Recap, trama, sinossi di Dazzling

Sinossi di Dazzling

Qing Ye, who lives in a big city, returns to her hometown Zhazhating in her senior year of high school due to a family change.

There, she meets Xing Wu and other teenagers. Qing Ye overcomes various difficulties in life and studies, and helps Xing Wu, Cao Ping, Huang Mao, and others find their life goals. After graduating from college, Qing Ye and Xing Wu reunite in Zhazhating. This time, they not only achieve their life dreams but also find their love.

Recap di Dazzling

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Qing Ye's life was turned upside down when her father was taken away by the authorities for investigation. With his assets suddenly frozen, her plans to study abroad—following her late mother's final wishes—were put on hold as her visa could no longer be processed. To keep her safe from relentless creditors, her father's secretary, Sun Hai, made the decision to send her away from Beijing to stay with her aunt, Li Lanfang.

Qing Ye dreaded going to the remote coastal town of Zhazhating, but with no other relatives in the capital, she had no choice. As Sun Hai's car neared Zhazhating, the GPS lost its signal, forcing them to pull over. Through the window, Qing Ye witnessed what looked like a violent gang assault: a white-haired youth and his friends chased down and pinned another boy to the ground.

In reality, the youth was Xing Wu, a local high schooler who was retrieving a stolen phone on behalf of his teacher, Mr. Zhu. Unaware of this, Qing Ye immediately pegged Xing Wu and his colorful-haired friends as mindless street thugs. Needing directions to Xuan Island, Sun Hai rolled down his window and asked the boys for help. When they provided the route, Sun Hai generously handed each of them a one-hundred-yuan tip.

While Xing Wu demanded his friends return the money, the boys eagerly kept it, marveling at the wealthy city folks. Noting the Beijing license plate, Xing Wu's friends wondered if this was the rich cousin he was supposed to pick up. Shortly after, Xing Wu returned the phone to Mr. Zhu, who used the opportunity to urge him to return to school.

For the past two years, Xing Wu had put his education on hold to work at a repair shop to ease his mother's financial burdens. Mr. Zhu reminded him of his past achievements in aerospace modeling and paper airplane contests, but Xing Wu quietly dismissed the advice, redirecting the conversation to Mr. Zhu's own marital issues before walking away. At the local mahjong club, Li Lanfang was wearing elaborate makeup in anticipation of her niece's arrival.

Her friends gossiped about the wealthy Beijing relative who was supposedly bringing fifty thousand yuan, which would help Li Lanfang clear her mounting debts. Bragging about her late sister's successful family, Li Lanfang even promised to gift them apartments once her brother-in-law turned Zhazhating into a resort. Her fantasies were briefly interrupted by a call from a persistent creditor, whom she pacified by promising a wire transfer the moment her "money tree" arrived.

When word reached Li Lanfang that the car had arrived, she immediately instructed her neighbors to set off firecrackers to welcome Qing Ye. The neighborhood gathered for the loud, smoky reception, leaving Qing Ye utterly overwhelmed. Meeting her aunt, who wore suffocating perfume, and her silent, hostile cousin Xing Wu, Qing Ye felt an immediate wave of dread.

After Sun Hai said his goodbyes and promised to clear her father's name, Qing Ye reluctantly stepped into her aunt's shop, Xuan Island. Once inside, Qing Ye presented a "Temporary Residency Service Contract" and handed over thirty thousand yuan, keeping the remaining twenty thousand as a guarantee. Eager for the cash, Li Lanfang signed the document without reading it.

Li Lanfang then suggested Qing Ye take Xing Wu’s room—which doubled as his repair shop—separated only by a thin curtain, or her own incredibly cluttered room. Before Qing Ye could make a choice, Li Lanfang scurried back to her mahjong game. Before leaving, Li Lanfang pulled Xing Wu aside, pleading with him to be kind to Qing Ye and explaining that her late sister had once been very generous to her.

Left alone with Qing Ye, Xing Wu coldly informed her that she would have to use a communal public bathroom outside, and warned her not to disturb his resting grandmother. Overwhelmed by her new surroundings, Qing Ye fell asleep and dreamed of her late mother, who comforted her and promised that she would get through this difficult time.

She awoke with tears streaming down her face, only to find Xing Wu standing over her bed to announce that dinner was ready. Dinner proved to be another disaster. Qing Ye refused to touch the food, explaining that she did not eat meat at night or dishes fried in lard. She went back upstairs, leaving Xing Wu to argue with his mother about their desperate lifestyle, her gambling habits, and his father's gambling debts.

Li Lanfang defended herself, explaining that the thirty thousand yuan was their only shield against the thugs at their door, and that she needed to cover his grandmother's medical bills for her bad legs and epilepsy. She expressed her hope that Xing Wu would one day return to school, but Xing Wu stubbornly insisted he could support the family on his own.

Upstairs, Qing Ye got on a video call with her friends, Le Ling and another classmate, complaining about the bizarre town, the power outage, and her thug-like cousin. Suddenly, Xing Wu appeared behind her in the dark, causing her to quickly hang up. He lit a pungent mosquito coil, warning her that the local sea mosquitoes could bite a pig to death.

When she complained about the dim room, he climbed up to replace the light bulb, asking her to hold the new one. They agreed to simply tolerate each other as "Party A and Party B" for the next month until she could leave. Xing Wu then escorted her to the public shower. Qing Ye was horrified by the filthy, rusty facility, the broken door with a gaping hole, and the bucket of cheap shampoo.

Realizing she had no other choice, she reluctantly agreed to endure the conditions. Later, her fragile composure shattered completely when she spotted what she believed to be a massive bug in the bathroom. Screaming in terror, she called for Xing Wu, who only mocked her fear by showing her how tiny the insect actually was, while she frantically warned him to stay away.

After showing Qing Ye to the shared bathroom, Xing Wu returned to his room, only for his quiet moment to be shattered by a piercing shriek. He rushed back to find her terrified by what she claimed were massive insects. Xing Wu checked the area and found nothing but a harmless bug, dryly teasing that her loud screaming had probably scared off all its companions.

Though highly irritated by her dramatic city-girl reaction, he remembered his mother's reminder that this cousin was their financial savior. Having grown up in a tight-knit family plagued by constant debts, he resolved to swallow his pride and tolerate her. Back in their sweltering room, Qing Ye complained about the intense heat, questioning why there was no air conditioning. Xing Wu dismissed her complaints, claiming the sea breeze and a fan were perfectly adequate.

Qing Ye proposed that they split the cost of a used unit so he could keep using it after she left, but Xing Wu sarcastically countered that if she was so wealthy, she should buy one for every house in Zhazha Pavilion. When bedtime arrived, she was appalled to find him preparing to sleep in the same room. Asserting that they were not suited to share a space, she insisted he sleep elsewhere, and Xing Wu readily agreed.

Alone in the room, Qing Ye messaged a friend on her phone, comparing her current situation to a disastrous survival game and expressing her desperate desire to return to Beijing. Her friend advised her to endure the month before heading abroad and reminded her to record her course application video. The next morning, Qing Ye's sleep was cut short by the bustling noises of the street market below, where vendors loudly peddled seafood and tofu.

Exhausted and irritated, she stormed onto the balcony and yelled down, threatening to call the police. The locals barely paid her any mind, with a tofu vendor simply explaining to her customers that the girl was a newcomer before continuing to shout her wares. Having slept terribly, Qing Ye woke up with swollen eyes and dark circles. As she hurried downstairs, she lost her footing and tumbled down the steps.

Xing Wu and his mother, Li Lanfang, rushed out to find her crying in pain at the bottom of the stairs. Li Lanfang noticed her swollen face and suggested she had been bitten by mosquitoes. Terrified that she was going blind, Qing Ye panicked, but Xing Wu told her to stop being dramatic. When he insisted on taking her to the clinic, she stubbornly refused to leave in her pajamas and demanded sunglasses to hide her face.

Losing his patience, Xing Wu simply swept her up in a princess carry and walked out. On the way, she begged him to put her down, but he jokingly told her to just cover her face so no one would recognize her. At the local clinic, Dr. Zhuang yawned and quickly diagnosed her right eye as being swollen from sleeping on it and her left eye as a mosquito bite.

Used to the thorough testing of big-city hospitals, Qing Ye was skeptical of his one-second diagnosis, demanding blood tests and X-rays. She also insisted he check her sprained leg, though she doubted his credentials when Xing Wu joked that the doctor had once saved two poisoned wolfhounds. Dr. Zhuang showed his license and confirmed her leg was just a minor surface scrape, prescribing a change of dressing every twelve hours.

He then gave Xing Wu his grandmother's monthly medicine before pulling him aside, asking about the dramatic girl. Xing Wu sighed and described her as a real handful. Xing Wu sat her down to apply Dr. Zhuang's foul-smelling secret ointment, which Qing Ye eyed with suspicion. When she asked about paying, she was surprised to learn that locals kept a monthly tab. Wanting to settle the debt, she asked to add him on WeChat.

Xing Wu teased that if she wanted to pay for his carrying services, it would cost her one yuan per step. Hearing this, Qing Ye complained about the steep price, but when Xing Wu offered a free ride back on his back, she quickly accepted. On their way home, she urged him to hurry to avoid being seen in her pajamas, unaware that local onlookers were already commenting on how quickly she seemed to be adapting to their lifestyle.

Once home, Li Lanfang fussed over her with pork trotter soup. Xing Wu jokingly told his mother that her injuries were so severe she might face amputation, earning a quick scolding once she realized he was teasing. Later, Xing Wu left for his job at Shunyi Repairs, where his partner, Canine, urged him to join the business permanently. Xing Wu declined, preferring to keep working odd jobs.

Needing to make extra money, he asked Canine to send any repair work his way. Back at the house, Qing Ye paid a visit to Xing Wu's sweet-tempered grandmother. After helping her pick up a fallen cup, Qing Ye chatted with her warmly and apologized for the disruption of her stay. She recalled overhearing Xing Wu promise his grandmother steamed egg with sea urchin once they had money. Eager to help, Qing Ye walked over to Yitong Restaurant.

Although the owner, Auntie Shanxi, was initially too busy to accommodate her highly specific dietary demands, she quickly changed her tune when Qing Ye sent her a one-thousand-yuan advance payment via Alipay. Qing Ye laid out a strict meal plan of four balanced dishes and a soup, insisting on easy-to-swallow foods and a daily steamed egg with sea urchin, packaged in portions large enough for two people.

Xing Wu bumped into her at the restaurant while buying mackerel dumplings for his grandmother, surprised to see her walking so soon. Later that day, Xing Wu repaired a hole in the shared bathroom door and installed a new lock. This sparked a loud argument downstairs with Li Lanfang, who complained about always footing the bill for neighbors who never showed any gratitude. The shouting disrupted Qing Ye, who was trying to record her video introduction for her university application.

