“Us?”
Li Yedao leaned back against the sofa, his tone casual.
He completely failed to notice the expressions on the two women’s faces.
“Kafka and I are just friends.
Neighbors too.
She’s a really good person.”
And just like that, he casually handed Kafka a “good person” card without realizing it.
Kafka’s fingers tightened slightly against her knee.
Then slowly relaxed.
Forget it.
She already had him within reach.
There would be plenty of time later to gradually correct this mistaken understanding of their relationship.
She maintained the smile on her face and said nothing.
“I see…”
Durandal’s expression, on the other hand, became even more complicated.
She glanced at Kafka, then at Li Yedao, carefully choosing her words.
“Forgive me for being direct, but I don’t believe your relationship has reached the point where you should entrust something like this entirely to her.”
“You should still review the contract yourself.”
“No need.”
Li Yedao shook his head, his voice calm.
“I trust Kafka.”
“Besides, Durandal, you wouldn’t screw me over either.”
Come to think of it, he had never cared much about money.
As long as he had enough to spend, that was fine.
No matter how much more he earned, he would still eat the same few foods and sleep in the same room.
There really wasn’t much difference.
Durandal fell silent for two seconds.
Her tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and a helpless smile appeared on her lips.
“Honestly…”
She didn’t insist further.
After all, the reason she had personally brought the negotiation team here today contained a fair amount of selfish motivation.
The contract wasn’t the only reason she had come.
Durandal closed the folder and placed it to one side.
Then she looked up at Li Yedao.
“Yedao, can we talk alone?”
Li Yedao glanced toward Kafka.
Kafka nodded, stood up, and left the office, closing the door behind her.
Only the two of them remained.
Durandal’s shoulders relaxed even further.
The formal posture she had maintained at the negotiating table slowly faded away.
She sat across from Li Yedao with both hands folded over her knees.
But when she spoke, it wasn’t about the contract.
Nor was it about work.
“Kiana’s been feeling down lately.”
“She’s already gone home.”
Li Yedao didn’t look particularly surprised.
Kiana had only gone to work at Schicksal because it seemed novel and interesting.
Her personality had never been suited for sitting in an office.
And as for her actual work ability…
The less said, the better.
Back then, he had completed more than half of her assignments for her.
Only later did he discover that it wouldn’t have mattered even if she failed to finish them.
No one dared dock her performance score anyway.
Remembering those days, Li Yedao sighed internally.
Damn all of you privileged connections!
“I know.”
He sank deeper into the sofa, his tone barely changing.
“Talk about yourself instead.”
Ever since Durandal arrived, her gaze had barely left him.
Kiana was probably just something she mentioned in passing.
The thing she truly wanted to say still hadn’t come out yet.
“Mm.”
Durandal’s expression became somewhat conflicted.
Her fingers unconsciously rubbed against the edge of the folder.
“Yedao…
have you ever considered…
returning to Schicksal?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she hurriedly added another sentence, as though afraid he might misunderstand.
“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with what you’re doing now, it’s just…”
“Alright.”
Li Yedao smiled and lightly poked her arm.
His tone was filled with teasing.
“Is Lady Durandal trying to pull strings for me again?”
“You got too used to having me around before, and now you can’t bear to let me go?”
“No…”
A faint blush visibly spread across Durandal’s ears.
“Alright, alright.
No need to explain.”
Li Yedao leaned back into the sofa, grinning at her embarrassed expression.
Teasing honest people really was ridiculously satisfying.
“Durandal, I’m happy to stay friends.”
“But forget about going back to Schicksal.
I’m doing pretty well right now.”
He paused.
“And I have a girlfriend now.”
“If I went back to work, it would just make the relationship more distant.”
Durandal’s hands froze on her knees.
For an instant, her expression shifted from shock—
To blankness—
And finally settled into a carefully maintained calm.
“You have a girlfriend?”
Li Yedao nodded slightly, looking a little helpless.
“Some things happened.”
The room suddenly became quiet.
Durandal stared at his face.
Li Yedao lowered his gaze toward the folder on the table.
After a while, Durandal stood.
