Chapter 2222: Chapter 2223: Gradually Becoming Distant Strangers

Ji Qingyan’s body trembled, her gentle gaze tinged with a trace of heartache.

The Lin Yi of the past, how could he have turned out like this?

He had always done as he pleased, never bothering to explain so much to others.

And he was never as ill at ease as he was now.

It was all her own doing, driving him to this point.

Gently, Ji Qingyan extended her hand, caressing Lin Yi’s face.

No one knew the complicated turmoil in her heart at that moment, the countless contradictions growing in her chest like thorny brambles.

They were like two high-speed trains colliding within her body.

Ji Qingyan had overheard enough of the conversation downstairs to understand, even without seeing his expression, the helplessness in Lin Yi’s heart.

Those cigarettes he hadn’t smoked in ages were the best proof of his feelings.

Over these three-plus years, she had spent the most time by Lin Yi’s side; no one understood him better than she did.

The Lin Yi of the past wouldn’t have wasted time on such issues.

It was she who had turned from a supportive partner, eager to lend a helping hand, into a stumbling block impeding his progress.

The more Ji Qingyan thought about it, the more aggrieved and regretful she felt, not wanting to become that kind of person.

The kind of person she feared the most, the kind of relationship she dreaded from the start.

But what you fear the most often comes to pass.

Ji Qingyan had a thousand words to say, but in the end, not a single word came out; they were stuck in her throat, suffocating her.

She didn’t want things to be like this, but there was nothing she could do about it.

She admitted she was selfish, not wanting to lose Lin Yi.

Without him, her own life would have no meaning.

A long silence ensued, time and space seemed to freeze in that moment.

Finally, it was Lin Yi who broke the silence.

“Why are you so quiet, didn’t eat dinner, right? Wanna go out to eat? Or should I cook something for you?”

Ji Qingyan shook her head, trying to calm her turbulent emotions.

Seeking to disguise her selfishness and bring both of their states closer to normal.

“I’m not hungry, I won’t eat. You go try on the clothes, see if they fit.”

“Alright, I’ll try them on.”

Lin Yi took the clothes and entered the fitting room.

Ji Qingyan stood outside the door, silently erect, waiting for Lin Yi to emerge.

About ten minutes later, Lin Yi had tried on all three sets of clothes Ji Qingyan had bought for him, and they all fit very well.

“I told you there was no need to try them, I still trust your judgement.”

Ji Qingyan forced out a faint smile, “You’ve kept in good shape, haven’t gotten out of form.”

“Compared to you, you’re not doing well.”

“How am I not doing well? I feel quite good, about the same as before.”

“The butt seems perkier now than before, if that’s not getting out of shape.”

“Cut it out, I’ve improved.” Ji Qingyan said, “As long as the clothes fit, that’s fine. I’m going to take a shower.”

“Go ahead.”

Lin Yi replied, watching Ji Qingyan head towards the bathroom before he turned back to his room.

“Lin Yi…”

Just as Lin Yi was about to enter his room, Ji Qingyan stood at the bathroom doorway, turning back to look at him.

“What’s up?”

“Should I not have come today?”

“Why shouldn’t you have come? I wish you would come every day, just a bummer we can’t share a bed.” Lin Yi said with a chuckle:

“But after you’re all cleaned up, you can come find me.”

“Hooligan.”

After muttering that, Ji Qingyan went to the bathroom.

Lin Yi paused for a few seconds, then returned to his room and continued organizing the remaining matters, revisiting the incident once again in his mind.

His instincts were telling him that it was highly unlikely that Ma Dehong was lying about this.

Members of Hongmen probably didn’t expect their transaction information to be leaked either.

Ending their trade and capturing the people involved in the underground deal wasn’t as difficult as he had imagined.

Now, the only remaining issue was to figure out who exactly the buyer on the Zhong Hai side was!

As for who quietly killed Ma Dehong, that would have to be investigated later.

Over half an hour later, the sound of running water in the bathroom abruptly stopped.

A few minutes later, Ji Qingyan came out, her hair damp and her body wrapped in a bath towel, revealing a swath of snow-white shoulder.

Standing at the bathroom door, Ji Qingyan quietly gazed at Lin Yi’s room.

It was as if she was watching a stranger walking away into the distance.

…

Pengcheng, Yuehai Tea House.

It was the same room as before, with the same familiar faces.

Ling Han gently pushed an A4 paper across the table, whispering,

“This is Ma Dehong’s death report.”

The short-haired man sitting opposite took the report into his hands for a look.

“Did you get the client information from Pufa Bank?”

Ling Han didn’t speak, rummaged in his pocket for a moment, and then took out a silver USB drive, sliding it across.

The short-haired man’s companion took the USB drive, plugged it into a laptop, and checked the data inside, nodding at the short-haired man.

“Pleasure doing business with you, we can start now,” said the short-haired man.

“If you are not ready, I can give you a few minutes.”

“Let’s start now.”

As he spoke, Ling Han rolled up his sleeves.

The short-haired man didn’t say anything else but opened the silver case next to him, took out the E-class serum, and drew it into a syringe, approaching Ling Han.

“Our serum is quite mature, but depending on different physiques, there can be some adverse reactions—nausea, fever, dizziness, diarrhea, these are all normal occurrences, which can last about a week to a month at most, and the reactions will fade,” the short-haired man said in a low voice.

“During this time, do not train or exert your dantian, wait until the side effects disappear before resuming normal activity.”

“Understood.”

Everything was ready, and the short-haired man injected the pale blue liquid into Ling Han’s body.

“Our transaction is complete, goodbye.”

The two didn’t waste any more words, collected the syringe back into the silver case, and left the tea house.

Lingyun remained in the same position he had been in, his gaze level and his eyes lacking their former luster.

“Little Han, how are you feeling now? Is there any discomfort?”

Ling Han didn’t answer, as if he were stunned.

“Little Han?”

“Grandfather…” Ling Han said blankly.

“What’s wrong?” Li Wenjun was a bit anxious, “Tell me if you feel uncomfortable, don’t just bear it.”

Ling Han sank into the chair like a deflated ball, all in an instant.

“Grandfather, is what I’m doing right…”

Tears slid down Ling Han’s cheeks, “I’m sorry to the uniform I used to wear.”

Li Wenjun understood Ling Han’s internal strife and conflict.

“To accomplish great things, many sacrifices must be made, everyone has a shameful past, it’s the price paid by those in power. Just find an opportunity to make amends later.”

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