Chapter 1459: Chapter 1508: Under Mount Fuji
Li Yifei briefly explained the situation with the Worm inside his body to Aoki Reiko. Aoki Reiko listened with a half-understanding but managed to get the gist, her small face full of a pitiful expression. She held her hands to her chest and said to Li Yifei, "Yifei-kun, I believe you can definitely overcome it, keep going."
Li Yifei shook his head, sighed inwardly. Although he hadn’t intended to get involved with Aoki Reiko, the sudden occurrence of the Worm’s attack just now proved some things. Looking at Aoki Reiko’s appearance, she seemed not to have realized it yet.
Aoki Reiko waited for Li Yifei to recover, and after making sure he was okay, she gathered her things and left Li Yifei’s room.
She felt she was the reason why Li Yifei felt uncomfortable, without considering why Li Yifei suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Back in her room, Aoki Reiko still felt guilty.
She got up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for Li Yifei, and when she knocked on his door again, Li Yifei was already ready and came out.
These three days were Li Yifei’s final adjustment time. At this moment, Li Yifei’s body and spirit were at their peak, putting aside all the things he had thought, considered, or worried about before. Li Yifei wouldn’t consider those things before the big battle.
After breakfast, Aoki Ryota, shaking his head, came out of the room.
Seeing Li Yifei, Aoki Ryota laughed and said, "Yifei, sorry, I drank too much last night and made a fool of myself."
Li Yifei shook his head and said, "President Aoki is genuine, Yifei admires you too much to think that much."
The two chatted a few words, then Aoki Ryota also started to eat breakfast. After eating, Aoki Ryota instructed his daughter to accompany Li Yifei, as he had to attend a group meeting, and said to Li Yifei, "Yifei, please rest assured to stay at the Aoki Family, as we clarified everything last night, so please don’t have any concerns."
"Thank you, President Aoki, Li Yifei is deeply grateful. We will continue to cooperate in the long run between our two families."
"Haha, let’s talk about that later. Have a good rest on the last day, and I wish you good luck tomorrow." Aoki Ryota wished.
Li Yifei nodded and saw Aoki Ryota off.
Aoki Reiko spent the whole day with him. Yesterday while massaging, she made Li Yifei feel uncomfortable, so Aoki Reiko didn’t dare to massage again but suggested taking him around the streets to taste some delicacies.
Li Yifei thought about it and agreed. Sophia didn’t join them. After changing Sophia’s bandage, Li Yifei found that the injury on her leg had basically healed. Resting for a day today, she would basically be fine tomorrow.
Sophia went to get her weapon, which was custom-made for her.
Li Yifei accompanied Aoki Reiko shopping, and along the way, they tasted quite a few delicacies, experiencing the foreign culture.
In the middle, a somewhat humorous incident occurred. As the two walked down the street, being quite a handsome man and a pretty woman, a talent scout who claimed to be scouting for art films with bedroom scenes approached and handed a business card to Li Yifei, smiling as he said a bunch of things to him.
Li Yifei naturally couldn’t understand, so he looked down at the business card, which was just an ordinary card.
However, Aoki Reiko’s face immediately changed, and she spoke somewhat stiffly to the other person, but the guy persisted, so Li Yifei asked, "What does that person mean?"
Aoki Reiko didn’t answer but pulled Li Yifei away. The person followed them for a few steps, but seeing Li Yifei’s displeased face, he awkwardly waved his hand and didn’t continue following.
Li Yifei was curious. While they were walking peacefully, such an event occurred, and seeing Aoki Reiko’s agitated expression, he asked again, "Reiko, what exactly happened? What did that person say to make you so angry?"
Aoki Reiko glanced back, and seeing the person hadn’t followed, she slowed her pace. After hearing Li Yifei’s question again, her lips moved, her face not angry anymore, but somewhat bashful.
Li Yifei waited patiently for a while before hearing Aoki Reiko softly say, "That person... is an Avi Talent Scout. He just asked if you had any interest in becoming an actor."
Upon saying this, Aoki Reiko stopped, glanced at Li Yifei’s face, as the person said just now that Li Yifei looked like a celebrity, had a great physique, and from his facial features, must be a well-endowed man in performance...
Li Yifei was speechless, never dreaming that one day he would be targeted by such a scout to star in artistic films with bedroom scenes.
"Good choice to refuse, haha." Li Yifei shook his head with a smile.
Aoki Reiko continued, "It’s terrible, these people are simply everywhere. Our good mood while shopping was ruined by them."
"It’s just a small matter, no need to get angry." With that, Li Yifei stared at Aoki Reiko’s face and teased, "Perhaps they thought you were too pretty, so they couldn’t bear to approach you directly, and came at me instead."
