Once upon that dark night, Yue Yao felt she had little hope and resolved to bring Li Yan and Yurong together. She was willing to silently remain faithful to Li Yan for a lifetime. (Chapter 182)

After that, whenever they met, they avoided mentioning it. After all, it was just an ambiguity under special circumstances. In a normal state, it was impossible to cross that line. By now, everyone had long returned to normal as if they had forgotten that there was ever such an experience. But in their recent brief encounter, they involuntarily recalled those sealed memories…

"Ha... you can smoke now..." Yue Yao started the car, trying hard to remain calm as if nothing had happened just now. But the tips of her ears, much like her heart, refused to cool down.

In fact, nothing really happened just now. That slight contact didn't really count for anything; it was just because, in their hearts, they unwittingly associated, reminisced, and magnified it that they felt a guilty thrill, as if it were a secret rendezvous.

"Yeah, smoke..." Li Yan also felt embarrassed to look at her, focusing ahead as he opened the car window and lit a cigarette.

"You have to guide me; I'm not that familiar with the area."

"Mm..."

With brief communication, one focused on driving, the other shifting his thoughts to smoking. After a few minutes, they both calmed down considerably.

"By the way, what were we talking about just now?"

Hearing Li Yan's words, Yue Yao smiled slightly, "We were talking about how long it's been since we rode together alone like this..." She sighed inwardly. Genuinely, we only spoke a sentiment you expressed.

Li Yan quickly remembered, exhaled a puff of smoke outside, and then asked, "Have you ever thought about the future?"

"The future..." Yue Yao seemed a little confused, then smiled, "You're the leader; shouldn't you think about 'their' future?" She obviously knew Li Yan was asking about her personally, but not knowing how to answer, she shifted the question to the organization.

Li Yan paused for a moment and sighed, "These years, we've lived dangerously, made many sacrifices, and gained a lot. If we exit now, even if there's a gap compared to a company like Yurong's, without gambling or squandering wealth, we could still live comfortably for the rest of our lives..."

He thought of someone, someone who successfully exited—Duan Haibo. Even though Duan Haibo was a mercenary before, they had different jobs and possibly different incomes, but essentially, it was the same. Now Duan Haibo disappeared into the city for the woman he loved deeply, Lv Jiajing, living as an ordinary person, doing an average job. While not glamorous, it's leisurely, and his former savings guarantee this leisure.

Yue Yao remained silent. If it were really that easy to exit, he wouldn't have used "if".

"These past few years of life have made me feel I can exit, live as ordinary people do, it's fun. But...in the short term, I can't exit. 'They' need me to be responsible, to ensure everyone has food and work. Once I leave, 'they' will be affected. Plus everything... other reasons that hold me back." Li Yan flicked the cigarette butt outside, as if discarding a thorn in his eye.

"Ha, but you're different. You're different from 'them'. You're a girl and still in the prime of your youth, so you must pursue happiness and enjoy life. Open a shop, do some business, invest, or simply find a job to pass the time and live a life different from before, like most people..."

"And then?"

"And then find someone suited for you, fall in love, get married..."

"And then?"

"And then..." Li Yan stopped and turned to look at her.

Yue Yao calmly said, "Then it's rice, oil, salt, raising children, becoming a housewife, an old woman... If lucky, live out the latter half of life in plain peace; if not, divorce, single parent... Living a normal life yet never at peace…"

She spoke the common reality, which they also yearned for.

"To put it romantically and poetically, it's finding someone you love, living happily together, and growing old. Speaking realistically, it's living life without surprises with an ordinary man, blending into the routine." Yue Yao seemed to have seen through the secular world, her words tinged with pessimism. "King... you're satisfied with the holidays, but do you think this life is the most suitable for us?"

Li Yan was speechless!

Indeed, he enjoyed and was satisfied, but it came with conditions! Working in one environment for a few months was fine, being with one partner was fine, but any longer or repeated, he'd move on. In over a year, he's changed jobs many times, and it's only because of marrying Zhang Yurong, his father's influence, and Zhang Tianyi's expectations he stayed at Paradise Group a bit longer, not leaving because of Zhang Yurong and gradually adapting.

But six months is fine, a year should be too, two years, perhaps as well... But what about ten years? Twenty years? Is this how the rest of life will be?

Could others live like this?

"I don't know... Humans adapt well, maybe when the time comes, I could adjust. But right now, I don't want it; I... still want to fight alongside you and 'them'. Maybe when you're tired, and can exit, my thoughts will change too."

Yue Yao's words were very subtle. On the surface, it meant she enjoyed what she did now, no need to pursue ordinary happiness, but didn't guarantee the view would never change, that perhaps she'd alter her thoughts in the future. But deeper down, she meant: I'll always follow you, if you don't leave, I'll battle alongside, if you leave, I leave too…

With her earlier rhetorical question leaving him stumped, now hearing her, Li Yan dropped the previous issue, lightheartedly said, "Alright, then keep fighting alongside me. I think I've said, wherever I go, I won't leave you. When I can exit, you'll come with me!"

"Sure." Yue Yao agreed straightforwardly.

This was her answer, her choice. As long as she could be with him, even if only as a so-called sister, an old friend, an old partner, she didn't mind. Even if he goes alone, across vast lands, she'll seek him. But once found, she wouldn't disturb, just reside nearby, breathe the same air.

Sometimes, she felt she was like Guo Xiang to Yang Guo, knowing it's impossible, she can't replace Little Dragon Girl, yet silently following him—it was fate! She thought of her outcome likely like Guo Xiang—dying alone. But times are different; reclusion's harder, but finding someone easier, no need for ancient lamps and Buddha, at least she could watch him from afar, accompany him to old age.

…

After discussing serious topics, they talked more, sharing insider stories, work arrangements, and so on. Without Zhang Yurong there, the two could speak freely.

When they got to the airport, Yue Yao didn't accompany Li Yan inside; she headed home first.

Li Yan walked into the hall, checking the check-in desks for the international flight while dialing Wen Qianyi to see if she'd arrived.

The call went through, but Wen Qianyi didn't answer, which surprised him; did she drive herself?

He hung up, waiting for her to call back, and as he found the flight information, he turned to locate the relevant desk.

Just reaching the center of the hall, he saw someone from the check-in direction waving and smiling at him.

Really?

Li Yan doubted his eyes, not only was Wen Qianyi already there, but Yu Xiaodi was too, and they seemed reconciled, chatting closely!

That night at the music hall, he saw Wen Qianyi and Yu Xiaodi argue furiously due to his connection, both thinking the other occupied 80% of the time, making them the 20-percenters, unable to calm down. Words flew, even in front of Zhang Yurong and Yue Yao…

They should be considered as having torn apart as rivals, so how did they suddenly reconcile?

With curiosity and a bit of awkwardness, Li Yan quickened his pace.

"You guys... are early."

Yu Xiaodi, already smiling brightly, came up and hooked her arm around his, "Didn't I surprise you by not telling you I returned?"

Li Yan set down his luggage, affectionately patting her head, and smiled, "Not surprised."

"Huh?"

"Only pleasantly surprised!"

"You're awful..." His playful words delighted Yu Xiaodi, "Why are you so slow? Elder sister Wen has been here a while already."

Li Yan glanced at Wen Qianyi, nodding. With Yu Xiaodi being so affectionate in front of her, she remained so composed.

"You guys chat for a while; I'll go queue for check-in, you can jump in line later." Wen Qianyi said, heading to the counter.

Seeing her back, Li Yan chose to believe she preferred not to see them together. (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

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