Chapter 396 - 396: Li Yifei’s Guilt (1/2)

Li Yifei soon realized that she wasn't as eager as she thought she was about traveling with Lillie. If it was before the revelation, then she would've been ecstatic.

But after everything that happened, she felt awkward and ashamed around Lillie's presence.

Even if Lillie assured that her actions were helpful—though Li Yifei thinks she's just being polite—and it resulted in a positive impact, she still can't help but feel guilty for comprising the Empire's livelihood and for causing stress.

”I can see steam seeping out of your head,” Gabriel Bai sat down beside her on the plane's seat, pressing the icy can of her favorite flavored soda on her cheek. ”What's causing this so much brain activity?”

Li Yifei flinched back from the cold and snatched the drink from his hand, pouting at both his action and teasing.

”I was thinking about everything that happened for the past weeks.” She softly muttered, sinking into the comfortable seat and opening her soda.

”What about it?” Gabriel propped his elbow on the armrest, schooling an uninterested countenance to not gain their mothers'—who were chatting enthusiastically about idle matters—attention.

They're out of earshot but not out of sight.

Their families—sans their elder siblings—are still unaware of their romantic relationship. Gabriel and Yifei aren't ready to announce it to them yet. All they know was that they're just simple classmates and gaming buddies.

”I...feel bad, still. How could she forgive me so easily...after everything I've done.”

Gabriel instantly knows what she's talking about.

”In your defense, An Jiaying was already scheming those things even before your involvement. Besides, you were there just to give her a false sense of security, made her think she's invincible just because she had an influential backup. Other than that, you didn't do much. And I bet you know how capable my sister is. For her, An Jiaying was just another annoying fly.” He explained, absentmindedly drinking his iced coffee.

Although, Gabriel won't admit that it did upset his sister and father because of the mayhem it caused. The employees were so frightened and thought it was their fault that half of the Empire's properties were stolen.

But everything was resolved in just a few days. Lillie calmed everyone with her presence. The employees believed in their CEO's capabilities and trusted her judgment. When she said she would handle everything and no one was at fault, it was like the tornado in their mind was lifted.

”Furthermore, as reckless as it was to pretend to be the Great White, none of us didn't think of the possibility that big sis was actually her.”

His elder sister incessantly reminded that because of them, she's a step closer to unveiling her enemy's face, and that she gained a powerful ally; them.

Li Yifei's aware that Lillie could easily defeat that shameless green tea b*tch into a puddle. But she was naively sure that Lillie wasn't White Bird because of her friendship with Major General Tang Hejiu.

An Jiaying had been eyeing her elder brother for years and became a threat to his relationship with Lillie when she accidentally stumbled upon her schemes to overthrow the White Phoenix Empire.

Honestly, the original plan was to simply dispose of that crazy bitch in the most humiliating way possible. She didn't care if she'll use the Thrilled Phantom's name to do it.

But as consequence, the Bai family might come after her if they ever affiliated the group's name with An Jiaying.

And she knows better than to make an enemy out of them.

The commission to pretend to be White Bird and gauge Lillie's reaction about it was a blessing in disguise and some bonus of sort to make things more exciting—plus the pay was quite a sum.

”But Gab, what if whatever I did somehow gave the people who hired us a clue about Sis Lillie's identity? Then it'll be all my fault. I betrayed Sis Lillie, I don't deserve forgiveness. Whether it's hers, my brother, and even yours.” Li Yifei's voice cracked and her eyes turned misty. The can on her hands wrinkled slightly under the pressure she unconsciously exerted.