Chapter 1598: Inner Demon

Shangguan Qi could not accept reality.

Regardless of whether she was joking just now, Li Xuewu's meaning could not be clearer:

I can afford to play, can you?

Indeed, no matter which aspect she considered, she couldn't afford to play, because they weren't on the same level.

Li Xuewu had absolute resources and ability, putting him in the position of choosing, while she stood passively in the position of being chosen.

Love shouldn't be like this. For each other, if they couldn't look at each other fairly and equally, then as he said, was this still love?

Conversely, for Li Xuewu, she needed to consider carefully: was what she expected and what the other party could pay the foundation of love?

The corner of the International Hotel coffee shop was silent for a time. She held her coffee cup, lowered her head in thought, and inevitably felt a bit lost and frustrated.

Li Xuewu's expression, however, was very calm. He looked at the banana trees outside the window, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Peter Grewitt is quite good."

"Because he keeps writing letters to his former classmates and colleagues sharing his current work and life?" Shangguan Qi's answer was a bit mean.

She looked up at the man opposite her and said, "Do you need an optoelectronics expert, or does the Red Steel Group need one?"

"Strictly speaking, when I represent the Red Steel Group, my needs are the Group's needs." Li Xuewu looked at her just like that.

"Similarly, as a manager, the Red Steel Group's needs are also my needs."

He took a letter out of his bag, pushed it over, blinked, and said, "I keep my promises. He got everything he wanted, so he must fulfill his promise."

"Within the scope of my authority, I will try my best to satisfy his needs."

"So, you, or the Group, need him to pay what kind of return?"

Shangguan Qi glanced at the envelope he pushed over, looked up, and asked, "Dedicate his youth? Dedicate his loyalty?"

"Some reports don't need to be spoken out loud." Li Xuewu smiled slightly, tapped his finger on the envelope, and took a breath, "He will understand what I want."

"Perhaps." Shangguan Qi was defeated in the staring contest with him, picked up the coffee to cover up, "Your way of doing things is more in line with his personality."

"Nothing is absolute." Li Xuewu turned his head to look out the window and said, "Anyone can be straightforward, and anyone can be subtle."

"It's all for the sake of profit, right?"

Shangguan Qi glanced at him and said, "Including the formation of the project, the preparation of personnel, the construction of the organizational structure..."

"What do you think?" Li Xuewu turned his head back to look at her and asked, "This is work, not playing house."

"You can say I'm naive." Shangguan Qi said with some self-abandonment, "I admit that too."

"No one matures overnight."

Li Xuewu seemed to agree with her view of herself, nodded, and said, "You can strengthen political study to let your thinking mature."

"In this regard, you are my role model, well-deserved." Shangguan Qi let out a long breath, as if she had put something down, looked out the window, and said, "Always have been."

Asking Shangguan Qi to meet wasn't Li Xuewu's boredom. They couldn't be considered close friends, and he didn't have time to make such friends.

In life, besides the exchange of life, what feelings can withstand the test?

Ten years of classmate friendship isn't worth two thousand yuan.

Don't believe it? Try asking for a debt and see if they renege.

Work is work, life is life. The more you confuse them, the more tired you become.

Shangguan Qi seemed to have lost the mood to stay for dinner. After chatting about work, she took the initiative to suggest going shopping with her mother.

Li Xuewu watched her leave. He Yu Shui walked over carrying a thermos and refilled his teacup with hot water.

"She's very beautiful, isn't she?"

"Hmm, hmm?" Li Xuewu was thinking about things. Hearing her words, he turned his head to look at her and asked, "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Do I need to say it?" He Yu Shui glanced at him and said, "You just like girls like this, sensible, gentle, and virtuous."

"That's right—" Li Xuewu nodded in agreement and said, "When looking for a wife, you should look for someone like this, not someone who is boisterous and wild."

"..." He Yu Shui's narrowed eyes seemed to carry cold arrows, wanting to stab this bastard to death.

