After Ji Yaoguang voiced the words she had kept buried in her heart for so long, she seemed to have finally laid down a heavy burden and felt much lighter.
Although she felt she owed Lin Fei so much that she might never repay him in her lifetime, that could not be a reason to deceive herself into liking someone.
Ji Yaoguang had a mild, concealed fear of men. She truly had never felt the slightest romantic affection for any man.
Although she felt guilty and apologetic this time, it was no exception.
An inescapable melancholy lingered in Lin Fei's heart, but he made a seemingly lighthearted joke. "Does this count as getting a nice-guy card?"
The Celestial Venerable of Ten Thousand Sages getting a nice-guy card-this really was a first in two hundred million years. If word of this reached the Immortal Realm, the entire realm would probably boil over, discussing it for countless years.
Ji Yaoguang shook her head with a bitter smile, but she did not know how to deny it. Wasn't this just like handing him a nice-guy card?
"In any case, I hope you can move on soon. Don't live in the past anymore. No matter how alike they are, there are ultimately no two identical flowers in this world. Someone as outstanding as you should live more freely." She looked at Lin Fei and earnestly tried to persuade him.
Ji Yaoguang's words came from the heart. To her, Lin Fei was an exceedingly rare male friend, and an immense benefactor besides. Out of this bond, she sincerely hoped he could move on and stop being tormented by a relationship that had already ended.
Lin Fei gave a quiet "Mm" and said calmly, "I understand how you feel."
Seeing that her persuasion seemed to have had little effect, Ji Yaoguang finally sighed and said no more.
After standing silently beside him for a while, Ji Yaoguang excused herself and went to wash up and rest.
Lin Fei stood calmly in the breeze, unmoved by her words.
He respected Ji Yaoguang's decision, but he also believed in himself, and even more in the feelings they had built over two thousand years.
As the reincarnation of Empress Yaoguang, Ji Yaoguang would eventually awaken everything from her previous life, whether she wanted to or not.
Her cultivation techniques, her cultivation, and her memories alike.
Although Ji Yaoguang denied it now, she was still the same person across two lifetimes. That could not be changed.
Besides...
If Lin Fei could win Empress Yaoguang's heart in their previous life, who was to say he could not change Ji Yaoguang's mind in this life and make affection blossom once more?
First, I still need to crush those blind ants lurking in the shadows, Lin Fei thought, his gaze turning slightly cold.
He turned and went back to his room to rest.
The following afternoon, Ji Yaoguang was about to head out with Wu Moling to meet Yao Zhicheng at the agreed venue.
After all, she was discussing a business partnership with the renowned richest man in the southwest, so Ji Yaoguang dared not be the least bit careless. Their appointment was actually at seven that evening, but according to her itinerary, she would arrive at least an hour early.
Although Lin Fei felt it was entirely unnecessary, Ji Yaoguang still insisted.
After all, he could afford not to take Yao Zhicheng too seriously, but Ji Yaoguang could not...
"Let's go together. It's been some years since I last saw Little Yao anyway," Lin Fei said casually, unbothered by such details.
"Little... Yao?" The corner of Ji Yaoguang's eye twitched slightly. Although she knew perfectly well that his age was a terrifying astronomical figure, it still felt utterly incongruous.
A man who looked barely over twenty calling a towering figure of the business world in his seventies or eighties "Little Yao"-it would have been a miracle if that picture looked harmonious.
Lin Fei knew what she was thinking, but merely smiled it off.
He was used to calling him that. There was no helping it.
The three of them headed to the agreed five-star business hotel and arrived at the room ahead of time.
Unlike ordinary hotels, business hotels primarily served businesspeople and occupied prime locations. Ordinary hotels aimed to make guests "feel at home"; providing the comfort of home was enough.
But for business travelers juggling countless affairs each day, a hotel also needed banquet halls, meeting rooms, and a business center, so the cost was naturally considerable.
Just a few minutes after the three sat down, Yao Zhicheng arrived at the banquet hall.
He could not help being a little taken aback. He had arrived nearly an hour early, so how was he still late?
Yao Zhicheng did not mind making Ji Yaoguang wait a little, but he truly did not want to keep Lin Fei waiting even a single minute!
"Celestial Venerable, I'm late. Please forgive me!" Yao Zhicheng was the first to bow and apologize.
"No need for such ceremony," Lin Fei said calmly. "Everyone simply arrived early."
Although Ji Yaoguang had mentally prepared herself, she still could not help being deeply shaken by the sight.
This was Yao Zhicheng, the richest man in the southwest, someone on a level even their Ji Family could not reach. He had arrived nearly an hour early, yet the first thing he did was apologize to Lin Fei?
Yao Zhicheng answered, "Yes," before straightening up and smiling kindly at the two women. "This old man is Yao Zhicheng. May I ask your names, young ladies?"
"This old man," "young ladies"-his choice of words carried an old-fashioned air.
People said the Yao Family descended from Emperor Shun and observed Huaxia's traditional etiquette. Those words were indeed true.
The thought flashed through Ji Yaoguang's mind before she smiled politely. "Elder Yao, my name is Ji Yaoguang. You can just call me Little Yao. This is Wu Moling, my bodyguard."
Yao Zhicheng nodded amiably, then looked back at Lin Fei and asked, "Shall we eat first, or discuss business?"
He had never expected Lin Fei to turn an inquiring gaze toward Ji Yaoguang instead.
Yao Zhicheng's heart jolted. This young woman actually mattered so much to the Celestial Venerable of Ten Thousand Sages?!
He turned the name "Ji Yaoguang" over in his mind and could not help looking at her a couple more times, inwardly startled. Could she truly be Empress Yaoguang's reincarnation? Yes, judging by the Celestial Venerable's attitude, there can be no mistake.
Although Ji Yaoguang was eager, she still smiled and said, "Elder Yao, you've had a tiring journey. Let's have something to eat first."
Only then did Yao Zhicheng agree and tell the waiter to serve the dishes.
After dinner, Yao Zhicheng gestured for them to proceed. Ji Yaoguang and Lin Fei then headed to the business center, while Wu Moling waited silently by the door.
Lin Fei was not particularly interested in their business affairs. He reckoned that however shrewd Yao Zhicheng was in business, he would never dare cheat Ji Yaoguang.
He was idly playing with his phone off to the side when, unexpectedly, he soon heard Ji Yaoguang say with some embarrassment, "Elder Yao, this price you're offering..."
Lin Fei looked up, assuming Yao Zhicheng's asking price was too high, and asked casually, "What's wrong?"
Ji Yaoguang did not know whether to laugh or cry. "The price is too low. I'm worried Elder Yao will take a loss."
Lin Fei was speechless for a moment, but Yao Zhicheng laughed heartily. "It won't be much of a loss."
This was a deal Celestial Venerable Lin had asked him to discuss, so naturally he would concede as much profit as he could, even though it went completely against a businessman's principles.
"Little Yao, there's no need to be so courteous, or Yaoguang will feel uneasy," Lin Fei remarked casually. Only then did Yao Zhicheng agree, looking slightly embarrassed.
The contract was soon finalized. At Ji Yaoguang's repeated insistence, the Ji Family added another two hundred million to their payment.
With this major matter settled, Ji Yaoguang felt lighthearted. After asking for Yao Zhicheng's contact details, she was ready to take her leave.
But Lin Fei asked her to wait outside for a moment, saying he had something to discuss with Yao Zhicheng.
Although Ji Yaoguang was a little curious, she did not ask further and left with the contract.
After she left, Lin Fei looked at Yao Zhicheng's bare left wrist and asked, "Where is the bracelet bestowed by Emperor Shun?"