Dazzling

The wheels of time slowly rolled through their university years. Though Xing Wu and Qing Ye were both busy and met no more than a few times a week, being in the same place kept their hearts intimately close. Even while occupied with their own pursuits, their hearts remained steadfastly at ease.

During Xing Wu's freshman year, Qing Ye always managed to carve out two evenings each week to help him intensively practice listening and pronunciation. Thus, their usual dates took place in the campus library, cafeteria, study rooms, or any spot with seating available.

Later, to further hone Xing Wu's pronunciation, they began conversing in English during their meetings and phone calls. They even bantered, flirted, and argued in English. The romance between top students always carried a nuance that ordinary people might find hard to grasp, yet the two reveled in it endlessly.

By the second semester of freshman year, Xing Wu could effortlessly understand any fully English-taught course. Under the tutelage of Qing Ye—the belle of the foreign languages department—his spoken English became remarkably fluent by sophomore year, completely free of any Chinese accent and nearly without hesitation.

Once, when he delivered a full English presentation, Qing Ye secretly slipped in to listen. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, his sharp and handsome features, deep voice, and fluent English combined to radiate an indescribable charm on stage. Qing Ye had never seen him shine so brilliantly; within her sight, he seemed to glow from head to toe.

Sitting in the back row corner, she listened with a smile throughout. As thunderous applause erupted, he glanced her way. She gave him a thumbs-up, and a gentle smile touched his lips.

They celebrated their twentieth birthdays by the sea, just as they had promised years before. Under blue skies, white clouds, and the vast ocean, they enjoyed speedboats, diving, and surfing. Xing Wu threw himself into the fun with wild abandon—on his first try riding a jet ski, he daringly sped straight into the open sea with Qing Ye, executing sharp turns that left her screaming until her voice grew hoarse.

When they soared on a parasail, the deep blue sea merged seamlessly with the azure sky. Vast stretches of blue flooded Qing Ye's vision, and she felt as if she were spreading her wings like a bird, soaring freely.

There was a time, at the lowest point in her life, when she arrived at Zhazha Pavilion with wounds and broken wings. It was the young man beside her who tenderly cared for her injuries, propping up a clear blue sky for her and personally lifting her to greater heights. Now, he was right by her side, having overcome countless obstacles to soar through that very sky with her.

Feeling his breath, his heartbeat, and his gaze, a smile bloomed on her lips. She shouted toward the horizon where sea met sky, "Hey! I'm twenty now."

"When will you marry me?"

"When the country allows you to marry me."

Their voices echoed between heaven and earth, lingering and profound.

...

After arriving in Beijing, Xing Wu's life leaped from the bleak, impoverished neighborhood into the vibrant world of a top-tier university. He immersed himself in diverse elective courses, various club activities, and social practices. Occasionally, he joined soccer matches, played video games with his roommates, and snuggled with his girlfriend.

Though each day was packed, his smiles grew more frequent. The fierce and restless edge in his expression gradually faded with his new life, replaced by an increasingly calm and poised elegance.He had never been able to understand where Qing Ye's mysterious confidence came from, but only after truly stepping into her world, seeing what she saw, and encountering what she encountered did he genuinely feel that powerful radiance.

Like a sponge, he continuously absorbed knowledge and information from all directions, transforming them into his own shield. It was then he realized that confidence wasn't bestowed by others nor did it fall from the sky—it originated from one's own solid fortress. Gradually, he too matured and became more composed through subtle influences.

When he returned to Zhazha Pavilion again, even Da Hei and the others barely recognized him. Perhaps environment shapes character—over these two years, his demeanor had undergone significant changes. He had completely transformed from a cynical, somewhat insecure and gloomy troublemaker into a refined and mature man.

The sharp, intimidating glint in his eyes was gone. When his deep, handsome eyes sparkled with laughter, they instead revealed an air of elegance. Through interacting with more people, he learned to retract his thorns completely—though perhaps only in front of Qing Ye would he still reveal that wild, untamed side.

