Let Me Have Some Quiet

Ye Feng's eyes only showed a flicker of surprise before he quickly masked it.

"Xie Yuyan, what nonsense are you spouting? Wild assumptions aren’t a good thing."

Xie Yuyan ignored Ye Feng’s words and stepped closer to him. "Ye Feng, you’re really not being honest at all. Or is it that you don’t trust me?"

"......"

"I didn’t come to this conclusion without reason. After talking with Li Mucheng and Su Yuxin, I learned that you’ve done the same thing with all of us—kidnapping!"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I want to help you, Ye Feng..."

Xie Yuyan moved even closer, reaching out to take Ye Feng’s hand, but he dodged her touch. Her hand hung in the air for a long moment before she finally withdrew it with a self-deprecating smile.

"Sorry... I got carried away again."

"Xie Yuyan, you don’t have to do this. These so-called secrets aren’t good for you."

Ye Feng’s voice was cold.

"But Ye Feng, was it good for you to kidnap me and then take care of me?"

"I... I was just following the path I had to take. Taking care of you was nothing more than pity."

"Hah..."

Despite Ye Feng’s harsh words, Xie Yuyan saw right through him. He had hesitated before saying "pity," and after speaking, he had sneaked a glance at her. That meant the kidnapping might have been forced upon him, but the care he showed was genuine.

"It’s fine. Even if you only pitied me, I’d still help you."

"Are you insane, Xie Yuyan? I told you, you were just one of my targets!"

"So what? You’re allowed to carry out your mission, but I’m not allowed to help you?"

With that, Xie Yuyan stepped so close to Ye Feng they were almost touching, batting her eyes coquettishly at him.

"Whether you forgive me or hate me, my mind is made up. No matter the cost, I’ll help you! It’s my way of making up for what I’ve done wrong to you."

"Xie Yuyan, you—"

"Let’s leave it at that, Ye Feng. The others should be back soon. We can discuss it together then, okay? No matter what happens, I’ll face it with you."

"You’re oversimplifying things, Xie Yuyan. It’s far more complicated than that."

"Complicated doesn’t mean unsolvable! If you could choose to take care of us in the middle of all this complexity, then we can do the same for you."

"Why are you so stubborn?!"

Looking at Xie Yuyan’s unyielding expression, Ye Feng felt something he couldn’t put into words. It was as if she had completely changed—gone was her previous ruthlessness, replaced by a gentler, more hesitant demeanor. How had she transformed like this in just a few days?

After their fruitless conversation, Xie Yuyan and Ye Feng returned to the cabin. No matter how she tried to coax him into opening up, her efforts were in vain. But she wasn’t discouraged. She had lost Ye Feng’s trust once, and she was willing to give everything to win it back.

As soon as they sat down inside, Xie Yuyan spoke again.

"Ye Feng... that day at the cliff, why did you protect me? After all the horrible things I did to you, wouldn’t it have been better if I’d faced the consequences?"

"Xie Yuyan, what if I told you that I’m the one truly responsible for all of this? Would you believe me?"

"No, that’s not true! You’re wrong, Ye Feng!"

Xie Yuyan immediately shook her head, then pulled her chair closer to emphasize her point.

"If we’re talking about that mysterious, uncontrollable force, then you were just acting out of necessity. But in all the little things—how you cared for us, how gentle you were when we lived together—that’s the real you!"

"My true self? There’s no such thing. All I want is to survive."

"That’s not true! Your kindness shines through in everything you do. That’s who you really are!"

"Xie Yuyan, since when did you become so fond of motivational speeches? I don’t even recognize myself in what you’re saying."

Ye Feng shrugged helplessly, clearly unconvinced.

"Because I can feel it!"

Before Ye Feng could react, Xie Yuyan suddenly grabbed his hand. Startled by the warmth of her touch, he tried to pull away, only to find her pressing his palm against her cheek.

Staring into Xie Yuyan’s radiant, tear-filled eyes, Ye Feng quickly turned his head away, trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

But Xie Yuyan wasn’t about to let him retreat. If she wanted Ye Feng to trust her, she had to take the initiative.

"Ye Feng, I can feel it—your gentleness, the way you cared for me, all the moments we shared. That sincerity can’t be faked, and deep down, you know that, don’t you?"

"Xie Yuyan, stop. The past is in the past."

"This isn’t just about the past! When I found out you were alive, do you know how overjoyed I was? When I saw you fall from that cliff, my whole world went dark. In the days after you disappeared, I wanted nothing more than to follow you... but a sliver of hope kept me going."

Tears shimmered in her eyes, and Ye Feng’s heart twisted painfully.

What... is happening to me?

I’d resolved to let go and savor whatever happiness I had left. So why does it hurt so much?

"It’s okay, Ye Feng. You don’t have to answer me now. I’m not asking you to make a choice."

Sensing his inner conflict, Xie Yuyan quickly softened her tone, afraid of pushing him too far.

"I just wanted you to know that I’m trying to change."

"Xie Yuyan... my mind is a mess right now. I need some time alone."

Ye Feng’s voice was quiet but firm.

"O-okay, Ye Feng."