Chapter 316: Does She Still Love Him?
Cheng Lie gently touched her hair. "Then eat a little more."
"That’s not possible, I’m dieting lately." She realized she’d indeed gained quite a bit of weight, her flesh was soft and loose—it was distressing. She needed to eat less and exercise properly.
Cheng Lie simply replied, "It doesn’t matter, the way you feel now is just perfect."
This man—no matter how she was, he always thought she was fine.
Yun Shifei couldn’t help but glare at him. She muttered, "That’s not good, I still think losing a bit of weight looks better. You wouldn’t understand how annoying it is for girls—once we gain even a little weight, we can’t find nice clothes to wear."
Cheng Lie’s gaze fell on her red coat. "Is this your new outfit?"
Yun Shifei nodded. "After my dad found out I was seeing someone, he feared I’d spend less time with him in the future, so he’s been buying things for me like crazy."
He’d bought so many clothes—she wouldn’t repeat outfits even for an entire season.
Cheng Lie chuckled. "Your dad cares for you deeply."
"Yes, he does."
Cheng Lie lowered his gaze, his thoughts drifting to Cheng Guomin. Because he had grown up as an illegitimate child hidden away from the world, Cheng Guomin had adored him fiercely in a twisted way—and also sought to ruin him.
Unfortunately for Cheng Guomin, by the time he brought him home, Cheng Lie’s mind had already matured.
If he had been brought back a few years earlier, perhaps he might have been broken beyond repair.
But by then, he was already in elementary school—an age where right and wrong were clear. How could he be ruined so easily?
Yun Shifei noticed Cheng Lie’s silence and thought to herself, could he be thinking about Cheng Guomin?
The memories of everything Cheng Lie had gone through pricked at Yun Shifei’s heart, filling it with an ache.
From the moment she decided she wanted to be his friend, she resolved to protect him forever. Even though he had grown strong enough now that he no longer needed her protection, Yun Shifei still wanted to stand guard over him.
Eager to break the melancholy, she said quickly, "Cheng Lie, my dad loves me, and I love you—that means together we both love you. Doesn’t that make you feel incredibly lucky?"
Cheng Lie raised his eyes at her words, looking at Yun Shifei.
She was just then putting a piece of cake into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out as she looked at him with happiness and contentment. Her expression was so adorably naive, he couldn’t resist wanting to pinch her cheeks.
And so he did—he pinched her cheeks lightly before saying, "Being with you is very blissful."
A bliss so profound that he wanted nothing more than to spend every waking moment with her, to marry her soon, and to spend a lifetime by her side.
These thoughts? She had no idea.
And for now, he couldn’t tell her—he worried it might scare her off.
Yun Shifei beamed at him with a silly grin. "I even prepared a New Year’s gift for you! I planned on giving it to you when I got back to school, but now you’ve returned—maybe I’ll give it to you in a few days?"
Cheng Lie replied, "Shifei, I also have a gift for you."
"What is it?" Yun Shifei asked with eager anticipation.
Cheng Lie pulled a box out from his pocket and handed it to her, smiling. "Open it and see if you like it."
Yun Shifei opened the box. Inside lay a necklace made of rose gold, sparkling brightly in the light. It had a charming little bunny design—extraordinarily adorable.
Yun Shifei picked up the necklace, cupping it in her palms for a closer look, and nodded enthusiastically. "I like it."
She truly adored it—it was far too cute.
But Yun Shifei quizzically looked at Cheng Lie. "Why do you always give me rabbit-themed gifts? Do I seem like someone who loves rabbits?"
"Because you resemble a rabbit," Cheng Lie answered.
A rabbit, destined to be devoured by the big bad wolf.
Did she look like a bunny? Yun Shifei didn’t know. But since rabbits were so adorable, she decided to take his words as a compliment.
After finishing their meal, they wandered around for a while before Cheng Lie prepared to take Yun Shifei home.
"Cheng Lie, do you want to meet my dad?"
They hadn’t seen each other in ages, and now that he was her boyfriend, Yun Tiancheng wanted to see what her boyfriend was like. This seemed like a good opportunity.
But Cheng Lie replied, "I came on short notice and didn’t bring anything with me—it’s better to meet him next time."
Yun Shifei thought this made sense, so she nodded. "When are you leaving?"
"In a couple of days."
Yun Shifei sighed. "The day after tomorrow I’ll be going to my grandmother’s place for a few days—I won’t be able to send you off."
"It’s fine, just enjoy your time at your grandmother’s." Cheng Lie reassured her.
Yun Shifei nodded in agreement.
Cheng Lie dropped Yun Shifei off at her neighborhood before leaving.
Upon returning home, Yun Tiancheng asked why she had rushed out so late at night. Yun Shifei made up an excuse to dodge the question.
Since meeting Cheng Lie wasn’t an option right now, naturally she wouldn’t admit it was Cheng Lie who had come to see her.
As she went upstairs, her hand brushed against the necklace on her neck, and her heart felt sweet and snug.
She didn’t know that not far away, someone was gazing in the direction of her room.
Mu Chengzhu stood outside with a sorrowful expression. Earlier, he had seen Cheng Lie escort Yun Shifei to her neighborhood. The two had been laughing together, and before parting, Yun Shifei had even taken the initiative to hug Cheng Lie.
Even though he had suspected they might be together, seeing it with his own eyes was something else entirely.
Watching their intimacy, Mu Chengzhu felt as if his heart was being struck fiercely by a heavy object—a pain so intense it was suffocating.
Especially since all he could think about was how he believed the person who should be close to her was him. Mu Chengzhu found himself unable to accept it.
To him, this seemed utterly unfair.
The last life was the last life—this life should be different.
Why did Yun Shifei have to sentence him to a life without her because of the past?
Mu Chengzhu felt deeply wounded.
Standing silently outside, amidst the lively fireworks and firecrackers, he felt removed from it all. At this moment, his heart was drowned in desolation.
He knew deep down, no matter what he did, Yun Shifei wouldn’t love him.
Yet he still wished to keep her by his side. But how?
Mu Chengzhu thought of the exceptional abilities Cheng Lie had demonstrated in their past life.
If, in this life, he managed to take the lead ahead of Cheng Lie, would Cheng Lie still become the figure who revolutionized technology? Or would he end up as just another nobody? If that happened, would Yun Shifei still love him?
Mu Chengzhu smiled faintly to himself.
The next day, Yun Shifei once again made up an excuse to meet up with Cheng Lie, spending another day together. They visited many places in South City, including their old school, to reminisce.
Time had changed things, but somehow everything still felt the same.
Both of them had grown up and would continue to grow.
Yun Shifei couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
The following day, Yun Shifei traveled to Nantian Town, while Cheng Lie went to a prison on the outskirts.
There, he met Cheng Guomin.
It had been a long time. Cheng Guomin looked thinner and had aged significantly.
When he saw Cheng Lie, there was a flicker of surprise and sentiment in his expression, but it soon dissipated into nothingness.
"You’re here," he said calmly.