Lin Zhihua's voice held a hint of surprise as he blinked his eyes. "Jiao Jiao, what brings you here?"
Though puzzled, he instinctively pulled her inside, his eyes filled with tenderness as the night outside was cold.
Xue Jiao looked at the man before her, whose expression was laced with concern, and felt even more guilty. Yet there were words she had to say to him personally.
She slowly parted her lips. "Zhihua, I applied for a master's program at MIT... and got accepted."
When uttering the last three words, Xue Jiao bit her lower lip, as though it had taken immense effort to voice them.
Lin Zhihua froze for a moment, his reaction catching Xue Jiao off guard.
She had expected anger or shock, but never did she imagine he would simply respond with a calm "Mm," followed by silence.
Yet this very reaction unsettled her even more.
She watched him intently, not daring to miss any flicker of emotion.
After a long pause, Lin Zhihua spoke again. "Alright, I understand."
With that, he turned to walk away.
Xue Jiao reached out, wrapping her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek against his back as her eyes gradually reddened.
"I'm sorry, but please give me two years—just two years."
Her research path made these two years unavoidable. Lin Zhihua was important to her, but so were her dreams.
She couldn't give up on Lin Zhihua, nor could she abandon her aspirations.
When she finished speaking, Lin Zhihua only replied softly, "You'll step out of my world for two years. The world is vast, and I won't be by your side. You're so outstanding—you'll meet many remarkable people who share your passions, who are younger than me, who can discuss your interests with ease. Some might even collaborate with you on projects, caring for you in every possible way..."
Age had always been Lin Zhihua's insecurity.
He feared he wasn't good enough for Jiao Jiao, feared that brilliant young men would appear in her life.
"I won't..." Xue Jiao began.
Lin Zhihua's voice was quiet, carrying an indescribable loneliness. "I have nothing to tie you down. What if one day, you leave and never return? Leaving me alone, waiting in place?"
Xue Jiao opened her mouth to say more, but Lin Zhihua turned and pressed a finger to her lips.
"It's late, Jiao Jiao. Go back and rest."
Xue Jiao gazed at him. Lin Zhihua couldn't bear to let her go, yet he couldn't help worrying. But Xue Jiao had no way to prove her heart wouldn't change...
Words and promises were the most fragile things.
She bit her lower lip. "I'm not going back. I'm staying with you tonight!"
She felt the body she held tremble slightly.
——
In truth, nothing happened that night.
Xue Jiao had even prepared herself. When she embraced him gently in her pajamas, she could sense Lin Zhihua's unmistakable desire.
Yet even as veins pulsed at his temples, he took a deep breath, tucked her in, and whispered, "Sleep well. Goodnight."
Xue Jiao, however, couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned for hours, until Lin Zhihua's steady breathing filled the room and the sky began to lighten.
She turned to look at Lin Zhihua lying quietly beside her. His handsome features were just as they had been when they first met, though the sharpness in his gaze had softened, and his once-expressionless face had warmed.
With her, he could even smile with adoration.He lay with his eyes closed in sleep, but his brows were slightly furrowed—clearly, his rest was uneasy. Even in slumber, his unease and fear were palpable.
She was leaving, yet no matter how much it pained him, he restrained himself from reproaching her.
His restraint was immense. Even with her lying right beside him, he endured.
This man had waited for her for six years.
From the moment they met in their second year of high school, he had set his heart on her, waiting until after university graduation.
From twenty-six to thirty-two years old, he waited, yet she still hadn't given him the reassurance he needed.
Xue Jiao leaned over slightly and kissed his forehead.
"I love you. If we had a bond between us, would that finally put your heart at ease?"
An idea formed in her mind. She closed her eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.
A while later, the man beside her opened his eyes, his gaze clear—proof he hadn't been asleep at all.
The corners of Lin Zhihua's lips twitched, revealing a triumphant smile.
He reached out and gently pulled the woman he loved to his bones closer, whispering almost inaudibly—
"I love you too, so very much."
——
In late June, Xue Jiao graduated from Tsinghua University with honors, completing her undergraduate studies.
A group photo captured the essence of her four years at university—a period neither too long nor too short, gone in the blink of an eye.
Having already bid farewell to close friends, Xue Jiao changed out of her graduation gown after receiving her diploma and slipped into a long crimson dress.
