Chapter 100: The Grand Finale, Part 2 (End)

After Kunyu Electric decided to acquire Xingbei Technology, they also chose to invest further in Four Dot Technology. With the integration of resources among the three companies, the industrial chain will become clearer and more defined.

During this time, Wen Zhihe did not explicitly express any intention to withdraw from investing in Kunyu Electric, but neither did he show much enthusiasm.

Yao Jia recalled Meng Xingzhe’s previous analysis and understood that Wen Zhihe was using Kunyu Electric as a bargaining chip in his negotiations with Jiangfeng Electric. He was waiting for Jiangfeng Electric to grow anxious, fearing that Wen Zhihe might truly collaborate with Kunyu Electric, thereby strengthening his position in the industry and leaving Jiangfeng Electric with no room to catch up.

Yao Jia speculated that it wouldn’t be long before Jiangfeng Electric would lose its patience and proactively lower its valuation to entice Wen Zhihe to join them.

Life and work continued to progress steadily. Kunyu Electric accelerated the acquisition of Xingbei Technology while integrating resources and products with Four Dot Technology.

Yao Jia anticipated that Jiangfeng Electric would become impatient, but what she didn’t expect was that their first move would be to sabotage Kunyu Electric.

Shortly after a meeting held by Four Dot Technology, Jiangfeng Electric suddenly sued Kunyu Electric, claiming that “Kunyu Electric’s frost-free refrigerator infringed on Jiangfeng Electric’s utility model patent.” They demanded 60 million yuan in compensation from Kunyu Electric.

Jiangfeng Electric enlisted the media to sensationalize the issue and hired online commentators to harshly criticize Kunyu Electric for allegedly stealing technology.

Yao Bingkun urgently convened an internal meeting to discuss countermeasures. Both Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe, as company managers, attended.

During the meeting, Meng Xingzhe suggested, “Instead of explaining, we should fight back. Do we have any evidence showing that Jiangfeng Electric has imitated any of Kunyu Electric’s product technologies?”

In the home appliance industry, many products have reached the “ceiling” of development. As leading companies, Kunyu Electric and Jiangfeng Electric have a high degree of product overlap. Thus, it’s inevitable that they would borrow or learn from each other’s technologies and marketing strategies.

Especially Jiangfeng Electric, which has often been at a disadvantage in its confrontations with Kunyu. Meng Xingzhe found it hard to believe they hadn’t secretly learned from Kunyu’s technology.

Indeed, Yao Bingkun mentioned, “Wu Jiangfeng once poached our technical director and cleverly bypassed the non-compete clause. Shortly after, Jiangfeng Electric launched an air conditioning product very similar to Kunyu Electric’s.”

Based on Yao Bingkun’s account, Kunyu Electric’s counterattack against Jiangfeng Electric was to sue them for producing air conditioners with the “variable frequency natural cooling” mode, which infringed on Kunyu Electric’s patent rights. They demanded Jiangfeng Electric cease production of the infringing air conditioners and compensate Kunyu Electric for economic losses.

Through Yue Xuran’s introduction, Yao Jia reached out to Tang Xin, asking her to help combat Jiangfeng Electric’s online commentators.

Tang Xin, aware of the close relationship between Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe, was pleased and readily agreed to Yao Jia’s request.

She wrote an article on her public account, revealing how a certain appliance company had poached Kunyu Electric’s technical staff, exploited loopholes in non-compete clauses through labor dispatch contracts, and altered Kunyu Electric’s patented technology to produce similar products for the company.

Before this, public opinion was unfavorable to Kunyu Electric. However, after the article went viral, the tide turned against Jiangfeng Electric. The public began to criticize Jiangfeng Electric’s actions.

It wasn’t long before Jiangfeng Electric, unable to withstand the pressure, stepped forward with a sanctimonious statement to clarify the facts, asserting that they had neither secretly poached Kunyu Electric’s technical staff nor infringed on Kunyu Electric’s patented technology.

At the end of their clarification, they couldn’t resist taking a jab at Kunyu Electric: “A company that can’t retain talent should first reflect on itself. Is there a problem with internal management? Is there discrimination against female employees? Are the complex nepotistic relationships within the company fair to others? A company that focuses solely on profit while neglecting employee welfare—can such a company truly stand in the industry?”

For these insinuations, Jiangfeng Electric even provided specific examples to back their claims.

Public opinion shifted again, now casting disdain on Kunyu Electric: “Who would have thought that this major company is so riddled with issues? Beneath its shiny exterior lies such decay! If Kunyu is already so rotten inside, how can they blame employees for leaving? If it were me, I’d leave too!”

Faced with these voices of disdain and doubt, Yao Jia couldn’t help but feel both disgust and admiration for Wu Jiangfeng. He seemed to know everything that had happened within Kunyu Electric as if he had worked there himself.

Meng Xingzhe, noticing Yao Jia’s astonishment, smiled and told her, “Your father once told me, ‘In today’s competitive society, who doesn’t have a few insiders in their rival companies? Jiangfeng Electric, Heyi.com—they all have people in my company. If you can’t keep secrets, it’s your own incompetence for not safeguarding them properly.'”

Yao Jia took a while to digest this statement and finally realized that the business world is indeed like a battlefield, full of hidden dangers and cunning strategies.

It turns out that to be a successful entrepreneur, having a bright vision isn’t enough; you must also be able to see through the darker sides of the business world.

She calmed down, contemplating how best to counter Jiangfeng Electric’s public opinion attacks this time.

But before she could take action, she discovered that it wasn’t necessary for her to personally explain or respond—Kunyu’s employees took the initiative to speak out online, defending Kunyu Electric’s reputation.

“I am an employee of Kunyu Electric’s major customer service department. The company did have a rule against hiring married female employees, which I hid when I joined. Later, when Little General Manager Yao worked at the grassroots level and learned of this, she immediately proposed changes to management. The company quickly abolished this rule and established effective cooperation with labor service companies, providing strong support for our maternity leave, paternity leave, and breastfeeding leave. Now the company is very supportive of female employees, with no gender discrimination in the workplace! We welcome all female colleagues to join Kunyu Electric!”

—Yao Jia immediately recognized that this voice belonged to Hao Lidan.

“I am an employee in the finance department of Kunyu Electric and also a single mother. Raising a child on my own, with the kindergarten far from our company, balancing childcare and work once drove me to the brink of collapse. Then, our Little General Manager Yao came down to the grassroots level, experienced the challenges we face as working parents, and proposed to the management to build an employee kindergarten on the top floor of the Kunyu Building. This has been a huge relief for those of us with children! Kunyu Electric is a company with warmth; it doesn’t just focus on profit. It places great importance on enhancing employee welfare and benefits!”

