Chapter 34
Standing two meters behind him by a streetlamp was Yan Shiting.
Today he wasn't wearing a suit, but a dark gray turtleneck sweater with a black trench coat over it, looking both casual and mature.
He was carrying a paper bag and slowly walked towards Yu Li with his long legs.
“Brother Yan…” Yu Li murmured.
Yan Shiting walked to his side and took his hand: "Wait for me in the pavilion over there. I need to talk to him."
Yu Li was taken aback, her eyes filled with worry: "Did you hear everything?"
Yan Shiting nodded slightly. "I didn't hear much. Let's go now."
The deep voice inexplicably made people feel at ease.
Yu Li's previous agitation vanished instantly.
He looked into Yan Shiting's calm and composed eyes, and after a long while, he nodded: "Okay, then I'll wait for you."
Throughout the entire process, Yu Li never glanced at Xu Bin again.
When he reached the pavilion not far away, Yan Shiting slowly turned his gaze to Xu Bin.
Unlike when she looked at Yu Li, there was no emotion in her phoenix eyes; they were as calm as a deep pool of water.
Xu Bin didn't like that look in his eyes.
It's as if they don't take people like them seriously, looking at them no differently than looking at roadside stones and flowers.
Xu Bin frowned and scoffed, "President Yan, what do you want to talk to me about? To assert your dominance?"
“Start with your very first words, tell me what you’re thinking,” Yan Shiting said in a deep voice, one hand in his pocket. “He’s still waiting for me, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
"You say he's being kept by a sugar daddy, but that's just because you're insecure and cynical. You think that by belittling him and smearing him, you've earned the right to be with him."
“In fact, every word you say expresses the message that you are not worthy.”
Xu Bin clenched his fist. "Am I not worthy?"
He laughed incredulously: "What do I not deserve? We're from the same world. I won't toy with his feelings."
"How can you be so sure I would toy with his feelings?"
Yan Shiting, his face grim, stepped closer to Xu Bin: "If you can't even show the most basic respect, how can you guarantee that you won't toy with his feelings?"
"You have to slander him before you can confess your feelings. How pure is your affection?"
Unbeknownst to him, Yan Shiting stopped a step in front of Xu Bin.
He was half a head taller than Xu Bin, and his cold gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was quite intimidating.
Feeling resentful at being looked down upon like that, Xu Bin said, "And what about you, President Yan? You've been with him for more than a month, haven't you? Have you ever made your relationship public? Doesn't that mean your relationship is improper?"
Yan Shiting said, "I don't need to prove anything to you."
Yu Li doesn't want to tell anyone about his marriage yet, so he will keep it a secret.
Besides, why should their relationship need to be proven to irrelevant people?
Yan Shiting lowered his eyes and glanced at the phone in Xu Bin's hand: "However, you had better guarantee that the video you recorded won't be seen by my legal team elsewhere."
"otherwise……"
Yan Shiting finished speaking softly, without finishing his sentence.
The coldness on his face sent a chill down Xu Bin's spine.
Xu Bin took a few deep breaths, raised his hand and tapped the phone screen forcefully, deleting the video in front of Yan Shiting.
"Are you satisfied now, Mr. Yan?"
Yan Shiting did not answer, and turned away indifferently.
He had only taken a couple of steps when he turned his head slightly and said:
"Furthermore, I really dislike the term 'declaring sovereignty'."
His relationship with Yu Li was never about sovereignty and ownership.
After speaking, Yan Shiting walked towards the pavilion, his eyes regaining some warmth.
Yu Li stood up and took a few steps toward him. "Brother Yan, are you done talking?"
Yan Shiting nodded: "We've finished talking, let's go."
Yu Li nodded and was about to leave with him when she heard Xu Bin call out from behind, "Si'er, if you're with him, people will only think of an improper relationship. That's a fact."
Yu Li paused in her steps.
He turned around and looked at Xu Bin.
The aversion I had just tried to suppress resurfaced at this moment.
Yu Li took a deep breath and said, "Brother Yan, wait for me for a moment."
He then walked a few steps to Xu Bin.
Looking at his roommate, he couldn't believe that the other person had been able to hide his jealousy for so long and have lived harmoniously with him in the same dormitory for three years.
