Chapter 810: Chapter 850: Reasons for the Decision
The people in the mountain village followed the routine of rising at dawn and resting at dusk. Although now there was electricity and television signals, and almost every ho had a television, these people lived off the land, and this lifestyle had beco a habit that hadn’t changed due to modernization. By just after eight o’clock, the entire mountain village had settled into a quiet calm.
Li Yifei had just helped Su ngxin bathe Xu Yingying. Now, the two of them sat by Xu Yingying’s bed, talking.
"How’s the family?"
Su ngxin gave a bitter smile and said, "What do you think happened when you took Yingying and left?"
Li Yifei laughed at himself and said, "It must be a complete ss, and everyone is probably blaming ."
"You already know, huh? You left just like that, out of sight out of mind, but the family is very worried."
Li Yifei shook his head, sighed, and said, "I really can’t stay at ho. Being there only adds to your psychological pressure, so I decided to leave."
Su ngxin held Li Yifei’s hand and softly said, "I understand, we all do. You care for everyone, but you feel you owe Yingying, and if you neglect everyone else, you feel guilty about them. Leaving seed like your best choice."
After a pause, Su ngxin continued, "But it’s been so long. Haven’t you figured it out yet? Don’t you want to go back?"
Li Yifei hesitated for a mont and said, "For now, I don’t want to go back. The saintess is still treating Yingying. I hope I can bring a healthy Yingying back, and then we can return to our original life."
Su ngxin opened her mouth but eventually nodded and said, "Okay, I respect your choice. I’ll stay here and help you. Give
a chance to make up for the harm I caused Yingying."
Li Yifei readily nodded and said, "Then stay."
The houses in the mountain village were those wooden buildings; the first floor didn’t touch the ground because there were many snakes around. If they touched the ground, snakes would easily climb upstairs. This was a local thod of avoiding snakes and insects.
The ground floor was piled with miscellaneous items, and the upper floor was for living. Li Yifei only rented this place, using only the living area upstairs; he didn’t make any changes elsewhere. Occasionally, the owner of the wooden building would co to the first floor to fetch things.
Although it was already January, the temperature here dropped to seven or eight degrees in the evening. It was cool, but not very cold.
Li Yifei hadn’t thought soone else would co to stay, so there were only two quilts, just for him and Xu Yingying, and only one bed. So at night, the three of them had to squeeze onto one bed.
Li Yifei slept in the middle, Xu Yingying on the innermost side, and Su ngxin on the outside. It seed like a left-and-right embrace, but in reality, there was nothing romantic about it.
First, Xu Yingying was unconscious, and second, Li Yifei really wasn’t in the mood for romance. So even with Su ngxin lying beside him, he had no thoughts about it.
Su ngxin didn’t feel neglected. Li Yifei’s behavior made her like him even more. A man who cared so much for his wife wouldn’t treat her poorly. Lying beside Li Yifei, listening to his heartbeat and breathing, and slling his faint scent, Su ngxin was quite enchanted.
The bed wasn’t big. Li Yifei typically gave Xu Yingying most of the space to make her more comfortable. Tonight, they shared a quilt, which felt a bit unfair to Xu Yingying. But if he moved closer to Su ngxin, they would have to share a quilt, and Li Yifei couldn’t pass that hurdle in his heart.
Thinking of how Xu Yingying wanted a divorce because of Su ngxin, if he acted intimately with Su ngxin in front of Xu Yingying, she would be heartbroken upon waking.
"You sleep first. I’m going for a walk." Li Yifei whispered to Su ngxin, then got out of bed.
Su ngxin, being quick-witted, had already guessed why Li Yifei was acting this way. She sighed softly and said, "Just make it through the night, and I’ll get another bed tomorrow."
Li Yifei was a bit embarrassed when Su ngxin pointed it out. "ngxin, give
so ti."
Su ngxin held Li Yifei’s hand and said, "You’ve been very considerate toward . I’m already happy and satisfied."