Believing they were loudly hinting for money, she went down, transferred five hundred yuan to Li Lanfang via Alipay, and told them to stop fussing over a simple lock. Xing Wu was deeply offended by her condescending attitude. He transferred the money back to her, explaining that his mother was upset about fairness, not the money itself.

Qing Ye retorted that she just wanted to buy some peace and quiet, adding that they only provided these services because she paid them. Furious, Xing Wu pulled out their signed rental agreement and declared he never acknowledged it.

When Qing Ye threatened to withhold her final payment if she did not get a comfortable environment, Xing Wu snapped, telling her to pack her bags and go to a hotel if she thought her money allowed her to do whatever she wanted. Hurt and angry, Qing Ye packed her suitcase and hired Mr. Zhu, a local tricycle driver, to take her to the best place in town.

She checked into the luxury ocean-view suite at the Zhazha Haoting Hotel for five hundred and eighty-eight yuan a night, relieved to finally have air conditioning and be away from Xing Wu. However, her peace was short-lived when the hotel's Wi-Fi suddenly went down, stalling her studies. Back at the house, Liu Nian delivered the double-portion meal from Yitong to Xing Wu.

He revealed that Qing Ye had secretly hired him to clean and dust Grandma's room and buy green plants to help with her illness. Realizing he had misjudged her kind intentions, Xing Wu felt a pang of guilt. Worried about her safety, he called Mr. Zhu to confirm where he had dropped her off.

Upon learning she was at the Zhazha Haoting Hotel, Xing Wu quickly called the owner, Hao, asking him to keep an eye on her and let him know if she needed anything.

A heavy rainstorm in the middle of the night cuts off the electricity and internet at the hotel where Qing Ye is staying. Without the air conditioner and Wi-Fi, she is unable to download her crucial college enrollment materials. Frustrated and sleepless, her future feels completely uncertain. In the morning, her troubles compound when her neighbor begins loudly livestreaming. Unable to bear the noise, Qing Ye knocks on his door to complain.

The neighbor, a tattooed and menacing man, tries to pull her into his room. Fortunately, Xing Wu, who has been called to the hotel to repair the electrical and network systems, sees the altercation. He quickly steps in, pulling Qing Ye behind him and defusing the situation by claiming she is his cousin. After the incident, the hotel manager asks if she wants to extend her stay.

However, when Qing Ye tries to pay, she discovers her bank account has been frozen due to her father's legal troubles. Sensing her financial distress, Xing Wu transfers some money to her account so she can cover her bills. Unwilling to spend more than necessary, Qing Ye decides to check out and take the bus back. During her bus ride, her expensive laptop is stolen.

Qing Ye returns to Li Lanfang's place, pretending she was just out for a heavily loaded walk. Unaware of her hotel stay, her aunt apologizes for the previous day's conflict and offers her freshly made red bean zongzi, prepared with rapeseed oil specifically to suit Qing Ye's dietary preferences. Touched by the gesture, Qing Ye eats but soon panics upon realizing her pink laptop bag is gone. They immediately report the theft to Officer Xu at the police station.

Knowing how much the laptop means to Qing Ye for her upcoming study abroad interviews, Xing Wu decides to take matters into his own hands. He recalls a business card from a shady contact named Yang Gang, who handles stolen goods. Xing Wu goes to Yang Gang's warehouse under the pretense of seeking high-paying repair work. At the warehouse, Xing Wu impresses Yang Gang with his incredibly fast repair skills.

Yang Gang then shows him a batch of recently acquired items to refurbish, among which is Qing Ye's laptop. Yang Gang demands an exorbitant price of sixteen thousand yuan, threatening that neither Xing Wu nor the laptop will leave. Unfazed, Xing Wu references a mutual acquaintance who ended up in prison and calls the repair shop owner who gave him the card. Since Yang Gang relies on the shop owner for business, he quickly backs down.

Xing Wu pays him two thousand yuan to recover the laptop and alerts Officer Xu about Yang Gang's illegal operations on his way out. However, Yang Gang's henchmen ambush and beat him up before he can escape. Despite his injuries, Xing Wu returns the laptop to Qing Ye. While her aunt rejoices over the return of the device, attributing it to an anonymous local good Samaritan, Qing Ye notices Xing Wu's bruised arm.

Realizing the sacrifice he made, she offers him a soothing ointment she had received from Dr. Zhuang. Her perception of him begins to shift. Later, while trying to find a better Wi-Fi signal in the shop, Qing Ye leaves her laptop on the reception desk. A clumsy customer accidentally spills water all over the machine, causing it to short-circuit and shut down.

Desperate to fix it before her upcoming deadlines, she rejects suggestions to let Xing Wu look at it and takes a tricycle taxi to Erqiao, asking the driver to take her to the best repairman in town. The driver drops her off at a shop run by "Juhuang." Upon entering, Qing Ye is stunned to find that the famous repairman is none other than Xing Wu. With no other options, she hands over the laptop.

Xing Wu's business partner, Quanya, reassures her of Xing Wu's outstanding skills. After diagnosing a fried motherboard component, Xing Wu explains that the replacement part is back on Xuan Island. Needing the laptop fixed by ten that night, Qing Ye has no choice but to hop on the back of Xing Wu's motorcycle to retrieve the part with him.

Since repairing the laptop would take several days, Xing Wu prepared to take Qing Ye back home on his motorcycle. Noticing she was wearing a skirt, he gave her his jacket to tie around her waist for convenience. As they rode off together, Xing Wu’s friends watched with envy, wishing they had such a beautiful "cousin." On their way, they passed a vast field of purple lavender.

Qing Ye was mesmerized by the fragrance and beauty, a sight she had never seen in the city. However, Xing Wu, who passed the field daily, was indifferent. To him, the flowers were simply medicinal herbs used for clearing heat, detoxifying, and making tea to relieve anxiety. During the ride, Xing Wu questioned her about her life in Beijing and why she was so intent on going abroad.

Qing Ye found his blunt questioning arrogant and refused to answer, leading them to finish the journey in silence. Back at the house, Uncle Zhao, who had originally damaged the laptop, arrived with fresh sea cucumbers to apologize. Xing Wu refused a monetary settlement but accepted the seafood.

Seeing an opportunity, Qing Ye gave the sea cucumbers to Xing Wu as a "reward" to encourage him to finish the repairs quickly so she could complete her study abroad preparations and leave Zhazhating. Xing Wu’s perception of Qing Ye began to shift. He knew she had lost her mother and was essentially a city girl seeking refuge, making her prideful behavior seem more like a defense mechanism.

He saw her as vulnerable, much like a chick he had rescued after it fell from its nest. One evening, his grandmother suffered a sudden seizure. Qing Ye stepped in with first aid knowledge she had gained from caring for her late mother, successfully stabilizing her. When Xing Wu returned, he found his grandmother sleeping peacefully and Qing Ye exhausted. In gratitude for saving his grandmother, Li Lanfang prepared a special meal for Qing Ye.

To improve her living conditions, Xing Wu installed a second-hand air conditioner in her room and brought her chilled watermelon. Qing Ye admitted that the kindness of the AC, the fixed laptop, and the simple fruit made her feel less desperate for the first time since arriving. However, the peace was interrupted when Qing Ye’s underwear was stolen from the clothesline after Li Lanfang had washed them. Qing Ye was furious, frustrated by the lack of boundaries in the town.

Xing Wu noticed suspicious footprints and tracked them to a neighbor named Wu Lao Er. He confronted the man, physically intimidating him to ensure he never bothered Qing Ye again and making it clear he knew about the previous laptop theft as well. To help Qing Ye with her lack of clothing, Li Lanfang invited her to pick from her own wardrobe.

Though the styles were dated, Qing Ye tried on a mature outfit that reminded the aunt of Qing Ye’s late mother. Even Xing Wu was momentarily stunned by her beauty. Meanwhile, a new opportunity arose for Xing Wu. A friend reached out with a high-paying job to build a sophisticated, oil-powered model aircraft for a wealthy client’s son. Despite the technical difficulty, Xing Wu accepted the task for eight thousand yuan to support his family.

As the day ended, Xing Wu invited Qing Ye to attend a pre-wedding banquet for Zhao Mazi’s son to help her clear her head. At the feast, Qing Ye was shocked by the scale of the event and the local "food-grabbing" custom where neighbors scrambled for dishes as soon as they hit the table. Following the custom, she joined in, successfully securing food and finding herself genuinely enjoying the rowdy, festive atmosphere.

At the wedding banquet in Zhazhating, a peculiar local custom unfolded. Guests eagerly whipped out plastic bags to pack up the dishes almost as soon as they hit the table, determined to get the full value of their wedding gift money back. Despite the chaotic scramble, Qing Ye found the spectacle highly entertaining. She eagerly joined in the rush to grab food, laughing that her stay in the town was introducing her to countless things she had never experienced before.

Sitting nearby, Xing Wu watched her genuine excitement, his own mood visibly lifting as he basked in her joy. As the feast continued, the local parents drifted into conversations about their family struggles. Old Zhao lamented that even though his son was finally married, a parent's worries never truly ended, as he now had to worry about housing and future grandchildren.

Another neighbor chimed in, sighing that with his own boy still in high school, his long journey was only halfway complete. This neighbor then called his son, Hao Chenggong, over to toast Uncle Zhao, though the boy muttered a complaint about his father publicly using his embarrassing full name. Meanwhile, the town's petty rivalries also showed.

Some parents, envious of others' success, would hand over their own children's old study materials to those whose kids were struggling, boasting of them as a "secret exam weapon." Fan Tong's mother handed him one such manual, which Uncle Mazi had passed along, claiming his own son used it to get into a top-tier university. She urged Fan Tong to head home to study and reminded him to take his stuttering medicine.

Fan Tong corrected his father, clarifying that his name was actually pronounced "Fan Tong" (meaning comprehensive knowledge), rather than sounding like the word for a glutton. Amused by the lively crowd, Qing Ye chatted with the boys, noting how the tough-looking residents of Zhazhating possessed surprisingly righteous and poetic names.

When they asked about hers, she explained that her mother had named her after clear skies and kind words, believing that an open, bright mind naturally leads to a better life. Touched by her words, the boys raised their glasses to toast her. Meanwhile, a local instigator pulled Wu Lao Er aside.

Feeding on the thug's deep-seated resentment, the instigator taunted him for always being overshadowed by Xing Wu, daring him to target the beautiful girl staying with Xing Wu instead. Fueled by spite, Wu Lao Er agreed to the challenge. Unaware of the lurking danger, Qing Ye happily played drinking games and guessed wine riddles at the table.

