С нетерпением жду весеннего ветерка!

Глава 123

Chang Sheng remained silent, picked up his phone, dialed a number, and said expectantly, "Wait."

Minutes, two minutes, three minutes… The dormitory building remained dark as ever, without even a single warm light. Shang Lin chuckled, “There are activities for New Year’s Day, everyone’s going out to have fun, what are we supposed to watch!”

Chang Sheng retorted angrily, "You bastard!"

Shanglin's curiosity was piqued: "What exactly do you want me to see?"

Changsheng opened his mouth, but was still too embarrassed.

He gritted his teeth in hatred: "Just wait till we get back and we'll make sure they're dead!"

He turned around angrily: "Let's go!" Changsheng was very disappointed that his wish had not been fulfilled and his plan had failed.

He turned his back to the dormitory building. Shang Lin looked at him with amusement, then turned back to look at the other side, covering his mouth and exclaiming in surprise: "—"

Changsheng retorted irritably, "Earth is useless too!"

Turn around, and the light shines before you.

Suddenly, all the lights in the building turned on, and from all directions, a huge heart shape appeared before them. Changsheng grinned: "Like a tortoise, so slow!"

Shang Lin covered his mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief. He slowly turned to Chang Sheng, his expression smug and proud, his eyes shining like stars in the darkness: "It was a gift."

Shanglin's heart was softened by tenderness, and a sense of happiness filled her soul. Her eyes were red with emotion, touched by his thoughtfulness.

Changsheng scratched his head sheepishly, ran a few steps away, and magically pulled a bunch of roses from behind the basketball hoop, holding them out to him: "I know it's pretty cheesy, but that's how everyone else pursues their boyfriends. I've never seriously pursued anyone before..." His face turned bright red, and he didn't go any further.

Shang Lin pouted, tears welling up in her eyes, and she laughed through her sobs, "Idiot!" She carefully took the bouquet and held it to her heart.

Having seen countless exotic roses, including the Black Queen bougainvillea which is quite valuable, I have never felt a deep sense of emotion from it.

Chang Sheng touched his nose and made up his mind: "Even if it's embarrassing, I'll go back!"

As if by magic, he pulled a small heart-shaped box from his pocket, opened it, took out a ring, and said awkwardly yet affectionately, "I don't have much money, I can't afford diamonds. Consider this silver ring a token of our love. Um, reach out your hand."

Li Changsheng was anxious because Shanglin was slow to act.

He was already embarrassed enough; he couldn't bear the frustration of waiting any longer.

Shanglin burst into laughter through her tears and extended her right hand: "If the size isn't right, don't even think about wearing it!"

Chang Sheng chuckled awkwardly as he put the gloves on, saying, "I secretly took these gloves to get my measurements..."

Shang Lin exclaimed, "No wonder—these are pure handmade lambskin gloves!"

The ring fit perfectly on her finger, the thin silver band encircling Shang Lin's slender ring finger. Stroking it, she felt a raised area on the ring. Looking closer under the light, she saw the three characters "Li Changsheng" in clerical script smiling upwards on the ring. Shang Lin chuckled, "Really? A name engraved?"

Chang Sheng became increasingly embarrassed and explained, "I'm afraid of losing it..." He stretched his right hand out in front of Shang Lin's eyes, showing off, "Look!"

A thin ring encircled his ring finger, and he showed off, "It also has my name engraved on it. If I lose it, someone else can return it; if I lose it again, it can still be returned."

She chuckled, finding Changsheng's words truly amusing: "If it were really lost, who would still be willing to do good deeds like Lei Feng?" After a while, Shanglin was about to leave. Changsheng chased after her: "Accepting the ring means you agree to marry me, right?"

Shanglin glared: "I only wore it because it was an engagement ring!"

Changsheng retorted, "I don't care, just put it on, consider it a marriage proposal—hey, let's get our marriage certificate after graduation, right? Graduation certificate in the left hand, marriage certificate in the right, how cool is that?"

Shanglin said irritably, "Dream on!" Looking at the bouquet of flowers held to her chest, she didn't cherish it at all. Instead, she carried it upside down, like a bundle of cabbages and scallions, and strode away.

Changsheng chuckled, flashed a V-sign at the dormitory building behind him, and cheers and whistles erupted from inside. Changsheng raised an eyebrow and shouted, "Wife, wife, wait..."

Drunk...

The old patriarch of the Yin family is nearly ninety years old, with sharp hearing and eyesight. He lost a tooth last year, but he gets up at 4:30 every morning to practice Tai Chi and can eat a full bowl of rice in one meal. Countless people are hoping that the old fox will soon be lying in his coffin, but he refuses to let them have their way and live a carefree life.

