Bilateral Meeting

"No... it's not like that, Xie Yuyan."

"......"

The moment Ye Feng uttered those words, Xie Yuyan's body trembled slightly. Perhaps it was because the way he addressed her had lost the warmth it once held. Yet, unlike before, she didn’t react emotionally to his distant tone. Instead, she forced a faint smile onto her lips.

"I’ve done too many foolish things. I abandoned the happiness that was rightfully mine. Looking back now, I suppose this is all my punishment."

"Xie Yuyan."

Ye Feng took a deep, heavy breath. He knew he couldn’t keep hiding the truth forever. His gaze fixed firmly on her.

"It’s not as simple as you think. That day at the cliff... I just wanted to end everything. Mengli’s appearance was nothing more than a coincidence."

"W-what? A coincidence?!"

Xie Yuyan was stunned by Ye Feng’s explanation. She knew he had no reason to lie to her now, yet in the minds of the other three, they had all believed Ye Feng and Shen Mengli had planned it together—that the so-called coincidence was just a comforting illusion. For Ye Feng to now claim their assumptions were entirely wrong... Xie Yuyan couldn’t accept it so easily.

"H-how could it be a coincidence? Ye Feng, you fell into the water and just happened to be saved by Shen Mengli, who had been missing for so long? The timing, the location, everything that happened—none of it adds up!"

"Uh..."

Faced with Xie Yuyan’s barrage of questions, Ye Feng didn’t know how to respond. Because that was simply how things had unfolded. Yet, Xie Yuyan’s doubts weren’t unfounded. The series of events was so uncanny, it was as if they were following a pre-written script.

"I was completely lost back then... When I woke up, I was already lying in that wooden cabin."

At this, Xie Yuyan’s lips quivered slightly before she finally voiced the question weighing on her heart. "So... that day, all your actions were just to end everything?"

"Yes."

Ye Feng lowered his head, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I was so exhausted... It felt like I’d hit a dead end. I didn’t have the strength to keep going anymore."

"......"

Xie Yuyan swayed slightly, as if she wanted to rise from the wooden chair and embrace the man she loved. But the impulse was swiftly suppressed. The only one who could truly comfort Ye Feng now was probably Shen Mengli. Yet, doing so would only confuse him further. So she remained seated, silently watching him.

"I’m sorry, Ye Feng..."

An unspoken quiet settled over the cabin, broken only by the occasional mountain breeze outside and the soft sound of their breathing.

"Let’s just leave it in the past," Ye Feng suddenly spoke, standing up from the chair. He avoided meeting Xie Yuyan’s eyes—whether out of unwillingness or fear, only he knew.

"Like a river that keeps flowing... Some things are meant to be let go."

"Ye Feng..."

Xie Yuyan stood as well, slowly stepping closer until she stood behind him.

"Do you like this life?"

"Huh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

"Because you once told me... about the kind of life you dreamed of. A carefree, pastoral existence like this."

"So you still remember."

Ye Feng chuckled, walking to the cabin’s door. Just as Xie Yuyan thought he was about to leave, he turned back to face her.

"Want to take a walk after dinner? The scenery here isn’t bad."

"Okay."

......

"Mmm..."

Shen Mengli paused as the village came into view. For some reason, her heart had been racing ever since she left the house. At first, she thought it was just the distance, but even now, after resting, her pulse refused to slow. A sense of unease prickled at her.

"I should hurry back. I’ll grab the groceries first."

Just as she was about to enter the village, she nearly collided with a butcher’s truck pulling out.

"Eh? Uncle, what are you doing here?"

Hearing her sweet voice, the truck’s engine noise cut off. After a moment, the window rolled down, revealing the butcher’s face.

"Hey?! It’s you, little girl!"

"Good afternoon, Uncle."

Shen Mengli gave a polite nod. Before she could voice her request, the butcher continued excitedly.

"You’re just in time!"

"Just in time? What do you mean, Uncle?"

"Oh, right! You probably don’t know yet. Not long ago, your friends came looking for you. They asked me to let them know if I saw you again."

"F-friends?!"

Shen Mengli’s mind raced. She knew exactly who he was referring to.

How? How did they track me down? I’ve been so careful! No, I need to get back quickly—take Xiao Feng and leave this place. Every second counts.

Just as she turned to leave, the butcher suddenly looked past her, pointing eagerly.

"Look, your friends are here!"

"......"

Friends?!

Shen Mengli’s expression froze as she followed the butcher’s finger toward the village entrance. A black sedan had pulled to a stop right in front of her.

The doors opened, and two all-too-familiar figures stepped out—Li Mucheng, her face calm, and Su Yuxin, her delicate features twisted in barely contained irritation.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Su Yuxin was the first to approach, her shoes clicking sharply against the ground. She stopped inches from Shen Mengli, biting her lower lip.

"Long time no see, our long-lost little Mengli."

"Hello, Sister Yuxin. What a surprise to run into you both here. What a coincidence!"

Shen Mengli smiled sweetly, waving a small hand.

"Oh, it’s no coincidence. We’ve been searching for this ‘coincidence’ for quite a while."

Su Yuxin scoffed, her gaze dropping to Shen Mengli’s legs. Her jaw tightened imperceptibly.

"You’ve changed so much since you disappeared, little sister. Or were you always hiding your true self?"