"Disgusting!" Yurong and Yue Yao listened carefully to his theory, and after hearing the metaphor of looking at beautiful women, they exchanged smiles.

"Now onto the main point, perception! You definitely just took the example of looking at beautiful women as me..."

"Aren’t you just that kind of person?" Yurong pouted.

"No matter, continue using me as the example. I should also count as a real-world object, right? But to me, in Yurong’s view, as just mentioned, I’m lazy, unambitious, just muddling through life—this is how you see me; in Yue Yao and Liu Ma’s view, I am someone who diligently works, arriving and leaving on time each day; to my previous colleagues like Wen Qianyi and my current ones like Jiang Xueyin, they might not think much of me at first, but after working together, they would see me in a new light and find my work capabilities quite impressive; in your dad’s eyes, I am someone with potential; in your mom’s eyes, I am the man behind you, a good man who can ’support a wife and teach children’ at home in the future..."

At first, Zhang Yurong listened to what he said and still thought it wasn’t much, her previous impression of him was indeed like that. But the more she listened, the more she felt something was off. She coldly said, "So all over the world people think you’re great, but I’m the only one who doesn’t, is it just me who can’t stand you, huh?"

Yue Yao rushed to explain, "He’s just making an analogy, not implying that."

Li Yan anticipated her reaction, smiling, "What I want to say is, because different people accumulate and store different perceptions from childhood, they will have different views on the same person and matter. Everyone sees the same me, just with different perceptions, hence they see different facets. Likewise, other perceptions are the same. Back to the previous issue, you’re not wrong, I’m not wrong either, it’s just different perceptions choosing different ways."

Zhang Yurong looked at him for a while, not angry, just finding it a bit ridiculous. "What you said sounds like a somewhat twisted logic, just to indicate that our perceptions are different?"

Li Yan shook his head again but then seriously said, "Not to indicate, but to want change! Your perception has been cultivated since childhood, if I just speak of our differences, you wouldn’t care. I go to great lengths so... through this theory, I want you to question and reflect on past perceptions."

"Thank you, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my perception!" Zhang Yurong had already finished her breakfast while listening to him.

"Because you never think there’s a problem, so you continue to firmly believe it, continue living in a life with no time, rushing for time, so you want to travel, want to relax, all the dreams you want to achieve that have no work efficiency, will still continue to have no time, will continue to be left for ’later’. Miss, you are already twenty-five years old. How much longer do you want to wait? With work, the group’s development will continue to take up a lot of your time; in life, parents will urge you to have children, when will you have time to do your own things? Waiting until retirement? Look at my father-in-law’s present life, that’s the future of not changing perceptions for you!"

"Stop talking nonsense..." Yurong softly reprimanded, but her heart began to sink.

Her perception comes more from her parents’ words and teachings. It is because when she was young, she watched as her father, at the fastest growing phase of his career, worked all day at full capacity, thus making such a state seem like naturally normal, thus possessing the willpower to not spare any effort in studies and work. Yet, though her father worked insanely hard, leading to today’s glory of Paradise Group, his body had long since deteriorated, being not yet sixty, while many entrepreneurs are still vigorous at this age, but his health declined, last year severely ill...

Of course, Zhang Tianyi didn’t tell her, Li Yan neither, she didn’t know about the poor conditions in the Kenyia Jungle in her father’s youth, having suffered many large and small injuries, and later overworked with no time for recovery, further accumulating chronic illness.

...

At this point, Li Yan felt Yue Yao kick him under the table, hinting for him to comfort the mood-dampened Zhang Yurong.

Li Yan did want her to stay low for a moment longer, so the recent words would sink in, but then... how she’s also having a birthday today, changing perceptions isn’t something that happens instantly either.

He reached out and held Yurong’s hand.

Zhang Yurong tried to pull away but couldn’t, glanced at Yue Yao beside her, and whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Cheer up a bit, I’m reminding you to think more for yourself in the future, to cherish life more. Spending plenty of time on work isn’t inherently wrong. Just remember to balance work with leisure, start giving some time to the life you want, plan a bit for your past dreams. For instance, you could start with arranging a trip, I’d be willing to accompany you anytime."

Hearing Li Yan’s tender words and this tempting offer, Zhang Yurong felt a bit moved, again looking him over carefully, could it be he said so much today just to want me to travel with him? "I have lots of work arrangements, let’s talk about it later."

Truth is, she herself doesn’t favor social engagements and business trips, if not essential for her presence, she’d rather handle, arrange things via computer, phone—network, video advanced nowadays, many business trips can be avoided. If she really wants to take time, it’s not too difficult. The key still lies in perception!

Li Yan smiled lightly, didn’t point it out. "Alright. But, cherish yourself, likewise cherish others too. For instance..."

Yue Yao helped say it, "Haha, you’re referring to yourself?"

Yurong also thought he was referring to himself.

"Wrong! I want to say parents! As the saying goes, ’Trees still, but the wind won’t stop; children wish to show care, but parents don’t wait.’ Li Yan pinched her hand, and they exchanged glances, both understanding they were in the same situation in this regard. "You know, birthdays aren’t only for celebration but should express gratitude! Our birthdays are the days our mothers went through the most pain, we should think not just of ourselves, but of our parents too. If today you have somewhere you want to go, tell me. If not, I want to tidy up some things, move back, and in the afternoon watch a movie with you, in the evening we’ll go back to celebrate with mom and dad!"

Zhang Yurong’s breathing quickened a bit, feeling somewhat excited, though his arrangements weren’t exceptionally innovative. Yet, it’s the simple, peaceful happiness she’s always longed for! Especially since he’s not only thinking of spending time alone with her, but also considering her dear parents.

"I... don’t have any plan, just follow your lead." Having agreed, Yurong then thought of the always-helpful Yue Yao, glanced at her, and added, "Yue Yao too, let’s go watch a movie together, and go home together!"

Yue Yao smiled, "As long as you guys are happy, I’m happy. I know you’re both very good to me, worried I’ll feel lonely alone, but even the best of friends can’t always stay together, can’t be a third wheel at special times either. Besides, I can’t stay home all day, I’m meeting some local authors from the Starting Point online. Oh, and I’ll be giving you a gift this afternoon!"

Li Yan, due to his position, couldn’t overtly persuade her.

Zhang Yurong initially wanted her to join, but considering she should have her own social circle, otherwise feeling like an appendage, she agreed with a smile.

(Thanks to the brothers who tipped yesterday: Indomitable Bookworm, Brighty Seaside, harve10, Zhang Fengshan, Cavalry, Plucking the Tiger’s Whiskers, Feather jh, Cp Pampas, Li Fanshow, Cavalry, Rain’s Destiny, zjun971210) (To be continued, to know what happens next, please log on to www.qidian.com, more Chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)