CHAPTER 406: CHAPTER 406: I MISS YOU SO MUCH

Yun Shifei dragged her luggage back home, and sure enough, as soon as she entered the door, Yun Tiancheng scolded her.

"Yun Shifei, I think your courage is really something else, huh! How could you go traveling alone? And you went for so long, ignoring my calls to come back?!"

Yun Shifei didn’t dare to mention what had happened to Cheng Lie. She already felt Yun Tiancheng wasn’t very happy about her being with Cheng Lie, so she decided to keep it from him.

"I just... thought the scenery over there was really beautiful."

"Look at yourself! Other people go traveling, eat well, and come back rosy and plump, but you? You go on a trip and return looking half-starved. To an outsider, it’d look like you’d just been wandering the streets!" Yun Tiancheng was exasperated with Yun Shifei. "Did you even spend the money I gave you? Were there no places to buy food? How could you end up like this?"

Yun Shifei lowered her head obediently, letting Yun Tiancheng lecture her.

She thought to herself, let him rant, let him rant. She knew she had indeed worried him over the past few days.

After scolding Yun Shifei for a while, Yun Tiancheng looked at her thin and pitiful figure and finally sighed.

"Alright, alright, go eat something, and after that, get some rest."

Yun Tiancheng had already instructed Aunt Zhong to prepare a meal for Yun Shifei.

Yun Shifei, now with a great appetite, ate the meal and then went upstairs to freshen up. A wave of sleepiness quickly washed over her.

She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days.

Previously, every time she closed her eyes, she would think of the scene of Cheng Lie getting into trouble, and anxiety would surge inside her, making her feel miserable.

But now, knowing that Cheng Lie was okay, she was finally at ease.

She dialed Cheng Lie’s number but then remembered his phone had fallen into the river earlier, so she had to ask Zhao Pan for the new number.

After a while, Zhao Pan sent Cheng Lie’s new phone number to Yun Shifei.

When Zhao Pan sent it, he was quite puzzled. Shouldn’t Mr. Cheng call Miss Yun himself? Why does Miss Yun have to initiate it?

Thinking about Cheng Lie’s expression earlier when he mentioned Yun Shifei, Zhao Pan suddenly felt something ominous, but he didn’t dare think further down that path.

He had heard that Cheng Lie managed to return this time because Miss Wen passed by and saved him. Was it possible that...

Zhao Pan dared not consider it anymore. If things were truly as he feared, then he would have to look at Cheng Lie in an entirely new light from now on.

At this moment, Yun Shifei hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. After getting Cheng Lie’s number, she immediately dialed his phone.

She had completely forgotten that this number had called her a few days ago.

She was already hiding under the covers, listening to the phone’s dial tone, and feeling a wave of nervousness.

She was afraid that once the call connected, the person on the other end wouldn’t be Cheng Lie.

After a while, the phone connected, and Cheng Lie’s voice came through: "Feifei."

Hearing Cheng Lie’s deep, resonant voice, after so many days apart, Yun Shifei felt as if they had endured life and death together. Tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.

However, she quickly covered her mouth to keep Cheng Lie from noticing she was crying.

Still, the surge of emotions she felt was indescribable.

After a long while, Yun Shifei finally calmed down and said, "I missed you."

I missed you so much, truly so much!

Do you know how terrified I was when I heard about what happened to you?

"Be good," Cheng Lie’s low voice soothed her through the phone. "I’m fine."

Yun Shifei responded with a soft "Mm," before asking, "Did you get hurt?"

Cheng Lie answered, "No."

"I’ve booked a flight for tomorrow—I’m coming to see you."

Considering how Yun Shifei had been rushing around over the past few days, Cheng Lie said, "You should rest for a couple more days before coming over."

"It’s fine; I have to see you."

Seeing Cheng Lie was the only way she could truly feel at ease.

After everything that had happened this time, Yun Shifei finally understood just how important Cheng Lie was to her.

Moreover, she had made up her mind to tell Cheng Lie about Mu Chengzhu.

When Mu Chengzhu had hurt her in the past, she had been hesitant, but now, given what he’d done to Cheng Lie...

It wouldn’t be fair for Cheng Lie to face someone like Mu Chengzhu without knowing the truth!

Yet, she couldn’t help but worry—would Cheng Lie see her as a monster?

And in their previous life, she had chased after Mu Chengzhu. Would Cheng Lie think she was a vain woman who latched onto anyone powerful or impressive?

But she had always believed that if she truly loved someone, she would wish for him to be well, even if she couldn’t be by his side.

If being with her meant Cheng Lie would be hurt, then she’d rather see him happy than let him suffer.

Upon hearing that, Cheng Lie still insisted, "I’m fine. Be good and rest for a few more days in South City before coming."

Given his current condition, it wasn’t the best time for him to meet Yun Shifei.

Yun Shifei heard Cheng Lie’s insistence and knew he was worried about her. She ultimately relented and said, "Alright."

"Mm. You just got off the plane, right? I’m sorry for worrying you over the past few days. Rest well."

Belatedly, Yun Shifei noticed a certain chill in Cheng Lie’s tone. Although he was comforting her, she couldn’t shake the strange feeling it gave her.

But she was indeed tired, and as she listened to Cheng Lie’s voice, her sleepiness deepened.

Cheng Lie’s voice had a natural soothing quality.

After a while, Yun Shifei said, "Alright, I’ll rest for a bit."

She didn’t even hang up the phone before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

She was truly exhausted.

On the other end of the phone, Cheng Lie listened to the steady sound of the young woman’s breathing. It came through the receiver as if she were lying right beside him.

Cheng Lie quietly listened, his mind drifting to memories from long ago.

Back then, Yun Shifei, scared of being alone at home, would call him, and just like now, she would fall asleep while talking to him.

He thought, Yun Shifei must find his voice very soothing.

In truth, it was deliberate—he had intentionally lulled her to sleep.

Letting her find comfort in his voice, listening until sleep overtook her.

Cheng Lie lay on the bed, holding the phone to his ear, listening to the sounds from the other end as he closed his eyes.

His mind conjured Yun Shifei’s bright and lively face, as if she were sleeping right next to him.

Yun Shifei slept deeply through the night until the next day.

She hadn’t had this restful of a sleep in a long time.

When she checked her phone, it had already run out of battery and shut down.

She glanced at the clock and sighed. No need for Cheng Lie to tell her to cancel her ticket; she had already missed her flight.

She got up out of bed and sat in a daze for a while.

Now that Cheng Lie had safely returned to Beijing, she finally felt her mind clearing. Doubts crept into her thoughts. When, exactly, had Cheng Lie returned to Beijing?

How had he managed to get back?

Why hadn’t he told her or reached out? Why hadn’t he called her first?

These questions lingered in Yun Shifei’s mind. She decided she needed to ask Cheng Lie.