Heartbeat

“Clang!”

The plate in Xie Yuyan’s hand suddenly slipped, followed by the sound of it shattering.

“I’m... I’m sorry... I broke the plate again... Am I useless? I keep causing trouble for you, Ye Feng...”

“Stop saying that. It’s fine, really. It doesn’t matter.”

Ye Feng gently stroked Xie Yuyan’s hair while wiping away the tears on her cheeks. His tender voice whispered softly in her ear.

“I’m not scolding you. Eating is essential for your health. Seeing you skip meals so often worries me. I just wanted to lecture you a bit today, but it’s all my fault. I’m sorry.”

“No... Ye Feng, don’t apologize...”

Xie Yuyan’s vacant gaze had already returned to normal the moment Ye Feng embraced her. Seeing him rush to her without hesitation, she had no other thoughts except wanting to stay by his side forever.

She interrupted Ye Feng before he could speak further, resting her head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat.

“I know... Ye Feng, everything you do is for my sake. From the very beginning, you saved me without expecting anything in return, letting me stay here and taking care of me every day. I’m the one who should apologize. I’ve been spoiled by your kindness~”

“......”

“You know, during my days as an assassin, my tasks were either endless surveillance or assassinations assigned by the organization. We had no thoughts of our own, just empty shells of robots.”

“If the organization hadn’t tried to kill me, maybe I wouldn’t have met you, Ye Feng.”

As she spoke, Xie Yuyan couldn’t help but reach out her smooth hand to touch Ye Feng’s cheek.

“You made me who I am, and you... gave me this happy life.”

“Xie Yuyan...”

“But I realized that this so-called beautiful life is meaningless without you. Without you, it feels like I’ve returned to that terrifying place from before.”

“That’s when I understood. Even without the organization chasing me, without the worries of hunger or cold, this world would still be colorless. But since meeting you, Ye Feng...”

“I’ve come to love this world filled with happiness.”

This was perhaps the most heartfelt confession.

“......”

Ye Feng wasn’t a fool. He could hear the affection in Xie Yuyan’s words, and he admitted that his heart stirred slightly. But what did it matter?

As long as the system existed, he could never focus on such things. On one hand, it was for survival; on the other... he didn’t want a girl like Xie Yuyan to live under his false facade.

Had he truly saved Xie Yuyan out of pure intentions? No, he just wanted to survive. Xie Yuyan and he were tied to the same rope.

“Xie Yuyan... I’m sorry...”

The light in Xie Yuyan’s eyes dimmed instantly upon hearing Ye Feng’s response. She hadn’t expected him to reject her confession so decisively.

Of course... it must be because of her identity, right? If only she had a happy family like Ye Feng’s students, maybe he would have agreed. Who would want someone tainted like her? She was the most despicable of professions...

On the surface, Ye Feng seemed to be apologizing for rejecting her, but if one listened carefully, his tone was more like an apology to Xie Yuyan, not a rejection...

“Alright... alright!”

Xie Yuyan took a deep breath and slowly pulled away from Ye Feng’s chest, her light tone seemingly trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

“But Ye Feng, you better be ready! I’m not the type to give up so easily! Now, this lady is going to take a nice bath. Before that... give me your shirt.”

“My shirt? Why do you need it for a bath?”

“To wash it, of course. After all, it’s stained with oil now. Consider this my way of making it up to you~”

Perhaps to comfort Xie Yuyan, Ye Feng didn’t refuse her request and nodded. “Alright then.”

Just as Ye Feng was about to unbutton his shirt, he suddenly remembered something.

Right! The mark on my neck! Xie Yuyan mustn’t see it, or it’ll be over. If she misunderstands and thinks I rejected her while having someone else’s mark... it’s not just about emotions anymore. Anyone would go crazy.

“Wait... no! I’ll go change in my room first. You go ahead and take your bath, Xie Yuyan.”

“Who knew Ye Feng could be shy in a situation like this? Fine, just leave the dirty clothes by the sink later. I’ll get them myself.”

“Okay.”

With that, Xie Yuyan quickly gathered her toiletries and headed into the bathroom.

Only after Xie Yuyan disappeared did Ye Feng let out a sigh of relief. After sweeping the broken pieces of the plate into the trash, he returned to his room to change.

“Splash, splash...”

“So... so heartless... I thought I could finally hold onto you... Ye Feng...”

Xie Yuyan stood motionless under the shower, letting the water pour over her.

But... but why did I feel his heartbeat suddenly race when he held me? Even if it was brief, was it just a coincidence?

Although Xie Yuyan’s subtle first confession to Ye Feng didn’t succeed, she wasn’t the type to give up. She wouldn’t admit defeat until the task was complete.

She didn’t feel too anxious either. In her heart, the answer was already decided: either Ye Feng would be happy with her, or she would be happy with Ye Feng. There was no other outcome.

After experiencing Ye Feng’s kindness, she could no longer endure the lonely, cold days of the past.

......

“Knock, knock.”

Just then, there was a sound at the bathroom door, pulling Xie Yuyan out of her thoughts.

“Ye Feng, is that you?”

“Yes, I left the shirt by the sink. I also made some vegetable soup. Make sure to have some after your bath to warm your stomach, okay?”

“Got it. Thank you, Ye Feng~”

Detecting a hint of concern in Ye Feng’s words, Xie Yuyan’s eyes sparkled as she bit her lip, thinking of something.

I’m in the middle of a bath... I can’t let this opportunity go to waste~

A moment later, the bathroom door slowly opened, and a delicate hand reached out from the crack, grabbing the white shirt by the sink. The shirt was quickly pulled into the bathroom...