Qi Hong grew up in the mountains.
His schooling was funded by kind-hearted donors. The Wan family was quite well-off back then and had donated Hope Primary Schools to many mountainous areas.
That year, Wan Yu was only five years old. She followed her parents to the mountains.
She wore a beautiful princess dress, her long hair reaching her waist, with a crystal hairband on her head.
Qi Hong and the other students stood on the playground. He wore clothes and trousers with holes, his cheeks flushed with the ruddy complexion of the highlands.
The moment he saw her, he felt like he was looking at a little angel.
She personally handed him a schoolbag, clothes, shoes, and a delicate little cake.
She called him "big brother" and told him to study hard so he could go to the capital to find her and play someday.
The next time he encountered her was when she was around fifteen, returning to the mountain village with He Xiuyuan to do charity work again.
She had grown into a graceful young woman, gentle and elegant when she smiled.
As for him, although he was already attending university in the capital, the gap between them remained as vast as heaven and earth.
He only dared to watch her from afar.
When the earthquake struck, both she and He Xiuyuan were trapped in a building. Without a second thought, he rushed in and shielded her unconscious body.
Later, the building collapsed, and all three of them were buried beneath the rubble.
In the cramped space, he kept her protectively cradled in his arms.
During that time, she developed a high fever and, in her delirium, asked for water.
Unable to find any water for her, he could only bite his own finger.
Afterwards, the rescue team pulled all three of them out.
He saw her being taken to the hospital and then left alone.
Because in her feverish state, the name she called was He Xiuyuan's.
He knew he wasn't good enough for her, so he didn't dare to entertain any thoughts, nor did he claim credit in front of her.
He assumed He Xiuyuan would cherish her.
He never imagined that He Xiuyuan would be the one to hurt her the most.
Regret flooded his heart. If he had known she would be hurt so deeply, he should have told her the truth back then.
"Mr. Qi, was it you?" Wan Yu asked again.
Qi Hong's eyes reddened. He nodded, his voice hoarse. "It was me."
Before Wan Yu could say anything more, He Xiuyuan suddenly rushed over, placing himself between the two of them.
"Yu Yu, we grew up together. Even without that incident during the earthquake, you would have loved me, right?"
Wan Yu frowned tightly. "If not for that incident, I would not have loved you."
Unwilling to accept this reality, He Xiuyuan's face turned ashen. "Even if Qi Hong was the one who fed you his blood back then, it's absolutely impossible for you and him now. You were once my wife, we even had a child together. Who would want a second-hand woman? What's more, the He family would never accept you again!"
Thud!
Qi Hong clenched his large hand into a fist and threw a punch directly at He Xiuyuan's face.
"Truly liking someone means you don't care about their past at all. Besides, I liked Wan Yu before you did. As long as she is willing to give me a chance, I would never look down on her."
Wen Yan's eyes showed an approving expression.
[Deep affection is the best cosmetic surgery a man can get.]
[He Xiuyuan is so disgusting. What does he mean a divorced woman is 'second-hand'? Ugh, I suggest he go to the neurology department and get an urgent appointment with a specialist!]
Through Wan Yu's experience, Wen Yan also understood a truth.
After marriage, a woman should not easily give up her career. In all relationships, including the most intimate marital one, how others treat you is not determined by how much you sacrifice, how devoted you are, or how you pour your heart out to them. It depends on the strength of your capabilities and your value.
Most people are more tolerant of the strong. Towards the weak, no matter how much you swallow your pride and compromise, it will seem cheap and insignificant.
To sum it up in one sentence, the economic base determines the superstructure.
In today's society, if you're not strong, you simply won't make it.
[The facts prove that being good to anyone is not as good as being good to yourself!]
Wen Yan's clarity and strength made the Si family sympathize with Si Moyan a little more.
Trying to win over Wen Yan, to make her fall and develop feelings, seemed like a fantasy.
Old Master Si patted Si Moyan's shoulder. "Grandson, your grandpa mourns for you for three seconds."
Si Moyan's handsome features were tense, his gaze towards Wen Yan dark and profound.
She was truly clear-headed and realistic, self-reliant and ruthless.
In the process of trying to win him over, she flirted and acted out in all sorts of ways, yet she herself remained unmoved.
And him?
Unconsciously, uncontrollably, he was drawn to her.
Her every smile and frown could even stir ripples in his heart.
This wasn't a good sign. By the time his feelings for her deepened further, she might leave him at any moment.
She was like a handful of flowing sand; the tighter he tried to grasp her in his palm, the more she slipped away.
Si Moyan closed his eyes. A complex, stifling emotion surged in his chest.
He turned and left the He Corporation conference room.
Si Jingyi glanced at Old Master Si. "Grandpa, I think big brother is about to get emo."
"He gets emo, and I'm about to get goosebumps! After spending time with Xiao Yan, I already think of her as my own granddaughter. Never mind who might smother me with a pillow in the future, but as long as Xiao Yan is around, I'm happy and joyful. Lately, I've even lost interest in women. If there comes a day I can't get my gossip fix, I might as well head to the western heavens early!"
Si Jingyi, "..."
He never dreamed that what could make the old man quit chasing women was becoming a gossip-mongering 'marmot' in the melon field.
Alright then!
He had to admit, lately he'd been very happy too. Following his sister-in-law for gossip, there was drama, there were touching moments, and there was the sweetness of shipping couples.
This was way more exciting than directing dramas!
He didn't even have a director's dream anymore now. Just like grandpa, he only wanted to be that marmot in the melon field.
Back in the conference room.
Madam He held Wan Yu's hand. "Yu Yu, I know your last marriage caused you great pain, but don't lose hope in marriage. I believe in my own biological son. When he likes someone, he will be responsible for them for a lifetime."
Qi Hong looked at Wan Yu, his gaze gentle and profound. "Xiao Yu, I will wait for you to walk out of the shadow and pain left by your last marriage. Don't put pressure on yourself."
Wan Yu glanced at Qi Hong and nodded at him gratefully. "For now, I want to focus on building my career. Matters of the heart, I'll set aside for the time being."
A warm smile touched Qi Hong's lips. "That confident, radiant girl has returned."
Seeing Wan Yu and Qi Hong share a smile, He Xiuyuan's heart felt like it was about to split open.
The girl who once had only him in her eyes and heart was ultimately lost by him.
Recalling their married life, no matter how late he came home, there was always a light left on for him, hot meals in the pot, and she would gently and thoughtfully massage him—
Why was he so foolish back then to think Su Yu'er was better than her!
"Wan Yu, I realized too late. I actually had feelings for you—"
Pestered repeatedly by He Xiuyuan, Wan Yu finally couldn't take it anymore.
She directly raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face, twice.
She spoke coldly, "Are you sober now?"
Wen Yan couldn't help but feel amused.
Goose feet, bear paws, nothing beats a good slap. Sister Wan Yu, now awake, is truly both beautiful and awesome!
