Zhao Ying nodded, "Yeah. I've finished speaking."
Yang Nuannuan's beautiful eyes, through her glasses, looked earnestly at Zhao Ying.
Zhao Ying returned her gaze with a sincere and pitiful one.
The two of them just looked at each other this way.
After a moment, Yang Nuannuan lowered her head and said, "Brother Ying, I want to be alone for a while. Can you go to class first?"
Hearing Yang Nuannuan's words, Zhao Ying "oh"ed slightly and said, "Okay. Then I... will wait for you in the classroom."
"Mhm..." Yang Nuannuan's sweet and glutinous voice sounded a bit subdued.
Zhao Ying looked worriedly at Yang Nuannuan for a moment, then looked again. The words she had said before were all true.
She hadn't initially treated this as an assignment.
It was her father who said there was a lost cousin at Qin Island University, and he sent her to school together, asking her to take care of her by the way.
As for what she did normally, her father didn't say anything, so neither did she.
But besides being curious about Yang Nuannuan at the beginning, she later let herself loose in the university, joining clubs, skipping classes, practicing boxing.
Zhao Xuan didn't stop her from having fun either. The "mission" seemed to be forgotten by them both.
It was only last night, with Chen Yan's help, that Zhao Ying wanted to say goodbye to the past and remembered this matter.
Simple-minded as she was, she knew that it was best to speak out about such things. If Yang Nuannuan found out in the future, it would definitely affect their relationship. That's why she decided to come clean to Yang Nuannuan today.
And now, after hearing it, Yang Nuannuan wasn't in the right state of mind. Although worried, Zhao Ying really didn't know what to say to console her, so she could only leave the classroom, looking back repeatedly with every step.
With the classroom door closed, the room was left with only Yang Nuannuan.
She looked blankly for a while at Brother Ying's retreating figure, then sat down in defeat, took off her glasses, buried her head in her arms, and started crying...
The Zhao Family...
Perhaps, they were her everlasting shadow since childhood.
She had thought that she and her mother had escaped this shadow, but unexpectedly, the shadow had always been there...
...
Meanwhile, at Sea and Sky Manor by the coast of Qin Island.
In the study, Zhao Xuan was writing calligraphy with a fine brush.
A middle-aged man in black clothes was grinding ink for him.
While grinding ink, the middle-aged man whispered to Zhao Xuan, "Master. Miss Ying returned to the university last night and has been in class all day today."
Zhao Xuan gave a chuckled "hmm" in response.
His smile seemed to be his biggest disguise, hiding his true thoughts from others.
After hesitating for a moment, the middle-aged man asked, "Are you... just going to let her be? She didn't take anything with her. No money, no phone, not even clothes."
Zhao Xuan wrote two lines with his brush, then said deliberately, "Am I not looking after her now?"
"Although there was an accident. But now, isn't this the best outcome for her?"
"In her experience during this time, she will be more cautious in anything she does, understanding what is right and what is wrong."
"She'll also understand that the words of the family and the parents are not necessarily to be obeyed. She should freely choose her own life and will cherish her current life."
"As for her friends, they will trust her more, care for her more, and help her. From her previously detached state, she has thoroughly joined them."
"Is her life now, except for a smaller monthly expenditure, any different from before?"
Zhao Xuan shook his head, answering his own question, "No."
"But she has gained a lot."
After hearing Zhao Xuan's words, the middle-aged man's mouth opened slightly. After a long pause, he finally said, "But this way. In Miss Ying's and her friends' eyes, your image..."
Zhao Xuan replied with a smile, "Does my image matter?"
"It doesn't matter. After all, they won't help Ying Ying just because I have a good image, nor will they refuse to help her because I have a bad one."
Saying this, Zhao Xuan put down his brush, clasped his hands behind him, and looked up with a sigh, "Ying Ying has some very interesting friends. Actually, I'd like to get to know them too."
"Like that Chen Yan who passed my test before."
"Like that simple-minded and kind Yu Qiao Qiao."
"And like Zhao Qingtian's illegitimate daughter."
"It's a pity... time waits for no one."
"I don't have much time left to pave the way for Ying Ying, nor do I know what my own future holds."
"I can only help her, help them, as much as I can."
"The rest... they'll have to handle themselves..."
