The Promise Once More

Facing Ye Feng, who sat quietly with his eyes closed on the wooden chair, Xie Yuyan didn’t dare to breathe too loudly. Even the way she looked at him was cautious, as if afraid to disturb him.

Ye Feng...

Xie Yuyan’s gaze flitted nervously toward the outside of the wooden cabin. By her estimation, Shen Mengli should have already been discovered by Li Mucheng and Su Yuxin by now. It wouldn’t be long before they arrived here. If she didn’t do something soon, the chance to speak with Ye Feng alone would become increasingly rare.

The thought made her heart race with panic. Without hesitation, she stood up and walked behind Ye Feng. She controlled her footsteps so well that Ye Feng, with his eyes still shut, didn’t even notice her movement.

"Hmm?"

Just as Ye Feng was sorting through his thoughts, a pair of delicate hands gently pressed against his temples, beginning a soft massage.

"Xie Yuyan?"

"It’s alright, Ye Feng. I just want to help ease your fatigue and stress. Your muscles are so tense—you must have been exhausted lately."

"N-no need for this, Xie Yuyan. I can rest on my own..."

"I won’t accept that! I promised I’d protect you, and I won’t let you feel tired or uncomfortable anymore! From now on... I’ll take care of you properly."

Xie Yuyan paused after saying this, as if afraid Ye Feng would reject her outright. But to her surprise, he remained silent, offering no immediate refusal.

"Ye Feng, I know you might not trust me so easily right now. But I’ll prove myself through my actions! I... I won’t lose you again."

"Xie Yuyan..."

Though Ye Feng’s expression seemed calm, his heart was anything but. Her desperate tone stirred something deep within him.

"I understand. I’ll be watching you."

"Eh?"

Xie Yuyan froze in shock at his response. Her hands, which had been massaging his temples, stilled completely. Wide-eyed, she stared at the back of his head, unable to utter a single word.

"Y-Ye Feng... what did you just say?"

"What? We’re this close, and you’re still pretending not to hear me?"

Ye Feng let out a slow breath and stood up from the chair, turning around to face Xie Yuyan, who was staring at him intently.

"I said I’ll be watching the changes in you."

"H-how...? You should hate me, Ye Feng."

"Do you really think I’m that cruel?"

"N-no, that’s not what I meant. After all the terrible things I’ve done..."

"But you’ve realized your mistakes now, haven’t you?"

Ye Feng cut her off mid-sentence. Their eyes locked, neither willing to look away.

"I can see it. Your eyes aren’t clouded like before. Now, they’re as clear as a lake."

"Ye Feng..."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Xie Yuyan couldn’t find the words to respond. Unable to hold back, she threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.

The sudden embrace made Ye Feng stiffen momentarily. But seeing her distraught state, he didn’t push her away. Instead, he spoke in a gentle, reassuring tone.

"Alright, no more crying now that we’ve settled things. Let’s just make sure we keep our promise to each other."

"D-don’t worry, Ye Feng! I will!"

Perhaps afraid of being a burden or of being caught in such an intimate moment, Xie Yuyan quickly pulled away from him. Yet the fact that Ye Feng hadn’t rejected her embrace only strengthened her resolve. She was determined to change—to never again see that disappointed look on his face.

For the first time, she finally understood why Li Mucheng had become so composed. Maybe that was the only way to truly stay by Ye Feng’s side. Even if... her former rival had now become something closer to a friend.

"Honestly, I’m not surprised you all found me. I knew it was only a matter of time. But my secrets are out now... There were too many suspicious things, and looking back, none of it really made sense."

"I-it’s okay, Ye Feng. I... I’ll stay with you."

"Ah, I was just thinking out loud. Xie Yuyan, since when did you start comforting me?"

Ye Feng chuckled softly before shifting his gaze toward the outside of the cabin.

"Strange. Didn’t you say Mengli and the others would be back soon? Why is there still no sign of them?"

"I-I’m not sure. Should I try contacting Mucheng?"

Huh? Mucheng? Since when had Xie Yuyan and Li Mucheng become so close?

The casual way Xie Yuyan referred to Li Mucheng gave Ye Feng a brief moment of surprise, but he quickly dismissed it. If Xie Yuyan was willing to let go of her defenses and communicate openly with Li Mucheng, it only proved she was truly changing.

......

"Shen Mengli, please don’t do anything reckless. Let’s talk this through."

Li Mucheng maintained a safe distance from Shen Mengli, who was holding a fruit knife pointed at her and Su Yuxin. She didn’t want any unnecessary conflict to arise from a misunderstanding.

But what Li Mucheng didn’t expect was the sheer intensity in Shen Mengli’s crimson eyes—or how tightly she gripped the knife, her fingers trembling with barely restrained emotion.

"Why... why must you interfere with my life with Xiao Feng like this? You were the ones who abandoned him first! I never stepped in before, but now that I’m finally with him, you show up again. Do you think Xiao Feng is some plaything you can discard and reclaim whenever you please? If you didn’t cherish him before, what right do you have now?!"

"Shen Mengli, it’s not what you think. That day on the cliff—"

"Enough!"

Shen Mengli’s sharp cry cut Li Mucheng off. The usually gentle and soft-spoken girl now stood firm, her voice laced with steel.

"I don’t care about your excuses. If you dare take one step closer to Xiao Feng, I won’t hold back! If you have any conscience left, disappear from my sight right now."

"Mucheng, she’s gone too far! Let me—"

Su Yuxin, who had been silent until now, finally snapped. She rolled up her sleeves and moved forward, only for Li Mucheng to yank her back.

"Yuxin, stop. This is a critical moment. Mengli is important—to us and to Teacher. Control your temper."

"Ugh... I just can’t stand her misunderstanding us like this!"

Su Yuxin stomped her foot in frustration but reluctantly held her ground, glaring back at Shen Mengli with equal defiance.