Hu Tao froze when she saw Yanfei clutching her chest, gasping like she couldn't breathe.
"What? A single dinner hurt you this much? I… I won't make you treat me anymore, okay?"
Her panic spilled out in a jumble of words.
Zhongli frowned and hurried over to check on Yanfei.
This was his old friend's daughter. If anything happened to her right under his nose, he'd never forgive himself.
Her elemental aura was steady, and there were no visible injuries…
Zhongli looked at Hu Tao. "Take her to Bubu Pharmacy first."
He planned to head to Jueyun Karst and bring her father over.
"No…"
The moment Yanfei heard the words "Bubu Pharmacy," the pain in her heart spiked so sharply she almost folded over again.
A crushing wave of grief and despair surged through her.
"I don't want to go there…"
Yanfei's face was streaked with tears as she stared at Hu Tao. She grabbed Hu Tao's hand tightly.
"Where's Kael… where's Kael?"
"Huh?" Hu Tao blinked, confused by her sudden desperation. "He… didn't he say he was heading back to Wanmin Restaurant?"
"Wanmin Restaurant…"
Yanfei yanked her hand free and ran in that direction without another word.
Her tears scattered behind her like falling pearls.
Kael…
Kael…
His name echoed endlessly through her chest.
Only when she thought of him did the pain ease, even if just a little.
Her vision blurred completely from tears. She bumped into multiple people as she ran, but nothing and no one could make her stop.
When she reached the street leading toward Chihu Rock, she saw him.
The back she'd been chasing.
"Kael!!!"
Kael was supporting a drunk, wobbly Venti when he suddenly heard someone cry out his name from behind.
He turned.
And a small figure crashed straight into him, throwing her arms around his waist with all her strength.
The impact made him stumble back several steps. His hold on Venti slipped, and without support, Venti blinked blankly and collapsed onto the ground with a soft thud.
Kael looked down at the pink head buried in his chest, stunned.
"Yanfei?"
Yanfei held on tightly, like she was terrified he would vanish if she loosened her grip.
She lifted her head. Her green eyes, soaked in tears, locked onto his.
"I…"
She wanted to speak, but the moment her mouth opened, the words got stuck.
Her usual fluency was gone. Everything inside her was overflowing, her emotions surging so violently she could barely breathe.
She didn't know why she felt this way.
She only knew one thing: the man in front of her was precious to her.
No matter what happened, she wouldn't let go.
Kael understood the moment he saw her expression.
Yanfei had been hit by the emotions from the Life Simulator.
He gently stroked her head. "Don't cry."
Yanfei sobbed, "Kael… even though this is our first time meeting, I feel like I've known you for so long… maybe you won't believe me… but I…"
"I believe you."
Kael remembered every moment he had spent with her in that simulated life.
He would never forget the vows they once made beneath the setting sun.
Kael looked at her with unwavering certainty. "Whatever you say, I'll believe you."
I know why you're hurting this much.
I remember how deeply you loved me.
So…
"Don't cry. Whatever you want, I'll agree."
Those words hit something deep inside her.
Like someone had unlocked a hidden door in her heart, the floodgates burst open.
Yanfei cried even harder.
She rested her head against Kael's chest again, listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart. A small smile tugged at her lips…
"I'm remembering that line. You're not allowed to break our Contract."
"I…"
"Ahem."
Kael was just about to respond when a pair of coughing sounds interrupted him.
Hu Tao and Zhongli had caught up and now stood a short distance away, staring at them.
Yanfei had suddenly bolted off toward the main street, so they followed her out of worry.
They definitely hadn't expected this scene.
The two coughs had come from Zhongli.
He covered his mouth with his fist, his expression oddly complicated.
He was technically a senior to Yanfei, after all.
And now he was witnessing his friend's daughter clinging to a man like this. The situation was… awkward, to say the least.
However…
Seeing Yanfei like this, he couldn't ignore it.
"Mr. Kael, may I ask what is happening here?"
Yanfei had thrown herself into Kael's arms crying her heart out. Kael had been so focused on her that he hadn't noticed the audience around them.
Venti was sitting dazed on the ground. Hu Tao stood frozen in disbelief. Both stared wide-eyed.
"Uh…"
Kael felt a wave of helplessness.
He obviously couldn't mention the System, the simulator, or anything related.
But how on earth was he supposed to explain this?
Just a short while ago at dinner, he and Yanfei had been strangers.
Now they were wrapped around each other in the street.
Yanfei wiped her tears on Kael's shirt, then turned around. She held his hand and lifted it up so everyone could see. Her eyelashes were still damp with tears.
She looked at Zhongli with a bright smile. Her tiny tiger fangs peeked out adorably.
With calm confidence, Yanfei raised their joined hands and declared:
"I fell in love with Kael at first sight. I'm signing a Contract with him. I want to be with him forever."
---
Ughh, when is this system update cooldown gonna be over? It's taking wayyy too long… I'm getting kinda bored now ;-; It just keeps repeating.
But whateverrr, at least my chapter uploading speed is on a whole new level right now so enjoy hehe..
and Next target is 250PS :)