Chapter Twenty-Nine: Washing Feet

"So, what you're saying is that Duoduo has been a temp worker for quite some time already?"
"Yes."
"Lao Liao said that?"
"Right, I asked him myself."
On the other end of the line, Ye Yan remained silent for a long while.
Finally, Xu Si sighed and spoke, "You know a little bit about the temp worker issue. Each major district has only one slot. Trying to bring in a temp worker from another district is not easy."
"The main problem is that it crosses districts. Everywhere Connect is an official organization, and temp workers are involved with its core secrets."
Xu Si had his own difficulties, and to say these things to Ye Yan’s face was already quite considerate. Ye Yan understood this well.
Though it seemed things were more or less hopeless,
Xu Si had truly done his best.
"Got it."
After a lengthy silence, Ye Yan finally spoke.
"If not, let's change the terms. This matter involves too much; if it's within my rank, I'll do whatever you need."
Xu’s tone was earnest.
After all, Xu was only in charge of North China, and Ye Yan’s request was beyond his authority.
"Thank you, Brother Si. Let me think it over myself. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now."
"Give it some good thought."
"Mm, rest early."
"Alright."
"..."
A few more words, then the call ended.
After hanging up, Ye Yan clamped a cigarette between his lips, inhaling and exhaling for a long time before opening his chat app, searching for Chen Duo—the one with the puppy photo as her avatar.
He pondered for a while, then sent a message.
"Are you asleep?"
"No, I’m on a mission."
Chen Duo replied almost instantly, accompanied by a sleepy emoji.
Ye Yan’s heart gave a jolt.
He sensed trouble.
He quickly followed up, "Duoduo, have you become Lao Liao’s temp worker?"
Ye Yan skipped any preamble, speaking bluntly, straight to the point.
For someone as straightforward as Chen Duo, all the usual lead-ins were like winking at a blind man—she might not even notice. Better to be direct.
This time,
after his message was sent,
Chen Duo didn’t reply instantly again.
Instead, after a moment, a single word appeared: "Yes."
"Lao Liao arranged it?"
"Yes."

The answer remained unchanged.
Such replies made Ye Yan inexplicably irritable; he quickly typed out another question.
"Did he force you?"
"No."
"Then do you want to be a temp worker?"
"I don’t know."
"How can you not know about something like this? Do you like, or dislike, this job?"
Ye Yan’s mood grew more agitated.
Yet Chen Duo’s words betrayed no emotion, nor any reaction.
"Lao Liao hopes I can handle this job. He said that way I could leave the stronghold and see the fresh world outside."
"So, do you like this job?"
"I don’t know."
As always,
the suffocating answer.
Ye Yan felt as if his heart had been struck with a heavy fist, even his anger was momentarily quelled.
"Duoduo, I know you’re a good, obedient child. But you have to understand, Lao Liao is Lao Liao, and you are you. It’s not always about what he says; you should have your own life!"
"But I don’t want to disappoint him."
"It’s not about disappointment…"
Ye Yan no longer knew what to say. Through a screen, he could hardly grasp the girl’s deepest thoughts.
"Teacher, can we talk later? I’m still on a mission—the target has appeared, and if I don’t act now, he’ll get away."
Chen Duo sounded a bit conflicted.
Ye Yan, who had planned to say more, silently deleted his drafted words, replacing them with a single "Alright," ending the conversation once again.
He put down his phone.
Ye Yan felt utterly dejected.
For Chen Duo, a girl with a tragic childhood, Ye Yan felt genuine sympathy.
Though it had been two years since he left Southwest Stronghold, and two years since he’d seen Chen Duo,
every year Ye Yan sent her gifts of all kinds—food, clothes, electronics. He treated Chen Duo like a sister.
Under these circumstances, hearing she had become a temp worker, he simply couldn’t sit still.
It seemed,
he would have to go to South China Stronghold.
With that thought, Ye Yan lit another cigarette.
Meanwhile,
in an unnamed village,
Chen Duo, clutching her phone, hid behind a crooked tree, her usually impassive face tinged with complexity.

...

That night, Ye Yan slept poorly,
his mind consumed by thoughts of Chen Duo becoming a temp worker.
He considered taking leave the moment he woke, heading straight to South China to see Chen Duo and Liao Zhong.
Yet on second thought, with only a few days left on his contract, taking leave now could easily be misunderstood.
The optics weren’t good.
So Ye Yan could only suppress his urge and wait until his resignation date before heading south.
The next few days were quite leisurely; he went to work on time, idled away the hours, clocked out punctually.
After Feng Zhenghao entered the circle of the Ten Elders, his influence soared, and those dirty jobs seldom needed doing, rarely requiring Ye Yan’s involvement.
Meanwhile, Feng Zhenghao, Feng Shayen, and the others were busy beyond measure—after all, with everything shaken up, the World Assembly was practically undergoing a full overhaul.
Staffing, aftermath management,
a host of affairs demanded attention.
Except for Ye Yan...

...

July 21st, sunny!
With little time left at the World Assembly, one must be diligent and set an example for those who follow.
July 22nd, sunny.
Nothing to do. Footbath.
July 23rd, sunny.
Nothing to do. Footbath.
July 24th, cloudy.
Nothing to do. Footbath.
July 25th, sunny.
Ye Yan, Ye Yan! How can you be so degenerate! Weren’t you supposed to set an example for those who come after? Have you forgotten?
Confucius said: "I examine myself thrice daily."… This can’t go on!
July 26th, sunny.
Nothing to do. Footbath!
July 27th, rainy.
Nothing to do. Footbath!

...

July 28th.
The last day of the contract.
After the farewell meal with Feng Zhenghao, Feng Shayen, Little Star, and the cadre of the World Assembly,
Ye Yan was officially a free man.
Though a bit reluctant… there is no feast that lasts forever. Except for those meant to be with you for life, no one can truly accompany you to the end of the road.
Today’s parting is but preparation for a better reunion in the future. Ye Yan was sentimental, but took it well… without any embarrassing display.

July 29th.
Ye Yan rose early, had a simple breakfast at a roadside stall, then headed straight for Binhai Airport.
Last night, he’d bought a ticket to the Southwest in advance; today was the day he would meet Chen Duo.