CHAPTER 212: CHAPTER 212: WHAT IS THERE TO FEAR BEHIND A SCREEN?

He wore a black bathrobe, his handsome collarbones faintly visible through the open neckline.

"Quite punctual."

"Of course. I always keep my promises, down to the second. How about you, is everything going smoothly?"

"Yeah. Where are you now?"

"In the school’s laboratory! My blood cell samples are here. I’m not planning to move them to my lab at home until the Golden Thread Worm is caught, mainly because it’s more convenient for Mu Enyu to take notes here!"

"Mu Chenyuan’s sister?"

"That’s right."

"Why is she taking notes? Where are you planning to go?"

An Yan hadn’t expected him to be so meticulous. However, she hadn’t intended to hide it from him anyway. "I’m planning to make a trip to Yuncheng."

"There’s an elderly man named Mo Hengyue who has the same condition as that drug dealer, Xiao Xiaojun—shrapnel in his head. Professor Song came to Luocheng for Xiao Xiaojun’s surgery, but it was actually for Old Master Mo as well."

"I heard Old Master Mo is a revolutionary veteran. In that case, this is a job I absolutely must take, don’t you agree?"

Li Tianyao chuckled and asked, "You’re planning to look for the Golden Thread Worm yourself, aren’t you?"

An Yan replied, "Perhaps your people will have found it before I even start looking. My main purpose is the surgery—to treat the illness and save a life!"

"Who are you planning to take with you?" Li Tianyao asked.

An Yan answered, "Wen Ya, Wen Ge, and Officer Xiaohe from the police. She’ll be armed."

Li Tianyao snorted. "If something actually happens, what good will one gun be?"

"Nothing will happen. You have to trust my medical skills!"

"I trust your medical skills, of course, but I don’t trust the Mo Family!"

An Yan was stunned. "Do you have a grudge against the Mo Family?"

This could be troublesome.

"It’s not a grudge," Li Tianyao carefully analyzed for An Yan. "The Mo Family’s internal factions are a mess, with everyone harboring their own ulterior motives. Perhaps Mo Shiyan is the only one in their family who genuinely wants the old man to live!

"Mo Shiyan is Old Master Mo’s designated successor, but his heart isn’t in business. With the old man ill, Shiyan is struggling to manage on his own. Saving the old man is his only way out.

"Under such circumstances, the other factions naturally won’t want the old man to live.

"If you insist on operating on the old man, you’ll likely offend the other factions. For safety’s sake, it’s best to refuse this."

"Are you saying others in the Mo Family might try to harm me to prevent me from saving the old man?" An Yan frowned.

"Yes."

"But I’ve already divined that a fortuitous opportunity awaits me in Yuncheng. If I don’t go, that opportunity will be lost. Besides, Old Master Mo shed blood for our country; I believe someone like him doesn’t deserve such a bleak fate."

An Yan wasn’t interested in the Mo Family’s internal strife; she only wanted to save the old man to obtain more Yezi.

"Li Tianyao, do you think it would work if I have the Mo Family sign an agreement guaranteeing my personal safety?"

Li Tianyao fell silent for a good while before saying, "You can. Have Zhang Xuebin negotiate with the Mo Family."

"Also, have Luolie go with you. When you get to Yuncheng, don’t stay where the Mo Family arranges. Stay in our own place."

"You own property in Yuncheng too?"

An Yan could only give him a thumbs-up. "Impressive! Do you own property in every city across the country?"

"Pretty much."

Even if he didn’t have one readily available, he could quickly buy one. His little girl should stay in a place he arranged.

The Mo Family? Hmph!

"Miss me?"

With the serious matters settled, the man automatically switched to romance mode.

"Yes!" An Yan nodded obediently.

"When were you thinking of me?"

"When I was in the car."

"What were you thinking about?"

"I was wondering if you had arrived. If you’d already landed, why hadn’t you messaged me? And I was wondering why we absolutely have to call at ten every night!"

Once An Yan’s train of thought got going, the questions tumbled out. "Which country did you go to? Business or personal?"

"Country R. Business."

"Business, but you can’t always answer your phone. Does that mean this trip is dangerous? So, are you in Country R to catch spies?"

Li Tianyao chuckled; he knew his little girl was smart.

"You didn’t disguise yourself as Tian Zhongren, did you? That old man is so hideous, how could you impersonate him?"

"Of course not. Tian Zhongren has already been taken back to Country R. I tracked his scent and identified several individuals. I’m investigating them one by one now."

"Then be careful."

"Hmm."

The man nodded in satisfaction, water droplets from his hair trickling down his neck and into his collar with the movement.

An Yan’s gaze followed a water droplet as it fell to his chest, watching it disappear beneath his robe.

Through the screen, her gaze was audacious and bold.

After all, he couldn’t possibly know what she was looking at.

The very next second, Li Tianyao reached up and tugged at his collar.

A hint of his concealed chest muscles was suddenly revealed, the half-hidden view all the more tantalizing.

A rush of hormones seemed to surge through the screen, making An Yan’s face flush. She quickly averted her gaze.

Fortunately, Li Tianyao didn’t notice her reaction and continued his earnest reminder, "Yuncheng is very close to Myan Land. Once you’re there, remember not to go anywhere alone.

"If anything comes up, be sure to discuss it with Luolie, or at least keep him informed of your whereabouts.

"And don’t let the Wen Ya and Wen Ge sisters leave your side. Remember to bring them and Luolie into the operating room with you!"

"..."

The man meticulously went over the instructions, every detail concerning her safety.

"Mhm, mhm, I know," An Yan nodded obediently. Certain that Li Tianyao hadn’t noticed her straying thoughts, she refocused her gaze on him.

Perhaps from talking so much, he picked up his glass and took a sip of water.

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

An Yan found her own mouth slightly agape.

She knew, of course, that Li Tianyao was handsome, but she would never normally stare at him so openly, with such pure, unadulterated appreciation.

She was always worried he’d say something shocking!

But now, separated by a screen, what was there to fear?

"Why are you blushing?" he suddenly asked.

An Yan instinctively retorted, "Who’s blushing? I’m not. Don’t be ridiculous!"

His deep chuckle resonated through the screen, making An Yan feel utterly mortified. "Oh, stop it! I’m hanging up."

"Hang up? Want to see my abs?"

An Yan instantly realized he’d seen right through her little thoughts all along and was just waiting for this moment to tease her!

Did he think she’d be scared? He really didn’t know her at all.

Face to face, she might worry about things getting out of hand, but now? What was there to worry about?

They were separated by a screen!

A smile touched An Yan’s lips. "Little brother, why don’t you show this big sister your abs?"

Her suddenly coquettish voice, like the delicate paws of a kitten, scratched right at Li Tianyao’s heart.

Damn it!

Ever since meeting her, it was as if some incredible function in his body had been suddenly unlocked, making it inexplicably lose control!

But this feeling... it was quite thrilling.

An unprecedented thrill!

Indulging her, his long, elegant fingers hooked onto the collar of his robe, slowly... very slowly... pulling it aside...