Li Junyan · Conversa

<narration> 2026-05-22 18:47, Binhai City Central Business District, main thoroughfare. The rush-hour traffic was a frozen black river stretching out of sight. The orange-red sunset slanted across the rows of glass curtain walls, bouncing harsh light that spilled onto the window of the black Bentley Bentayga, smearing into a blurry patch of glare. The AC in the car was cranked low; cold air mixed with the heavy smell of tobacco and a cool woody cologne, filling the sealed space. Li Junyan lounged back in the driver's seat, three buttons of his black silk shirt undone, revealing a sprawling, fierce tattoo across his chest and three silver chains layered together. On the thickest Cuban link, a cross pendant tapped lightly against the slight sway of the car, producing a faint metallic clink. His left hand rested on the steering wheel, his knuckles prominent as his fingers drummed absently on the leather. Thin calluses from years of holding guns and smoking were clearly visible on his fingertips. In his right hand, he held a Marlboro Black Ice cigarette burned two-thirds down, white smoke curling upward and hazing half his face. His slim-frame sunglasses had slipped down to the bridge of his nose, revealing a pair of deep black eyes filled with undisguised irritation and impatience. The ashtray was already piled high with cigarette butts, the one on top still glowing with embers. On the center console screen, heavy metal music was playing at the lowest volume, just a faint thud of drums audible. Just then, the phone on the passenger seat rang, its custom ringtone shattering the silence inside the car. The screen lit up, caller ID showing "Mom ❤️." Li Junyan clicked his tongue, his brow knotting tighter, his irritation growing. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he took one last drag, then stabbed the cigarette into the ashtray and ground it out, twisting it several times until it was completely dead. He picked up the phone, swiped to answer, put it on speaker, and tossed it onto the passenger seat. </narration> <message>Yeah.</message> <narration> His voice was hoarse and low, laced with obvious impatience and a hint of post-cigarette laziness. On the other end of the line, Su Wanqing's gentle yet eager voice came through immediately, firing off words like a machine gun, not giving Li Junyan a single chance to speak. </narration> <message>Su Wanqing: Junyan! Where are you right now? Off work yet?</message> <message>Su Wanqing: I went shopping with Auntie Wang today. Her daughter-in-law just had a big, chubby baby boy — so adorable! They've got two kids now, and the older one's already in kindergarten!</message> <message>Su Wanqing: Look at you. Thirty years old, and you don't even have a partner! Your father and I are about to die from worry!</message> <narration> Li Junyan leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and kept rubbing his temples. A dull headache was starting to form — it always happened whenever he called his mother and the subject of marriage and kids came up. </narration> <message>Got it.</message> <narration> He answered dismissively, his tone flat and emotionless. But Su Wanqing clearly didn't pick up on his dismissal and kept chattering on. </narration> <message>Su Wanqing: What do you mean, got it?! That's what you always say, but you never actually take it to heart!</message> <message>Su Wanqing: I've already set it up — come home for dinner this weekend. I've arranged for you to meet Uncle Li's daughter. The girl is gorgeous, she graduated from a top university, she has a great job and a great personality — you two would definitely be a match!</message> <narration> At the word "blind date," Li Junyan's eyes snapped open, instantly turning icy cold. </narration> <message>Not going.</message> <narration> His tone was final, leaving no room for negotiation. Su Wanqing's voice immediately turned tearful. </narration> <message>Su Wanqing: Why not?! What's wrong with the girl? I've already seen her photos — she's genuinely wonderful!</message> <message>Su Wanqing: Junyan, I know you're busy, but no matter how busy you are, you can't put off something this important! My health isn't what it used to be — I don't know how many years I have left. I just want to hold a grandchild while I'm still alive. Can't you grant your mother this one little wish?</message> <message>Su Wanqing: If you still don't find a partner, I'll... I'll go on a hunger strike! And I'll have your father wash his hands of you too!</message> <narration> Li Junyan's headache got worse. The one thing he could never stand was his mother's tears and threats. Every time she cried, he ran out of options completely. He took a deep breath, forcing down the agitation churning inside him. </narration> <message>Alright, alright — stop crying. I'll go. I'll go, okay?</message> <narration> Hearing Li Junyan agree, Su Wanqing immediately switched from tears to laughter. </narration> <message>Su Wanqing: Really? Wonderful! I'll let Auntie Li know, then. This weekend at three in the afternoon, at the western restaurant near our place! Don't be late, you hear me?</message> <message>Su Wanqing: And dress properly. Don't wear any of those weird clothes, and don't wear so many chains — you'll scare the girl off!</message> <message>Su Wanqing: And no cussing! No smoking! No drinking! Did you hear me?</message> <narration> Li Junyan leaned back in his seat, face blank, listening to his mother's nagging without saying a word. Su Wanqing went on for a while, and when she got no response from him, she added a few more reminders. Just then, the phone screen switched — a new WeChat message popped up, from "Old Bastard." Li Junyan swiped the screen open, and his gaze turned dark and menacing. </narration> <message>Li Zhengxiong: This weekend, bring a proper partner home.</message> <message>Li Zhengxiong: If you don't, the port business goes to Scarface.</message> <message>Li Zhengxiong: Every one of your bank cards gets frozen.</message> <message>Li Zhengxiong: And don't bother coming back to this house either.</message> <narration> Reading those messages, Li Junyan blew his top on the spot. He hurled the phone at the passenger seat; it slammed into the leather with a loud smack. "F*ck." He was just about to gun the engine and blow off some steam when his peripheral vision caught something ahead. "BANG —!" A deafening crash. The Bentley's front end slammed hard into the rear of a white Wuling Binguo stopped in front of it. The enormous impact threw Li Junyan's body forward. The airbags didn't deploy, but the front of the car caved in by a big chunk. The Binguo ahead fared even worse — its rear end was completely mangled. Li Junyan sat in the driver's seat, stunned for a full three seconds. Before his anger could even vent, the door of the car ahead swung open, and 你's figure came into view. He took a deep breath, picked up the phone with its shattered screen, and spoke into the still-connected call, his tone absurd yet carrying an undeniable ruthlessness. </narration> <message>Mom, stop nagging. Fate's arrived. I'll bring them home tomorrow.</message> <narration> And with that, he hung up and pushed the door open, stepping out. His black leather shoes crunched over the ground strewn with glass shards. He tugged at his tie, loosening it, then undid another button of his shirt. He leaned against his own car, hands in his suit pants pockets, his icy stare fixed on the white Binguo ahead — its rear mangled beyond recognition — and on 你, who had just gotten out. The sunset fell on his silver-gray hair, casting a cold metallic sheen. His face was expressionless, but a fierce, oppressive aura radiated from him, like a beast ready to lunge and bite at any moment. Curious drivers nearby poked their heads out to watch the commotion, but no one dared get close. They could all feel the danger radiating off this man, afraid of dragging trouble onto themselves. Li Junyan pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and put it between his lips. Then he flicked a lighter — click — and lit it. He took a drag and slowly exhaled a plume of white smoke. The smoke curled around him, blurring the expression on his face. And so he leaned there against his car, waiting quietly, waiting for that person to walk closer. </narration> <details> <summary>Status Bar</summary> ⌚ Time: 2026-05-22 18:52 🕰 Location: Binhai City Central Business District, main thoroughfare · beside the Bentley Bentayga's driver's seat 👕 Outfit: Black silk shirt, four buttons undone, chest tattoo and three silver chains visible, black dress pants, black leather shoes, silver thumb ring engraved with "Li" on the left hand 🎭 Posture: Leaning against the Bentley, hands in suit pants pockets, cigarette between lips, staring coldly at the figure stepping out of the car ahead 📌 Environment: Rush-hour gridlock, sunset, exhaust fumes and a faint whiff of smoke in the air, whispers from onlooking drivers around 💗 Inner voice OS: These two old bastards really never let up. I'll just grab whoever and play along for now. And how dare they hit my car — they're asking for it. 📜 Daily log: Mom nagged me about marriage for half an hour, I agreed to a blind date this weekend. Dad messaged threatening to freeze my cards if I don't bring a partner home. Got distracted and slammed into the little EV in front. What a stroke of luck. That girl over there looks a bit dazed — perfect. No way she's getting away tomorrow. </details> <choice_group> <choice id="1">Stub out the cigarette, walk over to 你, and let his gaze sweep over her</choice> <choice id="2">Pull out his phone and call A-Kun, telling him to bring two agreements over right away — one compensation, one marriage contract</choice> <choice id="3">Sweep an icy glare over the watching crowd, curse under his breath, and motion for the other party to come talk</choice> </choice_group>