"Apart from after I arrived, what else did you do?" 80 million, which is equivalent to over 5 million Cloud Coins, is no small amount for an individual. Li Yan couldn't believe she had only started taking advantage recently; she must have started months ago.

"I...I originally had more interactions with the Future Group, and after receiving their instructions, I became even closer to them..."

When she spoke, Matsushima Kui was still filled with guilt. This issue had been going on for months. Although she solved her family's problems, it became a burden on her conscience. Moreover, when facing Shinohara Mirai, she couldn't show a trace of it, making it even more unbearable. Now that she had a chance to speak about it, she felt a sense of release, a chance to confess.

"Previously, I often told them about Mirai's whereabouts and situations. That time going to Yun Country, they were the ones who encouraged me to push Mirai to go. She had wanted to see the country where her mother grew up for years, but Yun Country was still very foreign to her. Moreover, President Shinohara was very stringent about her traveling abroad. It hadn't happened until this time, when she made the decision under my encouragement. After we arrived in Yun Country, I would basically report our whereabouts to them..."

At this point, she hurriedly explained: "I only mentioned where we went and roughly what we did, but I didn't share any personal matters between the three of us."

Li Yan sighed inwardly. No wonder Feng Wuqing, as an assassin, knew their hotel rooms so clearly back then. Afterward, to avoid Feng Wuqing feeling pressure or sensing a reckoning coming, he hadn't asked him in detail about that mission. But Matsushima Kui's words now naturally connected everything.

"That time, President Shinohara sent Kawada-kun to protect us. But later, I don't know what happened, he recalled Kawada back to Beihai Country first. We also returned later. I was still ordered to understand Mirai's situation, and they asked me to spend more time with her. At that time, I didn't think much about it. I felt that as long as I didn't betray Mirai too much, just accompanying her to play, it would be more acceptable. And indeed, I didn't see Mirai get into any trouble, the later events, you know already..."

It was about what they talked about yesterday, Shinohara Mirai realized she hadn't seen her father for a long time and started becoming suspicious. Because only Matsushima Kui was with her, she confided her suspicions to her, hoping to have a reliable ally who could help. She even thought of summoning Li Yan from Yun Country for help, which led to this journey to D City.

Of course, Matsushima Kui didn't mention that Shinohara Mirai's plan was also reported to them, thus everything remained under their control. Only Mirai was left in the dark, expecting Li Yan to be the unexpected savior.

Seeing Li Yan staying silent, Matsushima Kui forced a bitter smile, "Li Yan... you must look down on me now, right? Tell Mirai for me, I don't have the courage to face her or tell her myself."

"I'm pleased you have this thought, indicating you still consider Mirai a friend. Would you like to hear about a way for redemption?"

"What?" Matsushima Kui widened her eyes. At this point, was there really any road to redemption? Wouldn't Mirai hate her intensely when she found out? But she didn't want to lose this long-time friend and hoped there was still room for rescue.

"If you could know the whereabouts of Shiroyama Gou, find him, and rescue him, it would be a happy ending. I believe Mirai wouldn't blame you. But if you don't know, then step forward and testify! Say what you know. But there's a risk, you received benefits from them, which you'd need to return. Perhaps after rescuing President Shinohara, you could ask him to help with a loan." Li Yan said calmly.

Matsushima Kui thought for a moment, then sturdily said, "I agree! I now know that taking that kind of money causes a guilty conscience. They promised not to harm Mirai, but that's temporary. Currently, they might have harmed President Shinohara. If anything happens to the president, it's like something happening to Mirai. I just want to redeem myself, assist you in rescuing President Shinohara, and reunite Mirai with her father. As for money, we'll think of another way to borrow it."

She now finally understood that the 80 million support she received came at the cost of the Shinohara family losing 8 billion, 80 billion, or maybe even including Mirai's father's life!

"Right, I can tell you an important clue, you got it wrong..."

Seeing Matsushima Kui eagerly speaking, Li Yan smiled, truly smiled! Whether she's sincere could be seen in this sentence. Revealing those who bribed her would be the true turning point, rather than just mere words.

"I know, the real mastermind isn't Inoue Hideichiro as you and Mirai said. This imaginary enemy is someone the mastermind deliberately wants Mirai to misunderstand. The real strategist is Sano Takashi, the CFO of Shinohara Corporation!" Li Yan revealed the truth placidly.

Upon hearing this, Matsushima Kui was completely dumbfounded. If Li Yan saw through her, she had nothing more to say. After all, with only slightly more societal experience than Mirai, she was still less experienced than Li Yan. Maybe she had slipped somewhere, or he discovered the tracking person, but how could he have known about Sano Takashi?!