Seeing her get tipsy, Li Lanfang prepared to leave for a mahjong game and strictly instructed Xing Wu to ensure she got home safely. On the walk back, a very drunk Qing Ye stumbled along, playfully teasing Xing Wu by asking if he could go cross-eyed, wiggle his ears, or perform a backflip. To her delight, he actually executed a backflip right there on the road.

When she jokingly questioned if he had any real talents besides speaking sharply, she admitted that he did know how to get things done, like retrieving her stolen laptop. Xing Wu quietly replied that he was simply fulfilling his duty to protect her since she had paid him. Claiming she was too cold and tired to walk the remaining distance, Qing Ye demanded a piggyback ride.

Unbeknownst to them, they were being stalked the entire way by Wu Lao Er, the local thug who had previously stolen Qing Ye's laptop and underwear. Although Xing Wu had warned him before to stay away from her, the thug remained stubborn. As Xing Wu carried her on his back, Qing Ye softly murmured that she would never forget him after leaving Zhazhating, and hoped they could remain friends if they ever crossed paths again.

Her words weighed heavily on Xing Wu, stirring painful memories of his own father's gambling debts and the harsh reality that he and this sheltered city girl belonged to entirely different worlds. After gently tucking her into bed, he left a cup of lemon water and a note on her nightstand before heading out.

Despite the late hour, Xing Wu rode his motorcycle to the repair shop for his part-time job, assembling a high-end competition model aircraft using carbon fiber composites and titanium alloys. His friend questioned why he didn't build one for himself to claim the prestige and rewards. Xing Wu pragmatically replied that while others chased empty honors, he needed the payout to buy an electric wheelchair for his grandmother.

When his friend asked if there was anyone else in his life worth striving for, Xing Wu remained silent, though Qing Ye's drunken promises echoed in his mind. Back at the house, Wu Lao Er had been lurking in the shadows. Seeing Xing Wu ride away, he seized his chance and snuck into the courtyard. Around the same time, Qing Ye woke up thirsty, drank the lemon water, and read Xing Wu's note.

Feeling sticky from the banquet, she gathered her things and headed to the outdoor bathroom. Though Xing Wu had recently installed a sturdy lock and she had bolted it securely from the inside, she soon froze as someone began aggressively rattling the handle. Terrified, Qing Ye tried calling Li Lanfang, but her aunt was completely absorbed in her mahjong game and missed the call. In a panic, Qing Ye dialed Xing Wu.

Hearing her frightened voice, Xing Wu told her to find anything she could use for self-defense, promising he would be there in minutes. He urged his friend to contact Officer Xu and raced back through the pouring rain. Frustrated by the bolted door, Wu Lao Er smashed the bathroom window and forced his way inside. Qing Ye shrank into a corner, tightly gripping a wooden washboard as a makeshift shield.

Just as the intruder closed in, Xing Wu burst through the door. He dragged Wu Lao Er out into the muddy courtyard and beat him mercilessly, ignoring the thug's desperate pleas for mercy. The violent commotion quickly drew the neighbors and the police. Wu Lao Er's parents rushed into the yard, wailing over their battered, bloody son and accusing Xing Wu of unprovoked assault.

When Officer Xu demanded proof of a crime, Xing Wu told him to search Wu Lao Er's room, where they discovered Qing Ye's stolen underwear. This, along with the shattered window glass and the damaged door lock, provided undeniable proof of the thug's criminal intent. Wu Lao Er and his parents tried to excuse his actions by claiming he was merely drunk and had mistaken the bathroom for a toilet.

However, Qing Ye stepped forward and confronted him about her stolen laptop. She pointed out that when she and Officer Xu reviewed the security footage of the theft, the thief wore the exact same clothes Wu Lao Er was currently wearing. She added that her laptop was worth 15,000 yuan, and stealing property of that value carried a heavy prison sentence.

Realizing their son faced jail time, Wu Lao Er's parents broke down, begging Qing Ye to agree to a private settlement. But Li Lanfang declared he deserved no sympathy, and Xing Wu quietly advised Qing Ye not to be soft on such a criminal. Officer Xu then escorted Wu Lao Er away, noting that with the solid evidence now secured, the thug would finally be put behind bars.

Once the courtyard cleared, the grandmother gently comforted a trembling Qing Ye, stroking her hair much like her mother used to do. Xing Wu brought her a hot bowl of ginger soup to ward off the chill from the rain. Still shaken, Qing Ye quietly admitted how much she missed her mother. Xing Wu looked at her and solemnly promised that she would never have to face such terror again.

When she asked how he could be so sure, he simply told her to trust him. Xing Wu went on to describe how delicate, expensive fish could never survive in a crude plastic bottle, acknowledging that she did not belong in a rough place like Zhazhating. He promised to protect her completely until the day she left.

Touched by his fierce protective instinct, Qing Ye told him it was the first time he had truly felt like an older brother to her. The next morning, to guarantee her safety, Xing Wu hung her clothes out with a bold warning sign, promising her that her belongings would never be stolen again. Peace finally returned to the household. The remaining days flew by in a warm, quiet blur.

The grandmother lovingly knitted a custom vest for her, and even Li Lanfang stayed home from the mahjong parlor to focus on cooking elaborate meals. One afternoon, Qing Ye's phone chimed with an official notification from her university. She eagerly scrolled through the screen, seeing that her school's start date and class schedule had finally been released. Brimming with excitement, she ran out into the yard, calling out for Xing Wu to share the wonderful news that she was finally going back to Beijing.

Qingye received a long-awaited message from her friend in Beijing, offering her a place to stay for a few days before her upcoming semester. Overjoyed, she rushed to find Xing Wu, who was busy washing up, to excitedly announce her return to Beijing. Hearing the news, Xing Wu froze for a moment, but he quickly masked his underlying sadness with a warm smile and congratulated her on finally leaving Zhazhating.

Qingye playfully remarked that he should be celebrating too, as he would no longer have to put up with her. On the day of her departure, Xing Wu arranged a spacious pickup truck to take her to the city, courtesy of his friend Huang Mao's father. Looking at the vehicle, Qingye joked that it was quite a grand send-off, to which Xing Wu proudly noted it was far faster than a three-wheeler and much roomier than an SUV.

Qingye bid a tearful farewell to Li Lanfang and Grandma, promising to video call them during meals so they would not feel lonely. Feeling a bit guilty about any shortcomings during Qingye's stay, Li Lanfang warmly told her not to worry about the final payment. Qingye politely but firmly declined, promising that her father's secretary, Uncle Sun, would contact her to settle the balance.

Before they boarded, a local friend rushed over to deliver a heavy bag filled with imported avocados, cherries, and homemade treats for her journey. As they drove out of Zhazhating, they stopped near the lighthouse where they had first met, laughing about how she had mistaken Xing Wu for a jerk who was bullying others. They also made a stop by the breathtaking lavender fields.

Breathing in the soothing scent, Qingye recited the benefits of lavender—how it calmed the mind and relieved anxiety—leaving Xing Wu deeply impressed by her memory. Wanting to capture the beautiful moment, Qingye asked Xing Wu to take some photos of her. Moved by her bright smile through the lens, Xing Wu secretly switched the camera to video mode to permanently capture her laughter. Qingye then pulled him in for a joint photo, marking their very first picture together.

At the station, after a gentle farewell hug and a quiet reminder that their temporary residency contract had officially expired, Qingye boarded her transport, filled with hope. However, her return to the city was met with immediate disappointment. Upon arriving, Qingye tried to message her friend but received no response, only to realize she had been blocked and removed from their group chat. Her phone then rang with a call from Huanji Study Abroad.

An advisor urgently requested her presence, explaining that an anonymous tip had exposed her father's economic crime case and frozen assets. Because she had concealed her family background, the university revoked her admission and barred her from applying for the next five years. Realizing only two people in Beijing knew about her family's situation, and with one having just blocked her, Qingye easily identified the culprit.

She tracked her former friend, He Leling, down at a cafe, finding her sitting with Meng Ruihang. When confronted, He Leling panicked but eventually admitted to writing the anonymous report out of jealousy, fearing Qingye would steal Meng Ruihang. Qingye coldly retorted that she was never interested in him anyway and declared their friendship permanently over, while a furious Meng Ruihang scolded He Leling for going too far. Determined to help, Meng Ruihang brought Qingye to his house to stay.

Although he warmly prepared her old slippers and offered her a guest room, his mother was deeply concerned. Overhearing a quiet conversation in the kitchen, Qingye heard Meng's mother reprimand her son, warning him that their family company had business ties with Qingye's father and could easily be dragged into the legal mess. Not wanting to be a burden, Qingye quietly grabbed her suitcase and slipped away.

Stranded with nowhere to go, Qingye called Uncle Sun, who confirmed that her father's case was looking grim and his accounts remained frozen. When she finally dragged her luggage back to her old home, she discovered that the electronic locks had been changed. Homeless on a dark, pouring night, she sat on the doorstep, burying her head in her knees as she wept. Suddenly, the rain stopped hitting her.

Looking up, she found Xing Wu holding a large umbrella over her head. Xing Wu, unable to stop worrying, had followed her to Beijing. He handed her some warm food and pointed out a loophole in their service contract: since it was valid until the tenth of the month, he was still legally responsible for her safety for another fifteen minutes. He gently offered to take her back to Zhazhating, promising that his home would always be her home.

Grateful and relieved, Qingye agreed to renew the contract but insisted they sneak into her house through the backyard first to pack her things. Stepping into the neglected backyard, Qingye was saddened to see her mother's beloved plants dead, but Xing Wu spotted a resilient Welwitschia that was still green. Deciding to take the hardy desert plant with them, they slipped inside the house.

They treated themselves to the leftover ice cream in the freezer, laughing and sharing her favorite Cookies & Cream Vanilla flavor. After packing her skincare products and using Xing Wu's help to smash open her childhood piggy bank, they layered on thick clothes to save suitcase space. However, their quiet exit was interrupted by a security guard, forcing them to run frantically through the dark streets until the sun began to rise.

Before leaving Beijing, Qingye took Xing Wu to visit her mother's grave, leaving a can of Coke and some daisies. She poured her heart out, admitting that while she felt she had fallen from rock bottom into an abyss, she was no longer afraid because someone had reached out to save her. Xing Wu stood respectfully beside her, quietly promising her mother that he would protect her.

Afterward, they visited a medical store where Xing Wu bought a high-end, foldable wheelchair for his grandmother, with Qingye happily contributing her remaining savings to help cover the cost. Back in Zhazhating, the familiar sea breeze welcomed them. Qingye delighted Grandma with her new electric wheelchair and a souvenir badge of Tian'anmen, while presenting Li Lanfang with a designer silk scarf and moisturizing skincare products.

When asked about her sudden return, Qingye explained that her plans had changed and she would be staying in Zhazhating for at least a year or two. While Li Lanfang warmly welcomed her to stay, she quickly pulled Xing Wu outside to discuss their mounting financial troubles. Outside, Li Lanfang expressed her genuine pity for the girl but panicked over the logistics, reminding Xing Wu that they were not actually blood relatives.