Comrade Qing Hongzhi, Qing Ye's father, still hadn't given up on the idea of marrying into the Meng family. Being old friends with Father Meng was one reason; another was his advancing age making certain matters difficult to handle, seemingly eager to find a reliable family for his daughter to depend on. Thus, he frequently invited Meng Ruihang over under various pretexts like helping with chores, always keeping him for meals.

After this happened repeatedly, Xing Wu simply stopped asking Qing Ye to review English documents for him. Whenever he needed verification, he went straight to the Foreign Languages Department to find Meng Ruihang. Soon enough, he blended in with the guys from the Foreign Languages Department, even playing basketball together occasionally. This directly led to Meng Ruihang feeling too embarrassed to accept Qing Hongzhi's subsequent invitations, out of consideration for Xing Wu.

During these two years of development, as the Sunny Valley model matured, it indeed attracted attention from numerous investors and industry peers, including some promising opportunities. However, neither Xing Wu nor Qing Ye were in a hurry to enter the capital market or expand Sunny Valley rapidly.

Their current focus remained on their studies. For both of them, Sunny Valley served more as a practice ground before truly entering society—they planned to solidify the enterprise's foundation before considering future development.

For instance, the development and maintenance of the online platform over these two years provided Xing Wu with rich practical material for his undergraduate thesis. As for corporate structure, drafting various business documents, and even quarterly and annual reports, Qing Ye personally oversaw them. The benefit was that both utilized Sunny Valley to leverage their strengths—learning, exploring, managing, and growing simultaneously. When encountering difficulties, they were surrounded by top academic talents—the prestigious departments and business schools never lacked experts, so seeking help was never an issue. Thus, being in Beijing far away, they indeed provided Quan Ya with substantial confidence, both in terms of connections and technical support.After the reassignment of the second zone of the target factory, it was entirely taken over by Sunny Valley. Due to the state's key support for high-tech industries, the county also fully backed Sunny Valley, causing Boss Jiang's original plan to acquire Zhazha Pavilion to fall through. He attempted to take action against Sunny Valley twice, but because Sunny Valley's interest chain was too complex—not only was Fang Jie involved, but there were even benefit transfers between the target factory and Sunny Valley—coupled with policy support, the county leaders subtly warned him. In the end, after two unsuccessful attempts, Boss Jiang had no choice but to back off and retreat to his own turf.

The real opportunity for Sunny Valley came during Xing Wu's junior year of college when he participated in a foreign affairs event and came into contact with a company in the industry, Xinke. At the time, his understanding of the company was limited to its products.

Shortly after the event, he received a detailed project proposal. He didn't pay much attention to it at first and casually forwarded it to Qing Ye.

Over the years, they had received numerous olive branches from various parties, but this proposal caught Qing Ye's eye. She specifically sacrificed her dinner time to seek him out and passionately pointed out several surprising aspects of the proposal. From the materials, it seemed like a golden opportunity delivered right to their doorstep—or a pie falling from the sky—for both them and Sunny Valley. The entire proposal was coherent and clear, with no convoluted points, making Qing Ye feel the sincerity of the other party. However, Xing Wu remained cautious.

What truly changed Xing Wu's attitude was three days later when the CEO of Xinke Group personally flew to Beijing to meet with him. This was completely unexpected for Xing Wu.

After all, he was just an undergraduate student, while the other party was the head of a diversified large-scale enterprise in the information industry with assets exceeding tens of billions.

Before the meeting, Xing Wu had heard that the other party was named Zhao Qing, but upon meeting him, he found that CEO Zhao was different from what he had imagined. Despite being in his early forties, he was tall and straight, full of energy, and strikingly handsome, looking like he was in his early thirties. Moreover, he came alone to the meeting—aside from a driver downstairs, he didn't even bring an assistant. Thinking of the other business partners Xing Wu had met, whose companies weren't that large but brought along a whole entourage of business, secretarial, and legal staff for meetings, he couldn't help but view CEO Zhao in a different light.