She placed the folder back into her briefcase.
Her movements weren’t fast.
But every motion was steady.
“I understand.”
She walked toward the door and placed her hand on the handle.
Then she stopped and looked back.
“Even if you’re not coming back…
we’re still friends, right?”
“Of course.”
Li Yedao looked up at her.
Durandal took a deep breath.
The corners of her lips pulled into a very faint smile.
“Let’s stay in touch.”
“…As friends.”
The door opened.
Then closed again.
Her footsteps gradually faded down the hallway.
Li Yedao remained sprawled against the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Durandal’s attitude toward him…
Really did seem different from the way she treated everyone else.
And this wasn’t him being narcissistic.
The difference was simply too obvious.
So obvious that he couldn’t pretend not to notice.
Before he could fully think it through, the office door swung open.
Firefly was the first one through.
She practically swept across the room like a gust of wind and reached his side, wrapping both arms tightly around his arm.
She held on with enough force to make it seem as though she was afraid he might evaporate on the spot.
“Yedao, what did she say to you?”
“Nothing much.
She just asked me to go back to work.”
Li Yedao found her nervousness amusing and couldn’t help laughing.
“I turned her down.”
“I already have a girlfriend.
Who has time to go back to work?”
Of course, even if he didn’t have a girlfriend, he still wouldn’t go back.
The reason people worked was to make money.
The reason they made money was to gain freedom.
Now that he had already made enough money, going back to work would mean he had earned all that money for nothing.
“Hehe…
that’s more like it.”
Firefly’s eyes lit up.
The smile on her face was impossible to suppress.
She looked like a cat that had just been stroked exactly the right way.
She was practically one step away from purring.
Then, in the very next second, she reached into her bag and pulled out a bank card.
She held it out in front of Li Yedao.
Li Yedao stared down at the card.
His brain short-circuited for half a second.
“What’s this?”
“My bank card.”
Firefly smiled brightly.
“…I know it’s a bank card.
I’m asking why you’re giving it to me.”
“To hand it over to you.”
Firefly tilted her head.
Her tone was utterly matter-of-fact, as though he had asked something so obvious it didn’t require explanation.
“You’re my boyfriend.”
“My money is your money.”
“So of course I should give it to you.”
At that exact moment, Kafka and Silver Wolf finished their conversation and pushed the door open.
They walked in just in time to witness the scene.
“Oooh ‘My money is your money’ Bleh!”
Naturally, there was no way those words had come from Kafka.
Silver Wolf leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, her face overflowing with sarcastic annoyance.
Li Yedao glanced at her.
Then ignored her completely.
He shoved the card back into Firefly’s hand.
“Thanks, but I have my own money.”
His tone was firm.
Firefly lowered her head and stared at the card that had been returned to her.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
When she raised her head again, her eyes were already beginning to redden.
Her voice became pitiful.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
Kafka, Silver Wolf, and Li Yedao all froze at the same time.
What kind of logic is that?!
Before Li Yedao could even respond, Firefly stuffed the bank card straight into his coat pocket.
Her movement was so fast it looked like she was tossing a time bomb.
Then she spun around and ran.
As she fled, she shouted over her shoulder,
“I’m heading out first!
See you tomorrow!”
By the time the last word fell, she had already vanished through the doorway.
The office was silent for two seconds.
Silver Wolf was the first to break it.
Her sarcasm instantly climbed to maximum output.
“Well, well.
Never would’ve guessed, Li Yedao.”
“So you’re actually the kind of guy who lives off his girlfriend?”
Li Yedao slowly turned his head toward her.
Then gave her an utterly shameless smile.
“Yep.”
“I love living off my girlfriend.”
“Mad about it?”
“You—!”
She pointed at him, unable to come up with a response.
Behind the two of them, Kafka stood silently.
Her gaze fell on the corner of the bank card sticking out from Li Yedao’s pocket.
She sank into thought.
join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I’m a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 230)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
Yu-Gi-Oh!
— Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl 355 “Is this chat group even serious?” (Completed)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal!
(Completed)
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77 From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa (Completed)
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 265
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 377
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (Completed.)
