(Mixed has appointed another Hall Master, thanks to fellow reader [Qi Zhongtao], who surpassed the Squad Leader to directly become a Hall Master yesterday! Thank you very much. This brings the number of readers with red diamonds and above to 27, elevating Mixed to 64th place on the overall rewards leaderboard. Thanks to all the brothers who have supported!)

Zhang Tianyi, satisfied with his future son-in-law, naturally wouldn't deliberately trouble Li Yan, so he didn't mention the recent "test for the glory of the country" that he took.

As they drove away, Li Yan casually asked, "What good thing did we give you? Is it for me to eat?"

Yurong blushed slightly, responding irritably, "What do you mean by 'we'? It's my mom!"

"Isn't your mom my mom too? Haha, I won't fight you for it. Just give it to me!" Li Yan reached out.

Yurong slapped his hand away, "What are you talking about?"

"Isn't it something to eat on the way?" Li Yan looked again, seemingly not seeing her carrying any large bags, realizing he must have misunderstood.

"All you think about is eating! Can't you buy your own food? Does what my mom gives to me need your approval?" Yurong snapped hastily, her face flushed pink.

It was rare to see her like this, and Li Yan felt a bit puzzled. Just a moment ago, everything was fine; why did she suddenly flip out? To avoid provoking her, he focused on the road ahead while driving.

After the argument, Yurong stared out the window, not speaking to him.

The two of them, due to such a small issue, didn't talk all the way home. Upon arriving, Yurong didn't wait for him and went inside by herself.

Her change in attitude made Li Yan really want to call his mother-in-law to ask what happened. Given Yurong's character, she wouldn't get upset over a joke asking for goodies.

Li Yan stepped out into the yard to light a cigarette, recollecting the earlier situation. He remembered that when he deliberately criticized Zhang Tianyi, Yurong pinched him hard. Later, when he used endearing terms like "Rong'Er," she became quite displeased. Presumably, she forced a smile in front of her parents but unleashed it when they were alone in the car.

Thinking of this, he felt a bit despondent. It seemed that although she didn't have anyone else in her heart, he wasn't that important to her either. He was just an interim husband out of necessity, their public displays of affection in front of her parents only a once-a-week show.

Admittedly, Yurong was becoming more important to him. From nothing to something, from little to more, from an initial temporary responsibility to genuine feelings now... Perhaps she had started to care for him too, but wasn't he also greatly changed because of her? He had settled down. She tolerated many of his shortcomings, and he accepted responsibilities he otherwise wouldn't have.

For a time, he felt that being with Yurong lacked emotion and was burdensome, that Yudidi was a better fit, even if forever love wasn't expected. But when Yudidi returned home with him, standing side by side with Yurong, he found himself unable to make a choice, unable to discard one for the other.

Thus, he somewhat irresponsibly allowed time to make the decision. Among the girls with feelings for him, except for having known Yue Yao the longest, others had only interacted with him over the past few months. Love doesn't equate to time, but it does require time for validation. Perhaps, until the day one dies, one won't know who they truly love more.

Though anyone can die at any moment, people typically associate death with old age. He's not like most people; living a risky life bears its debts, and one day, he might fall to an ambush. He stopped considering such a distant future long ago...

...

After finishing his cigarette, Li Yan went inside and found no one around, not even Yue Yao.

When they were together before, if he had a mission to go out, Yue Yao would always prepare and arrange everything for him. But now, with business trips, she clearly couldn't help pack his luggage. Even if she wanted to, it wouldn't be appropriate. The lady of the house is Yurong, whatever their relationship might be.

Li Yan returned to the room, noting that it was still early, so he went to the gym to work out for a bit and then did some routine running. After more than half an hour, the gym door opened. It was Yue Yao coming in from outside.

She casually shut the door and walked over to Li Yan.

Li Yan realized that she likely had something to say. Normally, when everyone was home, out of consideration, she wouldn't close the door and be alone with him in a room.

"Yue Yao, what's up?" He didn't stop running, but his gaze turned to Yue Yao.

Yue Yao pulled a chair over, sat next to him, and looked up at him, saying, "After considering it, I decided to leak the news that you killed 'Tears'..."

Yue Yao also trained, often more than Li Yan nowadays, but she did so during the day, so now she seemed very relaxed. Since they weren't around, she had eaten with the maid and showered, changing into pajamas. Still, they were those sexy ones Yurong had given, and sitting by the treadmill, from Li Yan's running vantage, he could easily see the snowy white of her breasts...

"Ahem, whatever you decide is fine." Li Yan directed his gaze forward, pretending to focus intently on his run.

Yue Yao continued her report, "After the news was released, no one came forward to refute it, so it should be confirmed to be 'Tears'."