In the bathroom mirror, she carefully applied her makeup. The woman reflected back was breathtakingly beautiful.
Xue Jiao smiled softly at her reflection. Today was her graduation day—and also another pivotal moment in her life.
"Jiao Jiao, you look stunning," Mai Jiajia said, holding a makeup bag with a grin.
Xue Jiao smiled shyly and checked the time. "Let's head over now, or he'll come pick me up soon."
"Hurry then," Mai Jiajia agreed, and the two rushed to the university gate.
Cheng Shuo, Li Sitong, and Cheng Mingze were already waiting. A minivan had been arranged for the occasion. Once Xue Jiao and Mai Jiajia got in, Li Sitong voiced her concern: "Is it really okay for us to make such a grand scene at Zhihua's company?"
Cheng Shuo, in a foul mood, snorted. "Grand scene? He'd want it even more extravagant—he'd probably prefer a global broadcast if he could."
Xue Jiao covered her mouth, laughing sheepishly. After all this time with Lin Zhihua, she knew him well. He truly wished she would declare her love for him in front of everyone, to let the whole world know she belonged to him.
At the thought, her cheeks flushed even redder.
"Nervous?" Mai Jiajia teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
Xue Jiao nodded. "Very."
Noticing her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her dress, Mai Jiajia reached over and held her hand.
Mai Jiajia's eyes glistened with happy tears.
Ding Qi had gone abroad and, due to the incident with Shu Lan years ago, harbored a deep aversion to men. As for Mai Jiajia herself, she had harbored feelings for Chu Sheng for years, but reality had won out—she was returning to her hometown, while he was leaving to further his studies abroad.
And he... still didn't know how she felt.
Mai Jiajia had decided not to tell him. Some affections were better left unspoken, and the world was full of love stories that ended without resolution—hers would just be one more.
Shu Lan... Shu Lan was a memory she no longer wished to revisit.Among the group of them, Xue Jiao was the happiest. She had met a man who loved her, and she herself had the courage to love in return.
The kind of bold action Xue Jiao took today was something Mai Jiajia would never dare to do in her lifetime. And precisely because of that, Xue Jiao deserved the most sincere affection.
At least among their group, there was finally someone who was truly happy.
Mai Jiajia smiled, thinking of how Ding Qi had shouted over the phone earlier about wanting to livestream, and her smile grew even brighter.
The car soon arrived at Lin Corporation, where Tan Qi was waiting downstairs, looking rather shifty-eyed.
The moment he saw Xue Jiao, he hurried forward: "Xue Jiao! Manager Wang and Secretary Chen can barely hold the boss back any longer—he says he's going to pick you up himself!"
Xue Jiao took a deep breath and asked him, "Assistant Tan, is everything ready?"
Tan Qi immediately grinned: "Don't worry! The whole company helped with the preparations today!"
"The whole company?" Xue Jiao was surprised.
Tan Qi winked mischievously: "Secretary Chen said it was an opportunity for everyone to get a raise."
Of course, Tan Qi and the others were well aware of Lin Zhihua's penchant for public displays of affection.
Xue Jiao shook her head helplessly and stepped into the Lin Corporation lobby.
Upstairs.
"Chen Yan, what exactly is the matter?" Lin Zhihua's face was cold.
Chen Yan shivered, but he firmly believed that even if he angered the boss now, the boss definitely wouldn't blame him later when he went downstairs!
"Boss..." Chen Yan was racking his brains for another way to stall Lin Zhihua when his phone vibrated slightly in his pocket.
His eyes lit up: "Boss, never mind! You can go pick up Ms. Gu Xue Jiao now!"
As he spoke, he nimbly went to open the door, unusually light-footed and with a happy expression.
Lin Zhihua turned sideways, carefully examining himself in the small mirror nearby. He stood up and meticulously straightened his clothes once more.
The entire Lin Corporation had been secretly preparing a big surprise behind the boss's back today, leaving everyone feeling rather guilty.
So much so that no one had noticed the boss was wearing a brand-new suit, his shoes polished to a shine, and his hair freshly styled.
Lin Zhihua followed Chen Yan downstairs. As soon as the elevator doors opened, cheers erupted from outside, and Lin Zhihua could barely suppress the smile on his lips.
He pinched himself, his steps light as if floating, forcing a look of confusion onto his face as he walked out.
