On June 25th, the national college entrance exam results were released. Both of them performed consistently well, with Ling Heng scoring 708 and earning the title of the top science student in the province, while Ye Manman was just five points behind, ranking third in the province.
Upon hearing the scores, Ye Qiu and Chen Wen joyfully gave all their employees an extra month's salary. Thus, the next day, the entire country knew about the outstanding college entrance exam results achieved by the daughter and future son-in-law of the owners of Manwen Construction Company and Manwen Clothing Company.
Ye Qiu did not restrict her daughter's choice of major. However, Ye Manman was very fond of her mother's fashion empire and ultimately chose to study finance management at Qing University, also planning to minor in a second degree in design starting from her sophomore year.
Ling Heng did not follow his family's plan to enter a military college, but instead chose to study computer science, a subject he had always been very interested in, at the same university as Ye Manman.
In the coming years, the computer industry will be a rapidly developing field, with countless talents emerging and becoming the new generation of wealth list leaders.
Ye Qiuxin thought about how he had invested in a few internet teams in the past two years without much personal interest in management, thinking that it might be something this young man could dabble in the future.
In early August, it was Ye Manman's birthday. Ling Zhiyuan and Ruan Xin, Ling Heng's parents, rushed over from Jing City to plan the engagement party of the two children together with Ye Qiu and Chen Wen.
The banquet was finally set on her birthday, at a venue chosen by Ye Manman and Ling Heng themselves, right by the seaside at Manman Ocean Park.
After years of continuous development, Man Wen Ocean Park has grown in scale and improved its facilities, becoming a well-known resort destination nationwide and even worldwide.
Man Wen Ocean Park has two beaches, large and small, and the daytime banquet was planned for the smaller of the two. The beach was closed for three days, with just the preliminary decorations taking two days to complete.
To satisfy his daughter's princess fantasy, Ye Qiu spared no expense in adorning the entire beach with purple, pink, and white flowers and sheer fabrics, accentuated by numerous crystals, and there was even a dreamy pumpkin carriage pulled by five white horses.
The daytime dress was designed and handcrafted by the chief designer of a high-end bridal brand from Chen Wen Clothing Company. The dress consisted of over thirty layers of light tulle, adorned with countless crystals. As it was not the official wedding banquet and the protagonist was a young girl who had just turned eighteen, the dress featured a knee-length, off-the-shoulder design.
Ye Manman was already tall and slender, and in this dress, her legs appeared long and straight, revealing just enough of her collarbone to add a touch of mature femininity.
The crown and jewelry she wore on her head were also custom-made. The main diamond on the crown had been bought by Ye Qiu at an auction years ago for over a hundred million.
In addition, Ye Qiu had collected two cases of various valuable gemstones and jades. Some were made into jewelry for his daughter, while others were kept as they were, waiting for her to have her own ideas about what to do with them.
Ye Qiu and Chen Wen had money and were not afraid to spend it. The lavishness of the children's engagement banquet truly stunned the guests who attended.
Luckily for Liu Ping and Ye Fang who were busy with their household affairs and couldn't attend, otherwise, they would have died of jealousy.
In one month's time, Ye Qiu managed to set up Ye Yu for a fall. He had always been prideful and thoughtless, and with a little guidance, he leaped right into the trap.
Ye Qiu had only intended to give him a temporary lesson, such as gambling or borrowing from loan sharks, but unexpectedly, Ye Yu tempted fate by getting involved with the daughter of a big shot in F City's criminal underworld, thinking he was untouchable because of his rich and powerful uncle.
If he had messed with some mobster's woman, that person might have hesitated, considering a bed partner is replaceable.
But his only daughter was a different story. That young man dared to snatch from the jaws of a tiger. The mobster lost all reason and swore that no matter the cost, he would make Ye Yu's life miserable.
Ye Yu's legs were broken in three places and he was injected with a new type of drug. He was now in the central hospital of F City. On the night of Ye Manman's engagement party, Ye Qiu received this news.
