44
A sky-high priced apple.
The family of three shared it.
The ordinary red and green ribbon packaging brought a ten-thousand-fold premium, adding a festive atmosphere to this beautiful Christmas Eve.
Bian Xun took a bite with an expressionless face.
Ning Ye, however, was happy over a small apple. With a faint smile in her eyes and amidst the soft atmosphere before Christmas Eve, she looked up at her serious and aloof ex-boyfriend.
Tonight, Bian Xun really did seem a bit like... an old flame rekindling?
Ning Ye had to admit that at the moment she saw Bian Xun appear on the broken-down train in a foreign country, she really did feel a bit of... warm, steaming sincerity.
Although talking about her relationship with Bian Xun always carried a bit of the awkwardness and unfamiliarity of a broken mirror, tonight, there was a bit more warmth of drawing closer.
Ning Ye's eyes were serious, and beneath her distinct eyelashes, she looked at him for a moment longer.
At this moment, the handsome CEO was putting away his black card.
He calmly placed the two cards separately, keeping them very, very far apart.
Bian Xun's face was calm.
Fortunately, he had only bought an apple.
How could this not be considered a kind of financial luck?
Bian Xun scoffed coldly, but suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he realized something.
This unexpected episode of swiping the wrong card also brought an important piece of information.
Before this, he couldn't intervene, stop, or guide Ning Ye's use of the future black card; he could only beat around the bush and try desperately to guide her.
But with the black card in his hand, he didn't have to limit himself...?
Since he could swipe this card and spend future money.
Didn't that mean he could operate it himself, make investments, and cash out when the value skyrocketed and doubled?
Bian Xun's thumb suddenly pressed against the slightly worn silver-stamped surface of the card. His dark eyes were like hidden planets, and his mind quickly built a pathway and vision to sudden wealth, like a predator in the law of the jungle chasing a business opportunity that fell from the sky.
Ning Ye: "?"
She thought he had remembered the wave of condemnation back home and his eyes were turning red with anger, so she also lowered her head to scroll through the trending searches.
Right now, it seemed that not only the Xu family and the Gu Corporation had entered the fray, but the Xinyang Group was also fishing in troubled waters. It was even possible that all companies with a competitive relationship with Wujiang would add fuel to the fire.
A tall tree catches the wind.
The name "Bian Xun" began to be labeled with various black-hearted and cold-blooded images.
Although some situations were indeed true, the carnival of the anti-fans was clearly like a group team-building event, a wild dance of demons.
Ning Ye only glanced at it for a few moments before slightly furrowing her brows. "Do you need to clarify things?"
At this time, the CEO's fingertips began to tremble slightly, as if he had completely figured something out, his voice tight.
"No need."
Risks and opportunities coexist, and this public opinion attack against the Wujiang Group even came at the right time.
Bian Xun could completely control the account bound to the black card himself and take a heavy position at a low price.
Although swiping the future black card would inflate and consume the massive amount of cash in his current card, resulting in extremely high initial costs, this was essentially making money out of thin air. As long as he waited for the opportunity when the market value fluctuated and rose again—
Bian Xun thought it through within a few steps, and his expression settled into complete certainty.
Setting aside the short-term floating profit that publicly increasing his personal holdings as the group's CEO could bring.
In the long run, the intelligent search large model developed by the Wujiang Group would go online in a few days.
This was Wujiang's top priority for the fourth quarter. It was an architectural technological innovation for open-source ecological expansion. The most important part was that it solved the technical barrier of storage chip costs. Without modesty, it was enough to influence the direction of the entire artificial intelligence industry.
The company's stock price would inevitably rebound significantly.
By then—
The profit margin from buying low and selling high would skyrocket ten thousand times. Bian Xun calmly calculated the rough figures in his mind.
Pack up.
Prepare to ascend and become the richest man.
Bian Xun raised his dark eyes.
Ning Zhitao finished eating the apple and held her mother's hand, wanting to go back to the hotel to listen to a story. The figures of one large and one small person reflected in his eyes, each filling one of his pupils.
Ning Ye was led running up by the little girl. The hair hanging behind her back fluttered, just barely brushing past Bian Xun's chest in front of his lapels.