—Yao Jia knew this was from Chen Luoxi.

“I am a security guard at Kunyu Electric. It’s true that our security department used to be rife with nepotism, but ever since Little General Manager Yao took office, that’s no longer the case! She acted decisively and cleaned up all the nepotism. However, she didn’t just cut everyone off indiscriminately; for instance, I had no connections, so she didn’t mistakenly dismiss me. Instead, she kept me on and encouraged me to work hard. Let me tell you all, Kunyu Electric is truly a great company. Those who don’t know shouldn’t speak nonsense!”

—Yao Jia smiled at the webpage. The security guard’s words were filled with sincerity.

“I’m not an employee of Kunyu Electric, but I’m a family member of one. My sister works in Kunyu Electric’s Human Resources Department. I’m a university student who was once trapped by illegal campus loans. It was Little General Manager Yao and other employees of Kunyu Electric who helped resolve my issue! Moreover, my sister said that because of what happened to me, Little General Manager Yao later proposed to the Chairman to establish the Kunyu Scholarship Fund. This fund is specifically for supporting students like me, who don’t qualify as underprivileged but still can’t afford tuition due to certain reasons, to prevent illegal campus loans from exploiting us. Honestly, Kunyu Electric not only cares for its employees but also extends its care to their families!”

—Yao Jia looked at the webpage, knowing these words came from Lu Fangfei’s sister.

There were many more…

As Yao Jia read these statements, she initially smiled with relief, but gradually her eyes grew warm and her blood surged. Every sincere action taken in the present is never in vain; it will eventually return as a reward.

However, Jiangfeng Electric was not moved by these heartfelt statements. Instead, they stubbornly claimed that these people were “plants” hired by Kunyu Electric to stir emotions. The hashtag #KunyuEmotionalManipulation# gained traction because of them.

Some people believed and were touched by the sincere statements, while others were swayed by the narrative, dismissing the statements as mere emotional manipulation and expressing disdain.

During this time, various baseless accusations aimed at slandering Kunyu Electric emerged one after another. Yao Jia found this verbal battle to be petty and tiresome. She pondered how to deliver a decisive blow to make Jiangfeng Electric stop their madness.

Just then, someone else stepped forward to speak for Kunyu.

She said, “My name is Yu Liang, and my ID number is **. I am responsible for the small appliance promotions at Kunyu Electric. Do you all remember the previous coupon incident at Kunyu Electric? In truth, that incident wasn’t an accident or coincidence; it was man-made. Someone from Jiangfeng’s internal staff bribed me, leading to the coupon incident. Their goal was clear: either Kunyu Electric would refuse to honor the low-priced orders, damaging its reputation, or it would accept them and suffer financially.

“You might ask why I’m speaking up now. It’s because my company has been kind to me. At that time, I desperately needed money—I grew up an orphan, longing for a family, so I rushed into marriage. But soon after, my husband cheated, and I miscarried due to the emotional turmoil. Later, I got divorced. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with cancer afterward. I underwent surgery. The company was generous, covering part of my medical expenses. But I needed a lot of money for recovery, so I took a risk and accepted the proposal from Jiangfeng’s internal staff, setting up the coupon incident.

“Later, the company found out I was behind it, but when they understood my reasons, they didn’t fire me. Instead, they kept me on, providing a stable income for my recovery. I have always felt guilty. I did wrong, but the company, seeing my plight, didn’t sue me. My company has truly been kind to me. So now, when my company is being slandered, I can’t stay silent any longer. If I remain silent, I don’t deserve to be human. It’s time for me to stand up and say something!

“Friends, Kunyu Electric is a good company, full of humanity. Both the big and Little General Manager Yao care deeply for their employees. I’m willing to take responsibility for every word I’ve said and face the consequences.”

This revelation surprised both Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe finally understood why, during that time at his home, when Yao Bingkun mentioned the coupon incident, he said it wasn’t the right time to reveal the truth.

Clearly, Yao Bingkun had thoroughly investigated the difficulties Yu Liang faced. After weighing the situation, he decided to be considerate and not pursue the matter at that time.

That momentary decision not to pursue led to the current situation—Yu Liang, grateful for the kindness, chose not to remain silent and stepped forward to clarify the matter.

Meng Xingzhe suddenly felt that sometimes, what people consider “soft-heartedness” isn’t entirely a bad thing. When used well, it can be both offensive and defensive.

Yu Liang’s revelation caused a media storm.

Jiangfeng Electric scrambled to delete posts and control the narrative, while blaming the incident on a “temporary worker.”

To divert public attention, Jiangfeng Electric launched another attack, suing Kunyu Electric for false advertising over their washing machine slogan, “A washing machine with perception, smart wash, smart stop, water-saving and clean,” claiming they bought one and found it neither water-saving nor clean.

Yao Jia was amused by Wu Jiangfeng’s relentless tactics.

Meng Xingzhe advised her to report Jiangfeng Electric’s air conditioners for failing to meet energy efficiency standards.

“Bei Luonan and I bought one of their air conditioners before, took it apart, and studied it. It didn’t meet their advertised efficiency.”

Yao Jia immediately arranged for technical staff to test Jiangfeng Electric’s air conditioners. If they were indeed substandard, she planned to use “false advertising” against Jiangfeng Electric.

After several rounds of back-and-forth, Jiangfeng Electric didn’t win, and Kunyu Electric didn’t lose.

Overall, Kunyu Electric slightly gained the upper hand over Jiangfeng Electric.

Yao Jia felt exhausted and speechless, venting her frustration by cursing Jiangfeng Electric: “Jiangfeng is like a persistent rash, constantly causing trouble. It’s really annoying!”

Meng Xingzhe, however, smiled and said, “Actually, you can look at this from a different perspective. Kunyu Electric and Jiangfeng Electric, despite their frequent battles, are both leaders in domestic appliances. This competition fostered by their rivalry actually promotes mutual development and progress. Imagine if Jiangfeng Electric weren’t constantly snapping at our heels, Kunyu Electric might not always be on its toes, striving to advance.”

Yao Jia felt that as Meng Xingzhe spoke, he seemed to glow.

In that moment, he appeared thoughtful, insightful, and broad-minded. It made him incredibly charming.

Yao Jia listened to Meng Xingzhe’s words and took them to heart. Not only did she take them to heart, but the more she thought about it, the more sense they made to her.

