The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

He couldn't pour all his pent-up emotions onto her, as that would only burden her further. Yet, in this moment of emotional breakdown, he couldn't help but want to be close to her, longing for her to soothe his inner wounds.

“I’m fine, just a little tired.” He hesitated for a few seconds before finally typing out his reply.

"I understand, after all, you have a lot of work pressure, but remember to rest more and don't put too much pressure on yourself." Ye Yao's reply came quickly, full of care and consideration.

Huang Feipeng felt a little better, but his depression hadn't completely dissipated. Although he said he was fine, he knew in his heart that things weren't so simple. The pressure from his family, the intense work schedule, and his complicated feelings for Ye Yao—all these intertwined to form a huge knot, tightly binding his heart and making it hard for him to breathe.

"Rest... easier said than done." Huang Feipeng chuckled self-deprecatingly, the scene from this morning involuntarily flashing through his mind.

Early this morning, while he was organizing case files, he received a call from a colleague saying there was an emergency that needed to be addressed. The work came suddenly, without warning. What followed were several hours of continuous investigation and intelligence analysis; his mind had no chance to rest. Although the case was eventually solved successfully, he still felt a lingering unease and emptiness.

He wondered if he would feel different if he had a family he could truly rely on. Would he be able to come home and have someone cook him a hot soup and listen to him talk about his stress, instead of always facing his parents' accusations and demands?

Back in reality, family problems and work anxieties plunged him into a deeper conflict. He loved his parents, knew they were getting old, and just wanted to see him settle down, but every time he heard them talk about marriage, the pressure still made him incredibly irritable. He didn't want to disappoint their expectations, but he was simply powerless to face them.

Huang Feipeng took a deep breath, his fingers tapping the steering wheel, his gaze drifting out the window. He recalled the argument he had just had with his parents, and how resolute he had been when he left home. But deep down, he knew that while his parents' words were harsh, they weren't without reason. He knew he was over thirty, and it was time to consider settling down, starting a family, and building a career.

But... is he really ready?

Ye Yao's face reappeared in his mind, the name he held deep in his heart. Her smile always warmed him, but the distance between them was like a river flowing between them. No matter how much he wanted to get closer, she was always on the other side of the river, seemingly near yet far. He didn't know if he had the courage to cross that river and express his feelings.

"Feipeng, is something bothering you lately?" Ye Yao's message broke his thoughts again, this time her concern seemed more direct.

Huang Feipeng gripped his phone tightly, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. She must have sensed something, otherwise she wouldn't have asked that question. But he didn't know how to answer her. He had too many problems of his own: work pressure, family conflicts, and his feelings for her—all intertwined, leaving him speechless.

"Nothing, just some trivial matters," he typed out, a reply that wasn't entirely sincere. Although he longed to tell her all his troubles, he didn't want her to worry about him, especially given the uncertainty surrounding their relationship.

Ye Yao didn't press further, simply replying, "I'm always here if needed."

Upon seeing this reply, Huang Feipeng felt a surge of warmth, but at the same time, a deeper sense of helplessness also spread through him. She was always so gentle, so considerate, but it was precisely this understated care that made him increasingly feel unable to grasp her true feelings. He wondered if Ye Yao's concern for him was merely the care between friends, or if it held a deeper meaning.

The air inside the car gradually became oppressive, and Huang Feipeng suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe. He needed an outlet, a way to escape this internal and external pressure. So he suddenly started the car, turned the steering wheel sharply, and drove towards the edge of the city.

He needed some time, some time of his own, to sort out all these complicated thoughts. It wasn't that he didn't want to face it, but right now he didn't have enough strength or a clear mind to deal with these chaotic matters.

The car drove all the way to the edge of the city, far away from the brightly lit streets. Huang Feipeng found a secluded parking lot, parked the car, turned off the engine, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. Only the faint sound of the wind and the occasional distant horns of cars could be heard; his heartbeat gradually returned to normal. However, the gloom in his heart remained like a stone weighing on his chest, impossible to remove.

Huang Feipeng's thoughts drifted back to Ye Yao. He couldn't help but wonder, if Ye Yao were really by his side, seeing his current state, what would she say? Would she advise him not to push himself too hard, or would she silently stay by his side, offering him some warm comfort?

However, he himself probably couldn't be sure of the answers to these questions.

He picked up his phone again and stared at the screen for a long time. In the end, he didn't send Ye Yao any more messages. Instead, he put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and fell into deeper thought.

Today, he was walking along this alley to meet a source. It was said that a well-informed informant had met one of the members of this criminal gang; their exact identity was unclear, but the information was crucial. Huang Feipeng knew that such intelligence was often a matter of life and death, allowing no room for error.

The alley was dimly lit, with only a few streetlights casting a faint yellow glow. Moss covered the mottled walls, and the damp ground smelled musty. Huang Feipeng walked to the end of the alley and saw an old man, hunched over, sitting on a stone bench in the corner. His hair was gray, and he wore a faded old overcoat. He had his head down, as if he was recalling something—perhaps his past life, or perhaps those long-buried secrets.

The old man, like the old alley, looked weathered and worn, seemingly detached from worldly affairs. However, Huang Feipeng remained vigilant. His gaze lingered on the old man for a moment, carefully observing his every movement and detail. Huang Feipeng never trusted appearances, especially when danger was imminent. His informant had hinted that this alley might hold a hidden secret.