The CEO fell silent for a moment, using his powerful self-control to suppress his fluctuating emotions. Then he took a deep breath and walked up the steps nobly and steadily, restraining the excitement and anticipation that seeped into his bones.
By then—
He would be even more qualified to be a father.
And even more worthy of marriage.
...
Ning Ye didn't know how Bian Xun planned to handle it either, but he seemed very unfathomable.
Upon entering the hotel lobby, she remembered that she hadn't had time to check in that morning.
Bian Xun followed from behind with a profound expression, his cold white fingertips handing over her room card.
Ning Ye then remembered the issue with the room—Bian Xun had suddenly boarded the plane yesterday, and she hadn't considered his situation beforehand.
The tourism industry here was exceptionally booming around Christmas. This hotel was already fully booked when she reserved her room; were there any vacant rooms now?
Or did Bian Xun also have to stay with them?
Ning Ye recalled the shadowy profoundness in his dark eyes and quietly pursed her lips.
When it was purely for the sake of making a baby, they had a sacred mission on them, and their attention wasn't on the dynamics between the sexes.
Now that she vaguely felt the implication of the other party rekindling their old flame, staying together became extremely ambiguous.
And from the looks of it, Bian Xun seemed to indeed have no intention of staying by himself.
Walking into the hotel, he maintained an unpredictable gaze the entire time, following closely behind. He very naturally got into the old-fashioned elevator and arrived at the door of their room with them.
This hotel was one of the designated venues by the conference organizers. It had a long history and featured a classic European style. Under the arched ceiling in the hallway hung portrait oil paintings, and the chandelier glowed gorgeously. Stepping on the wooden floor produced clear, alternating footsteps.
Well, if they had to stay together, then they would stay together.
The little girl sleeping between them—just thinking about it was quite lovely!
Swiping the card to open the room door, Ning Ye realized that this was a suite, though not as spacious as the suites in domestic five-star hotels. Generally, there were only two compartments separated by a wall, with European-style murals painted on the wallpaper, and no door in between.
It simply separated a large double bed and a small children's bed.
This was a bit awkward.
They needed to allocate how to use the beds.
She would sleep with Taotao, and the child's father would sleep by himself; this was definitely the most appropriate arrangement.
However, that small children's bed was not only very narrow, but its length was also only about 1.7 meters. This meant that with Bian Xun's net height of over 185 cm, his feet would be left hanging in the air if he lay down.
Bian Xun snapped back from his massive mental calculations, walked profoundly into the room, and looked around with satisfaction.
Assistant Zhang, you're getting a raise.
Ning Ye took off her backpack and decided to sleep in the small bed herself, letting the child and her father sleep in the large bed.
The mother and daughter took a fragrant bath together, and Ning Ye changed them both into matching Christmas-style pajamas.
She walked out of the bathroom, rubbing her half-dry long hair, and said to Bian Xun, "You can go ahead, I've cleaned up the floor."
Bian Xun lifted his eyes, remembering how he woke up one morning to find the bathroom at home cleaned by her as if she were a temporary guest. His eyes darkened slightly as he said pointedly.
"No need to do that next time."
Ning Ye looked up. "But aren't you a neat freak?"
Bian Xun stared at her. "That's for outsiders."
Ning Ye blinked and raised a hand to touch her cheek. Her face, still carrying the steam from the bathroom, was radiating heat.
The power of an ex-boyfriend with whom old feelings were rekindling was terrifying.
The atmosphere grew somewhat ambiguous for a moment, which was not the kind of vibe a children's suite should have. To cover it up, Ning Ye pushed the little girl's shoulders toward the large bed.
However, Ning Zhitao rubbed her eyes and sat down on the small children's bed as she walked past it.
She kicked her legs up, pulled up the covers, and waved her little hand. "Goodnight, Mommy and Daddy."
Obviously, this routine was incredibly familiar to her, just like at home. She was a big girl now and could sleep on her own.
And having Mommy and Daddy in the same bedroom was exactly what Taotao was used to.
