267: Chapter 267 Facing Her Inner Self: Li Yan's Awakening

"General Li, I ran into some trouble outside Yanlin University. A few loan sharks set a trap, and I beat them up. Give the security system here in Yanjing a heads-up and clean out these cancers."

General Li agreed immediately on the other end of the phone, saying he would arrange for someone to interface right away.

The police arrived quickly. Two patrol cars with flashing lights stopped outside the alley. Several officers rushed in with riot shields and batons.

The officer in charge was very surprised to see five burly men lying on the ground wailing, with Zhao Yang and Li Yan standing nearby.

He stepped forward and, by the light of his flashlight, took a careful look at Zhao Yang's face.

The officer recognized Zhao Yang at a glance. This was the national-treasure-level scientist who had just been covered extensively in the news, someone whom a top leader from the Ministry of Science and Technology had personally gone to the airport to pick up.

"You are... Dr. Zhao?" The officer's tone became very polite.

He asked Zhao Yang what happened. Zhao Yang briefly explained how Li Qiang set the trap and the process of the loan shark gang's extortion.

After hearing Zhao Yang's explanation, the way the police looked at him completely changed. Taking down four armed thugs barehanded—this genius scientist's combat power was simply incredible.

Following routine procedure, the police requested Zhao Yang and Li Yan to come to the station to cooperate and make a statement. The thugs and Li Qiang were handcuffed and put directly into the police car.

Zhao Yang and Li Yan hadn't been at the station long.

An off-road vehicle with military plates stopped at the entrance of the police station. General Li walked in with two guards.

The station chief was startled to see someone with the rank of general arrive in person and hurried forward to greet him.

General Li walked up to Zhao Yang, comforted him, and after confirming he wasn't injured, exchanged a few words with the chief. Then, he took Zhao Yang and Li Yan out of the station, bypassing the tedious follow-up questioning process.

After Zhao Yang and Li Yan left,

General Li stayed at the station. He gave the station chief an order: this gang-related loan shark group must be dealt with severely, and their backing must be thoroughly investigated.

General Li also called the top official of the Yanjing police to report what happened today. A scientist who made significant contributions to the country being threatened by underworld forces on the street touched the bottom line of the top brass.

The next day, Yanjing began a new round of massive Strike Hard campaigns, specifically targeting illegal private fundraising, loan sharking, and violent debt collection gangs.

But that is a story for later.

Zhao Yang and Li Yan were walking on the way back to Beijing Forestry University.

The night wind blew through the streets, and the shadows of trees on both sides swayed under the streetlights.

Li Yan was not in a good state. The betrayal by her own brother and the thrilling encounter just now had given her a huge mental shock. She walked ahead, looking lost and despondent.

Zhao Yang followed behind, silent and quiet. The atmosphere between them was heavy, with only the sound of soles rubbing against the asphalt.

After returning to the Young Teachers Apartments,

Li Yan opened the door, and the two walked into the living room.

After sitting on the sofa for a while, Li Yan went to pour two glasses of warm water and placed them on the coffee table.

"Zhao Yang, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened tonight."

Li Yan held the cup with both hands, her head lowered in low spirits as she thanked Zhao Yang.

"It was nothing," Zhao Yang took a sip of water. "In the future, don't harbor any more illusions about that brother of yours. His values are completely twisted; you can't help him."

"I know. I won't bother with him anymore."

Li Yan nodded.

After they chatted for a while, Zhao Yang put down his glass.

He looked at Li Yan and asked, "Before going out just now, you hadn't answered my question yet."

The question that had been interrupted by the phone call at the dinner table was put back on the table.

Li Yan was stunned for a moment, lowering her head and avoiding Zhao Yang's gaze.

She said softly, "I'm six or seven years older than you."

She began to list the objective obstacles standing between them, trying to use these reasons to convince herself.

"I'm your teacher. Although you've already graduated with your doctorate, on record, this teacher-student relationship objectively exists. We can't be together. People would gossip, and it wouldn't be good for your future."

"And, you've seen it. My family is a mess. My parents are in prison, and I have a brother like that. This kind of original family is a bottomless pit. You have a great future ahead; you'll be dragged down by these things."

Zhao Yang didn't argue after hearing her statements.

He just looked at her and asked a question in return.

"So, do you like me?"

Zhao Yang's gaze fixed on Li Yan, not allowing her to avoid it. He filtered out the complex social factors and only grasped the core emotional variable.

Li Yan's mind was in a mess.

She didn't know what to say. She had listed a bunch of reasons, yet she hadn't denied Zhao Yang's question. Her mental defenses seemed shattered in the face of his direct question.

Seeing Li Yan's hesitant appearance,

Zhao Yang stood up and turned to leave.

Just as Zhao Yang turned to take his first step,

Li Yan suddenly stood up from the sofa and hugged Zhao Yang from behind.

Her hands wrapped around his waist, her face pressed against his back.

She finally gave up her rational resistance.

"Yes, I like you."

Li Yan spoke softly, confessing to Zhao Yang. She said the words that had been suppressed in her heart for a long time.

"I know the gap between us is getting wider and wider. You are a high-and-mighty genius scientist, and I'm just an ordinary Counselor. I'm not good enough for you."

"I'm stating my attitude. I don't need an official status, nor do I want one, and I won't interfere with your normal life and work. But I just like you."

Zhao Yang turned around and looked at Li Yan. Her eyes were slightly red, and there was a look of determination in her gaze.

Zhao Yang reached out and cupped her cheeks.

The two kissed.

Clothes began to fall piece by piece onto the floor.

After everything settled down,

A dim yellow bedside lamp was lit in the bedroom.

Li Yan leaned against the pillow and pulled up the quilt. Her breathing had calmed down.

She turned her head and looked at Zhao Yang beside her.

"Don't take this to heart or treat it as a burden."

Li Yan's voice was very calm; she had a clear understanding of her position.

"If you meet a suitable girl in the future, you can still find a girlfriend, get married, and have children. I won't make a scene or threaten you with anything."

"If you miss me in the future, if you want me, you can come find me anytime. I'll always be here."

Li Yan paused and continued, "After all, given my family situation and our relationship, it can't be out in the open at all. This is better for both of us."

A hint of inferiority flashed in Li Yan's eyes as she looked at Zhao Yang. She liked him, liked him very much.

Although she had never dared to face her heart, once she did, Li Yan still possessed courage.