"Pop—"
"Pop pop—"
"Pop pop pop—"
The large balloons hanging in the lobby all burst open, releasing cascades of fiery red rose petals.
A red carpet was rolled out, lined with people holding balloons and streamers, cheering and excited.
Even though he had expected it, Lin Zhihua was so happy his eyes turned slightly red.
The treasure he had waited six years for was finally going to be completely his.
He walked slowly down the red carpet toward the center of the lobby, which had been completely transformed, bearing no resemblance to its usual empty appearance.
At the end of the carpet was an abundance of gorgeous roses, with the Cheng family of three on one side and the Lin parents on the other.
They too held balloons, smiling warmly. Lin Zhihua didn't see Xue Jiao at first, his gaze shifting to the towering floral wall as he took slow, deliberate steps forward.
Then, singing began.
This was the first time Xue Jiao had ever sung. Her voice was beautiful, and she sang so well that Lin Zhihua's eyes grew completely wet.
"You were the first to notice me,
The more expressionless I seem, the sadder I am inside.
So when I tremble, refusing to shed tears,
You hold me close to your chest, heart aching..."When she first arrived in this world, facing the stubborn and unaffectionate Li Sitong, Xue Jiao felt heartbroken, disappointed, and sad. That day, she ran outside in distress and sat down, and it was he who appeared, handing her tissues and smiling at her.
When she faced the Cheng family’s elderly matriarch, who sided with Cheng Mingjiao, he gave her advice, offering unwavering support and trust.
“You understand me better than anyone else, my inner desires far outweigh what’s on the surface. So when my wings were broken, you didn’t lift me up but stayed by my side, teaching me to endure the pain…”
He never told her what she shouldn’t or couldn’t do. He would only analyze things for her and then watch as she made her own decisions.
The year they graduated from high school, she gave up on Yi Tianyu. On that rainy day, he carried her on his back, step by step, walking away from the pain of youth and into another chapter of happiness.
“I want to go to the farthest place, dance and talk about dreams with you, as if I’ve never been disappointed or hurt, still believing that if I dare to fly, there will be a sky for me…”
That year, during the math competition, he encouraged her to sign up. He taught her about dreams, aspirations, and perseverance. Through effort and persistence, she transformed from a somewhat timid Xue Jiao into the increasingly brave Gu Xue Jiao.
“Sometimes I feel we’re very different—you can see things I can’t. Other times, I feel we’re so alike, both lifting our heads, refusing to listen to fate’s words…”
They were different—she wasn’t as quick-witted or clever as him. Yet they were the same—equally determined and stubborn. Even if a wall stood in their way, they would break through it.
Lin Zhihua’s life had never known surrender, and Xue Jiao’s—Gu Xue Jiao’s—life would never stand still!
“I want to stand at the farthest place, wearing the first light of dawn on my shoulders. Having been drenched by the coldest raindrops and snowflakes, I’ll still smile as warmly as the sun…”
Lin Zhihua, thank you for walking with me all these years. I won’t stop on the path to my dreams, but I won’t let go of your hand either.
“Lin Zhihua, I love you. We’ve walked together for six years, and I want to keep walking with you.”
Lin Zhihua had already stepped in front of the flower wall. Xue Jiao took a deep breath and said, “Let’s get married!”
“Bang—”
With a loud sound, the flower wall collapsed to both sides, and people holding streamers began spraying them wildly.
“Get married!!”
“Get married—”
Some even shouted excitedly—
“Marry her! Boss, marry her!”
Amid the surrounding clamor, Lin Zhihua’s eyes were only on the girl before him. He stepped over the scattered flowers, walked up to Xue Jiao, and stood before her.
Xue Jiao looked at him, waiting for him to speak.
Lin Zhihua chuckled softly. “Silly girl, I’m so happy—I’ve never been happier. But these things should still be done by the man.”
As he spoke, he knelt on one knee and raised the ring.
“Jiao Jiao, Xue Jiao, will you marry me?”
Xue Jiao looked into his moist eyes, and her tears completely overflowed. She nodded through her streaming tears, unable to speak.
He never called her Gu Xue Jiao—even when Li Sitong was stern, she was still called Gu Xue Jiao.
Only Lin Zhihua had never called her Gu Xue Jiao. To him, she was always Xue Jiao.
