Chapter 225: Li Jie’s Dormitory

Li Jie could see Xiao Di’s unusual behavior, and of course, Li Yan wouldn’t miss it either. Moreover, since both of them felt guilty, they instinctively associated it with the possibility that their relationship had been discovered by Yu Xiaodi.

But the wink Yu Xiaodi gave him just now, and her words ’I’ve been delaying for a long time, I must hurry’ and ’It’s just perfect for us to split up, once you’ve taken Li Jie back, my business will be done too, saving you from following me around aimlessly’ immediately made Li Yan think of something else!

It wasn’t the guilt between him and Li Jie towards Xiao Di, but the guilt between him and Xiao Di towards Yurong!

Back then, Zhang Yurong made a one-year agreement, which was something Yu Xiaodi was very grateful for. Because she was originally the legal wife, it was extremely rare to be given such a fair competition opportunity as a third party. But she didn’t keep her promise or fulfill it. Although she didn’t regret it, the guilt in her heart had always been accumulating, especially because after that day, she was grounded, and her phone was confiscated. She had no chance to apologize to Zhang Yurong, and such a thing requires a face-to-face apology to show sincerity.

For this reason, the first thing Yu Xiaodi wanted to handle when she got the chance to go out today, besides sending Li Jie back, was to settle this matter! And Li Yan, as the man caught in the middle, would only make things more awkward if he appeared on the scene. So, like last time when Zhang Yurong sent him away to talk to Yu Xiaodi alone, she went alone to their house to find Zhang Yurong.

However, Li Jie couldn’t know about this, so she had to use the excuse of going to school, and then let Li Yan conveniently send Li Jie back.

Knowing this, Li Yan didn’t pursue it further, to avoid putting more mental pressure on Xiao Di; instead, he waited for her to face it. If she didn’t face it, it would also remain a knot in her heart. As for Li Jie, he gave her a vague response.

But Li Jie’s words after getting in the car made him a bit sweaty. "Are you also worried Zhou Yunfei will tell? When I went over just now, he hinted at something too."

Li Jie shook her head again. "Captain Zhou shouldn’t be that kind of person, but...I just feel Xiao Di’s reaction just now wasn’t quite right, it seemed like a feigned smile."

"Don’t worry! She has other matters today." Li Yan comforted her with a word, then drove her home.

On the way, Li Jie had no intention of speaking and closed her eyes to rest. When they arrived at her place, as soon as the car stopped, Li Jie said, "No need to see me up, you should go find Xiao Di!"

Li Yan didn’t listen to her and still got down to help her carry her simple luggage. "I know what she’s up to, she wanted me to bring you back to buy her some more time, not to disturb her. Just let me come up and sit for a bit!"

Li Jie frowned.

"It’s not like that girl you live with brought her boyfriend back again, is it?" Li Yan joked on purpose, and then without waiting for her, he went over and pulled her up.

"No, she already moved out." Li Jie shook her head, feeling it’s not good to be pulling near the residence, she followed him forward.

The one who used to live with her was a clerk from the company. This was a company dormitory rented within the city. After reform, those who had no real skills and previously relied on relationships were basically replaced, so of course, they moved out too.

Now, in this two-bedroom apartment, Li Jie lived alone, and during the days she wasn’t home, no one else had moved in. After arriving home, Li Jie took the luggage herself and placed it in the bedroom.

"What’s there to sit... there’s not even water to drink." Li Jie mumbled, going to boil water with the kettle. The bottled pure water had been sitting for almost a month and was no longer drinkable.

After Li Jie started boiling water with gas, she came over to find Li Yan unexpectedly tidying up her room. Although there wasn’t much to tidy, him, a big man, doing housework was a bit surprising to her.

"No need to tidy, just open the windows for some air..." Li Jie stood there, feeling a bit unnatural. She could have a serious talk with him at the company, but now with just the two of them here, it somehow felt distant.

The nearly month-long time spent together with Yu Xiaodi, witnessing her deep affection for Li Yan, almost fully dedicating her heart to him. In comparison, Li Jie was much more independent. Even though her feelings for Li Yan grew unconsciously after returning to City H, she had her own career and work to keep her busy.

Their identities were different, loving him was tough, and now they could finally be together; she felt she couldn’t be the third party and had to step aside, not intruding between the two of them. With such thoughts, an invisible protective wall was built, widening the distance between them.

After simply tidying up, Li Yan lay down on her bed.

"What are you doing?" Li Jie frowned and asked.

Li Yan placed his hands behind his head, lying on top of the covers, looking at Li Jie, who was leaning against the door, and smiled, "I remembered something, something I must share with you."

