"You're really something, Xiao Feng..."
Listening to Ye Feng's caring words, Shen Mengli initially wanted to cover her face to hide her shyness, but seeing how seriously he was savoring the porridge, she ultimately let her flushed cheeks remain visible to him.
"Mmph! Xiao Feng, you're impossible! Just stay here and focus on recovering, alright? If you keep thinking about things unrelated to your well-being, I’ll have to feed you myself~"
Ye Feng was momentarily stunned by Shen Mengli's remark. Though he intended to quickly change the subject, the sight of her bashful expression stirred a different thought in his heart.
"Mengli, I know you're concerned about my health, but you should take care of yourself too."
"Don’t worry, Xiao Feng. Even if my physique isn’t as strong as yours, right now, you’re the one who needs to recover. Only when you’re better can we truly enjoy life, right?"
"......"
Hearing this, Ye Feng fell silent, simply nodding before obediently opening his mouth.
"That’s more like it. Xiao Feng, you shouldn’t feel like there’s any debt between us. All I want is for us to live a carefree life."
After feeding him the last spoonful of porridge, Shen Mengli used her sleeve to gently wipe away the traces at the corner of his mouth.
"Mengli? Aren’t you worried about dirtying your clothes?"
"Why would it be dirty? It’s just wiping your mouth, silly."
With that, Shen Mengli stood up from the bedside, holding the empty bowl, and smiled at him.
"Xiao Feng, I’m afraid today’s meal had to be light since you just woke up and shouldn’t eat too much yet. But in a few days, I’ll cook you a proper feast!"
"Mengli, I had no idea you could cook! Did you learn from the headmistress?"
"Ah, as expected, nothing escapes you, Xiao Feng."
She set the bowl aside and adjusted the blanket over him.
"Back at the orphanage, I often helped my foster mom in the kitchen. Sometimes, I’d secretly pick up a few cooking tricks. Never thought they’d come in handy today."
"You’ve always been diligent in everything, Mengli. The porridge was delicious."
"I’m glad you liked it! I’ll learn any dish you want—just name it, and I’ll make it for you!"
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Ye Feng couldn’t bring himself to dampen her spirits. He nodded warmly. "Alright, I’ll leave it to you then."
"Mhm!"
Overjoyed, Shen Mengli threw herself into his arms, burying her face against his neck while he was still sitting up after the meal, inhaling his scent greedily.
"Don’t worry, Xiao Feng. Your body... and your heart—leave everything to me!"
"Who taught you to pause like that..."
Though he teased her, this time, Ye Feng didn’t push her away. He noticed that despite her cheerful demeanor, her body trembled slightly as she clung to him. From her reaction, he understood she hadn’t fully recovered from the trauma of his near-death experience.
Suddenly, a warm arm wrapped gently around her, pulling her closer against his chest. The fading blush on Shen Mengli’s cheeks reignited instantly.
"Mm... X-Xiao Feng... what are you doing?"
"Nothing. I just felt like holding you."
He patted her back soothingly. True to his words, Shen Mengli’s voice trailed off, followed by a quiet stillness.
Ye Feng wanted to check on her, but the soft hands gripping him tightly and the slight shift in her posture held his attention.
"Sniff... sob..."
Her shoulders began to quiver. Realizing she was crying, Ye Feng’s heart ached, and he hurried to comfort her.
"Hey, Mengli, you were fine earlier. Why the tears now? I’m right here—no need to fear me leaving or anything like that."
"B-But... Xiao Feng, I’m scared. Terrified. I just want to protect you, to keep you safe from harm. If something like that day by the river ever happens again... I’d lose my mind!"
Her restrained sobs, far from dramatic, only deepened Ye Feng’s guilt. From the start, he’d sensed her unwavering care for him—every thought, every action centered around his well-being. Truthfully, he was deeply moved. With her, he could finally let go, embracing the peaceful life he’d always yearned for.
"Don’t worry, Mengli. I’ve gained some perspective too. Maybe... this is how things were meant to be."
"Mm..."
She stifled her tears, replaying his words in her mind. Though his tone was light, something felt off—an unspoken hesitation she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
"I’m glad you think so, Xiao Feng. But remember my promise: if you ever face trouble, tell me, okay? Just like you saved me, I’ll be there for you. This isn’t about repaying a debt. I just... want to walk hand in hand with you into the future."
Ye Feng understood the weight of her confession. Now, free from past burdens, he no longer cared about missions or systems. Having brushed against death, he saw through life’s illusions.
He wouldn’t chase after some collector’s prize at the cost of hurting others—or himself. From now on, he’d live for himself, unshackled.
"Alright. But before that, Mengli, can I ask you a favor?"
"What is it? You don’t need to seek my permission for anything, Xiao Feng."
"Fine, fine. I just wanted to ask if my clothes have dried yet. Staying like this is getting a bit... uncomfortable."
A strange glint flickered in Shen Mengli’s eyes, swiftly concealed.
ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
mance] After transmigrating for eighteen years, Lin Qi lived as an utterly ordinary herbalist in the countryside. One day, he kindly brought home a sickly, beautiful girl covered in blood. They married in a flash and began their blissful, intimate life together. Right then, his long-delayed system finally activated. [Warning! Host detected in contact with the "Crimson Calamity," the world-ending witch!] Lin Qi looked at the adorable wife currently curled in his arms, who couldn't even open a jar lid and trembled at the sight of a mouse. Lin Qi: "System, are you insane? This is clearly just a weak and delicate sickly girl!" Thus, Lin Qi treated the system as a "Contrast System," where taking care of his wife made him stronger. Combing his wife's hair rewarded him with [Free Attribute Points]. Taking his wife out for sunshine rewarded him with [Forbidden Spell: Arcane Explosion]. Lin Qi: "This soft life tastes so good!" ... Yet, in the eyes of outsiders: The strongest Beastkin Assassin: "That man dissected a Beast King with a common skinning knife! That was a show of force towards the powerful!" The Holy Son of the Radiant Church: "I infiltrated his home as a tutor, but he had me babysit the children... He must have seen through my disguise!" The World-Ending Witch, Felucia: "I hid all the way in the countryside. How is it that the husband I married on a whim is stronger than I was at my peak?"
