[Apology: Regarding the issue of Heart Demon mentioned earlier, I used it twice and forgot about it... Embarrassed, since I don't have a detailed database, I just rely on memory to revisit old chapters. I forgot, ashamed... Thanks to the readers for pointing it out! Special apology]

Tears of joy!

Yue Yao truly experienced that feeling of wanting to cry tears of joy now!

It turns out that many years ago, he cared for her and protected her so much! Although at that time, she couldn't fully comprehend that feeling of "love," and perhaps even Li Yan himself didn't know at the time what that vague emotion represented, his unwillingness to let her get hurt or take risks was enough to show that she already held a very significant place in his heart back then.

This intention, this love, though discovered inadvertently after so many years, feels like a belated love to her. If she had understood it back then, she would definitely have had a different attitude, perhaps directly changing their relationship and lives.

However, for Yue Yao, this is unexpectedly blissful; she does not regret missing the best opportunity to be together back then due to her lack of comprehension. On the contrary, she is very grateful that she never gave up all these years!

Since in her heart, she always had him, and in his heart, he always had her. Isn't that wonderful?

Lovers don't necessarily have to become family.

In a world like theirs, with Li Yan's somewhat indulgent life regarding men and women all these years, if they were really together, they might argue due to jealousy, extreme behavior, or small trivial matters, some work ideology conflicts, and so on, possibly creating barriers, or even break up shortly after being together.

Don't ordinary people's marriages also have a seven-year itch?

Moreover, happiness that is too easily obtained often isn't cherished as much.

If she had understood back then and actively held onto Li Yan, there might have been beautiful memories, but she couldn't say what the situation would be like now. And now, over these years, her admiration, respect, attachment, and tolerance towards him, his support, trust, protection, and care for her. Their relationship is implicit, between family, friends, partners, and best friends, or all of these, yet maintaining an appropriate distance.

Precisely because of this, they can warm each other without causing harm. And now, it also makes them cherish deeply the emotions and mutual dependency between them.

...

Feeling Li Yan's words finishing, he kissed her neck gently once more, then instead of any further movement, he covered her with the pajamas.

Yue Yao also took a breath, letting her emotions get a little suppressed, letting the almost spilling-over feeling of happiness from her throat calm down a bit.

Then she rose up without evasion in front of Li Yan.

"Conversely... it's you who has protected me for so many years, and I finally have the chance to protect you once. If you don't think this will become a mental burden for you, I feel this injury has brought us closer together."

Though she didn't evade, Li Yan still found it inconvenient to look more; facing her bare upper body, he could only divert his gaze.

"It's not a burden, I also feel this has brought us closer, and made me realize that some matters, some people, must be cherished early on!"

Li Yan softly shared his thoughts, but couldn't help swallowing. Heaven knows, he could swear he didn't imagine Yue Yao's current appearance, nor did he peek, it was entirely an unconscious action.

"Cherish early on..." Yue Yao murmured to herself.

Yes, perhaps if they had been together in the past, they wouldn't have understood how to cherish due to being too young, but now, even she isn't so naïve anymore, and they've been together for a long time, it's time to cherish properly.

"Uh, you should dress first... don't catch a cold." Li Yan coughed lightly, finding an excuse.

He noticed the air's atmosphere had begun to change, no longer just applying medicine, starting to ferment into a charming, ambiguous scent...

Rationally he told himself to leave! Otherwise, it'd be easy to encounter problems; although mornings are when people are more clear-headed and rational, it's also a time of exuberant, easily excited energy.

However, his body was somewhat rebellious, continuing to sit quietly, thinking there's no harm in sitting a while longer, what's there to worry about.

"Hmm..."

Holding the pajamas, Yue Yao felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing his reminder. She didn't need to go out to work, and earlier staying here, she usually wore pajamas, didn't need to change specifically. Now with her injuries not yet healed, certainly she wouldn't wear other clothes. Yet underwear still needed to be put on, otherwise, it seemed suspect of seduction.

