The sun shone brightly over the heavily guarded Youming Island, but the island was exceptionally solemn, with heightened security.
Today was the inauguration ceremony of the new Youming Emperor, with leaders from various regions attending. Each inauguration ceremony would be a bloody day for Youming.
No one would question the Dark Emperor’s decisions; being trusted by him naturally meant they were extraordinary.
“Li Yu, your surveillance of He Tangzhu and Li Yin was excellent. I’ll give you a month’s leave. After that, go manage the Saint Luodya Academy.”
“Yes, I will head to Saint Luodya Academy immediately. I don’t need a vacation,” Li Yu had no idea what to do during a vacation. She preferred working.
Xiu turned his face, looking at Li Yu with bright eyes, a playful glint in his gaze. He didn’t understand how such a beautiful woman didn’t know how to enjoy life. At that moment, he decided to transform her.
A gentle night breeze softly brushed the treetops.
Glancing at the charming figure beside him, he took out a coat and draped it over her. Li Yu, surprised by the sudden warmth, wrapped herself in the large beige coat. From her experience, she knew that not listening would ultimately harm herself.
Yuan Xiuxiu looked at the woman wearing his coat, his eyes filled with amusement at her compliance, though a teasing remark escaped his lips.
Li Yu stared at him for a few seconds, his bright eyes filled with sincere determination.
Her face quickly flushed red, her thoughts wandering aimlessly. Realizing her loss of composure, she hurriedly lowered her head.
‘Is it obvious enough?’ she silently asked herself. He was different towards her, she knew, but she was not prepared to let anyone into her life!
“I’m not sure how obvious it is, but I know what kind of life I want. I think you understand my thoughts.”
“I understand, what should I understand? A life of complete solitude?” Yuan Xiuxiu was almost going crazy. “A life of nothing but work? Is that right?”
“You know it is, don’t you? This is the life I want. I don’t want anything to distract me,” Li Yu glared angrily at the man shouting at her.
Yuan Xiuxiu thought that if there was a mental hospital that could treat neurosis caused by love’s devastation, he would be the first to sign up.
“Ah—” he knew he must now accept his fate and make this woman understand. “People are born with seven emotions and six desires. You are human, not a god. So you have the ability to love and the desire to be loved.”
He looked up at the rustling treetops.
“Yu, you cannot deny that the you facing me is your true self, the you who shows emotions – I want to see your true self. We both understand that pretense doesn’t bring happiness?”
“I understand and admit that I’m very real in front of you. At that time, I was relaxed and at ease,” Li Yu’s thoughts were already in chaos, responding instinctively. “But I don’t think that means liking, or even love. Moreover, the word ‘love’ is too vague for many people. Even if I were to accept it as love, do you think everyone would accept it? Love doesn’t just represent happiness, but also means pain. How could a proud heart allow itself to become a fool!”
“A proud heart? I think the proudest heart is in Mingdi! And he would probably become the fool you speak of when encountering love. It’s not about allowing or not, but about an inescapable destiny.”
Looking at Li Yu’s bewildered eyes, he decided to bet on his feelings. “I know you won’t easily believe. So, why don’t we make a bet? How about it? Give me, and give yourself, a chance.”
“Give you, and give me a chance?”
“Yes, a chance for each other! I believe that as a Youming elite, you shouldn’t be afraid of a small bet, right?”
“Of course, if you say you’re afraid, then the bet is as if I never mentioned it – though I can’t help but feel a little disappointed, I promise with my love for you that I absolutely won’t let a third person know, damaging Youming’s reputation.”
“Who – who wants your lousy heart’s guarantee, I’m not afraid. It’s just a bet. Quickly tell me the conditions!” As soon as the words left her mouth, Li Yu regretted it! She wanted to bite off her own tongue. She clearly knew it was a provocation, so why did she fall for it every time? She refused to admit it was because the person using this tactic was the man beside her, and not someone else. It must be his sarcastic tone that made her lose her mind. Yes, that damned tone. Like a drowning person finding a life preserver, she clung to it tightly.
Appreciating the beauty’s expressive face beside him, he secretly prayed, ‘Heaven! Please, have mercy on my heart tortured by love! Let Leng Youlan be the destined woman of the master!’
Leng Youlan lay on the large bed in the blue room. This was her second time entering this house that was not originally hers.
In the past two days, she had been overwhelmed by the loneliness accumulated over the years. A warm chest had lost her soul, and a lost soul would always find its way home. The lost soul returned to its track.
Recalling the events of the past two days, she examined them, as if it were a gorgeous dream. However, the villa she was currently in was silently telling her of its reality.
Today, she carefully observed the house. Lei Tianyi indulged her, not preventing her from exploring despite the secrets in the villa. Some questions were even explained by the servants. But she knew there must be a secret room that no one had shown her. Even so, what she had seen was enough for her.
The villa was not extremely luxurious but uniquely designed, possessing the romance of European style and the delicacy of Chinese style, giving an overall sense of elegance.
The villa had three floors. The first floor, besides the living room, had a small bar. Leng Youlan looked at the wines inside, of exceptional value. She couldn’t help but click her tongue. Even her wines before had never included these, not because of money, but because she had no access. The dining room, kitchen, and several rooms for servants were also on this floor.
The second floor was entirely guest rooms, with Ou and Xiu’s rooms located there.
The third floor had only two rooms, with a small door connecting them, though this door was locked. Leng Youlan was staying in one room, and the other was Lei Tianyi’s bedroom, which had another door leading to his study.
When Leng Youlan entered, she thought she had walked into a library, with books covering various subjects. Although she had read most of these books, opening some and seeing his annotations still made her marvel at his insightful perspectives.
But these were not her main concern. The key point was that all the glass here was bulletproof, and one could observe the outside from inside, while the outside could not see anything inside the room. She had also discovered surveillance equipment in several places, all world-class advanced devices.
In the villa’s courtyard, various plants were neatly arranged. In a slightly smaller house, three well-trained Tibetan mastiffs were kept.
Leng Youlan believed that the villa’s defensive facilities were far more extensive than what she had seen. But these were enough to tell her that the owner was extraordinary.
Leng Youlan lazily turned over, her deep, black eyes like a clear pond gazing out at the mysterious night sky. Tonight, she would leave this place and follow the arrangements of fate.
Gently closing her beautiful eyes, she enjoyed her last peaceful sleep. She remembered that since childhood, she had never had such a calm sleep as these past two nights. Could it be because of him? Leng Youlan slightly furrowed her brow at the thought.
