Chapter 150: How Long Until We Meet Again?
Ye Zhen led Ye Fuli through the bustling commercial street for quite a while.
The array of goods was dazzling, almost overwhelming.
Yet Ye Fuli showed remarkable patience. Whenever she spotted a gift she thought might be suitable, she would carefully ask Ye Zhen, "Would this make a good present?"
At first, Ye Zhen's responses were perfunctory.
Later, seeing that Ye Fuli wasn't playing games but genuinely wanted to know if things were suitable… Ye Zhen found herself becoming much more patient.
This girl wanting to be a person was always a good thing.
Otherwise, who could stand watching her go crazy all the time?
"This isn't quite right for a man your father's age, and it's winter now. Such a flashy anime-style T-shirt? Better skip it."
"A pet? Creative, but your dad probably doesn't want to keep a spider that big."
"Your dad is indeed a man, and men are forever boys at heart, but giving a grown man an Ultraman costume? That might be a bit much."
Ye Fuli was clearly feeling down.
She rarely faced such outright rejection and felt utterly useless.
Zhao Mengde, who had been trailing behind them and overheard the entire exchange, was laughing so hard he was about to pass out.
"Hahaha! Ye Fuli, you're lethal! How could you even think of giving these things? I seriously doubt you're not doing this on purpose! If it's not intentional… Pfft, that's even funnier, hahaha!"
Ye Fuli turned around and glared at her fiercely.
Zhao Mengde, who was sipping her bubble tea, nearly choked on it.
"Hey! How hypocritical can you be? You're all sweetness and light with Ye Zhen, but you're a fierce demon with me!" Official Account: flyn5959
Ye Fuli looked utterly innocent. "How could that be?"
"Hey! You glared at me! That look just now—you definitely wanted to kill me, right?!"
Ye Fuli shook her head. "I apologize if I scared you. I just found you too noisy. I swear I didn't mean to kill you."
"Hey! You're mocking me again!"
Ye Zhen couldn't help but sigh.
She could sense that the Ye Fuli of today and yesterday was vastly different from the Ye Fuli of before.
The biggest difference was that Ye Fuli finally seemed willing to listen to her.
But if you insisted she had changed, that core essence within her hadn't shifted one bit.
Still, today's Ye Fuli no longer carried that dark aura she once did. A smile often lingered at the corners of her mouth, her words held fewer barbs, and she showed friendliness toward strangers.
This version of Ye Fuli…
would be quite popular.
But considering her talent for deception, her extreme violent tendencies, and the fact she'd just been poisoned—possibly damaging her brain—Ye Zhen wouldn't easily believe she could change.
After much deliberation, she finally settled on a gift.
Ye Zhen bought her father a set of fishing gear, recalling how he'd expressed interest in the hobby in the original storyline.
As for Ye Fuli, she ordered a luxury watch worth tens of millions for Ye Dad.
"This one… shouldn't be a mistake, right?"
"Hmm, probably not…"
Giving a watch is generally safe—whether the recipient wears it or not, it's rarely a mistake.
Especially when it's this expensive!
Ye Zhen couldn't help but think that if she received such a gift herself, regardless of whether it was a men's or women's watch, she would absolutely love it.
Just as she was thinking this…
she noticed the shift in Ye Fuli's gaze.
From confusion, to contemplation, and finally, to sudden realization.
"I'll take two of these watches," Ye Fuli told the beaming salesperson.
Then she turned to look at Ye Zhen.
"One is for my dad, and the other is a thank-you gift for helping me pick out presents today."
Snap—
Ye Zhen couldn't help but hold her forehead.
Well, thank you ever so much.
Can you please stop with this "you looked at it twice, so you must like it" mindset!
But hey, you've got money to burn, so I won't stop you.
Just so you don't suddenly go nuts again for no reason.
…
Shopping done, time for a meal before we each go our separate ways.
Ye Fuli desperately wanted to exchange more words with Ye Zhen, but the memory of Ye Zhen's icy stare made her silently abandon the thought.
