Chapter 22: Apprehension and Uncertainty

"Xiao Feng, I have a surprise for you." Elysia blinked those lively, bright eyes of hers, which were filled with irrepressible mirth. "Actually, Eden and I have already quietly made arrangements. We're coming back to see you together at the end of this month."

"Really?" Ling Feng's eyes lit up with surprise, a radiant smile blooming on his face as his joy became impossible to hide.

Watching Ling Feng on the screen as he beamed like a child, Eden’s lips curved into a gentle smile, and she nodded to give him a firm confirmation. Her gaze was as soft as flowing water as she looked at him from the other side of the screen. "Xiao Feng, my concert tour is nearing its end. Calculating the time, I should be able to finish all my scheduled appearances and return home by the end of the month."

Hearing these words, Ling Feng felt his heart fill with the warmth of sunlight, steady and secure. He said excitedly, "That’s wonderful! I’ll come to pick you both up."

"Heehee, it’s a promise, then." Elysia crossed one arm over her chest while resting her chin on her other hand, adopting an expectant expression. "Big Sister Elysia is really looking forward to the moment I step off the plane and see my handsome Prince Xiao Feng opening the car door for the beautiful Miss Pink Fairy. Oh my, just thinking about it makes for such a lovely scene!"

After settling the plans to meet Eden and Elysia at the airport, the three of them began chatting about daily trivialities. Eden was very concerned about Ling Feng’s life, constantly asking questions and offering reminders, terrified that anything in his life might be even slightly unsatisfactory. Her nagging was so far removed from the persona of a world-famous superstar that she truly seemed like a fretful mother. Of course, even if she were a mother, she was an incredibly beautiful one.

Elysia, listening on the side to instructions as detailed as whether Ling Feng had wiped his mouth after his meals, couldn't help but burst into a soft laugh. She teased, "Oh my, Eden, stop worrying so much. Xiao Feng is quite capable now; he might even have things running more orderly than when we were there."

"That won't do; no matter how capable he is, he’s still the child I watched grow up," Eden said dotingly. Although she said this, she knew her nagging was a bit much, so she pursed her lips, suppressing the urge to continue, and brought the topic to an end. In truth, it was mostly because she hadn't seen her Xiao Feng for so long; the longing and concern in her heart had simply gotten the better of her. Still, Eden was well aware that with Mei—that sensible girl who was so good at looking after others—there was no need to worry about Ling Feng’s daily needs.

Though they wanted to talk longer, they had lost track of time, and they realized they had been on the phone for over an hour. Seeing that it was getting late, and after reminding Ling Feng to get some rest, the three of them ended the call, lingering in the bittersweet reluctance of parting.

"Phew—"

Ling Feng let out a long breath, feeling incredibly lighthearted. This sense of relief wasn't just because he would soon see Elysia and Eden again; it was also because, during this call, he felt as though Elysia’s closeness to him had returned to how it used to be, devoid of the subtle, lingering sense of distance he had felt before.

While this made Ling Feng very happy, he couldn't help but wonder if he had perhaps been overthinking things before. Maybe Elysia had truly just been too busy, which made it seem like she was intentionally distancing herself? As Ling Feng pondered this, his heart, which had already decided to respect Elysia’s wishes, couldn't help but stir with flickers of expectation once more. Yet, this was accompanied by a vague, underlying fear.

He feared that his current hope was merely his own wishful thinking, and that Elysia had only acted close because Eden was there, simply to keep Eden from worrying. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment; he was afraid that if he allowed this expectation to spread unchecked, and Elysia were to show that distant attitude again in the future, his despair would be ten times worse than before.

It was the first time Ling Feng had experienced this feeling of longing while being too afraid to hope, leaving him feeling somewhat at a loss. Apparently, Ling Feng, still inexperienced in matters of the heart, did not realize that this kind of anxiety and apprehension when facing someone you like is never something felt only by girls.

With his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, it took a while after hanging up before he suddenly noticed that the atmosphere around him felt strange. He quickly glanced left and right, only to discover four pairs of resentful, wide eyes staring at him unblinkingly, as if they were accusing him of his recent "crimes."

*Stare—!*

"Ahem!"

Ling Feng coughed twice, a look of embarrassment crossing his face as he realized he had been so engrossed in his conversation with Eden and Elysia that he had completely forgotten about the four girls beside him. Looking at their clearly unhappy expressions, Ling Feng took a deep breath, trying to push his chaotic thoughts aside for the moment. He reached out and gently pulled Seele, who was closest, into his arms.

Holding the girl’s soft frame, Ling Feng nuzzled her small head and caught the faint, delicate fragrance of her hair. He said with sincere remorse, "I’m sorry, Seele. Big Brother ignored you just now. It’s my fault—could you please forgive me this once?"

This was said with genuine heart, filled with both apology and a touch of supplication. If this were one of those "proud little princesses" in modern society, let alone a simple apology, even hours of groveling wouldn't make them relent unless he bought them bags, milk tea, or cosmetics and agreed to a dozen unequal terms.

But then again, this was Seele.

Seele, gentle as a little angel, had always been the easiest to appease. As expected, Ling Feng’s sincere apology was enough to soften her expression instantly, and the resentment in her eyes vanished without a trace. She reached out with her small hands to hug Ling Feng’s waist, burying her face in his chest as she murmured, "T-then, Seele will forgive Big Brother."

Bronya, Kiana, and Mei, who were watching from the side, were speechless, silently thinking to themselves: *Seele, your "defection" was way too fast.*

Holding the little darling in his arms, Ling Feng’s lips curled into a smug smile. *Heh, plan successful!*

Then...

"Bronya, how about I play another round with you in a bit? I promise to give it my all and not play dirty."

"Kiana, you must be hungry. Mei, would you like to join me in preparing a nutritious and delicious midnight snack?"

Ling Feng, knowing the preferences and weaknesses of each girl, effortlessly dismantled their little frustrations with just a few words, making the atmosphere at home warm and pleasant once more.