"Dean Mama~ Big Brother has already agreed, so please make an exception this time~"
Seeing that Ye Feng had agreed, Zhao Wenwen immediately put on a pitiful expression, her big eyes wide as she pouted and hugged the dean's leg, her voice sweet and childish as she began to whine.
"Alright, alright. Since Mr. Ye Feng has agreed, we'll let it go this time. But next time, Wenwen, you can't be so willful, okay?"
The dean, exasperated, extended a calloused finger and gently tapped Zhao Wenwen's forehead, her eyes filled with boundless affection.
Watching this scene, Ye Feng couldn't help but recall what the dean had told him earlier about not being overly kind. Yet, wasn't the dean's current behavior itself an act of kindness?
"Big Brother! Dean Mama agreed! Let's go see Sister now~"
With that, Zhao Wenwen grabbed Ye Feng's hand and pulled him toward the end of the corridor. The dean watched them go, a smile creeping onto her face.
"Someone so gentle and kind... Meng Li might feel a little happier..."
......
After walking down the long corridor, Zhao Wenwen led Ye Feng to a quiet backyard garden. The blooming flowers around them emitted a faint, delicate fragrance, adding a touch of mystery to the already serene atmosphere.
Through the clusters of flowers, Ye Feng caught a glimpse of a petite figure sitting in a small pavilion by a fountain. However, the figure was seated on an old wheelchair.
A wheelchair? Could this child have some physical disability?
Curious, Ye Feng peered toward the pavilion. After following Zhao Wenwen through a few winding paths, they finally arrived at the center of the fountain area.
"Big Brother, we're here~"
Zhao Wenwen whispered softly beside Ye Feng.
"But we have to keep our voices down, okay? Sister doesn't like noisy environments or crowded places. That's why I bought her a teddy bear to be her friend."
"So that's how it is... Wenwen, you're such a good kid."
"Hehe~ Big Brother, let's go~"
As Ye Feng drew closer to the fountain, the appearance of the girl in the pavilion became clearer.
"Sister~"
Zhao Wenwen called out softly to the girl in the pavilion. The girl trembled slightly at the sound, then turned her wheelchair around with one hand. A voice as melodious as a lark's rang out: "Wenwen, you should at least let me know when you're coming. Sneaking up like that could scare me, you know."
As the girl turned, Ye Feng was struck by her appearance.
The girl had long, snow-white hair, pure and serene like a winter snowfall. Her delicate features, though still youthful, hinted at the beauty she would grow into. But what stood out most were her eyes—crimson red, like blood, forming a stark contrast with her white hair. She resembled a lone spider lily blooming in a vast field of snow, her calm gaze betraying a faint longing for life.
So beautiful...
Ye Feng stood rooted to the spot, momentarily forgetting to step up onto the pavilion. It wasn't until Zhao Wenwen's voice reached him that he snapped out of his daze.
"Sister~ Do you still like the teddy bear?"
"Of course I do. Thank you, Wenwen."
The girl spoke in a calm tone, reaching out to gently pat Zhao Wenwen's head. Yet, her expression and movements revealed no trace of emotion—whether she was deliberately hiding her feelings or simply always appeared this way was unclear.
As Ye Feng slowly approached, Zhao Wenwen took his hand and led him to the girl. "Sister, look! This is the big brother I told you about! He's been so kind to me!"
"Uh... hello."
Ye Feng awkwardly greeted the girl, who was staring at him with her crimson eyes. Her reaction left him unsure of how to proceed.
"Thank you."
The girl spoke in a flat tone, her words devoid of inflection. Though her voice didn't sound particularly grateful, her captivating eyes seemed to convey much more.
"It's nothing. Wenwen is a good kid."
Ye Feng shifted his attention to the teddy bear resting on the girl's lap, steering the conversation toward the toy. Earlier, he had noticed a glimmer of light in her eyes when she looked at the bear, as if she truly cherished the gift Wenwen had given her.
"Wenwen, did this big brother buy the teddy bear for you?"
"Ah!"
At the girl's question, Zhao Wenwen immediately lowered her head, hesitating for a long time before stammering, "Y-yes... Big Brother bought it for me..."
"Silly girl, do you realize how much of a favor you've asked of him?"
"I'm sorry, Sister... I just really wanted to give you the teddy bear..."
"You..."
The girl patted Zhao Wenwen's head, ultimately refraining from scolding her. However, her gaze shifted to Ye Feng, who was watching her.
"I'm sorry, sir. My sister has caused you trouble. I'll repay you for the teddy bear."
"No need, it's just a toy. There's no need to—"
Ye Feng tried to decline, but the girl interrupted him.
"I apologize, sir, but this is a matter of principle. My words might come across as harsh, but I must stand by my position. I will repay you for the teddy bear."
Seeing how the girl had erected a defensive barrier around herself, Ye Feng didn't feel offended. After all, everyone had their own principles, didn't they?
"Alright then."
"Thank you, sir."
"Sister... Big Brother is a good person..."
Zhao Wenwen, sensing the tension, tried to explain, but her voice carried little weight in the situation.
"I know this gentleman is kind, Wenwen. But you must understand that in our lives, we cannot afford to owe favors. Favors must be repaid, and we cannot be ungrateful. But before you can repay a favor, you must first assess whether you have the ability to do so."
"I... I..."
Zhao Wenwen was clearly overwhelmed by her sister's lecture, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Enough."
At that moment, Ye Feng stepped in, crouching down and taking Zhao Wenwen's hand.
"Wenwen, you didn't do anything wrong. You did this for your sister, and that's a good thing. But you also need to understand that we should only do what we're capable of, right? If we go beyond our means, we might make mistakes."
"Sniff... Did Wenwen not do wrong?"
"Of course not. Look, your sister is holding the gift you gave her tightly on her lap. That means she really likes it. So, this was a good thing."
"Sir..."
The girl frowned slightly, about to refute Ye Feng's point, but she was caught off guard when he interrupted her first. With just one question, he left her speechless.
"Do you like Wenwen's gift?"
"......"