"Ying Ying is a good child, and they are all good children. No matter what, I'm at ease with Ying Ying being with them."
The middle-aged man's gaze flickered, his voice trembling slightly, "Master... don't think too much."
Zhao Xuan just laughed and shook his head without saying anything.
He picked up his brush again and began to write a title on the rice paper: "Memorial on the Emperor's Administrative Strategy..."
"The founding emperor worked tirelessly to establish the empire, but died before his work was done. Now the land is divided into three parts, and Yi Province is exhausted. Indeed, this is a moment of crisis for survival..."
...
The event from last night didn't affect Chen Yan's mood at all. He slept well, got up refreshed, and went to the company.
Today, Boss Qiao Qiao had classes all day and was not in the office, so without any "temptation," Chen Yan could focus on his work.
The game was making rapid progress; all kinds of modeling and programming had been initially sorted out, and the graphic design was gradually progressing to texturing. According to Cheng Tianxiang and 'Fat Phoenix's predictions, the game could be completed in another two months - right after Lu Man's award ceremony.
By then, Chen Yan's second game would be officially released.
Chen Yan was filled with motivation.
After all, his current net worth was only five or six billion, but once the game launched, he could easily exceed twenty or even thirty billion.
That would all be in cash - not like the exaggerated asset valuations of those rich people...
The morning flew by, and soon it was afternoon.
Without needing another reminder from Chen Yan, Qin Ming came eagerly to Chen Yan's company.
Qin Ming really was a smooth operator. Last time, Chen Yan had to call security to let him in, but this time he just used facial recognition to go up the floors and reached Chen Yan's company.
When Chen Yan saw Qin Ming, he was drinking water, but as soon as he saw Qin Ming's face, he "pfft"ed, spitting water everywhere.
Then, he quickly wiped his computer screen while laughing and asked, "Qin Ming, what happened to you?"
No wonder Chen Yan laughed - just one night away, and Qin Ming turned up with a bruised face and a black eye, clearly looking very sorry for himself.
Qin Ming, however, seemed not to mind at all and smiled awkwardly, "I just fell into a ditch by accident. Sorry for the ridiculous sight, Brother Chen."
Chen Yan... didn't believe him at all.
That black eye was obviously from being hit; it didn't look like a fall.
But seeing that Qin Ming didn't want to talk about it, Chen Yan didn't bother to ask.
Crossing his arms on the desk, he looked at Qin Ming standing before him and said, "Qin Ming, we haven't known each other for long. Why... do you always take my side?"
Hearing Chen Yan's question, Qin Ming immediately knew this was his final "test" to officially be accepted by Chen Yan, so he spoke the truth without hesitation, "I just have faith in Brother Chen."
"I know my abilities. I can handle matchmaking or some public relations tasks, but I can't build a business."
"So I'm looking for a big tree to lean on."
"In half of my life, I've met many people and experienced a lot. But Brother Chen is the one I have the most faith in."
"I trust my judgment in people, whether Brother Chen comes from a background or not, I believe you will reach the peak."
Chen Yan gazed at Qin Ming intently.
With his "inner headphones" turned on, he knew Qin Ming was telling the truth and that he genuinely wanted to rely on him.
After considering the help Qin Ming gave the previous night, Chen Yan asked, "What do you want from me?"
Qin Ming didn't hesitate to reply, "I want to grow with Brother Chen, earn some money, and change my life."
Chen Yan took a deep look at him and then asked, "How much savings do you have now?"
Qin Ming thought for a moment, "2.23 million. That's my personal savings."
Chen Yan asked, "Can you raise 5 million in two days?"
Qin Ming nodded without hesitation, "Yes."
Chen Yan nodded, then picked up a pen from the desk, opened a notebook, and quickly wrote a few lines.
Then, with a "snap," he tore off the paper and casually handed it to Qin Ming.
Qin Ming hurried over and respectfully took it.
He saw it was a stock code and entry and exit times written on it.
He looked up at Chen Yan in surprise.
Chen Yan leaned back in his chair, looking at him, and said, "I'm giving you a chance to make money. In 3 days, 4 price limits. A 46% increase."
"With 5 million, you should be able to make about 2.32 million."
"That means your assets will double."
Chen Yan looked at him with a playful smile, "What do you think... how does it feel?"
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