Pretending To Be A Boss

This Orderer named Qi Yuan, who bears some resemblance to his own daughter... yearns to be valued.

Even though he is mature in age, even though he is more calculating than anyone else, even though he sees things more clearly than most people, humans, as creatures, are inherently contradictory, with various possibilities of knowingly making mistakes and deliberately acting wrongly.

Li Xiaoyu couldn't answer Qi Yuan's increasingly sharp questions, she just stated that she would look after Qi Yuan.

But there were still some questions she answered.

"Because people change, and between people, there are inherent differences. I used to be very assertive, like this in front of others, but in front of Tang Xian, I can't be assertive."

"I thought I understood humans enough."

"If you want to become a human, you'll find you can never truly understand them. If you merely want to be an Orderer above humans, perhaps everything will become clear to you," Li Xiaoyu said, with some risk.

But she still spoke honestly.

"Is this what you all mean by only realizing you are in the mountain when you are part of it?" Qi Yuan asked, puzzled.

"More or less," Li Xiaoyu said calmly.

"Aren't you afraid I'll become that terrifying Orderer?"

"Once you are troubled by worldly matters, you are already trapped."

"You speak of human nature as if it were a swamp."

"I'm just stating that seeing people is easy, being a person is hard."

"I think I understand a bit. Do you wish for me to be human?"

"What do you see humans as?" Li Xiaoyu asked.

"Tolerant to outsiders, harsh to close ones. Using forty percent lies to cover seventy percent of life. Love for something appears to have limits; once you want to love a new thing or person, you must retract some love from past things and people. Careful yet arrogant. Additionally... unable to understand each other, fragile, easily perishable."

Qi Yuan spoke quickly, the words devoid of emotion.

Even though his life experiences were not profound, he summarized everything with a seemingly pretentious, pessimistic view.

"You sound too pessimistic. Is Baichuan City this disappointing to you?" Li Xiaoyu was slightly surprised.

"You wish for me to be human? This is the way I see humans."

"What about Song Que, Tang Xian, and me?"

"You all don't spend much time with me. I don't have the time to observe you," Qi Yuan said.

Li Xiaoyu smiled, suddenly realizing that Orderers actually have their own adorable aspects.

It turned out that the previously biased statement was just a routine.

She laughed:

"Tang Xian will be going to the mining district frequently this year. I thought about it, why don't you stay with me?"

"I have a sharp tongue. And your two kids... don't they dislike me?"

Qi Yuan didn't show any nervousness; she was able to control her emotions, but the words themselves revealed her inner expectations.

"Are my children cute?"

"They're alright." Tang Duidui was not one to give any face.

Li Xiaoyu said:

"It can't just be alright, you have to like them. And let them know you like them."

"Why should I like them?"

"Because that's the process of receiving love."

This sentence seemed like the answer to a question Qi Yuan had been anticipating.

"Is it so?"

"I liked Tang Xian and the process of pursuing him was straightforward; just that I liked him, I needed him to know I liked him."

Li Xiaoyu spoke forthrightly; even after all these years of marriage, her affection for Tang Xian remained immeasurable even by Orderers.

"There are many stories in this world, originally simple and clear. The twists and drama boil down to two words—'not speaking.'

"Love goes unspoken, unwillingness to love also remains unspoken, thus those meant to be together are not, and those who should part do not."

Qi Yuan vaguely seemed to understand something.

"So sometimes being human... isn't that troublesome."

"It's merely about being open, honest, and candid."

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(This chapter contains quite a bit of personal musings, with some things happening to friends in real life. Consider it amusement for now. In future minor stories, I'll change them to free chapters, in the form of chapter remarks. However, the update cycle will indeed slow down somewhat, as everyone knows... a new book has already been published, but its storyline hasn't entered full swing yet, and recently, there's a lot of discourse from Yuewen as well. As a bottom-tier author earning my keep here, I am somewhat concerned. My focus for updates will certainly be on the new book, but minor stories will definitely be there.

The wedding, episodes about Tang Feiji and Junlin, Dark Crow's phase of youthful pretentiousness, Tang Xian's new findings in the mining district, the fundamental reason behind Eden's master's fear of the unconscious world, and the adventures between Song Que and the two small Tang ... I'll try to update them when the new book hits a writing block. Lastly, advertising the new book "The Demon King is Strong and Overly Diligent" - all are welcome to invest and follow, and kindly cast your recommendation votes to the new book if you enjoy it, thank you~)