Chapter 106: Didn’t See Wrong, Did I?

Leaving Zheng Yixuan, Li Yan parked casually by the roadside, his mind racing with thoughts. Tonight was destined not to be peaceful. He hadn’t sought insider information or professional evaluations on the value of the antiques—yet if Sonia and her team treat it as a retirement jackpot worth taking risks for, and collaborate with multiple superkillers, it’s evident that everyone would get significant money once they fence the goods. And now, they’ve attracted Lao Shi’s attention...

Initially, Li Yan had a rather laid-back attitude towards tonight’s events. He hadn’t planned to single-handedly turn the tide, especially since the target wasn’t guests, but antiquities. Even if he were present, even with the support of ’Rose’ and others to snatch that mysterious stone, he believed they wouldn’t turn against him for that. Meanwhile, Chen Junwei was just a Don Quixote-style youth still dreaming of being a reclusive hero.

But now, everything was different. Learning from Zheng Yixuan that the other party was Lao Shi’s group, everything was thrown into disarray. Even if he wanted to obtain the mysterious stone for study, he couldn’t take it openly; he must remain unnoticed and let Rocana Rose’s team operate without drawing attention to himself. Also, he had to curb Chen Junwei’s enthusiasm; not only preventing him from obstructing Lao Shi’s people but also making sure the assassins didn’t turn on him...

"Damn it! Why am I dragged into this mess? It’s got nothing to do with me..."

Li Yan grumbled and made a call to Yue Yao. She was the person he trusted the most, so he had to inform her and help her prepare.

"You finally called back?" Yue Yao smiled, "I heard you upset Yurong terribly yesterday?"

"I don’t think so... I just reasonably declined one of her demands." Saying this, Li Yan was still concerned about Zhang Yurong’s situation, "How is she...?"

"Her? What else could she be? It’s been days, she can’t possibly keep being upset over you forever. Work has to go on, and life continues. Since you care, why not call her directly? Why did you upset her on purpose yesterday?" Yue Yao seemed to side with Zhang Yurong. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Li Yan smiled wryly, "I didn’t upset her intentionally, it’s just... forget it, let’s not talk about it. Is she attending the antique auction tonight?"

"I thought you didn’t care!" Yue Yao teased, then asked earnestly, "To be exact, it’s your father-in-law attending that auction. He supposedly has some admired antiques and might auction some he no longer likes. His health seems alright now but Yurong feels uneasy, so she’s going along to care for him."

"Has she asked you to go?" Li Yan pondered.

"Yes, she said it’s not good to stay home all day. Writing novels requires imagination, but experiencing and witnessing things are essential too, not just indoors. So she’s taking me to see the auction situation."

"Did you agree?"

"Yes. Do you mean... you don’t want me to go?"

"It’s not that I don’t want you to gain experiences. It’s just that your health isn’t fully recovered, and you know tonight won’t be peaceful. If you go..."

Yue Yao chuckled softly, "Relax, my health is fine now. I’m not that delicate, and furthermore, the unrest tonight targets antiques and won’t harm anyone. Even if I can’t assist you, I can still help Yurong care for her father."

"I’m still uneasy about you going..." Li Yan pondered for a moment, sighed, "This isn’t straightforward; aside from the Rocana Rose team, another group is eyeing the antiques."

Yue Yao smiled wryly upon hearing this, "It’s getting more complex... I feel the atmosphere is off, suspecting very professional operators. I thought ’Rose’ was strong enough."

"And this other group... is my friends." Li Yan said softly.

Yue Yao was stunned before quickly understanding. Though Li Yan’s friends may not be hers, she knew a general idea about them. She was probably the one who understood Li Yan best. If he named someone a friend in such matters, they’re likely as good as Guan Ziyi and Zheng Yixuan. Li Yan never told her how they became friends or what their relationship was, but she completely trusted him, never pressing for answers.

"This... might make things difficult for you." Yue Yao remarked.

Li Yan chuckled, "Not really. It doesn’t concern me much. If I go, I wouldn’t intervene much, at most helping one side or restraining the other at critical times, that’s all. Their job is theirs. For you, I won’t take undue risks. But I worry I can’t tend to you all tonight... Can you persuade Yurong’s group to give up?"

"How to persuade? Given my status, am I suitable to advise them?"

Li Yan thought again, she was just Yurong’s confidante. Advising Yurong was fine, but not when Zhang Tianyi was involved.

"Let it be, even if you all go, I’ll ensure your safety. Just don’t send the antiques into a lion’s den, okay?"

"Haha, then persuade your father-in-law. Sending them over might benefit your friends. Though they may give them back for your sake, it’s hard to explain." Yue Yao laughed.

