Chapter 20: We Are All Wanderers of the Martial World

[Public Appearance Mission Completed, Rewards Credited Instantly]
[Morning Run Challenge (7 days), Reward: Height Increase by 2cm]
[When it comes to wealth and height, perhaps you already have your answer.]

The system’s notification sound chimed, accompanied by the intense clapping-like noise inside the room. Li Yan merely glanced casually before immersing himself once again in the thrill of driving.

...

In Room 2508 of the Shangri-La Hotel, the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.

The room had returned to the quietness after last night’s raucousness, with faint traces of perfume and alcohol lingering in the air.

Li Yan was the first to wake, his gaze calm, as if last night’s events had left little impression on his heart.

He sat up, his arm resting naturally on the headboard, and glanced down at Shen Qingyue, still soundly asleep.

She lay on her side, hair slightly tousled, yet still exuding delicate beauty.

Especially beneath the blanket slipping off her shoulder, revealing the exquisite curves that were a breathtaking sight.

Li Yan did not wake her, instead rising to head toward the bathroom, turning on the tap and washing his face.

When Shen Qingyue woke, she happened to see Li Yan stepping out of the bathroom.

He wore the hotel’s bathrobe, his face bearing his usual composed expression.

Their eyes met, and memories of last night surged like a tide in her mind.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she instinctively tugged the blanket closer.

“Good morning,” Li Yan’s voice was low and indifferent, as if everything that happened last night was perfectly normal.

Shen Qingyue nodded, her voice tinged with hesitation: “Morning.”

She wanted to say more but found herself at a loss for words.

In her heart, she thought that her boldness last night had perhaps been too daring, yet underneath was an indescribable sense of anticipation.

She wanted to know Li Yan’s feelings but feared that the answer might not be what she hoped.

Li Yan casually sat on the sofa, checked the time on his phone, then stood up and said lightly, “I’ll call a car to take you home. We stayed out a bit late last night; you must be tired.”

Shen Qingyue was momentarily stunned, feeling somewhat bewildered.

She had never seen a man act so nonchalantly after such intimacy, as if last night had been nothing more than an ordinary social game.

But in the end, she nodded softly, her voice gentle: “Okay.”

Both tidied up simply; Li Yan was relaxed and natural, while Shen Qingyue remained wrapped in a complex mixture of emotions.

---

Her movements were somewhat slow, her mind replaying every detail of last night, stirring emotions she could not quite define.

He felt no lingering attachment or sentiment about it—more like a natural attitude; for him, last night was merely a relaxation after the college entrance exam, unrelated to feelings or commitments.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance. Li Yan politely opened the door for Shen Qingyue, speaking calmly, “Be careful on the road. Let’s meet again when there’s time.”

His tone was natural, but devoid of any excessive emotion.

Shen Qingyue got into the car, nodded, her lips moving slightly but saying nothing.

As the car slowly pulled away, she looked through the window at Li Yan standing at the hotel entrance. His figure appeared especially upright in the morning light, but that sense of distance left her feeling hollow inside.

Countless thoughts flooded her mind.

She understood what her initiative last night implied, and realized Li Yan might not care as much as it seemed.

Yet precisely because of his calm confidence, her interest in him deepened.

Silently, she thought: this guy seemed harder to control than she had imagined.

Li Yan stood at the hotel entrance, watching the car leave, then looked up at the sky and stretched lazily.

Last night’s experience was just a small chapter in his life; now, his focus was on the upcoming morning run task.

“Running to gain 2 centimeters? That’s a good deal,” he thought.

He casually opened the map on his phone, searching for suitable morning run locations near home.

As for Shen Qingyue? To him, it was just a normal social experience, and he had no intention of investing too much energy in the relationship.

“Maybe next time,” Li Yan smiled, turning to the street to catch a ride home.

He had already begun planning new goals, relaxed and carefree, as if nothing had happened last night.

---

By the time Li Yan got home, it was nearly ten in the morning.

He opened the door to a quiet apartment. The living room was clean and tidy, with cushions neatly arranged on the sofa, clearly indicating his parents had already gone to work.

He tossed his keys casually onto the hallway table, slipped into slippers, and leaned loosely against the doorway for a moment.

He stepped toward the kitchen, lifted a pot lid for a glance, and found it empty—his parents evidently had not left any breakfast for him.

He shook his head helplessly, muttering to himself, “Looks like I’ll have to figure it out myself today.”

Opening the fridge, he found only some leftover vegetables and fruit; the freezer had only a few frozen dumplings left.

“That figures—since I said I wouldn’t be home for dinner last night, Mom probably didn’t bother cooking for me,” he chuckled softly before closing the fridge.

Rubbing his stomach, he considered whether to go out and grab something.

After dismissing the idea, he headed straight to the bathroom, turned on the tap, washed his face, and rinsed his mouth to clear his mind.

The reflection in the mirror looked a little tired but carried a faint smile—last night had seemingly put him in a good mood.

“Relaxation is fine, but the task still needs to be done,” Li Yan thought.

The system’s [Morning Run Challenge] popped into his mind; he didn’t see it as a burden but rather a good opportunity.

Gaining two centimeters in height would be a nice bonus for his upcoming university life.

Growing from 175 to 177 cm, aiming for 180 wouldn’t seem too far-fetched. Clearly, Li Yan cared more about this task than the monetary rewards.

After freshening up, he poured a glass of cool water and sat casually in the living room.

Sunlight streamed through the balcony curtains, filling the room with warm light.

Leaning back on the sofa with legs stretched out, his gaze drifted outside, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“My parents trust me—they don’t even ask why I came back so late,” he mused, feeling a bit sentimental but mostly enjoying the freedom.

He picked up his phone, opened the map to look for nearby morning run routes, planning the first day of the challenge.

The local community park wasn’t large but was just right for running.

Li Yan nodded in approval, already set on his plan.

Checking the time, he decided to rest a bit before thinking about going out to eat.

Several unread WeChat messages popped up—one from Wang Zhen and another from Shen Qingyue.

“Brother Yan, keep going later,” Wang Zhen’s message showed he was still eager after last night’s drinking party.

Shen Qingyue’s message was shorter: only two words, “Thank you.”

Li Yan’s lips curled into a small smile as he replied simply, “Let’s meet again when there’s time.”

He tossed his phone aside, rested his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes in contentment.

Birdsong outside accompanied the sunlight pouring in, making the morning peaceful and comfortable.

“Run, eat, rest—take it all slowly,” Li Yan silently told himself, feeling utterly at ease.