I’m Really Scared
Chapter 204: Li Zhiying's Psychological Issues

"Uh... so that's the situation."

Guan Shan awkwardly coughed twice, looking at Li Zhiying sitting on the sofa across the coffee table.

Thinking about what he had just said to the Queen Bee and his attitude, he couldn't help but feel like he wanted to dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with his toes...

This was as embarrassing as being caught practicing a Kamen Rider transformation pose at home!

The Queen Bee had clearly compromised. As it had mentioned before, it projected Li Zhiying, giving her a body that couldn't be detected by ordinary people.

"So... I'm already dead."

Li Zhiying looked a bit wistful but quickly perked up, smiling at Guan Shan, "Anyway, thank you, and I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

Her tone was gentle, showing a softer side that was uncharacteristic of her usually decisive nature as a superior.

Guan Shan felt a bit uncomfortable, especially since they were alone in his house. If Li Zhiying still acted like a superior, it would be fine, but her current demeanor made him sense a different atmosphere.

He shook his head, deliberately adopting a business-like tone, "Uh... it's nothing. You were a victim too, so there's no need to apologize. As a member of the Special Security Group, it's my duty to take down the mastermind."

"No," Li Zhiying shook her head, "I was the one who sent you to Baihe Village and took you inside, not it. So, I'm the one who dragged you into this."

"..." This surprised Guan Shan. He thought Li Zhiying had at least been manipulated or controlled by the Queen Bee.

"You can consider it my selfishness... or personal vendetta."

"I couldn't just watch those children's bones rot in the mountains unnoticed, so even if it meant others might die, I wouldn't hesitate."

Guan Shan was taken aback but then remembered the photo she had shown him, gaining some understanding.

She lowered her gaze, "If you hadn't come, I would have kept contacting the next person, and the one after, until someone survived to expose what happened in Baihe Village."

Hearing this, Guan Shan couldn't help but ask, "What about the Queen Bee? It wanted freedom and used your will. Its power should be enough..."

Li Zhiying shook her head, "It never handed over control of the body to me, and with its intelligence, it would just mess things up."

Queen Bee: "..."

For some reason, Guan Shan felt the Queen Bee's powerless rage from the pendant.

He gave a wry smile, "I suppose I can understand."

Li Zhiying brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, looking at Guan Shan, "In the face of death, one truly realizes what they want. At my most desperate moment, your call gave me hope."

Guan Shan blinked, then remembered that call to Baihe Village was because Xiao Shen mentioned Chief Li was on a business trip in Liaoshen...

Coincidence?

As the thought crossed his mind, Li Zhiying continued in a soft voice, "Thank you for saving those children... and for saving me."

"Uh, it's really just my duty... nothing to thank me for."

"So, if you ever need anything, just ask, and I'll do everything in my power to repay you."

Li Zhiying gave a self-deprecating smile, speaking softly, "Besides, this body isn't real anyway."

Her words and gaze were too obvious, so Guan Shan turned his head away, joking, "I don't need much, just no overtime."

Li Zhiying was taken aback, then laughed, "Deal."

"Originally, I planned to resign after returning from Baihe Village. Now, it shouldn't be too late."

This time, Guan Shan was the one surprised, "Resign?"

Li Zhiying nodded, looking mischievous, "I noticed you guys were always gossiping about my background."

Guan Shan looked serious, "No, it's just Liu Rui gossiping."

Sorry, Liu Rui, brothers are for taking the fall at critical moments! But Li Zhiying's background and connections were indeed a favorite topic of gossip among the staff, second only to "What is Guan Shan's real identity?"... He didn't even want to know how far that had spread.

Li Zhiying didn't mind, directly stating that her family did have some connections.

"The newspaper's performance is good enough now... mostly thanks to the VB official account you manage. They are very pleased. I still need to thank you; otherwise, it might have taken me another two or three years."

The more Li Zhiying said, the more pressured Guan Shan felt.

Due to the Queen Bee, Li Zhiying's existence now entirely depended on him. Seeing her guilt and dependence grow with each act of gratitude was worrying.

In other words, he had to let her repay the favor, or things could get out of hand...

Li Zhiying continued, "After resigning, I'll establish my own newspaper in Shanghai. If you need, you can be affiliated with it."

Guan Shan quickly smiled, "I do need a regular job to balance my life, but I can't frequently take leave. Your offer would be a great help."

Li Zhiying seemed pleased, "It's settled then."

Guan Shan thought for a moment, then opened the pendant and handed the Worker Bee inside to Li Zhiying, "You should be able to have a physical form near the Queen Bee. I'll just give it to you."

Li Zhiying took it, straightforwardly asking, "It won't run away?"

The Queen Bee finally couldn't hold back, buzzing around Li Zhiying, "You and I are one! I can't run away, and neither can you! We're stuck with him for life, with no freedom! Are you okay with that?!"

Li Zhiying raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that good?"

Guan Shan facepalmed.

The Queen Bee was too furious to speak.

It had planned for so long for freedom, only to end up still bound to Guan Shan!

As long as he held part of the pendant, he could always make the Worker Bee Pendant whole again.

Guan Shan tried to console, "You can go wherever you want. I'm not stopping you. Isn't that freedom?"

The Queen Bee was silent for a while, then squeezed out, "Fine! I need to find a safe place to cocoon, transforming this Worker Bee body into a new Queen Bee, so I can continue producing Worker Bees."

Guan Shan helplessly asked, "Why are you so obsessed with producing Worker Bees?"

While Worker Bees were useful for controlling people, they had no combat power, and the Queen Bee wouldn't sacrifice its offspring just to control humans.

However, if a new Queen Bee could be produced, it would benefit Guan Shan greatly, as its blood was a key ingredient for Ascension Candy.

The Queen Bee retorted, "You don't understand! Reproduction is the ultimate mission of all life! It's my lifelong pursuit! Each Worker Bee brings me immense joy!"

Okay, I don't understand that...

Li Zhiying interjected, "Wait, I can't trouble you anymore. I'll find the place myself."

Guan Shan was surprised, "Alright, but be careful and discreet. If you have any problems... just come to me."

He emphasized, "This is a friend's help on equal terms."

Li Zhiying smiled, "I understand."

She extended her hand, and the Queen Bee landed on her palm, "Don't worry, I've already thought of a place that's safe and hidden."