She was now sitting on the bed, using pajamas to cover in front of her chest, not so convenient, and with Li Yan sitting right at the bed's edge, staying hesitant after, she ended up being bold and whispered: "Could you pass it to me?"

"Hmm?" Li Yan had to turn and look at her, naturally, with such a good and justified reason, he turned quickly without any protest from his neck.

Seeing that Yue Yao wasn't semi-naked before him, with pajamas as a cover, he calmed slightly. Yet, people's fixed ideas are strange, as long as it differs from the usual image, it prompts extensive imagination.

For example, wearing a swimsuit, even a bikini, on the beach or at a swimming pool doesn't particularly draw eyes. But strolling through city streets, or subways in swimwear or bikinis would absolutely be explosive, making the news; likewise, girls' shorts nowadays get shorter in summer, reaching the thighs, normal to wear on streets, or TV, at most calling it sexy. Change it to undergarments, even with comparable fabric, it feels lowbrow or invites suggestive glances.

Yue Yao's situation now is similar, clothes are to cover the body, wearing them and holding them as cover yield similar results, covering what's to be covered. But due to inherent ideas, clothes ought to be worn, so wearing them and not seeing equates to neither seeing nor imagining; holding them as cover despite them not seeing through the view implies imagination extending even to clothes slipping down...

Li Yan now couldn't avoid such thoughts, hence could only try not to look at the pajamas in her hand, instead looking purely into Yue Yao's eyes.

Through her gaze, he glanced towards the bed end, seeing one of the bunny-designed innerwear sets he had bought.

"Oh." He replied, leaning over and reaching for the bunny innerwear, handing it to Yue Yao.

With both hands holding pajamas in front, how would she take it?

Li Yan felt an inexplicable anticipation, if she loosened one hand, although it'd still cover her chest, it'd be even more seductive.

Then Yue Yao said something that shocked Li Yan!

"This is what you bought for me, I want to wear it for you... can you help me?"

Saying she wanted to wear it for him was already a very stimulating phrase because Li Yan had once seen the effect elsewhere. Let alone helping her wear it?

"Well..." Li Yan felt somewhat flustered, wanting to refuse rationally, yet sentimentally eager to assist.

Seeing his expression, Yue Yao made her decision. Though she didn't know why Li Yan dared to boldly come to her room today, there was still a risk of discovery, as Yurong likely hadn't gone to work yet. Moreover, when he came earlier, without knowing what he'd do, the door wasn't locked. Thus, to reduce risk, there couldn't be any dawdling, needing to speed up.

Without waiting for Li Yan's hesitation, she loosened her grip on the pajamas, letting them slide from her chest!

At this scene, Yue Yao felt excited, while Li Yan was even more astounded!

Because being the closest with Yue Yao for so many years yet having blurry boundaries, Yue Yao held significant sanctity in his heart. To put it crudely, they were too familiar, creating a refrain from making a move!

The closest partner, mutually dependent best friends, akin to a sister-like companion... such a girl suddenly revealing her upper body in a lover-like capacity impacts any man significantly. Habit from long acquaintance meant he hadn't yet adjusted to a new role. Nor was it as atmospheric like that time in the night, without that build-up.

But Yue Yao had already made her move, so as a man, he obviously couldn't be hesitant, promptly opening the bunny innerwear in his hand, calculating how best to put it on.

After all, having bought it twice, seeing it on someone else before, he somewhat knew what to do, only now feeling a bit flustered. Inhaling deeply, quietly maintaining calmness, Li Yan moved in slightly, placing the top of the bunny innerwear over Yue Yao's head, preferring to adjust the front first.

At this moment, though Yue Yao's eyes weren't shut, they lowered, choosing not to look at Li Yan. Due to the closeness, they could both feel each other's breaths had become heavier.

The action was quite simple; once adjusted at the front, he should simply tie a knot at the back. Yet at this moment, his hands hesitated to leave!

A few seconds of deliberation felt like minutes or hours, yet finally, Li Yan made a decision, lifting the bunny innerwear he had just placed! (To be continued, to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com for more chapters, along with supporting the author and legal reading!)

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