At this moment, both Yuan Zhenghong inside the room and Yuan Wen and Hanhan outside were silent.

They were all waiting for Li Tianran's answer.

Because this answer would determine more than just one person's fate.

Silence.

Too quiet.

Yuan Wen found that she could actually hear her own heartbeat clearly.

She didn't know how long it had passed, perhaps a second, or perhaps a century, before Li Tianran's reply finally came from inside the room.

"I'm sorry, I refuse."

Hearing this, Yuan Wen felt an extremely complex emotion in her heart.

From her position, she definitely wanted Li Tianran to accept Yuan Zhenghong's invitation and become a member of a special force serving Yanhuang.

But after talking with Hanhan just now, Yuan Wen felt that Li Tianran's life was already closely linked to Hanhan.

To forcibly separate them would be extremely cruel!

She always felt that Li Tianran's destiny should not be on the battlefield, but with his family...

This feeling was very complicated, and Yuan Wen couldn't explain it clearly.

This was definitely not sympathy for Hanhan, but... a matter-of-course intuition.

...

Inside the room.

Yuan Zhenghong seemed a little unable to believe his ears. He was stunned for a moment, frowned, and asked, "Maybe there was something wrong with my ears just now. What was your answer?"

"I said, I refuse to join this special force." Li Tianran took a deep breath and said each word clearly.

"Why?" Yuan Zhenghong was extremely puzzled. He had been in this line of work for so many years, and his eyes were already incredibly sharp, able to accurately judge the other person's thoughts through subtle changes in their facial and body movements.

He could clearly see just now that Li Tianran was extremely excited and agitated about his proposal.

Obviously, Li Tianran was very interested in becoming a member of this team.

But why would he refuse now?

"Because of many reasons, please forgive me for not being able to explain them one by one." Li Tianran shook his head, revealing a apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, I've disappointed you."

Yuan Zhenghong pursed his lips. He began to speculate on the reasons for Li Tianran's refusal, and then his pupils constricted slightly as he said, "I see, are you worried that after you join, there will be no one to take care of the little girl in your family?"

Li Tianran's information had already been handed over to Yuan Zhenghong when Yang Yong reported, so he now knew very well what Li Tianran was worried about.

"Regarding this point, you can rest assured! After you join, we will place that little girl in the safest place, she can receive the best learning education, the best social resources, and you can meet at any time when you are not training or performing tasks, we will give you the maximum amount of freedom!"

Yuan Zhenghong was really a little anxious, and the conditions he offered were enough to make most people tempted.

Being able to obtain such a solemn promise from the official side in the current turbulent situation was enough to show Yuan Zhenghong's regard for Li Tianran.

For no other reason...

There were many people in this world who were outstanding in a certain aspect.

But there were very few who possessed both extremely strong personal martial power and team cohesion, or "煽动力" (shān dòng lì - persuasive power).

Yuan Zhenghong was the commander-in-chief of this operation in Handong Province, and he felt that Li Tianran was very suitable to be the leader of this team in his heart.

So at this time, he would not hesitate to make Li Tianran agree to him!

Li Tianran laughed. His tone was slightly helpless as he said with a smile, "It seems that you are really full of sincerity, but I still can't agree to you."

"I can see that you are a young man with ideals and passion. You refuse to agree to me, definitely not because you are afraid of death." Yuan Zhenghong said, "If you feel that the conditions we give to the little girl in your family are not good enough, we can continue to improve her treatment..."

Li Tianran listened quietly to Yuan Zhenghong's words, and then said seriously, "Good education, good social life, these are indeed things that I cannot give her, and they are all very, very good... But the most important thing is that these are not what the little girl in my family wants."

"..." Yuan Zhenghong narrowed his eyes.

"Children's hearts are actually very simple. They don't want too many luxurious things, those things that are very valuable in the eyes of us adults..." Li Tianran said slowly, "Children are also very greedy. They want their families to stay by their side for the rest of their lives, never leaving for a moment."

Yuan Zhenghong heard this, and after a moment of silence, he said, "This is small love, not great love."

In the eyes of family members, she hopes that you can stay by her side for the rest of your life; but as time goes by, she will still choose to push you out and let you soar towards your dreams and spread your wings and fly.

The former is a tender small love, the latter... is the great love.

"We were originally small people." Li Tianran smiled, very brightly, "Even if we never become big people in our lives, there is nothing to regret."

Yuan Zhenghong took a deep breath. He felt a little blocked in his chest.

He wanted to persuade Li Tianran, but he didn't know where to start.

"But... we need you now." Yuan Zhenghong stared into Li Tianran's eyes and said very seriously, "Our country needs you."

Hearing the word "country," Li Tianran's expression also became serious.

"For the entire Yanhuang, I am just a slightly special soldier... but for the little girl in my family, I am the whole world." Li Tianran stood up very seriously, bowed slightly to Yuan Zhenghong, "Besides me, you have many other choices, but Hanhan only has me as her family."

Yuan Zhenghong finally understood where Li Tianran's determination came from.

He also finally understood that he could not make this excellent young man a member of his plan.

But he was not angry or resentful, just a little disappointed.

A smile appeared on his face, and he patted Li Tianran's shoulder with some emotion and said, "Being able to give up one's ideals and passion for the sake of family is already a very difficult thing. I respect your choice."

Wúqíng wèibì zhēn háojié, lián zǐ rúhé bù zhàngfū! (A ruthless person is not necessarily a hero, how can a loving father not be a true man!)

This was what Yuan Zhenghong wanted to say to Li Tianran at this time!

It was indeed very manly for a man to step onto the battlefield and shed blood! But for the sake of his family, giving up a bright and glorious path, silently returning to mediocrity, who could say that a man who made this choice was not a real man?

Yuan Zhenghong knew that this choice was extremely difficult, and he no longer advised him.

"I will notify Yang Yong to seal and destroy your case record, file, and the record of this matter." Yuan Zhenghong smiled, this was the kindness he left for Li Tianran. Although he failed to recruit Li Tianran, he was still willing to be friends with such a person.

And maybe, Li Tianran would change his mind in the future. At that time, he could still bring Li Tianran under his command at any time!

"The current situation is very chaotic, be low-key, preserve your strength, and protect yourself and your family well." Yuan Zhenghong handed Li Tianran a piece of paper with a string of numbers written on it: "This is my private phone number, call me anytime if anything happens."

Li Tianran nodded.

Yuan Zhenghong stepped out.

Suddenly, he turned around and pointed a gun at Li Tianran.

Li Tianran subconsciously bent down, his body pounced out like a cheetah, his left hand pressed down on Yuan Zhenghong's gun-wielding arm, pressing down hard, while his right palm braced against the butt of Yuan Zhenghong's gun, instantly folding his arm into a V-shape with the elbow as the center point, pressing it next to Yuan Zhenghong's neck!

All of this happened within 0.2 seconds.

It wasn't until Li Tianran pinned Yuan Zhenghong against the wall and snatched the gun with his right hand that he realized that the gun was not even on safety.

"Hoo hoo... My evaluation of you is even higher, hehe!" Yuan Zhenghong gasped violently, with a smile on his face.

"Testing me?" Li Tianran asked softly.

"How can I completely believe the empty words of a criminal suspect (Wang Bing)? How would I know if it was true or false if I didn't try it myself?" Yuan Zhenghong said with a smile, "When I was young, I was the entire Handong Province's fighting champion! Although I'm a little older now, it's embarrassing for me to be disarmed so easily!"