"I heard you're looking for a suitable driver?"

She didn't seem angry. If she were really angry, she would have been angered to death by this bastard's nonsense long ago.

"Do you need me to recommend one for you?"

"Thanks, no need." Li Xuewu raised his wrist to check the time and replied, "Already found one."

"Of course, to be your driver." He Yu Shui curled her lips and said, "Need to queue up, right?"

"Just like the male comrades pursuing you?"

Li Xuewu laughed out loud, gestured toward the lobby, and asked, "Aren't there any suitable ones? I think the young men in your unit are all quite good."

"Like them? Introduce one to you?"

I don't know when it started, but she also learned Li Xuewu's sarcasm, clever words, and poisonous tongue—the kind that could poison someone to death in one sentence.

Li Xuewu didn't mind, raised his chin, and said, "The person I'm waiting for is here. Go and receive them."

"You'd better not provoke me." He Yu Shui glared at him and turned to go toward the lobby. The Sanhe Stock Company car was parked under the steps.

"I'm really sorry, I'm late."

Gucang Ping'er had changed a lot since their last meeting and looked very spirited.

"Sit down, I'm very free today."

Li Xuewu smiled and pointed to the seat Shangguan Qi had just vacated, "Are you busy recently?"

"Thank you, Mr. Li." Gucang Ping'er bowed again after the last meeting before sitting down and replying, "Still a bit busy."

"A commercial delegation from the country came, and we need to coordinate accommodation and reception work." He nodded slightly, thanking the waiter who brought the tea, while answering Li Xuewu's pleasantries.

It had to be said that after being in the country for three years, he still maintained the etiquette he had cultivated for many years, making these service personnel know where he was from as soon as they saw him.

"Did you find a place?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said politely, "If you need help, please don't be polite."

"Thank you so much, it's already been arranged." Gucang Ping'er nodded and said, "Found a guesthouse specifically responsible for tourism reception, arranged very well."

In this era, let alone foreigners, even people in the city had to produce proper introduction letters and reasons if they wanted to find a place to stay for the night.

Guesthouses operated independently by subordinate units mostly provided accommodation services only for unit guests and employees, such as unit guests, employees' relatives, etc.

Guesthouses operated for the public were mostly under municipal departments, requiring an introduction letter from the location to prove the purpose of coming to the place and the length of stay.

There were also numbered guesthouses, such as 316, 423, etc., corresponding to reception units under various ministries and commissions, which would receive special visitors and provide catering and accommodation services.

Someone asked if there were people coming to the mainland for tourism in this era?

Very normal. Few doesn't mean none. Individuals didn't have channels to get in, but units did.

Reporters, scholars, businessmen, etc., could enter the mainland to carry out corresponding activities under the arrangement of the competent departments.

Before 1965, the country had hosted many large international competitions. Li Xuewu knew that starting from the year after next, this situation would gradually recover.

Not only was the number of tourists breaking through repeatedly, but even the economic situation would gradually improve. Otherwise, where would he have the guts to insist on the International Hotel project?

Of course, Li Xuewu also knew what Gucang Ping'er was thinking. Such group activities were not suitable for reception by a certain unit's guesthouse.

Even if he were willing, the team wouldn't be, and the foreign affairs department wouldn't be at ease.

Li Xuewu was just asking politely; the purpose of probing had already been achieved.

Perhaps it was a bit slow to react, but Gucang Ping'er glanced at him with a slightly stagnant expression, then lowered his head again, acting humble.

"Is there any progress in the cooperation negotiations?"

Li Xuewu asked very casually, "Do you have any new ideas in your country?"

"I haven't received an official notice yet." Gucang Ping'er replied very cautiously, "Still waiting for the President's further arrangements."

"Hmm, no rush, take your time."

Li Xuewu smiled blandly and said, "The Red Steel Group is making some adjustments in industry and technology recently, and also needs a buffer time."

"Yes." Gucang Ping'er couldn't grasp his meaning, just looked at him from time to time, wanting to see something from his eyes.

