The Third Meeting

"It's... it's her!"

Just as Su Yuxin uttered these words in shock, Li Mucheng quickly pulled her back, placing a finger to her lips in a silencing gesture. Su Yuxin nodded in realization.

"So, sir, do you know which village she came from? Or which direction she went when she left?"

"I’m not sure about that. But the young lady bought quite a lot—she probably couldn’t carry it far. She must live somewhere nearby."

"Got it! Thank you, sir. We’ll make sure to repay you generously once we find her."

"N-no need! I just wanted to help. I didn’t say this for any reward."

The man waved his hands dismissively, refusing Xie Yuyan’s offer. Little did he know that one day, his village would become a tourist development zone, and his business would flourish—but that’s a story for another time.

After thanking the man, the three quickly left the village. Only when they were back in the car did Li Mucheng turn to Xie Yuyan and ask, "Yuyan, since we’ve confirmed Shen Mengli’s appearance, why are we leaving now?"

Su Yuxin nodded in agreement. "Right! I never expected Shen Mengli to show up here. There’s no way Brother Ye Feng doesn’t have some secret connection with her! And wasn’t she disabled? How could she possibly—"

The thought made Su Yuxin’s anxiety spike. Aside from her, both Li Mucheng and Xie Yuyan had interacted with Ye Feng before. Though Shen Mengli’s current condition was unclear, Su Yuxin felt like a panicked ant on a hot stove, her words stumbling out unevenly.

"None of us saw this coming. Was her wheelchair just an act all along? But how did she end up with our teacher?"

"Let’s not dwell on that for now."

Xie Yuyan’s calm voice cut through the tension, though even her thoughts were disrupted by Shen Mengli’s sudden reappearance. She recalled the day she had gone to the orphanage intending to confront Shen Mengli—only to find her already gone. Even when Ye Feng later searched for her, she remained missing. And now, out of nowhere, she had resurfaced. It was beyond unexpected.

"What we need now is to organize the information we have. We can’t let sudden developments throw us off balance."

Xie Yuyan continued, "Mucheng, arrange for people to discreetly monitor the village. If Shen Mengli appears again, notify us immediately."

"Got it!"

"Yuxin, can you book us lodging as close to the mountains as possible? We need a base where we can move quickly if needed."

"Consider it done."

Watching the other two spring into action, Xie Yuyan finally regained her composure. Yet Shen Mengli’s face kept flashing in her mind, fueling her growing irritation.

Why… Ye Feng, why are you with Shen Mengli? Was everything you did for her sake? Or was this all part of some prearranged plan?

For that woman, you’d sacrifice everything—even fake your own death to escape us?

Just… why?

Once the others had finished their tasks, Xie Yuyan turned to them.

"Mucheng, Yuxin, how much do you really know about Shen Mengli?"

"Shen Mengli? Hmm… not much. I barely interacted with her. It was like she deliberately avoided us. The few times we met, she outright said her feelings for Ye Feng were impossible—that her disability meant she could never have happiness."

"But now she’s standing on her own!"

Su Yuxin pouted angrily, her initial worry for Ye Feng now morphing into resentment toward Shen Mengli.

"That witch! She’s been secretly building a relationship with Brother Ye Feng behind my back! Just thinking about her smug face makes me furious!"

"Calm down, Yuxin. What’s done is done. But remember, our main goal isn’t to fight Shen Mengli—it’s to bring our teacher back!"

"Mucheng, you say that, but… do you really think he’ll come back to us now?"

Su Yuxin lowered her head dejectedly.

"Whether or not she faked her condition, Brother Ye Feng is clearly on her side. She’s probably poisoned his mind against us already."

"There’s nothing we can do about that. We’re the ones who disappointed him first."

Li Mucheng forced a bitter smile but quickly steeled herself.

"It’s fine. We just need to stay focused. We’re not here to argue with Shen Mengli or hurt our teacher again. We’re here to turn his disappointment into forgiveness—that’s all."

"Right! We’ll make Brother Ye Feng forgive us!"

"Then it seems we need another meeting. And this one will likely be our last."

Xie Yuyan spoke without emotion, as if untouched by everything unfolding around her.

"Let’s discuss further once we’re settled near the mountains."

......

"Gulp…"

After taking a big sip of corn soup, Ye Feng glanced at Shen Mengli, who sat motionless, propping her chin on one hand as she stared into her bowl.

"Mengli, what’s wrong? Not hungry?"

"Hungry…"

Shen Mengli murmured, glancing at him before biting her dry lips.

"Xiao Feng, I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy."

"What’s bothering you?"

Ye Feng set his bowl down and immediately moved to her side.

"Are you feeling unwell? I’ll be more careful next time."

"No… Xiao Feng, it’s not your fault. I don’t want you to hold back."

Pouting, Shen Mengli stretched out her arms like a kitten begging for affection.

"Hug~"

"Alright, alright."

With a fond chuckle, Ye Feng scooped her up from her seat and settled her onto his lap.

"Now, tell me—what’s troubling my Mengli?"

"Hmm…"

Clutching his arm, Shen Mengli confessed her unease.

"Xiao Feng, my heart feels empty somehow. Like… you’re going to disappear from my side."

Disappear? Is she still hung up on what I mentioned last night? I shouldn’t have brought it up—now it’s weighing on her.

"You’re overthinking it, Mengli. How could I disappear? I’m right here with you every day, aren’t I?"