I Want Freedom

"Huh? That's strange... Is my phone acting up?"

Ye Feng stared at his phone, baffled as the call abruptly disconnected.

"Hmm... I think Yu Xin and Mu Cheng just need some time to process everything. After all, receiving such big news suddenly—it’s only natural they’d need to sort through their thoughts."

Shen Mengli, sitting nearby, chimed in.

"Alright, Xiao Feng, since Mu Cheng and Yu Xin are fine, we should get some rest too~"

"This... sigh..."

Ye Feng racked his brain but couldn’t make sense of it. In the end, he gave up. Whatever needed to be said would have to wait until tomorrow.

"It’s getting late. We should all turn in early. Mengli, Yuyan, you two go ahead and get ready first. I’ll take care of things here before I go."

"Huh?"

"Wha... what?"

At Ye Feng’s words, Xie Yuyan and Shen Mengli simultaneously voiced their confusion, their eyes locking onto him intently.

"Xiao Feng, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Yeah, how are we supposed to interpret such a vague answer?"

"Exactly!"

Perplexed by their reactions, Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. "Yuyan, Mengli, what are you two even talking about? What’s so vague? Spell it out for me."

"Xiao Feng, whose room are you sleeping in tonight?!"

Finally, Shen Mengli cut straight to the point, waiting for his response.

"Whose room? So this whole time, you two were hung up on that?"

"Of course! And it’s a very important question! No beating around the bush—make your choice right now."

"That’s right, Ye Feng. There’s no avoiding it. You’ll have to decide eventually."

Xie Yuyan nodded in agreement.

"Hmm..."

Contrary to their expectations, Ye Feng didn’t seem the least bit conflicted. Instead, he looked at them calmly before leisurely stating his decision.

"Is there a chance I could just sleep on the couch?"

"......"

The room fell into dead silence after his answer. Xie Yuyan and Shen Mengli stared at him, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

"Wha... what? Xiao Feng, what did you just say?!"

"Sleep on the couch?!"

"Yeah, what’s the big deal?"

Ye Feng shrugged helplessly, patting the couch he was sitting on.

"First of all, this place only has two bedrooms—one for Mengli and one for Yuyan. That’s more than enough. Besides, the couch in the living room is practically as big as a bed. I won’t be uncomfortable at all. Problem solved, right?"

"But... but that’s ridiculous! Who sleeps on a couch?!"

"Exactly! Xiao Feng, stop joking around. If you’re really going to do this, I’ll just share a room with Yuyan! Right, Yuyan?"

Shen Mengli shot Xie Yuyan a meaningful glance, and after a brief pause, Xie Yuyan nodded in realization.

"Right!"

"Why are you two being so stubborn? No matter what you arrange, my mind’s made up. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get my ‘bed’ ready."

"Xiao Feng!"

Shen Mengli puffed out her cheeks in frustration, but Ye Feng remained unmoved. Firmly, he ushered them both out before heading to the guest room to gather his things for the night.

"Mmm... what do we do, Yuyan? I think we messed up."

Seeing her plan fail, Shen Mengli whispered to Xie Yuyan.

"I don’t have a better idea either... Ye Feng’s already decided. There’s no changing his mind now."

"Well... fine."

After a quick exchange, the two nodded at each other and stood up to go about their business. Just then, Ye Feng returned with his bedding and settled onto the couch.

"Xiao Feng, if that’s how it is, I should probably get to bed too. If you need anything, just call for me."

"M-me too! Just say my name, and I’ll come right away!"

"It’s not that serious."

Ye Feng chuckled, ruffling their hair affectionately.

"A lot happened today. Get some rest. We’ve got plenty of time to figure things out, okay?"

"Okay."

Watching them retreat to their rooms, Ye Feng stepped onto the balcony, letting the cool breeze wash over him as he contemplated what lay ahead.

I’ve adjusted my mindset, but this is still my first time dealing with something like this. No matter what, I’ll have to push forward. At least it’s not as bad as before—misunderstandings can still be fixed.

From now on, I’ll have to tread even more carefully.

......

Back in the living room, Ye Feng glanced around for Shen Mengli or Xie Yuyan, only to find their bedroom doors already shut, the lights inside long extinguished. It seemed they’d gone to sleep.

"Hmm... after a tiring day, an early night is good. Since everything’s settled, I’ll wrap up and get some rest too."

He let out a quiet sigh of relief. He’d half-expected some last-minute drama, but it seemed he’d worried for nothing. Best to freshen up, sleep, and recharge for the challenges ahead.

Yeah. That’s the way.

As darkness enveloped the room and silence settled in, Ye Feng drifted into a deep slumber.

......

Some time later, the doorknob of one bedroom began to turn silently. As it rotated, the door creaked open just a crack, revealing two pairs of eyes gleaming in the dark—each a different color. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just one doorknob turning. Two slender figures slipped out from their rooms, moving with eerie synchronicity.

Unaware of the intruders, Ye Feng slept soundly. The two figures noticed each other but remained silent, as if both already knew what the other intended.

As they drew closer, crimson eyes met pale blue.

"You... what’s your plan?"

"One on each side?"

"Mmm... I’ll take the left!"

"Fine."

Rustle, rustle.

In his dream, Ye Feng was soaring freely across an endless sky—until, without warning, two towering mountains pinned his wings beneath them. No matter how hard he struggled, they wouldn’t budge.

I... I want to be free!