Guangzhou, early morning, the clock striking 5:30. Hua Zi had been standing on the lawn of Zhongshan Villa for nearly an hour, eyes closed, mind at ease, waiting patiently. His gaze occasionally drifted to the old man practicing Tai Chi on the lawn, filled with awe. The old man had completely white hair, was lean and wiry, his mind calm and body relaxed, his breathing steady. His Tai Chi movements were continuous, balanced and comfortable, light yet composed, a perfect blend of strength and gentleness. After an hour, he showed no sign of strain. In recent years, the old man had moved out of the Yin family mansion and retired to his villa in Zhongshan, refusing visitors. Unless his designated heir arrived, the old man wouldn't even see his own son.

After wiping his face with the towel prepared by the butler, the old man left the lawn and headed towards the main house. He passed by Hua Zi without greeting him, and Hua Zi silently followed. The old man didn't ask any questions, and Hua Zi remained silent as well.

In the living room of the mansion, he personally brewed a pot of Longjing tea, and after Hua Zi thanked him with his eyes, he sat down opposite him.

The old man poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Hua Zi. Hua Zi was flattered and uneasy.

Old Master Yin slowly drank three cups before speaking: "Now you are a wealthy man too."

Hua Zi hurriedly replied, "I dare not accept such praise, I dare not accept such praise."

Old Master Yin stopped him from getting up in a hurry, and pondered, "Ye Yao was still a child back then, and now he's all grown up. I remember how you protected him, and Ye Yao hasn't forgotten that either."

Hua Zi was even more uneasy, wondering what the old man wanted to say.

"In your opinion, what exactly do you think that young lady from the Qiu family feels about Ye Yao?" he asked directly.

Hua Zi mentally reviewed his words to ensure he was absolutely sure before cautiously replying, "Miss Qiu and the young master are friends."

The old man smiled kindly, his answer quite amused: "Friend?" His gaze sharpened, piercing straight to the heart: "Hua Zi, you've been following the Qiu family's young lady for over ten years, do you really think you're a member of the Qiu family?"

His words were quite calm, but Hua Zi broke out in a cold sweat.

Hesitantly: "I dare not..."

He gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Qiu doesn't seem to have any romantic feelings for the young master. She has a childhood sweetheart boyfriend, and the two of them have a very good relationship."

Old Master Yin nodded slightly in satisfaction.

He was naturally aware of these circumstances; all he wanted was a clear stance from Hua Zi.

"What about Ye Yao's feelings for her?" He casually posed another question that made Hua Zi uneasy.

Hua Zi hesitated slightly, but the old man looked at him with piercing eyes. He was so frightened that he dared not lie and answered honestly, "Young Master likes her." After thinking for a moment, he added, "He likes her very much."

Grandpa Yin remained silent. A quiet silence fell. After a long while, the old man nodded: "You may go back."

The butler came out to see the guest off, escorting him to the front gate. Watching the gate slowly close, Hua Zi sighed, gazing at the treetops. He'd been woken from his sleep before four o'clock, driven to the outskirts, stood in the fields for over an hour, and then dismissed after barely four questions. He had no complaints, nor dared he. Old Master Yin hadn't intentionally tried to intimidate him; he was simply used to being obeyed.

The old butler was over fifty years old and had served the old man for most of his life. Even Yin Yeyao had to treat him with deference. He no longer cared about most of the trivial matters, leaving those to the younger generation. He simply waited for the old man's orders and spent his free time in his room playing chess.

The fact that Hua Zi was personally escorted by him undoubtedly shows that he was highly valued.

The old man fell into deep thought. After seeing off the guests, he stood quietly to the side.

He preferred quiet, and the house cleaning was completed during the time he practiced boxing. As the sun rose, sunlight streamed into the room through the French windows, making it so quiet that one dared not breathe loudly. Occasionally, servants would come to fetch something, but they would also walk on tiptoe without making a sound.

After an unknown amount of time, Old Master Yin moved his upper body slightly. The butler, though his head was bowed, seemed to have eyes in his forehead and handed him a cup of cold tea.

He took a sip, put it down, and said, "Of all the descendants of the Yin family, only Ye Yao suits my taste."

The old butler listened quietly without commenting.

"I had my eye on the eldest daughter of the An family. I thought she was cold and aloof, similar to the Qiu family's child, and would definitely get along with Ye Yao. Who would have thought that the two of them wouldn't get along? An Lan was originally quite good, but unfortunately she was just a pretty face. First, she made a mistake, and then she hooked up with Xu Mi... It's a pity that her parents are both smart and sensible, but they gave birth to a daughter who is not very bright."

He doesn't need other people's opinions, nor does he need the butler to comment.

"The Qiu family's daughter..." He pondered, "She's a bit too ambitious. Although it's a good thing, it's a pity she doesn't have a good family background and is rather reserved. I'm afraid Ye Yao will fall head over heels for her... He's intelligent and kind-hearted, and it would be a shame if he were to ruin himself over a woman. All my efforts over the years would have been wasted."