With the final payment lost due to frozen accounts and the initial money already spent on clearing their own debts, she worried about how they would afford Qingye's long-term living expenses and tuition. Xing Wu calmly told his mother not to worry, promising he would find a way to earn the money himself.

At home, Xing Wu quietly asked Li Lanfang not to mention their financial troubles to Qing Ye, assuring her that he would find a way to handle the debts himself. Still worried, he asked Grandma if she agreed with his decision to bring Qing Ye back. Grandma warmly reassured him, noting that he would rescue even a stray cat, let alone a person.

Finding out Qing Ye had gone to the beach, Xing Wu caught up with her by the lighthouse. Looking out at the waves, Qing Ye admitted that Zhazhating felt both familiar and strange, but she felt relieved to have a chance to start over after hitting a dead end in the city. Touched by his kindness despite her past behavior, she thanked him.

Xing Wu handed her a hermit crab, explaining how it grows by constantly moving into new shells, becoming tougher and stronger each time it leaves its vulnerable state—just like people. He assured her she wouldn't be homeless with him around, hoping her year at Xuan Island would make her just as resilient. Back at the house, Xing Wu set up his own room for Qing Ye, choosing to sleep in the downstairs utility room instead.

When Qing Ye expressed her gratitude and promised to repay every expense with interest once she earned money, Xing Wu told her to stop seeing herself as a burden and to treat them as family. She gifted him a neck pillow to help with his neck strain from fixing phones. Meanwhile, the financial reality remained grim; after paying the gas bill, Li Lanfang was left with only a couple of hundred yuan to feed the family of four.

Down at the market, Li Lanfang bought conches, scallops, and clams, while her friends teased her about the fancy silk scarf Qing Ye had given her. Li Lanfang admitted she worried about holding the girl back, but her friends encouraged her to raise Qing Ye as her own. Li Lanfang laughed, recalling her own wild youth and promising she would never let Qing Ye repeat her mistakes.

While out for a run, Qing Ye stopped by Bo's shop for a bottle of water and overheard a conversation between Liu Nian and a friend. The friend urged Liu Nian to quit his job at Xuan Island and join a karaoke bar in the city to earn hundreds a day. Liu Nian firmly refused, explaining that he could not abandon Li Lanfang while her family was struggling. Intrigued, Qing Ye approached Liu Nian after his friend left.

Liu Nian revealed that he was staying to repay a massive debt of gratitude. Six years ago, after his parents' divorce left him malnourished and bullied, a group of punks had beaten him until Xing Wu intervened. Xing Wu brought him to Xuan Island, where Li Lanfang fed him, cut his hair, and eventually took him on as an apprentice.

Deeply moved, Qing Ye realized they shared a similar feeling of being pulled back to life just when they were about to drown. The peaceful atmosphere was shattered when debt collectors arrived at the barbershop. Liu Nian warned Qing Ye to stay back, but she walked in to find a man named Mr. Ma demanding a payment of 2,700 yuan to round off their debt.

With Xing Wu's bank account drained, Mr. Ma threatened to loiter in the shop and ruin their business. Qing Ye stepped forward and paid the entire sum using her phone. When Xing Wu questioned where she got the money, she smiled and said it was payback for him fixing her computer for free. Afterward, Qing Ye put her mental math skills to use and audited Xuan Island's books.

She calculated that the shop was actually making a steady profit, but the money was missing because Xing Wu had been paying business expenses out of his own pocket to cover up Li Lanfang's spending. Confronted with the truth, Li Lanfang got defensive, but Qing Ye cleverly smoothed things over by praising her business acumen, assuring her that the shop's profits were more than enough to support the family.

Determined to find a permanent solution to the shop's financial woes, Qing Ye proposed a complete revitalization plan to the family over a dinner of stir-fried squid. While Xing Wu worried she was wasting her time, Qing Ye explained that making Xuan Island successful was the first step toward her dream of becoming rich. She also privately confessed to Xing Wu that she wanted to lighten his burden so he wouldn't have to work exhausting extra jobs.

After researching their competitor, Fashion Pioneer, Qing Ye suggested targeting younger clients by introducing modern hairstyles and handing out sophisticated flyers. Since Zhazhating was a tight-knit community, she argued that local faces would be the perfect promotion. Xing Wu agreed to the plan but questioned where they would find models. Qing Ye pointed to Li Lanfang and her friends playing mahjong, confident she could persuade them.

Qing Ye approached the three ladies, who initially laughed off the idea, claiming they were far too old to be models. Qing Ye explained that she wasn't asking them to walk a runway, but to be print models for the flyers. Since Xuan Island's core customers were women between thirty-five and fifty-five, they were the perfect representatives. Flattering them as "The Three Beauties of Zhazhating" and promising them a free photo shoot, Qing Ye successfully won them over.

Having won her bet with Xing Wu, she happily accepted an upgraded Zhazha Drink from him. She explained her strategy to him: while stock photos were easier, they wouldn't work in a tight-knit community. Showcasing dramatic "before and after" makeovers of familiar local faces would create an undeniable advertising effect, perfectly matching her new slogan: "Director Li's Magic Touch, Zhazhating Ladies' Transformation!"

Qing Ye told Xing Wu about her creative ideas for promoting the hair salon, which required models and a good photographer. Xing Wu quickly thought of someone, Quanya. With a photographer secured, Xing Wu then went to a friend's place to borrow an advanced camera. Qing Ye wanted to update the hairstyles offered in the salon. She first experimented on Liu Nian, who worked at the shop, but the results were unsatisfactory.

Just then, Li Lanfang arrived at the shop with her best friend. Seeing Liu Nian's freshly permed hair, which was slightly scorched and yellowed, Li Lanfang used her skillful hands to make some minor adjustments. Surprisingly, it turned out to be very stylish and handsome. Having learned from the failed attempt, Qing Ye decided to try again. This time, she chose to lead by example and let the assistant perm her hair using the correct rollers.

Hearing that they needed models for trial runs, Grandma took the initiative to ask if she could try it too. Qing Ye was very happy. Grandma belonged to the middle-aged and elderly group; if they could style Grandma's hair well, it would serve as an excellent promotional case study in the future. After continuous research and experimentation, the wool curls that Qing Ye permed were absolutely stunning, instantly raising her looks by several notches.

Excitedly, she wanted to show her aunt. As she ran out the door, she bumped right into someone's chest. Qing Ye looked up in surprise and saw that it was actually Xing Wu. Xing Wu was also taken aback. He had just walked through the door to go home, only for such a beautiful woman to rush into his arms, giving him a feeling of butterflies in his stomach.

To take exquisite posters for the hair salon, Quanya pulled out all the stops when taking photos. Many friends gathered at the salon, and Qing Ye even brought out sliced watermelon to beat the heat, making the atmosphere very warm. The photographer accidentally captured a photo of Qing Ye handing Xing Wu a slice of watermelon.

Since the subjects were already a perfect match, and Xing Wu's eyes were filled with happiness as he looked at Qing Ye, the photo turned out incredibly well. Everyone agreed that this photo should be used for the promotional poster. Qing Ye designed promotional packages and pricing for the hair salon. Seeing this, Li Lanfang praised her for having a great head for business.

Although Qing Ye hadn't been there for long, she had quickly integrated into the environment and even helped manage the shop. Now, Li Lanfang and her family all liked Qing Ye very much. In the evening, Xing Wu had dinner with his friends on the island. They were all around the same age and got along famously. Qing Ye started playing drinking games with the friends next to her and couldn't help but drink too much.

During this time, Xing Wu received a phone call and had to go out to help someone fix something. When he returned, he only saw a pile of empty beer bottles and two drunk friends. Xing Wu quickly shook them awake to ask where Qing Ye was, and one of them pointed toward the beach behind them. Xing Wu rushed over and found a drunken Qing Ye dancing for two friends beside her.

Having practiced dance back in the city, combined with the effects of the alcohol, Qing Ye danced to her heart's content while humming a song, completely immersed in her own world. Seeing the charmingly naive Qing Ye in front of him, Xing Wu couldn't help but smile. Afterward, Xing Wu took Qing Ye home.

Lying on the bed, Qing Ye mumbled that there were too many mosquitoes in Zhazhating, that it was too hot, and that there was no wardrobe in her room. Xing Wu helped the drunk Qing Ye take off her shoes and turned on the air conditioner. Hearing her complain about not having a wardrobe, he personally designed a blueprint, planning to build some cabinets for her room.

When Qing Ye woke up the next morning, Xing Wu and a few friends were already in the yard assembling the pre-cut cabinets. Qing Ye greeted everyone, completely forgetting her drunken state from the night before, and wondered why Xing Wu was looking at her with a smile. Xing Wu reminded her if she remembered praising his perky butt the night before. Qing Ye's face flushed crimson.

She couldn't believe she had dared to say such embarrassing things to his face, and she ran back to her room in deep shame. These days, Qing Ye had been handing out flyers for the hair salon's promotions. When it started to rain, she hurriedly ran into a nearby newsstand to take shelter.

A girl driving by saw Qing Ye taking shelter from the rain all by herself, so she rolled down her car window and waved for Qing Ye to get in the car.

Qing Ye got into the car and saw Hainan specialties in the back seat. The owner greeted her warmly. Seeing that Qing Ye was holding many salon flyers with Xing Wu's photo on them, she asked about their relationship. Actually, Qing Ye had already recognized that the girl inviting her into the car was Shu Han, the legendary cousin-in-law among Xing Wu's childhood friends. Shu Han casually asked Qing Ye about her impression of Xing Wu.

She also mentioned that Xing Wu had told her Qing Ye was a distant relative who would never have come here if not for taking refuge. After that, there were no particularly good remarks. Instead, Shu Han made no secret of her affection for Xing Wu, stating that she really liked him and found him very handsome and talented. Qing Ye was already bothered by the rumor that Shu Han was Xing Wu's fiancée.

Now, learning that Shu Han actually liked Xing Wu so much made her extremely jealous. When she returned home, Xing Wu greeted her, but she gave him the cold shoulder, leaving Xing Wu completely baffled. Shu Han and Xing Wu were classmates and could be considered childhood sweethearts. Now, Shu Han often traveled to big cities. Whenever she found profitable business, she would come to Xing Wu and take a commission from it. The two had always cooperated well.

Xing Wu heard Shu Han ask him to go to Xinhai this time to repair computers, which would take about a month but offered a lucrative income. Since the family's financial situation was currently poor, Xing Wu readily agreed upon hearing the pay and commission. From upstairs, Qing Ye saw the two talking casually and looking very close. What a pity. If she had come to Zhazhating earlier, she might have got there first.

