Chapter 79 Countdown to the End

The following year, Bai Yuanzhi fulfilled her wish and was admitted to the HKU Finance Department.

That same year, Zhou Sier resumed her studies, returning to Hong Kong University to continue her education while also persisting with her scientific research.

The two sisters once again became senior and junior classmates.

During her freshman year, Bai Yuanzhi was half-convinced and half-coerced by her elder sister into pursuing a second major—physics!

In her sophomore year, Bai Yuanzhi embarked on entrepreneurship.

Perhaps due to enduring too much hardship in her past life, in this lifetime, Bai Yuanzhi seemed invincible in whatever she undertook.

The technology company was structured as a joint-stock enterprise.

Bai Yuanzhi held 25% of the shares, Zhou Sier held 30%, Zhou Sier’s supervisor held 10%, and the remaining 35% was evenly distributed among Zhou Sier’s peers.

Bai Yuanzhi served as the executive director.

Being a technology company, it could only burn through money in its early years.

Apart from Bai Yuanzhi, all other shareholders in the company were wholly devoted to scientific research…

Bai Yuanzhi had no choice but to find every possible way to earn money from the stock market, and every penny she earned was funneled back into the company.

In the third year of the company’s establishment,

Zhou Sier’s first medical intelligent monitoring device made a stunning debut!

Bai Yuanzhi exhausted all means to secure financing, finally attracting the involvement of capital giants. With the backing of capital, this product first entered the European and American markets, receiving widespread acclaim.

In this way, under Bai Yuanzhi’s management, the research company gradually grew stronger.

In the fifth year of the company’s establishment,

Bai Yuanzhi earned her doctorate in finance,

and her undergraduate degree in physics was finally secured…

That year, she was twenty-five years old.

She had grown into a renowned businesswoman in Hong Kong City.

Although her and Zhou Sier’s company had not yet reached the status of Hong Kong City’s wealthiest, its scale was not to be underestimated.

Bai Yuanzhi’s wealth was divided into two parts: one from her own investment advisory company, and the other from the technology company. Combined, these successfully made her the wealthiest woman in Hong Kong City!

Yet, Hong Kong City is a truly peculiar place.

On one hand, it is indeed open-minded.

Here, regardless of one’s social class, level of education, or physical appearance,

as long as one is diligent, reverent, and quick-witted,

it offers opportunities to those who are prepared and equally respects everyone’s labor achievements.

On the other hand, it can be overly traditional.

The Chinese here preserve the most authentic customs and traditions,

similarly, Westerners maintain their own traditions, Indians uphold Indian traditions, Filipinos adhere to Filipino traditions, Vietnamese retain Vietnamese traditions…

On this foundation, everyone respects the traditions and customs of others, even integrating them into their own.

Thus, Bai Yuanzhi’s status in Hong Kong City has always been a subject of mixed opinions.

This is mainly reflected in:

People from the middle and lower strata of society greatly admire Bai Yuanzhi.

—Because she is a woman.

A single woman!

Her rise to wealth was actually due to her stock market gains and her legitimate efforts in securing investments and conducting business!

It must be said, her luck is truly remarkable.

But ability is also part of luck!

However, those in the upper echelons and elite circles look down upon Bai Yuanzhi.

—Because she is a woman.

A single woman,

How could she have amassed such immense wealth on her own in just a few short years, rising to become a new elite in high society?

Thus, they began digging deeper.

Ah…

So it turned out that Bai Yuanzhi, upon arriving in Hong Kong City, became Zhou Weihao’s mistress;

Later, she discovered that Chen Shuojie, the young master of Wanmei, was wealthier than Zhou Weihao, so she kicked Zhou Weihao aside and climbed into Chen Shuojie’s bed…

What?

You say Chen Shuojie was born impotent?

Hah, doesn’t that just prove Bai Yuanzhi’s skill even more!

A man born impotent, yet still utterly devoted to her…

Tsk tsk, just look at Bai Yuanzhi’s abilities!

