Chapter 58

Even after the misunderstanding was cleared and the two reconciled, with Qiu Li staying under the same roof, Yan Xiao suffered from insomnia. She only fell asleep very late, and even then, her sleep was restless. The entire night was plagued with nightmares, and she was awoken early by another one.
Sitting on her bed, heart still racing, Yan Xiao checked her phone: 6:30 a.m.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp panic. She threw off the covers and rushed out, running several steps toward Qiu Li’s bedroom, pushing the door open without knocking.
The room was empty.
Yan Xiao panicked further and started dialing Qiu Li’s number while running down the stairs. Just a few steps down, she heard Qiu Li’s phone ringing from the floor below. She froze on the stairs.
Huh?
Why downstairs?
Had she imagined it in her half-awake state?
Just as she hesitated, the call connected, and Qiu Li’s voice came through simultaneously: “Awake? What’s wrong? Are you hungry?”
Yan Xiao: “!”
She turned to run, but before she could, Qiu Li appeared from the kitchen with the phone, their eyes meeting perfectly.
Yan Xiao: “…”
Caught in the act, she was flustered.
Qiu Li, holding the phone, saw her on the stairs, his eyes curling in a gentle smile. “Morning.”
Yan Xiao: “Hehe, morning.”
He waved the phone slightly. “Why call so suddenly?”
Yan Xiao: “…Pressed the wrong button.”
Seeing her bare feet, Qiu Li immediately understood.
She must have woken up, looked into his room, and thought he was gone.
Qiu Li’s eyes were slightly red. He hung up, took off his apron, and in a few strides reached Yan Xiao.
“Running out without shoes again?”
He picked her up and headed toward the bedroom.
Yan Xiao’s feet left the ground. She tried to get down but couldn’t. She looked up at him. “Why are you making breakfast so early?”
Qiu Li set her down on the bedroom rug. “I was afraid you’d wake up hungry.”
Yan Xiao: “Still, no need to get up so early. Aren’t you tired?”
Qiu Li tilted his head. “Not tired.”
Yan Xiao pouted. “Liar! Your eyes are so red!”
Qiu Li smiled, eyes curved. “No, just happy. I couldn’t sleep, and I remembered you eat breakfast at school around seven. I was worried you’d wake up hungry.”
He ruffled her hair. “Go back to sleep a little.”
Yan Xiao: “I’m not going back to sleep.”
Qiu Li blinked. “You haven’t slept much.”
Yan Xiao, still uneasy: “I’ll sleep at noon if I’m tired. For now, what are you making for breakfast?”
Qiu Li sighed, conceding. “Egg pancakes, milk oatmeal, and some baby bok choy.”
“So much!” Yan Xiao grabbed his arm. “Let me help.”
Qiu Li chuckled. “First, put your shoes on.”
Yan Xiao quickly ran back into her room, put on her shoes, and then went downstairs holding Qiu Li’s arm.
When Chen Zilu got up, she saw the two youngsters busy in the kitchen.
She yawned and sighed to herself: Ah, love…
Brushing her teeth in front of the mirror, she sighed again: Student-era love… tsk.
By the time she finished washing up, the two of them had already plated breakfast and brought it to the table.
Seeing the children she had watched grow up, she wanted to keep a stern face, but now she couldn’t. She had to look away and quietly eat her breakfast.
After finishing her meal, she didn’t stop Qiu Li from cleaning up the dishes. Turning to Yan Xiao sitting across from her, she said, “Today’s New Year’s Eve. Later, I’ll take you to your grandmother’s house.”
Yan Xiao immediately said, “I’m not going. I just came back yesterday. Aunt, I’m not a little kid anymore, you don’t need to try to get rid of me.”
Chen Zilu: “…”
Her little wings are hardened, can’t fool her anymore, she’s no longer a child to manage!
“Have you already told my parents?” Seeing Chen Zilu stay silent, Yan Xiao asked, “Where did you arrange to meet? Here? At my house? Or somewhere else?”
Chen Zilu: “…” Kids being too clever isn’t always good!
Finally, she said, “I’ll ask.”
Yan Xiao obediently watched her, and only when Chen Zilu picked up the phone, made the call, and confirmed she could go along, did Yan Xiao grin at her aunt: “Thank you, Aunt! I love you the most!”
Chen Zilu: “Your love is too heavy. I can’t bear it.”