He slowly began to speak: "Do you think everyone is as despicable as you?"
Xu Bin was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Yu Li to scold him.
Yu Li straightened her expression and said seriously, "There's nothing shameful about my relationship with Brother Yan. We're a legally married couple."
Xu Bin froze for a few seconds, then slowly widened his eyes.
"Impossible, how could you... How could Yan Shiting possibly marry you?! With your family background..."
Yu Li tilted her head and interrupted him: "If I'm so bad in your heart, then why do you still like me?"
"Or is your liking just about belittling and manipulating people?"
Yu Li smiled and said, word by word, "The person you like is truly unfortunate."
"Your liking is disgusting."
Xu Bin couldn't believe that Yu Li, who was always good-tempered, would say such a thing.
He felt ice-cold all over, as if he had been slapped hard across the face, and stood frozen in place.
Yu Li didn't look at him again, turned around and walked quickly towards Yan Shiting.
"let's go."
Yan Shiting raised his eyes, glanced casually at Xu Bin, and then took Yu Li's hand.
"Walk."
...
The resort is lively at night.
A night market was set up on a main road in front of the hotel, with vendors selling snacks, local tea, and specialty products.
The villa is located near an ancient temple scenic area, which is always packed with tourists on weekends, so the night market is quite crowded.
Yu Li was led by Yan Shiting as they walked along the main road.
Although he felt relieved when he retorted to Xu Bin, he is now feeling somewhat depressed when he thinks about what Xu Bin said.
He had always been very clear in his heart that he and Yan Shiting were from different worlds.
Didn't he want to stay far away from the Yan family because of that argument before the start of the school year?
However, when others brought it up tonight, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Yu Li pursed her lips tightly.
A couple walked past them hand in hand.
Yu Li glanced at them before noticing that she and Yan Shiting were also holding hands.
It seems that after that night of enjoying the scenery together, holding hands became a regular occurrence.
Whether it's him or Yan Shiting, whenever they walk together, they instinctively hold each other's hands.
Yu Li lowered her eyes and stared at his and Yan Shiting's hands for a long time.
Still in a daze, Yan Shiting asked in a low voice, "Thinking about what your roommate said?"
Yu Li came to her senses and slowly nodded.
He said softly, "Some of the things he said are the same as my own thoughts from before."
He glanced at Yan Shiting and said, "You've been to my hometown and seen how ordinary and unremarkable I am."
The gap between him and Yan Shiting was simply too great.
Yu Li felt Yan Shiting tighten his grip on his hand.
They walked forward, Yan Shiting still looking ahead, and said calmly:
"Yu Li, I consider myself just an ordinary person. I have strengths and weaknesses, good and bad qualities."
"The definitions of being ordinary and average come from our different standards. You think you are ordinary and average because you have different standards for reference. Little do you know, in the eyes of others, you are not ordinary or average either."
After Yan Shiting finished speaking, he glanced at him sideways and gave him a deep look.
Yu Li was slightly taken aback.
He recalled that he had indeed seen Yan Shiting as an "ordinary person," someone who could get tired, sick, and sad.
They are not as stereotypical as he imagined: noble, picky, and proud.
On the contrary, he was very humble and approachable.
Previously, Yu Li was too insecure and used his own standards to divide him and Yan Shiting into two different worlds.
But in reality, setting aside his standards, he is no different from Yan Shiting.
Besides, so what if the worlds are different? He can go into Yan Shiting's world, and Yan Shiting can come into his world.
Yu Li's heart was pounding.
He could sense that some thoughts were about to emerge from his mind.
After thinking it through, Yu Li gently pressed it down.
He smiled and shook the hand that Yan Shiting was holding, saying softly, "I understand, thank you."
By this time, both of them had already left the night market area.
Yu Li realized that they were not on their way back to the hotel room, but on a path leading up the mountain.
He looked around, then turned and asked, "Where to?"
Yan Shiting didn't say anything, but led him forward, climbing up the steps to a platform.
The platform is circular and offers a panoramic view of the resort.
The brightly lit hotel, the bustling night market, the fan-shaped water park, and the tiered hot spring pools in the distance... are all visible at a glance.
