"It seems I underestimated your abilities, Xie Yuyan. I even thought you might give up," Ye Feng said, though deep down he was genuinely happy for her. As long as she had a hobby she enjoyed, no matter what it was, it was a good start. Such an interest could not only divert her attention from her usual boredom but also gradually help rebuild her character. It would create an invisible barrier between her and her past self, which was exactly what he wanted to see.
As long as she found joy in these hobbies, she would have a reason to keep living. Even if he had to eat more of those shredded potatoes from before, it would be worth it.
"Of course not!" Xie Yuyan replied proudly, as if trying to prove herself to Ye Feng.
"I’m going to make so many delicious dishes, and then you’ll get to eat my cooking every day."
"That sounds great. I’ll be looking forward to it."
"Mhm~"
Xie Yuyan clasped her hands together, watching Ye Feng continue to enjoy the food she had made. She felt a happiness she had never experienced before, and silently vowed to cherish and protect this wonderful life.
......
Afterward, Ye Feng quickly prepared a few more dishes, and the two of them finished their meal. Sitting on the sofa, Ye Feng called Xie Yuyan over and shared some of his thoughts.
"Xie Yuyan, I think it’s necessary to get you a smartphone."
"A smartphone? What would I need that for?"
"You could read e-books when you’re bored, play games, watch TV, or even watch cooking videos."
"Hmm... I think I’ll pass. Even if I had one, I probably wouldn’t use it much."
"Are you sure? I thought it would be a good way for us to stay in touch when something comes up."
"Wait, that’s right! I could talk to you whenever I need to."
"Exactly. Like today, when I came home two hours early. You’d have a heads-up."
The idea of being able to contact Ye Feng when he wasn’t home completely changed Xie Yuyan’s attitude toward the smartphone. She reached out, tugging on Ye Feng’s sleeve and blinking at him.
Ye Feng could see the longing in her eyes and smiled. "Alright, it’s settled then. After my classes tomorrow, I’ll go to the department store to take a look. I might be back a bit late, so don’t worry too much, okay?"
"Okay..."
Although Xie Yuyan agreed, her tone betrayed a hint of concern about Ye Feng’s words.
"Let’s get some rest. I have classes tomorrow, so I’m going to take a shower first."
As Ye Feng stood up, Xie Yuyan suddenly grabbed his wrist from the sofa.
"Xie Yuyan?"
"Ye... Ye Feng, I want to go with you..."
"To buy the phone?"
"Yeah..."
"No!"
Ye Feng firmly rejected her request, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his tone had been too harsh. Knowing how sensitive Xie Yuyan was, he immediately softened his voice and sat back down beside her to explain.
"Of course I’d love to take you with me, but you know your organization hasn’t stopped looking for you. If something were to happen just because we went to buy a phone tomorrow, all our efforts would be for nothing. It’s not worth it.
For the sake of our future, can you bear with it a little longer?"
"I... I..."
Xie Yuyan wanted to say something urgently, but she knew the reality of the situation. In the end, she nodded in disappointment.
"I understand..."
"Keep holding on. The sun will rise eventually."
"......"
Ye Feng knew Xie Yuyan was feeling down, so he didn’t press her further. He left the sofa and headed toward the bathroom.
After Ye Feng left, Xie Yuyan clenched her fists and punched the soft sofa before collapsing onto it.
"Why... Why won’t you let me go after all this time? I just want to live my life..."
For a moment, she thought about grabbing her dagger and storming back into the organization, but she knew that was nothing more than a fantasy.
......
Meanwhile, in a grand conference hall, a gathering of distinguished individuals filled the room, exchanging information about their respective businesses. What appeared to be a banquet was more like a collaboration meeting.
"President Su, thank you for signing the agreement with our company. I assure you, we won’t let you down."
"You’re too kind."
"Then I’ll take my leave, President Su. I hope you enjoy the rest of the banquet."
A man in a sharp suit shook hands with Su Wanli before picking up his briefcase and disappearing into the crowd, clearly having successfully closed a deal.
"Honey!"
Just as Su Wanli picked up a glass of red wine from a waiter’s tray, a sophisticated voice called out. A blonde woman with a ponytail walked over to him.
"Darling? What are you doing here? Weren’t you playing cards with the other ladies?"
This was Su Wanli’s wife, Tang Kexin.
The blonde woman shot Su Wanli a glare, her graceful figure accentuated by her posture. Though there were faint lines on her face, her features bore a striking resemblance to Su Yuxin’s—except one exuded elegance while the other radiated cuteness, as if they were two different styles.
"Play cards? You didn’t even notice our daughter sulking alone in the lounge! She didn’t even touch her favorite cake!"
With that, the woman walked up to Su Wanli and pinched his ear. Despite the size difference between them, her presence was commanding.
"Did you upset her today? She barely even responded when I tried to talk to her!"
"Darling, please, not here. Everyone’s watching. Let’s talk about this calmly."
Su Wanli managed to persuade his wife to let go, looking genuinely puzzled.
"It’s true that Yuxin’s mood has something to do with me, but I already talked to her. This shouldn’t be happening."
"Don’t give me ‘shouldn’t’! Go and cheer her up right now. If you don’t fix this today, don’t even think about sleeping in my bed!"
Tang Kexin shot Su Wanli a sharp look before striding out of the banquet hall in her high heels.
Su Wanli knew better than to delay. He hurried toward the lounge.
Soon, he arrived at a room with a closed door. He knocked gently before stepping inside.
"Yuxin, your mother said you’ve lost your appetite. What’s wrong?"
Su Yuxin sat in a chair, quietly gazing out the window at the night view. When she noticed her father entering, she pouted.
"Good evening, Father..."