"Go on!"

"Today, your dad called me..."

Li Jie raised an eyebrow; she was perfectly clear about her father’s thoughts and intentions, as if he feared she wouldn’t find a husband, and calling Li Yan naturally involved content she could guess without asking.

"He’s still like that... so enthusiastic, opening with ’dear son-in-law’!" Li Yan said, watching Li Jie’s reaction.

To Li Jie, he already saw her as his woman. If his life and decisions depended merely on choosing the one he loved most or who suited him best among the women he liked, he wouldn’t tease them too much, lest he waste their time. But now things were different; he’d long decided not even one should be missing from his life, so he felt it necessary to do something for Li Jie!

Back in H City, the two of them had been intimate, not out of natural emotional progress, but because after witnessing the prowess of Si Country’s agents and narrowly escaping death, Li Jie lacked confidence in surviving that mission. Rather than die in vain, she wanted to experience love and what it felt like to be a woman before potentially dying. At the time, she certainly had some feelings for Li Yan, but she also knew he was Yu Xiaodi’s boyfriend; under normal circumstances, she would never have been with him.

Upon returning, their opportunities to meet became more frequent than before, mainly due to their work reforming Jie Rui Security. Such interactions felt more natural for both of them. However... in Li Jie’s view, his earnest help was probably just compensation for what happened between them, right?

She was not someone skilled at expressing her inner feelings; Li Yan had strong doubts about such thoughts. He’d never formally revealed his feelings before, and now was a rare opportunity, or else she might automatically retreat and distance herself!

"I’ll talk to him, telling him not to joke like that anymore, and not to tell others, to avoid misunderstandings and trouble," Li Jie replied naturally upon hearing Li Yan’s words, knowing it had troubled him.

"That... should be said," Li Yan agreed, "But don’t you want to know why your dad called me?"

Li Jie questioned what else there could be but still asked, "What’s the matter?"

"He asked if I’d be going home for the New Year; I said yes, and then he suggested you accompany me home..."

"What? Nonsense! Ignore him!" Li Jie promptly grew annoyed, feeling quite embarrassed. She understood her father’s intentions clearly, but this was counterproductive—what was this, eager to send her off in marriage?

"I also said it wouldn’t be appropriate, then he suggested again you accompany me back," Li Yan continued watching her reaction.

Li Jie shook her head, "I won’t be going back with you!"

Then she turned away towards the kitchen.

After a while, she returned with a cup of freshly boiled water, placing it on the bedside table.

Li Yan remained lying on the bed, took advantage as she finished pouring the water, and reached out to pull her over, holding her down onto the bed together!

Li Jie struggled immediately, whispering, "What are you doing? We can’t do this!"

"Nothing, just wanted to... hold you." Li Yan kept her tightly embraced, "Since returning from H City, although we’ve met more, there hasn’t been a chance to be close."

"Let go!" Li Jie elbowed him, speaking coldly, "Do you think your infidelity is fair to Xiaodi? To the grievances she endured for you?"

Li Yan paused slightly but did not loosen his grip; instead, he said, "What about you? If I ignore you, treat you as just a friend, wouldn’t you feel aggrieved? You know my relationship with Xiaodi well; yet when I needed help, you were more enthusiastic than about your matters—seeking information for me, informing me at the first opportunity, covering for and helping us meet, taking care of Xiaodi, violating job ethics to help us stay connected by phone... Wasn’t all this for me?"

These words deeply touched Li Jie, even though he had never spoken of it, he had seen and remembered everything she did!

"Hmph! What’s it to you? She’s my friend!" Li Jie was sitting up already after struggling.

Li Yan sat up too, reaching from behind to hold her, and his lips kissed her neck...

Li Jie seemed like she had been electrified, immediately arching her body, if not being held tightly by Li Yan, she would have sprung up to run away.

"Stop! Don’t do this!" Unable to match his strength, Li Jie could only verbally protest.

Li Yan exerted some force, flipping Li Jie onto the bed, then rolled over to press her down. This silly girl was the violent type; he had to carefully subdue her to calm her down a bit.

Almost in a forcible position he pressed her onto the bed; Li Jie was quite displeased, particularly frustrated that in the face of his overwhelming strength, she couldn’t use any of her skills. She could only laugh coldly and say, "Xiaodi just left for a while, and you’re already coming onto me, how thoughtful of you!"

(The kindergarten designated a rundown cinema, watching a so-called educational film shot in at least the 90s with all sides quite poor, wasting most of the day... There will be another Chapter later) (To be continued, to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com; more Chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)