In the evening, a welcome dinner was to be held for Shu Han. Her aunt was always very happy to see Shu Han. Knowing about the welcome dinner, she specifically stuffed two hundred yuan into Qing Ye's hand, asking her to help settle the bill in the evening, saying that boys shouldn't always let girls pay. Just as the three of them sat down to eat, Xing Wu received a phone call.

The computer at the clinic doctor's house had broken down and needed repair. Hanging up the phone, Xing Wu hurriedly left, leaving Qing Ye and Shu Han to eat first. Shu Han was beautiful, capable, and cheerful. She could see through Qing Ye's little thoughts and deliberately described her relationship with Xing Wu in a very ambiguous way. That night, Qing Ye felt as if she were drowning in a jar of vinegar, unable to get over it.

Before leaving, Shu Han also gave two amusement park tickets to Xing Wu. Since she couldn't convince Xing Wu to go to the amusement park herself, she hoped Qing Ye could convince him instead. When Xing Wu returned, Qing Ye couldn't help but remind him to consider Shu Han's feelings. After all, it was a welcome dinner, so why didn't he celebrate properly for Shu Han?

Xing Wu felt it did not matter, while thinking Qing Ye was being too dramatic. Qing Ye's words left Xing Wu speechless. Hearing her sourly remind him to take good care of his cousin-in-law, Xing Wu quickly shot back, telling her to mind her own business. After bickering, the two parted on bad terms. That night, both Qing Ye and Xing Wu had a lot on their minds.

In their WeChat group, some friends asked when they would distribute flyers, and some volunteered to help. Qing Ye replied to the messages absentmindedly. Suddenly, she heard the roar of a motorcycle downstairs—Xing Wu had actually gone out. After bickering with Qing Ye, Xing Wu was in a bad mood, so he called a few friends to play basketball. While playing, he figured out why Qing Ye had been targeting him ever since Shu Han returned.

Perhaps Qing Ye really minded the rumor of this fiancée. Moreover, when Xing Wu closed his eyes, he could see Qing Ye's rosy, apple-like face and her bright smile, which felt completely different from how he felt about Shu Han. On the spot, Xing Wu warned his friends not to joke about him and Shu Han anymore, let alone call her cousin-in-law.

When Xing Wu returned home, he made a special trip to the dessert shop the next day to buy Qing Ye ice cream. He also helped smooth things over with the shop assistants to post the salon's flyers in the most prominent spot. While they sat down to chat over ice cream, Qing Ye took the initiative to apologize for her impulsive words from the day before.

She also explained that she would definitely pay attention to social distance in the future, and she would not be too enthusiastic or gossip about other people's business. Qing Ye spoke very politely, which actually made Xing Wu a bit embarrassed. He had originally wanted to explain his relationship with Shu Han, but now it seemed completely unnecessary because Qing Ye did not seem to care anyway.

Thanks to Qing Ye's promotional efforts for the hair salon, business at the shop was extremely bustling. Li Lanfang had never seen such great business. Every day, she was happily busy perming hair, removing rollers, and rolling up hair for customers. The shop's daily revenue was highly impressive. Li Lanfang began to see Qing Ye in a new light.

Previously, she had only regarded Qing Ye as an accidental burden, but who would have thought she was actually a lucky charm bringing in wealth? Qing Ye's former friend, Meng Ruihang, came to Zhazhating for a trip. He suddenly saw a poster on a utility pole in Zhazhating featuring a picture of Qing Ye. Following the address on the poster, Meng Ruihang found the hair salon.

It was the first time Li Lanfang and Liu Nian had seen a boy come to the island to look for Qing Ye. Extremely curious, they quietly followed and watched. They admired how gentle, refined, and handsome Meng Ruihang was, noting that he clearly came from a big city and was probably Qing Ye's friend. Meng Ruihang had even brought cake from Beijing, which deeply touched Qing Ye. The cake had traveled a long distance to get here.

A friend in need is a friend indeed; apart from Meng Ruihang, no other friends had shown concern for her. Many people in Zhazhating knew Qing Ye and Xing Wu. Seeing a stranger beside Qing Ye, many of their childhood friends secretly took photos and sent them to Xing Wu. Xing Wu was currently several kilometers away, working intensely. Recently, Shu Han had introduced him to a big job of assembling and disassembling mobile phones every day.

It was exhausting, but once Xing Wu sat down at his workstation, he would stay there the entire day. He wanted to finish the work quickly so he could go back and take care of his grandmother. Shu Han wanted to invite Xing Wu to an amusement park and had even asked Qing Ye to help persuade him, but Xing Wu simply could not spare the time.

Hearing this time that a strange boy had come to Zhazhating to find Qing Ye, he immediately dropped his work and ran over. Qing Ye took Meng Ruihang to find a nearby hotel for his stay. Meng Ruihang took out flight tickets and explained his intention. He had already bought the tickets and could help Qing Ye choose other universities abroad so that she could return to her former life. Now, it only depended on Qing Ye's decision.

Studying abroad was once Qing Ye's dream. Now, God had sent someone to bring her the tickets and visa, giving her another chance to fulfill her dream. Unbeknownst to them, Xing Wu was standing at the doorway of the room and had overheard the entire conversation between Meng Ruihang and Qing Ye. He wanted to take Qing Ye away.

Qing Ye introduced her classmate to Xing Wu, and before leaving, she also told Meng Ruihang that she would consider his suggestion. Meng Ruihang's trip to Zhazhating was not approved by his parents; he had sneaked out. His mother wanted him to stay away from Qing Ye, saying that Qing Ye's father was still under investigation due to some lawsuits. Although their families were old family friends, they had to be especially careful to avoid suspicion at this time.

However, Meng Ruihang liked Qing Ye very much. The money he usually saved was enough to buy the flight tickets and support their living expenses, so he went to Zhazhating to find Qing Ye on his own initiative. His mother still disagreed, so Meng Ruihang simply hung up the phone. Meng Ruihang was already frustrated after the phone call, and to make matters worse, his neighbor was a live-streamer who was extremely noisy.

Having endured it for a long time, Meng Ruihang knocked directly on the neighbor's door. Hearing the neighbor's rude remarks, he even started a physical fight. Coincidentally, Xing Wu was downstairs repairing the security cameras at that moment. Hearing the noise upstairs, he rushed up immediately. The police station wanted to take both of them in to make a statement. Although the live-streamer was beaten black and blue, he had also stepped on and broken Meng Ruihang's phone.

Since the phone repair cost was very high and he worried he couldn't afford it, the live-streamer immediately decided to settle the matter privately. The hotel refused to let Meng Ruihang stay, so Xing Wu had no choice but to bring him back to Zhazhating. He first helped Meng Ruihang repair his phone, and then asked if he really wanted to take Qing Ye abroad.

Meng Ruihang stated firmly that he liked Qing Ye very much and would fully support the life she wanted. At this moment, Xing Wu also felt uneasy. He knew that Zhazhating could not compare to Beijing, and studying abroad had always been Qing Ye's dream. He was very willing to help Qing Ye realize her dream.

That night, Xing Wu helped Meng Ruihang fix his phone and listened to Meng Ruihang talk about how their families were old friends and had been in close contact before. Hearing that Xing Wu was taking full care of Qing Ye just for money, Meng Ruihang directly transferred an extra 5,000 yuan to Xing Wu, saying the extra money was in hopes that Xing Wu would help persuade Qing Ye to go abroad with him.

Xing Wu was not a greedy person who would do anything for money. When Meng Ruihang offered him money to help act as a lobbyist, it made Xing Wu very unhappy. In the evening, he called his friends to hang out and chat, but everyone made excuses about working the next day and slipped away. At four in the morning, Meng Ruihang was woken up by the noisy crowing of roosters.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Xing Wu's friends. They reminded him that staying here was not free and made him work with them during the day to help carry seafood, saying that the island did not support idle people. Seeing Meng Ruihang urging Qing Ye to go abroad, Li Lanfang also felt uneasy. She spoke with Qing Ye in private, saying that a woman must have sharp eyes, especially when judging men, and must be cautious.

Qing Ye, however, was open-minded. Although she had not received Meng Ruihang's help when she returned to Beijing last time, that was because of Meng Ruihang's mother and had nothing to do with Meng Ruihang himself. Besides, he still remembered to take her to study abroad when she was in trouble. Seeing that young people had their own ideas, Li Lanfang was left somewhat speechless. During a break from unloading cargo at the pier, Xing Wu and Meng Ruihang chatted.

In Meng Ruihang's eyes, Zhazhating was messy and poor, and could not compare to Beijing at all. Xing Wu explained that Qing Ye had already adapted and had the ability to change her environment. Meng Ruihang, however, insisted that taking Qing Ye to study abroad was to fulfill her dream. He even brought up the eighteenth birthday they celebrated together, during which Qing Ye's wish was to study abroad and see the world.

Xing Wu felt a bit sad; if this really was Qing Ye's dream, helping her fulfill it might not be a bad thing. By the seaside, Qing Ye sat alone, lost in thought. Xing Wu walked over and encouraged her to consider Meng Ruihang's suggestion to study abroad. Qing Ye was a bit surprised.

She had thought Xing Wu would try his best to persuade her to stay, but she did not expect him to act as a lobbyist for Meng Ruihang instead. Xing Wu compared Qing Ye to a migratory bird; when the weather changed, the migratory bird would return to its original home, which was an unchangeable fact.

As Xing Wu said this, Qing Ye felt a bit sad, but she still smiled and reminded him that as long as she was in Zhazhating, he had to protect her. She also hoped that if she left one day, Xing Wu would definitely come to see her off. Xing Wu nodded readily in response, saying that of course, he would always keep his word.

He Leling called Qing Ye and told her that Meng Ruihang had actually fallen out with his parents for her sake. Knowing the gravity of the situation, Qing Ye immediately helped pack Meng Ruihang's clothes and luggage, sending him to the station that very day. When Xing Wu returned home and saw that Qing Ye was gone, he thought she had returned to Beijing with Meng Ruihang. Remembering his promise to see her off, he immediately ran to the station.

Meng Ruihang had just boarded the bus to Beijing. Before leaving, he told Qing Ye to remember to call him right away if she faced any difficulties in the future. Qing Ye nodded with a smile. Just after seeing Meng Ruihang off, Qing Ye saw Xing Wu arrive out of breath. Their eyes met, and they smiled at each other.

Qing Ye explained that she had packed a lot of clothes to sell off, hoping to at least get a comfortable mattress to make Xing Wu feel more relaxed and comfortable when he rested. The two picked out a mattress and rode back together. Looking into Qing Ye's eyes, Xing Wu asked her if she regretted not going back to Beijing.