Such jealous gossip constantly swirled around Bai Yuanzhi’s ears.

Bai Yuanzhi didn’t care.

She was already considering stepping back.

Of course, she loved money,

But she wasn’t particularly obsessed with it.

After earning her fortune and managing her wealth well, ensuring she could live comfortably for the rest of her life,

She wanted to resign from her position as CEO of the tech company.

After all, over the years,

Bai Yuanzhi had worked hard to grow and strengthen the tech company while also mentoring Qiao Yusen.

Although Qiao Yusen was a team partner of Zhou Sier,

He had joined the team because of Zhou Sier herself; he wasn’t a researcher by training. In the early stages of the project, he could barely help Zhou Sier with minor tasks, but as the project gradually matured…

Qiao Yusen’s focus was forced to shift… to becoming Bai Yuanzhi’s assistant.

Now, with Bai Yuanzhi wanting to retire, Qiao Yusen was naturally the best successor.

Zhou Sier, however, objected to this.

“Ah Zhi, you’re doing so well, why step down?”

“I don’t want him to take over as CEO. He’s already very busy—he has two little ones at home to look after… the older one is in kindergarten, and the younger one hasn’t even been weaned yet!”

“How could he possibly manage it all?”

“Why don’t you tough it out for a few more years! After all, you don’t even have a boyfriend.”

…

Yes, three years ago, Zhou Sier and Qiao Yusen had a shotgun wedding.

Four months after the wedding, Zhou Sier gave birth to their eldest son, and six months ago, she gave birth to their younger daughter.

Thanks to Qiao Yusen’s all-around support, Zhou Sier didn’t miss a single day of work during her pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum recovery.

Attending to his pregnant wife, accompanying her during childbirth, caring for her postpartum, feeding and nurturing the children… all of it was shouldered entirely by Qiao Yusen.

Bai Yuanzhi had envied her sister more than once.

Now—

Her sister still had to say such heart-wrenching things?!

Bai Yuanzhi rolled her eyes, “If you have another child and Brother Qiao really can’t handle it, I’ll come back as CEO!”

Zhou Sier flatly refused, “That won’t do!”

The sisters looked at each other and laughed simultaneously.

Zhou Sier sighed, “Alright! It’s mainly because I can’t bear to part with you… Usually, we sisters are each busy with our own lives, and the only times we cross paths are during our monthly dinners, the annual company gala, and the New Year.”

“But at least we still get to see each other.”

“Now you want to resign as CEO and travel the world… What am I supposed to do when I miss you!”

Bai Yuanzhi smiled, “We can schedule regular phone calls! And I promise you, I’ll spend at least two months every year in Hong Kong City. Sister, when you’re busy, you’re really busy… When you have free time, spend more of it with your husband and children!”

“As for me, I suppose I’m second on your list.”

“Don’t worry, sis! I’m your sister after all! Even if we won’t see each other often, we’ll always be the closest of sisters!”

Zhou Sier could only sigh. “Alright, since you put it that way—”

“I have no choice but to agree.”

“By the way,” Zhou Sier asked again, “since you’re resigning from your position to wander the world from now on… does A Yao know?”

Bai Yuanzhi fell silent.

Compared to Bai Yuanzhi’s smooth sailing over the past few years,

A Yao, who had once promised to meet her at the peak, seemed to have encountered numerous difficulties.

Come to think of it, Bai Yuanzhi had known A Yao for eight years now.

The two had always kept in touch.

Bai Yuanzhi had never looked down on A Yao just because she had become successful;

And A Yao had always maintained his dignity and composure in front of her.

How to put it? Although Bai Yuanzhi’s feelings toward Chen Yao remained unchanged,

Now that she had been reborn into a new life,

She still valued herself more.

Shedding all her responsibilities to travel the world and explore it was something she had always wanted to do.

So, she called A Yao. “Setting up the stall tonight?”

