Chapter 140: Chapter 140

Li Tianyao smiled. He was already handsome, and this smile gained a bewitching quality, enough to infatuate all beings.

His slender fingers gently pinched her chin. He leaned in for a kiss. Given that she couldn’t bear the thought of him going to prison, he decided to let her off this time. It was a gentle, lingering kiss, as if she were a treasure he cherished above all else.

An Yan found herself inadvertently swept along by his rhythm.

A few minutes later, the man, finally satisfied, released her lips and rested his forehead against hers.

"This is the last time. If you dare to run off again without telling me, I’ll break An Duxuan’s legs."

An Yan was speechless.

"You misunderstand. This time, I was just filling in for my second brother. The schedule is tight and the tasks are demanding. I meant to call you, but my phone was confiscated as soon as I arrived!"

"Chasing celebrities under the guise of filling in for An Duxuan?"

"Chase what celebrities?" An Yan was momentarily puzzled.

"Mo Shiyan. I hear he’s a film emperor!"

His gaze was piercing.

An Yan, however, suddenly had a brilliant idea. Could I get Li Tianyao to deal with Mo Shiyan? The thought was fleeting, and she quickly dismissed it. If I really got Li Tianyao involved, it’d probably be another Ice Lake and Fire House incident. Besides, Mo Shiyan hasn’t committed any terrible misdeeds!

"You mean Mo Shiyan, the film emperor? What benefit is there for me in chasing him?" An Yan asked.

"So, if there were benefits, you’d chase him?"

"Could the benefits he offers possibly surpass yours?" An Yan followed up.

The man’s lips curved into a smile.

"Obviously impossible! So why would I chase after him?"

Satisfied, the man gently rubbed her tender earlobe and generously dropped the subject. His fingertips then lifted the thumb ring on the necklace she wore.

"Wanting Gu Shifang to come to you on his own initiative?"

An Yan hummed in agreement. "He harmed my mother and caused me years of suffering. What’s wrong with me wanting revenge? Besides, I’ve divined that this time, the opportunity might be right here."

He released his fingers and gently massaged the nape of her neck. "That’s why I came."

An Yan was momentarily stunned.

It took her a moment to realize he meant he knew she was about to face danger, possibly even a direct confrontation with Gu Shifang, and that was why he had come.

She said helplessly, "Now that you’re here, Gu Shifang most likely won’t make a move!"

"How do you know? Perhaps my presence will make him feel a greater sense of urgency and be even more inclined to act?"

An Yan was speechless.

After a few seconds, she added, "But why did you come now? This small tent is cramped and uncomfortable, and I only have one sleeping bag! Why don’t you go back to your yacht?"

Li Tianyao’s fingers on the back of her neck pressed lightly. "Let’s go together!"

"No way, I’m still recording the show here."

An Yan gestured towards the drone, only to find it had already been switched off. The small green light indicating it was recording had gone out.

Well, if Lord Li didn’t want something filmed, no one would dare film it!

Li Tianyao went straight to her luggage, took out a poncho, draped it over her, and then scooped her up into his arms. "We’ll discuss it tomorrow!"

An Yan’s greatest strength was her pragmatism; once she realized resistance was futile, she would immediately comply. And besides, even if it’s raining and the path is wet and slippery, I don’t have to walk myself!

Li Tianyao had just stepped out with An Yan in his arms when they encountered Fu Xiao.

Seeing Li Tianyao, Fu Xiao froze on the spot. "Lord Li, I, I, I came to invite Miss An Yan to rest in the cave. It’s very safe there!"

Li Tianyao ignored him and continued walking with An Yan in his arms.

Several of his men who had accompanied him held umbrellas over them and carried all of An Yan’s equipment.

Fu Xiao, completely ignored, stared blankly at their retreating figures. I’d thought that by bringing An Yan to the cave this time, I could use the heavy rain, strong winds, and darkness to sneakily snatch her thumb ring. But then...

In another tent, Mo Shiyan and Meng Rui were still solving math problems.

Just moments ago, they had heard a commotion from An Yan’s tent. As they were about to investigate, a man in black blocked their path.

Recognizing the man’s attire, Mo Shiyan hesitated for a moment before choosing to comply.

Li Tianyao was agile, and even on such treacherous paths, his speed wasn’t hindered. In less than twenty minutes, they were back on the yacht.

It offered shelter from the wind and rain, and was warm and comfortable. There was hot water for a shower and a large, soft, fragrant bed!

An Yan, feeling refreshed after her shower, emerged in a bathrobe to find Li Tianyao reclining on the sofa beside the large bed, his gaze fixed on his laptop screen.

An Yan nervously adjusted her robe, ensuring it was securely fastened, before perching on the edge of the other sofa near him. "Fu Xiao is a problem! He’s not the type to go out of his way to help someone in a downpour!"

Li Tianyao rotated the Buddha Beads in his hand. "What are you suspecting?"

"It’s not suspicion; I divined it. He’s one of Gu Shifang’s men! And this time, he was also after my thumb ring. I had planned to let him get his hands on it during the heavy rain, but then you arrived! My plan is ruined!"

"Blaming me?" The man raised an eyebrow.

An Yan forced a smile. "I wouldn’t dare!"

"Can you divine Gu Shifang’s movements?"

"I can’t. Regarding him, I can’t divine anything; it’s as if he doesn’t exist in this world at all."

"Then how can you be sure that Fu Xiao is his man?"

"Because I divined the content of Fu Xiao’s text messages."

Li Tianyao looked at her in surprise. "Can divination be that specific?"

"Mhm!" An Yan nodded. As long as an event had occurred within the timeframe her abilities could reach, she could perceive it.

"Then let’s keep an eye on this Fu Xiao!"

As the man spoke, he extended his hand towards An Yan.

In his palm lay another thumb ring!

"This one has a tracking device inside," Li Tianyao said. "Let’s use this as bait!"

An Yan, surprised, took the thumb ring he handed her and examined it over and over. "When did you have this replicated?"

It was an incredibly accurate replica! The only difference was that this fake thumb ring lacked the faint luminescence of the real one.

An Yan didn’t find it strange. After all, Li Tianyao had long known the thumb ring belonged to Gu Shifang, so it was understandable that he would have a replica made in advance.

She reached out, took the replica, and swapped it with the genuine one she wore.

It was two in the morning, and the downpour persisted.

"Tired? If you’re sleepy, go to bed first," Li Tianyao said.

An Yan looked at the large bed and then at Li Tianyao. "What about you? Aren’t you going back to your room?"

The man met her gaze. "The ship has limited rooms."

Does that mean he plans to share a bed with me tonight?

Li Tianyao reached out to ruffle her hair, smiling. "Little one, am I that untrustworthy in your eyes?"

An Yan didn’t know how to respond.

Is this really a matter of trust?