This was all in vain. Since being taught a lesson by the other party last time, he had a sense of humiliation and inferiority in his heart.

Li Xuewu also felt the caution from the other party and couldn't help but laugh in his heart. He didn't beat up Japanese people often, so why be like this.

"How are Yazhi Appliances selling in Japan?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Do you have data on this?"

"I do, but I didn't bring it today."

Gucang bowed apologetically and said, "I'll arrange for someone to send it to you later. Should it be to the Red Steel Group headquarters or mailed to Liaodong?"

"Either is fine. I'll have my secretary go get it."

Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, "Southeast Asia and North America also need it. I want to see your channel competitiveness."

"Okay, I've noted it down." Gucang nodded, "The data in my hand might not be comprehensive. I'll check it when I go back and ask the country to complete it."

"That would be best." Li Xuewu looked at him with a smile and said, "If you have any difficulties in Beijing, just mention them. I'll definitely help if I can."

He tapped his fingers on the armrest at a frequency and said, "You have lived and worked in the mainland for a long time; there must be many things that are not easy."

"Thank you, Mr. Li." Gucang looked into his eyes and had already understood the meaning behind his words.

The hope in his eyes, the questions he didn't dare to speak out, were now stifled in his heart, and there were crystals flashing in his eye sockets.

"You meet him privately, don't you need to report to the foreign affairs department?" Yushui sent off the representative of Sanhe Stock Company and walked back to ask, "Aren't you afraid of trouble?"

"That's why I'm talking at the International Hotel."

Li Xuewu took a sip of his tea and explained, "As long as it doesn't go out of bounds, there's no problem. I still have a certain amount of authority."

"Oh, right." He seemed to have remembered something, looked at He Yu Shui, and asked, "The International Hotel has been cooperating with the Foreign Affairs Department for so long, why haven't you thought about going a step further?"

"How to go further?" He Yu Shui raised her eyebrows slightly, "What ideas do you have?"

"Just now Gucang Ping'er said that a delegation came to their country, and they even had to work hard to find a reception unit." He shrugged his shoulders, "Why don't you apply for this qualification?"

"Apply to whom? The Foreign Affairs Department?"

He Yu Shui frowned and explained, "But we have foreign affairs personnel staying here in Beijing? Do we need to apply specially?"

"Of course, you only receive foreign affairs personnel and personnel from enterprises that have cooperation with the Group. You are not qualified to receive other visiting groups, for example."

Li Xuewu pointed at her, "The new International Hotel is under construction and may be completed by the end of next year. Aren't you going to prepare in advance?"

"I see." He Yu Shui wasn't muddled in work, nodded, and responded, "I'll contact Section Chief Zhou Gancheng on Monday."

"That's right." Li Xuewu put down the teacup in his hand with a smile and said, "He has been occupying our territory and enjoying our treatment for nothing; he should do something."

"Why don't you go talk?" He Yu Shui's mouth curled up slightly, looking at him, "If you go, you'll definitely succeed."

"Me go talk? Then what do I need you for." Li Xuewu said righteously, stabbing right at the heart, "Just give me your salary."

"I'll give it to you, I'm just afraid you won't dare to take it."

He Yu Shui rolled her eyes at him and asked, "Who else do you want to see? How many did you make appointments with this afternoon?"

"This is called work efficiency, understand?"

Li Xuewu pointed to the coffee opposite and asked, "Including his, shouldn't need to change, right? Does it count as a refill?"

"I'll be stingy to death—" He Yu Shui scolded, "Didn't you say you shouldn't take advantage of the public?"

"Then the public shouldn't take advantage of me either."

Li Xuewu let out a long sigh and said, "Two cups of coffee in one afternoon, all talking about serious work, and in the end, I still have to pay."

"I didn't think it was expensive before, but now I see your coffee is really expensive."

