Chapter 73

(Old Lai always values the opinions of his readers, which inevitably influences his thought process and mood. That’s why only two Chapters were written yesterday. Today, I’m shaking off the slump and writing again. Since I can’t access the internet, there will be three or four Chapters updated tonight. Thank you for continuing to support Mixed, and supporting Old Lai!)

Thinking for a while, Li Yan eased his mind. This should just be Xiaodi being sad because she couldn’t spend the whole birthday together with him. She’s still young and not at the stage of talking about marriage yet. Yu Hong and Chen Mingying wouldn’t restrict her in any way. Besides, she’s still in school, they can’t just send her abroad on a whim, can they? With the current technology, phones and the internet make communication easy.

After dispelling his worries, Li Yan drove away from the school and returned to the hotel to deal with Sonia’s matter first.

On the way to the hotel, he took out his mobile phone, pondering whether to turn it on. By this time, Xie Xuanji should have already informed Yue Yao, right? She would definitely be worried; should he inform her first?

However, since her injury hasn’t fully healed, Yurong wouldn’t feel at ease letting her go out alone. Even if she did, she would only know about the cinema, not the hotel, and Sonia isn’t there. If he contacts her, it would only make her anxious.

Since it wouldn’t take long, Li Yan decided not to turn his phone on and quickened his pace back to the hotel.

Li Yan went straight upstairs to the room Sonia mentioned on the phone and knocked on the door.

From the moment he returned to the hotel—or rather, nearing the hotel—Li Yan had already shed his civilian persona and assumed the role of King, entering mission mode. From parking, entering the hotel, to going upstairs, he did everything mindfully, not just walking with his feet!

His hearing, vision, sense of smell, his intuition—all peaked into the most sensitive state. Though his gaze couldn’t analyze and penetrate like a Terminator, his focus wasn’t on admiring pretty women or architectural styles, but on checking everyone and everything that seemed suspicious; his ears and nose were the same, though less effective than sight. Sometimes, subtle sounds or abnormal smells might be precursors to danger. Intuition was more like an experience from the heart—indescribable, inexpressible, yet very effective.

No matter whether Sonia was trustworthy or not, facing a woman who might also be an S-Class assassin, Li Yan wouldn’t stand at the door, as a bullet might shoot through at any moment. After knocking, he stood against the wall while pulling out Sonia’s phone. He believed Sonia wouldn’t stand behind the door asking questions or peep through the peephole because that’s an easy way to get shot from outside.

Soon, the phone rang, and Sonia’s voice came over: "You’re back?"

"Yes, I’m outside."

"I’m inside, without any precautions. I’m sincerely inviting you for a discussion; I don’t want it to start with conflict." Clearly, she was worried that Li Yan might shoot when she opened the door.

"Of course, I keep my promises." Li Yan said coldly. Whether there’s killing intent, he could feel it. Sonia didn’t have any for now, but having no precautions was impossible. She simply meant she wasn’t inside holding a gun waiting. "Maybe you should prepare a bulletproof vest and helmet."

"You’re quite humorous." With Sonia’s soft laugh, the door was unlocked from inside, but no one opened it to invite him in.

Li Yan moved forward to gently push the door open, noticing a service staff coming along the corridor and looking curiously at his actions. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he turned, opened the door, and went in.

Claiming to be from New Hyde, but actually from Rocana, Sonia stood in a place Li Yan could see, one hand empty while the other was holding a phone. She seemed to avoid conflict, showing she meant no hostility.

Li Yan closed the door and tossed the phone to her. "I’m here; this is your phone."

As he made the move, Sonia’s eyes flickered with a hint of killer instinct, perceiving it as a dangerous signal! With one hand holding a phone, she wouldn’t have a third hand to quickly draw a gun, rendering her defenseless.

However, Li Yan didn’t emit any killing intent, and regarding this legendary King, who single-handedly killed more special agents than the three S-Class killers combined in the task with the Si Country agents, Sonia felt somewhat intimidated, not daring to gamble on who could draw and shoot faster.

Quick as lightning, Sonia had only a split second to decide. Her reaction was swift; she didn’t use her empty right hand to catch the phone but made a surprising move—placing the phone in her hand against her chest before catching the thrown phone!

