Clues by the Riverside

"Then... how does Xiao Feng view this?"

"How do I view it? Mengli, what do you mean by..."

"Setting aside the tasks assigned by the system, how do you truly see us, Xiao Feng?"

Though Shen Mengli's tone was calm, her unblinking eyes betrayed her intense focus on Ye Feng's next words.

"Setting aside the tasks..."

Ye Feng closed his eyes in contemplation, memories of the joyful moments he'd shared with these girls gradually surfacing in his mind.

"You're all wonderful girls. It's just a shame you met someone like me—a sinner."

"Xiao Feng is no sinner! You're my savior!"

Shen Mengli couldn't bear Ye Feng's self-deprecation and immediately countered.

"Even if our meeting was because of a task, without you, I might have already left this world long ago! So please don’t belittle yourself, okay? You’re a truly good person. After hearing your explanation about the system, I’ve formed my own perspective."

"A perspective?"

"Mhm! To me, the system’s tasks were just a way for you to reach out to us. But haven’t you realized? Without even trying, you’ve changed our lives for the better."

"How could that be... I haven’t done anything substantial..."

"Honestly, even now you refuse to admit it. Fine, I’ll have to spell it out for you to believe me."

Shen Mengli then clung tightly to Ye Feng, as if afraid he might vanish.

"First, your presence reignited my will to live. Through our time together, I came to understand how kind you are. You gave me hope and pulled me out of the abyss. But remember, you only needed to follow the system’s tasks—you didn’t have to go so far for me, did you?"

"......"

This time, Ye Feng didn’t respond. It seemed even he was reflecting on his past actions in light of Shen Mengli’s words.

"So, you don’t need to carry such a heavy burden about the system. It’s just a tool that brought us together."

"A tool that brought us together..."

"Yes. In fact, I’m grateful for the system inside you. Without it, how could I have met someone as gentle and loving as you?"

Feeling Shen Mengli’s warmth, the shadows in Ye Feng’s heart began to fade, and the exhaustion on his face eased slightly.

"Alright, Xiao Feng, can you tell me more about this system? I want to understand it better."

"Mm..."

After a brief pause, Ye Feng nodded. Shen Mengli’s response had eased his wariness.

"I’m just surprised. I thought you’d leave me after learning the truth."

"Never! I’d never leave you! Even if you tried to push me away, I wouldn’t go! I’m staying with you for life!"

"Okay..."

"Oh, Xiao Feng, was it the system that healed my leg and your injuries?"

Shen Mengli suddenly changed the subject, as if to move past the earlier tension.

"Yes. Every time I complete a task, the system rewards me. Some enhance my physique, others provide things like medicinal pills—it offers everything."

"And you chose to give something so precious to me?"

"Of course. As long as there was even a sliver of hope, I wanted to help you walk again! It wasn’t just my duty as your guardian, but also my way of making up for... Mmm—"

Before Ye Feng could finish, Shen Mengli silenced him with a kiss. When she pulled away, she spoke first.

"Xiao Feng, didn’t I tell you? I don’t need you to make up for anything! You’ve never owed me a thing—if anything, I’m the one indebted to you. If you insist on this, then I’ll have to do something reckless too."

Ye Feng knew this wasn’t a threat, just her way of urging him to let go of his unnecessary guilt.

"I understand, Mengli... Haven’t I changed already? All I want now is to live the rest of my life well. That’s all."

"But Xiao Feng, I’m scared."

Shen Mengli clung to his arm, her face clouded with worry.

"I’m afraid the system will force you into dangerous situations. I never want to see you hurt again."

"Don’t worry about that. Since I came here, the system hasn’t given me any new tasks. Maybe it knows my feelings and has stopped assigning them."

"Is there really no way to remove it from your mind?"

"Sorry, not that I know of."

Ye Feng smiled wryly, patting Shen Mengli’s head before standing up.

"Xiao Feng?"

"Don’t worry, Mengli. I’m just getting things ready. It’s almost dinnertime—we can talk more afterward, okay?"

"Okay! But promise me one thing!"

"What is it?"

"Promise me... you’ll live for yourself!"

"Alright, I promise."

......

"Tap, tap."

As dusk fell, the riverside was quiet except for the rushing water and faint footsteps. Following the footprints, Xie Yuyan meticulously examined every trace along the riverbank.

"It has to be here... it must! As long as I find a clue about Ye Feng, I won’t lose him again... I won’t!"

Just as she muttered to herself, her foot brushed against something unusual—definitely not a pebble or leaf.

Looking down, Xie Yuyan’s calm blue eyes flashed with recognition as she picked up the object.

"This... this is!"

Upon closer inspection, it was a deformed bullet casing—one she was certain belonged to Ye Feng.

Whether judging by the bullet type from Li Mucheng’s gun or the timing, everything pointed to this casing being from Ye Feng’s incident.

"So... Ye Feng is alive..."

The discovery reignited the light in Xie Yuyan’s previously dull eyes.

She had been living under the guilt of causing his death, but this bullet suggested he likely survived. How could she not be thrilled? Yet it also meant his fall into the river was no accident.

Ye Feng... was this part of your plan too?