"If you think it's expensive, don't act like a sucker—"

He Yu Shui finally found an opportunity and wouldn't let him off easily, curling her lips, "Just treat people to tea."

"Heh—" Li Xuewu smiled helplessly and said, "You guys are a black shop. A cup of tea is two jiao, and a cup of coffee is one yuan."

"Hold on, don't leave—"

He Yu Shui also turned bad, reached out and patted his shoulder, and said softly, "You've been sitting here drinking for an afternoon, the hot water for the refill is worth two jiao."

"Never heard of that—" Li Xuewu rolled his eyes, "If I want to drink plain water, I'll go home and drink it. Plenty."

"Anyway, you just feel it's expensive when you spend your own money."

He Yu Shui said, "That's what you taught us, earn the money others give."

"This is what you taught us, earn the money others give, understand?"

"I give up on you guys—"

Li Xuewu gulped down his tea and said, "I can't drink my money's worth today."

"Virtue—" Yushui turned and left. Before long, she brought a plate of snacks back, threw them on the table, and said, "Here, my treat."

"How could I be so embarrassed—"

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "If it's convenient for you, give me another eight or ten pieces, I'll take them back to share with the children."

"If you want to make fun of me, I'm even happier than you, believe it or not—" He Yu Shui didn't fall for his trick, rolled her eyes at him, and turned away.

He wouldn't eat snacks at home, so he would eat them here?

Even if these snacks were made of gold, he wouldn't care. He just had an itchy mouth and wanted to retaliate for the bite the dog gave him.

"Hello, Section Chief Li, too much trouble."

Guo Yu, Li Xuewu was also meeting him for the first time. Defending the people and defending industry was the publishing and distribution work done by the other party's publishing house.

The previous editor he contacted had been transferred, so it was this Editor Guo who made the appointment to see him.

"I only have time today, sorry to disturb your rest." Li Xuewu invited the other party to sit down apologetically and explained, "I have to return to Steel City tomorrow."

"Yes, I heard from our leader."

Guo Yu nodded with a smile. Seeing the waiter bring a cup over, he thought it was tea, but didn't expect to smell a rich medicinal scent.

He was also someone who had seen things, and his smile became a bit more sincere.

He had heard of this International Hotel but had never been here. Reporter friends had come here for interview work, and the reception standards mentioned were all praised endlessly.

Of course, he also knew this was an industry of the Red Steel Group. It was normal for Li Xuewu, as a leader of the Red Steel Group, to make an appointment to see him here.

It was the exquisite snacks on the table and the unexpected coffee that surprised him.

This stuff could be bought in Modu, and a can could last two or three months if you were frugal, but brewing a cup and serving it in a coffee shop was like brewing gold.

Drinking at home and drinking here, could it be the same?

Besides, he rarely drank it at home. It wasn't easy to go to Modu, so he treated it like treasure.

"Try it, a product of our food factory."

Li Xuewu raised his hand with a smile and indicated, "It has already been exported to East Germany and Japan. The taste is quite unique."

"Is that so—" Guo Yu looked at him in surprise, then picked up the coffee and tasted it, nodded, and said, "It's quite good."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu exchanged pleasantries for two or three sentences before getting to the point, regarding the publication of the last part of his defense trilogy, "Defending Peace."

"You have cooperated with our publishing house many times, so we have saved a lot of processes in the publication plan."

Guo Yu wasn't a novice. He knew about Li Xuewu when he was in the editorial department before, and he had read his books, so he didn't have any special requirements.

Deletion and modification were impossible. Li Xuewu would polish his books several times himself before handing them to Zhou Ya Mei to proofread several times, and only then would they be sent to the publishing house.

If there were any hard flaws, he understood better than the editor, especially in terms of situation and policy. His books carried a certain theoretical nature, so the review was relatively simple.

The reason he invited the other party to the International Hotel was to hear the direction and requirements of the publishing work for the books themselves.

A major change was coming in the harsh winter, and he didn't need to overturn the car on this.