After a few seconds of silence on the other end, A Yao’s steady, magnetic baritone voice, tinged with a hint of weariness, came through. “…Yes!”

“Then, same time as usual. Save me a bowl of fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles.”

“Sure, see you tonight.”

That evening, after finishing her Pilates session at the club and getting a skincare treatment, Bai Yuanzhi grabbed her bag and hurried home.

Sure enough, at the usual time and place, she spotted A Yao’s wonton noodle stall.

The tall and handsome A Yao was wearing jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong arms with prominent veins;

He wore a light blue striped apron tied around his chest, leaning against the stall while holding a book.

Bai Yuanzhi called out to him with a smile. “A Yao!”

The young man looked up at the sound and casually tucked the thick book under the stall.

—If Bai Yuanzhi had bent down to look, she would have known that beneath the “Accounting” cover, the pages were actually a proposal for acquiring the Xu family’s business.

Of course, Bai Yuanzhi didn’t do that.

She sat on a small stool and casually placed her two-hundred-thousand-dollar bag beside her. “A Yao, why am I still the only customer today…”

Bai Yuanzhi truly couldn’t understand.

A Yao’s fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles were exceptionally delicious, and the price was fair, so why were there no customers?

As a result, over all these years,

A Yao’s business at Qingyi Dock had always been lukewarm. Occasionally, he would set up his stall in Kowloon, but his wonton noodle business never really took off.

“It’s because they have no taste,” A Yao said.

Bai Yuanzhi burst out laughing and nodded vigorously. “I think so too!”

A Yao smiled.

He deftly prepared a steaming bowl of fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles for her and carried it over with both hands.

“What about yours?” Bai Yuanzhi asked again.

A Yao smiled, turned around, and made a bowl for himself, bringing it over to her as well.

The two sat facing each other and ate.

Bai Yuanzhi waited for him to sit down and pick up his chopsticks before she started eating.

“Wow, this is the taste!” She closed her eyes in bliss, savoring it carefully, thinking how unfortunate it was that such delicious fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles…

When she travels the world, it will be truly difficult to taste this again.

For Bai Yuanzhi, if there was anything she would miss about leaving Hong Kong City,

it would probably be A Yao and the fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles he made.

However, upon hearing her sigh, Ming Jiayao suddenly looked up, staring at Bai Yuanzhi in astonishment.

Years of companionship

had made him understand her well.

—Although she never hesitated to praise him, she wouldn’t inexplicably express admiration.

He could sense

that her admiration just now seemed to be filled with… a deep reluctance to part?

How could this be!

For a moment, Ming Jiayao didn’t know what to do.

—When he had just turned eighteen, upon learning that his biological parents were someone else, he had recklessly torn open the veil that the Ming, Xu, and Chen families had desperately tried to cover up.

In the process, he had even turned the tables, causing Xu Wenrui to jump from a building, provoking Chen Shen into pulling out Liu Rong’s oxygen tube, and ultimately sending Chen Shen to prison.

But that was not the end of the hatred—it was the beginning of the struggle.

Years passed in the blink of an eye,

and Ming Jiayao had finally brought down the Xu Family. He was now on the verge of acquiring it…

Meanwhile, Chen Shen had already served his sentence—he had likely figured everything out in prison. After his release, he had gathered all his forces, seeking revenge and aiming to take down Ming Jiayao!

Thus, for all these years, Ming Jiayao had painstakingly concealed his true identity.

To be honest, he was quite exhausted.

Especially since he had to remain in the shadows, unable to openly become Bai Yuanzhi’s boyfriend—it frustrated him immensely.

But fortunately, the Xu Family was already on the brink of collapse…

Once he dealt with Chen Shen and sent the old man Ming Jingxing to a nursing home abroad,

he would no longer have any constraints!

By then, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone targeting Bai Yuanzhi to get to him.

So???

What was wrong with Ah Zhi?

Was she trying to draw a line between them, never to see him again or eat the fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles he made?

Ming Jiayao’s heart began to race.