Li Yifei squeezed Su ngxin’s hand, then let go and walked out.
In the middle of the village was a channel. It wasn’t a small river, just a drainage ditch, but because of the abundant rainfall, it flowed year-round like the ones in Dali and Lijiang Ancient City District. It was full of small fish, and standing by it at night, one could hear the gurgling water and the occasional splash of a fish leaping out. If a poet were here, they might co up with so famous verses.
Li Yifei stood by the channel. Su ngxin’s arrival had stirred the calm he had recently found. He missed the won at ho: Su Yiyi, that gentle girl who surely worried about him; Ye Yunzhu, pregnant with his child, who, with her personality, most likely cursed him daily—not to ntion that she was due in two months. And there was Xu Shanshan, his sister-in-law, who was sohow fated to be connected with him, probably pouting and both angry and pining for him.
And Chu Xiaoyao, that girl who might have been crying and throwing a tantrum. Most importantly, his daughter—he’d abandoned her and was being an irresponsible father.
Thinking of them, Li Yifei suddenly felt he owed so many people. Bringing Xu Yingying away now seed like it might have been the wrong decision.
"Are you feeling a bit hosick?" ca the saintess’s voice from behind.
Li Yifei hadn’t noticed her arrival lost as he was in thought. Without turning, he sighed and said, "Yes, a little hosick."
"If you miss ho, you can go back. I can treat your wife there too, and I could get to know them better. It might prevent them from influencing my challenge against my inner demons."
"Could they influence you?"
"Of course, if they reject
and don’t give
a chance to be with you, how can we even like each other?"
Li Yifei smiled bitterly and said, "That’s true. If they see you, they won’t just reject you but will also be angry with ."
"Won are selfish, especially with n. Who doesn’t want the man they like to love them wholeheartedly? Who wants to share a man with others?"
"You seem to know a lot about relationships," Li Yifei said curiously, looking at the saintess.
"I have to know, to challenge you, my major demon. I’ve done my howork."
"So, tell , what should I do now?" Li Yifei squatted and picked up a stick, gently tapping the water’s surface. A small fish jumped out, sending ripples, then disappeared quickly.
The saintess sat directly on a stone slab, dipped her feet in the water, and kicked gently. "Your matter is for you to decide, whether to go back or stay. What matters is can you convince yourself?"
"So you’re saying nothing at all," Li Yifei shook his head.
The saintess flicked the water with her toes, creating ripples, and said with a smile, "Everyone finds a reason for their actions. Right or wrong depends on whether you can convince yourself. You stay because you’ve found a reason to remain, but you also want to return because that reason isn’t strong enough."
Li Yifei was a bit stunned. The saintess’s words made sense. Whether he stayed or went, it depended on whether he found a reason that convinced him.
The saintess said nothing more, soaking her feet in the water. Such actions were not allowed in the Holy War Organization as it was damaging to her image. Her every move was observed by followers. Now, without the organization or followers, she was carefree.
Though at ease, the saintess had been raised as a saintess her whole life. This belief ran deep in her bones. Even now, her movents were elegant, evoking praise.
Li Yifei was lost in his thoughts. After a long ti, he stood up and said to the saintess, "Thank you for enlightening ."
The saintess turned and smiled at Li Yifei. "Have I beco soone you admire?"
Li Yifei smiled slightly, "Of course. As a saintess, you drive countless followers mad. How could there be nothing admirable about you?"
"I hope you admire
as a friend."
"For , while a saintess is noble, I’m not fond of it. But a friend is truly admirable."
"Then we’re friends, right?"
"At least there’s that possibility." Li Yifei smiled as he turned to walk back to where he stayed. The saintess didn’t get up, just sitting there watching his back, her face adorned with a captivating smile.
Life is like this: when you find a reason to convince yourself, you can make a decision. Li Yifei had yet to decide but was at least less conflicted now.
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