Ning Ye instantly felt a bit at a loss. She looked up, only to see Bian Xun smiling as he walked into the bathroom.
By the time Bian Xun came out, the main lights in the suite had been turned off, leaving only two nightlights on.
Carrying the scent of damp steam, the man first glanced at Ning Zhitao on the small bed. She was already fast asleep, so he leaned in and walked into the inner room.
The room was much brighter than last time. On the large bed, Ning Ye was sleeping obediently on one side, her thin and delicate figure taking up only a fifth of the space.
Nestled in the blankets, Ning Ye heard Bian Xun's footsteps.
In the quiet room, after a rustling sound of slippers rubbing against the carpet, the footsteps stopped right by her side of the bed.
The blanket was gently pulled back, revealing Ning Ye's face illuminated by the glow of her phone screen. Both of them paused, looking at each other. They were reminded of the past when Bian Xun wouldn't let Ning Ye use her phone after the lights were out, and she would hide under the covers to look at it just like this.
Many years had passed, but her habit of hiding under the covers had surprisingly remained.
This suddenly made a certain someone very pleased.
Ning Ye felt a little embarrassed. She was a mother now; why did she still feel the shame of being caught playing on her phone?
In a great mood, Bian Xun crouched down by the edge of her bed, looking her in the eye. "Don't want to sleep?"
This sentence was truly ambiguous and left much to the imagination.
At this moment, his wet hair was pushed back from his forehead, and beneath his prominent brow bone, his eyes were hazy. Ning Ye only then noticed that he was actually shirtless. Last time, the lights were off, so he hadn't revealed it, and she had only felt his shape when they pressed together. Looking at him now, her ex-boyfriend's chest and abdominal lines were even more beautiful than back then. His abs connected down to his hip bones, exuding an undisguised tension.
Separated for many years, the physical impact was still as strong as ever.
With the little one right next door, Ning Ye quickly held her breath to resist the hormones being released into the air. She hurriedly flipped her phone screen to show him. "...I'm replying to netizens."
Bian Xun lowered his eyes and saw that she was typing out her salary and benefits from her years at Wujiang's branch and group headquarters. She was trying to refute the netizens who were angrily denouncing Wujiang Group as a corrupt, nepotism-filled black-hearted enterprise.
Bian Xun's heart softened. The sense of aggression in his eyes faded, turning into a warm gaze.
He couldn't explain to her what he was about to do, but he didn't want her to worry unnecessarily either.
The man's lips curled into a smile, calm and composed. "Ignore them. Let them curse. The fiercer they curse, the better."
The drop in the stock price was only temporary, and the margin he could cash out from it would rise accordingly.
As soon as the market opened tomorrow, he would make a strong move.
No man could help but be excited by such staggering, astronomical profits.
Even Bian Xun's fingertips, resting on the edge of the bed, were trembling slightly.
Ning Ye looked surprised.
He had this kind of fetish?
Bian Xun reached out, wanting to touch her cheek that was sinking into the pillow. The soft cotton squeezed her cheek slightly, making it look very biteable.
At their current distance, the rate of his balance draining had already slowed down. If he touched her, it would stop draining completely; and if the distance closed even further...
"The more they curse at me, the better it makes me feel," Bian Xun leaned closer, breathing in her breath. "So you don't need to spend time refuting those people, you just need to..."
Ning Ye's gaze froze. Her heartbeat slightly lost its rhythm at his low, husky voice, and her hand slipped, deleting the defense she had just typed out.
Instead, she accidentally liked the hater's comment.
"?"
Hater: [The boss of Wujiang Group is so handsome, he definitely has kidney deficiency! What kind of good company could be run by a playboy like him? Like if you agree.]
Ning Ye's thumb had mercilessly lit up the like button.
"..." Bian Xun laughed, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Do I have kidney deficiency?"
Ning Ye embarrassedly ducked back into the blankets, her face red as she pulled the covers over her head.
That night, two hours, pounding like a pile driver.
He definitely wasn't deficient.
There was no more sound outside the blanket. Ning Ye listened for a moment before the mattress dipped on the other side. Bian Xun had gotten onto the bed.
