous! Mengli, have you forgotten our promise? I swore I’d take care of you."

The back-and-forth was wearing on Ye Feng’s patience. She had agreed before, when he was healing, that she’d return with him. Now, she was changing her mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that her confession of love was just an excuse—something deeper was holding her back. What was it?

"Mengli! Trust me, alright? No matter what happens, I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you."

He took a deep breath and sat beside her, softening his tone as much as possible.

Shen Mengli met his gaze with tear-filled eyes, then shuddered and looked away, murmuring, "It’s no use, Xiao Feng... I... can’t go back..."

"Can’t go back?!"

Ye Feng seized on her words. This was new—before, she had never framed it that way. Under pressure, she’d let slip the truth: something was preventing her from returning.

"Mengli!"

He dropped to his knees, clasping her cold hands in his, his eyes brimming with tenderness and concern.

"Tell me, please. Why can’t you go back? Is something—or someone—stopping you? Let me handle it. Just tell me the truth."

This time, his voice held no force, only a gentle plea to ease the burden weighing on her.

"Xiao Feng..."

Shen Mengli’s heart ached at his kindness. Slowly, she pulled one hand free and reached toward his face.

"That’s it. Don’t be afraid. Just tell me everything—the whole truth."

"The truth..."

Her hand froze mid-air. Her eyes widened in terror as she stared past him.

"Mengli? What’s wrong?"

"It’s... her..."

Her pupils contracted in fear. Ye Feng followed her gaze and turned—only to see a familiar figure standing silently in the doorway.

"Yu... Yuyan?! What are you doing here?"

Xie Yuyan, who had been standing there expressionless, suddenly brightened when she noticed Ye Feng’s attention.

"Oh... thank goodness. So this is where you were, Ye Feng."