With only Li Yan and Yu Xiaodi left, he straightforwardly asked the question puzzling him: "Xiaodi, what were you and Yurong discussing upstairs? Why did you change so much after coming out?"

Yu Xiaodi chuckled, peeled a grape, and brought it to his mouth. "I knew you'd ask that. Were you too preoccupied to even eat properly just now?"

"What do you think? I was worried you two would start fighting. Who knew you'd suddenly become friends instead."

"Hmm, hmm, understandable. However..." Yu Xiaodi smiled mischievously, "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a secret between her and me. If it were something ordinary, it wouldn't have made us change our attitudes. If it were ordinary, you could have guessed it yourself. It's definitely something special, and since it's special, it can't be told to others!" Yu Xiaodi explained cheerfully, looking very relaxed.

Li Yan patted her leg jokingly, saying, "I can't be told? Am I considered 'others'? It's related to me, and I have the right to know."

"No way, I promised Zhang Yurong I wouldn't tell you, otherwise... it just can't be done." Yu Xiaodi shrugged apologetically but remained firm.

Initially, their discussion was about one thing—the matter concerning Li Yan's health. But now, it was clear they had discussed something else and even reached some kind of secret agreement...

Agreement?

At this point, Li Yan began to vaguely understand.

"Why are you laughing? Don't push me; I really can't say..."

"Come on, let's go upstairs," Li Yan stood up and beckoned her with a finger.

The small sitting room on the second floor was also suitable for talking things over, but considering Yue Yao might appear out of nowhere, Li Yan decided to go to a room. But should they go to his room or the guest room?

After a moment's hesitation, Li Yan led Yu Xiaodi to the guest room.

As soon as the door was closed, he pressed Yu Xiaodi against it and leaned in closer.

"You're acting strangely," Yu Xiaodi seriously responded.

"Correct, ten points! Actually, I just wanted to verify if my guess was correct."

"Guess? What guess?" Xiaodi vaguely thought of something.

Li Yan looked at her, a bit more serious, and said, "You promised Yurong something, both sides can't say, right?"

"Mm. Don't trick me into saying it..."

"Heh... How could I trick you? What I'm saying is... You can't tell, but if I say it, you just answer yes or no, or nod or shake your head. That wouldn't break your agreement, right?"

Seeing Li Yan's smile, Yu Xiaodi was exasperated yet amused, and just said, "Sneaky! Is that really okay?"

"Prying into others' secrets is generally bad, but everyone has curiosity. For me, it's not just curiosity; your agreement must concern me, impacting my future happiness. You know my lazy personality—it might lead to a regrettable outcome for at least two people from an unintended mistake. Would you want to see that happen?"

"This..." Xiaodi hesitated, as she indeed had such concerns.

"Alright, I'm going to start. It's just my speculation, and you just need to comment yes or no, without breaking the agreement. Does Yurong find the current love triangle troublesome, so she wants to privately duel with you, an option I unknowingly participate in?"

As Li Yan asked, his eyes were on Xiaodi. Although hesitant, she neither agreed nor nodded, but he knew he had guessed right.

"I think her suggestion is to set a time limit. Within this time, everyone competes fairly. By then, if I choose one, the other will automatically step back, right?" Li Yan continued.

Yu Xiaodi bit her lip gently... She didn't have to answer; her eyes had already betrayed her. For her, "fair competition" was the biggest lure because Zhang Yurong was Li Yan's legal wife, while she was the third party detested by all. A chance for fair competition was her best outcome—even if it meant the possible cost of distancing from Li Yan.

"You're just a freshman, and it'll be years until you graduate. Time isn't a concern for you. But with a significant age gap, Yurong doesn't have the luxury of too long; it wouldn't be fair competition. Additionally, in just a few years, too much could change. So I suspect your agreed timeframe is about a year."

Yu Xiaodi nodded silently, confirming that within this year, everyone could live as usual and try their best to be good to Li Yan or compete in various ways. Whoever Li Yan chose in the end would be the one.

"The only restriction in your rules is that no one can tell me about this. That way, it ensures the most genuine test. Forewarned, the result might not reflect my true love."

"Mm." Yu Xiaodi finally admitted. Since the main plot had been guessed, there was no point in denying it. She knew she couldn't hide it from Li Yan.

"And this game restricts you as well—from now until the final outcome, none of you can have a relationship with me, right?"

Yu Xiaodi nodded shyly and whispered, "She's really nice to allow me this chance. I can't refuse; I'm very grateful to her..."

Li Yan was a bit embarrassed; she saw Yurong and him as married, so having relations was normal. But now, with these restrictions, it gave her room; however, from Yurong's perspective, she worried Xiaodi might have been involved with him already while she only had a formal name, hence taking a step back as a wife to make sure the third party couldn't use seductive tactics to compete.

Of course, there's no need to mention that. The fact that the two of them could get along better was certainly a good thing for him. The one-year trial was good not just for them, but for him too, providing more time for everyone. Perhaps by then, a wiser solution would surface. Time also allows people not to be blinded by passionate love, to see things more clearly.

Time is always the best witness.

"So that's how it is... Looks like Yurong thought it through long in advance," Li Yan estimated it was after meeting with Yu Xiaodi that they came up with this plan over the past few days?

Seeing Li Yan fully grasped and understood, Yu Xiaodi relaxed and seriously said, "I think Professor Wen's words make sense; it might give you a better impression."

Hearing her last sentence, Li Yan thought to himself, that would only be saying yes if he were to choose you later, but choosing you would mean losing Yurong. To have both the fish and the bear paw, that was the goal...

(Thanks to the following supporters of the 26th: Support You with Heart, Celestial Flute of the Heavens, Parent of Yu Xuan, Pick a Bird's Name, kgjo, Tea Guest of Traveling the World, zjun971210, Book Friend 100819014444313, Starlight in the Night, Master Yidu, dongmin8061, Love the Country!, CP Pampas) (To be continued. To know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

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