Chapter 021: Too Late...
"I've lived a mediocre life, utterly meaningless."
That's what Li Yuan used to think before becoming a fishman.
But there was a time when Chen Ye said something to him.
"Everyone has talents, but judging a fish's ability to climb a tree will only make the fish think it's foolish."
"Unfortunately, in this world, people only recognize two kinds of talents: academic talent and business talent."
"The world today is sick."
"Everyone treats desire as their ideal, worldliness as maturity, cowardice as prudence, and slickness as wisdom."
"Do you think that's right?"
I think that should be wrong.
Li Yuan looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar home in front of him and turned his head to the side.
From a long time ago, he didn't know why he existed, as if his existence had no impact on the world.
A meaningless life.
A meaningless time.
Perhaps, living is about finding the value of one's existence.
Li Yuan used to live just to stay alive, but now, he lives for one thing.
That is to fulfill the wish of that person.
But his thoughts seemed to be just a blind loyalty.
That person was not satisfied with his performance.
If the meaning of a life is just to serve someone, then what's the difference between it and a tool?
Although that person did not directly convey these words to them, he instructed the "Facing-the-Wall" to convey them.
Li Yuan is not clever; he can only reluctantly think that that person must have said so because of the previous failures and their misunderstandings of that person's words.
Perhaps they should reflect on it.
For that person, obviously, what he needs is not just a tool that follows orders blindly; he needs someone who can understand the orders.
And obedience and understanding are two different concepts.
Can't you figure it out without that person telling you?
Are you so fixated on that person's words that you can't use your own brain?
You are human, not a tool; humans are creatures that can understand each other.
Understanding that person's intentions, taking action in advance, and submitting a beautiful answer, is that difficult?
Of course, it's difficult.
So that person arranged this journey of self-improvement.
I'm afraid that what that person really meant was to let them grow into people who could understand Him during this journey.
So Li Yuan decided to go back to where it all began, bid farewell to his past completely, and try to look to the future.
And in doing so, find the meaning of his existence and become someone who can stand by that person's side.
That's what Li Yuan thought.
But what he didn't know was that what Chen Ye entrusted him with when he left was actually...
"While I'm away, if 001 comes back, remember to let it play the recording in my room."
Hmm...
But Facing-the-Wall got it mixed up.
...
Li Yuan pushed open the door and walked into the house.
Everything was as before: his brother's awards filled the living room, his stepmother's perfume was placed in the most conspicuous place.
But the family photo on the wall had a corner torn off.
And in that corner was Li Yuan's photo.
It happened after he came back for summer vacation; his father said it was torn accidentally by his mischievous brother.
And his brother even burned it; it couldn't be glued back together, so be it.
Li Yuan chuckled at the memory.
At that moment, a middle-aged woman in pajamas entered the living room.
She frowned at Li Yuan in the living room, "What are you back for?"
"I'm back to take what belongs to me," Li Yuan said.
His tone was very calm, neither humble nor overbearing, but it made his stepmother feel uneasy for a moment, "Huh, what belongs to you in this house?"
"What have you contributed to this family? Whether it's the things in your room or the clothes on your body, did you buy any of them with your own money?"
"Even if you did, whose money did you use?"
"Don't tell me you earned it by working; the money spent on you in this family, you haven't paid back a single penny."
"Do you understand? Until you pay back what you owe us, you're just not in debt to us, but there's nothing here that belongs to you."
"But with your character, I don't expect you to repay us for anything. As long as you don't bother us in the future, I don't want to argue with you about the past, just get out."
Li Yuan suddenly laughed as he looked at his stepmother's disgusted expression.
The more he looked at this face, the uglier it became.
"I have celebrated more than once that I can view this world from a completely new perspective."
Once, Li Yuan thought his stepmother was very hateful.
Now, Li Yuan finds his stepmother very laughable.
From the perspective of a monster, he could just as well slit the throats of those scumbags as slit his stepmother's throat.
The life and death of this woman were already in Li Yuan's hands.
But he didn't want to do that now.
Li Yuan sat directly on the sofa in the living room. "You have a good eloquence. Have you ever considered doing stand-up comedy?"
His stepmother was stunned for a moment. "What... what did you say?"
"Your ears are not working well, too. Well, it's understandable, after all, people get old, they always have some minor or major problems." Li Yuan said.
"You!"
"Me?"
"Okay, I'm in a hurry, I won't reminisce with you."
Li Yuan said, then went back to his room. He took out a leather suitcase from under the bed and began to pack his things.
His stepmother rushed over at this moment. "Who told you to take it?"
"I'll tell you, Li Yuan, if you dare to take these things today, I will...!"
"Well?"
Li Yuan turned his head to look at his stepmother, "What will you do? If you can't think of anything, you can take your time."
!!!
His stepmother was furious. "If you dare to take these things, you can try it and see if I dare to call the police!"
"Okay, then I'll try."
Li Yuan said, ignoring his stepmother and continuing to pack his luggage.
His stepmother gritted her teeth. How did this bastard suddenly change so much? He's not even afraid of me anymore?
At that moment, Li Yuan's father walked out.
"Let him take it."
"You..."
"Let him take it, then get out quickly," Li Yuan's father said, breaking the tension.
Seeing his father speaking up, his stepmother gritted her teeth and relented.
Li Yuan, on the other hand, completely ignored the two of them and continued packing his luggage.
In the process, he accidentally knocked over a photo frame on the desk.
Clatter.
The frame shattered upon hitting the ground, and a photo along with a note fell out of it.
Li Yuan bent down to pick up the photo and the note. The photo was a class photo from his high school graduation.
As for the note, Li Yuan didn't remember it at all.
He looked at the note, and it read:
"With my understanding of you, I guess you'll never find this note in your lifetime. Li Yuan, you big dummy. Blah, blah, blah."
Hmm...
Even though there were many things I wanted to say to you, I didn't know where to start when it came to expressing them.
So I'll just jot down a few lines. We've been desk mates for three years, and I don't know how you've seen me. Anyway, even if I asked, you wouldn't answer me.
So let me tell you what I think about you. You're actually quite good-looking and tall, but you're always so submissive. I don't like that about you.
Sure, your grades aren't great, but they're better than mine.
You're very gentle, patient, and considerate to everyone.
Every time I see you at a loss for words after an argument, unable to say anything back, I can't help but laugh at your dumbfounded expression.
And not just that, remember when Liu Mingyang said he'd wait to ambush you after school, and you stayed in the classroom the whole day and night without daring to go out? I couldn't believe you actually slept in the classroom overnight.
Since then, I've been thinking, you're obviously a big man, tall and strong, but you act like a little rabbit.
If it weren't for me feeling sorry for you, covering for you for two semesters, I wouldn't know how you'd survive high school.
Speaking of which, when did I start liking you?
I can't remember.
Maybe it was when you gave me an umbrella that rainy day?
Or perhaps it was when we fed stray cats together at school?
I really can't remember.
But I didn't plan on telling you about it. You're so clueless; you probably wouldn't even notice.
I know that after tomorrow, we'll be going our separate ways. So I wish you a bright future. Don't let anyone bully you anymore, and be tougher when facing challenges!
(Rabbit emoji)
Love may have won, but it's already expired.
Li Yuan casually tossed the note into the trash can and then walked away with his luggage.
...