Feeling moved, she wanted to take out a “Heartfelt Card” from her bag and give it to Meng Xingzhe. However, when she searched her bag, she realized she had changed bags in the morning and forgot to bring the card.

She planned to give the card to Meng Xingzhe the next day, but got so busy that she completely forgot about it. By the time she remembered, the feeling had long passed.

She decided to let it go, thinking that past feelings were just that—past. Meng Xingzhe would surely have new qualities to make her heart flutter again.

After New Year’s Day, the conflict between Kunyu and Jiangfeng seemed to have subsided. However, the lawsuits between the two companies continued.

With the tension easing and having some spare time and energy, Meng Xingzhe planned to visit Jiang City before the Spring Festival to assess the local situation. If the results were promising, he intended to open a branch office there.

As it was close to the end of the year, both plane and high-speed train tickets were mostly sold out. So, Meng Xingzhe decided to drive to Jiang City himself.

The journey would take several hours, but driving wasn’t a hassle. Having his car in Jiang City would make things more convenient.

He explained his plan to Yao Jia. They calculated the timing: Meng Xingzhe would set off the next day, spend a few days in Jiang City meeting relevant people and discussing details, and return just in time for the New Year.

Although they would only be apart for a few days, both Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing.

Yao Jia dared to lie to her parents again, saying that Ling Xiaoxin had returned from an assignment and she needed to visit her friend overnight.

Then she was whisked away by Meng Xingzhe, and before their brief separation, they shared an intense, passionate night together.

Previously, they had been intimate twice. The first time was Meng Xingzhe’s exploration and awakening. The second time, on the sofa, a conversation led to him losing control, serving as further practice.

This time, Yao Jia almost couldn’t handle it. Meng Xingzhe was ravenous, evolving from a novice to a seasoned expert, leaving her breathless and overwhelmed.

Meng Xingzhe’s stamina was impressive, and he was in the phase of craving more after his first taste of indulgence. He was relentless, like a perpetual motion machine.

Yao Jia was left feeling as if her soul had been shaken to its core.

But she was genuinely satisfied this time.

After a brief rest, she wrapped herself in his robe, got up, found her bag, and pulled out a “Heartfelt Card,” blushing as she handed it to Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe, content and relaxed, asked in a teasingly hoarse voice, “What’s this card for?”

Yao Jia, blushing deeply, whispered something in his ear.

Laughing mischievously, Meng Xingzhe asked, “What kind of Heartfelt Card? Come on, say it again, I didn’t catch that!”

Yao Jia, her face burning, raised her voice in exasperation, “It’s a ‘Pleasure Heartfelt Card’! Is that good enough?”

Meng Xingzhe laughed like a cat that got the cream, pulling Yao Jia into his arms and whispering in her ear, “How about calling it a ‘Skillful Heartfelt Card’?”

Yao Jia, embarrassed, playfully hit him.

Undeterred, Meng Xingzhe shamelessly declared, “I love this card. To prove I deserve it, I need to demonstrate my skills again!”

Ignoring Yao Jia’s protests, he began another round of passionate intimacy.

They moved from the bed to the sofa, to the carpet.

Finally, Yao Jia found herself pressed against the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, the city’s starry night sky; inside, complete darkness. But Meng Xingzhe no longer feared the dark because she was right there with him.

They clung tightly to each other.

Their emotions ran deep, and both were covered in a light sheen of sweat.

It seemed they couldn’t stop.

When it finally ended, Yao Jia felt as if she might melt away.

She was exhausted but satisfied.

He held her from behind, not wanting to let go, as they merged into the night.

In that moment, a thought flashed through his mind.

He wished he could marry her the next day. He wanted to marry her immediately, to make nights like this legal and proper.

He planned to propose to her once he returned from Jiang City, after collecting all the Heartfelt Cards.

He wanted to use ten cards to exchange for a wife to bring home.

The next morning, Meng Xingzhe set off for Jiang City by car.

During his days in Jiang City, he spent the daytime discussing business and kept in touch with Yao Jia every night.

The night before he left, they had shared such a satisfying time that even a short separation felt like an eternity.

During their video call at night, Yao Jia couldn’t help but ask sweetly, “When exactly are you coming back?”

Meng Xingzhe, feeling a warmth in his bones, squinted and told her, “I’ll meet with one more company tomorrow. If all goes well, I should be back in two days.”

Yao Jia nodded at her phone screen, reminding Meng Xingzhe, “Be careful when you’re out. I heard there’s been an outbreak of pneumonia in Jiang City, supposedly from wild animal consumption. Make sure not to eat any wild game when dining out!”

Meng Xingzhe reassured her with a smile, “There is some tension in Jiang City, but it’s not too worrying. You should get some good sleep and not stay up late. Just two more nights, and you’ll see an even more handsome me!”

But after Yao Jia obediently slept for two nights, she didn’t get to see Meng Xingzhe.

Two days later, Meng Xingzhe successfully concluded his business. It was already late, and concerned about the safety of driving at night, he returned to his hotel, deciding to rest and leave the next morning with a fresh start.

However, that one decision changed everything. When he woke up, he found he couldn’t leave the city.

Jiang City had been severely affected by a pneumonia outbreak, and the entire city was locked down overnight. All railways, highways, and transportation were cut off.

Meng Xingzhe sat in his car, processing the sudden news.

His phone rang incessantly.

It was Yao Jia, his parents, Yao Bingkun, Bei Luonan, and even some business partners. Everyone who knew he was in Jiang City was asking if he had left the city and what the situation was like.

Yao Jia, anxious and on the verge of tears, asked, “Why didn’t you come back last night? Why didn’t you? Now the city is locked down, I can’t get in, and you can’t get out. What do we do? What do we do? I heard pneumonia is contagious, like SARS, it’s a coronavirus! What do we do, Meng Xingzhe, I’m so scared!”

As she spoke, Yao Jia couldn’t hold back her tears.

Meng Xingzhe repeatedly comforted her: It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t cry, you’re not allowed to cry.

“Let me calm down and think about what to do next.”

The current situation repeatedly challenged Meng Xingzhe’s understanding.

Jiang City was in a state of emergency.

The city was locked down, and all transportation inside and out was halted. The bustling city had turned into a ghost town overnight.

The number of pneumonia cases was increasing daily, hospital beds were insufficient, medical supplies were scarce, masks and protective clothing were in short supply, and doctors and nurses were treating patients while being exposed to infection risks.

The urgency in the city made Meng Xingzhe forget why he hadn’t left the night he could have, why he missed the chance to spend the New Year with Yao Jia.