“A Yao, your fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles are so delicious. How about I buy you a shop and you open a wonton noodle restaurant? Business would surely thrive,” Bai Yuanzhi said earnestly.

Ming Jiayao grew even more suspicious and uneasy.

—After all, Ah Zhi would never say something like this.

If she was saying it now, could it mean…

“Ah Zhi, you…” Ming Jiayao hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

Bai Yuanzhi nodded. “I spoke with my sister today. In a few months, I’ll submit my resignation, and my brother-in-law will take over as the company’s executive director. After that, I’ll retire!”

Ming Jiayao sensed something amiss. “So…”

“So I’ll soon begin my world tour!” Bai Yuanzhi said with a smile. “I plan to spend a year on an initial global trip to scout suitable destinations, then delve deeper into them…”

“In the future, I might spend three to five years living in places I love, or perhaps continue traveling indefinitely.”

“Of course, from time to time, I’ll return to Hong Kong City to visit my sister and her family.”

After a pause, she added softly, “…and I’ll come back to see you too.”

Ming Jiayao was speechless for a long while.

Bai Yuanzhi stared at the bowl of fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles and whispered, “This has always been my dream.”

For a moment, Ming Jiayao didn’t know what to say, nodding woodenly, “Mm.”

Bai Yuanzhi added, “A Yao, then I’ll buy a shopfront for you!”

She persuaded him, “Friends are meant to lean on! If you really mind, then… you can pay me back for the shopfront once you’ve earned enough money.”

Ming Jiayao’s heart was in turmoil, “I… I’ll think about it some more.”

Actually, Bai Yuanzhi didn’t feel good about it either.

Fortunately, the deliciousness of the fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles could keep her emotions stable.

She seriously finished the entire bowl of fresh shrimp and crab roe wonton noodles… not leaving a single drop of soup, then sighed contentedly, stood up, paid the bill, and left.

Ming Jiayao stared blankly at Bai Yuanzhi’s retreating figure, his heart in chaos.

Even long after she had left…

He still couldn’t snap out of it.

After a long while, he clenched his fist and made a bold decision!

Two days later, Bai Yuanzhi received a call from A Yao, “Are you free? I have something… very important to tell you.”

For no reason, Bai Yuanzhi grew nervous, “What’s wrong? What is it?”

A Yao on the other end of the line took a deep breath—

“Tonight at eight, I’ll drive over to pick you up… and go to that small hillside from before.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he hung up.

Bai Yuanzhi: ???

Soon, he called again, “It’s cold at night, wear more.”

Bai Yuanzhi, “Ah… okay.”

He hung up again.

And so, at eight in the evening—

Bai Yuanzhi went downstairs.

She wore a figure-flattering belted open-collar long-sleeved shirt, bell-bottom jeans, and a white cardigan sweater over it.

For some reason,

She felt inexplicably nervous.

Afraid that A Yao would notice she had dressed up carefully,

And afraid that he wouldn’t notice.

Luckily, A Yao didn’t make her wait.

Bai Yuanzhi spotted the tall, handsome young man in a leather jacket leaning against a heavy-duty motorcycle at the street corner.

She happily walked over, “Have you been waiting long?”

A Yao looked at her, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

But he soon frowned.

“Didn’t I tell you to wear more? Why are you still dressed so lightly?” he said gently and dotingly.

Bai Yuanzhi touched the sweater she was wearing and gestured to the young women in single layers passing by on the street, “I’m already dressed warmly enough.”

“Your clothes are good for nothing except looking pretty. Once we get on the bike and the wind blows… you’ll catch a cold again.” As he spoke, A Yao took off his leather jacket and had Bai Yuanzhi put it on, carefully zipping it up for her.

When Bai Yuanzhi heard him say “pretty,” her face had already begun to flush slightly.

After A Yao personally helped her put on the helmet, he motioned for her to get on the bike, “Let’s go!”

He swung his long leg over first and sat in the driver’s seat.