Yan Xiao: “But I still love you.”
Chen Zilu: “…”
After a moment, she pulled the corners of her mouth into a smile.
Well, fine. That’s how it is.
What’s done is done; solving the problem is the priority.
Qiu Li, washing dishes in the kitchen, heard the conversation clearly. Seeing them back to normal, he relaxed.
Not long after tidying up, the three of them headed back to the Yan household.
Even though it was her own home, Yan Xiao suddenly felt timid. When the car stopped in the yard, she hardly dared to get out.
Qiu Li held her hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Yan Xiao tensed even more. “It’s because you’re here that I’m nervous!”
If it were just her alone, she wouldn’t be afraid of anything.
What if my parents scold you later?
She nervously looked at Qiu Li. He answered with his eyes: nothing will happen.
Chen Zilu got out of the driver’s seat, looked at the two of them, and helplessly patted her niece’s head. “Come on, I already told your parents last night…”
Yan Xiao: “Told them what?!”
Chen Zilu: “About you two!”
Yan Xiao: “!!!”
Chen Zilu glanced at her, then at Qiu Li. “Still planning to hide it?”
Yan Xiao: “…”
“What will my parents’ reaction be?” she asked anxiously.
Chen Zilu: “You can find out for yourself. Now hurry; it’s almost midnight.”
Once her aunt left, Yan Xiao got even more nervous.
“What do we do,” she whispered to Qiu Li, “what if my parents don’t agree?”
Qiu Li squeezed her hand. “Then I’ll wait for you, until your parents agree.”
Yan Xiao: “…”
“Let’s go,” he said, holding her hand, “don’t keep your parents waiting.”
The two entered the house, and their eyes met six pairs of eyes.
Father, mother, aunt, uncle, and two familiar family friends.
Yan Xiao froze, calling each of them by name.
Seeing the two standing so close, just moments ago so intimate in the yard like ill-fated lovers about to be punished, Chen Zilu nearly lost it.
She wanted to ask her niece: Don’t you know the living room faces the yard? Everything can be seen!
To spare her niece some dignity, she didn’t.
Chen Ziyi also didn’t want to make her daughter feel awkward. Especially after hearing so much from Zilu, she had always felt for Qiu Li, but to immediately accept it now…she wasn’t sure she could.
“Come, sit down,” Chen Ziyi said gently. “Don’t stand.”
Seeing her mother’s tone soften, Yan Xiao felt a small relief. Before she could move, Qiu Li stepped forward and bowed to her parents: “Uncle, Aunt, sorry.”
The living room fell silent.
No one spoke. Yan Xiao didn’t either.
She knew she couldn’t speak now.
It was Qiu Li who made the mistake. No matter his reason, he had caused trouble for their family. His apology was appropriate.
Whether her parents forgave him or not was their choice. She wouldn’t force them because she liked him. That wouldn’t be fair.
No one spoke. Qiu Li remained bowed.
After a long moment, Yan Hao sighed: “Forget it. Kids will always be impulsive and make mistakes. Just be careful in the future.”
What else could he do? Break his legs on the spot?
Besides, seeing his daughter so inseparable from him, he felt protective, heart aching for her!
Considering Qiu Li’s sincerity yesterday, though there had been consequences, it wasn’t irreparable. For a young man of twenty, realizing his mistake still had hope.
Yan Xiao’s mind was a mess. On the way, she had been anxious, and seeing that her parents didn’t blame her, or scold Qiu Li, made her feel both touched and guilty.
Coupled with hardly sleeping last night, sitting in the living room listening to their discussion, she realized things weren’t as bad as she imagined. At least her parents didn’t hate Qiu Li, and he was trying to make amends. Though it had been tense, it wasn’t beyond repair.
Her taut nerves finally relaxed, and with that relaxation came a drowsy haze.
When she woke up, Yan Xiao was lying in her own bed.
Huh?
She looked around, feeling around on the bed, and finally found her phone on the nightstand.
Almost noon already, where is everyone? Still in the living room?
She went to the stairwell and peeked down. The living room was empty. That snapped her fully awake.
Where is everyone?!
She opened her phone and saw Qiu Li’s message: “Went to the office to handle some things. Will be back when I’m done. Don’t worry ^-^”
Yan Xiao: “…”
Fine.
She rubbed her eyes, wanting to go downstairs for some water…
“Awake.”