All he could think about was one thing: What could he do for this city?

He forced himself to calm down, to stay composed.

He had to do something for the city, even though he was just one small individual.

He took out his phone to browse local information and found that every hospital was short-staffed and urgently recruiting volunteers.

Without much hesitation, he dialed the contact number.

It wasn’t until two days later that Yao Jia managed to reach Meng Xingzhe again.

By then, she learned that Meng Xingzhe had gone to the hospital to volunteer.

He went to a place closest to the virus, the most dangerous place. Donning protective gear and a mask, he was no longer a wealthy heir or a domineering CEO. He was just an ordinary person, a volunteer doing his best to help doctors and nurses care for patients and dispose of medical waste.

Yao Jia had never been one to cry, but upon hearing the news, she couldn’t help but shed tears.

“Didn’t you always say that you should protect yourself before helping others? So why did you go to the hospital? What if you get infected?” Meng Xingzhe comforted Yao Jia with a smile, “Don’t cry, be strong.”

“Yao Xiaojia, if you were here and saw the situation, you would be just like me. You’d forget about any so-called status or interests. You’d only remember that you are Chinese.” He smiled, a calm and fearless smile.

“You know, I now believe that we Chinese are the most passionate and selfless people! Whenever any corner of our country is in trouble, no Chinese person will stand by idly.” His eyes were firm, his smile resolute, as he told Yao Jia, “Yao Xiaojia, don’t be afraid, don’t back down. This disaster won’t defeat us; it will only make us stronger and more united!”

Yao Jia wiped away her tears.

Looking at Meng Xingzhe in the video, she told him, “Meng Xingzhe, you seem to be glowing now. You are so great!”

She said to him, “If anyone ever calls you spoiled, selfish, or indulgent again, I’ll fight them!”

She then asked Meng Xingzhe, “You’re volunteering on the front lines, so what about me? What can I do from behind the scenes?”

Meng Xingzhe quickly told Yao Jia what she could do.

“We’re short on medical supplies here!”

Yao Jia immediately contacted local factories for masks and protective suits, purchasing supplies to send to Jiang City.

Meng Xingzhe coordinated the supplies in the city, delivering them free of charge to local hospitals.

But the feedback was increasingly urgent.

“Not enough!”

“Far from enough!”

“Get more, as much as you can!”

But apart from Jiang City, the entire nation was in a state of emergency, with all hospitals facing severe shortages of medical supplies.

At this point, Yao Jia realized she couldn’t fight alone. She reached out to mobilize all her connections, striving to source supplies and send them to Jiang City.

The days of separation from Meng Xingzhe accumulated, marking the growing number of days in lockdown.

Yao Jia never expected that this time, she would be separated from Meng Xingzhe for so long. She missed him dearly; he was always running to the most dangerous places. Yet, she was immensely proud of him, for he never feared going to the most dangerous places.

The year passed in the chaos of war. On New Year’s Eve, Meng Xingzhe was volunteering, while Yao Jia was busy searching for masks and protective gear.

After the New Year, Yao Jia video-called Meng Xingzhe, telling him, “My sister has returned from abroad. The pandemic is spreading overseas too, but foreign countries aren’t controlling it well. Only China has managed to control the outbreak, making it the safest place in the world, so my mom went abroad to bring my sister back. They’re in quarantine now.”

Two weeks later, Yao Jia told Meng Xingzhe, “The quarantine is over, and my sister is home. I’ve resolved the lifelong grudge with her! We weren’t close before, but now I realize my sister really cares for me. Meng Xingzhe, I have you to thank! Also, Meng Xingzhe, you’ve lost weight! Meng Xingzhe, I miss you so much! Oh, and Meng Xingzhe, be safe. I’m waiting for you to come back!”

When anxious, she would ask, “Meng Xingzhe, are you afraid of dying?”

Meng Xingzhe, with his now gaunt face, gave her a cocky smile, “What’s death? It would have to take a detour to meet me.”

Yao Jia laughed with red-rimmed eyes. He was unshaven, trapped in another city, looking quite down and out, yet he still couldn’t resist showing off.

Later, she asked again, “Are you really not afraid of dying at all?”

Meng Xingzhe then honestly told her, “Of course I’m afraid of dying. I’m afraid I won’t see you again, that we won’t be able to watch the night sky outside the window together like before I left.” He smiled at her, “But because I’m afraid of dying, I’ll be very careful, not giving death a chance; and I’ll try to help others as much as I can because they must be afraid of dying too.”

Yao Jia couldn’t help but cry again.

At night, she went to Meng Xingzhe’s house. She stood by his window, wrapping her arms around herself, as if he were hugging her from behind like that night.

She rested her head against the window, gazing at the night outside.

She would wait for him to return, believing he would come back soon.

The situation grew more severe, but after all, this was China, and only the Chinese had the capability to control this flood-like pandemic.

Meng Xingzhe sent back information on the needed supplies from the front lines. Yao Jia, with Kunyu Electric, Xingbei Technology, and Four Dot Technology, did everything possible to gather resources.

Soon, Meng Xingzhe sent a message from the front lines that a makeshift hospital was needed.

He told Yao Jia, “Our industry should do everything it can.”

Yao Jia coordinated with industry partners, continuously organizing donations of equipment and supplies.

Later, Heyi.com contacted Yao Jia.

Then even Jiangfeng Electric reached out to her.

Kunyu Electric, Xingbei Technology, Four Dot Technology, Jiangfeng Electric, Heyi.com. Everyone donated a variety of equipment and supplies: air conditioners, air purifiers, heaters, water heaters, water purifiers, water dispensers, washing machines, dryers… Heyi.com also used its own logistics to transport these relief supplies to the affected areas.

Yao Jia was deeply moved. In the face of major issues, everyone was just Chinese, united in solidarity. At this time, no one engaged in business battles or scheming; everyone was simply a pure, passionate Chinese person.

With everyone united, the situation improved day by day. Finally, after several dozen days, Jiang City was unlocked.

After safely completing the quarantine period in Jiang City, Meng Xingzhe was finally able to return home.

When he returned to the city, he was like a hero.

The industry people who had fought the pandemic alongside him all came to welcome him home.

Yao Jia remained strong and smiling. Until everyone had left, she hugged Meng Xingzhe and cried her heart out.

But these tears were not of sadness; they were tears of pride after experiencing life and death.

That night, they held each other tightly, inseparable.

Two souls, as if from another lifetime, intertwined and embraced.

The room was dark. Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe stood by the living room window.

