After seeing Cheng Xiang, Li Dong lingered and didn't leave, while Old Yang didn't say anything to hurry him. Finally, with no other option, Li Dong asked, "Comrade Old Yang, I heard Miss Hua Yan is also here. Why haven't I seen her?"
"She's not feeling well and can't receive guests, Secretary Li."
"I consider myself quite familiar with Miss Hua Yan. I should go and visit her." Old Yang really wanted to roll his eyes, thinking to himself that Hua Yan doesn't like him at all. Who knows what would happen if he went to see her.
"She needs to rest and shouldn't be disturbed." Old Yang coldly rejected him. In the end, Li Dong didn't get to see Hua Yan and left dejectedly.
Soon after, Hua Yan and Hu Li went their separate ways: one to the capital, and the other back to Haibin City. Since Cheng Xiang would be taken home after the transfer, with high-level officials visiting the house, it wasn't convenient for Hu Li to go with Hua Yan to her new home.
Upon learning that he couldn't go to the capital with Hua Yan and the others, Hu Li felt so restless that he couldn't sleep at night. He put on a coat and went out to the balcony to gaze into the distance. The tall buildings, the bleak surroundings, and the gloomy sky reflected his current mood.
Reflecting on their time together, there were sweet moments, misunderstandings, and days so busy that they couldn't see each other. Yet, he always felt like he was chasing after her.
Old Yang, observing Hu Li's silhouette in the shadows, could see the faint sadness spreading from him. He felt both heartache and worry.
"Can't sleep?" Old Yang asked, standing next to Hu Li.
"Yeah," Hu Li replied, feeling too troubled to say much.
"Xiao Yan is actually very insecure..."
Hu Li finally looked back at Old Yang and hoarsely said, "She doesn't want to entrust herself to anyone." His tone was filled with confusion and helplessness.
"Yes, she wants to be strong and not rely on anyone. Are you very troubled? Have you ever thought about letting go? To be honest, you and that girl are from different worlds. You weren't meant to meet," Old Yang analyzed earnestly.
"I've never thought about letting go. Since I was young, I've never truly wanted anything. I've always done what others arranged for me. Xiao Yan is the first person I want to have completely. She's actually like me, sometimes watching the world with cold eyes, keeping herself apart."
"Yes, that girl seems to have endured a lot despite her young age. If you don't want to let go, you will face endless problems. She has a simple mind. Schemes and calculations are not things she can learn. Keeping her by your side is like exposing your biggest weakness."
As a cold wind swept through, ruffling Hu Li's hair, he closed his eyes for a few seconds and then opened them again, saying, "Life is only a few decades long. I won't let go because of fear. I promise she won't be hurt, not even by my parents."
Old Yang sighed lightly, patted Hu Li on the shoulder, and said, "Go back to sleep. We have to leave before dawn tomorrow."
---
Hua Yan and her companions settled into their new home and met four new faces. These people were sent by Old Qiao and were very reliable, all in their thirties. Two were guards responsible for security, one was a chef and a former soldier known as "Big Fatty." He wasn't fat anymore but had a solid build, fair skin, and excellent skills. His cooking was very much to Hua Yan's liking.
There was also someone who acted like a butler, arranging Hua Yan and Old Yang's travel and handling the purchase of daily necessities. He was the most skilled among the four. He had a very fit build but skin as dark as the people of Africa, earning him the nickname "Old Black."
They settled Cheng Xiang in a spacious, bright room renovated to hospital standards. Hua Yan used warm water to clean his face, arms, and legs. Meanwhile, Old Yang and Old Black made a list of things Hua Yan wanted to buy and went out together.
Big Fatty was busy in the kitchen from early morning, making soup, marinating meat, and preparing dinner. From time to time, he would poke his head into Cheng Xiang's room to ask Hua Yan about her food preferences and also take a look at the legendary Cheng Xiang who had sacrificed himself for love.
After a busy evening, they enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Big Fatty, and Hua Yan went back to her room to sleep. She had been sleeping a lot lately like a sleepy bug, forgetting an important task—returning Hu Li's call.
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In the living room, Old Yang and Old Black were engrossed in a game of chess, while Big Fatty watched intently. Suddenly, the house phone rang.
Since Big Fatty was free, he went to answer it. Hearing that it was for Hua Yan, he put down the phone, went upstairs, and saw that she was already asleep. He honestly returned the call.
The hoarse voice on the other end of the line paused for a moment, said thank you, and then hung up. Big Fatty didn't even have time to ask who it was.
Seeing Big Fatty standing by the phone, looking conflicted, Old Yang asked, "Who was that?" He hadn't expected it to be Hu Li because Hu Li usually contacted Hua Yan via her cell phone.
Big Fatty frowned and said, "He didn't say. He just asked for Xiao Yan. But it was a man, with a very distinctive hoarse voice." In this house, since Hua Yan was the youngest, she insisted everyone call her Xiao Yan.
Upon hearing this, Old Yang realized the call must have been from Hu Li. Of course, the house phone was also confidential and not widely known. He asked doubtfully, "Is Xiao Yan asleep?"
