(Fourth update, stayed up late until now, it's about time to sleep, I'll write the fifth update tonight after I wake up, and continue pushing the monthly pass, so that Old Lai can safely explode with updates. It's really tough, fighting for the new book monthly pass list seems as exhausting as fighting a battle, sigh... Thank you all, please help me top the list for the last week!)

Yurong's heart, as cold as ice, was somewhat disrupted by Li Yan being flanked by two women (though Li Yan, just sitting between Yu Xiaodi and Wen Qianyi, without actually hugging them, felt enormous pressure) and didn't notice Yue Yao's fleeting change of expression.

Yue Yao continued to smile and said, "Sister Yurong, since it's inconvenient for you to make your relationship public, and you can't say anything to him, shall I remind him on your behalf?"

Yurong slightly furrowed her brows but then gently shook her head, "Forget it, let him do as he pleases!"

She drank her glass empty in one go to calm herself down. Yes, what's it to me if he is surrounded by women, I just... just get upset that he doesn't give me face, embarrassing me in front of my friends. It's not because I care about him...

While she was denying herself, or perhaps, trying to convince herself otherwise, Yue Yao had already stood up and with a smile said, "I'll get you another drink."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yurong gestured that she was fine, but Yue Yao had already gotten up and left. She was trying hard to control her gaze, not letting herself look over to see what Li Yan was up to.

Although Li Yan had broken his streak of not staying out all night before, it was just one night. This time it had been two days and two nights without coming home. This was the first time since they got married and lived together. Even though Li Yan had mentioned beforehand that he had something to take care of and might come back only by Monday, and with Yue Yao keeping him company, Yurong was still a bit worried about his safety.

Though she knew well herself, being a grown man, Li Yan wouldn't fear someone robbing him for money or lust, nor would he kill or set fire, there was really nothing to worry about. Probably he had met a net friend and went out to another city for a date. But she still couldn't help but have some concern.

However, this budding tenderness was entirely strangled at the moment she found Li Yan! If he had indeed gone to meet a net friend, that would have been something, but he was actually in town, frolicking with another woman. And now they even bumped into each other! Fortunately, only Yue Yao knew the inside story and wouldn't laugh at her. If it had been publicly known that she and he were a couple, the joke would have been too much to bear.

...

While Yurong was silently turning her heart, Yue Yao walked over to the drink stand where she had just bumped into Li Yan, casting glances toward Li Yan, whether on purpose or not, while she went.

With the many years of mutual understanding between Li Yan and Queen, even a glance held a familiar power. Li Yan quickly felt it, but he just explained that he had just met Yue Yao. Now seeing such a beauty alone, how would it look if he dashed over there? How would Wen Qianyi and Yu Xiaodi think of him?

However, after a few glances, his gaze finally met Yue Yao's. From her eyes, he understood that she had something important to say to him!

He didn't care about so much anymore because Queen wouldn't joke about such matters, and in terms of familiarity and importance, even Wen Qianyi and Yu Xiaodi couldn't compare to her. Of course, going over to speak with her wouldn't necessarily offend the other two.

"Sorry, save my seat, please. I'm going to the restroom."

Wen Qianyi and Yu Xiaodi, being distracted by flirtatious young talents around, noticed Li Yan looking around but didn't think of anything else, since they also found these people quite dull, yet girls couldn't use the restroom excuse as readily as Li Yan.

When Li Yan stood up to leave, those around cast disdainful glances his way, whether openly or secretly! What the heck, sitting between two beauties wasn't enough, even leaving for the restroom, he asked to save his seat? Would it kill him to let someone else sit for a while? Of course, those who took it wouldn't give up the spot again.

Even if Li Yan hadn't said so, others wanting to sit between the two, Wen Qianyi and Yu Xiaodi wouldn't like it either. Perhaps that person would sit, and they'd find an excuse to move around a bit.

To avoid drawing more attention, Li Yan casually stretched his arms after standing up, glancing quickly towards the restroom. After catching Yue Yao's eyes, only then did he pull out a cigarette as he walked toward the restroom.

Outside the restroom, he didn't go into the men's room but lit a cigarette.

Soon, Yue Yao came over. Seeing no one paying attention nearby, she quickly whispered, "Someone is looking for you," and nonchalantly handed a phone to Li Yan, then walked towards the ladies' room.

After taking the phone, Li Yan casually put it away, smoking as he left the restroom and walking straight out of the banquet hall into the corridor, then up the stairs to the rooftop.

On the rooftop, he first looked around without spotting anyone, then found a secure area and took out Yue Yao's phone.