The phone didn’t fly fast, and she caught it without dropping the one in her chest pocket! Throughout, Li Yan’s attention was fully focused on Sonia’s every move, her slight gestures all noticed, yet he completely ignored the fact that she had changed into a more seductive outfit in the room. It wasn’t until her "cleavage phone grip" demonstration that he realized there was no jacket on her; her attire featured a large U neckline with the phone securely held.

Her actions made Li Yan understand she was wary of him possibly shooting her, leading him to open his hands in view and slowly, visibly applaud her.

Having caught the phone and confirming that Li Yan had no intention to shoot, Sonia relaxed, smiled, and removed the other phone, tossing it onto the bed. "Why the applause?"

Li Yan smiled and gestured over his chest, "Though squeezing things always works, managing to grip a phone so effortlessly as you did isn’t easy."

Sonia glanced down and chuckled, "I was waiting for you in the room, so I didn’t wear much. Does it bother you? Should I put on a jacket?"

As assassins, each of their actions would be magnified and guarded against. Even just putting on a jacket required checking with Li Yan to avoid misunderstandings. Likewise, had Li Yan wished to remove his jacket, he’d best inquire to alleviate suspicion.

"I don’t mind! You look beautiful and sexy as you are now. Beauty knows no boundaries, and I’m one who appreciates it. Should I sit here?" Li Yan pointed to the chair.

"Please." Her room was standard, not large. But since she occupied it alone, the standard room had a large bed. So, as Li Yan pulled the chair over to sit, she slowly retreated to the bedside, sitting on the two-meter big bed.

"Miss Sonia, you’re not from New Hyde, but from Rocana, right?" Before getting down to business, Li Yan acquiesced with a nicety. Since she showed her "cleavage phone grip," it was only courteous not to maintain a cold demeanor.

"Yes, I lied earlier." Sonia admitted openly.

"Rocana is indeed a place for beauties. You consider yourself part of the Eastern Celestial Continent, right? It seems Bai Ono Country, Kema Salin, and such are also places known for beauties."

The Eastern Celestial Continent, referring to the areas east of Luo Country and Lorings, generally lacks clear boundaries. It includes Bai Ono Country, Ono Country, and Rocana located on the Eastern Celestial Continent plains.

Just as Sonia of Rocana was about to agree that Rocana is part of the Eastern Celestial Continent, she paused at "Kema Salin" and sweatily corrected, "You mean ’Kema Salin’ right?"

"Yes... uh." Her Yun Country language was modest but more accurate than Li Yan’s "Kema Salin."

"Kema Salin was once a federated country. It officially divided into Kema and Salin in 1993." Sonia explained earnestly, "Do you like the Eastern Celestial Continent?"

"Hmm, good impression." In Yun Country, speaking Yun language, it’s polite to compliment someone’s hometown, easing the atmosphere a tad. Li Yan then inquired about the main topic, "Miss Sonia, what is it exactly you want to discuss with me?"

He had already guessed; it must be about that Rocana Rose he previously killed. However, since she hadn’t started on a revenge path, there must be another reason.

Sonia nodded and opened her hands, indicating no harmful intention. "Previously, in that mission in H City of Yun Country, we had someone involved. You must know. I want to ask about her whereabouts. Earlier in the restaurant, from what you said..."

"You don’t know?" Li Yan pondered briefly; perhaps it was possible. If that Rocana lady hadn’t told her about tailing him to S City, she might really not know. After being killed by him, no one came to identify the body or report, and since it involved a foreigner, maybe the local police kept it under wraps until it fizzled out.

"I want to know her current whereabouts, if she has already..."

Li Yan nodded, "After the mission, she tailed me trying to kill me and hurt my friend, and in turn, I killed her!"

Seeing her silent after hearing, Li Yan probed further, "If you didn’t know her situation, how did you find me?"

Sonia shrugged, "Before she went missing, she sent me a long-distance photo of you, saying it was King, without detailing her plan. Later, I lost contact with her. Eventually, I came to Yun Country. With limited information, finding you was tough. I recognized you only after seeing you in the news recently."

(Thank you to yesterday’s donors: Ji Boyang, dongmin8061, jK Liang, Changfeng~~, Li Fanshow, zjun971210, Flying High Aspiring to the Moon, Cp Pampas, Cavalry) (To be continued, to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com to read more Chapters and support the author, support official readings!)