At the celebratory dinner, Fang Zhiyuan was uncharacteristically outgoing, setting aside his usual calm demeanor to raise his glass for a toast. The clients were pleasantly surprised, and Ye Mingzhe, ever the considerate host, offered a friendly reminder.
"They say that in life, most things don't go as we wish. Mr. Fang, while you may handle your liquor well, too much of it can still take a toll. It's better to stay a bit sober."
Fang Zhiyuan raised his glass with a wry smile, toasting the man's sharp eye.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Ye."
"Mr. Fang, with all your success, it's clear you've put in a lot of unseen effort. Here's to your achievements."
"Success?"
Fang Zhiyuan smiled bitterly and downed his drink in one go.
Success? How ironic. He had once believed that achieving fame and fortune would free him from a life of quiet desperation. But now, everything seemed upside down, and the one responsible for turning his world on its head was none other than himself.
Fang Zhiyuan felt a heavy weight on his chest and suddenly wanted to confide in someone.
"Mr. Ye, do you have time to hear a story?"
"If Mr. Fang is willing to share, I'd be honored to listen."
Fang Zhiyuan began slowly, almost like telling a tale about someone else.
There was once a couple who ran away from home for love, defying everything to be together. They married and had a child, only to discover how harsh reality could be. They argued constantly over trivial matters, and their love gradually faded away. Eventually, they divorced when their child was just five years old. Two selfish people who loved deeply and then parted just as decisively, never to see or contact each other again. The woman, too ashamed to return to her family, raised the child alone. It wasn't easy. She worked tirelessly to make ends meet, and when things became too much, she asked her closest friend to help take care of her son.
That family practically adopted the boy, treating him as their own. In their home, he found warmth he had never known. Unlike his parents, that couple remained deeply in love. They were raising a frail daughter, and the boy and girl grew up side by side, always close from a young age. As they matured, deeper feelings blossomed between them. They made a promise that after graduating from university, they would marry and build a home together, just like that couple.
But during the girl's first year of high school and the boy's second year, tragedy struck—the couple who had taken them in died in a car accident, leaving the girl all alone. The boy's mother agreed to take her in, and they sold their home and moved to Z City to start anew. The boy was accepted into the top university there, determined to become a great lawyer. The girl, however, was still weighed down by the grief of losing her parents, and despite her efforts, she only managed to get into a low ranking college near the boy's university. The boy immersed himself in legal studies, while the girl quietly held on to her dream of becoming a translator.
But after graduation, reality hit hard. The workplace wasn't like school, and hard work didn't always lead to success.
Despite sending out countless resumes, his prestigious degree only secured him a job managing contracts at a real estate company, where he scraped by on a modest salary and led an unremarkable life. The boy watched others easily buy houses that he couldn't even dream of affording after years of effort, while classmates who had coasted through school thrived thanks to family connections. He became increasingly frustrated.
The girl, content with a simpler life, tried to comfort him, but he couldn't accept the mediocrity of his situation.
When his mother received word that their relatives in the United States had secured sponsorship, the boy saw it as his only way out. Ignoring the girl's pleas, he made the ruthless decision to break up and pursue a new life in America.
Every immigrant to America has a dream, and the boy carried his with him. But life in the U.S. was even harsher than he had anticipated. Over time, he began to lose his way, even resorting to self-destructive behavior. One day, he received a call from the girl, which pulled him out of his downward spiral.
He swore to turn his life around and make something of himself. In the U.S., he worked tirelessly, juggling multiple jobs while studying. After three long years, he finally found his footing in a foreign land. When he felt the time was right, he returned home and soon began searching for her.
But the girl had vanished without a trace. When the police informed him that after four years of being missing, she could be declared dead, he felt his world collapse.
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In the rooftop lounge of the hotel, Fang Zhiyuan, tipsy but not quite drunk, recounted his story in a low voice.
No matter how calm his tone, he couldn't hide the deep sorrow in his heart. These were things he hadn't even shared with his closest friend, Xie Yufan.
"An ordinary, uneventful tale."
"Everyone has their own story."
Ye Mingzhe handed him a glass of whiskey on the rocks.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye."
"Reality doesn't always play by the rules. Some might say that's what makes life interesting."
They exchanged a knowing smile and clinked glasses. Beneath the surface, however, Fang Zhiyuan was scheming. After days of observation, he had picked up on the subtle dynamics between Ye Minglang and Yi, and he couldn't resist probing further to uncover Ye Mingzhe's true attitude.
"Mr. Ye, what do you think of your brother's relationship with Yi? Would you give them your blessing?"
"Does my blessing matter?"
Ye Mingzhe raised an eyebrow, a hint of something enigmatic in his eyes. Fang Zhiyuan knew that Ye Mingzhe was skilled at keeping his cards close to his chest and rarely revealed his true thoughts.
Yi seemed unusually concerned with this Mr. Ye, working with meticulous care, even going out of her way to please him. Though he was her boss, Yi wasn't the type to ingratiate herself with superiors. On the contrary, Ye Mingzhe was particularly cold toward her, often rejecting her kindness and being unreasonably demanding about her work. This deliberate distance puzzled Fang Zhiyuan, who was keen to understand the reason behind it.
Typically, someone in his position might say something like, 'I respect their choice,' but instead, Ye Mingzhe chose to sidestep the question entirely. So Fang Zhiyuan went straight to the point.
"I'm just curious whether you support or oppose them. It seems Yi really values your opinion."
Ye Mingzhe's gaze deepened, a faint, cryptic smile playing on his lips. He raised his glass to Fang Zhiyuan's, clinking it lightly before downing the drink.
"My family would never allow it."
The words seemed to bring Fang Zhiyuan a strange sense of relief—but then he paused. Would Ye Minglang really give up so easily?
'What if they insist?'
"It's impossible.'"
Ye Mingzhe's reply was sharp, his tone brooking no argument. Seeing the tension ease in Fang Zhiyuan's demeanor, Ye Mingzhe couldn't resist a teasing smile.
"Is that the answer you were hoping for?"
Even in Western cultures, family background matters, especially in prominent families. Yi wasn't the type to act recklessly; she wouldn't disregard his family's disapproval.
Maybe there was still hope for him after all.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye."