Chapter 260: He Can Protect Her From Now On
Rationally, she told herself that it was because Cheng Lie hadn’t yet become a true big shot, so he definitely wasn’t in a position to handle someone as influential as Qin Yumo.
But clearly, she could have shared her concerns with Xu Yuejiao, yet she didn’t tell Cheng Lie.
At the root of it all, it was probably because she didn’t want to trouble him, right?
It seemed that ever since he recovered from his illness, an invisible sense of distance had grown between them.
She felt that she could no longer treat him like a pitiful little soul needing her wholehearted help, the way she had in the past. Instead, she always regarded him as an untouchable big shot, and when she was with him, her heart carried a trace of inferiority.
Looking at how Yun Shifei seemed so guilty that she didn’t dare meet his gaze, Cheng Lie couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to stroke her hair.
The first time he had met her, her hair had been short, just at shoulder-length.
But now, her hair was long, thick and black, soft and silky, extraordinarily pleasant to touch.
Cheng Lie gently tousled her hair, but his hand didn’t leave her head.
Instead, he twisted a strand of her hair around his fingers, curling it into a loop.
"Realized your mistake?" The boy’s deep voice rang out, not as cold as before—it was clear his mood today seemed rather good.
Noticing that he seemed to be in a decent mood, Yun Shifei didn’t feel as guilty anymore.
She lifted her reddened eyes—still glossy and bright as they always were—to look at Cheng Lie.
She nodded.
"From now on, don’t hide things from me. I’m not the person who needed your protection anymore."
From now on, he could protect her too.
Thinking about everything that had happened today, Cheng Lie still felt a lingering sense of fear. If he hadn’t come over by coincidence, or if Qin Chi Jin hadn’t happened to want him to meet Qin Yumo, what might have happened if Yun Shifei had been alone with Qin Yumo in that private room?
The thought was unbearable.
He couldn’t let himself think about it anymore; otherwise, he’d lose control of his emotions again, and that might scare her.
Hearing his words, a warmth surged through Yun Shifei’s heart. She nodded again, saying softly, "I understand."
After she said this, Yun Shifei suddenly realized: Cheng Lie was playing with her hair.
Their proximity was incredibly close, his dark eyes quietly fixed on her.
His gaze was filled entirely with her.
Thump-thump-thump—
Yun Shifei could hear the sound of her own intense heartbeat again.
She hurriedly stepped back two steps, the strand of hair wrapped around Cheng Lie’s fingers slipping away.
Watching Yun Shifei—her reaction delayed several beats, with a face blushing crimson and a flustered expression—Cheng Lie couldn’t help but find her amusing.
He suddenly realized how adorably cute she looked when she flushed with embarrassment.
He couldn’t help but want to make her entirely his own.
But he knew that if he acted on this impulse right now, he’d only scare her. Even if she liked him, her reflex would be to run away.
He had come to understand—currently, there was an inexplicable distance in her heart when it came to him. She didn’t approach him with the same closeness she once had.
But just now, her mannerisms were proof enough that her feelings for him hadn’t disappeared.
Especially when compared to her earlier interactions with Qin Yumo.
Thinking of Qin Yumo, Cheng Lie’s gaze grew colder again.
Sitting inside the car, Cheng Lie pulled out some tissues, took Yun Shifei’s hand, and meticulously wiped it clean.
Yun Shifei was completely bewildered. "Cheng Lie, what are you doing?"
"He held your hand earlier." Cheng Lie’s explanation was flat.
He—Qin Yumo?
Recalling the scene in the private room and then watching him seriously wipe her hand now,
Yun Shifei bit her lip, stealing glances at Cheng Lie. The boy lowered his gaze, carefully cleaning her hand.
His eyelashes were long, casting delicate shadows beneath them.
The scene had a peculiar familiarity to it—it reminded her of the way they’d quietly spent time together back in South City.
But ever since coming here, with his illness cured and work keeping him busy, they hadn’t been able to meet often. It was as though they no longer belonged in the same world.
She realized she hadn’t looked at him seriously like this in a very long time. Staring at him now, a thought emerged in Yun Shifei’s mind.
Why did she feel that his feelings toward her were different?
She couldn’t help but feel that he liked her too.
With that thought, Yun Shifei immediately wanted to shake herself awake.
Back in South City, Cheng Lie had done plenty of wonderful things for her. They had even hugged, and he had kissed her once.
Now, he must have completely forgotten what he did back then, right?
She was actually tempted to ask him—when he kissed her on the Ferris wheel and said he liked her, what kind of "like" was that?
But at this moment, she didn’t quite have the courage.
She sat there staring dazedly at Cheng Lie until he lifted his head to look at her and brought her back to reality. Flustered, she quickly shifted her gaze away.
Cheng Lie’s lips curled into a faint smile, but he didn’t tease her. Instead, he asked, "Your father’s in trouble?"
Yun Shifei nodded.
"Don’t worry, I’ll handle it for you."
Yun Shifei nodded again.
She thought of the person who had walked in with him, who seemed to be a relative of Qin Yumo and who also knew Cheng Lie.
Could it be that Cheng Lie was working for the Qin Family now?
"Cheng Lie, can I ask you something—is your boss from the Qin Family?"
Cheng Lie uttered a soft "mm."
In her previous life, Yun Shifei hadn’t known much about Cheng Lie, only that a few years later he would rise to fame, build his own business empire, and become a true big shot.
He had also displayed astonishing talent in the internet sector.
He was truly a genius! The more Yun Shifei thought about it, the more she admired him.
Her gaze toward Cheng Lie gleamed with admiration.
"Cheng Lie, thank you, but... isn’t this troublesome for you?"
Hearing this, Cheng Lie couldn’t help but lightly knock Yun Shifei’s head. The gesture hurt a little, and Yun Shifei rubbed her forehead, puzzled as to why he’d done that.
"Shi Fei, you never minded troubling me before. Back then, when I was in that state, you were so good to me. Now, I’m only afraid you’ll stop relying on me."
For her to stop relying on him would mean they were becoming distant. He didn’t want the space between them to keep growing silently.
Hearing that Cheng Lie remembered their past, Yun Shifei was surprised—he actually remembered!
"Do you really remember how good I was to you before?"
"I remember."
How could he not? Her kindness was like a beam of light that had illuminated his world.
If not for her, he might still be surviving in darkness.
"Do you remember that I even took you out for desserts?" Yun Shifei asked.
Cheng Lie nodded.
"And that we wandered everywhere outdoors together?"
Again, Cheng Lie nodded.
He really did remember.
Yun Shifei finally asked the question she’d been wanting to ask: "Do you still remember how, when Song Yang bullied me, you ran into the girls’ restroom to save me?"
"I remember."
"And back then, we were sitting in the car, and you hugged me a little?"
That had been their first hug. She hoped he still remembered it.