The old butler looked worried and reminded him, "The young master's temper..."

Grandpa Yin chuckled, recalling his grandson's fiery temper. "The kid's putting on a good act, but he's still as stubborn as he was when he was little. Don't worry, I won't provoke him; someone else will be the one to mess with him." I've put so much thought into this all these years, not to cause any conflict between grandpa and grandson.

Li Changsheng had been interning at an architectural firm for six months. Even fresh graduates from reputable institutions often have to do menial tasks, let alone an intern like him who came through connections. Making coffee, photocopying, running errands, answering phones—Changsheng served those demanding colleagues for a full six months before his luck finally turned. A senior colleague, impressed by his diligence and perseverance, agreed to mentor him. The firm had recently landed several large projects, and everyone was working non-stop, with all-nighters being commonplace. Since the senior colleague was keen to cultivate Li Changsheng, he took him under his wing, assigning him less important support tasks.

The school dormitories have curfews, and the old man guarding the gate isn't very hard of hearing, but he has sharp eyes. Changsheng lives on the third floor and, after being caught playing Spider-Man a few times in the middle of the night, couldn't take it anymore and rented an old two-bedroom apartment not far from school. It's an old building built years ago, with a bad layout and hardly any renovations. The wooden floors are damp from being soaked in water, creaking underfoot, and one wall is peeling. Inside, besides a bed, a table, and two chairs, there isn't even a spare wardrobe.

Although the school in Xia Lin was in the suburbs, the two schools were not far apart, especially after a direct bus service was introduced, making it only a half-hour drive from his place to Chang Sheng's home. The boy found living at the school too restrictive and would come here every few days.

A month after Changsheng moved in, Shanglin went over for a quick look and frowned deeply.

Several cardboard boxes were piled up in the living room. Changsheng brought in a water dispenser. Dishes were haphazardly stacked in the kitchen. Qiu Xialin sat cross-legged on the bed playing games. The windows were tightly shut, and a strange smell permeated the room.

She knew it! Those two lazybones!

Changsheng is really busy. He rarely comes here except to sleep at night. Xiaolin, on the other hand, stays here whenever he has classes. Even he alone couldn't have made such a mess of his room. Being far away from the emperor, he brings his friends over to play. The grown men mess around and don't help clean up afterward. When Xiaolin tries to clean up, he gets scolded and laughed at for being a cleaner than a girl.

As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black." Qiu Xialin quickly became lazy in college and finally joined the ranks of those who didn't make their beds or keep their things tidy. To Shanglin's relief, his years of education hadn't been in vain. He spoke of his roommates' bad habit of rummaging through their dirty socks under their beds and wearing them again, with a look of disdain—he saved up his socks and washed them every week.

Shanglin owns three apartments in Beijing and is currently considering how to save money to buy a courtyard house. Changsheng had just mentioned wanting to move out, and she wanted him to move into her apartment directly, but Changsheng refused.

Men all have self-respect.

He was by no means an inflexible coward who felt ashamed if a woman earned more money than a man. Perhaps having grown up with Qiu Shanglin, Changsheng was already quite accustomed to her money-making methods. He knew in his heart that even if he succeeded in his career in the future, he might not earn as much as Qiu Shanglin.

But how much money you make and how much money you spend on women are two different things.

Changsheng didn't want to be accused of being a kept man when it came to small things within his ability.

Yin Yeyao's excellence and ambition weighed heavily on Changsheng's heart like a boulder. Occasionally, when he went out with her and met people from her company, if they asked about Changsheng's identity and he said he was still a student, he could always see disdain and regret in the polite smiles of strangers.

Even Gu Zhiyuan, a close friend, would lament in casual conversation that Shang Lin was a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung. Since they were family, he spoke frankly, mentioning Shang Lin's shrewdness in money and business, saying that his grandfather had long ago concluded that he, Li Changsheng, and Qiu Xialin combined couldn't even come close to Qiu Shanglin.

After graduating from university, Gu Zhiyuan embarked on a political career as his family had hoped, starting as a secretary in the municipal party committee. His family's plan for him was very clear: as a secretary in the municipal party committee, he would accumulate work experience, then go to the grassroots level to hone his skills and be promoted to a cadre, climbing the ranks steadily step by step, with the ultimate goal of becoming a member of the Politburo Standing Committee—of course, unforeseen events and human calamities could occur, and until the plan was realized, it was essentially worthless.

Whenever the topic comes up, Gu Zhiyuan often laments the unpredictability of fate.

His youthful arrogance seemed like a distant memory from a past life; he had always believed he had no interest in politics. His greatest dream had always been to become a university professor and spend his life immersed in the ocean of knowledge.

However, the older I get, the more I understand the responsibilities on my shoulders. We don't live our lives just for ourselves.