Bai Yuanzhi straddled the back seat, her hands gripping the rear frame.

A Yao, wearing a racing helmet, turned to look at Bai Yuanzhi.

—Most of his face was hidden by the helmet, leaving only a pair of deep, peach-blossom eyes. At this moment, his pupils shone brilliantly under the streetlights, his thick, long eyelashes trembling slightly.

“Hold me,” he whispered.

Bai Yuanzhi’s face instantly flushed from warm pink to bright red!

A Yao smiled, then turned his head back.

And then—

He revved the motorcycle forward sharply and stopped abruptly.

The weightless thrust sent Bai Yuanzhi tumbling forward…

Her hands involuntarily wrapped around his strong waist.

He was finally satisfied.

A Yao drove the heavy-duty motorcycle, taking her toward the small hillside where they had dated countless times.

They arrived at their destination in no time.

Over the past eight years, this place had not remained unchanged.

—The government had paved an asphalt road here and built a pavilion approximately every two kilometers.

At night, the winding coastline was invisible, but the sighs of the waves could be heard.

The night wind carried the fragrance of blooming plants, gently brushing against their faces—comfortable and relaxing.

Bai Yuanzhi got off the motorcycle and handed her exclusive pink helmet back to A Yao.

But this time, A Yao didn’t casually stuff her helmet into the small storage compartment at the back of the motorcycle. Instead, he hung it on the handlebar.

Bai Yuanzhi instinctively glanced at that small compartment.

“Didn’t we just meet two days ago? Why did you call me out today?” Bai Yuanzhi asked casually.

She and A Yao usually met about once a week.

But if she was in a good mood, or if he had something important to tell her… if both wanted to spend more time together, they would come here.

“Of course… because I have something very important to tell you,” A Yao said seriously.

Bai Yuanzhi blushed for no reason. “What is it?”

So annoying.

For some reason, she seemed… always expecting something.

So?

What exactly was she expecting?!

What if today was just… a very ordinary day for A Yao?

Why was she getting ahead of herself?!

At that moment—

A Yao suddenly turned to look at the road, as if someone had appeared not far away.

Bai Yuanzhi was taken aback and followed his gaze.

But she saw nothing.

Everything was quiet, with no one around.

Suddenly, she heard a soft click, as if A Yao had opened the storage compartment at the back of the motorcycle.

When she turned back—

To her surprise,

Between her and him, an incredibly beautiful bouquet of pink roses had appeared!

Holding the roses, A Yao said in a hoarse, low voice, “Sister, I… I know that over these eight years, I might… have disappointed you. I haven’t become as good as I imagined, nor have I reached the heights I dreamed of.”

“I…”

“We agreed to meet at the peak, and you’ve already climbed up, but I… seem to still be stuck in place.”

“Sister, are you very disappointed in me?” he asked cautiously.

Bai Yuanzhi stared at the bouquet of roses in his hands, feeling flustered.

She shook her head.

A Yao smiled. “I knew it. Sister, you’re the best to me.”

He took a deep breath and continued, “Sister, I… have always liked you! I’ve liked you… for eight years.”

“I know the current me… might not be worthy of you, but could you give me a chance? I promise you, give me three more years, and I will definitely reach the peak.”

“Sister, I also know that traveling the world is one of your dreams.”

“But I really feel insecure.”

“I… could I beg you, marry me?”

“Let’s get married.”

“Three years from now, whether I’ve reached the peak or not, I will travel the world with you…”

Bai Yuanzhi couldn’t help but ask, “What if I still want to stick to my original plan—leaving Hong Kong City in three months to start my journey around the world?”

“Then I’ll go with you!” A Yao declared resolutely.

After a pause, he added sheepishly, “But in that case… I might have to rely on you to support me.”

Bai Yuanzhi couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

 

A Yao held the bouquet, took half a step back, knelt on one knee before her, offering the rose bouquet with one hand and a small, exquisite jewelry box with the other. “Sister, please marry me!”

