At this moment, Yurong is somewhat suspicious on a rational level, feeling that Li Yan’s reaction is a bit different from usual. She even wonders if he always treats other girls the same way. But emotionally, she feels happy and warm. She used to think that love talk, promises, and vows between men and women were just cheesy and boring empty words, but now, having invested her emotions, she realizes she has no resistance to such sweet talk and finds it equally pleasing!

Her feelings make her want to ask rationally, ’Do you say this to others too?’ but she suppresses it, instinctively believing that asking such a question would spoil the moment.

After saying that, Li Yan didn’t say anything else, just held her, without making further moves.

This kind of contact, Yurong can accept now. She feels his head on her shoulder, as if talking would brush against her earlobe, making her heart race. Even though she has had various forms and degrees of intimate contact with Li Yan, there was never such warmth and closeness.

She calmed her emotions and softly asked, "If you can’t leave, then don’t... No one is forcing you out... as long as you can resist temptation yourself."

"Okay," Li Yan replied, without saying more.

By now, Zhang Yurong, having adapted a bit more, regained more rationality. The disruptive words and doubts naturally wouldn’t be asked, but the previous fleeting suspicion became clearer.

With her understanding of Li Yan, he’s definitely not a sweet-talker and definitely doesn’t have this kind of interaction with Yue Xiao Di, who has always been the more proactive one. His ability to say such things to her made her happy and comforted but also a bit worried. His sudden abnormal behavior might indicate some problem.

"Why did you say that suddenly?"

"Hmm?"

"The words just now, you normally wouldn’t say them. Is there something... on your mind?" Yurong tried to ask, keeping her tone as neutral as possible, making it easier for him to accept.

Li Yan released his hold, lifted his head, and stood up straight.

Yurong quickly turned around to look directly at him, seeing a slight smile on his face.

"I’m just a rugged guy, what could be on my mind? Even if there is, it wouldn’t be anything serious. These thoughts have been there for a while; I’ve just always been too shy to say them. Just now, I suddenly felt compelled... Uh, perhaps it’s because I thought about Yue Yao getting injured, with life being unpredictable, who knows when unexpected dangers might arise? In that mood, I just said it... Oh dear, how embarrassing..."

Zhang Yurong listened intently to his explanation, observing his facial expression for any noticeable changes. After hearing, she believed his impulsive explanation. Perhaps emotionally, he’s really not good at directly expressing himself... Hearing him call himself ’shy’, she already found it amusing. In the end, using a tone unlike his usual macho and manly self, with a somewhat girlish ’Oh dear, how embarrassing’ made her burst out laughing.

"You know embarrassment? You’re shy too? I’ve known you for almost a year and never noticed! I always thought your face was as thick as a city wall!"

Seeing Yurong’s teasing laughter, Li Yan also relaxed. He was slightly affected emotionally, but it was due to the contents of the letter he read labeled ’Start’.

"Thick or thin, pinch it and you’ll know, you can also touch! A kiss works too!"

"Bite your thick skin!" Yurong pretends to open her mouth.

(Thanks for the reward yesterday: Yagami Light II, Lan Bingyan, dongmin8061, Cp Pampas) (To be continued, to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, for more Chapters, support the author, and read the original!)