Yan Xiao spun around and saw Chen Ziyi coming out of the study. “Mom…Mom!”
“Are you hungry?” Chen Ziyi asked.
Yan Xiao shook her head.
“Even if you’re not, you need to eat,” Chen Ziyi said. “It’s noon. Mom can cook for you, or do you want to eat out?”
Yan Xiao opened her mouth to suggest ordering delivery, but her mom said, “Let’s eat out.”
As a guilty, secretly dating daughter, whose boyfriend nearly ruined the family business, Yan Xiao didn’t dare object. “Okay.”
Chen Ziyi stayed home to ease her daughter’s pressure. Hearing that she wanted to eat out, she asked, “Go change clothes first. What do you want, Chinese or Western food?”
“Chinese,” Yan Xiao said. Her mom liked Chinese food.
Chen Ziyi nodded. “Sichuan or Cantonese? Or do you want seafood?”
Yan Xiao thought for a moment. “Can we do hotpot?”
Hotpot was more stress-relieving.
Chen Ziyi smiled. “Of course, go change your clothes.”
Yan Xiao turned and went back to her room. After only a few steps,
“Xiao-xiao…”
Yan Xiao stiffened and turned around.
Chen Ziyi smiled at her. “Mom loves you.”
Yan Xiao nearly cried.
“Stop crying,” Chen Ziyi came over and patted her head. “Your aunt said you cried a lot yesterday, silly, what were you crying about?”
Red-eyed, Yan Xiao nodded.
“Mom will be downstairs waiting for you,” Chen Ziyi said, kissing her on the forehead. “Go on.”
Back in her room, Yan Xiao rubbed her eyes and called 007 in her mind. She called for a while before 007 finally responded.
007: [Something happened?]
Yan Xiao: Has there been any result from what I told you last time?
007: [I’m still working on it. Should have a result soon.]
Yan Xiao: Will it be a good result?
007: [No data support, cannot predict.]
Yan Xiao: “…”
007: [I’ll do my best to secure it for you.]
Yan Xiao: Hmm.
After finishing hotpot, Yan Xiao felt much brighter in mood. Back home, she talked to her mom at length, about studies, relationships, friends, and more.
In Chen Ziyi’s memory, her daughter rarely had heart-to-heart talks like this.
She was always busy, either studying or preparing to study.
Previously, it was fine; she felt proud that her daughter was so diligent and she didn’t have to worry. But now, seeing her daughter so absorbed in studying with no other hobbies, Chen Ziyi suddenly worried whether her childhood was too monotonous. Other kids had hobbies and a normal childhood; her daughter’s childhood had mostly been exams and exercise books. Sometimes she felt guilty for not giving her daughter a more colorful childhood.
Now, listening to her daughter happily talk about school, life, and love, she felt joy, but the guilt in her heart hadn’t lessened at all.
“Your dad and I don’t oppose you dating Qiu Li,” Chen Ziyi said, patting her daughter’s head. “But if anything happens in the future, you must tell us. We will always be your backing, you have nothing to fear.”
This time, Yan Xiao couldn’t hold back and finally cried.
Chen Ziyi hugged her, gently patting her back.
Yan Xiao cried for quite a while before finally wearing herself out.
“I know,” Yan Xiao said, wiping away her tears. “I just didn’t know how to tell you. It feels weird. You’ve always treated Qiu Li like one of your own, and now I’m with him, it feels a little strange.”
Chen Ziyi’s eyes reddened a bit, but she laughed at her daughter’s words. “You’re wrong. We’ve never treated him as a son.”
Yan Xiao: “Then how?”
Chen Ziyi: “As your friend.” She wouldn’t tell her daughter that she and her husband had long suspected Qiu Li might one day marry into the Yan family.
Yan Xiao was about to say, I think you’re lying when,
[ding!]
Yan Xiao: “?”
Seeing she didn’t speak, Chen Ziyi asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yan Xiao: “Nothing, just a little happy.”
Then,
[ding!]
[ding!]
[ding!]
Yan Xiao: System glitch?
007: [No, the values are increasing.]
Yan Xiao: “…”
After a moment, she asked 007: Will it explode? Will the system suddenly disappear?
007: [No, these values are well within the system’s capacity. You can rest easy.]
Yan Xiao: I’m not worried about the system. I just want to know the result of what happened last time!
007: [I’m already working to insert processing!]