Xing Wu had initially thought the meeting would last at most an hour, but he ended up talking with CEO Zhao until nightfall. What started as a meeting with low expectations unexpectedly opened a new door for Xing Wu in the internet industry.

Even more surprising was that during their conversation, Xing Wu discovered that their experiences were astonishingly similar in some aspects: a poverty-stricken youth, excelling as a top student at Ningda University before going to UCL for graduate studies, working as a doctor for several years, and then, around the age of thirty, resolutely quitting what seemed like a stable career despite no one's support. Starting from a small entrepreneurial team working day and night, he went through venture capital, core platform transformation, and asset restructuring, step by step struggling to reach today, building the company into a unique rising star in the industry in just over a decade.

The resolute tenacity in him reminded Xing Wu of his own determination when he first left Zhazha Pavilion.Zhao Qing proved more insightful and candid than he had imagined. Both being from technical backgrounds, Xing Wu found they resonated deeply as Zhao Qing had already navigated the team dynamics Xing Wu was currently experiencing. Their conversation flowed effortlessly from technology to development strategies and business innovation.

They conversed like old friends who had met too late in life, continuing until dusk fell unnoticed. After dinner, they ordered simple meals directly at the tea house.

One detail during the meal particularly amused Xing Wu. President Zhao took a phone call and his commanding presence instantly deflated from 1.8 meters to 0.8 meters. Whatever the person on the other end said, he kept coaxing them with laughter, his tone becoming indulgent and tender. He promised to return tomorrow and bring gifts as compensation, before ending the call with: "Tell Mom I'll call her later."

After hanging up, Zhao Qing wore an irrepressible smile as he explained to Xing Wu: "My daughter. She's throwing a tantrum because I had to make this last-minute business trip and won't be home tonight."

Xing Wu couldn't help smiling too. Compared to partners who immediately wanted to drag him to nightclubs for drinks, a family-oriented man like President Zhao made him feel more inclined to establish trust—this felt like someone genuinely focused on work.

Though separated by about a decade in age, they shared numerous compatible perspectives and ideas. Often, Zhao Qing would anticipate Xing Wu's thoughts before he even voiced them. This remarkable synergy made Zhao Qing stand out among all the people Xing Wu had met in recent years.

Soon after, Xing Wu decided to pursue deeper collaboration with Xinke. Qing Ye expressed surprise at this development—what kind of remarkable person was this Xinke president anyway? She had talked herself hoarse that entire evening without moving Xing Wu, yet this President Zhao had managed to win over her stubborn boyfriend in just one meeting. Impressive.

But as a seasoned businessman who had weathered many storms, no decision of his was made lightly or rashly. Long before approaching Xing Wu, Zhao Qing had thoroughly investigated his background. He disliked fighting unprepared battles, so every arrangement from his decision to personally intervene to the subsequent meeting with Xing Wu carried strong intentionality.

Xinke planned to enter game development within the next five years. Among countless candidates, Zhao Qing selected Xing Wu for three irreplaceable strengths: first, his prestigious Q University Y Class background and promising future; second, his control of Sunny Valley's highly potential e-commerce platform; third, his prior experience in esports.

These qualifications made Xing Wu the ideal choice. Zhao Qing spared no expense in mobilizing substantial capital and manpower to establish comprehensive strategic cooperation with Sunny Valley. Superficially, Xinke appeared to gain nothing initially, but only Zhao Qing understood that his real returns were never about Sunny Valley's rise—but the partner behind it.

He had been completely transparent about all this during his first meeting with Xing Wu. Thus, despite missing numerous other opportunities in recent years, Xing Wu ultimately chose Xinke precisely because of Zhao Qing's candor and their exceptional mutual understanding.After the powerful alliance sparked synergies, Sunny Valley truly entered the public consciousness. Within six months, offline stores began opening nationwide. By adopting a franchise model and developing a comprehensive ERP system, they completely broke free from traditional enterprise constraints through integrated information management, building upon the original supply chain integration concept. This progressed to establishing direct-operated zones and successfully introducing private equity. Xing Wu officially headquartered Sunny Valley in Beijing.

