Chapter Four

here, safety was his utmost priority.Ahead lay a particularly narrow stretch of road, one side against the mountain and the other a steep slope, with only simple steel rods as barriers. Due to the na...Chapter Four

When Li Yi entered the kitchen, he found Ni Xuanyi had already efficiently scrubbed and cleaned the pots. She took out a bundle of rice noodles from the food storage jars, soaked them in water, and then went to find some vegetables from the small garden behind her house.

Ni Xuanyi’s movements were skilled and orderly—clearly she often cooked meals on a regular basis. Watching her, Li Yi couldn’t help but think of his perpetually young brother at home.

She quickly retrieved some vegetables from the small garden and returned to the kitchen. When she saw Li Yi standing there, she didn't look up at him but muttered quietly, "There are only rice noodles here now because they haven't been soaking long enough. They might be a bit hard when you eat them."

"That's fine; I'm just glad to have something to eat," Li Yi nodded gratefully.

Ni Xuanyi cooked quickly but meticulously. While the rice noodles were boiling on the stove, she carefully picked and washed the vegetables, sliced a piece of cured meat into thin strips...

As she performed these tasks, her expression was serious and focused, with her head lowered, a few strands of hair falling onto her face—her youthful appearance looking even more beautiful.

Li Yi leaned against the kitchen door, watching as Ni Xuanyi added the vegetables and cured meat to the pot. After they had simmered for a while, she removed the rice noodles into a large bowl, adding chopped cilantro, small chili peppers, tomato slices, and previously prepared soup stock...

Ni Xuanyi placed a steaming bowl of fragrant rice noodles on the table, scooped herself half a small bowl and quickly ate it in front of Li Yi. She then turned around with a gentle smile for him, "Call your people to eat now. We don't have enough bowls here, so you'll need to use a basin."

Li Yi was moved by this little girl’s perceptiveness and attention to detail—she truly understood the reason behind his presence.

Ni Xuanyi had everyone eat out of basins while she personally served Li Yi rice noodles in a separate bowl, recognizing that his status made it impossible for him to share a basin with others.

Liyi saw Ni Xuan bring all the prepared rice noodles to the table and then turn around to walk away, so he hurriedly asked her, "Aren't you going to eat"

The melancholy expression returned to Ni Xuanyi's face as she gently shook her head, saying softly, "I can’t eat anymore." She pointed toward the small vegetable garden in the backyard afterwards, seemingly trying to allay Liyi’s worries and added that she was going there to look for something light.

Liyi nodded and could only let her go.

The group sat down to eat the rice noodles. To their surprise, the hastily prepared rice noodles by Ni Xuanyi actually tasted quite good; the broth was delicious too. If the noodles were a bit softer and more slippery, it would be the most delectable meal in the world.

"This little girl is truly an admirable person, kind and considerate." Even Wan Siyong, who rarely complimented anyone, raised his thumb at the back of Ni Xuanyi as she walked away.

Chen Jiageng, Liyi’s strategist standing next to him, also nodded thoughtfully while watching her retreating figure. "Yes, this child is not selfish and always thinks about others."

"You two have been won over by a bowl of rice noodles and a coconut!" After having his fill, Liyi was in high spirits and chuckled.

“If we were at home, I wouldn’t give her even a glance despite being offered ten thousand bowls of rice noodles. What matters is that food is extremely precious now; she herself didn't eat but left everything for us.” Wan Siyong sighed profoundly.

Liyi had the group rest for ten minutes after they finished eating and then set off immediately afterwards.

Ni Xuanyi, as usual, walked ahead of Liyi. He could clearly see her long legs taking steps with a graceful and seductive rhythm; in the sunlight, one could faintly glimpse the straps of her bra peeking out from under her t-shirt.

This journey was even longer and more arduous than last night’s. By noon, the sun blazed down fiercely, making the forest stifling hot. Everyone was drenched with sweat; they were close to giving up at this point in time.

Liyi noticed that Ni Xuanyi's T-shirt was completely soaked at the back, and her breathing had clearly become more rapid as she walked. She must have been exhausted.

"Let's stop for a break!" Although Liyi wanted to leave quickly, he couldn't bear seeing the little girl in such a state.

Waving her hand to wipe away the glistening sweat on her face, Ni Xuanyi stubbornly shook her head. "Just a bit further; there’s a small mountain stream ahead where we can rest and wash our faces."

Liyi was impressed by the girl's persistence. For the first time, he asked, "What's your name"

"Ni Xuanyi." Exhausted, she gave a short answer.

Liyi silently savored this lovely name as they continued walking together.

Ni Xuanyi led them for another hour before reaching the small mountain stream she mentioned. The stream meandered downward, clear and crystal.

After walking in such heat, everyone was parched and sweaty; seeing such a pristine creek made them rush to it immediately.

Ni Xuanyi quickly washed her face by the side and moved far away from them.

The men, upon seeing Ni Xuanyi leave, hastily shed their clothes and jumped into the stream for a wash. The intense heat and fatigue seemed to vanish in an instant.

In the cool water, Liyi sighed with satisfaction; they hadn't had a bath in five days, moving around in this humid jungle felt like being steamed in a sauna, leaving their bodies feeling heavy as if encased in thick armor. Now that they could rinse off here, it was incredibly refreshing.

The group did not wash for long; they washed briefly until they felt cool and then went ashore to look for Ni Xuanyi.

Ni Xuanyi silently handed many unripe wild fruits to everyone before continuing on her journey without a word.

Li Yi bit into the sour-sweet little fruit while hearing Xin Siyong start praising Ni Xuanyi again from behind, this time not just Xin Siyong and Chen Jiageng but over ten bodyguards started complimenting Ni Xuanyi together.

Li Yi began to admire Ni Xuanyi herself; without saying a word, she effortlessly won over the hearts of these fierce men.

By three o'clock in the afternoon on the third day, they were closer to the rendezvous point near the border. Having encountered no strangers throughout their journey, they suddenly heard car engines from the opposite direction. Li Yi immediately called everyone to hide in the bushes by the roadside.

This place was so ruthless that when people met unexpectedly, they automatically defined each other as enemies; even if you had no intention of harming them, they would be intent on killing you!

When everyone hid just now, Li Yi specifically pulled Ni Xuanyi to his side. On her other side was the skilled sniper Xin Siyong—this little girl's grandfather had already lost his life for them; this time they must ensure the safety of the young lady.

Ni Xuanyi may have seen too many such situations before, as she sat beside Li Yi with a calm face.

The sound of cars grew closer and closer. Judging from the noise, there were about four or five off-road vehicles approaching at a slow speed. Li Yi turned to smile at Ni Xuanyi, "Don't worry; it might be family members sent to find us."

Ni Xuanyi tugged slightly at the corner of her mouth in what could be considered a smile. In this area of the Golden Triangle, where fortune and misfortune changed in an instant, who could predict anything!e to him, "Luoxi, we are already married; you have to accept this reality!"The shadows of the two people merged under the bright sunlight. Yan Luoxi's heart was darkened; she closed her eyes quietly a...