When Ye Qiu and Chen Wen arrived the next day, Liu Ping was crying her heart out, while Ye Xiu was smoking beside her, looking a decade older all of a sudden.
Ye Yu lay asleep on the hospital bed. The mobster's blow had been severe; two of his legs had suffered serious fractures and were hard to mend, but the worst part, according to the doctors, was that he would never be able to perform his manly duties ever again.
Mrs. Ye's most cherished grandson could no longer carry on her family line, and this family of three would no longer have any delusions about usurping the property that belonged to his daughter.
Ye Qiu felt not the slightest sympathy, only thinking that this was finally reaping what she sowed.
The mobster had already gone on the run, and his daughter was nowhere to be seen. Even if Ye Xiu and Liu Ping wanted to seek Ye Qiu's help for revenge, they had no choice but to call the police and let the process take its course.
There was no benefit for Ye Qiu and Chen Wen to stay at the hospital. They took a glance and left. Chen Wen, having a tender heart, left them some money.
On the other hand, Ye Fang and Zhao Haiyang were causing an uproar due to their divorce.
Zhao Haiyang did not want to divorce, although he often boasted about how formidable he was, he knew his own abilities best. If he divorced Ye Fang, he couldn't even secure his current job, let alone a high-flying career.
But now Ye Fang had gathered evidence of his infidelity and even wanted him to leave the marriage without any possessions, which threw Zhao Haiyang into a panic.
He was trying to please Ye Fang, swearing never to mess around again, while also persuading his son to speak on his behalf, talking about how a family should stay together.
It had been ten years, and this was the first time that her husband had ever bent the knee to her after their marriage, buying flowers and taking over all the household chores, and even phoning his mother to chastise her, telling her not to come to the city anymore.
For the first time, Ye Fang felt that life was so comfortable.
Then, she didn't want to divorce anymore.
Zhao Haiyang was now entirely submissive to her, there was no mother-in-law to bother her, and their son didn't want them to divorce either. What reasons did she have left?
So what if Zhao Haiyang cheated? She had evidence in her hands, ensuring he wouldn't dare to misbehave in the future.
Ye Qiu had neither the inclination nor the ability to make decisions for Ye Fang. Initially, he thought she had finally wised up, but then Zhao Haiyang charmed her and she acted foolishly again.
Now that she holds the evidence of Zhao Haiyang's affair, what of it? When two people live together for a long time, with Zhao Haiyang's cunning, there was always a way to make the evidence disappear. Without a divorce, in-laws remain your elders, and there will be plenty of ways to control you in the future.
If she herself was willing to sink into this false happiness, no one could persuade her, especially since Ye Qiu had no intention of trying.
The two families could no longer raise any storms.
Four years later, Ye Qiu escorted his daughter down the red carpet and passed her hand to Ling Heng. Across two lifetimes, no matter the circumstances, they had come together.
Ling Heng was a very good man, even though he wouldn't admit it, he acknowledged it in his heart.
Two years later, the young couple gave Ye Qiu a pair of adorable granddaughters. Now he largely left the company's business to his daughter and son-in-law, spending his days at home taking care of the grandchildren and tending to flowers.
A few years later, Chen Wen also let go of her fashion empire. While their health was still good, the couple started their round-the-world travel, sending local specialties and postcards to their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters from every place they visited.
Twenty years later, when they could no longer travel, they returned to the provincial city to retire. Everything around them had changed, only the old courtyard remained intact, the water in the well was still sweet, and the grapevines were laden with fruit.
Chen Wen passed away with a smile. Protected by Ye Qiu, she had lived a vibrant and happy life.
Ye Qiu tightly held his daughter and son-in-law's hands as he left this world amidst the crying of his granddaughters.
In the endless darkness, a cold electronic voice sounded.
Name: Ye Qiu
Merit: 17000
Skills Redeemed: Hacker God
Level 2 Chef God's Light
Level 5 Body Forging Technique
Luck bonus 10 times, remaining 8 times
Task completed, proceed to the next world?
"Yes."