When the headquarters relocated to Beijing, Quan Ya transferred from their hometown. That year, Qing Ye was in her senior year of university. The long-unseen Quan Ya had changed significantly, with no trace of his former self remaining. Having always been the fair-skinned, refined type among the Zhazha Pavilion troublemakers, years of experience had made him more composed and sophisticated in both demeanor and speech.

It was only then that Qing Ye learned from Quan Ya that Shu Han had married an ordinary office worker during her second year in Shenzhen, giving birth to a healthy baby boy early this year and purchasing a home there. Qing Ye looked at Xing Wu in surprise, realizing he must have known but never mentioned it to her.

When Quan Ya came to Beijing, he initially wanted to invite Da Hei to join their venture, but Da Hei declined. He said workplace hierarchies would complicate things, and he didn't want to let down Xing Wu or Quan Ya in Beijing. As an uneducated rough guy, he preferred staying in their hometown, emphasizing that brotherhood lasts forever.

Heard he was dating a decent, simple girl—not someone from their wild circles—and had settled down seriously. He opened a small restaurant that, while modest in size, thrived due to his social skills and extensive network of friends. Interestingly, his eatery became the designated canteen for Huang Mao's trucking team.

With Quan Ya's arrival, Xing Wu immediately gained crucial support, making operations smoother than ever. Bolstered by Xinke's assistance, Sunny Valley entered its most rapid development phase in history.

When Qing Ye graduated, Xing Wu gifted her a Land Rover to celebrate. However, she never found time to get her driver's license, so only Xing Wu ended up driving the vehicle to chauffeur her.

The day Qing Ye's postgraduate exam results came out, they went out to celebrate. When Xing Wu drove her home, her father Qing Hongzhi caught them kissing goodbye in the car as he emerged from the garage.

The situation was utterly awkward, but fortunately Qing Hongzhi maintained his composure, avoiding a scene and heading straight inside.

However, the moment Qing Ye entered the house, her father initiated a serious conversation. He disapproved of her relationship with Xing Wu, primarily looking down on his family background. With Qing Ye's mother passing early, he worried his daughter would lack support during childbirth and childcare, especially since Xing Wu's mother seemed unreliable. Secondly, having previously made harsh remarks to Xing Wu's face, his pride wasn't easily set aside.

This being the first time Qing Hongzhi seriously discussed marriage with her, Qing Ye felt deeply depressed for days, overshadowing her relatively good postgraduate exam results.During that period, Qing Hongzhi had been feeling unwell and was also deeply anxious about his daughter's relationship. A subsequent hospital examination revealed intestinal issues, and the hospital promptly scheduled surgery. At the time, Qing Ye had just started her master's degree, shuttling between the hospital and campus while consumed with worry. It was then that Xing Wu appeared by Qing Hongzhi's side. As a daughter, Qing Ye found certain caregiving tasks inconvenient, so Xing Wu took over without hesitation. Initially resistant, Qing Hongzhi couldn't bear seeing his daughter exhausted and reluctantly accepted Xing Wu's presence.

Xing Wu began visiting the hospital frequently, bringing homemade soup and fresh fruit. One evening, noticing Qing Hongzhi's overgrown hair, he even brought a kit, wheeled him to the restroom, draped a large apron over him, and gave him a haircut.

The next day, when Qing Ye saw her father's new short layered cut, she laughed for ages before asking about it. Qing Hongzhi touched his hair self-consciously and said, "Xing Wu cut it. Not bad, right?"

Qing Ye's eyes curved into smiles: "More than not bad—it's perfect! Starting to realize how handy this son-in-law can be?"

Qing Hongzhi scolded in mock anger: "What son-in-law? Have you no shame!"

