The Sense of Security Shen Mengli Desires

"You must be thirsty, Xiaofeng? I'll go get you something to eat right now."

"......"

At this moment, Shen Mengli was so flustered that she could barely string her words together. Seeing this, Ye Feng reached out and gently held her back, preventing her from fleeing the scene.

"It's alright, Mengli. Embarrassing moments happen to everyone. You'll get used to it after a few more."

"I don’t want to embarrass myself like that in front of you, Xiaofeng!!"

Realizing escape was futile, Shen Mengli slumped back into her wheelchair, closing her eyes and muttering to herself in resignation.

"It's over... Everything is over now, my life, my future... all of it..."

"Is it really that bad?"

Ye Feng tapped her forehead lightly, amused yet surprised by how dramatic her inner monologue could be.

"Alright, Mengli, enough joking around. We need to have a serious talk about what you just said."

"Mmm..."

Shen Mengli opened her beautiful eyes, her expression conflicted as she lowered her head, resigned to the inevitable.

"Can... can I not talk about it?"

"What do you think?"

Ye Feng stood up from the pavilion bench, carefully steadying the wheelchair behind her as he asked,

"Mengli, do you want to chat while I push you, or would you prefer to walk and talk?"

"W-Walking..."

"Got it."

With Ye Feng’s support, Shen Mengli slowly rose from the wheelchair. Thanks to her persistent rehabilitation, she stood up much faster than before.

"Do you need me to hold you?"

"Yes. I can take a step or two on my own, but without support, I’ll fall."

Her tone was matter-of-fact, betraying no embarrassment—she knew her body’s limits all too well.

"Alright, then hold onto my arm. Tell me if you get tired, okay?"

"I will."

Shen Mengli glanced at the unease in Ye Feng’s eyes and sensed something must have happened to unsettle him.

"Ask me anything, Xiaofeng. I’ll tell you what I can."

"Okay..."

And so, the two began a slow stroll through the welfare center’s garden.

"Mengli, first, explain why you still think you’re a burden to me. I’ve told you countless times you’re not, yet you keep believing it."

"Well..."

She bit her lip, her furrowed brows betraying her hesitation.

"Don’t worry, Mengli. I know you might have reservations, but trust me, alright? If you don’t speak up, nothing will change. It takes courage to break free."

"Because... because all of this..."

Mid-sentence, Shen Mengli suddenly shuddered, burying her face in Ye Feng’s chest like a frightened ostrich.

"Mengli?!"

Before he could comfort her, he felt her trembling violently in his arms. He tried stroking her hair gently to soothe her, but she only shook her head, murmuring incoherently.

"I don’t... I don’t want to die... I don’t want to disappear from your life... No!"

"Mengli! Snap out of it!"

Ye Feng gripped her shoulders, shaking her lightly. If she didn’t calm down soon, she’d spiral into full-blown panic.

"X-Xiaofeng... please... h-hold me..."

Without hesitation, Ye Feng wrapped his arms tightly around her. Only when his hands settled around her slender waist did her trembling gradually subside.

Despite her long stay at the welfare center, Shen Mengli still carried a faint, delicate fragrance. The scent relaxed Ye Feng, and he let his mind go blank, simply holding her in silence.

"Mmm..."

Nestled against him, Shen Mengli breathed in his familiar scent, her expression softening into tranquility—even with a hint of longing.

"Xiaofeng."

Her voice snapped him back to reality, and he quickly loosened his embrace.

"Mengli? Feeling better?"

"Yes, thanks to you."

Instead of pulling away, she leaned into his chest, smiling faintly.

"Sorry, Xiaofeng. You had to see me like that again."

"Never mind that. Tell me—what were you so afraid of? Did someone threaten you?"

"It’s..."

She gnawed her lip, hesitating, then glanced warily toward the welfare center’s outer wall before rising on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.

"Actually... I’m scared of Sister Yuyan."

"Wha—"

Ye Feng nearly blurted out his shock but caught himself. Her cautious demeanor suggested she was wary of being overheard. Could "Yu Yan" really be Xie Yuyan? But they’d only just met—how could...

He cut off his own thoughts and abruptly scooped Shen Mengli into his arms. The sudden motion startled her, and she instinctively clutched his shirt.

"Wh-what’s wrong, Xiaofeng? Why are you carrying me—"

"Not here. Let’s go to your room first, okay?"

He kept his voice low, urgency lacing his words. This was critical—his life and future depended on it.

"O-okay."

Shen Mengli nodded obediently, pressing her face against his chest again as if hiding from an unseen threat.

In no time, Ye Feng carried her back to her room. After carefully settling her onto the bed, he turned to fetch a chair—only for her to seize him from behind in a tight embrace.

"Mengli?"

"J-just stay like this, okay? I only feel safe when you’re close."

"Is that so..."

Ye Feng couldn’t fathom what had traumatized her so deeply, but his suspicion toward Xie Yuyan grew.

Could it really be as Mengli said? Has Xie Yuyan been scheming behind my back?