To deepen the bond between people, communication is paramount.
Without sufficient interaction, not only can misunderstandings between two young individuals fester, but even the relationship between siblings can gradually drift apart.
Within a span of a few days,
Li Qianfan and Du Junlin had engaged in numerous genuine exchanges.
They had a basic understanding of their respective standings in each other's hearts and their true thoughts.
This led them to the shared conclusion: "Actually, you're not a bad person after all!"
Speaking in unison,
they exchanged smiles, their hearts in perfect accord.
Li Qianfan's steps were light.
Du Junlin, however, felt a heavy heart, her nose inexplicably beginning to sting again.
Alas.
This was a man who had been engaged to her for a full 21 years.
Merely because she had listened to hearsay and judged him with prejudice!
It had led him to become someone else's groom, and worse, allowed Shen Chongchong to seize the opportunity!!
A wave of bitterness surged within Du Junlin.
However,
Du Junlin's inherent pride and arrogance dictated that she would swallow her pain.
She would never, like an ordinary girl, succumb completely to him during a period of rapidly warming affection, begging him to return.
She would only treat Li Qianfan as she always had.
Unless—
"Unless you divorce Su Ziyu and marry me into Li Village, I will let you know that I can indeed be the best wife."
These words, which Du Junlin thought in her heart,
were inadvertently spoken aloud as she strode forward, her thoughts turbulent.
Li Qianfan immediately stopped in his tracks.
He looked at her with utter astonishment, unable to comprehend why she would suddenly utter such words.
Du Junlin's gaze flickered momentarily.
Then, with a graceful composure, she said plainly, "I apologize, I was just joking earlier."
Joking?
Heh.
Joking was good.
I love joking the most—
Li Qianfan managed a wry smile, nodded, and continued walking, "Yaoyao, I hope you remember one thing during our upcoming actions."
Du Junlin walked beside him. "Tell me."
Li Qianfan said seriously, "We must cooperate wholeheartedly, facing life and death together. And above all, do not be consumed by thoughts of death as a form of escape. As for the grievances between us, we will resolve them amicably after the White Belly Bird plan is concluded."
Du Junlin pursed her lips tightly and quickened her pace.
Li Qianfan said nothing further, simply continuing to walk alongside her.
They arrived at the motorcycle.
From the trunk, they retrieved the pre-prepared supplies.
They washed their faces and drank water.
They contacted Bai Ziyan.
*Roar!*
As Li Qianfan started the motorcycle, Du Junlin embraced his waist. "Alright, I promise you. During the period of the White Belly Bird plan, we will cooperate wholeheartedly, sharing life and death. I will not be consumed by thoughts of finding release through death. Nor will I entertain the idea of dragging you to your death with me."
Li Qianfan nodded. "That's good."
Du Junlin added, "But our grievances can never be resolved amicably. There can only be one Mrs. Li Village. If I cannot have it."
If she could not have it, what would happen?
She did not say.
She did not say!
Li Qianfan also knew.
But he didn't know how to continue the conversation with her.
He could only accelerate.
The black motorcycle sped through the darkness before dawn.
Du Junlin spoke again. "You, you actually captured the third president of the Dark Net alive. And you killed so many experts single-handedly?"
"Those experts were not killed by me."
Li Qianfan answered truthfully. "It was the woman hiding in the shadows who helped us instantly kill Tian Zhongfang. Didn't I thank her just now by the forest edge?"
"Oh."
Du Junlin asked, "Who is that woman? Is it Aunt Wujiang, or Grandmother Yang Xiao?"
"It's not them."
Li Qianfan shook his head. "Nor are they the two top experts from your family. Perhaps, they are people from Emperor's Valley."
"Absolutely not."
Du Junlin immediately replied, "The female experts in Emperor's Valley laid down their swords years ago and vowed not to emerge from seclusion for the rest of their lives. And among the younger generation, no one can match me."
Her statement was not boastful,
but a statement of fact.
"Hmm. Fortunately, that female expert is an ally and not an enemy, so we don't need to obsess over finding the answer."
Li Qianfan changed the subject. "However, it is indeed true that I captured the third president of the Dark Net alive."
"Tch."
Du Junlin scoffed immediately. "Just brag."
"I am not bragging."
