Hearing that Lan Xing had gone to get a birthday present for him.
Putting aside his worries, Li Yi curiously asked, "What present did you get me?"
"Let's eat first, I'll tell you when we get back."
Li Yi stared at her, examining her from head to toe, unable to find any sign of a hidden gift.
He could only suppress his curiosity, nodding, "Alright then."
He changed his clothes and went downstairs with Lan Xing.
They had a lavish dinner at a private club called Long Mansion in the neighborhood.
Back home, Li Yi reached out to Lan Xing again, demanding the gift, "Where's the present you got me?"
Lan Xing told him to take a shower first, she would get it ready.
Li Yi grumbled, "What kind of present is it, it's so mysterious."
Yet, he was very obedient, taking his change of clothes and went into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, he came out of the bathroom, having showered and changed.
He saw Lan Xing, who had somehow put on her white lab coat again.
Li Yi was surprised, "Working so late?"
Lan Xing shook her head, "It's the present for you."
Li Yi became interested, "What present?"
"Me."
Li Yi was stunned for a moment before he realized, "W-what?"
"The present," Lan Xing looked up at him, her fingers lightly tapping her chest, "Me."
Li Yi: "..."
His eyes widened, filled with three parts bewilderment, four parts shock, and ninety-three parts nervousness as he looked at Lan Xing.
His lips moved, then moved again, finally unable to hold back, he said, "Did... did someone tell you something?"
Lan Xing tilted her head, looking at him in confusion, "Don't you like it?"
"Li... It's not..." Li Yi took a deep breath, "It's not even a matter of liking or not."
"Then what's the problem?"
Lan Xing looked at him in confusion.
Before he could speak, she continued, "You were adopted by your parents.
"I was raised by my grandparents, the child of your grandfather's comrade-in-arms.
"There's no problem in terms of bloodline."
Li Yi: "..."
"Although I raised you for ten years, I'm only five years older than you.
"There's no problem in terms of age."
Li Yi: "..."
"My household registration has always been with my biological parents, and you've never been willing to call me Aunt since you were young.
"I thought you were resistant, so I never moved our household registration together.
"There's no problem in terms of law."
Li Yi: "..."
"You like me, and I like you, and we're both adults.
"There's no problem in terms of morality."
Li Yi: "..."
She looked at Li Yi, seeing his hesitation, she blinked, "Any other problems?"
"None."
Li Yi was convinced by her.
He walked over, picked her up from the sofa, and walked briskly into the bedroom.
...
The night passed without a word.
Early the next morning, Li Yi opened his eyes as a ray of sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains.
Looking at the quiet and delicate sleeping face of the Blue Academician beside him, he couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
When did he start to like her?
Was it when he first met her, and he was unwilling to call her "Aunt"?
Or was it when his adoptive parents' plane crashed, facing the reality of being homeless again, the thirteen-year-old, also a child, said, "I'll take care of you"?
Or maybe... it was from the moment she learned to cook for him, wash clothes for him, considered everything for him, and met his demands with full compliance...
Even after being called to school for "disturbing the class", she even invited several colleagues in history to present various documents, provide various evidence to prove that he was right, that he was not disturbing the class, but the teacher was wrong?
Thinking back to this, Li Yi felt that he might, probably, perhaps... be a little bit abnormal.
He couldn't help but lean over and kiss her peaceful sleeping face.
Awakened by his actions, Lan Xing squinted at him.
She rubbed against him, finding a comfortable position and fell back to sleep.
In this atmosphere, Li Yi unconsciously followed suit and fell asleep again.
He didn't know how long he had been asleep when he was awakened by a sudden prompt.
【Ding! Ying Zheng's bone forging is complete, with strength surpassing ten thousand jun, breaking the world's limit.
The art of body forging has gained the favor of the world's will, the world has opened the path to the extraordinary.
Ying Zheng has gained the attention of the world's will, his luck has increased, from the Son of Destiny to the Master of Destiny.]
【Ding! Li Yi's art of body forging has opened the path to the extraordinary for world member Ying Zheng's world.
In gratitude for the grace of the Heavenly Venerable, the world's will has specially offered a world origin to the Heavenly Venerable.]
【Ding! Yukinoshita Yukino's martial arts have progressed, reaching the realm of Grandmaster, breaking the world's limit.
Internal martial arts have gained the favor of the world's will, the world has opened the path to the extraordinary.
Yukinoshita Yukino has gained the attention of the world's will, her luck has increased, from the Son of Destiny to the Master of Destiny.]
【Ding! Li Yi's internal martial arts have opened the path to the extraordinary for world member Yukinoshita Yukino's world.
In gratitude for the grace of the Heavenly Venerable, the world's will has specially offered a world origin to the Heavenly Venerable.]