His figure drew close to hers. The heat from his tall body made the bed warm and comfortable, but Bian Xun didn't actually do anything.
Ning Ye relaxed inward, and the sense of boundaries from shrinking alone on the edge of the bed gradually melted away.
His presence beside her, however, became clearer. Ning Ye could hear his light, calm breathing, and she gradually felt at ease.
Because their child was right next door in a room without a door, and because they were both very good parents.
They wouldn't hug and kiss just out of loneliness.
It was just that, under the same blanket, their ankle bones accidentally brushed against each other.
...
The next day.
Bian Xun woke up very early.
The CEO was in a good mood, but his aura revealed something unusual.
Ning Ye's meeting schedule for the day was very relaxed. The morning agenda didn't even start until 10:30. The colleagues attending the conference couldn't help but sigh in amazement at how easy life was for the people here.
No one was injured in last night's accident, but everyone was indignant about the malicious smearing from the outside world.
As expected, when the market opened this morning, the company's stock price was affected.
The negative sentiment in society was expanding, and Xinyang Group played a huge role in it. As a competing company in the same field, Xinyang reacted swiftly by issuing an industry analysis report on Wujiang Group, so fast that it seemed as if they had prepared it in advance.
The most crucial point was that Xinyang Company disclosed an important detail: the personal assets of Wujiang Group's CEO, Mr. Bian, had been severely compromised all along. This meant that Wujiang's private accounts had no security to speak of. Could their computing infrastructure and smart security products still be trusted?
This move triggered a massive sell-off by investors. The stock hit the limit down as soon as the market opened today, striking like lightning and causing Wujiang's market value to shrink instantly.
Everyone was expecting the CEO to step in and boost market confidence.
But the CEO just remained completely silent.
Ning Ye looked at Bian Xun with worry.
Last night, Assistant Zhang had arrived in the middle of the night, bringing the CEO's computer and a series of business devices.
From the moment she opened her eyes in the morning, Bian Xun had indeed been sitting in front of the computer, his dark eyes staring unblinkingly at the stock charts.
Ning Ye thought of Xu Lanyi's expression yesterday and knew she wouldn't let things go easily with this revenge. By uniting three companies to enter the fray and stir up trouble, the situation was far more severe than the last market value fluctuation.
Bian Xun did look a bit anxious.
He really did care about the drop in the stock price, and his whole body was in a state of tension.
Even Bian Xun had such nervous moments?
Ning Ye couldn't share the burden, so she planned to take care of the little one herself to reduce Bian Xun's stress. However, just as she packed her things and got ready to rush to the venue, she heard a few clicks of the mouse.
Then, the man stood up coldly.
His breathing was slightly rapid, a thin layer of sweat actually covered his forehead, and his eyes were slightly red from staring at the screen for too long.
He actually looked a bit disheveled.
Seeing this, Ning Ye's almond eyes couldn't hide her worry.
Will the child's father be completely crushed by this?
Ning Zhitao hooked her mother's hand. Ning Ye bent down, and the little girl whispered in her ear, "Daddy is going bankrupt, Mommy."
Ning Ye was startled and asked softly, "How do you know?"
Ning Zhitao whispered into her mother's ear, "Yesterday, Daddy even had a hard time ordering food!"
Ning Ye was surprised.
Could it be that the future Bian Xun had the child bring the black card because he knew the current Bian Xun would go bankrupt?
Ning Ye held the child's hand and expressed her stance to Bian Xun, "It's okay, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Bian Xun opened his eyes heavily.
Just now, he had used the future black card to buy a massive amount of Wujiang Group's Class A shares.
His current personal account had just lost one billion.
Wiped clean.
Yet Bian Xun's nerves were pulsing with excitement.
Flipping the black card, when the large model goes online in a few days and the stock price rebounds, the margin will multiply ten thousand times.
A conservative estimate.
He could make a massive profit of twenty billion.
...
Twenty billion in cash, what kind of concept was that?
Depositing it in the bank would yield half a million in interest a day.
The important thing was that this successful model was not a one-time act, but could be replicated whenever a suitable opportunity arose in the future.
The game of capital was exhilarating.
The CEO was internally going wild.
