Chapter 195: She, Afraid...

Words : 1332 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

The boy’s embrace carried a faint damp chill, Yun Shifei’s head rested against Cheng Lie’s chest, and she could hear the steady thump of his heartbeat. She reacted half a beat slower, and it took her quite a while to realize what Cheng Lie was doing. She wanted to push him away. But the boy was much stronger, and her force, to him, was akin to a gentle tickle. "Don’t move, just hold me for a bit and I’ll feel warmer." Above her head, the boy’s cool voice rang out, sounding almost like coaxing a child. "Cheng Lie, there’s a difference between men and women!" Yun Shifei sounded a bit annoyed. Why did it feel like she was always unknowingly taken advantage of by Cheng Lie? "But I’m cold." The boy’s pitiful tone emerged. Hearing Cheng Lie say this, combined with his intentional visit, Yun Shifei’s hardened heart couldn’t help but soften. Fine, Cheng Lie was afraid she’d be scared, came to find her without even using an umbrella, soaked from head to toe. What’s the harm in being held by him for a bit? Seeing Yun Shifei not resisting, Cheng Lie curved his lips slightly. Once again, he marveled at how obedient she was, so soft and even fragrant. Hmm... He really wondered what it might feel like to take a bite. Yun Shifei had no idea that the little devil inside Cheng Lie was stirring, transforming her into a meal on his mental plate. She was merely thinking that she should send Cheng Lie back later; it would be troublesome if he caught a cold. Splat— The lights came on. Having adapted to the dim environment for so long, the sudden brightness made Yun Shifei’s eyes sting slightly. Before she could close them, her head was pressed into Cheng Lie’s chest. Yun Shifei: "..." Should she praise him for being thoughtful? At that moment, Baby barked beside them and ran to Yun Shifei’s feet. Yun Shifei snapped out of it and asked Cheng Lie, "Baby comes with a natural fur coat, it’s warm. Want to hold it instead?" Cheng Lie’s face showed a hint of speechlessness, but he understood that he couldn’t continue to hold Yun Shifei like this. Things needed to progress slowly and with moderation; if he pushed too far, she might get angry. If she got angry, there was a chance she’d distance herself from him. That was something Cheng Lie did not want to see. He loosened his hold on Yun Shifei. The wind outside seemed to die down a little, and the room settled into an eerie quiet. Yun Shifei looked at Cheng Lie. "Let me take you back." Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang. Yun Shifei went to answer and saw Cheng Lie’s servant standing at the door. "Miss Yun, is Young Master with you?" "He’s here." "The Master has asked me to bring the Young Master home." After Cheng Lie left, Yun Shifei was petting Baby, but her mind seemed to wander off to outer space. She belatedly realized that Cheng Lie was a little... odd. It’s not because he wasn’t so dull—no, that wasn’t it. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was strange about him. But thinking back to the words he said and that recent hug... Yun Shifei’s face reddened slightly as she reached out to hug Baby. Baby endured Yun Shifei’s petting, but being so firmly hugged made it want to break free from her restraint. What’s wrong with its owner?! Yun Shifei released Baby, letting it play on its own nearby, her thoughts still lingering on the recent events. Her heartbeat quickened. Could it be—did she actually fall for him? No way! Yun Shifei felt a bit scared. Despite how close she and Cheng Lie were now, they were fundamentally from two different worlds. She would live her ordinary life, while Cheng Lie would go on to become someone extraordinary. How could someone as ordinary as her be with someone like him? Thinking of this, the flicker of affection in Yun Shifei’s heart was like a candle on a table, snuffed out in an instant. Even if she truly liked him, she couldn’t let it show. She couldn’t interfere with Cheng Lie. Now, so many people’s paths had veered entirely away from what they were in her past life. Yun Sisi had changed, and Mu Chengzhu too. Those who shone so brightly in her previous life had shifted. So what about Cheng Lie? She was truly afraid that her rebirth might have prevented Cheng Lie from becoming the brilliant figure he was meant to be. After all, in her past life, she had never been this deeply involved with Cheng Lie. She felt fear... The light in Yun Shifei’s eyes gradually dimmed—it was true. Should she start keeping her distance from Cheng Lie? What if he were affected by her presence? After all, in her past life, she had never heard of Cheng Lie being this approachable—it seemed like he had always been cold. Even after recovering, he remained detached and ruthless. She couldn’t distract him. So, for the entire holiday that followed, Yun Shifei didn’t visit Cheng Lie anymore. Even Yun Tiancheng found it odd. "Shi Fei, why aren’t you going to hang out with Cheng Lie anymore?" "Oh, I need to focus on my studies." Yun Shifei now felt that studying was such a perfect excuse—for anything she didn’t want to do, she could use studying to deflect. Thinking about how there were still more than six months until Cheng Lie transformed into a leader. She felt that she couldn’t disturb Cheng Lie during this critical time. He needed to become that leader on his own. Yun Shifei felt her reasoning was exceptionally sound. Otherwise, as in the last time, Cheng Lie’s constant efforts to take her feelings into account might alter his future trajectory. This was something Yun Shifei didn’t want to see happen. Before, when she didn’t understand Cheng Lie, she had only thought of him as the typical villainous leader. But now, having uncovered the Cheng Family’s secrets, she realized how tough these years had been for Cheng Lie. If he couldn’t take revenge on the Cheng Family, he’d likely be devastated. Yun Shifei resolved not to disturb Cheng Lie anymore. But Cheng Lie’s mood grew worse by the day. Although he didn’t show it outwardly, all his recent paintings turned dark. Black skies, silent houses, empty spaces—they gave off a chilling vibe at first glance. Or vast oceans with a lone figure drifting within. They all evoked a cold gloom that seeped into the viewer’s heart. Cheng Lie couldn’t understand why Yun Shifei had stopped coming to find him. He’d already cast out the net, and now was the time to wait for her to bite the bait. That day, when he hugged her, she hadn’t rejected him, but now, she wasn’t coming to him? Did he have to go find her again? Yet if he went too frequently, was overly active in seeking her out, it might arouse the Cheng Family’s suspicions. If he left in the future and they turned to retaliate against Yun Shifei, what would happen then? Still, how was he supposed to manage this now? For someone used to making decisions quickly, Cheng Lie found himself at a loss this time. After two more days of enduring, Cheng Lie couldn’t hold it any longer and finally asked at the dinner table, his expression filled with confusion, "Why hasn’t Shi Fei come to see me?" Cheng Guomin looked at Cheng Lie with visible surprise—once, twice; it seemed Cheng Lie really considered Yun Shifei his friend now. How strange. Despite all these years of treating him well, Cheng Lie had always been aloof toward them, never taking the initiative. Yet with Yun Shifei, he had become quite close. Maybe one day, they might even tie the knot? He was partners with Yun Tiancheng too; wouldn’t that make them family?

Chapter 195: She, Afraid...

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