coobybook Chapter 398 [Empire] People will change
Chapter 398 [Empire] People will change
"You seem different now. You weren't like this before," I muttered, a hint of dissatisfaction in my tone, mixed with an air of uncontrollable confusion. I knew there was a hint of accusation in my words, but the change was impossible to ignore.
Shan Qi's gaze lingered on me, as if pondering my words. The atmosphere in the car suddenly grew quiet, filled only by the faint hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of the wind. Then, he spoke slowly, his tone still calm, yet with a hint of resignation: "People change. With more experiences, their mindsets naturally change."
"You mean..." I couldn't finish my question. Shan Qi lowered his head, seemingly adjusting his seat and continuing to operate the car's interface. His movements were as quick and decisive as ever, without a trace of hesitation. I could feel his body stiffen slightly, and that slight silence felt like a warning, or perhaps a refusal to continue discussing the topic.
I know Shan Qi has never truly revealed his inner turmoil to anyone. His calmness and rationality are like an invisible armor, protecting him from the storms of the outside world. However, this change, this feeling of becoming more silent and distant, is indeed a little unaccustomed to me.
I remember him not being so aloof before. Back then, while Shan Qi still looked aloof, he wasn't as unapproachable as he is now. He'd even occasionally joke, occasionally displaying a hint of disdainful playfulness. Back then, he didn't seem to shy away from interacting with others, and sometimes, he'd even inadvertently display a kind of human warmth. A slightly clumsy, yet easily satisfied person.
And now... he seemed to have been completely changed by something, or to be more precise, he seemed to have begun to close himself off at some point, locking all his emotions and thoughts into an invisible cage.
"You've changed, Shan Qi," I couldn't help but repeat myself, a bitter taste in my mouth. This change left me feeling somewhat powerless. I didn't know how to talk to him, or how to understand him again. The familiar feeling of closeness gradually faded, replaced by a growing sense of alienation.
Shan Qi finally turned and looked at me, his eyes piercing, as if waiting for me to continue. However, he didn't immediately refute me, nor did he show any emotion. He simply sighed softly, a complex look in his eyes: "I haven't changed. I just... have a better understanding of what I should do."
His response remained calm, yet it carried an indescribable heaviness. The silence was so intense that it felt as if all the secrets were hidden behind his words, leaving no room for exploration.
"Are you..." I paused, suddenly afraid to ask any further. That question lingered in my mind, yet I never dared to ask it. What kind of story was hidden behind Shan Qi's transformation?
"Is that so?" He seemed to see through my hesitation and looked straight at me.
I shrugged helplessly: "Forget it, I'm just guessing." Then, I changed the subject, "Where are we going now?"
Shan Qi did not ask any further questions, but just lowered his head to adjust the navigation system, "Go to the place I arranged. I have some things to deal with today." His voice was still cold, but it revealed an unquestionable decisiveness.
I nodded, but I still couldn't let go of those questions. Was Shan Qi's change really because he had become calmer and more rational, or was it because of some other reason that the man who was once serious and yet easily moved had slowly become unapproachable and difficult to understand?
Perhaps, only time can give answers to these questions.
"Why did you take me with you when you were dealing with something?" I rolled my eyes and muttered to myself. This feeling was strange. I clearly didn't want to be dragged into his world anymore, but I couldn't help but follow him. Shan Qi, the man who always made me hate him but also couldn't let him go, he always managed to pull me into his vortex without seeing me.
Shan Qi didn't seem to be affected by my dissatisfaction. He smiled slightly, barely perceptible, and said in a calm voice, but with a sense of command that could not be ignored: "Don't you want to know what I'm doing?"
"That's not the point you're making," I retorted, a sudden surge of inexplicable anger rising within me. Why was it that he always managed to so easily render me powerless? It was like a subtle manipulation, both unsettling and compelling. He could do this almost invisibly—you knew you were being led, yet it seemed impossible to resist.
This may be his innate ability.
As soon as I finished speaking, Shan Qi didn't respond. The atmosphere in the car suddenly became quiet again, with only the gentle sound of the car driving and the sound of the wind and sand blowing outside. Just when I was about to say something more impatiently, Shan Qi finally spoke.
"Don't worry." He said slowly, his tone still calm. "I just need you to observe and help me confirm whether everything is going smoothly. You don't need to do anything or intervene, just... stand by."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes when he said that. Can you help me confirm? I really don't know if he underestimated me or overestimated himself. Even if he needs a "bystander," I don't think he necessarily needs someone like me.
"You make me feel a little uncomfortable when you say that." I replied half-jokingly, my tone unconsciously tinged with helplessness. "I always feel like you treat me as a 'tool'."
"If you don't want to, you can choose not to go." Shan Qi's words sounded a little cold, but not malicious. On the contrary, his tone was more like a multiple-choice question, leaving me a way out.
I was silent for a moment, a strange feeling welling up inside me. Anyway, there wasn't much else to keep me busy right now, and what Shan Qi was talking about didn't seem difficult. Finally, I sighed softly, "Well, since you make it sound so easy, I'd like to see what you can do."
Shan Qi's expression didn't change much, but I could clearly see the hint of a smile flash across his eyes. He didn't say anything more, just focused on driving, gradually increasing his speed and heading towards a place I was not familiar with.
Shan Qi chose manual driving, and I probably understood the significance of his decision without even asking.
As for machines...it's better to be able to control them in your own hands.
There was a subtle tension in the air, slowly rising between Shan Qi and me, as if we were both waiting for something unspoken to happen. And I, a seemingly unimportant bystander, sat in the car, silently accompanying him on his journey.