Arknights? Yesterday's Arknights!!

"Actually, I know a girl I have a bit of a crush on, and then, well..." An Xin paused, gave Patriot a look, and told him to say that kind of thing out loud, as he was a little embarrassed.

"Crack!" Patriot "accidentally" crushed a wine bottle. How could he not understand the look in his eyes?

He didn't know who the girl he had feelings for was—was it Talulah? Or Alina?

Or is it...?

An Xin handed him a bottle of wine, which he took and took a deep breath.

"Who is that girl you're talking about...?"

“Uh.” An Xin was taken aback.

The image of that white-haired figure flashed through my mind. She was petite, and if you stared at her for too long, she would blush and turn her head away. She looked pitiful on the bed, a girl who was usually so carefree.

He hesitated for a moment, "Uncle, it's not that I'm hiding it from you, you might not recognize me."

"Cock!"

The newly handed-over wine was crushed by Patriot, who stared at An Xin with a red glint in his eyes.

Keep it from him.

There's only one conclusion.

That person is Yelena.

He took the wine An Xin handed him and asked, "What are you planning to do?"

"I don't know, that's why I was planning to ask you." In An Xin's eyes, Patriot was an experienced and powerful person, and asking him about this matter would definitely be reliable.

He continued, "I do have a good impression of her, but it's just a good impression, not love. That thing was just an accident, and I don't know what she meant."

After all, I took her virginity, so I felt I should take responsibility. But the girl didn't tell me whether I needed to take responsibility or not; she just seemed interested in continuing the relationship. Whether it will work out or not, I don't know.

Then, I never had anyone I liked, but I had a few girls I was slightly attracted to. Because of that girl, I didn't dare to get close to these girls.

I want to take responsibility, but I'm afraid the girl doesn't need me to, since it was an accident after all.

I don't know what to do.

Is this referring to Talulah and Alina?

Patriot is not being arrogant; there are many girls in the Reunion Movement, but only these two can compare to his daughter.

He took a deep breath, and the massive Wendigo was momentarily flustered.

But I've calmed down now.

Thinking about it carefully, Yelena is already over twenty years old, and An Xin is a good match for her. Entrusting their daughter to him seems like a good idea.

He nodded and spoke to An Xin.

"Since you've done it, you have to take full responsibility. A man has to be accountable for his actions."

“You’re right, Uncle.” An Xin nodded, and the two clinked glasses and drank their wine.

He added, "Then I should keep my distance from the girl I have a slight crush on, wait for her answer, and then make a decision, right?"

"Hmm, trust her... I think she also has feelings for you and will definitely want you to take responsibility."

The patriot sighed inwardly.

My daughter has grown up too.

He cared about his daughter a lot, but he never expected something like this to happen without him knowing anything.

The children have grown up and no longer tell their elderly father anything.

The air was quiet; the two grown men were drinking, and the only sound was the crackling of the campfire.

After a long while, An Xin looked up.

Is the night sky here the same as the night sky over Lungmen?

Is tonight's night sky the same as that night sky?

Is the night sky he's gazing at now the same one that Warfarin was looking at?

It's all the same night sky, but it appears different with different people, at different times, and in different places.

One should stay true to one's original aspirations.

An Xin took a deep breath. "You're right. Thank you for your guidance, Uncle. I will take responsibility for that girl."

Although no one knew what An Xin was thinking, Patriot remained silent and nodded.

"As long as you know."

Chapter Forty-Two: Thoughts

An Xin and Patriot's time alone turned into a drinking contest; he had a gluttony bonus, so he could hold his liquor quite well.

When drinking with someone you respect and love, you certainly won't hold back; you'll drink as much as you can.

After a few rounds of drinks, neither of them felt anything, but the smell of alcohol was still very strong.

"So interested? How about I come along?" Talulah brought Alina along, bringing not only wine but also some meat.

"I brought some camel meat, which was marinated in advance. It just needs to be grilled."

With a smile, Alina placed the plate aside and helped Anxin and Patriot grill the meat.

"Thank you for your help," An Xin said.

Not long after, Frostnova arrived.

Since the Reunion Movement began to expand, there hasn't been such a quiet time.

The group sat together, as if they had returned to a time when the Reunion Movement had few members and they weren't so busy.

After the party ended, Yelena and Talulah waved goodbye with smiles and went home with her father.

Along the way, people greeted them from time to time—training, patrolling—creating quite a lively scene, clearly not a good time for conversation.

Back in the room, Patriot showed no sign of leaving, and Froststar looked puzzled.

"Dad, is there anything else?"

"Ahem, ahem, I know about you and An Xin. When... will you settle things?"

Hearing Patriot's words, a blush crept up Yelena's cheeks, then down her neck to behind her ears.

"What are you saying, Dad?"

"You...have always liked...him, and now that...that kind of thing has happened...you should settle things as soon as possible."

"What is it?" Yelena asked, her face full of confusion.

“Now that things have come to this… Anxin… has told me everything.” Patriot sat down and recounted his conversation with Anxin to Yelena.

After hearing this, Yelena was stunned.

That person isn't her.

In all this time, the biggest contact between the two of them was when An Xin put her arm around his shoulder, which frostbitten his arm.

It doesn't matter who that person is anymore. The point is that An Xin was originally undecided, but after her father said that, she has completely sided with him.

"Waaah~" She covered her head with her hands. "Dad, the girl An Xin is talking about isn't me, it's not me! Don't you think about it? An Xin gets frostbite just from touching me, how could that be?"

I got screwed over by my own dad.

Yelena was on the verge of tears.

"But..." Patriot was also stunned. When he saw An Xin transform into a Qilin that day, he thought that with his physique, he could withstand the chill of Frost Star for a short time.

Yelena knew Patriot's thoughts perfectly well, and said, "Dad, you know that An Xin can't use that ability for a while. Her strength hasn't changed in her normal state."

"Then... what should we do?" Patriot asked.

"I can't help it, I want to sleep."

Yelena kicked Patriot out of the house. What could she do after being betrayed by her own father?

There's still no way to fix it!

The room was empty and quiet. She sat on the bed, curled up her legs, hugged her knees with her hands, and buried her head.

After a brief thought, An Xin realized that if she were with someone else, her heart would feel inexplicably heavy, as if it were being squeezed.

How can I sleep in this situation?

She looked up at the ceiling, feeling the moonlight gradually dimming, as dawn appeared on the horizon, slowly illuminating the room.

The next day, early in the morning.

"Are you free today?" Talulah asked Yelena as she processed some documents.

"No, I have something to ask you."

Yelena's Oripathy has been getting worse lately, and even Talulah is afraid to touch her for fear of burning her skin.

The white rabbit took out a special spicy candy from its pocket and handed one to Talulah.