Just like before they parted. Outside the window were the city’s stars and night. Inside was their tender embrace.

The present connected with the past. The harrowing days in between were both long and short in this night.

Yao Jia handed Meng Xingzhe a card, stood on tiptoe to kiss his forehead, and told him, “This is the tenth card. It’s called the ‘Great Love Heart-Moving Card.’ Meng Xingzhe, you’re no longer the person I first met!”

Back then, you were selfish, self-centered, and wouldn’t help others.

Even if you did lend a hand, you’d first calculate the gains and losses, weighing whether there’d be a return on your investment.

But now, when helping others, you’re warm, selfless, and full of great love.

Even though you’re afraid of dying, you don’t hesitate when helping others.

You’ve become a different person.

Your heart full of great love moves me so much.

Yao Jia looked up at Meng Xingzhe, gazing into his eyes, seeing into his heart.

“Meng Xingzhe, you make my heart flutter, so much so that I want to marry you! Will you marry me?”

Meng Xingzhe was utterly stunned.

He took a moment to process, realizing he had just been proposed to by a girl!

He questioned, “Wait a minute! How are there ten cards? Even with this new one, aren’t there only nine in total?!”

He also stopped Yao Jia, “Hold on! Why are you proposing to me?! Isn’t this something I’m supposed to do?!”

Yao Jia looked at Meng Xingzhe, and after a moment, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He truly was the ultimate straight man, even in this situation, his focus was on the number of cards being incorrect! And he insisted that the proposal had to come from him!

Meanwhile, Meng Xingzhe was still obsessing over the card count.

He even began to doubt himself: “Did I miscount, or did I accidentally lose one? I distinctly remember receiving only nine cards.”

Watching him doubt himself, Yao Jia stifled a laugh. In the end, she couldn’t hold it in and gave him a hint: “There was one card I actually sent you a long time ago. You’re such a dummy for not noticing it until now!”

Meng Xingzhe’s eyes went blank for a moment, then he grabbed Yao Jia’s shoulders and shook her. “You little rascal, why are you so mischievous? Come on, give me a hint!”

Yao Jia was almost dizzy from the shaking. She pushed Meng Xingzhe’s hands away and offered him a clue: “I gave you that card when your dad and my dad suddenly appeared together in your living room.”

Meng Xingzhe quickly rewound his memories.

That day, he had said he wanted to cook for her personally and brought her to his home.

Indeed, he had cooked for her that day—tomato and scrambled eggs. Except the tomatoes didn’t look like tomatoes, and the eggs didn’t resemble eggs.

Later, he tried to do something mischievous to her, but was thwarted because… both dads showed up.

Afterward, her dad took her away.

Before leaving, she returned to the living room sofa, packed her bag, and then glanced at him.

That look she gave him seemed to contain a thousand words, as if she had something to tell him…

Recalling Yao Jia’s gaze from that time, a light bulb suddenly went off in Meng Xingzhe’s mind.

He turned on the light, took Yao Jia’s hand, and led her to the living room sofa.

Then he let go of her hand, bent down, and reached into the sofa crevice, feeling from one side to the other. Midway, he suddenly stopped. When he pulled his hand out, he was pinching a card between his fingers.

He straightened up, turned around, and held up the card, shaking his head and smiling at Yao Jia. It turned out the look she gave him that day clearly said: I hid a card in the sofa crevice for you. Whether you find it is up to you!

Meng Xingzhe held up this tenth card—no, if arranged chronologically, this should be the third “heartbeat card,” and the other cards’ order should be pushed back accordingly.

Holding this card, he pulled Yao Jia into his arms and asked her, “Let me guess, is this card called the ‘Cooking Heartbeat Card’?”

Yao Jia laughed at him.

He finally guessed correctly for once.

“What made you think of hiding this card here?” he asked, rubbing her shoulder.

Yao Jia glanced at him, half-scolding, half-teasing, and told him, “I originally wanted to make it difficult for you when you got to the ninth card, to tell you that all ten cards had already been sent and see if you could find it.”

Meng Xingzhe felt a shiver down his spine from Yao Jia’s glance. The little girl had grown into a young woman, and every smile and frown was captivating, holding a myriad of charms.

“So why are you telling me now? Don’t want to make me anxious anymore, huh?” he whispered seductively in her ear, teasing her while also pretending, “Is it because I’m too handsome and charming, and you can’t resist me, hmm?”

Yao Jia was initially swept away by his teasing, but when she heard the last part, she was both amused and exasperated.

Mixing showing off with flirting—only Meng Xingzhe could pull that off.

Yao Jia playfully kicked Meng Xingzhe’s leg. “In the future, when you’re sweet-talking, no showing off!”

Meng Xingzhe, broken out of his act by her kick, laughed. His smile, with its sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, made his already lean face appear even more defined and handsome.

Yao Jia’s heart pounded.

Meng Xingzhe led her to the sofa, pressing her down onto the cushion to sit.

Then he turned to retrieve the other nine cards.

He walked over to her, without giving any hints, and suddenly knelt on one knee.

He placed the ten cards in her palm and asked, “Can I not use these ten cards to exchange for a girlfriend? Can I directly exchange for a wife?”

Yao Jia looked at him, smiling sweetly.

“No.”

Seeing Meng Xingzhe’s face frozen in surprise, she laughed even more sweetly. The king of pretentiousness surely didn’t expect her to say no.

“If you want to trick me into being your wife, shouldn’t you at least prepare a diamond ring as big as a pigeon egg first?!”

【Epilogue】

In May, the pandemic had been brought under control. Apart from people still needing to wear masks when going out, life had returned to normal.

People continued to strive for their livelihoods, to compete with those around them to achieve their life goals; competitors still fought fiercely in the marketplace.

But Yao Jia knew that no matter how independently people acted in their daily lives, when major events or disasters struck, everyone would unite as one.

This is the Chinese people. In the face of the nation, there are no individuals.

May 20th was a special day.

Four Dot Technology, along with Xingbei Technology and Kunyu Electric, was set to host a grand industry event. Four Dot Technology would launch the new “Jiaren 2020” phone, while Kunyu Electric and Xingbei Technology would seize the opportunity to announce their future smart product development strategies.

That morning, Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe left the house early together.

The day after Meng Xingzhe returned to the city from Jiang City, he dragged his parents to visit the Yao family, formally requesting that his future father-in-law and mother-in-law entrust Yao Jia to him.

That day, Meng Xingzhe met Yao Hui for the first time, the sister who had reportedly put immense pressure on Yao Jia since childhood.