Because he never left their side, she could transmit messages by call or text, but how could Li Yan investigate people, could he deploy avatars?

"You... you're practically a fusion of Jintan Yi, Conan, and Galileo..." Matsushima Kui was speechless. Even these famous detectives couldn't investigate so thoroughly in such a short time, right?

Li Yan laughed. She certainly didn't know he had two people helping with the investigation, and Qi Zhongtao, being familiar with D City, maybe even invited local well-informed professionals to participate. Of course, it was best she didn't know, keeping this mysterious touch was good; otherwise, she would undoubtedly be nervous and worried.

"Alright, when the time comes to testify, and how to make Mirai accept it, prepare yourself mentally." Li Yan gave her a comforting squeeze.

Perhaps it was being exposed, or perhaps seeing Li Yan comprehend all her secrets like a god, Matsushima Kui surprisingly felt completely at peace. The earlier tension and anxiety were gone. Leaning on Li Yan's chest, she quietly said, "Li Yan... Can you... love me once more?"

Li Yan knew very well that the love Kui mentioned was not the complicated love he had with Zhang Yurong or Wen Qianyi. She and Mirai understood clearly that with two countries between them and no long-term emotional buildup, even passionate love couldn't sustain a long-term relationship. Instead of a regrettable breakup after knowing each other better, they preferred preserving a beautiful, fleeting romance, a fleeting affair. Like a brief and beautiful one-act play...

What she meant now by loving once more was simply to "make love" once more. Her saying it under such circumstances, undoubtedly was not due to desire, but...

After a brief pause, Li Yan sighed, "Is it necessary?"

"Hmm?"

"I understand your thoughts. You reckon... because of the professional relationship between Shinohara and Paradise Group, there are chances we might meet in the future. But it's just me and Mirai you think you can't face anymore, so you want to use this to say goodbye, to never meet again..."

Seeing Li Yan articulating her thoughts, Matsushima Kui couldn't help but begin sobbing. She herself couldn't tell whether it was for Li Yan, for Mirai, or out of regret.

"I said before, if you could help, it would be a good thing. The best would be helping find Shiroyama Gou, or later testify against Sano Takashi, which would be enough to redeem yourself. I believe Mirai wouldn't blame you..."

Saying this, Li Yan felt these words were too rational, not enough to move her. Observing her despondent mood, he changed his approach, "Have you seen the movie 'Infernal Affairs'? You are not a betrayer, but an undercover agent!"

"Me? 'Infernal Affairs'? An undercover agent?" Still sobbing, Matsushima Kui widened her eyes, seemingly saying, "Clearly, I'm the despicable one, how can you speak so grandly?"

"What's important is the result! Right now, for Mirai, finding her father is what matters most; for President Shinohara, escaping safely is what matters most. You might have had unavoidable reasons, a selling-out process before, but as long as the result helps, you are the undercover." Li Yan fully unleashed his persuasive spirit.

"But, I..."

"You still feel you can't face Mirai, but what else do you want? After it's over, leave a letter, a call to inform her, then move houses, change your number, and never see Mirai again? Is that not avoiding? By doing so, you'll carry a psychological shadow forever. From a bad perspective, you've been exposed by me. From a good perspective, this is your turning point to change the outcome. Since you are willing to do it, why not be willing to face it?"

"Hmm, I am willing..."

Seeing she agreed, but still without much enthusiasm, Li Yan shook his head and bent down to kiss her.

This was completely unexpected; Matsushima Kui still had a doubting question in her mind: Is he ready to give up on me? To love me one last time? Didn't I already agree?

As her body softened, Li Yan suddenly stopped, then looked at her.

"Satisfied?"

This question was too direct, too fierce. Even women from more open-minded places like Beihai Country would shyly lower their heads upon hearing it. "Hmm..."

"That's right, I won't indulge in your avoidance by loving you one last time; that would be cowardly behavior. But, think of our once beautiful 'three-person time' (Tear-stained Heavenly Scars…). If you leave, you'll not be happy, I won't be happy, and neither will Mirai be. In the end, we'd only be left singing together: 'Come back soon...'" Li Yan almost sweated, feeling his words were becoming more shameless.

Matsushima Kui pondered; somehow, this persuasion was more acceptable to her than dry logic.

(The third update, rushing with enthusiasm, aiming for 5 updates today, asking for a monthly pass!)(To be continued. To find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support legitimate reading!)

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