"Phew..."
Looking at himself in the mirror, Ye Feng's heart was filled with complexity.
The main reason he brought Shen Mengli back to his home was that he couldn't bear to see someone who had so much hope for life just disappear from this world. At her age, a beautiful life was just beginning.
But could he really take good care of this self-conscious girl? A day, a week, or even a month might be manageable, but what about a year, ten years, or twenty? Could he truly stay by her side, never abandoning her?
In Ye Feng's mind, Shen Mengli's eyes, which seemed to hide all her innermost thoughts, flashed by. For some reason, whenever he looked into her bright crimson eyes, he felt as if he was being drawn in, wanting to pull her out of the abyss.
What am I even thinking?
Ye Feng shook his head, trying to clear his mind of these distracting thoughts. Although the system had tightly connected him to the girls he met through tasks, he hadn't resorted to unscrupulous methods just to complete those tasks. He wanted to make amends... to compensate the girls who had been affected because of him. But the only thing he could do was treat them gently. Beyond that, there was nothing else he could offer.
Perhaps there would be a better way in the future. As long as they felt that the compensation was enough, they should be satisfied.
Ye Feng took a deep breath, and the once blurry path ahead seemed to clear up a bit. He turned the bathroom door handle and returned to the bedroom.
"Click."
As the bedroom door slowly opened, Shen Mengli's eyes, as if equipped with an automatic tracking system, immediately locked onto Ye Feng.
"Xiao Feng, you're here."
Shen Mengli's soft voice rang out. Perhaps because it was late at night, her voice was so quiet that even the slightest noise from Ye Feng would make it hard to hear.
"Ah... um... Mengli, is there anything you need me to do? I'm not very detail-oriented, so if there's anything you need, please let me know, okay?"
"Mmm, thank you, Xiao Feng~"
Shen Mengli pulled the blanket up, slowly covering her nose and mouth, as if some strange atmosphere was making her feel a little shy.
"Ahem, well... I'll turn off the lights now."
"Okay."
As the bedroom lights went out, the surroundings instantly plunged into darkness. Familiar with the environment, Ye Feng moistened his dry lips and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Since the two of them were sharing a bed, Ye Feng had specifically prepared a new set of blankets and pillows, while Xie Yuyan's personal belongings had been neatly packed away.
Although Ye Feng wasn't fond of sharing a bed, there was no other choice. Comparatively, he preferred sleeping alone in a bed, where he could sprawl out in whatever position felt comfortable. But now... he would have to restrain himself...
"Rustle, rustle."
Feeling the mattress sink slightly, Ye Feng pulled the blanket over himself.
In that moment, the room was filled with a tense atmosphere. After some hesitation, Ye Feng was the first to break the silence.
"Ahem... um... good night..."
"Mmm, good night, Xiao Feng."
The two of them lay back-to-back, unable to see each other. Just as Ye Feng was about to close his eyes, he heard Shen Mengli's voice from behind him.
"Xiao... Xiao Feng?"
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
"N-no... nothing..."
Shen Mengli hugged her teddy bear tightly, burying her face in its fluffy head.
"I just wanted to add one more thing..."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Xiao Feng is the first... the first boy I've ever shared a bed with..."
Shen Mengli's voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, but Ye Feng heard every word.
"Ah... I see..."
"Mmm."
Shen Mengli opened her sparkling eyes, glancing subtly toward her back. Although she wanted to turn around, she was afraid of disturbing Ye Feng, so she stayed still, breathing softly. At least she had spoken her mind, and now she could finally relax and sleep.
"Xiao Feng, good ni..."
"Oh, Mengli."
"Ah! Wh-what is it?"
The moment Shen Mengli heard Ye Feng speak, she stopped herself, clutching the teddy bear's neck as if she were extremely nervous.
Ugh... it's all my fault! Why did I have to say good night so quickly? Xiao Feng still had something to say, and here I am rushing things! Shen Mengli, you're such an idiot!
"I just wanted to tell you, don't worry too much about the institute. I left something in the pavilion, and the director will understand."
"O-okay..."
"That's all I wanted to say. It's late, so I won't disturb your sleep anymore. Good night."
"Good night..."
After exchanging good nights, Shen Mengli kept her eyes wide open, as if waiting for something. Only after a long silence did she finally close her eyes, exhausted.
......
"Mmm..."
The morning sunlight streamed into the room, and Ye Feng slowly opened his eyes. As he was about to stretch as usual, he remembered that he wasn't alone in bed anymore, so he quickly restrained himself. He slightly turned to glance behind him and, seeing Shen Mengli's body rising and falling evenly, realized she was still asleep. He then moved even more quietly.
After carefully lifting the blanket and getting out of bed, Ye Feng was about to leave the bedroom to prepare breakfast when he noticed that the blanket had slipped off Shen Mengli's shoulder.
Afraid she might catch a cold, Ye Feng cautiously approached Shen Mengli's side. When he saw her sleeping face, he froze for a moment.
Although Shen Mengli's appearance had shocked him several times before, he still hadn't gotten used to it.
The girl's silky white hair cascaded down to her back, and her soft, pale hands were clutching the teddy bear. Her once pale complexion seemed to have improved, showing signs of a healthy flush. The sleeping girl looked like a vivid painting, captivating and serene. Ye Feng quickly shook his head to calm himself down.
No, if I keep staring like this, I'll be seen as a creep!
Ye Feng hurriedly reached out to pull the blanket over Shen Mengli's shoulder. After making sure she hadn't woken up, he tiptoed out of the room......
"Mmm... ah..."
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Mengli's drooping eyelids slowly lifted. After blinking a few times, she gradually regained consciousness.
"Huh... why hasn't the morning bell rung yet? Have the kids not woken up either?"