(My wife has something to attend to at home, so now Lao Lai must take care of the child's schooling, daily life, cooking, and laundry. In the next week, my schedule and updates will be somewhat affected, I ask for your understanding. Of course, I will try my best to keep writing and updating on time, just giving everyone a heads up.)

ps: Responding to two suggestions from readers, 1 is the chapter name, Lao Lai has accepted everyone's suggestions, and it's still written in there. For those who forgot which chapter they were at, you can see the chapter name by clicking preview on the reading page. 2 is the voting prompt after the chapters. Mainly, I can't write the chapter name, just a few words felt too monotonous, so I added a request for Monthly Pass, which was useless and even annoyed everyone. I won't write it anymore, big thanks. (Beyond paid content)

This time, there's no need to rush for a morning flight, the time to return was decided by Li Yan himself, so the two of them slept until the next morning, getting up only after having enough rest.

After getting up, Li Jie seemed like a different person, reverting back to her usual state.

Li Yan went online and found that there was an afternoon flight back to S City, called to check and confirmed there were seats available. He hesitated, originally he came by train, which wouldn't leave any computer trackable traces. He could also go back by train, but going back with Li Jie. By himself, he could stay at a five-star hotel; with her, he'd need to squeeze into a train, which seemed a bit stingy.

"Silly girl, do you prefer trains or planes?"

Li Jie, after freshening up, was a bit perplexed, isn't this nonsense? Of course, a plane is quicker and more convenient, and generally, the ticket price is about four times that of a train sleeper. For afternoon or evening flights, discounts are often greater than in the morning. It's common to see 60% off during off-peak holidays, even lower during the low season. Both of them, no matter who foots the bill, can afford it.

However, she soon realized, Li Yan asking this question clearly indicated he wanted to take the train, merely checking her preference, and if she insisted on flying, he might accommodate her.

"I… don't mind. I don't have anything urgent that requires rushing back, so if you like taking the train, I'll join you on the train!" She internally agreed with this, as flying would give them only a few hours together including waiting time, whereas with the train, including waiting time, they'd have over ten hours together.

Is that what he's thinking too?

Seeing her toss the question back, but already guessing his thoughts, Li Yan chuckled: "You know I like being mysterious, right? So, I'm afraid of being tracked, which is why I had someone else open the room, and came via train. Even in these days, I used cash."

Flying requires an ID, was he afraid of being traced through this? Li Jie grew curious and couldn't help asking: "What are you worried about? Who would go through the airline to investigate your travel records? Only government departments can do that."

Li Yan thought for a moment, then simply revealed a little: "Reflect on the whole event, you and I are different, for me, being cautious is always beneficial."

"Hmm, I understand." Li Jie didn't ask further, perhaps it's his professional habit! "Then let's take the train back!"

...

After packing, they left directly with their luggage. Li Yan sent Li Jie to the restaurant first, while he went to check out. But actually, he didn't check out himself. Instead, he contacted the logistics staff, handed over the room card, and had the logistics staff complete the checkout. He also asked the staff to help buy the train tickets back to S City.

While having lunch, Li Jie suddenly said: "I feel... this week, I've matured a lot."

"Nonsense!" Before Li Yan could finish speaking, he felt a kick from her below.

"Be serious! This time's danger wasn't just the two life-threatening encounters, but also the constant oppressive feeling of unease. It made me realize that luck was the only reason nothing happened before. It made me understand that I can't act recklessly with nothing to fear; I began to fear death, and therefore cherish life, started losing my edge, and began maturing..." Li Jie contemplated.

"Do you think maturing a bit is good or bad?" Li Yan suddenly thought, not only Li Jie but also Li Chengfeng was somewhat immature. His principles, his beliefs, were manifestations of immaturity, but that was indeed his charisma. Yesterday's suggestion to reform Jie Rui was also a step towards maturity. Is that good or bad?

"Now I'm unsure... but people must mature, right? Even..." Li Jie glanced at him and then directly said: "Even girls like Xiao Di with good conditions can't live in a fairy tale forever, right?"

"Makes sense. If that's the case, yesterday I wasn't leading you astray."

Yet after expressing her thoughts, Li Jie had already stopped caring about this issue, wanting to know Li Yan's view on Yu Xiaodi.

Humans always yearn, worrying about dying anytime, she felt like she could risk everything, be with Li Yan regardless of the outcome, or how he felt about her, just to experience the taste of love, even if it meant dying happily.

But with the danger passed, death didn't come, her mindset subtly altered. Certainly, she knew Yu Xiaodi was Li Yan's girlfriend, and during the protection mission, they got along well, and Yu Xiaodi treated her kindly. Morally, she shouldn't compete. But emotionally? Competing would betray a friend, not competing would betray herself, and even her father's expectations...

"Our current situation... counts as betraying Xiao Di, what happens when we go back afterward..."

Seeing her hesitance, Li Yan understood she felt pressured, whereas he no longer felt so troubled. Owing a debt worries you about repayment, but owing many debts makes worrying useless, leading to calmness. He wasn't comfortable discussing that he had another wife or elaborating on Yu Xiaodi's situation, simply reassuring: "What's done is done, regret is pointless now, just face it calmly."

"Calmly?"

"Yes, the focus isn't on what happened, but what the Future holds. If we get back and maintain a good friendship, and you find a truly suitable boyfriend, it'll be behind us." Li Yan spoke of one possible outcome, the other outcome he couldn't express, as he currently had no right to pledge anything.

Li Jie looked at him blankly. Past this moment and back to reality, everything would return to normal.

The focus isn't on what happened, but what the Future holds... Who can predict the Future? Yesterday at this time, I was worried about their safety, yet ended with an unexpected result; arriving here, who thought encountering him, let alone experiencing this... Since the past remains vague, why worry about an uncertain Future now?

He has a girlfriend, yet due to special circumstances, including my initiative, had a relationship with me, can I expect anything from him? Maybe all he can manage is an "if" scenario. Could I accept someone like him? One day, wouldn't he leave similarly?

Seeing her silent, Li Yan also felt his words were somewhat harsh and irresponsible. With his identity and unresolved emotional complexity, he'd rather speak coldly to prevent her involvement, thinking it might be better for her.

A thought crossed his mind: "Xiao Jie, stop overthinking, once back, focus on developing Jie Rui well! Your father's and your efforts have yet to succeed." Giving her something to work on was beneficial.

"Alright! I will, but... I must remind you." Li Jie flicked her head, "Please call me silly girl!"

Li Yan was speechless, has she gone silly? You used to hate this nickname the most.

"Silly! What relationship do we have? Suddenly call me Xiao Jie, wouldn't Xiao Di suspect? You always called me silly girl!" Li Jie shook her head.

"Oh, makes sense…" Li Yan somewhat comprehended but couldn't fathom her attitude. Why did she seem so relaxed?

"Hurry up and eat! The food on the train isn't great. There's still getting tickets and stuff..."

Li Jie said lightly, then lowered her head to eat, appetite good.

Leaving Li Yan more puzzled, "A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean," are they inherently elusive? How can she be so carefree?

Simultaneously, the logistics staff who had already checked out went to a travel agency selling plane and train tickets, buying tickets for the two of them. What he didn't notice was that a guest struggling with inquiries in the same store also purchased the same train tickets after he left!

(Thanks to brothers who tipped on the 9th: Dark Night Dance of the Maple, Cp Pampas, Starlight in the Night, zjun971210, dongmin8061, Most Love Taotao, め漂渺, kgjo)(To be continued, if you wish to know what happens next, please log onto www.qidian.com for more chapters. Support the author, support authentic 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.