The phone wasn't on standby, a text message was already open. One glance and Li Yan understood who was looking for him. Even though the content was hidden in its expression, for a well-used Li Yan and Queen, the meaning was clear at a glance.

The translated essence was that he couldn't reach Li Yan through calls, nor could Guan Ziyi, so he sought out Queen, asking Queen to find Li Yan as soon as possible.

Tragically, Li Yan's phone got water-damaged in the swimming pool this afternoon. Usually, there aren't any important calls, but as luck would have it, something urgent came up right after the water damage. Thankfully, Li Yan happened to be here tonight; otherwise, even Yue Yao, who lives at his house, wouldn't be able to reach him immediately.

The person who sent the message is Zheng Yixuan, who has his own career and identity in real life, but like Guan Ziyi, he also has another side. This side is only known to Li Yan, not even Queen fully understands it.

Li Yan quickly dialed the number and asked with a chuckle, "Third Brother, why the urgency in finding me? Want to treat me to dinner, huh? You're really something, looking for me just when I'm not home and my phone gets water-damaged for the first time."

Zheng Yixuan felt relieved to have found Li Yan so quickly and jokingly scolded, "It's your bad luck dragging me into this, right? I have a task for you later; I'll send you the details. You gotta do the work before the dinner invite!"

"As expected, never a good thing! Alright, even if it's for no one else's sake, I've got to give face to my Third Brother. Alright, I'll take a look when I get it!"

The two chatted jokingly for a bit and then hung up the phone.

With a smile on his face, there wasn't an ounce of joy in Li Yan's heart. When Guan Ziyi seeks him out, it usually means trouble. If the Third Brother is looking for him, then it's definitely more serious!

Soon, the phone received several encrypted messages.

Li Yan looked at the texts, trying hard to decipher the true message behind what seemed like routine work instructions.

After a few minutes, he finally deciphered the three true messages.

The content was simple, translated as: "Head to the Prince Hotel, infiltrate the top floor."

This made Li Yan feel both amused and annoyed. If he didn't understand Zheng Yixuan's character, he might suspect this was some prank or coordinated joke learned either directly from or through Queen.

The second message: "Feng Yundao has defected, unauthorized private work."

This news shocked Li Yan the most, not because they broke rules and took on private work, nor because their target was actually the gathering on the top floor of the Prince Hotel where they were now. It was because the most capable among them had suddenly defected, unbeknownst to him and Queen, the spiritual and actual leaders!

This clearly wasn't a spur-of-the-moment action; there must have been signs all along. But since he was away, Queen either didn't notice or realized without understanding the severity.

Li Yan began to understand that as a leader, when one is absent for too long, no matter how great the reputation, someone will eventually rise to challenge. Those that can abandon power and status do so because they've experienced it. For those who haven't strived for it, it might be the ultimate goal. Just like many emperors who can relinquish their throne, there's always a multitude who would fight to become emperor.

When Ren Woxing was in seclusion practicing, Dongfang Bubai usurped the throne; when Dongfang Bubai was embroidering behind closed doors, Yang Lianting caused chaos within, and Xiang Wentian caused chaos outside.

Since the inception of his time off, it's the first time Li Yan felt the pressure—no one else put pressure on him, the organizational management and leadership pressure, Queen alone held it down. But this time, Li Yan felt the weight of responsibility! The kind of pressure that Ren Woxing and Dongfang Bubai once felt.

Even thieves have their own code; they are an international assassin organization, dedicated to taking jobs for clients regardless of right or wrong. They don't engage in large-scale terror attacks. Now, from Zheng Yixuan's information, Peng Duandao, Feng Wuqing, Liu Yunqing have been bought by some international hiring organization at a high price, possibly to wipe them out or control them for certain purposes.

The third message was simple: "Resolve it."

For most people, this order would be too difficult—having to handle a well-prepared operation backed by three top assassins. But for Li Yan, it's just a straightforward directive to solve a problem and clear out traitors because he's not an ordinary person; he's King—the King of Assassins!

"Is something wrong?" Yue Yao's voice came from behind. She hadn't seen Li Yan return after waiting for a while, understanding that the severity of the situation might be beyond her imagination. Guessing he was here, she couldn't help but find a way to follow him.

Li Yan turned around, looking at the dream-like beauty under the starry sky. At this moment, she exuded a hint of coldness and mystery.

"Haha, no worries, I've been on vacation for too long. Using Mario to make a comeback seems a bit monotonous."

Yue Yao smiled. From just a casual remark, she felt it; the God of Assassins she once admired and worshipped was back!

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