After being discharged, Qing Hongzhi never again suggested Qing Ye break up with Xing Wu. Yet whenever she proposed inviting him for dinner, he'd stubbornly retort, "If you dare bring that boy here, I'll change the locks."

Qing Ye urged her father to reduce work and rest more after his hospitalization, questioning why he still pushed himself at his age. But Qing Hongzhi had been preoccupied with corporate restructuring—his business scope was narrowing, and despite client interest, they couldn't meet procurement standards due to missing from supplier catalogs, causing major client losses. Younger shareholders were collectively demanding reforms.

Qing Hongzhi contacted an old friend for connections and was introduced to a department head overseeing such operations. Getting listed on their platform would streamline everything, but the head requested an assessment report and meetings with leadership—which kept getting postponed during Qing Hongzhi's hospital stay.

When a meeting was finally secured, the executive insisted on visiting Qing Hongzhi's home. Though surprised, Qing Hongzhi warmly agreed. He specifically told Qing Ye to either return early for Friday's dinner or come late to avoid interrupting, forgetting to mention the guest's identity.

Qing Ye, absorbed in academic work during the call, dismissed the details and completely forgot the arrangement. Wrapping up her project proposal, she returned home at exactly 7:30 PM.

Upon opening the door, she froze. At the long dining table, Xing Wu and Qing Hongzhi sat opposite each other, drinking red wine and chatting amiably. But most startlingly—what on earth was Xing Wu wearing?Dressed in a sharply tailored black suit, his features chiseled and profound, every line of his body exuding an impeccable air of nobility—this was the first time Qing Ye had ever seen him looking so refined and, surprisingly, quite handsome.

She swallowed hard before finally managing to ask, "What are you doing here?"

Xing Wu suppressed the obvious urge to smile, deliberately restraining the curve of his lips as he replied, "I'm here to discuss some business matters with President Qing."

Qing Ye set down her bag and turned to Qing Hongzhi. "The guest you're entertaining is Xing Wu? Didn't you say you'd change the locks if he ever dared to step through the door?"

Qing Hongzhi's face instantly turned pale then flushed red as he glared at his daughter. "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

He awkwardly rose and called for the housekeeper to serve Qing Ye a meal, then said to them, "You two eat. I'm going upstairs to lie down for a while."

Qing Ye immediately pulled out a chair and fixed her gaze on Xing Wu, scrutinizing him from head to toe with sparkling eyes. "Why are you dressed so formally?"

Xing Wu finally released the smile he had been suppressing for so long. "I came to negotiate with your dad."

"And the result?"

He said with complete seriousness, "Judging by your father voluntarily going upstairs to leave us alone, it seems he's prepared to sell you to me."

The more Qing Ye listened, the more something felt off. Connecting it with her father's recent work troubles and the elaborate phone call he'd made a few days ago about hosting some important guest at home, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully: "Did you set some trap for my father?"

Xing Wu spread his hands innocently: "Do I seem like that kind of person? Your father came to me himself. He probably didn't know Mr. Zhao gave me authority over North China operations for TrustTech last year. He even contacted Mao Pingfeng requesting to meet me. When I got the message, I was taking care of him in the hospital. I only had Mao bring me the documents after he was discharged. And when I looked - ha - it was your father."

"He sees me every day, yet he wants to make an appointment. Made me feel quite awkward. If I didn't dress formally for the visit, it'd seem like I was putting on airs, don't you think?"

Qing Ye rolled her eyes at him: "Why didn't you tell me?"

He said matter-of-factly: "I was afraid you'd mess things up. Of course I had to talk with your father first."

"And then?"

Xing Wu lowered his gaze with a smile: "You bet your future on me. I'd stake everything I have to ensure you win. I asked your father for your hand in marriage."

Qing Ye stared blankly at his confident, spirited features, her red lips slightly parted. The gentle fire in her eyes emitted a dazzling light that illuminated his entire world.

The End.