"No, no, absolutely not. I’m angry because that person actually smeared you..." Aoki Reiko couldn’t continue. She occasionally watched those films, but she would never participate, let alone want Li Yifei to do it. She just felt the other person insulted Li Yifei, and as her friend, how could she let Li Yifei be insulted?
Li Yifei waved his hand and said, "Alright, let’s continue shopping, don’t let this matter ruin our mood."
Aoki Reiko responded with an "uh-huh," pursing her lips.
It was just a minor episode, Li Yifei didn’t take it to heart, nor did Aoki Reiko. The two spent a better part of the day together, with Aoki Reiko taking Li Yifei to several tourist spots, returning home only in the evening.
In the evening, Li Yifei chatted with the women for over an hour before reluctantly hanging up the phone.
Sophia stood beside Li Yifei without speaking, silently watching his back.
Li Yifei looked up at the starry sky. The night sky was clear and bright, each star twinkling. Li Yifei gazed in the direction of home, lost in thought for a long time.
That night, Li Yifei followed his usual routine, not staying up late. In the morning, he got up very early, changed into sportswear, and walked out of the bedroom.
Sophia and Aoki Reiko were both waiting at the door. When Li Yifei opened it and saw them, he grinned.
Seeing him come out, Aoki Reiko quickly said, "Yifei, breakfast is ready..."
Li Yifei nodded and followed them to breakfast.
After eating, Sophia stood up first and said to Li Yifei, "Master, I’ll go first."
"Hmm, go ahead," Li Yifei said. Sophia nodded silently, giving Li Yifei a deep look. Just a few steps out, Li Yifei called her back. Sophia turned to look at him, only to hear Li Yifei say calmly, "Safety first. I might not be able to look after you then."
Sophia felt a pang in her heart. She had long thought of herself as stone-hearted, a cold-blooded killer, but her inner softness was revealed at that moment. Sniffing, Sophia nodded forcefully.
Li Yifei smiled faintly and said, "Go on. See you later."
"See you later"—these three words stopped Sophia from staying any longer. She feared that she might utter something tender if she lingered. She didn’t want to say such words.
Li Yifei also finished eating, wiped his mouth, and stood up.
Aoki Reiko quickly put down her chopsticks and rose with him. She knew what Li Yifei was about to do, aware of the danger he’d face, and knew he might never return. Although reluctant to see him leave, she had to accept it. Aoki Reiko stood before Li Yifei, looking up at him.
Of course, this was just deep friendship; Aoki Reiko’s heart always belonged to someone else, not Li Yifei.
And Li Yifei understood Aoki Reiko’s feelings, so he spread his arms and lifted his chin slightly, saying, "How about a hug?"
Aoki Reiko immediately rushed into his arms, holding his waist tightly.
Seconds later, Aoki Reiko stepped back from his embrace quickly, saying, "Yifei, I’ll prepare a full table of food and wait for your triumphant return!"
With that, Aoki Reiko ran out, leaving a fragrant scent behind.
Li Yifei wiped his lips, smiling gently.
"I will come back, for you, for them, for the future," Li Yifei said calmly.
Aoki Reiko didn’t come out to see him off, but the car was ready for Li Yifei. Knowing his destination, he got in the car, which soon left the Aoki Family estate.
On the balcony, Aoki Reiko stood on tiptoe, watching as Li Yifei’s car turned out of the yard and disappeared at the end of the road.
"Go, Yifei. I believe you’ll surely come back," Aoki Reiko said softly.
She wasn’t sure about her feelings for Li Yifei before, but when she learned he might never return, she knew what those feelings were.
Is it too late? Has it become too late? Aoki Reiko didn’t know. She only knew that until Li Yifei returned, her heart would always be tied to him.
On the road, Li Yifei drove at a moderate speed, sometimes overtaken by other cars, sometimes passing them.
An hour later, Li Yifei arrived at the agreed location. It was at the foot of Mount Fuji, but still some distance away. In the rolling hills, this was a tranquil spot, yet not remote.
Li Yifei’s car stopped, and he saw someone approaching.
He rolled down the window, and the person made a gesturing invitation, stepping aside.
Li Yifei got out of the car without interacting with the person, raising his head to look at the distant peaks. He could already sense the aura of Yanagio Inujiro, though very far away.
Even at such a distance, the aura could be felt. Li Yifei thought to himself: Indeed, strong. But he just smiled lightly, stepping forward at the same unhurried pace as when he was driving.
The mountain wasn’t tall, but it was full of spirit and lush vegetation. Halfway up, Li Yifei stopped, glanced at the forest on the left, where someone also observed him, but with an unfriendly gaze. Li Yifei looked over, and the person immediately turned and walked away.