Yao Hui was more than ten years older than Yao Jia, already a middle-aged woman, with a gentle and soft demeanor. She was more like a half-mother to Yao Jia than a sister.

Discussing the marriage of the two younger ones, the four elders chatted happily and helped them set a trendy date for their marriage registration: May 21st.

Choosing this date avoided the conference and played on the young people’s pun of “I love you.”

Meng Yutang even told Meng Xingzhe, “How about it, son? Isn’t your dad trendy, knowing about 521?”

Meng Xingzhe retorted, “Aren’t you? You’ve been a romantic your whole life, how could you miss out on this?”

Yao Jia laughed from the side.

Jiang Rui couldn’t stand her son teasing her husband, so she stood up for him by teasing her son: “Xingxing, you’re even more of a romantic than your dad!”

Meng Xingzhe disagreed, but Jiang Rui turned to the future in-laws to prove just how romantic her son was: “This kid can’t stop mentioning Xiao Yaojia when talking to us. When he eats at our place, he insists on packing some to take to Xiao Yaojia because it’s delicious. He’s never cooked or washed dishes for us, but he does all these things effortlessly in front of Xiao Yaojia…”

Jiang Rui couldn’t stop listing her son’s romantic antics, while Meng Xingzhe listened with a constant smirk, Meng Yutang teased him with his eyes, and Yao Bingkun and Gan Yu listened with growing satisfaction.

Yao Hui, sitting in her wheelchair, waved Yao Jia over, also calling Meng Xingzhe.

Yao Jia quickly pulled Meng Xingzhe over. She knelt by Yao Hui’s wheelchair, looking up at her sister. Meng Xingzhe, too tall to kneel, pulled over a chair to sit opposite Yao Hui.

Yao Hui patted Yao Jia’s head, smiling gently at her.

Then she looked up at Meng Xingzhe, advising him, “Though there’s a big age gap between me and Xiao Jia, and we don’t often see each other, I’ve always cared deeply for her. She seems like a strong-willed girl, but she’s actually very sensitive. You must take good care of her and never let her be wronged.”

After speaking, she looked back down at Yao Jia, caressing her head, smiling as she said, “Xiao Jia, your sister loves you very much and is grateful that your birth gave me a second life. You are the most precious gift to our family, and I hope you will be happy for the rest of your life!”

She placed Yao Jia’s hand into Meng Xingzhe’s, as if completing a solemn and sacred handover.

Meng Xingzhe took Yao Jia’s hand, noticing her eyes were red.

He quickly said, “Sister, rest assured, Uncle Yao, Aunt Yao, rest assured too, I will take good care of this stubborn yet soft-hearted little rascal!”

Since that day, Yao Jia had been using the excuse of staying at Ling Xiaoxin’s house at night. Yao Bingkun and Gan Yu no longer questioned whether Ling Xiaoxin was stationed elsewhere or still in the city.

The happiest about this arrangement was Meng Xingzhe. It was as if he had received some kind of official approval, and he indulged himself without restraint. Every day, he would lean against Yao Jia in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, gazing at the night view tirelessly.

Last night, they had watched the night view together for quite a while. When morning came, Meng Xingzhe felt content and satisfied. The two of them got ready early, preparing to go out.

With summer approaching, the weather had turned hot. Yao Jia wore a short-sleeved top and a narrow skirt.

The skirt hugged her slender waist, accentuating her curvaceous figure. Below the knee-length skirt were her long, slender legs, perfectly proportioned and beautifully shaped.

At the entrance, she put on her shoes.

Standing in high heels, she exuded a charm that was both sharp and alluring, captivating anyone who laid eyes on her.

Meng Xingzhe was entranced as he watched her. He raised his arm, placing his hand against the wall, trapping her in a playful gesture, leaning closer. Their lips were almost touching, their warm breaths mingling on each other’s faces.

He asked seductively, “Your lipstick looks great. Will it smudge?”

She looked up at him. In his suit, he was the epitome of a business elite, standing at 1.85 meters, tall and handsome. From head to toe, he was impeccably stylish. His hair was perfectly styled, revealing a broad forehead, a high nose bridge, and deep eyes that seemed to speak love words with every glance. His lips were thin and sensual, and every word he spoke was like a spell, planting itself in her heart.

She reached up, tugging on his tie to pull him closer, whispering against his lips, “Why don’t you find out?”

With that, they shared a passionate morning kiss.

Her heart raced in her chest. The feeling of being in love was so wonderful and blissful.

They kissed for quite some time before parting. Before leaving, they reminded each other to wear masks.

At the conference venue, Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe met up with Yue Xuran at the entrance, then walked together through the VIP passage to the backstage.

From backstage, Yao Jia could see the venue was packed. Besides the media, there were numerous industry elites present. She spotted Yao Bingkun, Bei Luonan, and even Wen Zhihe and Wu Jiangfeng.

Soon, Tang Xin approached them. As the host of the conference, she came to guide the three of them through the speaking process.

Yue Xuran was first, Meng Xingzhe second, and Yao Jia last.

As Tang Xin spoke, a strand of hair fell from her temple to her mouth. She didn’t have time to brush it away, but Yue Xuran raised his hand, gently tucking the strand behind her ear.

Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe exchanged a knowing glance.

They were well aware of such interactions, which belonged to two people who were romantically involved.

Meng Xingzhe’s happiness was almost overflowing. With a strong competitor in love now off the market, he felt he could finally become friends with Yue Xuran.

As the clock struck the hour, the conference began.

After Tang Xin warmed up the crowd, Yue Xuran took the stage.

A powerful short film played on the big screen. When it ended, the Jia Ren Phone 2020 and Four Dot Router were unveiled simultaneously.

Yue Xuran introduced the features and functions of the Jia Ren Phone 2020, promoting his router product, and then talked about the open platform currently under development.

He went on to discuss the future deep integration and collaboration between Four Dot Technology, Kunyu Electric, and Xingbei Technology.

At this point, he introduced Meng Xingzhe to the stage.

Yao Jia sat in the front row, looking up.

This was Meng Xingzhe’s first time presenting himself to the public. She watched him, standing tall and handsome on stage, exuding an elegant aura.

Every gesture he made was full of noble grace, and his voice was as captivating as if it had been finely tuned.

On stage, he occasionally cast gentle glances her way, as if drawing strength and conviction for his speech from her presence.