The corners of Bian Xun's lips were curving up. His dark eyes carried a sense of power that could control the world. He took a deep breath, "I'll drop you off."
Ning Ye and Ning Zhitao shook their heads in unison, full of worry. "Let's forget it."
Ning Zhitao: "Daddy, you should stay home and save some gas!"
"?"
Although it was stormy outside, his child shouldn't have to worry about money.
Bian Xun squatted down and told Ning Zhitao, "I am very rich. You could say, extremely rich."
Get ready to be the daughter of the richest man in the world.
Bian Xun suppressed the cold, proud curve of his lips.
Ning Ye's heart suddenly softened a bit more.
She looked at the bloodshot veins in Bian Xun's eyes and the forced curve of his mouth—even though the outside world was attacking him so viciously and his company's market value had evaporated by billions today, he was still pretending to be calm and collected to comfort their daughter.
Ning Ye had already let go of Bian Xun in the sense of him being her ex-boyfriend.
But for Bian Xun in the sense of him being her child's father, she once again felt a sense of protective affection.
The father was feeling bitter, and Ning Zhitao was so sensible it made one's heart ache. The little girl nodded, pretending to be strong. "I know, Daddy. I understand everything, you don't need to say anymore."
Ning Ye rubbed the child's head. Her little girl was truly so kind, like an angel.
The mother and daughter firmly refused to let Bian Xun accompany them, wanting to give him some space to be alone.
"..." In the end, Bian Xun could only call the environmental organization hosting the event and accept their previous invitation to speak, finally giving himself a legitimate excuse to go out with them.
In fact, this man had no speech prepared at all.
On the way, Ning Ye looked at him worriedly and wrote an outline for him on the spot.
While waiting at a red light, Bian Xun took it and looked, feeling slightly surprised.
It was clear she had done her homework.
The outline, written in English, not only showed a complete understanding of the conference's theme but also an understanding of Wujiang's explorations in related directions. Even the professional terminology was spelled correctly, which required a lot of extra effort for someone who had never lived or studied abroad.
His dark eyes flickered with approval.
He didn't know if Wujiang was considered a good company, but no matter where Ning Ye went, she would climb higher and higher.
That day, the CEO appeared at the international conference.
The domestic reporters arranged by the Xu family came specifically to broadcast. There were already many media outlets stationed for the international film festival, so just a little rumor was enough to draw a crowd.
They wanted to see the current state of President Bian, who was at the center of the storm, and whether he was overwhelmed by the evaporated market value.
However, the man who stepped up to the conference podium was high-spirited and looked noble.
Dressed in a sharp suit with a cool demeanor, the man was in surprisingly good shape, to the point where his stride could even be described as boldly confident.
The CEO carried the aura of someone about to conquer the world. With an aloof and composed expression, he used the outline Ning Ye gave him to deliver an impromptu speech entirely in English.
He used this opportunity to introduce Wujiang to the world.
Finally, he wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
When the speech ended, thunderous applause erupted in the venue.
Ning Ye and Ning Zhitao exchanged a glance and enthusiastically clapped for him.
"Mommy, Daddy is so strong."
"Yes, Taotao, but don't worry, there will be money again in the future."
"Okay, Mommy," Ning Zhitao scratched her head, her innocent round eyes full of admiration, "But Daddy is really amazing. He makes it so no one can even tell he's about to go bankrupt."
Ning Ye also nodded.
Yes, those few steps he took just now, his calm and fluent English pronunciation, and his aloof gaze that looked down on everything.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was about to strike it rich.
This must be the mark of a master who doesn't show his emotions.
...
When Bian Xun returned to the audience from the stage, he saw the identical looks of respect on the mother and daughter's similar faces.
The CEO paused slightly and discreetly adjusted his tie.
A few attendees nearby realized they were a family of three and showed appreciative smiles.
Bian Xun stood still. Just as he was about to sit down next to Ning Ye, she suddenly pulled him and whispered with misty eyes, "There will be an environmental charity donation later. I've already donated some, you should run quickly."
Bian Xun: "?"
Amidst the thrill of being about to become the world's richest man, how could he make others understand his strength in a situation he couldn't explain?
