"They must have sent you here."
When He Huan spoke these words, his expression was very calm.
He had indeed been suspicious of him all along. Since this mont was bound to co sooner or later, this was his chance to be sincere.
Guan Hailian lowered his head, looking at the table's texture, and after half a minute, he finally said, "Yes."
But the following words from He Huan caught him off guard.
"You didn't actually cooperate with them properly, did you?"
Guan Hailian straightened up abruptly. "Yes! I didn't—how did you know—I admit, I reported the location at first. But I didn't reveal the rest of the plan—"
He Huan hmd. His facial features were as delicate as if drawn with a brush. He usually looked calm and indifferent, but when he furrowed his brows, he almost didn't look like himself, showing this extrely conflicted and hesitant expression for the first ti.
He tapped the table with his fingers, seemingly awkward, which was rare for him. "After the big failures with the adrenaline and the cruise ship, you revealed less and less information... Why?"
He Huan had indeed been observing his every move. The more he knew, the more he would understand Guan Hailian's intentions, which was good.
"Logically, when the hope of escape becos increasingly slim, you should cooperate with them better to try to gain so advantage for yourself in the future. But you did the opposite." He Huan shook his head, resting his elbow on the table, and said, "I really don't understand. I want to hear your explanation."
He blinked his eyes, clearly waiting earnestly for Guan Hailian's answer. Guan Hailian felt pressured as if he was under the spotlight. "I... I think what Lin Sanjiu said makes sense."
"Oh? What makes sense?" He Huan leaned forward, asking.
"She said, no matter how difficult it is, we can get through it," Guan Hailian stuttered, not entirely understanding why He Huan suddenly interviewed him. "No, I think she knows what needs to be done to escape this world and which direction to work towards. She also has confidence and the ability to carry out this plan to the end. I think... she will succeed."
"Why do you think she will succeed?" He Huan asked further.
He genuinely wanted to know Guan Hailian's answer, as if... as if he hoped his words would give him a new perspective on the issue, make sense to him, and reassure him.
Guan Hailian stared at the man across the table, and for the first ti, he realized that perhaps He Huan's loss of confidence was more severe than any of them.
"She, she has the conditions needed for success." Guan Hailian understood this unease very well and hoped to do his best to ease He Huan's anxiety, saying, "She has leadership, decisiveness, bravery, and is good at uniting others."
He Huan slowly relaxed his brows.
Leaning forward to listen to Guan Hailian's words, he seed to regain his usual composure for a mont, even nodding—apparently, his words were effective.
Guan Hailian felt relieved, looking at He Huan, but saw a hint of undisguised disappointnt on his face.
"I really want to leave. I don't like this place."
After a while, He Huan lowered his head, looking at his fingers tightening and relaxing, and whispered, "After understanding Lin Sanjiu's plan, I had placed great hope in her... We have evolved to this point, not just to survive like pigs and dogs. I want more than just survival, and that's not excessive. So, I sincerely hope she can find a way out, and I'll do everything I can to help her."
Guan Hailian looked at him blankly.
Without lifting his head and in a soft and quiet voice, as if talking to himself, He Huan continued, "I thought you were like , both people with two choices... Since you have decided to lean towards one side, maybe you can show a new perspective. But... what you just said—all of it is vague and aningless."
What was happening now?
Guan Hailian felt like he didn't understand the underlying aning of He Huan's words.
"What's the use of personal charm? Without the ability, the more people she can unite, the faster she will die. What I want to hear is the comparison of strengths, resources, and advantages between the two sides, the solid facts," He Huan said, shaking his head, disappointnt evident as if feeling betrayed. "But I already know they have the upper hand in all comparisons."
Guan Hailian finally rembered the question he should have asked long ago. "How... how did you know I was here?"
"They called and told ," He Huan said, lazily leaning back in his chair and glancing towards the kitchen. "There are many places they could find you—your ho, your company, the place you reported to... but I guess choosing here, you should understand what they an."
Guan Hailian sat motionless, feeling fear rising and then subsiding.
"Because of Chen Hongyan?"
"Are you in a romantic relationship?" He Huan glanced at his expression and sighed softly. "Well, at least they think so."
He might be able to sacrifice his own life, but he couldn't just let his lover suffer—even if Chen Hongyan wasn't his lover, he couldn't do that.
"If you don't want to involve her, cooperate with properly and co with ," He Huan said, regaining his calm. He was indeed a very rational person, just as Lin Sanjiu had described him. After weighing the situation, he always hoped to find the most sensible and advantageous choice. "That's also what they an."
"Where?" Guan Hailian asked almost numbly.
This question went unanswered.
"Were you sent undercover from the beginning" like him?
He Huan chuckled self-mockingly. "What's the point of asking this now?"
Why did they send him? Why didn't those people co themselves? Guan Hailian sat in the chair, feeling like everything was sinking except for the chair under him, and everything else was spinning continuously. His mind was crowded with questions, and he could only sit there dazedly. He Huan didn't urge him; he just waited silently.
Instead, he finally asked, "Can I help her bring the box of drinks in?"
Even though his abilities had deteriorated, He Huan was now an unstoppable force to Guan Hailian. He couldn't run or resist. He Huan glanced at him, and there seed to be a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
"Go ahead," he said. "Leave your phone."
Guan Hailian went.
The fruit milk bottles were indeed very heavy, making his fingers ache and his face flush. He was glad he could still carry them, but next ti, Chen Hongyan would have to carry the bottles into the house by herself, a few at a ti.
When he put the drinks down, Chen Hongyan was just putting a dish on the table, the one he often ordered; she asked He Huan, "Are you Old Guan's friend? It's the first ti we've t."
"I heard you take good care of him. Thank you," He Huan smiled politely at her.
Chen Hongyan, embarrassed, turned to look at Guan Hailian, smiled, and returned to the kitchen. "Wait a mont. There's another dish coming."
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