As they say online, forced fruit never tastes sweet.
So she had to wait until the melon ripened naturally.
Hmm!
That logic was spot on.
Ye Fuli felt her mind was working perfectly—not at all like the serious illness Dr. Xu had described.
"Um, Ye Zhen, what would you like to eat? It's on me."
Ye Zhen shook her head.
Along the way, she'd had bubble tea, baked pastries, and all sorts of snacks.
She wasn't hungry at all right now.
But Zhao Mengde seemed ravenous, waving his hand insistently: "Grilled kidneys! Grilled lamb kidneys! Grilled pork kidneys!"
Ye Fuli suddenly turned back and glared at her fiercely.
Zhao Mengde: "…"
Ye Fuli pressed her hand to her forehead, shook her head, and sighed, "I'm sorry. I apologize."
Zhao Mengde roared in fury: "Dammit! Don't just apologize and never change! Your apology sounds like mockery!"
But Ye Fuli's apology did indeed lack sincerity.
After confirming Ye Zhen had no desire to eat, she tactfully suggested it was already late and offered to escort Ye Zhen back to her dorm before leaving.
"Hey, do you think I'm just here for show? No need for you to escort her. You can get lost."
As Zhao Mengde spoke, he could almost hear Ye Fuli's knuckles cracking from clenching her fists.
But upon closer inspection, he realized Ye Fuli hadn't done anything at all—her hands were relaxed and at her sides.
Ye Fuli looked at her with confusion. "What's wrong? You look so pale."
"…Heh."
Alright, alright.
Zhao Mengde felt he might have been startled by Ye Fuli, causing auditory and visual hallucinations.
Ugh, I can't take it anymore. The mental pressure is overwhelming!
At least the holidays are coming up soon.
Wait, hold on!
Just because Ye Zhen gets a break doesn't mean her bodyguard gets one too.
Damn it, I still have to stay on high alert 24/7, guarding against a Ye Fuli who could snap at any moment.
At that very moment, Ye Zhen and Ye Fuli locked eyes.
"I'm heading back to the dorm."
"Alright."
"Remember to bring the gift to your father. Wishing him all the best."
"Yeah, I'll remember."
After exchanging a few brief words, Ye Zhen turned and walked away without looking back.
The wind grew colder, and tiny snowflakes seemed to drift down.
Ye Fuli stood in the wind, watching Ye Zhen's receding figure, her heart filled with endless sorrow.
Trust can crumble in an instant.
But repairing it requires a long time and countless efforts.
But…
After today's parting, how long would it be before they met again?
Ye Fuli closed her eyes.
Snowflakes settling on her lashes slowly melted, leaving a cool sensation.
After wrestling with herself for a while, she couldn't bring herself to sit idly by. Instead, she resolved to be more proactive.
She opened her eyes.
She took a step forward and strode purposefully in the direction Ye Zhen had departed.
The entrance of Mondstadt Academy bustled with people, a cacophony of noise.
The scraping of suitcases across the floor, the laughter and shouts of the crowd, the shrill honking of horns… all the sounds rushed into her ears.
Amidst the crowd, Ye Fuli spotted Ye Zhen's silhouette instantly.
She pushed through the crowd, running to catch up with Ye Zhen.
She reached Ye Zhen's side and blocked her path.
Zhao Mengde watched her warily.
Confirming no murderous intent in Ye Fuli's eyes, she relaxed slightly but remained shielding Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen looked at the breathless Ye Fuli with remarkable calmness.
"I… I… I…"
Ye Fuli's mouth hung open as she stumbled over her words for a long moment, still unable to utter the phrase, "I truly want to start over with you."
Under Ye Zhen's puzzled gaze, she fumbled in her pocket, pulled out a small packet, and placed it in Ye Zhen's hand.
Ye Zhen looked down.
Her expression turned strange.
"Sunflower… sunflower seeds?!"
Ye Fuli straightened up, exhaled softly, and smiled.
"It's a return gift. I shelled them by hand while we were out shopping. They're clean."