The CEO parted his thin lips slightly, but words always seemed a bit pale.
"I really have money..."
"President Bian! President Bian!" Several domestic media reporters surged forward.
"May I ask what your thoughts are on the sharp drop in Wujiang's stock price, and how do you feel about the shrinkage of your total personal assets?"
"Has a young master from a prestigious family like you ever experienced the poverty of having nothing?"
The situation back home was indeed not optimistic.
Everyone in Ning Ye's work group chat was worried, and Assistant Zhang's solemn expression was an even clearer hint. Bian Xun had indeed encountered a major crisis this time.
"." Bian Xun remained expressionless and waved his hand, letting his assistant block all the interviews.
Poverty.
He had never experienced it, and he never would.
But his wife and child were experiencing it for him right now.
The CEO's arrogance had nowhere to be displayed; he was so rich it made him secretly sad.
However, that day, Bian Xun did indeed leave the venue early with them. Tonight was Christmas Eve, and the Christmas holiday the little girl had been looking forward to the most had arrived.
If they went back a little earlier, they could catch the Christmas market near the city center.
Ning Zhitao was still super happy.
Although her daddy was about to go bankrupt, both her mommy and daddy told her it was nothing to worry about. So as soon as the little girl got out of the car, she happily rushed toward the market.
On the theater square in the city center, a giant Christmas tree lit up with brilliant starlight, twinkling in the night.
The air was full of the sweet scent of crepes, and the aroma of mulled wine dispelled the cold winter wind. Various stalls stood on both sides of the square, selling gingerbread men and cotton candy sprinkled with red and green frosting.
It was Ning Zhitao's first time spending Christmas abroad. Seeing several Santa Clauses walking around, her eyes widened brightly, "Mommy, are they all real? Are they brothers?"
Ning Ye held her hand, her eyes curving into a smile, "Yes, Taotao can make a wish. Whatever you want will come true~"
Beside them, the child's father straightened his back.
Ning Ye saw it out of the corner of her eye, but she gently shook her head at him.
No need to push yourself!
Bian Xun: "No, I really..."
Ning Zhitao excitedly shook her mother's hand. "What about the reindeer? Will they be real too?"
Ning Ye really wasn't sure about this. Would someone dress up as a deer?
However, just as they walked to the center of the theater square, a hidden wire in the sky suddenly flashed with a fluorescent glow. Connecting the top of the theater tower to the other side of the square, a flying reindeer pulling a sleigh suddenly ran across the wire.
Ning Zhitao's eyes widened, and after a long while, she blankly grabbed her parents' hands.
The little girl was completely won over!
It's real, Santa Claus is real!
Would a good baby like her also get a gift from Santa Claus?
Right on cue, a Santa's sleigh emerged in the square. The "reindeer" pulling the cart in front passed by the tourists along the way, kindly waving their hooves to signal for performance tips.
Bian Xun glanced at the child's innocent eyes, which were completely immersed in the fairy tale, and smiled calmly.
He took his wallet from his pocket, intending to make his child the biggest tipper in the audience.
However, Ning Zhitao turned her head back, grabbed his hand, took out a single bill from the thick stack of cash, and devoutly handed it to the deer's hoof.
Bian Xun: "?"
Bian Xun crouched down and said from behind her, "You can give it all to them."
Ning Zhitao said seriously, "Forget it, Dad. If you give it all to the deer, what will you eat?"
Four-year-old Taotao sighed. Her dad's money didn't just blow in with the wind!
Bian Xun fell into a helpless silence.
His money really was about to blow in with the wind soon.
No one understood.
Ning Zhitao was still in high spirits. With flushed cheeks, she held her parents' hands and walked to the other side. The family ate and drank to their heart's content at the market.
During this time, Ning Ye's heart was full. Her almond eyes reflected the Christmas Eve lights, as soft as water.
The late December cold wind blew on them, but her palms retained a warm lingering heat.
Whether it was the child sensibly being considerate of her father, or the father putting up a strong front to keep his child from worrying about his lack of money, it all gave her a real sense of... family.