Bai Yuanzhi’s face flushed crimson once again.

Now it was her turn to feel flustered.

Actually—

When she received his call during the day, she had already sensed it.

At the time, she was very panicked and had asked herself—if he confessed his feelings to her, should she accept?

Soon, she had given herself an answer:

Of course… she would accept!

Over all these years, whether happy or sad, she had always wanted to share everything with him first.

Even though he hadn’t yet reached the peak, she had witnessed his hard work and diligence over the years. She firmly believed he would accumulate strength steadily and go far.

And she had always… liked him a lot!

That was why she had been overthinking.

Worried she was being presumptuous, yet afraid she was overthinking…

Now—

It was finally settled.

But what surprised her was that she had thought he would confess his feelings to her,

never expecting him to skip that step and propose directly.

Bai Yuanzhi fell into a daze.

If he had intended to confess, she could have easily agreed.

But he was proposing…

So, should she really accept?

Seeing her hesitate, A Yao couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

“I know I’m not worthy of you, Sister…”

“I’m not like you, Sister. You’ve already made a name for yourself, while I’m still an unknown young man. It’s only natural you’d look down on me.”

“Sister, you’re kind-hearted. You want to reject me but are afraid of hurting me, so you use silence as your answer… I understand all that.”

“But I really like you so much!”

“I’m afraid that when you travel the world, you’ll fall for another man. Then you’ll dislike me even more and won’t want me anymore…”

“Why am I so useless!” A Yao seemed on the verge of breaking down, unable to stop muttering to himself.

…

Bai Yuanzhi felt both amused and exasperated.

At that moment, she suddenly felt an impulse—

She had already been reborn into this life,

and in this life, everything had gone smoothly for her.

So, why couldn’t she be a little reckless just once?

Then…

She would accept him!

“Okay,” Bai Yuanzhi said with a smile.

A Yao was still wallowing in self-pity. “A guy like me, clumsy in both actions and words, who’s silently liked you for eight years—if even then you don’t like me…”

“Huh?” His eyes widened as he suddenly looked up at Bai Yuanzhi, unable to believe what he had heard. “Sister, what did you just say?”

Bai Yuanzhi’s pretty face flushed red. “If you didn’t hear it, forget it!”

“I heard it!” A Yao exclaimed, overjoyed, jumping three feet high. “I heard it! I heard it! Sister said she likes me! Sister said she’s wanted to marry me all along! Sister! Sister, sister, sister…”

Bai Yuanzhi’s face turned scarlet with embarrassment as she scolded, “Shut up! I never said any of that!”

A Yao hurriedly opened the jewelry box, took out the platinum ring inside, and slipped it onto her finger.

—It fit perfectly!

And the simple, plain band style was exactly what Bai Yuanzhi liked.

Bai Yuanzhi looked at the plain ring on her finger, smiling with her lips pressed together.

But A Yao, overjoyed, raised his head, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted toward the green mountains under the night sky, “Sister agreed to marry me! Bai Yuanzhi is going to marry me!!!”

In the distance on the highway, car shadows flickered, and headlights were hazy.

Bai Yuanzhi was quite frightened and quickly stopped him, “Don’t be so loud!”

“I want to be loud!” A Yao said cheerfully, “I want everyone in the world to know! The girl I like also likes me!”

Bai Yuanzhi blushed and lowered her head.

A Yao was overjoyed, shouting at the top of his lungs in the mountains and forests for a long time before running over and hugging Bai Yuanzhi tightly.

He buried his face in the crook of her shoulder and said in a muffled voice, “Sister, I’m really so happy!”

“I really… I’m really so happy!” By the end, his voice was choked with emotion, “Sister, from now on… we’ll have a home, right?”

Bai Yuanzhi could feel the dampness spreading from her shoulder.

She held tightly onto his lean and strong waist and whispered, “Of course! From now on, we…”

“From now on, we’ll be together forever! Ming Jiayao will always love Bai Yuanzhi!” he shouted loudly.