No Fate notifications.
No protagonist alerts.
No hidden organizations.
No ancient inheritances.
Just...
The ocean.
Then...
A shadow fell across him.
Shen Tian looked up.
Li Lian.
She stood in front of him.
A light summer dress.
Hair moving gently in the breeze.
Her hands clasped behind her back.
She smiled.
"Busy?"
Shen Tian looked around.
Empty beach chair.
Drink.
Ocean.
Then...
"Extremely."
Li Lian laughed.
"Obviously."
He smiled.
"Sit."
She hesitated.
Then...
Sat beside him.
Silence.
Comfortable.
For a while...
Neither spoke.
They simply watched the ocean.
Then...
Li Lian looked toward him.
"Can I ask something?"
Shen Tian turned.
"Anything."
She smiled slightly.
Then...
Her expression became thoughtful.
"Do you ever get tired?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Of what?"
"Everything."
She gestured vaguely.
"The fighting."
"The danger."
"The people trying to kill you."
"The women."
Shen Tian stared.
Then...
"The women?"
Li Lian’s cheeks warmed.
"I didn’t mean..."
He smiled.
She sighed.
"You know what I mean."
"Explain."
She looked toward the ocean.
Then...
Quietly...
"Everyone wants something from you."
Silence.
Shen Tian listened.
Li Lian continued.
"Your family wants you safe."
"Your enemies want you dead."
"Your system wants you stronger."
"Your companies want your attention."
"And..."
She paused.
Her cheeks warmed.
"...we want your time."
Shen Tian remained quiet.
Li Lian looked toward him.
"Doesn’t that get exhausting?"
Silence.
Then...
Shen Tian smiled.
"No."
She blinked.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Why?"
He leaned back.
"Because I choose it."
Li Lian stared.
Shen Tian continued.
"I don’t have to fight every enemy."
"I don’t have to chase every protagonist."
"I don’t have to buy every company."
"And..."
He looked toward her.
"I don’t have to spend time with anyone I don’t want to."
Silence.
Li Lian’s cheeks warmed.
He smiled.
"But I’m here."
She stared.
Then...
Slowly...
Her expression softened.
"Yes."
Shen Tian continued.
"And you’re here."
She nodded.
"So..."
He shrugged.
"Seems simple."
Li Lian looked down.
Then...
Laughed softly.
"You’re really unfair."
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"You make complicated things sound simple."
"Talent."
She laughed.
"Arrogance."
"Also talent."
Her smile widened.
. . .
For several minutes...
They remained together.
Then...
Li Lian quietly spoke.
"I missed you."
Shen Tian looked toward her.
She didn’t look away.
Not this time.
"I know I could have called."
"I know you were busy."
"But..."
Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress.
"I still missed you."
Silence.
Shen Tian’s expression softened.
Then...
He held out his hand.
Li Lian stared.
Her cheeks warmed.
Slowly...
She placed her hand in his.
His fingers closed around hers.
"Then don’t wait next time."
She looked up.
"What?"
"Call."
She stared.
Then...
"What if you’re busy?"
"I’ll answer when I can."
"What if you’re fighting?"
"I’ll call back."
"What if you’re..."
She stopped.
Shen Tian smiled.
"What?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
He squeezed her hand.
"Li Lian."
She looked toward him.
"You’re allowed to want my time."
Silence.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then...
Her cheeks became red.
She looked down.
A small smile appeared.
"Okay."
. . .
A few minutes later...
Ruan Yizhen appeared.
She stopped when she saw them.
Then...
Her expression changed.
Not jealousy.
Something softer.
Li Lian noticed.
She smiled.
"Come."
Ruan Yizhen hesitated.
"Am I interrupting?"
Shen Tian looked toward her.
"Yes."
Silence.
Ruan Yizhen froze.
Li Lian stared.
Then...
Shen Tian smiled.
"Sit."
Ruan Yizhen narrowed her eyes.
"You’re terrible."
"Accurate."
She walked over.
Then...
Sat on his other side.
Silence.
Three people.
Ocean.
Warm breeze.
Then...
Ruan Yizhen looked toward his hand.
Li Lian was still holding it.
She stared.
Then...
Slowly...
Looked away.
Shen Tian noticed.
He smiled.
Then...
Held out his other hand.
Ruan Yizhen froze.
"What?"
"Come on."
Her cheeks warmed.
"I wasn’t..."
"Yizhen."
She stared.
Then...
Quietly...
Placed her hand in his.
Silence.
Li Lian smiled.
Ruan Yizhen looked toward the ocean.
Her cheeks remained pink.
Then...
She muttered...
"You’re really shameless."
Shen Tian smiled.
"Obviously."
. . .
Ruan Yizhen leaned back.
Then...
Looked toward him.
"You promised."
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Calls."
He paused.
Then...
Smiled.
"I remember."
She stared.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Even with everything happening?"
"Yes."
She looked suspicious.
Then...
"How often?"
Shen Tian considered.
"Every day."
Silence.
Ruan Yizhen froze.
Li Lian looked toward him.
Then...
Her cheeks warmed.
"Every day?"
Shen Tian nodded.
"If you want."
Ruan Yizhen stared.
Then...
Her face became completely red.
"I..."
She looked away.
"That’s excessive."
Shen Tian smiled.
"You complained."
"I complained about never calling."
"Now I’m fixing it."
She stared.
Then...
Quietly...
"Good."
Li Lian laughed softly.
. . .
Xu Ning appeared beside Shen Tian.
Invisible.
[Host.]
"What?"
[You’re making promises.]
"I know."
[You should keep them.]
Shen Tian glanced toward her.
"Obviously."
Xu Ning smiled.
Then...
A panel appeared.
**Sovereign’s Court**
**Emotional Trust Increased**
**Stability: 71%**
Xu Ning’s eyes widened.
Then...
She smiled.
[Interesting.]
Shen Tian ignored her.
For now.
. . .
Elsewhere.
Private island.
Main villa.
Ling Shuangxue stood on the balcony.
Her arms crossed.
Ocean below.
She watched Shen Tian sitting between Li Lian and Ruan Yizhen.
Both holding his hands.
Her expression remained calm.
Mostly.
Behind her...
Qin Ruobing approached.
"Shuangxue."
Ling Shuangxue didn’t turn.
"Mother."
Qin Ruobing followed her gaze.
Then...
Smiled.
"Oh."
Ling Shuangxue froze.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Mother."
Qin Ruobing smiled.
"You’re watching him."
Ling Shuangxue looked away.
"I was looking at the ocean."
"Of course."
Silence.
Qin Ruobing leaned against the railing.
Then...
Quietly...
"Does it bother you?"
Ling Shuangxue froze.
"What?"
Qin Ruobing looked toward her daughter.
"Seeing him with other women."
Silence.
Ling Shuangxue looked down.
Then...
At the ocean.
For several seconds...
She didn’t answer.
Finally...
"A little."
Qin Ruobing’s expression softened.
Ling Shuangxue continued.
"I know what he said."
"I know what I agreed to."
"But..."
She sighed.
"I’m still getting used to it."
Qin Ruobing nodded.
"That’s normal."
Ling Shuangxue looked toward her.
Then...
Her cheeks warmed.
"Mother."
"What?"
"Does it bother you?"
Silence.
Qin Ruobing froze.
For once...
She didn’t have an immediate answer.
Then...
She smiled faintly.
"Sometimes."
Ling Shuangxue stared.
Qin Ruobing continued.
"But not because I dislike them."
"Or because I think he belongs to me."
She looked toward the beach.
"It’s because..."
She paused.
Then...
Smiled.
"I want more time with him too."
Silence.
(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!

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