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume5/8
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 135
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 170
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 135
Supernatural Multiverse 210
My Harem Is Indescribable 120
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 120
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 130 Still playing traditional Honk 105 The Most Filial Son Under Heav 120 What Should I Do After Switchi 85 Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80 Transmigrated as Sukuna 165 Checking In in Demon Slayer 105 The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 120 I Refuse to Become a Heroic 115 My Best Friend Into a Slime?
90
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (Completed)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero?
105
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 115
Why did they assign me to Uma 100
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 110
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 160
Honkai’s Otherworld?
Wait—Who Are You People?!
150
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 75 The Uma Musume Who Became 80 I’m Definitely Not the King of 160 After Maxing Out Every Class 170 Honkai: World Modulation Mode 150 I, the Elden Sword Saint 80 Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 115 No One Knows Pokémon Better 75 From Trilobites to Titans 70 Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 130 DanMachi: My Party Members Are 150 An Anime Heroine Darkened 70 Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 100 Honkai: The Fire Devil 145 Honkai Transformation Cards Volume3/15 Age of Heroes, I’m Just a Back 120 Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 100 At age 8, she co-starred with 80 Honkai: Schicksal Media 105 An Extremist in a Slice-of-Lif 85 Chainsaw Man, but I’m Aatrox 75 Honkai Apocrypha: Are the Valk 60 Morgan Shirou’s Journey in Dan 43 DanMachi: Get to Work, Dimensi 95 Honkai: Star Rail—Kiana Cried!
63
Sakiko Togawa: A Blood-Soaked Cards Volume2/32 Detective Conan: My Whole 65 Honkai: Star Rail:Reincarnated 92 In the Nasuverse, but I Practice Scientific Cultivation 53 Honkai: Starting Out as a God of Luoxing 65 Honkai: I Really Never Intended to Start a Harem!
33 join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178) Zenless Zone Zero: I’m a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 230)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 ) Yu-Gi-Oh!
— Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl 355 “Is this chat group even serious?” (Completed) I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal!
(Completed) Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77 From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa (Completed) Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 265 From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20 Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 377 Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (Completed.) I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume5/8 The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 135 Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67 Uma Musume: From Beginner 170 Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85 Uma Musume: I Want All 120 I Can Copy Unique Skills 135 Supernatural Multiverse 210 My Harem Is Indescribable 120 Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 120 Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 130 Still playing traditional Honk 105 The Most Filial Son Under Heav 120 What Should I Do After Switchi 85 Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80 Transmigrated as Sukuna 165 Checking In in Demon Slayer 105 The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 120 I Refuse to Become a Heroic 115 My Best Friend Into a Slime?
90 A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (Completed) What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero?
105 Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 115 Why did they assign me to Uma 100 DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 110 The Gacha Merchant Who Started 160 Honkai’s Otherworld?
Wait—Who Are You People?!
150 Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 75 The Uma Musume Who Became 80 I’m Definitely Not the King of 160 After Maxing Out Every Class 170 Honkai: World Modulation Mode 150 I, the Elden Sword Saint 80 Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 115 No One Knows Pokémon Better 75 From Trilobites to Titans 70 Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 130 DanMachi: My Party Members Are 150 An Anime Heroine Darkened 70 Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 100 Honkai: The Fire Devil 145 Honkai Transformation Cards Volume3/15 Age of Heroes, I’m Just a Back 120 Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 100 At age 8, she co-starred with 80 Honkai: Schicksal Media 105 An Extremist in a Slice-of-Lif 85 Chainsaw Man, but I’m Aatrox 75 Honkai Apocrypha: Are the Valk 60 Morgan Shirou’s Journey in Dan 43 DanMachi: Get to Work, Dimensi 95 Honkai: Star Rail—Kiana Cried!
63 Sakiko Togawa: A Blood-Soaked Cards Volume2/32 Detective Conan: My Whole 65 Honkai: Star Rail:Reincarnated 92 In the Nasuverse, but I Practice Scientific Cultivation 53 Honkai: Starting Out as a God of Luoxing 65 Honkai: I Really Never Intended to Start a Harem!
33