Chapter 202: Xiaodi’s Call

Someone once said, when you can no longer have something, the only thing you can do is to prevent yourself from forgetting it.

And someone else said, people have so many worries because their memories are too good.

Li Yan wasn’t sure if his memory was good, but he was at least certain that his ability to forget was excellent. Many past events he didn’t want to mention again seemed to be isolated from his memory as if he had a split personality, which was rare.

After talking with Nian Yufei for a while, it was time for dinner. Even though it was just the two of them eating together, the meal was still very lavish. Nian Yufei didn’t eat much, mostly watching Li Yan eat.

Through conversation and observation, Li Yan also confirmed that she didn’t know he was living in this villa complex. This situation, which had once displeased him, turned out to be a coincidence, and fortunately, it didn’t erupt over the phone or when he arrived.

Since he lived nearby, he returned home quickly after dinner. Zhang Yurong didn’t press him about what he had been doing, just reminded him about the company’s group trip the next day. She said she didn’t really want to go, feeling it was meaningless and a waste of time.

Li Yan knew that during these three days off, she would still spend a lot of time working. Of course, he couldn’t let her continue working so hard and decided to remind her about the importance of such activities. As the company’s president, if she didn’t go, it would dampen everyone’s spirits; if she attended, it would set a good example and enhance the company’s cohesion, starting the new year on a good note.

Zhang Yurong considered his words and found them reasonable. Even though her presence wasn’t as intimidating as Hai Fu’s, the employees usually didn’t have many opportunities to interact with her, and even the higher-ups had a respectful distance. Having such an opportunity for activity was a bit of public relations within the company.

...

When it was time to sleep, Li Yan habitually waited a while holding his phone. These days, he kept his phone charged and on, just in case there was an opportunity for Li Jie to contact them. Unfortunately, every evening, he didn’t receive any calls from Li Jie.

But since more than half a month without any news had passed, and now he knew Xiaodi was at home, he could stay calm without driving over impulsively.

When not outside, Li Yan’s schedule at home was quite regular, maintaining exercise, going to bed on time, and getting up on time. He had to go to the company early the next day, so he couldn’t be late.

Just as he was about to turn off the lights and go to sleep, the phone he had been waiting for days to ring finally went off in the middle of the night!

He excitedly grabbed it quickly, and the caller ID was exactly who he had been waiting for—Li Jie!

"You finally called! How is Xiaodi? Is there a chance I could speak with her on the phone? I’ve been waiting every day, almost losing control!" Li Yan immediately erupted with complaints as he pressed the answer button.

Normally, finding an opportunity to make a call would not seem difficult to most people. If he didn’t trust Li Jie, he would suspect her of deliberately delaying. His complaints weren’t blaming her, just a bit of excitement after days of anticipation.

But there was silence on the other end of the phone, with only a faint sound of breathing, but no one speaking. This quickly calmed Li Yan down. Could it be that Li Jie was caught trying to help them communicate using her phone by Chen Mingying or someone else? Did they even confiscate Li Jie’s phone?

However, this thought just flashed through his mind. Concerns cause confusion, and after thinking seriously, he realized this possibility was very low. After all, Li Jie was hired as a bodyguard, not their daughter, and Chen Mingying, the employer, couldn’t strip her of her phone.

So if it wasn’t that possibility, there was only one other option!

"...Xiaodi?" Li Yan gently called, feeling a bit of dryness in his voice, "Xiaodi, is that you?"

A sudden "wow" came, and the person on the other end of the phone unexpectedly started crying!

Even if it was just sobs, Li Yan, upon hearing the voice, could still recognize it as undeniably Xiaodi’s voice. The one calling with Li Jie’s phone was indeed the Yu Xiaodi he had been worried about and missing day and night!

...

Yu Xiaodi had been taken out to travel and relax for some time—or rather, forced to leave for some time. While abroad, her shrewd and powerful mother calculated her every move, and she had no way to contact Li Yan, so she simply kept a soft and obedient demeanor, avoiding hard resistance.

Even so, her mood was greatly affected, and under Chen Mingying’s control, she was almost completely cut off from the outside world. For a girl of her age, who grew up using phones and computers, being deprived of them was more painful than being locked in a room. Even though Chen Mingying considered her entertainment needs and bought her a game console, it couldn’t compare to familiar computer games.