Qing Ye smiled and said that she had already adapted to life in Zhazhating, and in the future, she wanted to repeat her studies here, get into a domestic university, and live a good life. Before long, Qing Ye had completed her school transfer procedures in Zhazhating. Xing Wu rode his bike to take Qing Ye to school himself. While Qing Ye was processing her transfer, Xing Wu also ran into his homeroom teacher under the teaching building.

When Xing Wu took Qing Ye to complete her school transfer procedures, he ran into his former homeroom teacher. Knowing that Xing Wu was a promising student, the teacher regretted that he had suspended his schooling due to family reasons and had been at home for two years now. The homeroom teacher, Zhu Feng, earnestly advised him, saying that if he did not return to school soon, his student registration would be canceled.

Xing Wu replied helplessly, saying they might as well just expel him to save the trouble. Qing Ye met with the teacher in charge of transfer procedures. Hearing that she had been accepted by a foreign university and should have excellent English, the teacher suggested she participate in a recently organized school activity to introduce the school culture to foreign guests. Qing Ye admitted that she just wanted to focus on her studies for now.

However, when she heard the teacher say that winning an award in the activity would come with a five-thousand-yuan prize, she immediately agreed to give it a try. After finishing the transfer procedures, Qing Ye met the taxi driver she had taken when she first arrived in Zhazhating. It turned out he was actually Xing Wu's homeroom teacher, Zhu Feng. Xing Wu explained that Teacher Zhu Feng was very good to his students.

He had divorced a year ago, and when he was not teaching, he drove a taxi. This was both to earn some extra money for the household and to relax by chatting with passengers. From Xing Wu's story, Qing Ye saw a completely different kind of life. In the evening, while Qing Ye was doing laundry, Grandma came out to chat. During their conversation, Grandma mentioned the reason why Xing Wu had stopped going to school.

Xing Wu had always dreamed of working in aerospace, and he had researched and built many of the model airplanes around the house himself. However, ever since Li Lanfang's failed investment in Zhazhating left them heavily in debt, debt collectors had been coming to their door every day, splashing paint and smashing the shop. Wanting to earn money as soon as possible to help support the family, Xing Wu made up an excuse to suspend his schooling.

Grandma hoped Qing Ye could convince Xing Wu to go back to school, as only by continuing his education could he pursue his aerospace dream. Finally, the day arrived for Qing Ye to start school. Xing Wu rode an electric scooter to drop her off. He urged her not to show off at school, but also not to show too much weakness, and not to mention to her classmates that he was her cousin.

Xing Wu knew his reputation at school was not good and did not want to cause unnecessary trouble for Qing Ye. On her first day of school, Qing Ye met a rival. There was a girl named Cao Fan who was originally scheduled to host the welcoming event for the foreign guests. However, the school now felt that Qing Ye, who had just transferred, had more of an advantage and decided to cancel Cao Fan's role.

Cao Fan held a grudge about this and went to argue with the teacher after class. Hearing their conversation by chance, Qing Ye decided to hold an open competition to prove who was more capable. At first, Cao Fan was eager to try, but after the teacher asked a few questions, her spoken English and translation skills were clearly inferior to Qing Ye's. Thus, Qing Ye rightfully secured the role of host.

Qing Ye's outstanding foreign language skills also successfully caught the attention of a wealthy student in her class, Xiao Ye. He came from a rich family and had excellent academic performance. After school, Xiao Ye took the initiative to approach Qing Ye and introduced himself, mentioning that he was also involved in the welcoming event and hoped to learn more from her in the future.

Xing Wu went to pick Qing Ye up from school and ran into his friend Shu Han. It turned out that Xiao Ye was Shu Han's younger brother. Xing Wu introduced himself to Xiao Ye as Qing Ye's tenant, and Xiao Ye believed him. The next morning, Xiao Ye came to the hair salon early to find Qing Ye, bringing a lavish breakfast that filled the entire table.

Although Xiao Ye's excuse was to ask Qing Ye for help with her English, Xing Wu could see right through his little scheme. He showed no politeness toward him, waving a fly swatter back and forth around them.

As soon as her niece started school, a boy came to show his devotion, which drew Li Lanfang's displeasure. To make him back off, Li Lanfang deliberately greeted him warmly, then guided Xiao Ye to a barber chair to design a hairstyle for him. She also encouraged him to sign up for a card and become a key VIP of the small shop.

Xiao Ye finally finished his styling and showed it to Qing Ye, claiming that he had just topped up 880 yuan and could come here often to style his hair for the next half of the year. Initially, Xing Wu was very averse to Xiao Ye, but now Xiao Ye had become a super VIP of the shop, allowing him to come to the hair salon legitimately in the future.

Xing Wu strongly disapproved of his mother's actions, believing that a student's key task was to study, and frequent styling would affect their studies. Li Lanfang did not care that much; this customer had topped up a gold card so easily, making money come so effortlessly. The teacher put Qing Ye in charge of the English Corner. Qing Ye took on the task responsibly and assessed each classmate's English ability one by one.

Finding that their listening and speaking skills were really poor, she tried every possible way to help them strengthen their English learning and memory. First, she used a classic online rap format to integrate English words into it. Then, she printed out hard-to-memorize words and pasted them onto small pendants on her classmates' backpacks. The results were excellent. After a while, foreign guests came to visit Qing Ye's school.

As the host, she spoke fluent English to introduce the school's infrastructure and cultural stories to the visitors. Her communication with foreigners was completely barrier-free, and she was witty and humorous, earning high praise from the foreign guests. After the event, the school presented Qing Ye with a certificate of merit and rewarded her with 5,000 yuan. Standing aside, Cao Fan looked jealous when she saw Qing Ye stealing the spotlight at school.

A friend reminded Cao Fan that the reward should have belonged to her alone, but it had been snatched by the new girl. Cao Fan was very angry, so she found a few girls to teach Qing Ye a lesson. On her way home from school, Qing Ye was stopped by three girls. To avenge Cao Fan, these three girls threw cockleburs directly onto Qing Ye's hair.

Covered in thorns, the cockleburs stuck deep into her hair and were very difficult to pull out. During the day, Xing Wu received a call from Shu Han and went to repair a fish tank at Shu Han's boss's house. He finished it in just three minutes. Shu Han's boss highly appreciated his skills and even planned to have Xing Wu work at their company, offering a very tempting salary.

Xing Wu did not agree immediately; he still needed to think about it. When he returned home at night, Xing Wu did not see Qing Ye. He contacted his friends and heard from two of them that Qing Ye had left alone first after school. Not having seen Qing Ye yet, Xing Wu felt a faint sense of unease. He immediately got on his bike and prepared to go out to look for her.

Right at that moment, Qing Ye returned. Her hair was loose and messy, and she had a look of grievance on her face—it was obvious at a glance that she had been hurt at school. After returning home, Qing Ye picked up a pair of scissors without saying a word and began to cut her hair. Seeing the cockleburs on her head, Xing Wu immediately snatched the scissors away and helped her carefully remove the cockleburs from her hair.

Qing Ye did not speak about what had happened at school during the day. Xing Wu went to ask his school friends about it. He heard from them that Qing Ye had received a great reputation and praise during the event hosting foreign guests, which seemed to have aroused the dissatisfaction and jealousy of several girls. Xing Wu understood the general situation, and he wanted to teach Qing Ye some self-defense skills.

However, after sparring with Qing Ye, he found that she was utterly powerless; all fancy but impractical moves were useless in the face of absolute strength. That night, Xing Wu tossed and turned in bed because Qing Ye had suggested he return to school to repeat his studies. That way, with him protecting her, no one would dare to bully her in the future. The next day, Xing Wu began to secretly escort Qing Ye to school.

He followed her onto the bus all the way and watched her walk to the school gate. Xing Wu thought he had done it very stealthily, but Qing Ye noticed it anyway.

In the early morning, Xing Wu followed Qing Ye all the way to the school gate. However, she still noticed him. Qing Ye wanted to convince Xing Wu to return to school to repeat his studies, but Xing Wu explained that he was just passing by. He had also investigated the unpleasant incident from the night before. In fact, Qing Ye had not really suffered any loss.

Initially, the other girl wanted to pour a bag of cocklebur seeds onto Qing Ye's hair, but Qing Ye reacted quickly and ended up pouring them all over the girl instead. That was why those girls from last night turned and ran as soon as they saw Qing Ye this morning. Xing Wu installed an app on Qing Ye's phone.

The next time Qing Ye was bullied, she would only need to tap the back cover of her phone three times to send an emergency location to Xing Wu. Qing Ye tried it, and Xing Wu indeed received an emergency message with her location. It seemed Xing Wu was truly talented, though she had no idea where he got such advanced software. Through online self-study, Li Lanfang took it upon herself to offer eyebrow tattooing services.

However, her first attempt on a customer was a clear failure. After the tattooing, the customer's eyebrows looked like two thick, black earthworms resting above two big eyes. The customer was extremely angry, but Li Lanfang quickly explained that freshly tattooed eyebrows always looked like this and would look fine after a two-week recovery period. She then gave the customer a brand-name pair of sunglasses that Qing Ye had gifted her, and waived all the material fees.

Having received these benefits, the customer let the matter drop for the time being. Shu Han introduced a business opportunity to Xing Wu. After meeting the boss, the boss appreciated Xing Wu very much and suggested selecting the best candidate through competition. To express his gratitude to Shu Han, Xing Wu specially treated her to a meal at a restaurant.

Seeing that his student had been out of school for nearly two years, Xing Wu's homeroom teacher realized that if Xing Wu did not return within half a month, his student registration would be canceled, completely cutting him off from high school in the future. The teacher shared this news with Xing Wu's close friends, hoping they could help persuade him. Of course, the teacher also approached Qing Ye, but even Qing Ye's words failed to change Xing Wu's mind.

Having no other choice, the homeroom teacher went to Xing Wu's home. The teacher first tried to talk to Li Lanfang about him returning to school, but she was busy playing mahjong. The teacher had to discuss Xing Wu's repeat studies right at the mahjong table. In Li Lanfang's eyes, she believed in fate as well as its unpredictability.

Although she claimed they could not escape fate's hand, she still went to see Xing Wu that evening to discuss his return to school, hoping he could make his own decision. Upon leaving the hair salon, the homeroom teacher bumped into Xing Wu who was on his way home. The teacher pulled out a prepared student ID from his pocket, along with Xing Wu's award certificates that had been kept with him.

Stroking the awards he had won in the past, Xing Wu felt a surge of emotions. He used to be full of passion for school, but with his family now facing endless hardships and burdened with debt, making money early seemed to be the only practical choice at the moment. That evening, the zipper on Qing Ye's school uniform broke, so she went to Xing Wu's room to borrow a pair of pliers.

