Her eyes shimmered, not just with curiosity, but also with an undeniable expectation for Han Lie’s answer.
Han Lie let out a wry laugh.
"Be hard on yourself, exercise more restraint. With the other person, also be tough; invite more collisions."
"Huh? Wouldn’t that be going too far?"
"The parts of a personality that jut out are bound to rub and collide sooner or later, so why not start early and actively control the whole process?"
"But what if it goes too far?"
"Then just consider it unpaid groundwork for the next one! What else can you do?"
Chen Yanfei gave him a thumbs-up in sincere praise.
She had always been aware of Han Lie’s maturity, but still, she hadn’t expected him to be so mature in matters of the heart.
It was as if he had experienced many more years of worldly affairs than she had.
Such talent was truly frightening.
However, it was also exactly to her liking...
So, all of a sudden, she didn’t feel like probing any further. Why not just ask directly?!
"I get what you mean now. So, I’m formally seeking your opinion. Tough guy, do you want to collide with me?"
This wasn’t a question; it was an invitation.
When she extended the invitation, Chen Yanfei smiled broadly, with little shyness and mostly anticipation.
Han Lie was caught off guard, a bit bewildered.
"You really are... bold in love and hate."
Chen Yanfei beamed and nodded, taking the remark as a compliment, her entire being growing even more radiant.
"I’ve always been a person who is bold in love and hate.
"After realizing that you are very much to my taste, I started looking forward to a sweet, fun, and memorable romance.
"I could have waited a bit longer, but today, your overall performance was just too good!
"And with so many outstanding rivals, each better than the last, I can’t afford to hesitate any longer.
"What do you think? Have you made up your mind?"
"Hey, have some modesty..."
Han Lie felt a bit of a headache coming on.
This script isn’t right... Who’s flirting with whom?!
"What’s there to be modest about?"
Chen Yanfei suddenly stood in front of Han Lie, walking backward with her hands behind her back, looking seriously into the young man’s eyes.
"Find a good person, try dating, work together to move forward, until you’re sure they’re the one. Then marry, have kids, and manage our little family. How simple is that?"
"What if it’s a mistake?" Han Lie countered.
She immediately had an answer, "It’s not a big deal. Loving wrongly is still loving. If you don’t love, you’ll never know right from wrong."
Han Lie could tell that the girl wasn’t joking.
She truly believed it.
Smart, brave, passionate—this was Chen Yanfei.
Honestly, Han Lie felt a bit moved by her.
For a moment, he really wanted to grow old with her, to go through life faithfully side by side.
But it was just for a moment.
He was a cynical man who didn’t believe in marriage, much less in himself.
In over thirty years of what he considered a failed life, he had witnessed too many tragedies and harbored too many restless ambitions.
One shouldn’t deceive oneself, nor can one truly ever succeed in doing so.
Before sleeping, lying in bed, he would ask himself: If I were the world’s only Superman, untouched by any force, what would I do?
If it’s hard to think of big things, start with the small ones.
Those people upstairs are disgusting, always making a racket, and so unreasonable.
My boss is repulsive, fawning over superiors and bullying subordinates, always taking advantage of female colleagues and picking on honest people like me.
Thugs who abuse women are detestable. Perhaps... I should deal with them quietly?
That female classmate is so adorable. It’s a pity she doesn’t love me but that worthless scumbag—the bastard has nothing going for him but a silver tongue!
Children in remote mountain villages are so pitiful, lacking textbooks and teachers. I should help them, but to what extent?
In truth, it’s easy to understand what kind of person one truly is.
We are capable of both good and evil, of breaking rules and upholding order.
When neither law nor force can restrain us, most people still use morality as a self-constraint.
Han Lie was one of these "most people," possessing a moral bottom line and clear self-awareness.
There were some things he could do, and some things he could never bring himself to do.
For instance, being devoted to one woman for an entire lifetime.
At least, not at this stage. Right now, he wanted them all.
So greedy... I don’t think I deserve her.
A feeling of dejection and shame suddenly rose in Han Lie’s heart, but it quickly vanished without a trace.
No, that’s not right.
I will have Superman-like Strength, vast knowledge, and wealth to rival nations. I deserve anyone.
No no, that’s not right either.
You should live more authentically. Just ask yourself if you like someone or not, and never again question whether you’re worthy.
Love yourself first, be true to yourself, and you will gradually become a better person.
Han Lie smiled brilliantly, giving his final answer.
"I’m sorry, I need to think about it some more. Honestly, you’re my goddess, but I’m not ready yet."
Chen Yanfei was visibly stunned.
The ’Big Boss’s’ confident smile instantly crumbled, and her beautiful face finally showed the expression Han Lie most wanted to see.
That’s right, be stunned!
Ah, we’ve got a long way to go!
Thanks to Alliance Hierarch ’Better Late Than Clever’ for the support. Old friend, long time no see!
There were some small debates in the last Chapter, which is normal, and I respect everyone’s opinions.
If there was something I didn’t handle well, I will strive to improve.
If it’s merely a matter of differing tastes, please try to be understanding.
Han Lie and Second Dog are fundamentally different. Second Dog is lucky to be able to grow from a blank slate.
Han Lie needs to ground himself, resolve the negativity from his past life, and make corrections within his mature worldview.
That’s why Second Dog is more spirited, more youthful, and his story more expansive.
Han Lie still has a way to go.
As for the system not being very helpful, it’s because I’m restricted from writing too much about consumerism and hedonism. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel~fire~net
Also, the main storyline I had planned can’t be written anymore.
Honestly, I’m in a bind too. Initially, I just wanted to prove a point out of pride, but it’s turned into a whole mess of troubles.
This bit of rambling was added after the initial upload and shouldn’t cost extra.
Street-kneading Baker bows to you all.