Li Qianfan was silent for a moment. As the motorcycle sped past an intersection, he said softly, "The original 209 virus that I inherited from my mother has been activated."
"The original virus you inherited from Aunt Wujiang has been activated?"
Du Junlin was taken aback and asked in confusion, "So what?"
The fact that Li Qianfan inherited Li Wujiang's original virus and would undergo a complete transformation upon activation was a secret.
It could be considered one of the Li family's biggest secrets!
Only five people in the world knew this secret.
Li Nanfang, Yang Xiao.
Li Xiao, Li Wujiang.
And Li Qianfan himself.
(The Dark Net had previously suspected he might inherit Li Wujiang's original virus, but it was only suspicion. It wasn't until Jiao Yin saw the tissue paper casually discarded by Shen Maomao at the foot of Yellow Millet Mountain that they confirmed Li Qianfan's genes indeed contained the 209 virus. This information was promptly submitted to Dark Net headquarters for further research.)
*Roar—*
Amidst the roaring engine of the motorcycle, Li Qianfan began to recount one of the Li family's greatest secrets to Du Junlin.
*Bang!*
Upon hearing the consequences of the original virus being activated, Du Junlin's heart suddenly pounded erratically.
She was certain Li Qianfan was not lying to her.
He had indeed undergone a transformation by activating the original virus through Dai Paipai.
"You, you activated the original virus just for the White Belly Bird plan?"
Du Junlin asked with difficulty, her voice hoarse.
"I actually quite liked being looked down upon as a good-for-nothing."
Li Qianfan chuckled and said, "But my friend Wang Zhe, my brother Gao Lingwang and others, and you, knowing it was certain death to go to Black Water Forest, went without hesitation. So what is it for me to activate the original virus? At least, I still have a year to live. I can become a top expert in my lifetime. To reach the martial arts peak that you have been unable to attain for so many years."
If Li Qianfan had said this before, Du Junlin, even if she were sure he was telling the truth, would have feigned disdain.
Now—
She only asked with a trembling voice, "Besides Grandmother Yang Xiao, Su Ziyu, and Dai Paipai, who else knows about this?"
Li Qianfan answered truthfully, "You are the fourth person to know."
"Then have you considered what Aunt Wujiang's reaction would be if she found out?"
Du Junlin asked anxiously.
Li Qianfan remained silent.
Had he thought about it?
He must have!
But what then?
"In the end, everyone faces death."
Whenever Li Qianfan thought of his rapid aging after his peak period passed, he would use these words to comfort himself.
Du Junlin froze for a moment.
Her inexplicably uneasy and restless heart suddenly calmed down as if by magic.
She recalled a sentence she had once spoken: "If I cannot have it, no one else will!"
She leaned on Li Qianfan's shoulder and said, "Bird, don't be afraid. When you die, I'll be with you."
"Tch, do I care?"
Li Qianfan immediately scoffed. "My grandmother's medical skills are so remarkable, she will surely find a way to save me. She wouldn't bear to see her eldest grandson die young. And besides, even if I have to die, why would you accompany me? Are you going to pester me even after I'm dead?"
"Then fine."
Du Junlin said coldly, "After you die, I will steal your body and throw it into the wilderness to be fed to the dogs."
Li Qianfan—
Damn it!
Can we just have a normal conversation?
He ignored her.
Daybreak arrived.
In a certain hotel.
Just as Bai Ziyan had booked tickets to Europe for that afternoon as per Li Qianfan's instructions, he emerged from the bathroom.
The foul smell from the mud in the suicide forest had taken him a full half hour in the bathtub to wash off.
"You go rest first."
Bai Ziyan looked at him, her expression solicitous. "After you've rested, tell me about your actions last night."
"I'm not sleepy, nor am I tired."
Li Qianfan sat beside her. "Yan Zi, there's something very important I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
Bai Ziyan looked at him with suspicion. "Seeing how serious you are. Is it related to me?"
"Yes."
Li Qianfan nodded. "It's related to your background."
"My background?"
Bai Ziyan was stunned, then her face filled with indignant anger. "Bird, you know my background is linked to something shameful, and you're deliberately bringing it up, aren't you?"
"No."
Li Qianfan shook his head, looking into her eyes, and said slowly, "I am now certain that you are definitely not Jiao Yin's daughter."