As for this result, Li Yan wasn't surprised, because after returning last night, he contacted Guan Ziyi, and then through Guan Ziyi found Yu Mocheng to get a detailed understanding. The information he got from Zhou Yi was limited, but he could confirm that it was an assassin. The relationship with the casino's behind-the-scenes owner, or what the specific name is, was also vague.

"Hmm."

If it was just to report these two points, Yue Yao wouldn't have needed to move a chair over to sit down. Li Yan was sure she had more to say, so he kept jogging while waiting.

"Did you two... have a fight?" Yue Yao was still looking up, watching Li Yan's profile.

Li Yan smiled: "I wouldn't say it was a fight. Besides, what couple doesn't have arguments?"

These words made Yue Yao a bit envious, but she didn't forget her purpose: "Just now, Yurong came over... she told me everything."

"What did she say?"

Yue Yao began to explain:

It turns out Zhang Yurong came in first but still waited for a while at the door. The result should have been Li Yan coming in right after her, but he didn't open the door, so she thought Li Yan simply went out to have fun again.

When she started speaking, she was a bit agitated, but after more than half an hour of silence, she had long calmed down. She just couldn't bring herself to make up with Li Yan proactively. She originally planned to return home and, with Yue Yao acting as a mediator, break the silence and find a step down, not expecting that he wouldn't come back.

At that time, Li Yan was outside smoking, so she called Yue Yao upstairs. In her room, she talked about what happened tonight, especially the argument in the car, and asked for her help in giving advice.

The misunderstandings between them, Yue Yao had seen plenty. Originally, she understood Li Yan better and could explain and interpret him to Zhang Yurong more effectively; also because of Zhang Yurong's trust, the two were very close and spoke without reservation, allowing Yue Yao to speak on Li Yan's behalf and understand her better. Plus, being an outsider, Yue Yao really became a buffer zone between the two of them.

But this matter left her a bit puzzled: "Why were you so angry? That's not like you. Even if he spoke a bit familiarly, it was just to make your father and mother happy. Did he take advantage to grope you or something? Touch your chest?"

Zhang Yurong, driven both angry and amused by her curious gossiping attitude, responded, "No way! He wouldn't dare in front of my parents! Stop laughing, alright? I really need your advice here; on the way back, he ignored me. Sent me home and didn't come back, maybe went out again... who knows, maybe went to find Yu Xiaodi!"

"It's such a minor issue, how did it turn into an argument? I really don't understand!" She didn't give a reason, and Yue Yao couldn't analyze the true situation.

"Actually..." Zhang Yurong was a little shy, "It's not his fault... but it's his problem... all because of him..."

These words made Yue Yao even more confused. What does it mean that it's not his fault, yet it's his problem, and he's to blame? Seeing her awkward and bashful demeanor, Yue Yao couldn't help but think of a question that made her heart feel a bit sour and uncomfortable. Forcing a smile, she asked, "Could it be he got you pregnant? So soon, when did this happen, I... had no idea..."

She initially intended to say, "How did I not know?" but then thought: they're married, having a married life is normal, right? Isn't it unreasonable to have to report to you? So as it reached her lips, she quickly changed her words: "…didn't even notice."

Zhang Yurong was startled by her words, her face full of shock: "Yue Yao, what are you talking about? I haven't even been intimate with him, how could that happen!"

Hearing this, Yue Yao was greatly relieved and felt like a weight had lifted, though she knew they would eventually reach that point, and she even participated in matchmaking them; hearing it for real was still bittersweet. "Honestly… haha, seeing you so worried, just wanted to scare you. Stop being so hesitant. If you don't tell me what's actually going on, how can I help you analyze the situation?"

Zhang Yurong lowered her head, blushing, opened her bag, and took out some things.

"What's this?" Yue Yao curiously picked them up.

"It's... kidney strengthening and... sperm boosting medicine." Zhang Yurong was extremely embarrassed and didn't dare to look at her, her voice as small as a mosquito's.

"Kidney strengthening? This clearly isn't processed, what is this medicine for?"

Strengthening kidneys? Zhang Yurong was exasperated, are you advertising? She already said it once, felt slightly better, and repeated: "It's for kidney strengthening and sperm boosting..."

"Kidney strengthening and sperm boosting?!" Yue Yao's eyes widened, then she snickered: "Li Yan gave this to you? Is this why you got upset?"

"No..." Zhang Yurong said a bit awkwardly, "It's my parents... seeing we've been married for more than half a year... and there's no movement..." she gestured to her stomach, then continued, "They know there's nothing wrong with me, and suspect... suspect that he smokes and drinks too much... something like that..."

Suspect Li Yan isn't up to task? Yue Yao couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.

(Thanks to the brothers for yesterday's rewards: Mei Lian Kui,[Dream World (that is, book friend nvlbezlVcSb3eec brother), zjun971210, Qi Zhongtao, ME~Qianxue*, dongmin8061, I am a boo] (To be continued. To find out more, please log into www.qidian.com for more chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.