"Yes," Big Fatty answered honestly, then asked, "Should I wake her up?"
"No need." Worried that Hua Yan and Hu Li might be having an argument again, Old Yang, after finishing his game of chess, went back to his room absentmindedly.
In the early morning, Hua Yan woke up early, went for a run, and returned to find breakfast ready. The four of them sat around the table eating. Old Yang couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you return Hu Li's call?"
Hua Yan paused, biting into her youtiao, and stuck out her tongue, sheepishly saying, "I forgot."
"No wonder he called last night while you were already asleep," Old Yang said reproachfully.
Hua Yan realized she had made a mistake. After finishing her tofu pudding, she ran back to her room, saw that her phone was dead, changed the battery, and called Hu Li.
Hu Li, who had been in a bad mood last night, slept on the sofa. Hu Er didn’t dare disturb him. Waking up to the sound of the phone in the morning, Hu Li stretched his sore body. Seeing it was a call from Hua Yan, his expression changed, but he still answered. He couldn't help but laugh at Hua Yan's quick apologies and pitiful tone.
"Hu Li, dear Hu Li, I was really busy yesterday. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow and forgot to call you. Plus, my phone was dead. Please forgive me this time," she pleaded, feeling particularly good because she had occasionally felt her powers returning.
Hu Li rolled his eyes and pretended to be angry, "So, what do you plan to do in the future?"
"I will always be waiting for your calls and will call you whenever I can. How does that sound?"
"Hmm, did you personally take care of Cheng Xiang?"
"I..." Hua Yan didn’t like lying to Hu Li. She stammered for a while. Hearing Hu Li's cold snort, she felt a chill around her.
"From now on, you’re not allowed to have physical contact with him!"
He was so possessive, even getting jealous over a comatose Cheng Xiang. Despite feeling helpless, she agreed, "Okay, I’ll listen to you." Thinking it over, she realized that some aspects of taking care of Cheng Xiang were indeed not suitable for her to handle and readily promised.
"Is everything okay over there?" Hu Li asked in a low tone. Without Hua Yan by his side, Hu Li felt listless and constantly missed her. He now deeply understood the saying "longing is a poison that wears down the heart."
"Everything is very warm and cozy," Hua Yan replied with a smile. She was quite fond of her new home and Big Fatty and the others.
Hearing Hua Yan's cheerful laughter, Hu Li felt a bit jealous. "Remember to call me. I’ll come to see you soon."
"Okay, I’ll be waiting for you in the capital," Hua Yan said, feeling a burst of joy upon hearing this news. She didn’t realize how much she missed Hu Li, being so focused on Cheng Xiang and her powers that she overlooked her longing for him.
It was a month before Hu Li arrived, bringing along two others: Reid and Reid's mentor. When they learned the news, Hua Yan and Old Yang waited at the military district gate. With Old Qiao’s note, the guards allowed them in smoothly.
Reid, not recognizing the delicate young woman in front of him as Hua Yan, focused on conversing with his mentor and Old Yang, paying little attention to her. Hu Li, upon seeing Hua Yan, wanted to embrace her but held back due to the presence of Reid's mentor.
However, as the cold north wind blew, Hu Li instinctively pulled her into his arms to shield her from the wind. He scolded her, "It's already early winter, why didn’t you wear more clothes?" As he spoke, he wrapped her in his coat and scarf. Feeling guilty, Hua Yan weakly looked at him. Hu Li, speechless, kissed her gently on the forehead.
Reid, turning back, saw this scene and gaped in shock. He was astonished to see the normally cold and stern Hu Li acting so gentle. Hu Li, unfazed, continued to hold Hua Yan’s hand.
After arranging accommodation for them, Reid, eager for answers, rushed into Hu Li's room, "Hu Li, tell me honestly, what's your relationship with that girl?"
Hu Li, busy unpacking his clothes, glanced at Reid and said, "You saw it, didn’t you?"
"Oh my God! I actually saw the incredible sight of the famous, icy Hu Li being so gentle."
Ignoring the shocked Reid, Hu Li continued his task. Reid, not letting go, pressed on, "So she is Hua Yan? How long have you been together?"
"No comment." Having finished unpacking, Hu Li, thinking of Hua Yan, immediately went to find her, leaving Reid in a daze. To Reid, even if Hu Li had a girlfriend, he would still be cold and distant, not caring and attentive.
Hua Yan, planning to cook a few dishes herself, was busy in the kitchen when a tagalong appeared. Hearing Hu Li's voice, Big Fatty recalled that this was the man who had called that day. Observing Hu Li, Big Fatty concluded that Xiao Yan was impressive to have captured such a fine man.
Feeling in the way, Hu Li was eventually reprimanded by Hua Yan, "Hu Li, you're in the way here. If you're so free, go clean the rabbit cages in the backyard. You can ask Black Brother if you need help."
Realizing he was bothering Hua Yan, Hu Li quickly agreed. Reid, who had followed, was shocked to see Hu Li being scolded and acting so meek. It reminded him of the saying, "Men conquer the world, women conquer men."