Tell the Truth

Watching Xie Yuyan, fully equipped, disappear into the distance from the manor, Li Mucheng's eyes were filled with concern.

"Young Mistress, should we send someone to protect her?" Ah Fu asked quietly from the side.

"No need. Doing so might only make Xie Yuyan misunderstand. Since she insists on searching for clues alone, let her go. I trust her."

Only when Xie Yuyan's figure vanished completely did Li Mucheng finally loosen her tightly clenched hands. She turned and walked back into the manor.

......

Feeling the warmth beside him, Ye Feng gazed at Shen Mengli, who lay beside him, sharing his bed. His heart swelled with emotion. He hadn’t expected that even after everything he’d said, Shen Mengli would still refuse to leave his side.

"Mengli, since you’ve prepared yourself mentally... I’ll tell you now, alright?"

"Mm."

Shen Mengli tightly grasped Ye Feng’s hands, giving him an encouraging look.

"It’s alright, Xiao Feng. Just say it. I’ll stand by you through thick and thin, never leaving you."

"Mengli..."

Ye Feng gently stroked Shen Mengli’s silky hair. Though countless words swirled in his mind, they all condensed into one.

"Okay."

"Mengli, have you ever read any sci-fi books?"

"Sci-fi books? Xiao Feng, why are you suddenly asking that? Don’t tell me... you have the power to change the world!"

"No, no, of course not—nothing that outrageous."

Ye Feng chuckled, pinching Shen Mengli’s soft cheeks. The tender sensation was something he could never grow tired of, even after a whole day.

"My ability is... a bit unusual. It’s like there’s a system inside my mind."

After saying this, Ye Feng paused deliberately, as if gauging whether his words would trigger some punishment from the system.

"A... system? What does that mean?"

"Mengli, you might not be familiar with the term. Let me explain what this 'system' actually is."

After Ye Feng’s detailed explanation, Shen Mengli gradually grasped the concept—though the hand clutching his sleeve only tightened further.

"Xiao Feng, are you saying there’s something in your mind that forces you to complete tasks you don’t want to do?"

"That’s the gist of it. Meeting all of you, even kidnapping you... those were tasks it forced on me. If I don’t complete them..."

Shen Mengli’s heart clenched at his words. Trembling, she whispered, "What... what happens?"

"I’d probably... disappear."

Ye Feng phrased the consequence of defying the system as gently as possible, offering a helpless smile.

"H-how could that be?! W-why... why would that happen?!"

Hearing Ye Feng’s answer shattered Shen Mengli’s composure like an invisible hammer. Even though he’d warned her to brace herself, the thought of him leaving was enough to strip away all her rationality.

"No! Absolutely not! I won’t let you leave me, Xiao Feng! I won’t let you disappear!"

Without hesitation, Shen Mengli threw herself into Ye Feng’s arms, desperately clinging to him as if only his presence could soothe her frantic heart.

"I’m sorry, Mengli. I originally planned to keep this secret buried forever..."

"Wuu... no... Xiao Feng, don’t leave me..."

As Shen Mengli’s sobs filled the room, Ye Feng lowered his head, gently patting her back. The reality was unavoidable, and there was no escaping it.

"It’s alright, Mengli. Didn’t I promise? I’ll stay by your side."

"Why... why?"

"Mengli?"

"Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! Why didn’t you confess the truth from the start?!"

Shen Mengli lifted her head, her swollen eyes locking onto Ye Feng’s with an almost desperate intensity.

"Because I didn’t want you to bear pain that was never meant for you. Without the system... we might never have even met."

Ye Feng loosened his embrace, intending to tuck the disheveled blankets around her—only for Shen Mengli to seize his wrist in a death grip.

"Mengli?"

"D-don’t leave me..."

"Mengli, I’m not leaving. I’m just fixing the blankets—"

"No no no no no!"

Shen Mengli buried her face against Ye Feng’s neck, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

"Xiao Feng, don’t leave me... please... I’m sorry for how I acted. I just... I can’t lose you."

"Mengli, calm down first, okay?"

Faced with her despair, Ye Feng did his best to console her—yet no words seemed to reach her. Finally, he sighed softly, waiting for her emotions to settle.

"......"

"Wuu... sniff..."

As her sobs gradually quieted, Shen Mengli realized Ye Feng hadn’t spoken at all. Startled, she looked up—only to find him still tenderly wiping the tears from her face.

"Feeling better?"

"Wuu... Xiao Feng..."

"It’s alright, Mengli. In situations like this, the best we can do is face them head-on. Honestly, I’ve come to terms with it. Before, I might’ve done anything to complete the system’s tasks—no matter the cost. But these days with you... they’ve made me realize that chasing after missions isn’t worth sacrificing the life I truly want."

"But... but you said you’d disappear..."

"So what? I’ve already lived the life I wanted. Even if I abandoned everything for the tasks, wouldn’t I still leave this world in the end?"

Ye Feng took a deep breath, intertwining his fingers with Shen Mengli’s limp hand.

"So now, my only wish is to live the rest of my days well. Mengli... you’ll stay with me, won’t you?"

"Mm... as long as you don’t hate me..."

"How could I ever hate you? You’re the one who showed me the answer I was searching for. If anything, I should be thanking you."

"Xiao Feng... earlier, when you mentioned redemption... were you talking about kidnapping us?"

"Ah, that..."

Ye Feng didn’t hide it, nodding in confirmation.

"Yes. The system’s task was to kidnap all of you. But I’m not some heartless villain—of course I didn’t want to do it. Back then, though, I was just a desperate pawn under the system’s control. To survive, I carried out those missions. But deep down, I knew kidnapping was unforgivable. To make up for it, I wanted to compensate you all by getting closer to you. Yet somehow... things ended up like this instead."