He introduced the future industrial layout to the attendees: “In the future, Xingbei Technology, Kunyu Electric, and Four Dot Technology will integrate resources to vigorously develop smart products. We have independently developed a Smart Communication Chip, smart routers, smartphones, and an open platform. Smart homes are just a part of our future industrial planning. Additionally, we will develop a complete set of smart systems, such as smart security, smart apartments, smart communities, smart healthcare, smart elderly care, and smart cities. Our fundamental goal is to enable everyone to live in an intelligent, convenient, safe, comfortable, healthy, and environmentally friendly environment.

“Previously, I believed that running a business was primarily about profit—without benefits, how could one talk about ideals? But someone once told me that a boss who only pursues profit, without a heart or ideals, cannot sustain a profitable company. Only with ideals and responsibility can one achieve a good reputation and long-term benefits. If I used to develop products for profit, now, after experiencing life-and-death battles in Jiang City at close range for dozens of days, I want to tell everyone that I agree with this person. Entrepreneurs must have a heart and ideals, passion, and responsibility.

“In the future, Kunyu Electric, Xingbei Technology, and Four Dot Technology are willing to try things no one has done before, to develop products no one has developed, to take risks, to overturn imagination, and not to make profit the fundamental goal. Ultimately, what we will deliver to everyone is an infinite upgrade in life experience. I believe this is a more meaningful and great endeavor than simply making more money!”

As Meng Xingzhe concluded, a wave of applause erupted from the audience.

Yao Jia looked up at this dazzling man, her blood boiling with excitement. Compared to when they first met, he seemed completely transformed.

At this moment, she felt that ten heart cards were too few. If she had ten, twenty more, she would give them all to Meng Xingzhe.

He moved her deeply.

Before she could calm her emotions, the process moved to the next step. With Meng Xingzhe’s speech concluded, Tang Xin was cueing her to take the stage.

Yao Jia took a deep breath and stood up.

Step by step, she walked steadily onto the stage.

She stood under the brilliant lights, in the spotlight of countless eyes. For a moment, the world seemed dazzlingly empty. But soon, she regained clarity.

She loved this world.

She smiled and began to speak confidently.

“Hello everyone, I am Yao Jia from Kunyu Electric. Thank you all for being here…”

“As for the future industrial strategy, Manager Meng and President Yue have already explained it clearly. I won’t elaborate further. Instead, let me tell you what kind of company Kunyu Electric will be in the future.”

Yao Jia spoke with grace and composure, her voice clear and pleasant, capturing everyone’s attention.

“In the future, we will integrate and reorganize resources. We will establish divisions for white goods, mobile phones, and smart products. We will focus on the integration of traditional manufacturing processes with Internet and smart technologies. We will use mobile phones as the terminal control, with an open Internet of Things home platform, connecting various smart hardware and smart homes to form a complete smart product ecosystem.”

“After completing these seemingly grand plans, what will we do next?

We will return to the most basic ‘service.'”

“Here, I don’t want to talk about big, macro things. Let me talk about small, specific things. I started from the grassroots level as a customer service representative, and I deeply understand the importance of customer experience after a product is launched. Many companies are now implementing AI Customer Service. Some have asked me, with Kunyu’s extensive smart industry layout, why don’t we vigorously implement AI Customer Service?

“The reason is simple—because AI Customer Service lacks emotion, and we, as emotional beings, need the warm and reassuring comfort of Human Customer Service when we call a service hotline. This is something AI Customer Service cannot provide.”

“We will use AI Customer Service as an aid, but we will never abandon Human Customer Service. We will always prioritize people and service.”

“…What will the future battle of products look like? Ultimately, it should be a battle of service. The future will be an era where service reigns supreme. So besides our researchers and technical experts, who are invaluable assets, our customer service staff are equally important! There are no insignificant positions or employees. In an era where service is king, the seemingly ordinary and small role of customer service holds great significance and limitless value. Every customer service representative works diligently every day, creating beauty and miracles in life.

“In fact, we are all the same. Each of us lives an ordinary life, yet each of us creates miracles through our efforts.

“Yes, we are all ordinary, but we are all miracles!”

Yao Jia bowed deeply to the audience. She heard the enthusiastic applause, which was continuous and unending.

She straightened up and looked down, meeting Meng Xingzhe’s passionate gaze.

They exchanged a smile, seeing love and honor in each other’s eyes.

The press conference concluded smoothly. During this special period, there was no large banquet to celebrate afterward.

Yao Jia found Yue Xuran and Tang Xin and said to them, “Tomorrow, Meng Xingzhe and I are going to register our marriage, and afterward, we’d like to invite some close friends for a small hotpot gathering. Would you two honor us with your presence?”

Tang Xin’s eyes lit up at the news of his crush’s ‘white moonlight’ getting married, and he nodded vigorously, “No problem!”

Yue Xuran looked at her, shook his head with a smile, and then congratulated Meng Xingzhe, “Congratulations!”

Meng Xingzhe lifted his chin slightly and replied, “Congratulations to you too, Brother Yue. Keep it up, and we’ll wait for your good news!”

After agreeing on the time and place for the hotpot the next day, Yao Jia bid them farewell.

As they walked to the underground parking lot, Meng Xingzhe received a call from Wen Zhihe.

He answered the call and put it on speaker so Yao Jia could hear what Wen Zhihe had to say.

To their surprise, Wen Zhihe was calling specifically to offer praise.

He said, “Congratulations, your press conference was very successful. I hope to have more opportunities to collaborate with you in the future!” After a pause, he added, “If Manager Meng has time, please come to Heyi.com headquarters one day, and we can sign the follow-up cooperation contract. I look forward to the great success of Manager Meng’s future intelligent products!”

Meng Xingzhe hung up the phone, filled with emotion. He said to Yao Jia, “Did you see that? Your husband is so outstanding that others are eager to collaborate with him!”

Yao Jia looked at Meng Xingzhe and thought, well, he’s still himself. Even though she felt he had transformed into a butterfly, beneath the surface, he was still the same Meng Xingzhe with his kingly demeanor.

While they were talking, Yao Jia’s phone rang. She looked at it and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

Meng Xingzhe asked her what was going on.

Yao Jia showed him the screen.

It was a message from Wu Jiangfeng, the boss of Jiangfeng Electric, congratulating Yao Jia on the successful press conference and generously praising the bright future of the Kunyu series.

Finally, Wu Jiangfeng offered a friendly suggestion: Old Yao always says that now Kunyu is managed by Little General Manager Yao. So, Little General Manager Yao, do you think our lawsuit still needs to continue? How about we settle and withdraw it?

Yao Jia smiled and shook her head. After the unity during the pandemic, she thought, why not withdraw the lawsuit? After all, aren’t we all Chinese?