Basically maintaining a publication rhythm of one or two books a year was enough to support his status in the professional technical field and the theoretical research field.

Don't doubt the requirements of organizational work in this regard. If you really walk to this step today, who dares to say he relied purely on luck, or that the times created the hero?

Why do the young people in the organs worship him? Not only because he is young and powerful, but because every step he takes is amazing.

Unconvinced? Compare articles. The articles he published since he started working had long been collected by interested people and bound into volumes to be collected as learning materials.

Not to mention others, just say Li Huai De's former secretary, Li Haiyang, whose writing style was powerful enough. If he didn't have a certain foundation, could he be the secretary for the General Manager?

But Li Haiyang recognized himself as his apprentice, whether in conduct or work, he followed his example, and his article style tended toward his.

He had to learn from him. Li Director was used to the fine grain he wrote; looking at the materials written by the office again was like pig feed, so how could he swallow it?

Many of Li Huai De's speeches in the past were written by Li Xuewu. Until he served as Secretary-General, he still undertook the role of writing drafts at major meetings.

Many important theoretical materials and important decision-making documents of the Red Steel Group over the years were also drafted under his chairmanship, which could explain the problem.

What do young people in the organs fight for to get promoted?

To discuss comprehensive ability, who isn't a dragon or phoenix among people? The hard power is writing articles.

If you can't even write articles well, how can you compare?

Compare combat effectiveness? Compare management ability? Compare organizational ability?

Even after going to Liaodong to work, Li Xuewu would publish articles in newspapers every month, mostly summarizing work experience, exploring management discoveries, etc.

Theoretical, yet practical, often seen in newspapers, every time it would be taken out for learning within the organs, used to understand the focus of the Group's work and the core significance of organizational work.

One day, if Li Xuewu stood up to fight for the position of Deputy General, no one would dare to set obstacles for him in terms of theoretical achievements and work experience.

Not to mention the Red Steel Group, even within the industrial system, there were very few who could write and work like Li Xuewu.

Guo Yu, who was sitting opposite him, couldn't help but sigh in his heart after a conversation, no wonder it was circulating in the agency that his name had long been hung above.

Such a young talent, with deep enough thinking, high enough awareness, outstanding ability, and solid foundation, being reused was just a matter of time.

Even now, for others, it was already luck; for him, it might just be the beginning of luck, and he was still in the cultivation stage.

To say he wasn't envious would be a lie. He was forty-one years old this year, nearly twenty years older than Li Xuewu, but he couldn't write books with such depth.

It was not easy to write novels in this era; it was easy to overturn the car, so it had to be light theoretical articles, especially experience summaries, which were easy to be accepted by sticking to practical work.

In the past few years, their agency had issued many learning-type theoretical books of this kind, and the above hoped to popularize excellent management experience and improve the overall management level.

So Li Xuewu's books had almost never been reviewed, and those who had read them didn't think he had any problems in terms of thinking and theory.

This was very powerful, far exceeding authors of the same type, and even formed a systematic framework in professional books.

For example, criminal psychology, the first-line powerful departments in the country were already organizing learning, and even researching its application in public security management and other aspects.

"How much money can you earn from one book?"

Li Xuewu stood up He Yu Shui, but invited Wang Yajuan to dinner at Langtaosha, a typical Sigma male style.

"Why ask this? You want to write one too?" Li Xuewu clamped a dish, looked up at her, and said, "Or want to borrow money?"

"I really have to hand it to you—"

Wang Yajuan glared at him and asked, "You can't speak without being sarcastic, right?"

She said blandly, "Am I your enemy? Every sentence is a collapse."

"If it weren't for the narrow road of enemies, why turn around on the spot." Li Xuewu curled his lips, ate a piece of spicy chicken, and frowned, "So spicy."

"You said you wanted to eat Sichuan food." Wang Yajuan glanced at him, "Blame who?"

"I was forced, do you believe it?"

Li Xuewu pointed downstairs and said, "You also know the cook today. I have to prove I'm here."