Ning Ye looked at Bian Xun with brimming emotion.
Bian Xun: I... you... actually...
Forget it.
The family of three returned to the hotel. A small Christmas tree had been set up in their suite. Ning Zhitao was already sitting under the tree, hugging her legs, looking at her mother with expectant starry eyes.
Ning Ye smiled and took out the gift she had chosen. It was a handmade DIY candle in the shape of a Christmas tree, packaged in a transparent, glowing glass jar. Each layer's color and scent could be chosen personally, ultimately creating a unique Christmas tree.
Ning Zhitao excitedly studied her mother's gift. Her two small hands grasped the candle jar, holding it up against the light.
After returning to the hotel, however, Bian Xun disappeared for a while.
The mother and daughter whispered to each other, both feeling very understanding. Dad had been forcing a smile all day. Now that he had set aside his fatherly responsibilities, he probably needed some time to digest things on his own.
Ning Zhitao was a tiny bit disappointed, but tonight had already been super happy, and she loved her mother's gift so much!
She wouldn't blame Dad.
The more Ning Ye looked at her, the more she felt her baby was an angel. How could a little girl who was only four years old be so sensitive and thoughtful?
She blinked and suddenly pulled out a Christmas bath bomb. "Do you want to try a gingerbread-scented bubble bath?"
"Yes!!"
Ning Ye spent this warm and cozy Christmas Eve with her child. By the time they got out of the bathtub, Ning Zhitao was already sleepy. Ning Ye changed her into her pajamas and tucked the child into the small bed.
Ning Zhitao was half-asleep from exhaustion. She yawned and suddenly felt something above her head.
She opened her eyes and suddenly saw a Santa Claus appear in front of her.
He was wearing a red Santa hat, had a bushy white beard stuck on his face, wore red clothes, and carried a large sack on his back.
Santa Claus asked her in a slightly gruff voice, "Are you Ning Zhitao?"
Ning Zhitao nervously clutched her blanket and nodded. "I am!"
Santa Claus pulled a long red-and-white stocking from his bag and hung it at the head of her bed. "You are the best little kid tonight. This is your gift. Open it tomorrow morning."
Ning Zhitao nodded.
After Santa Claus finished his lines, he prepared to leave, but the child's small hands grabbed him. As he turned around, she giggled and threw herself into his arms. "Dad!"
Bian Xun smiled beneath the beard and rubbed the child's head.
The man's usually cold and sharp facial contours actually took on a faint softness.
Ning Zhitao was truly completely satisfied this time. Keeping her promise, she closed her eyes with her chubby cheeks and fell asleep.
Bian Xun stood up and looked at Ning Ye, who was leaning to the side with a smile.
Ning Ye curved her lips into a smile at Bian Xun. Her love for her child shone like a diamond.
So she reached out her arms.
And gently hugged Santa Claus too.
Bian Xun paused slightly. The corners of his lips beneath the white beard curled up uncontrollably. Feeling that her emotions and attention were returning to him, he tightened his arms and hugged her back.
Actually, she had a gift coming too.
He hoped she could handle it.
This gift from the future richest man in the world :)
...
This night indeed turned out to be a happy Christmas Eve.
Ning Ye only heard about the film festival from last night after waking up from a wonderful sleep.
Xu Lanyi had indeed won the trophy as she wished, making a strong comeback and slapping the faces of everyone who had mocked her previously. In one fell swoop, she made a gorgeous transformation, becoming a model for actresses who had given birth—
However, not long after the news spread back to their home country, multiple photos of Xu Lanyi standing in front of a police car suddenly leaked online.
Ning Ye looked closely and saw that these were all forced-perspective shots from that night. A police car had indeed arrived at the scene, and Xu Lanyi had several bodyguards in black behind her. The photos were directly used to force a narrative, claiming she had alarmed the police abroad and was suspected of breaking the law.
Regardless of whether there was solid evidence, after a flurry of chasing shadows and catching wind, this completely stole half the spotlight from her award win.
It cast all sorts of conspiracy theories and speculations over Xu Lanyi's award win. After all, no one could explain why Xu Lanyi, who was clearly receiving an award in a neighboring country, would appear late at night in a place completely off her itinerary.
