“Are you sitting steady?”
After Ye Feng helped Shen Mengli onto the small cart, he cautiously asked to ensure she wouldn’t lose her balance again.
“Mm.”
Shen Mengli responded with a single word, saying nothing more.
“Then I’ll let go now.”
Upon receiving her acknowledgment, Ye Feng withdrew his hands from her arms.
Once everything settled, Ye Feng was about to ask if Shen Mengli needed him to push her to the dining hall, but before he could speak, Shen Mengli unexpectedly broke the silence.
“Mr. Ye Feng, when did you arrive?”
Staring into the girl’s uniquely captivating red eyes, it took Ye Feng a moment to react before he quickly replied,
“I just got here. I asked the headmistress, and she told me you were in this area, so I came. After all, we agreed that I would come, didn’t we?”
“......”
Shen Mengli simply looked at Ye Feng, then suddenly spoke again.
“I’m sorry.”
“Huh? Why are you apologizing?”
“I’ve caused you trouble.”
“Thud.”
At that moment, Ye Feng lightly tapped the top of Shen Mengli’s head with a mock chop. Though the gesture was gentle, it conveyed his thoughts clearly.
“Can’t you just accept kindness from others? Why do you have to keep pushing people away?”
“Because I don’t have the ability to repay such kindness. In my current state, even staying upright feels like a distant hope.”
“Who said anything about repayment? I never mentioned that.”
“Constantly relying on others only brings them endless trouble. I’m already like this—what right do I have to hope for anything better?”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong.”
Ye Feng immediately countered Shen Mengli’s words. He knew she was like a bird without wings, gazing at the vast blue sky but unable to do anything about it.
“Everyone has their own path in life. When faced with a difficult road, you should grit your teeth and keep moving forward, not stand still.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ye Feng. Your words make sense. But by your logic, isn’t my choice also my own decision?”
“I know I don’t have the right to dictate your thoughts, but if you don’t try to change, how will you know if success is possible?”
“I’ve already tried to change, but nothing has come of it. All my efforts were just illusions and wasted energy.”
“Miss Shen...”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Ye Feng. I’ve said too much. I’d like to be alone for a while. Could you give me some space, please?”
Shen Mengli’s sudden shift in demeanor caught Ye Feng off guard. It seemed her emotional barriers were stronger than he had imagined, and changing her mindset would be no easy task.
Ye Feng glanced at Shen Mengli, who had turned her head away, and realized there was no chance for further conversation now. No matter what he said, she likely wouldn’t listen. It was best to let her have some time alone.
“Alright, take care. I’ll head over to the headmistress now.”
Without hesitation, Ye Feng left the garden, leaving Shen Mengli alone, staring at the fountain.
Only after Ye Feng’s figure had completely disappeared did Shen Mengli dare to look in the direction he had gone. Then, she lowered her gaze to the small teddy bear clutched in her hands.
“I’m sorry...”
......
“Big Brother!”
As soon as Ye Feng stepped into the dining hall, Wenwen, holding a paper crane, came running toward him.
“Big Brother, you’re finally here! My sister and I have been waiting for you for so long.”
Ye Feng gently patted Wenwen’s head and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Wenwen. I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had time to visit. You’re not mad at me, are you?”
“Of course not! Big Brother is so kind to me, my sister, and everyone else. How could I ever be mad at you?”
Wenwen grinned and hopped around, her lively and adorable demeanor shining through.
“Wenwen, you mentioned that you and your sister have been waiting for me. How long has that been?”
“Just a few days ago. After you left last time, my sister kept going to the garden and looking out the window. She said she was admiring the scenery, but I know she was waiting for you to come see her.”
“Really?”
Ye Feng was surprised to hear that Shen Mengli had been doing such things in private. Her actions seemed to contradict the words she had spoken earlier. But why?
“Big Brother, didn’t my sister come with you?”
Wenwen peeked behind Ye Feng, and upon noticing Shen Mengli wasn’t there, she whispered her question.
“Your sister wanted to stay in the garden for a while, so I came alone.”
“Oh... That’s too bad. The snacks today are really delicious.”
Wenwen’s tone carried a hint of disappointment, but she quickly cheered up again.
“Big Brother, do you want to play a game with me later? My friends and I are planning to play hide-and-seek.”
“Well...”
Ye Feng glanced at the headmistress, who was busy, and reluctantly declined.
“Sorry, Wenwen. It looks like you’ll have to play with your friends. The headmistress is still tidying up, and I should go help her.”
“Oh! I’ll help too!”
Wenwen, being a good child, immediately offered to assist when she heard the headmistress was in need. But Ye Feng gently refused.
“Don’t worry, Wenwen. Let me handle the chores. You and your friends take a break. When you’re older, it’ll be easier for you to help out.”
“Okay...”
Though Wenwen didn’t fully understand Ye Feng’s words, she nodded her little head in agreement.
After parting ways with Wenwen, Ye Feng approached the headmistress and began helping her clean up the dishes and leftovers left by the children. As they worked, he spoke up.
“Headmistress, let me handle this. You should take a break.”
“Mr. Ye Feng, you’re our guest. It’s not right for you to do such tasks. We can manage on our own.”
“It’s no trouble at all. With my help, we’ll finish faster.”
Unable to resist Ye Feng’s enthusiasm, the headmistress finally agreed. As they continued cleaning, Ye Feng took the opportunity to ask a question.
“Headmistress, I wanted to ask—will the orphanage continue to care for Mengli in the future? As far as I know, the rules state that once the children reach adulthood, they must leave the orphanage to find their own path in life.”
“Sigh.”
At Ye Feng’s question, the headmistress let out a deep sigh. After picking up the last piece of trash, she turned to him and said,
“Mr. Ye Feng, do you have some time later? Could you come to my office? There’s something I need to discuss with you.”