"What do you mean?" Wang Yajuan thought for a moment and asked, "You have something with Master He?"

"Hmm, nothing with him, a bit of a grudge with his sister." Li Xuewu explained blandly, "The kind you can't avoid."

"Isn't it all in the past—"

Wang Yajuan frowned and asked, "You two still have this contradiction?"

He Yu Shui was He Yuzhu's sister. She hadn't seen her when she went to pick up Wang Yamei those years.

She had also heard about the little things between the two from Wang Yamei, nothing more than He Yu Shui's partner following Li Xuewu to Liaodong and sacrificing as a result.

"It's good that it's in the past—"

Li Xuewu picked up the white wine glass and signaled, "Too spicy, I'll take a sip."

"Do I need to drink too?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "You wouldn't be here to borrow wine to drown your sorrows, would you?"

"I never drink to excess, don't you know?" Li Xuewu gulped it down, hissed, put down the wine glass, and said, "This is called savoring."

"Two liang of wine, is the word 'savor' appropriate?"

Although she said so, Wang Yajuan still picked up the wine bottle and filled it for him, "You have something, right? Want to tell me?"

"Nothing much." Li Xuewu ate a dish, put down his chopsticks, touched his face, and then said, "Do you know Zhang Mingyuan went to Steel City?"

"Do I need to know?" Wang Yajuan frowned at him, lowered her eyes, and said, "What do you mean, just say it directly."

"Want to hear the truth or a lie?" Li Xuewu rubbed his hands and looked at her sincerely.

"Nonsense—" Wang Yajuan put down her chopsticks, looked at him, and said, "Tell the truth."

"The truth is—" Li Xuewu hesitated for a moment, looked at her seriously, and said, "I hope you fully consider the future..."

He paused here, spread his hands, and explained, "Need to face reality, right?"

"I know." Wang Yajuan nodded blandly and said, "It's not excessive for you to say this."

"It's good that you can understand." Li Xuewu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I must fully seek and consider your opinion."

"And I sincerely hope you carefully consider your assumptions and plans for the future."

He tapped his fingers on the dining table and said, "If you feel that future life doesn't need such heavy burdens, and you don't want any pressure, then leave the burdens and pressure to me."

"What do you mean?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "Don't beat around the bush, I don't understand."

"Just like I said just now." Li Xuewu looked into her eyes and said, "You need a place to live, that's fine, borrowing is fine, giving is fine, I'll arrange it."

"And then?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "For you, am I a responsibility or a burden?"

She thought of Li Xuewu's words just now, narrowed her eyes slightly, and asked, "Or is it about those things in the past..."

"Don't misinterpret my meaning. You should know I don't mean that."

Li Xuewu pointed his finger at her and said seriously, "If you feel you can continue, and don't hate the current life, then I should do something."

"Give me a house?" Wang Yajuan nodded slowly at him and said, "Okay, I just need a place to live."

"Good, you can go to logistics to choose a house." Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said, "Once you've chosen, tell Guodong, and leave the rest to him."

"It might take a month or two. Once he finishes decorating the house, he'll hand it over to you."

"You haven't answered my question."

Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "I, to you, what am I?"

"A lover, past, present."

She asked directly, and Li Xuewu's answer was also very direct. The tone was mixed with some wine, he rubbed his face and said, "I can't let you go out and take risks."

"You're talking nonsense again."

Wang Yajuan frowned slightly, "Drunk? Say something I can understand."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu smiled and said, "People all have memories. You can't limit me from recalling the past, because without that memory, there wouldn't be us now."

"I admit I'm very greedy, and also not a good thing."

He paused here, opened his palm, sighed, and said, "Even if you are doing very well, very happy, very blissful, I won't disturb you."

"Hmm—" Wang Yajuan already had tears in her eyes, opened her mouth slightly, looked at him, and asked, "So your coldness toward me after you came back was because of this?"