Such a devious move must undoubtedly be Bian Xun's doing.
...
Soon, amidst various tours and visits, Ning Ye's conference agenda reached its final day.
Coincidentally, it was also the last day of the year.
Bian Xun had been taking phone calls continuously since yesterday. Today, Wujiang Group was going to officially launch a major project. Rumors had already been spreading in the industry, and the stock price had even seen a slight rebound over the past two days.
The CEO's unfathomable expression had reached a state of perfection.
They were already making a profit.
But it wasn't enough.
The CEO's sharp dark eyes stared at the computer screen, while all the top executives were on a synchronized online meeting in his earpiece.
Finally, Wujiang Group's groundbreaking artificial intelligence large model officially launched at 10 a.m. that day.
Ning Ye's heart also skipped a beat.
This was also a very important matter for her, as it meant she would be able to see the photos her mother appeared in.
Once the large model went online, under Wujiang Group's official promotion, it forcefully swept the market, shooting straight to the top of the trending searches that very morning. Having learned from the experience of the opposing capital joining forces to smear them, they had also invested heavily in a massive promotional campaign this time.
As a result, Wujiang Group was not only unaffected by the previous scandal but also made a comeback with its hard power, and the news spread across the entire internet.
By the afternoon, the stock price had already seen a continuous rise.
Ning Ye did not share in this glory, thoughtfully leaving it all to Bian Xun.
She walked into a souvenir shop below a nearby church, planning to bring some gifts back for Sister Zhou, Xiao Jiang, and the others.
Looking back on this week.
Ning Ye saw in Bian Xun an unyielding humanity, a father's love as steady as a mountain, and a tenacious willpower.
In such adversity, Bian Xun remained strong, humble, and spared no effort in wanting to spend money on her and their daughter, repeatedly moving her to tears.
His return to the top was inevitable.
It had been a long time since Ning Ye had admired Bian Xun so much.
At the same time, in front of the computer screen, a figure slowly and wildly stood up.
The transaction was complete.
It had actually been completed so smoothly.
A massive gamble had been a complete success.
Bian Xun looked at the numbers in the account, for a moment even carefully checking them again.
So smooth.
Such a terrifyingly long string of zeros.
Could it be that fate had secretly attached another price tag to this?
The CEO didn't know.
The CEO only knew—
His wealth had accumulated to over twenty billion today.
...
...
The man looked at the child taking an afternoon nap and gently walked out of the hotel room.
The carpet in the hallway was very soft, and he walked as if on clouds, heading towards where Ning Ye had gone.
At this moment, Ning Ye was earnestly picking out a gift for Bian Xun.
From the time they returned to the country this time, she also had to treat Bian Xun differently.
Beneath his cold-blooded, mean, arrogant, and black-hearted capitalist exterior, there was a heart that loved his child, loved his family, and was unyielding yet compassionate. Regardless of poverty or wealth, deep down he would always be a very good father, a humble and kind person.
Perhaps wealth was not as important to him as she had imagined.
Ning Ye took a deep breath.
Having picked out the gift for him, she paid for it together with the others and walked out of the souvenir shop.
Just as she stepped out, the warm winter sunset reflected on the road, and she was suddenly blinded by something flashing.
Then, a window suddenly opened on the vintage clock of the church, a little angel was pushed out from the bell tower, and melodious bell and piano sounds alternated in performance, while all the lights around the church unexpectedly began to flash at the same time.
However, none of this was as dazzling as the object in the hands of the man in the distance.
The man in the black woolen overcoat stood tall and straight, radiating an imposing nobility, and with an aura that seemed to look down upon the world, he slowly made his entrance.
In his hand was a massive pigeon-egg diamond.
Wealth, status, power, and his more than twenty billion all made Bian Xun shine with a noble temperament at this moment.
He walked with a strut that recognized no one.
Using a steady and profound tone.
He spoke with shocking impact.
"In the new year."
"Can the richest man in the world become your true husband?"
Ningning looked around: Who is it?
Zhao Shijue stands up and says tomorrow should be earlier than today, okay?