They found their car and got in. As Meng Xingzhe fastened his seatbelt, he asked Yao Jia, “We have to get up early tomorrow to register our marriage and then treat everyone to hotpot. Have you informed everyone?”

Yao Jia also fastened her seatbelt and nodded at Meng Xingzhe, who was starting the car. She listed, “I think I’ve informed everyone. Let me go over it again to see if I missed anyone. Xiao Xiner and Bei Luonan, Tang Xin and Yue Xuran, Chen Luoxi and Tang Minghui—oh, by the way, did you know they’re together now? There’s also Lu Fangfei, Lu Jingyi—Xiao Tiantian mentioned there’s something going on between them; of course, there’s Xiao Tiantian and Hao Lidan—they said they’re getting married next month too; oh, and I also invited Tong Yumo.”

Meng Xingzhe glanced at her, “I thought you were annoyed by her.”

Yao Jia laughed, “I was annoyed by the old her. But once I understood her upbringing, I forgave the annoying her. It’s a big reunion, so she should be invited!”

Meng Xingzhe turned the steering wheel, “You’re the boss. Whatever you say goes!”

As the car drove out of the conference center’s underground parking, Yao Jia noticed that everyone on the street was wearing masks.

She smiled and turned to Meng Xingzhe, “Our lives now will become a significant record in history, won’t they?”

Meng Xingzhe glanced at her quickly and smiled.

“Of course!” he said.

This will undoubtedly be a significant historical record. Many years later, when people revisit this history, they might read something like this: In 2020, the pneumonia pandemic broke out globally. The Chinese people, with their courage, unity, strength, and solidarity, successfully fought the pandemic. And that summer was different from previous years, as everyone wore masks when going out. This small mask was not just a barrier against the virus; it was a symbol of unity and cohesion, a medal worn by everyone who contributed to the fight against the pandemic.

【The End】

The next day, May 21st.

Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe got up early, carefully washing and preparing themselves.

Yao Jia applied a face mask to look good in the wedding photos.

Meng Xingzhe shaved beside her.

Suddenly, Yao Jia’s phone rang with a message. The phone was the newly released Jiaren 2020 by Four Dot Technology, and Yao Jia had set it to unlock with facial recognition.

But with the mask on her face, the phone couldn’t recognize her and failed to unlock.

Fortunately, she had also set Meng Xingzhe’s face for unlocking.

She turned the phone towards Meng Xingzhe, and it unlocked when it scanned his face.

She saw the message was from her sister, reminding her on behalf of their parents to leave early and not delay the registration.

Yao Jia replied with a “Got it.”

After putting down the phone, she removed the mask and washed her face.

As she dried her face, she suddenly thought of something, turned to Meng Xingzhe, and asked, “In this era filled with artificial intelligence, where faces can be scanned and recognized, what about the human heart?”

She looked at him with a smile. He had dressed in a white shirt to look good against the red backdrop for the photos. Wrapped in the white shirt, he looked particularly elegant and refined.

Yao Jia looked at Meng Xingzhe and asked, “If this phone could perform a body scan, what would it see if it scanned you?” She giggled, “Would it see a bunch of scheming thoughts?”

Meng Xingzhe laughed too. After laughing, he took her hand, placed it on his left chest, and his gaze deepened.

He looked at her with eyes filled with unwavering affection that seemed to pierce through the future years.

He kissed her forehead and told her—

“At the very tip of my heart, it would see you.”

—What would I see if I scanned your heart?

—Of course, I would see, I love you.

———————【The End of the Story】——————

This story is dedicated to everyone who experienced the 2020 pneumonia pandemic. May we all live in health and happiness, and may warmth always remain in this world.

Author’s Note: It’s completely finished! There are red envelopes for 2-point reviews! 【All subscribed readers, please give Brother Jiu a five-star review, mwah!】

Afterword:

When I started writing, I mentioned that this story was inspired by the pandemic. Due to the pandemic, I wanted to write a healing and warm story. There are human conflicts in the story, but no absolute villains. May everyone’s pain be healed and redeemed, and may everyone live each day in health and happiness.

So from the beginning, I had planned for the ending to revolve around the pandemic.

This writing aims to document the contributions of Chinese home appliance companies during the pandemic: 【During the pandemic, aside from money and supplies, let’s focus on the donations: Gree Electric donated air purifiers and air conditioners that kill the coronavirus; Midea donated heaters, water heaters, water dispensers, washing machines, dryers, and air conditioners; Haier donated water heaters and water purifiers, and their logistics division, RRS, consistently helped transport relief supplies; Supor donated water purifiers, disinfection cabinets, air purifiers, thermal containers, and water bottles. There are many other companies, but I won’t list them all.】

This also serves as a record and commemoration of the 2020 pandemic.

Honestly, I truly love our country. It’s amazing. Which other country could effectively control the pandemic in such a short time? And our people, when faced with major crises, who can be more united than the Chinese? Being born in this country is a source of pride.

Lastly, I salute all the pandemic fighters, the Chinese home appliance companies, and the “Made in China” enterprises! Only these Chinese companies could unite and build a hospital in just a few days!

P.S.: A special note regarding the plot where the male lead becomes a volunteer: it’s not purely fictional. There was a real case reported in the news: a young man from Dalian, working in mobile games, was supposed to go to Changsha for a business meeting. He accidentally got off in Wuhan and, due to the lockdown, couldn’t leave, so he volunteered at a hospital. “No one is destined to be a hero; it’s just ordinary people gritting their teeth and moving forward.” His name is Jiang Wenqiang, and we salute this ordinary hero.

This concludes the full text. Thank you all for accompanying me for over a hundred days! Thanks to everyone’s support, the story’s film rights were sold during serialization. Let’s look forward to the screen adaptation together.

Finally, I love you all very much, bowing deeply!

See you in the next story, “Sweet Words”!

(Please also bookmark Jiu Ge’s author column, mwah!)

“Sweet Words” by Hong Jiu

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Xu Miyu, a full-time housewife, got divorced, thinking she couldn’t survive.

But she gritted her teeth and climbed up from the lowest point.

She lived better and better.

Ji Feng, cold, handsome, and wealthy but heartless.

When he first met Xu Miyu, she was not yet thirty but already looked like a worn-out housewife.

Later, he was inexplicably captivated by this “worn-out housewife.”

— Translator’s Notes —

• Spring Festival: The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday in China, marking the lunar new year with family reunions, fireworks, and festivities typically in late January or early FebruaryP