The Hung Up Phone

"Mm..."

Ye Feng, sitting on the couch, felt somewhat awkward as Shen Mengli clung tightly to his arm beside him.

"Mengli, don’t you think you’re holding on a bit too tightly?"

"I don’t care! If you don’t explain things properly today, Feng, I’m not letting go!"

"I never said I wouldn’t tell you, Mengli. But first, can I let Yu Xin know I’m safe? I still haven’t replied to her yet."

"Fine, you can. But you’re not leaving this spot! Do it right here!"

Pouting, Shen Mengli released Ye Feng’s arm but shot Xie Yuyan a displeased glare.

Xie Yuyan didn’t dare meet her gaze. After all, she’d been alone with Ye Feng downstairs earlier. From Shen Mengli’s expression, it was clear she’d been keeping tabs on him, and Xie Yuyan had no defense for her "sneaky" behavior.

"Alright, I’ll call Yu Xin now."

Seeing Shen Mengli’s insistence, Ye Feng didn’t argue. He pulled out his phone and dialed Su Yuxin.

......

"Yu Xin?"

"Ah! What is it, Mucheng?"

Snapped out of her daze by Li Mucheng’s voice, Su Yuxin turned to her with a puzzled look, only to find her friend’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Li Mucheng stepped closer, her gaze intense, while Su Yuxin shrank back like a startled deer.

"Mu... Mucheng, what are you doing?!"

With a probing tone, Li Mucheng asked, "Yu Xin, why do you seem so distracted? Did something happen?"

"N-no! Of course not!"

Su Yuxin stammered, clearly flustered over Ye Feng’s lack of response. She wanted to confide in Li Mucheng but ultimately shook her head.

"I was just really into the movie, that’s all."

"Really?"

Under Li Mucheng’s burning stare, Su Yuxin nodded hurriedly.

"Of course! Don’t you trust me, Mucheng?"

"I do trust you. But today, you’ve been acting... off."

"Don’t be silly. I’m always like this."

Seeing Su Yuxin’s reluctance, Li Mucheng didn’t press further. Just as the room’s atmosphere grew tense, Su Yuxin’s phone rang.

"!!!"

Su Yuxin grabbed her phone and made to leave.

"Mu... Mucheng, I need to take this. It’s probably my dad. I’ll just step out..."

But as she turned to go, Li Mucheng snatched the phone from her hand and answered before Su Yuxin could react.

"Mucheng, don’t—!"

It was too late. Li Mucheng already had the phone to her ear.

"Hello."

Hearing the voice on the other end, Li Mucheng spoke first. "Teacher, calling so late—is there something you need to say?"

"Mu... Mucheng?! Why are you—"

Ye Feng cut himself off mid-sentence and changed tack.

"Is Yu Xin there? I need to talk to her."

"Whatever you have to say, you can tell me. She’s... unavailable right now."

Li Mucheng shot Su Yuxin a sharp look, clamping a hand over her mouth. Realizing the jig was up, Su Yuxin stopped struggling.

"Uh..."

From Li Mucheng’s tone, Ye Feng seemed to piece things together and shifted the topic.

"Since you already know, I won’t hide it anymore. I’ll just tell you the truth."

"Go ahead. I’d love to hear what you and Yu Xin have been keeping from me."

Li Mucheng’s ears perked up, but beneath her focus, a pang of betrayal twisted in her chest.

Why... Why would Teacher hide things from me after all I’ve done? What’s going on?!

Ye Feng’s voice turned earnest. "Mucheng, your father and Yu Xin’s father have both spoken with me. They’ve made it clear that as long as I take care of you both and don’t hurt you, they won’t interfere."

"So you’re really— Huh? Wh-what?!"

Li Mucheng, primed for outrage, froze. Stunned, she stared at the phone, her brewing anger doused in an instant.

"Well? I’ve told you the truth. Cat got your tongue now?"

Ye Feng’s teasing voice only made Li Mucheng’s face burn brighter, her grip on Su Yuxin slackening.

"Huh?"

Su Yuxin, braced for another storm, blinked at Li Mucheng’s tomato-red face.

She’s this mad? I’ve never seen her so flushed...

Holding her breath, Su Yuxin waited for the fallout.

"Mucheng, let’s leave it at that for tonight. I’ll explain more tomorrow. Don’t overthink it, and don’t take it out on Yu Xin—she didn’t do anything wrong."

"I-I... Te-Teacher—"

Li Mucheng’s words tangled into incoherence.

"Mucheng? Are you okay?"

"Ugh... Just talk to Yu Xin! I need to go!"

Shoving the phone into Su Yuxin’s hands, Li Mucheng bolted from the room, leaving Su Yuxin bewildered.

What just happened? Why did Mucheng react like that? She didn’t seem angry... What did Ye Feng say to her?

After a pause, Su Yuxin lifted the phone to her ear. "Ye... Ye Feng? Are you alright?"

"Ah, Yu Xin. Yeah, I’m fine. But Mucheng just ran off—no idea why."

"What did you say to her? She was acting so strange!"

"Nothing much. Just that your fathers have given their blessing for your futures, so—"

Click.

The line went dead. Ye Feng frowned.

"Hello? Yu Xin? Are you still there?"