"And her?"

"Who? Which her?" Yue Yao feigned ignorance.

Li Yan teased, "Revolting, huh? Upsetting me intentionally!"

"Hehe... if you don’t say it, how can anyone know?" Yue Yao said with a double entendre, then gave him the answer: "Yurong went home. They’ll go over early tonight to send the antiques first, and they’ll come by to pick me up. If you miss her, go find her at your father-in-law’s place."

"It’s not that I miss her, I just don’t want them giving the antiques away for nothing!"

"Hehe..."

Li Yan said this for Yue Yao to hear and also to give himself a reason.

He sped up the car, driving towards the suburbs, while also lowering the car window. Driving in the cold winter wasn’t because he was feeling hot or intentionally trying to make himself suffer, but because he was worried that the scent of Hai Fu’s perfume might linger on him. With her familiarity with Zhang Yurong, she’d definitely be able to smell it, and that wouldn’t be good, especially when he’s going to her family home.

...

Half an hour later, Li Yan arrived at Zhang Tianyi’s house.

Upon entering, he first saw his mother-in-law, Yang Yun, who smiled and greeted him when she saw Li Yan: "Oh, Xiao Li is here. Yurong was just saying last night how busy you are these days."

"Yeah, Mom. The company has been pretty busy lately."

"You two shouldn’t both be so busy. Yurong is already busy enough, if you’re also busy, your relationship will become distant. Yurong has her own career, as long as you support her, so she has no worries, isn’t that great? After all, you’re family; her career is your career, right?"

In Yang Yun’s view, the mild-mannered Li Yan was the most suitable to accommodate her daughter. No matter how hard Li Yan worked, he couldn’t surpass Yurong in her career, so why not just be the man behind his successful wife?

Li Yan bitterly smiled to himself. Mother-in-law, from your perspective, this is the most appropriate arrangement. But I’m a man! You making me comfortably "support my wife and teach my kids," being the man behind a successful wife, most men would feel embarrassed, right? I’m not marrying into the Zhang family!

But on the surface, he still smiled and took her advice, leaving future matters for the future, without opposing her face to face.

"What you say makes sense, I’ve taken note of it. Oh, by the way, where’s Dad?" Li Yan changed the topic.

Yang Yun snorted, "The old man is tinkering with those broken antiques again. He says he’s going out to buy some more tonight. I told him to sell some first before buying new ones!"

Li Yan sweated a bit, seems like mother-in-law isn’t too happy about father-in-law playing with antiques. But from her demeanor and temperament, it shouldn’t be an aversion to antiques themselves, maybe it’s because of the money and time he’s investing.

"Yeah, yeah, the old won’t go unless the new come, I’ll make sure to properly advise him!"

"Good, he gets along with you and listens to you, you should talk to him. Those things can’t be eaten, so why collect so many? If one gets damaged, it’s a big loss, and it even attracts thieves!"

"You’re absolutely right; it’s just for fun, can’t get addicted. I’ll head up now!"

Watching Li Yan go upstairs, Yang Yun realized, why is he so enthusiastic about antiques? "Xiao Li, Yurong is in her room, you should go see her first!"

"Oh..."

Li Yan’s purpose was to persuade Zhang Tianyi not to auction off the antiques, only to find out it was mother-in-law’s bidding, that made things easier. Just as he was thinking about settling the main business first, he heard this, he could only go see Zhang Yurong first.

When he came to Zhang Yurong’s room, he gently knocked on the door. Taking a deep breath, he thought about how to face her. Technically, it had been almost two weeks since they last met. His heart had long settled, but now really about to see her, his heartbeat inexplicably quickened.

The door opened, but unfortunately, it wasn’t Zhang Yurong who appeared at the door, but Jiang Xueyin. Seeing Li Yan at the door, she was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized, with a knowing smile, she stepped out of the room, making way for Li Yan to enter.

At her ambiguous smile, Li Yan awkwardly chuckled.

"Brother-in-law, you’re not romantic at all, at least get a bouquet of flowers or something." As Jiang Xueyin passed by him, she shook her head and whispered.

Li Yan shrugged, since Jiang Xueyin took the initiative not to be a third wheel, he was glad not to be so awkward. He immediately stepped in and closed the door.

In this unfamiliar yet familiar room, Li Yan sighed a bit, not knowing if there would be a chance to come here again in the future. His footsteps naturally became lighter, and as he glanced around the room, he was quickly stunned.

What did he see? Surely not mistaken? Yurong was lying on the bed! (To be continued, to find out what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com for more Chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)