Shen Mengli with Dilated Pupils

In just a few breaths, the wounds on Ye Feng's body had completely healed. Just as Shen Mengli snapped back to reality, overjoyed by this, she noticed that his hand remained stiff and icy cold.

"How could this be? Ye Feng's wounds have closed, so why hasn't he woken up?"

Her heart, which had just settled, clenched again. She leaned down, listening intently for any sign of a heartbeat or breath, but the result was the same as before—like a hammer shattering the beautiful world she had built in her mind.

"No... Ye Feng can't be gone! He’s pulled through so many dangers before. He’ll be fine. Now that I’m here with him, I won’t let anything hurt him again."

Shen Mengli shook her head desperately, refusing to accept the reality of Ye Feng's "death." Yet the evidence before her was undeniable.

"You promised we’d go see the ocean together again someday. You promised you’d wait until I could walk on my own before making any decisions. You promised... you’d stay with me for a lifetime."

Staring at Ye Feng’s pale, lifeless face, Shen Mengli could no longer hold back her grief. She collapsed onto his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. She had thought her plan was flawless, yet she hadn’t even spared him a glance when he left. He must have been so disappointed in her in his final moments.

As night fell, the biting mountain wind sliced across Shen Mengli’s delicate face like a blade, but she remained motionless, still clinging to Ye Feng’s body. After what felt like an eternity, she finally opened her bloodshot eyes, gently caressing his cheek as she whispered to him.

"It’s... it’s okay, Ye Feng. This time, I won’t leave you. I’ll stay by your side forever. Let me take you home, alright? Back to the new home I prepared for you~"

With that, she stood up, pulling one of Ye Feng’s arms over her shoulder. But her strength was no match for his weight, and she could only drag his body forward with great effort, slowly making her way into the forest.

After an exhausting struggle, Shen Mengli finally brought Ye Feng to her small wooden cabin. Summoning the last of her willpower, she managed to push him onto the bed. Covered in mud herself, she collapsed onto the floor, her silver hair drenched in sweat and clinging to her flawless skin.

"Ye Feng... we’re home."

Resting the back of her head against the bed, she closed her eyes slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. The tears glistening in her eyes betrayed the overwhelming happiness she felt.

"I wonder if you looked for me after I disappeared. But it seems you’ve suffered so much... Maybe if I’d been there, none of this would’ve happened..."

"I’m sorry, Ye Feng... I’m so sorry... My selfishness led to this..."

She buried her face in her hands, but the tears still streamed down her cheeks. In her mind, Ye Feng’s condition was undeniably her fault. She had chosen to step back when he needed her most, and that selfish decision had brought about this tragedy. She cried until she passed out, only waking the next morning.

The first thing Shen Mengli did upon rising was to look at Ye Feng with hopeful eyes, praying for a miracle. But when she saw him lying just as motionless as before, her last thread of hope snapped.

"It’s... it’s okay... it’s okay, Ye Feng..."

Trembling, she reached out to wipe the dirt from his cold face, murmuring words of comfort to herself.

"No matter what, I’ll stay with you, just like you stayed with me before."

After spending some time with Ye Feng’s "body," the light in Shen Mengli’s once-lively eyes faded, leaving her like an empty shell.

"Oh no! I didn’t realize how dirty you’ve gotten! Wait here, okay? I’ll fetch some water. From now on, I’ll take care of you properly~"

She pushed herself up from the bed and staggered toward the shed outside.

After a simple wash with a damp cloth, Ye Feng’s grimy body was finally clean. Meanwhile, Shen Mengli remained disheveled. As she wrung out the cloth and draped it over the basin, her lips curled into a stiff smile.

"There, all done. You look so much better now, Ye Feng. Just wait a little longer, alright? I’ll go freshen up too, and then I can curl up in your arms~"

She left briefly and returned in a change of clothes—the same dress she had worn when they went to the ocean together. Her silver hair was adorned with the crystal hairpin Ye Feng had given her, making her look like a radiant butterfly fluttering through the mountain forest.

"I’m back, Ye Feng~"

Eagerly, she sat beside him, wrapping her slender arms around his head and pulling him into her embrace.

"Hehe, being with you really is the best. You know, when I first came to this cabin, I was so scared. I kept thinking, what if I never saw you again? But you appeared in the end. Do you know how happy I was when I saw you? It felt just like the excitement we shared when we went to the ocean. And now my legs are fully healed—we can go anywhere in the world together, hand in hand!"

Her eyes brimming with longing, Shen Mengli rambled on about all the beautiful moments they had shared. But as she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks. When she noticed them dripping onto Ye Feng’s face, she hurriedly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I’m sorry, Ye Feng... I’m so sorry..."

By the time she regained her composure, the cabin was bathed in the crimson glow of sunset. Yet Ye Feng in her arms remained "asleep."

"It’s already so late..."

Feeling the last warmth of the fading sun, she released Ye Feng and stepped outside. It was time to retrieve his freshly washed clothes.

As she reached out to gather Ye Feng’s shirt, a chill ran through her palm. But she was used to it by now—after all, the mountain winds had left everything damp. A little time by the fire would dry it, just as it had these past few days.

"Hmm... I should take Ye Feng’s jacket too. Even if it’s torn beyond repair, it’s one of the few things I have left of him."

As Shen Mengli reached out and grabbed Ye Feng's coat, a sudden realization struck her.

Wait! Why is my hand so warm?! Haven't I been holding the cold Ye Feng all this time? Could it be...?!

With that thought, she hastily threw the freshly washed clothes to the ground and turned, dashing back toward the wooden cabin.