However, perhaps because not many people go to the water park, that area is now completely dark and unlit.
Yan Shiting led Yu Li to a bench in front of the platform, pulled him down to sit, and said, "Let's look at the night view."
Yu Li was taken aback.
He glanced at the villa, then looked up at the night sky.
On the mountain, the stars in the night sky are so clear and close, they seem almost within reach.
"So beautiful," Yu Li murmured, gazing at the starry sky.
This is indeed a great spot to enjoy the night view.
Looking at such a beautiful view, the worries in my heart seemed to disappear.
Yu Li happily swung her feet.
Beside him, Yan Shiting tilted his head, his gaze fixed on him.
Yu Li noticed something and turned to look at him.
The resort's dazzling lights illuminated the platform as well.
The bench was wider than the rocking chair at home, but when they sat down, they didn't subconsciously keep their distance.
Therefore, the two are now only a fist's distance apart.
Yu Li could see Yan Shiting's focused gaze.
His image was reflected in her beautiful phoenix eyes.
A moment later, Yu Li saw Yan Shiting's gaze move down and gently land on his lips.
Yu Li was a little nervous.
He could hear his own heart pounding, and his breathing involuntarily slowed down.
Yes, do you want to kiss me?
But……
In the distance, there was a sudden commotion at the water park.
Yu Li subconsciously turned her head and was surprised to see the lights of the water park gradually turning on.
The water park facilities have all been removed, leaving only the large pool.
At this moment, the surface of the water gradually lit up.
The lights looked like lanterns floating on the water, forming the shape of a small fish.
The little fish seemed to be able to swim in the water, constantly changing positions. Sometimes the light would dim, as if it had dived to the bottom of the water and then jumped out again. The light changes were very lively.
Yu Li was captivated and forgot what had just happened, staring blankly for a long time.
Then, he turned to Yan Shiting and said, "I didn't expect the manor to have such a performance arrangement."
Yan Shiting sat up straight and nodded.
He glanced at the time on his phone; it was already 11:30 p.m.
Yan Shiting tightened his grip, and the paper bag he was holding made a slight sound.
Yu Li looked down in confusion.
From the moment he saw Yan Shiting, he had been wondering what the paper bag was.
The next second, Yan Shiting's slender fingers slowly opened the paper bag and took out a square box.
Yu Li's hands, which were resting on her thighs, suddenly clenched tightly.
However, inside the box was a watch.
Yu Li slowly exhaled.
Why did I subconsciously overthink it?
Yan Shiting took out the watch, put it on Yu Li's left wrist, held his hand and looked at it for a while before saying, "Yu Li, happy 22nd birthday."
Happy birthday……
Yu Li paused, as if she had thought of something, and her hand trembled slightly.
He glanced at the lantern fish in the water park, then at the watch on his wrist.
If the resort were to arrange a water park show, it wouldn't start this late.
Yu Li instantly understood that this was all prepared for him by Yan Shiting.
That's why I brought him to this high platform, because it offers the clearest view.
So, when he saw Yan Shiting by the water park during the day, it wasn't a hallucination; did he really go there to arrange those lanterns?
But once again, Yan Shiting did not express it.
They are so good at comforting people and analyzing situations, but they are unwilling to express their own inner feelings.
Yu Li felt a lump in her throat.
He turned to look at Yan Shiting and deliberately asked, "Did you come to the villa specifically for my birthday, or did you happen to have something to do here and then run into me?"
Yan Shiting did not answer.
Yu Li knew he didn't want to express it.
He bit his lip and said, "If you don't tell me, I'll never know."
Then, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she sadly lowered her eyes.
Yan Shiting pursed his lips.
Seeing Yu Li's uneasy expression, he finally said in a deep voice, "I came for you."
Yu Li quickly asked again, "Did you arrange the little fish lanterns too?"
Yan Shiting clenched his fist slightly.
He doesn't like to explain what he's done too clearly, as if it makes him seem like he's seeking some kind of reward.
But seeing Yu Li's tearful eyes, he nodded again: "Yes."
Yu Li looked at Yan Shiting, smiled gently, and suddenly hugged him.
He said, "Thank you, brother, I really like it!"
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