There, she discovered his hidden student ID and various award certificates. Guessing that Xing Wu was wavering, she once again encouraged him to think outside the box, gain knowledge while he was still young, and change his destiny in the future. The customer whose eyebrows Li Lanfang had tattooed returned. Not only had the eyebrows failed to heal, but the customer's entire face had also started to swell and become inflamed. The customer brought her husband to trash the salon.

In her eagerness to stop them, Grandma fell directly from her wheelchair, fracturing her ankle. Since the clinic in Zhazhating could not treat Grandma's leg, Xing Wu had to rush her to the city overnight for medical treatment. Fortunately, Shu Han had friends at the hospital. With the help of her connections, Grandma underwent surgery that very night. Although the surgery was highly successful, the staggering medical expenses were overwhelming.

Qing Ye realized that the hair salon's business had only just started to pick up. Now with this accident, they would face fines, the revocation of their business license, and a temporary closure for rectification, not to mention paying Grandma's massive medical bills. For Li Lanfang, who was already buried in debt, this was an absolute nightmare. Qing Ye realized how cruel fate could be; a minor mishap could completely wash away all previous efforts.

Xing Wu took Li Lanfang to the police station for mediation, but the other party insisted on a compensation of thirty thousand yuan. Through researching similar cases, Xing Wu learned that this amount was a bit excessive. Furthermore, his grandma had broken her leg and incurred massive medical bills because of the customer's scene. Xing Wu tried to communicate with them, but the other party refused to back down on their demands.

Xing Wu and Li Lanfang returned home. Throughout the entire journey, Li Lanfang was in low spirits. Not wanting his mother to worry, Xing Wu comforted her, saying he had a way to solve the money issue. Li Lanfang's close friends, Yu Fen and Qian Qian, learned that the hair salon was in trouble. They immediately took the initiative to contact Li Lanfang, saying they could lend her some money to help her get through this.

It was truly rare to meet such good friends in times of trouble. Qing Ye had previously heard that the wealthy student in her class, Ye Yingjian, had applied for tutoring and would seemingly pay a tutoring fee. Wanting to contribute her own modest effort to the family, she contacted Ye Yingjian via WeChat. She specifically requested that the tutoring fee be paid in advance. Ye Yingjian immediately booked twenty lessons and transferred the tutoring fee directly to her.

Early the next morning, as Qing Ye was preparing to head to school, she saw Ye Yingjian. He claimed that he was just passing by on his way to school and offered to walk with her. He even brought a contract, reminding Qing Ye that none of the agreed twenty lessons could be missed, nor could she back out and refund the money.

It seemed amusing that there could be such a naive rich kid, but in truth, Ye Yingjian simply wanted to use the English tutoring sessions as an opportunity to spend time with Qing Ye. When Xing Wu found out that Qing Ye was going to tutor Ye Yingjian, he solemnly told her to focus on her studies and not be distracted by money.

Qing Ye explained that tutoring English was also a form of learning for her, and neither would get in the way of the other. She added that if Xing Wu could stop going to work, she would choose not to tutor. Since Xing Wu could not do that, he could only remain silent. When school let out, Qing Ye was feeling down. Ye Yingjian rushed over to ask her what was wrong.

Qing Ye sighed, remarking that some people simply had bad luck and were forced into making certain decisions and choices; if she were in their shoes, she might make the same choice. Not knowing whom Qing Ye was referring to, Ye Yingjian simply remarked casually that if that person were his family, even if he couldn't help, he would definitely accompany them silently to give them support.

Ye Yingjian's words inspired Qing Ye, and she immediately realized what she could do. That night, Xing Wu had to go to the city hospital to stay overnight with his grandmother, who had just undergone surgery and still needed constant care. Qing Ye accompanied Xing Wu, sitting with him on a bench in the hospital corridor for a while. Exhausted, Xing Wu fell asleep, and his head inadvertently rested on Qing Ye's shoulder.

Li Lanfang brought gifts to visit Li Wenhui, the customer who had gotten her eyebrows tattooed at her shop. This girl had previously brought people to trash Li Lanfang's hair salon. Li Lanfang came to sincerely apologize, but Li Wenhui showed no appreciation at all and threw the fruit basket and other gifts away. Li Wenhui was the ex-wife of Xing Wu's homeroom teacher, Zhu Feng. Having no other choice, Li Lanfang went to find Zhu Feng.

Zhu Feng brought Li Lanfang to visit again. The moment Li Wenhui opened the door, she launched into a torrent of abuse, declaring that this wouldn't end unless she was paid thirty thousand yuan. She even snatched the three thousand yuan medical fee that Li Lanfang handed over and threw it away. Left with no option, Li Lanfang knelt down and begged for mercy.

Knowing his ex-wife's temper and seeing how difficult things were for Li Lanfang, and considering that Xing Wu was his student, Zhu Feng dropped to one knee to pick up the envelope of money from the floor and handed it directly to Li Wenhui. Seeing her ex-husband taking such a low stance, Li Wenhui declared then and there that she would drop the matter. On the way back, Li Lanfang was deeply grateful for Zhu Feng's help.

Zhu Feng downplayed it, believing that although a man's knees are worth gold, helping to solve a difficult problem made it worthwhile; besides, he was used to being submissive in front of his ex-wife anyway. Zhu Feng even used a mathematical theorem to encourage Li Lanfang to pull herself together, assuring her that good luck would come soon. The hair salon was finally reorganized.

While Xing Wu went to pick up his grandmother from the hospital, Li Lanfang reopened the salon and lit a large string of firecrackers. Meanwhile, someone at school posted online to slander Qing Ye, claiming that her father was facing prison due to financial issues. On her way to school, Qing Ye constantly drew strange looks.

At lunchtime, while she was getting food at the cafeteria, a girl deliberately bumped into her, spilling Qing Ye's food tray and splashing soup all over her. Realizing the girl's apology was insincere, Qing Ye immediately knocked over the food on the girl's tray in the same manner. A verbal argument broke out between them. The students dining in the cafeteria, not knowing the truth, started jeering, accusing Qing Ye, an outsider, of bullying a local. Facing hostility from all sides, Qing Ye was in a tight spot when Xing Wu suddenly arrived, grabbed her hand, and led her out of the school.

Xing Wu took Qing Ye to the beach and bought her ice porridge to cheer her up. At this moment, the sky was exceptionally high and the ocean was vast. The seawater kept churning, easily smoothing out every sandcastle nearby, as if no story had ever occurred on the beach. Standing in such a vast setting, Qing Ye was no longer troubled by the minor setback she had just experienced.

Xing Wu helped her release a Kongming lantern on the beach to express her yearning for her mother. Thanks to Xing Wu's encouragement and comfort, Qing Ye's mood improved a lot. In the evening, the two went home together. Qing Ye declared that she would not let the matter drop. She could not wait for the person who did wrong to apologize on their own accord; she wanted to find the truth and clear her name.

Xing Wu knew that Qing Ye had exactly this kind of personality. However, Xing Wu did not stop that night either, directly tracing the IP address to find the culprit who had randomly posted slander and rumors. Qing Ye carefully analyzed the poster's profile picture and found a little bear on it. The bear looked exactly like the schoolbag pendant that Cao Fan often carried.

Recalling that Cao Fan had caused trouble for her some time ago, Qing Ye understood everything at once. The next day at school, during the break on the stairs, Qing Ye blocked Cao Fan and asked her why she was not wearing the bear pendant today. Having a guilty conscience, Cao Fan stammered that it was none of her business, which was a classic case of giving herself away.

Qing Ye smiled contemptuously and reminded her to act openly, as doing bad things in the dark was pointless. If she really thought she had what it takes, they might as well compete in the upcoming monthly exam. Whoever got the lower score would admit defeat and accept punishment, and they agreed that the loser would run twenty laps around the playground. Cao Fan had a brother serving a prison sentence.

On the surface, she was highly competitive and aggressive, but in reality, she was very sensitive and had low self-esteem. A friend of her brother often came to take care of Cao Fan, so she complained to him, claiming that someone in her class was bullying her. A few days later, on the day of the monthly exam, Qing Ye ran into trouble on her way to school. Two hoodlums cornered her and grabbed her schoolbag.

Realizing that they meant harm, she quickly tapped the back of her phone three times to make a call. Xing Wu received the distress call and rushed over on his electric scooter. Xing Wu fended off the hoodlums and urged Qing Ye to run to school for her exam. By the time Qing Ye ran to school out of breath, the first English exam had already ended, and she received a zero due to her absence.

When the exam results were posted, because Qing Ye had missed the English exam, she did not rank near the top. Although there was a reason for it, Qing Ye stubbornly ran laps around the playground anyway. Several times, she felt like she couldn't keep going. Xing Wu learned from the two beaten hoodlums that the culprit was Yang Gang. Yang Gang secretly bought counterfeit phones and had previously sold copies of Qing Ye's notes.

Xing Wu had warned him back then, but he clearly did not learn his lesson. To prevent further complications, Xing Wu directly called the police. The police busted Yang Gang's hideout and shoved him into a police car for interrogation. As Yang Gang was being taken away, he glared fiercely at Xing Wu and threatened him, saying he shouldn't think he could protect Qing Ye forever—he could protect her for a moment, but not for a lifetime.

That night, Xing Wu tossed and turned. Yang Gang's words kept ringing in his ears. The guy was ruthless and vindictive; if there was no one to protect Qing Ye, she would likely run into trouble again. To ensure the safety of his cousin, Xing Wu decided to return to school.

Qing Ye was on the verge of giving up on the playground, but she was both surprised and delighted when she saw Xing Wu walking over in his school uniform. Xing Wu had finally decided to return to school. Feeling instantly re-energized, Qing Ye continued running with high spirits.

When Xing Wu went home after school in the evening, his mother cut his hair herself. Knowing her son's thoughts, she comforted him not to worry about tuition. The hair salon was still open and making a decent daily profit, which was more than enough to support his schooling. Li Lanfang had also stopped playing cards and kept herself busy in the shop every day. Qing Ye was very curious about the real reason behind Xing Wu's return to school.

Xing Wu only wrote "to get a high school diploma" on a small note. Little did she know that Xing Wu did it to protect her and to strive to realize his childhood dream of aerospace. Seeing Xing Wu's return to campus, many female students whispered among themselves. They thought very highly of him.

Not only did he look like a member of a Korean boy band, but his academic strength was also not to be underestimated, having ranked in the top three of the school multiple times in the past. Many girls secretly envied Qing Ye for having such a cool cousin. Hearing these words, Qing Ye was absolutely overjoyed, finally feeling that she still had an advantage in Zhazhating, a unique and blessed advantage at that.

Shu Han drove Ye Yingjian to school. Seeing Qing Ye and Xing Wu going to and from school together every day, Ye Yingjian could not help but feel downcast. To get closer to Qing Ye, Ye Yingjian told his driver, Shu Han, that she did not need to drive him to school anymore, as he wanted Qing Ye to tutor him in English. Shu Han agreed.

