Chapter 61: Chapter 53: Why Didn’t You Leave?

No one expected Yu Lan to say that.

They had just agreed to let her leave, after all.

But now, Yu Lan didn’t want to go.

Mrs. Li worried that Yu Lan was afraid they were just bluffing, so she hastily reiterated her promise.

"Lanlan, don’t worry. I’m a woman of my word."

"After dinner tonight, we can arrange for a Starship to take you away."

Yu Lan shook her head, a starlike glimmer flashing in her amber eyes.

"Of course I believe you, Mrs. Li. But likewise, my desire to stay is also genuine."

Mrs. Li took a deep breath.

She looked at the beautiful female before her.

If she wasn’t lying, then her actions could only mean that she was a truly kind female with high moral character.

Mrs. Li once again sighed inwardly, lamenting Li Yucheng’s misfortune.

If Li Yucheng were a normal male right now, she would definitely encourage him to pursue Yu Lan.

With that thought, Mrs. Li reached out and gently patted the back of Yu Lan’s hand.

"Thank you, Lanlan."

"Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."

"But Yu Cheng’s condition has been like this for so many years. Please don’t put too much pressure on yourself."

"Sometimes, it’s best to just let nature take its course."

All these years.

Mrs. Li had long since moved past her initial disbelief and inability to accept the situation. Now, she could even be the one to comfort others and advise them to accept things as they are.

Yu Lan nodded firmly. "Yes, Mrs. Li, you can rest assured. I will do my absolute best to find a way to cure Li Yucheng."

’Such a rare and precious case is simply too good to pass up.’

’Besides, the Li Family is so wealthy and powerful, they can provide any materials I need.’

’I’ll be able to realize my ideas to their fullest extent.’

At this thought, Yu Lan smiled faintly. Her eyes curved into crescents, and her entire being radiated a gentle, bright beauty.

Her rosy lips parted slightly as she spoke: 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"In that case, I’ll stay at the Li residence tonight so I can start work first thing in the morning."

"It’s just... about Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye... could I trouble you, Mrs. Li, to send someone to inform them? Just so they don’t worry."

Yu Lan had to admit it: she was chickening out.

She had originally thought her next meeting with Huo Zhanting and Su Xingye would be a year or two in the future.

Seeing them fight so desperately and get grievously injured for her sake, her heart had ached. She couldn’t bear it, and so she’d eagerly confessed her feelings.

Who could have predicted that Mrs. Li would be so gentle, understanding, and easy to talk to?

She was even willing to let Yu Lan leave directly.

This...

It was a classic case of homecoming jitters.

Now, Yu Lan was just too embarrassed to face them.

She had to delay the reunion, at least for a little while.

As for Yu Lan’s proposal to stay the night, Mrs. Li was naturally all for it.

If even Yu Lan—who had developed the Hope Potion in just over a month—couldn’t successfully create a Human-shaped Recovery Potion, then it was likely truly impossible.

She quickly spoke up:

"Yes, yes, of course. I’ll send someone out right away."

"I’ll make sure the message is delivered properly."

"Oh, right, Lanlan, what do you like to eat? Do you prefer spicy, savory, or sweet? I’ll have the chef prepare it right away."

Mrs. Li attended to Yu Lan with extreme warmth and hospitality.

Because of Yu Lan’s earlier behavior, even Li Yufei found her opinion of the girl changing. Her expression softened, and she looked a little embarrassed.

*

「While waiting for dinner」

Mrs. Li took the lead and gave Yu Lan a brief tour of the castle.

They soon came to a hallway lined with portraits.

Yu Lan’s gaze was immediately drawn to the first one: a photograph of a boy who looked to be around six years old.

The little boy had black hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in an exquisite little suit, his lips pressed tightly together as he tried to put on a serious expression.

But because of his fair skin—a clear sign that he had been very well-cared for—his cheeks still held a trace of baby fat, making him look utterly adorable.

"This is..."

Yu Lan had a faint guess in her heart.

Just then, Mrs. Li spoke with immense pride:

"This is a picture of Yu Cheng taken when he was six."

"What do you think? Adorable, isn’t he?"

"He was just a tiny little thing, but he was already trying to copy his father’s serious, aloof expression. He even said that when he grew up, he would take over the family business so his father and I could retire and enjoy life."

"Who would have thought..."

Mrs. Li sighed at this point.

Happy times always seem so fleeting, gone before you know it.

Quickly composing herself, she took Yu Lan’s hand, her excitement returning:

"I remember we have a photo album dedicated to Yu Cheng’s childhood. Wait here, I’ll go get it for you to see."

In the photo album, Yu Lan saw a picture of Li Yucheng as a tiny one-year-old.

In his Black Panther beast form, he was also a tiny ball of fur, like a fluffy little black kitten.

"What do you think? Isn’t he adorable?"

Mrs. Li said with a smile, "Back then, he hadn’t quite mastered transforming into his beast form. He’d often change and then not be able to change back."

"He was just a little furball, like a kitten."

"Our sofa is black, so when he napped on it, you could barely see him at a glance."

Yu Lan pictured everyone frantically searching for Li Yucheng while he was obediently napping on the sofa, completely undiscovered. She couldn’t help but smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

She couldn’t resist gently tapping the little black panther in the photo. To think that the Black Panther who now seemed so arrogant, fierce, and unruly once had such an obedient side.

*

「The next day」

After breakfast, Yu Lan went straight to the place where Li Yucheng was being kept as a Black Panther.

The previous night, Mrs. Li had given her the access code for the door.

Now, Yu Lan stood at the door, keying in the code digit by digit.

Inside the room, the Black Panther lying in the iron cage suddenly narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his deep blue beastly pupils.

’This isn’t the usual time for the family to bring food.’

’Did someone sneak into the Li Family estate?’

The Black Panther bared his teeth, a cold light glinting off his sharp fangs.

The Black Panther lowered the front of his body, assuming an attack stance.

If anyone with ill intentions dared to enter, they would be torn to shreds in an instant.

But what he didn’t expect was that the moment the code was fully entered, with a soft CLICK, the door was pushed open slightly.

The first thing to appear was Yu Lan’s soft, beautiful face.

The beautiful female was partially hidden behind the door, leaning in with just half her head visible. She waved at the Black Panther and smiled.

"Hey there!"

"Li Yucheng, I’m back to see you again."

"Aren’t you surprised?"

The beautiful female’s bright, clear voice echoed throughout the room.

As the door opened, sunlight streamed in from behind her, and a rush of fresh, cool air flooded the space.

Li Yucheng could even hear the crisp, joyful chirping of birds from the garden.

The Black Panther, coiled and ready to attack, suddenly froze.

His deep blue beastly pupils stared fixedly at Yu Lan. He had never thought she would actually come back.

Why?

Yu Lan’s slender, delicate figure was reflected in the Black Panther’s deep blue eyes.

’From the moment Mrs. Li appeared yesterday, he knew she would let Yu Lan go.’

’Only a monster like him was destined to be forever alone.’

’Why didn’t she leave?’