"From the first meeting, to that time on the ice, and then transferring me from the railway to the Red Star Factory?"

"Hmm." Li Xuewu nodded, rubbed his forehead, and said, "I think you should be able to get happiness."

"So you've been helping me, and distancing yourself from me." Wang Yajuan let the tears slide down, sobbing, "You think you're a hero, omnipotent, right?"

"I admit this point, it is a bit—" Li Xuewu stopped here, nodded, everything was in silence.

"You're quite a bastard. I knew it from the moment I met you." Wang Yajuan bit her lip and said, "You've always teased me into crying. I don't know how many times I've cried being with you."

"Sorry, young and frivolous, didn't understand love." Li Xuewu picked up his wine glass and toasted her, saying with a smile, "Is it too late to say sorry now?"

Wang Yajuan couldn't help but smile, but the tears were pouring down. She picked up the wine glass, closed her eyes tightly, and gulped down the wine in the glass.

The spiciness in her mouth couldn't compare to the sourness in her heart. She finally knew that his aloofness was another form of silent protection.

"You never know what I'm thinking."

She smiled hard at him and said, "You think I should be happy, but you never know who can give me happiness."

"You think I should possess something, but you never know what you should give me."

Wang Yajuan put down the wine glass, curled her lips, let out a long breath, and said, "Meeting you in this life is my greatest tribulation, an inner demon I can never escape." ===== CHAPTER 1599 =====

He nodded slowly and said: "To do good deeds, one must have a clear mind and not carry selfish motives, otherwise one will encounter backlash."

"You intellectuals are truly complicated—" Wang Yajuan frowned and said: "Donating is wrong, and not donating is also wrong."

"Your insults are really crude—" Li Xuewu looked at her speechlessly and said: "When did I become an intellectual in your eyes?"

"Hehe—" Wang Yajuan couldn't help but purse her lips and smile, glancing at him, she said: "From the day I knew you became an associate professor."

"..." Li Xuewu was even more speechless. He looked at her for a good while before asking: "Are you making fun of me?"

"Hahaha—" Wang Yajuan really laughed this time, covering her mouth as she said: "I'm not."

"I really believe your ghost—"

Li Xuewu picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said: "I bet you must be thinking of the old me and laughing at the contrast with this news, right?"

"Not allowed to laugh?" Wang Yajuan looked at him, her eyes filled with a bit more playfulness and teasing, and said: "Who told you to be an associate professor now."

"Sigh—" Li Xuewu let out a long sigh, eating his food while saying: "I said I wasn't qualified, but they just wouldn't believe me. What can I do?"

"You're quite cultured too." Wang Yajuan pursed her lips, suppressing her laughter to compliment him, but Li Xuewu laughed before she did.

"Writing a few books makes one an intellectual?" He said with a smile: "Becoming an associate professor by a twist of fate makes one an intellectual?"

Li Xuewu moved his wine glass, looked at her, and said: "Then should I address you as a dancer?"

"You dare—" Wang Yajuan glared at him coquettishly.

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled lightly: "Only the magistrate is allowed to set fires, while the common people are not allowed to light lamps."

"Don't sound so pitiful—"

Wang Yajuan chided: "I am admiring you, looking up to you. I want to be an associate professor but can't even get there."

"Whatever, I can't push it away anyway."

Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders and asked: "Are you living at home now?"

"No, I'm living in the dormitory." Wang Yajuan calmed down a little, took a bite of rice, and said: "It's not very convenient at home."

"That is true." Li Xuewu sniffed, looked at her, and asked: "Want to buy a house? I'll lend you the money?"

"Why borrow?" Wang Yajuan raised her head, looked at him, and asked: "Just buy one for me, any size will do."

"Seriously?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said: "I didn't even dare to bring this up, I was afraid your self-esteem wouldn't be able to take it."

"Why?" Wang Yajuan raised her head and glared at him: "Also, what did you mean when you asked about Zhang Mingyuan just now?"

