Cooperation

"Ye... Ye Feng, brother."

Seeing that she had been pushed forward by Li Mucheng, Su Yuxin no longer hesitated as she usually would. Instead, she mustered the courage to step up to Ye Feng and embraced him.

"Though I know this might upset you, brother... I still want you to understand how I feel!"

"Yuxin, why are you also..."

Ye Feng tried to push Su Yuxin away, but her small hands clung to him as if glued, refusing to let go no matter how he struggled.

"Brother Ye Feng... please, just indulge me for a little while. Just a moment."

"Sigh... Haven’t I already told you the truth? Why are you all still so stubborn?"

Seeing how both Su Yuxin and Li Mucheng were treating him with even more caution, Ye Feng couldn’t make sense of their behavior.

"Teacher, don’t you already know the answer in your heart? Given our personalities, you must know what choice we’d make."

Li Mucheng stepped forward and pulled Su Yuxin back. Her intention was to make Ye Feng’s feelings toward her, Su Yuxin, and Xie Yuyan even more complicated. If she could tangle them up like a ball of yarn, then even if Ye Feng wanted to break free, it would be impossible. She couldn’t lose him—no matter what.

......

"Shing!"

A flash of steel cut through the air as a dagger appeared before Shen Mengli. When she focused her gaze, she saw an incredibly sharp blade pointed at her, its hilt extended toward her. It seemed Xie Yuyan was making a sincere gesture.

"Xie Yuyan, what do you mean by this?"

Shen Mengli raised a brow slightly, looking at Xie Yuyan in confusion.

"I know words alone won’t erase the resentment you hold toward me. So, if you still hate me, Shen Mengli, you can vent your anger however you wish. Whatever the outcome, I’ll accept it."

"Xie Yuyan, have you lost your mind? Do you really think settling things with violence will make us even?"

Shen Mengli frowned in displeasure and pushed the dagger back.

"I told you, nothing you do will make me forgive you. This isn’t just about protecting Xiao Feng—it’s about ensuring a peaceful future. What you’re doing now just seems like an apology for the sake of apologizing."

"......"

"Let’s end this conversation here. I still need to discuss things with Xiao Feng later..."

"Shen Mengli, do you remember what Ye Feng just said earlier?"

Suddenly, Xie Yuyan interrupted, pulling both their thoughts back to the recent events.

"What about it?"

"Just now, when Ye Feng was talking about a solution, he paused for a moment before quickly covering it up. You must have noticed that too, right?"

"What does that have to do with you? I’ll do everything I can to save Xiao Feng. If you’re thinking of joining in, I won’t allow it."

"It’s... it’s fine. As long as we find a solution, that’s all that matters. I... I’ll help."

Xie Yuyan spoke with determination, and as if to reassure Shen Mengli, she added,

"Don’t worry, Shen Mengli. I know the rift between me and Ye Feng can’t be mended. I just want to do what little I can."

Xie Yuyan lowered her head, her usual cold demeanor fading into one of exhaustion and defeat.

Shen Mengli opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

"Fine. I’ll agree to this."

"Huh?"

Xie Yuyan clearly hadn’t expected Shen Mengli to suddenly accept her proposal. She had already resigned herself to fading into the background, watching Ye Feng from afar—his happiness would be her final fate.

"Shen Mengli, didn’t you just say—"

"I thought about it carefully just now. I can’t let my personal grudges distract me from Xiao Feng’s well-being. If there’s a way to free him from the system’s torment, I’ll stop at nothing to uncover it. If you can contribute to that, then I’ll reluctantly agree."

"R-Really?! Shen Mengli, you’re really agreeing?"

"I’m not agreeing for your sake! This is purely a necessary collaboration. If you start overthinking, I’ll take it back."

"Got it. Collaboration! Just collaboration!"

Seeing that Shen Mengli didn’t want to dwell on it, Xie Yuyan didn’t press further. Through her efforts, she had finally secured a chance to help Ye Feng—how could she not be overjoyed?

"Is this really something to be so happy about?"

Shen Mengli muttered under her breath as she noticed Xie Yuyan’s faint smile.

"Of course. Just being able to do something for Ye Feng is enough for me. He helped me in the past—now it’s my turn to repay him."

"Then let’s settle things for today. If there’s more to discuss later, we’ll find another time."

"Mm. Thank you, Shen Mengli!"

"If you want to thank anyone, thank Xiao Feng. This has nothing to do with me."

Shen Mengli pursed her lips and stole a glance at Xie Yuyan before standing up from her seat.

"Let’s end our talk here. I should go check on Xiao Feng outside."

"Alright, I’ll come with you."

"......"

Though Shen Mengli didn’t understand why Xie Yuyan’s attitude toward her had shifted so drastically, she silently allowed it.

Just as the two stepped out of the cabin side by side, they ran into Ye Feng and the others approaching.

"Mengli? Have you and Xie Yuyan finished talking?"

Ye Feng glanced at Shen Mengli first, ensuring she was unharmed, then turned to Xie Yuyan, who offered him a brief, tight-lipped smile before schooling her expression again.

"Yes, Xiao Feng. We’ve settled things. If there’s nothing else, they’ll be leaving soon."

"Good. Then let’s head to the village later to buy some ingredients—call it a wrap-up of our time here?"

"Sure, sounds great~"

Shen Mengli nodded excitedly, quickly stepping forward to loop her arm through Ye Feng’s before addressing the other three.

"Then we’ll stop here for today. If there’s anything else, we can talk later. Now that we’ve resolved some issues, I just want to live peacefully."

"Fine... I have no objections."

Li Mucheng agreed to Shen Mengli’s suggestion while casting a glance at the expressionless Xie Yuyan.

Though she didn’t know what exactly had been said between Xie Yuyan and Shen Mengli inside, she had a vague feeling that once they returned, they’d uncover more hidden truths.

"Mucheng, let’s go too. We shouldn’t disturb Ye Feng any longer."

"Alright."

Li Mucheng nodded, taking Su Yuxin’s hand as they bid temporary farewell to Ye Feng and Shen Mengli before disappearing into the forest...