Yan Xiao ignored it, but the constant ding ding in her mind persisted. She endured it, then took out her phone to send Qiu Li a message: What are you doing? Have you eaten lunch?
After sending it, she quickly put the phone away, looking up at her mom with a doting expression.
Chen Ziyi immediately noticed the chat background was Qiu Li but didn’t comment. She patted Yan Xiao’s head: “If you’re tired, go back to sleep. If not, play a game or call Mom, Mom’s in the study.”
Yan Xiao nodded. “Hmm.”
Once Chen Ziyi left, Yan Xiao took out her phone again. Qiu Li had already replied.
[Just thinking of you.]
[Eating now.]
[Picture]
The picture was of his work meal.
Yan Xiao’s face flushed slightly. She sneakily glanced up toward the study upstairs, her mom hadn’t come out, then breathed a sigh of relief and replied to Qiu Li: “Eat well, work hard!”
Qiu Li chuckled: “Okay.”
Knowing he was busy, Yan Xiao didn’t continue chatting.
It was Lunar New Year’s Eve, and that evening at home, it was just her and her mom. They couldn’t have the New Year’s dinner together, it kept her busy for three days.
The next time she saw Qiu Li, it was three days later.
If it weren’t for the constant ding ding ding in her head, Yan Xiao would have thought Qiu Li had run off under pressure.
She finally saw him again on the fourth day of the lunar New Year.
No need to ask, his expression made it clear he was exhausted.
But his eyes were bright. Upon seeing her, he first smiled at her: “It’s resolved.”
Yan Xiao’s heart ached for him. But after all, it was his doing, even if the problem was caused by the correction program, he had solved it himself, which would ease his mind quite a bit.
“Go rest,” Yan Xiao said. “You’ve got panda eyes.”
Qiu Li: “Mm, just wanted to let you know first, so you don’t worry.”
Yan Xiao checked the time: “You go sleep. I’ll come wake you up for dinner in… five or six hours.”
Qiu Li looked at the time too. It was three in the afternoon. He said: “Three hours is enough, won’t miss dinner.”
Yan Xiao wanted him to rest a little longer, but considering his temper, she nodded. Sleeping too much might make it hard for him to sleep later.
So, their New Year’s dinner was on the fourth day of the lunar New Year.
Though tiring and nerve-wracking, the outcome was good.
On the seventh night, Yan Xiao and Qiu Li went to the square to watch fireworks. On their way back, from a distance, they saw Qiu Zhan standing at the entrance of Qiu Li’s house.
Yan Xiao could immediately feel Qiu Li’s aura shift.
If it weren’t for Qiu Zhan, Qiu Li wouldn’t have gone the wrong way.
Before she could scold him, Qiu Zhan walked toward them.
“So much skill, huh?” Qiu Zhan sneered at Qiu Li, like a victor. “In the end, you’re still running with your tail between your legs! Not even part of the Yan family, now you’re less than a stray dog! Still want to fight over the Qiu family? Do you even deserve it?”
Qiu Li had just clenched his fists, about to speak, but someone else spoke first,
“He’s not for you to judge.”
Yan Xiao stepped forward, standing in front of Qiu Li.
Qiu Zhan was already shocked, he couldn’t understand Yan Xiao at all. Now she was standing up for Qiu Li, this little bastard, face-to-face. His expression darkened: “Xiao-xiao, he’s just using you! Do you even know his status, your status? You’re with him, are you crazy? He’s deceived you!”
“I’ve known Qiu Li’s status since I was three,” Yan Xiao said calmly, staring at Qiu Zhan. “You’ve never understood. You’ve projected your family misfortunes onto Qiu Li, blaming him for everything. Even now, you still think it’s his fault. Qiu Zhan, you’re an adult now, not a child. Do you know who caused your childhood misfortune? You do, you just refuse to admit it. The real wrong is your father, but you couldn’t resist him, so you pinned all the blame on Qiu Li!”
Qiu Zhan, stabbed in his core, was furious and ashamed, further angered that Yan Xiao was defending Qiu Li. He pointed at Qiu Li: “And he has no fault?”
“What fault does he have?” Yan Xiao frowned. “Did anyone ask him if he wanted to be part of the Qiu family before he was born? How dare you use those methods against him to punish the real culprit, your father?”
Qiu Zhan was suddenly speechless.
He glared at Yan Xiao, panting sharply.