In this world, to meet a man like this—who understood her, knew everything about her, and loved her so deeply—Xue Jiao was truly fortunate.
She cried too hard to speak, only trembling as she reached out her hand.
Lin Zhihua slipped the ring onto her finger. It was also the first time he had ever shed tears in public—tears of joy.Then he stood up, cupped her face, leaned down, and kissed her.
"Wahhhhh—" The onlookers completely erupted.
Xue Jiao had all her emotions stolen away by Lin Zhihua, leaving no room to wonder...
Why Lin Zhihua had so perfectly produced a ring at that exact moment.
——
Xue Jiao and Lin Zhihua registered their marriage first, with plans to hold the wedding after she returned from abroad.
That day at the civil affairs bureau, this usually stern man smiled like a fool, handing out wedding candies to everyone he saw.
But getting their marriage certificate also meant Xue Jiao only had seven days left before she had to report to MIT, as Professor Conrad was pressing urgently.
These seven days, Xue Jiao moved into Lin Zhihua's villa, where they spent an undisturbed (and utterly shameless) week together.
Feeling guilty about leaving the country right after registering their marriage, Xue Jiao indulged all of Lin Zhihua's little whims during those seven days.
Whether in bed, the bathroom, living room, or kitchen—her guilt ran so deep that no matter how "shameless" Lin Zhihua's requests were, Xue Jiao would blush and agree.
By the day of her departure, her legs were still weak.
"This Lin Zhihua really has no self-control!" Li Sitong couldn't help complaining.
Cheng Mingze's face turned slightly red as he averted his gaze.
Xue Jiao also tugged awkwardly at the scarf around her neck, her cheeks burning bright red.
Cheng Shuo, Li Sitong, and Cheng Mingze came to see her off, but Lin Zhihua didn't show up. He said if he came, he would definitely hold her and refuse to let her go.
Though disappointed, Xue Jiao didn't force him.
Soon, it was time to board the plane. With tears in her eyes, she bid farewell to her family.
One last glance back confirmed the familiar figure was nowhere in sight.
He really didn't come...
Xue Jiao felt a pang of disappointment, but mostly, she missed him.
Once on the plane, she leaned against the seat and gazed outside. The weather was beautiful—clear blue skies and white clouds—yet something in her eyes couldn't help but fall.
As the plane prepared for takeoff, someone sat down beside her. Xue Jiao didn't turn to look.
Then a hand covered hers. Startled, she turned her head.
Her newlywed husband was smiling at her...
Xue Jiao stammered, "Y-you—how are you here?"
Lin Zhihua raised an eyebrow, amusement in his voice. "The U.S. branch of the company just went public. I'll need to be there often over the next couple of years to oversee things."
"When did you even open a company in the U.S.?!" Xue Jiao exclaimed.
"When you were studying for your TOEFL."
Xue Jiao: "..."
Damn, no wonder he kept interrupting whenever she tried to confess—he had it all planned out!!
Furious, Xue Jiao bit him. This man would stop at nothing to get married!!
She bit down hard, seething with anger.
After the seven days she'd spent barely leaving the house, Xue Jiao swore that once they reached the U.S., this man wouldn't lay a finger on her for a whole month!!
She pretended to be furious, but deep down, she was happy.
Compared to having him by her side, this anger meant nothing.
But she definitely wouldn't let him off easy. Hmph!
Ignoring the pain in his arm, Lin Zhihua gently pulled the little girl into his embrace.
"I told you—by my side, you can chase your dreams without fear. I'll be with you, always with you."
She was his salvation. Because of her, he learned that happiness could exist in this world.
Meeting her was the luckiest thing in his life.
Xue Jiao loosened her bite and slowly raised her arms, returning the embrace of the man who had brought her warmth.She is fortunate to have loved ones by her side and burning dreams in her heart.
Up to this day, she has lived each day with purpose, and not a single one has been spent in regret.
Too many in this world follow the beaten path, while too few dare to ignite their dreams and march steadfastly toward them.
May every soul that walks this earth find meaning in their existence.
May we all journey through life carrying our dreams, forging ahead with determination.
May the you of tomorrow look back on today with satisfaction.
Our wild ambitions are unquenchable, raging freely through storms and tempests.
Even in barren years, even on desolate grounds, we grow unrestrained, flourishing without bounds.
(The End)
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