"Want to hear the truth or a lie?" Li Xuewu rubbed his hands together and looked at her sincerely.

"Nonsense—" Wang Yajuan put down her chopsticks, looked at him, and said: "Tell the truth."

"The truth is—" Li Xuewu hesitated for a moment and said earnestly: "I hope you fully consider your future..."

He paused here, spread his hands, and explained: "You need to face reality, don't you?"

"I know." Wang Yajuan nodded faintly and said: "It's not excessive for you to say that."

"As long as you can understand." Li Xuewu breathed a sigh of relief and said: "I must fully seek and consider your opinion."

"I also sincerely hope you carefully consider your vision and plans for the future."

He tapped the dining table with his finger and said: "If you feel that your future life doesn't need such heavy burdens and you don't want any pressure, then leave the burdens and pressure to me."

"What do you mean?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked: "Don't beat around the bush, I don't understand."

"Just like I said just now." Li Xuewu looked into her eyes and said: "You need a place to live, fine, borrowing is okay, gifting is okay, I'll arrange it."

"And then?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked: "Am I a responsibility or a burden to you?"

She thought of Li Xuewu's words just now, narrowed her eyes slightly, and asked: "Or is it because of those things from before..."

"Don't misinterpret my meaning, you should know that's not what I meant."

Li Xuewu raised his finger, pointed at her, and said earnestly: "If you feel you can continue and don't dislike your current life, then I should do something."

"Gift me a house?" Wang Yajuan looked at him, nodded slowly, and said: "Okay, I really do need a place to live."

"Good, you can go to logistics to choose a house." Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said: "Once you've chosen, tell Guodong, and leave the rest to him."

"It might take a month or two. Once he finishes renovating the house, he'll hand it over to you."

"You still haven't answered my question."

Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked: "To you, what am I?"

"A lover, from the past, and the present."

She asked directly, and Li Xuewu's answer was just as direct. His tone was mixed with some alcohol as he rubbed his face and said: "I can't let you go out and take risks."

"You're talking nonsense again."

Wang Yajuan frowned slightly and said: "Had too much to drink? Say something I can understand."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu said with a smile: "People have memories. You can't restrict me from remembering the past, because without that period of memory, there wouldn't be us now."

"I admit I'm very greedy, and I'm also not a very good person."

He paused here, opened his palm, sighed, and said: "Even if you are living well, very happy, and very blessed, I won't disturb you."

"Hmm—" Wang Yajuan's eyes were already filled with tears. She opened her mouth slightly, looked at him, and asked: "So the coldness you showed me after you returned was because of this?"

"From the first time we met, to that time on the ice, and then transferring me from the railway to the Red Star Factory?"

"Yes." Li Xuewu nodded, rubbed his forehead, and said: "I believe you deserve happiness."

"So you've been helping me all along, while also distancing yourself from me." Wang Yajuan let her tears fall, sobbing as she said: "You think you're a hero, capable of anything, right?"

"I admit that, it's true to some extent—" Li Xuewu stopped here, nodded, everything left unsaid.

"You're quite a jerk, I knew that from the moment I met you." Wang Yajuan bit her lip and said: "You always tease me until I cry. I don't know how many times I've cried since being with you."

"Sorry, young and frivolous, didn't understand love." Li Xuewu raised his wine glass to toast her and said with a smile: "Is it too late to say sorry now?"

Wang Yajuan couldn't help but laugh, even as tears streamed down her face. She picked up her wine glass, squeezed her eyes shut, and downed the wine in one gulp.

The spiciness in her mouth couldn't compare to the bitterness in her heart. She finally understood that his distance was another form of silent protection.

"You never know what I'm thinking."

She tried her best to smile at him and said: "You think I should be happy, but you never know who can give me happiness."

"You think I should possess something, but you never know what should be given to me."

Wang Yajuan put down her wine glass, pursed her lips, let out a long sigh, and said: "Meeting you in this life is my greatest tribulation, a demon in my heart I can never escape."