After a long moment, he gritted his teeth: “He wants to take over the Qiu family, to take”
“Not taking over.” Yan Xiao didn’t want to hear him continue. Her tone was calm. “He only wants to retaliate against the pain and suffering you and your family have inflicted on him, to ruin the Qiu family.”
Qiu Zhan: “…”
“All this time, it was your assumption. You thought he’d compete with you or Qiu Yan. That’s all in your head.”
“You can project the pain of your father’s betrayal onto Qiu Li. Likewise, he can retaliate. That’s the freedom of an independent individual. And as for consequences, one must bear the consequences of one’s actions.”
Yan Xiao continued: “Qiu Li withdrawing now doesn’t mean you’ve won. He just doesn’t want to get involved in your family’s vendettas anymore.”
Qiu Zhan sneered: “Xiao-xiao, what you’re saying is unfair to me, unfair to Qiu Yan. You’re clearly biased toward him!”
“Yes,” Yan Xiao admitted generously. “People’s hearts are always biased. Just like you’d rather place all blame on an innocent child than confront your father. I’m biased toward Qiu Li.”
Qiu Zhan was dumbstruck. After a moment, he looked at Qiu Li and laughed: “I underestimated you. Didn’t expect you could make Xiao-xiao so devoted to you. You didn’t get the Qiu family, but you still have the Yan family. Your methods are far stronger than your mother’s, blue surpassing blue!”
Yan Xiao suddenly got very angry.
What did he mean by that?
He made her sound like an idiot!
“Think what you want,” Yan Xiao said, pulling Qiu Li’s hand as she walked past him. “People full of hate, obsessed with family inheritance, who see others the same way, they’re just not on the same wavelength. No need to say more. I’ve already spoken the unsaid words, spoken for the grievances Qiu Li suffered all these years. Believe it or not, that’s your business, not ours.”
Now she understood: in the original story, Qiu Li ended up dark and crazy because Qiu Zhan was also a madman, full of hatred, who drove another person into becoming a being fueled only by vengeance.
But the real culprit, Qiu Chengyi, didn’t suffer at all. Ridiculous!
She held Qiu Li’s hand and stormed into the house, slamming the door on Qiu Zhan, then turned into her room, still fuming. She was about to rant at Qiu Li when her waist was suddenly hugged, and a head rested on her shoulder.
“Thank you.”
The low voice whispered by her ear, and Yan Xiao immediately calmed down.
“Don’t be angry,” Qiu Li held her tighter and said, “It’s not worth getting mad over someone who isn’t relevant.”
Mentioning Qiu Zhan again made Yan Xiao furious, but indeed, it wasn’t worth it. She thought for a moment and said, “Then you don’t take him seriously either. Everything he said was nonsense!”
Qiu Li laughed.
Yan Xiao: “What’s so funny?”
“Did you just swear?” Qiu Li chuckled, shaking slightly. “First time I’ve heard you.”
Yan Xiao: “I’ve said plenty, just quietly.”
“If I were to curse your father,” Yan Xiao asked him, “would you think I’m vicious?”
“Of course not,” Qiu Li replied with a smile. “He deserves it.”
That made Yan Xiao happy.
“However”
Qiu Li paused and said, “Just now, there was one thing you said that I disagree with.”
Yan Xiao raised an eyebrow. “Which one? You dare disagree? I’m protecting you so much!”
“You just said, did anyone ask me if I wanted to be part of the Qiu family?”
Yan Xiao raised her brows higher. “And then?”
“If I weren’t born into the Qiu family, I wouldn’t have met you,” Qiu Li said.
Yan Xiao: “…”
“To meet you,” Qiu Li continued, “I would endure all the hardships of being born into the Qiu family.”
Yan Xiao: “…”
After a while, she softly said, “Even if you weren’t born into the Qiu family, I would still find you.”
Qiu Li smiled: “Good, I’ll remember. Don’t forget to find me next life.”
Yan Xiao laughed in exasperation: “Why don’t you come find me instead?”
“Hmm,” Qiu Li went along: “Then in the next life, remember to wait for me. Don’t like anyone else until I appear.”
Yan Xiao teased him: “Oh, so you mean after you appear, I can like someone else?”
“After I appear, you can only like me!”
“So domineering?”
“Yes, exactly. You picked me up and took me home; now you have to take responsibility for me.”
They bantered back and forth for a while. Then Qiu Li suddenly said, “Xiao-xiao.”