Feeling down, losing her appetite, and the ever-changing journey leaving her uncomfortable coupled with growing longing for Li Yan—all these factors made her noticeably thinner and weary upon returning. But to her, she didn’t notice these changes, her desire to see her beloved only grew stronger, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy.

What surprised her was that when she arrived at the airport at nine in the evening, she actually saw Li Yan! Under normal circumstances, it would have only been a happy occasion, but for her, after half a month of confinement, it was truly a delight. With Li Jie’s help covering, she managed to glance at Li Yan a few times and even waved, expressing a distant connection with her eyes. Even though they couldn’t meet face to face or speak, at that moment, it was like a fish on the verge of drying up receiving a droplet of water.

Because there were many people at the airport, along with Chen Mingying’s company associates and assistants, she didn’t notice this little exchange. But having been seasoned in the market, she had a much keener eye than most people; moreover, Xiaodi was her one and only precious daughter. Her meticulousness was naturally not lacking in observing her daughter’s changes.

Initially, she assumed it was excitement from returning to S city, a sense of expectation for Xiaodi. But when they got home, the strict soft containment continued without any opportunity for external contact, and Xiaodi was neither anxious nor rattled. It made her realize they must have some form of contact! And the only time she didn’t notice might have been at the airport.

She suspected if it was related to Zhou Yunfei or Li Jie giving a heads-up; otherwise, how could Li Yan know when they were returning and appear at the airport? But at this juncture, having employed Li Jie as a temporary bodyguard, dismissing her suddenly or probing would cause unnecessary alarm. Without evidence, she stayed put but kept a tighter watch over Xiaodi, including no loosening the reins on Li Jie, giving them little time alone.

It certainly exhausted Chen Mingying, but the result was evident. After missing out the first night, the duo never got another chance.

Waiting and anticipating, a week just flew by like that.

Today, Yu Hong’s rare stay overnight at home meant Chen Mingying couldn’t accompany her daughter to bed every night, finally giving them an opportunity. Li Jie had given Xiaodi the phone earlier, arranging for her to contact Li Yan. By now, estimating they were asleep, Xiaodi locked the door, and excitedly dialed Li Yan’s number.

Her emotions were charged, her hand clutching the phone trembling momentarily; instead of quickly speaking once connected, she found herself open-mouthed yet voiceless! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

’You finally called! How’s Xiaodi? Any chance we could talk? I’ve been waiting endlessly, on the verge of losing control!’

Li Yan’s words inflamed her excitement further. Indeed, he was anxious, longing for her dearly! And after a moment, Li Yan sensed her silence, called her name, and at that instance, she could no longer control her emotions, bursting into tears with a ’wow’!

She had grown up adored, and given her family background, she carried significant influence within her circle, leading her to not be weak and being straightforward, loving, and hating without hesitance. Therefore, against her mother’s ’tyranny’, she protested, argued, went on a hunger strike, and staged cold wars, but seldom cried. She believed crying symbolized weakness and surrender. She was neither weak nor willing to yield!

Yet, she was still just a nineteen-year-old girl, someone for whom a first love meant risking it all, undaunted by the spectacular, still not extremely rational or mature. Over twenty days, nearly a month, became her most excruciating period, with grievances accumulating silently in her heart. Encountering Li Yan was a surprise; every second was precious with no time to ponder deeply. But now, separated by the phone signal and hearing words of concern from her beloved, she couldn’t hold back any longer!

In his presence, her strength crumbled;

In his presence, she only wished to cry in his arms heartily, hoping after sobbing, she would discover it had been a dream, and they were still together in that hotel on her birthday...

...

"Xiaodi, don’t cry! I’m here; I’ve promised, no matter what, I’ll never give up on you, I’ll always protect you my whole life! If you’re too aggrieved, too upset, I’ll come to get you from your home right now!" Li Yan said earnestly.

Unable to suppress her wailing for a while, Yu Xiaodi soon realized this was an opportunity Li Jie helped arrange for them to speak and couldn’t be wasted. Furthermore, crying might alarm her mother. So she grabbed the blanket to wipe her tears and suppressed her sobs, speaking in a slightly sniffly voice, "I know! I trust in you! I love you! I’ve kept your love letter with me, reading it countless times!"

Li Yan was moved, realizing she probably relied on that letter to get through these days. He slightly regretted, regretting not writing more at the time—even if just adding some more endearing words! That way, it could have given her more comfort, more confidence, and strength.

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