Yan Xiao was still plotting how to retort when he said, “I love you.”
Yan Xiao froze instantly.
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
… (repeated several times)
Yan Xiao: “…”

After the new semester started, T University students noticed that the campus’s top-tier scholar couple, Yan Xiao and Qiu Li, had become even more openly affectionate, as if they were afraid no one knew they were a couple.
It was said Qiu Li had sold his company to focus on academic research with Yan Xiao while constantly surprising her with romantic gestures so enviable that no one could truly envy them.
Selling your company to show off love, now that’s ruthless!
In May the next year, before Yan Xiao went abroad for further studies, the two got engaged on her birthday.
The engagement ceremony was high-profile and grand.
But before they could enjoy the afterglow, they rushed to the airport.
On the way, Qiu Li kept fidgeting with the engagement ring on their middle fingers. While waiting for the flight, he didn’t rest for a moment.
That alone was fine, but he had a slightly pitiful expression. Yan Xiao couldn’t help it: “Why do you look unhappy?”
He pinched the ring on her left middle finger, pouting: “I want to move this ring here”
He pointed to her ring finger.
Yan Xiao laughed: “Isn’t that too fast?”
Qiu Li looked up, serious: “We’ve been together sixteen years!”
Yan Xiao: “You count the day we met as the start of dating?”
Qiu Li: “Yes, from the first moment I saw you, we’ve been together.”
Yan Xiao was about to laugh, but Qiu Li added: “Meeting you, I finally became myself.”
Yan Xiao: “…”
She was stunned, and suddenly the 007 system, which usually only played the microwave ding in the background, popped up in her mind:
007: [There’s a result!]
Yan Xiao stared at Qiu Li, then asked 007: “What result?”
007: [As compensation for data recording errors, it has been processed. Now you, the host, have two options]
Yan Xiao held her breath.
007: [1. Use the absolute value of the current data as a correction. Temporarily open a channel to return the host to the original world. The temporary channel is valid for 2 hours, countdown 1:59:59]
007: [2. The host can choose. Use the current value as an exchange condition to completely eliminate the correction program. The system will no longer interfere with this world’s order. Valid for 24 hours, countdown 23:59:59]
007: [Please choose.]
Yan Xiao: “…”
The cold, precise mechanical voice was even more shocking than the endless ding ding ding earlier.
And now the result was out, and both options were good?
007: [Yes, as a sincere apology for my work error.]
Yan Xiao: “If I eliminate the correction program, and the system no longer interferes with this world, what happens to you?”
007: [I will also disappear along with the correction program.]
Yan Xiao: “…”
007: [Not going back? Haven’t you always wanted to go back? I went through a lot of trouble to get you the temporary channel.]
Yan Xiao glanced at Qiu Li, who was staring at her intently: Not going back.
007 paused for a moment: [So you want to choose the second option, permanently eliminate the correction program?]
Yan Xiao: It’s valid for 24 hours. Can I delay the execution for a bit?
007: [Yes, within the valid time, it can be executed anytime.]
Yan Xiao blinked, then suddenly looped her arms around Qiu Li’s neck. On the bustling airport terminal floor, she tiptoed and kissed him.
The insane ding ding ding ding ding in her mind erupted as expected.
Qiu Li’s pupils constricted sharply.
Yan Xiao curved her eyes and mentally commanded 007: Now. Eliminate it!
Although she had been annoyed by it before, she still wanted one last experience: a kiss, a touch, making Qiu Li lose control and the numbers spike wildly.
Amid the ever-crazier ding ding ding and Qiu Li’s quickened breathing, 007 politely said: [It has been a pleasure serving you. Goodbye.]
The mechanical voice fell, and the ding ding ding ceased abruptly.
In that instant, Yan Xiao felt as if whatever had been enclosing her and this world had disappeared.
Everything felt lighter, brighter.
She silently whispered in her heart: Goodbye, 007.
007 had disappeared along with the correction program and would no longer respond, but she smiled.
The weight that had been pressing on her chest was finally lifted. Yan Xiao felt completely free, thrilled beyond measure. She wanted to share this rare joy with Qiu Li, and just as she reached out to nudge him, he didn’t budge!
Qiu Li had pulled her close, holding her by the waist, and forcefully kissed her back.
Yan Xiao: “!!!”

Author’s note: The main story concludes here.