In fact, a big reason why Xing Wu refused the high-paying job introduced by Shu Han and went back to repeat his school year instead was because of Qing Ye. Shu Han had even reminded Xing Wu of this, saying that before long, Qing Ye would return to Beijing, at which point she would completely forget Zhazhating and live her own real life. As for Qing Ye having a better future, Xing Wu certainly understood.

The future was too far away, and he never asked for too much. He only wanted to ensure Qing Ye's personal safety in Zhazhating. If Qing Ye had a better future, he would also sincerely offer his blessings. After Xing Wu returned to school, many girls wrote love letters and asked Qing Ye to deliver them to him. Qing Ye did not refuse. Soon, Xing Wu's desk was filled with various snacks sent by different people.

Some classmates who heard that Xing Wu knew how to repair phones flocked to surround him during recess. With infatuated and admiring looks, they begged him to help fix their phones. To her surprise, Xing Wu actually agreed. Qing Ye watched from the side, overwhelmed with jealousy. She deliberately ignored him after school and went to tutor Ye Yingjian in English by herself. Xing Wu had always been protecting Qing Ye's safety.

Seeing Qing Ye and Ye Yingjian leaving the school gate together, he could not help but glare at her. On their way back together, they barely spoke to each other. Suddenly, it started to rain heavily. Xing Wu had not brought an umbrella, and the bus was running late. Having no other choice, Xing Wu pulled a jacket out of his backpack, and the two of them quickly ran home under it.

At that moment, Qing Ye was right beside Xing Wu, like a little bird under his protection. With his strong protection, Qing Ye no longer worried about being bullied at school. In fact, many girls even tried to flatter her in every possible way because she was Xing Wu's cousin, hoping that she could help deliver letters or introduce them to Xing Wu.

The next day, their neighbor Pang Hu's mother rushed over, saying that Pang Hu was missing and had never stayed out all night before. Xing Wu and Qing Ye were also very surprised. Usually, Pang Hu was very quiet and had always been a good kid in everyone's eyes, and he even stuttered a bit. While everyone was anxiously searching for Pang Hu's whereabouts, Xing Wu received a phone call from him.

Pang Hu said he was working at a fishery and told them to stop looking for him. Pang Hu did not specify which fishery he was at. Standing aside, Qing Ye boldly deduced that it must be related to their classmate, Shi Min, because Shi Min's family lived at a fishery, and last week she had anxiously mentioned that she might have to drop out of school. Not knowing what had happened, Xing Wu and a few friends quickly set out by boat to the fishery to look for Pang Hu.

Qingye and a group of friends arrived at the fishery and indeed found Panghu there. Panghu told them that Shimin's father did not want his daughter to go to school. Shimin was very sad and called Panghu. Panghu felt it was a pity for Shimin to drop out of school now, so he wanted to come to the fishery to do some ideological work on Shimin's father, hoping to change his decision.

Panghu had arrived at the fishery full of confidence, but the moment he saw Shimin's father, he suddenly chickened out. Shimin's father thought he had come to apply for an unskilled job and directly handed him a set of work clothes, telling him to start working. Panghu already stuttered, and now he just took the clothes and started working as a laborer, so he had achieved nothing here for the time being.

Xingwu and several friends laughed and decided to help Panghu. Xingwu went to see Shimin's father. Shimin's father made no secret of the fact that he owned a large fishery. Currently, business was bustling, and he was in urgent need of hands to help out. He believed that studying could wait until they made money, and she could learn at any time in the future.

Xingwu could understand Shimin's father's words, but he knew that a brief explanation would not change his decision. Qingye chatted with Shimin and asked about her plans for the future. Shimin said she did not want to stay at the fishery and really wanted to go out and see the outside world. Painting was also what she wanted to do. Qingye remembered seeing Shimin's paintings before, which were very beautiful.

If Shimin could develop in a field she excelled at, she might achieve great things in the future. The children's mothers rushed over, and the homeroom teacher, Zhufeng, also arrived. Panghu's mother immediately apologized to her son, saying she was indeed out of line for misunderstanding him without knowing the facts. Now, several parents decided to help out at the fishery, and even Zhufeng began pushing a cart full of seafood to make deliveries.

Zhufeng only had this one daughter and of course cherished her very much, but knowing his daughter's grades, he knew the college entrance examination would not change her destiny. During dinner, Shimin's father prepared a table of dishes to express his gratitude for everyone's arrival and then asked Shimin about her thoughts in front of everyone. Shimin had just downed a glass of wine, plucked up her courage, and slammed the table as she stood up.

She made it clear that she wanted to go to school and had to go to school. She wanted to leave the fishery and go see the outside world. Adults had also been children once. Since his child wanted to see the world, Shimin's father decided to support his daughter. Life should not have regrets, especially since the homeroom teacher and classmates Shimin had met were so wonderful now.

Shimin's father agreed to let his daughter continue her senior year of high school. Everyone raised their glasses in celebration, and Shimin wept with joy. In the evening, everyone said goodbye to the fishery. Shimin's father prepared a lot of fish products for them as a token of appreciation. On this day, the children went through a series of twists and turns, and working at the fishery made them realize its hardships.

On the way home, Qingye also talked to Xingwu about her father, mentioning that her father was a playboy who was usually surrounded by various women and had constant affairs. However, since his accident, all those so-called female friends had completely vanished. On the weekend, the close friends met up to play at a nearby amusement park. They talked freely about their dreams in life. Everyone's thoughts and choices were different, but everyone was very happy.

Qing Ye visited the amusement park with a few friends and then went to the beach to look at the sea. They talked about their future dreams and expectations. Xing Wu said he no longer had any dreams and felt that a life without dreams was also a way of living, allowing him to be more carefree. When asked what she wanted to do in the future, Qing Ye admitted that she wanted to make money.

As long as she had enough money, she could protect her family, which would bring a sufficient sense of security. These words were realistic. In Qing Ye's displaced and wandering life, she realized that if she had money, she would be able to help her aunt pay off her debts, so that Xing Wu would not be forced to drop out of school in the future to earn living expenses.

Someone asked Qing Ye what kind of boy a city girl like her would choose as a boyfriend. Qing Ye concentrated and thought for a moment, then confidently replied that she only liked those with excellent academic performance. The boys felt a bit self-conscious. After all, boys on this island usually helped out with chores at home, and their grades were only average. Hearing Qing Ye's answer, Xing Wu found a dream in his heart.

He decided to get into a university in the future. Although he had been out of school for two years, he was confident that he could make up for the missed courses through continuous tutoring. In the days that followed, Xing Wu woke up at five o'clock in the morning, memorizing vocabulary words in the intervals of repairing fishing nets.

Under the oil lamp late at night, he was still solving math problems, the edges of the pages worn and frayed from constant rubbing. Qing Ye had excellent grades. After school, she would tutor her friends. Her aunt was very pleased to see the two of them seriously solving and explaining problems. Now that the hair salon had obtained a formal business license, she stopped playing mahjong.

Every day, she styled hair for customers in the salon, feeling that life was full of energy. She even decided to expand the shop to earn more money to pay off the debts sooner, and also to save enough for Xing Wu's college tuition. Qing Ye and Xing Wu did their homework together every day, and went to and from school together. Their feelings for each other gradually warmed up.

Sometimes, Qing Ye would even daze off while looking at Xing Wu's profile. They encouraged each other. Xing Wu was full of energy every day; he wanted to get into a top-tier university so he could stand side-by-side with Qing Ye in the future. As the winter break approached, the class teacher gathered several students to ask for their opinions on whether they wanted to participate in a winter camp.

Participating in the winter camp was a dream for many students, but spots were limited, requiring fair competition. Ye Yingjian suddenly proposed to withdraw from the competition. The class teacher was surprised because Ye Yingjian's grades were very stable; if he performed normally, he would definitely be selected. Ye Yingjian explained that his father was going to take him abroad for a period of time during the winter break. After saying this, he looked at Qing Ye.

Yes, studying abroad had also been Qing Ye's dream once. Late at night, Aunt had some business to attend to outside and asked Qing Ye to help watch the shop for a while. On this ordinary night, an uninvited guest arrived. A man wearing a black peaked cap entered the shop and directly demanded to see Xing Wu. His gaze landed on the aunt's family photo, his expression extremely gloomy.

Learning that Xing Wu was not in the shop, he left without a word. Qing Ye just felt that the man was creepy and terrifying, so she closed the shop early. The man wearing the black peaked cap was named Cao Ping. A few years ago, the two of them had a fight, after which Cao Ping was sent to prison, and Xing Wu also dropped out of school because of this.

Now that Cao Ping had been released after serving his sentence, he went to see his younger sister, Cao Fan, immediately. He found that Cao Fan's life was not good, and she was even ridiculed by her classmates because of her brother's imprisonment. Cao Ping had come to the shop to cause trouble for Xing Wu. Since Xing Wu was not there, he went home in anger.

Yang Gang, who had always been engaged in petty theft, heard about Cao Ping's release and brought a few lackeys to find him. Because Yang Gang had a grudge against Xing Wu, he claimed that Cao Ping's sister, Cao Fan, was always bullied by Xing Wu's cousin. Cao Ping could not sit idly by. He could tolerate others bullying him, but it was absolutely unacceptable if they bullied his sister.

Cao Ping first had someone remove the wheels of Xing Wu's friend's bicycle, then smashed the windows of Xing Wu's aunt's hair salon, and then went to beat up Qing Ye. However, Xing Wu arrived just in time. Just as the other party was about to strike Qing Ye, Xing Wu kicked him away. Yang Gang did not stop. Thinking he had backup, he took a few people to smash the mobile phone shop where Xing Wu worked part-time.

It so happened that Xing Wu was in the shop. He pinned Yang Gang's head and dragged it hard against the ground, holding a wrench as if to crush Yang Gang's groin. Yang Gang was so terrified that he almost wet his pants. He wimped out on the spot and swore he would never dare do it again.

Through the recent underhanded actions, Xing Wu guessed that Cao Ping had been released from prison, so he told Yang Gang to pass on a message, setting up a meeting with Cao Ping.

Cao Ping met Xing Wu by the beach. Recently, Yang Gang had done a lot of bad things with someone backing him up. It was unclear whether Cao Ping knew about this, but he still glared fiercely at Xing Wu, asking him if he had ever tasted two years of prison reform. He said that every day in prison was miserable, and now he would make things even harder for Xing Wu.

Cao Ping misunderstood that Xing Wu was causing trouble for his sister, but Xing Wu responded directly, saying he would resolve everything openly and would not allow anyone to bully Qing Ye. As he spoke, the two of them were about to fight again. Fortunately, Qing Ye arrived just in time, otherwise, there was no telling what the consequences would have been. Before leaving, Cao Ping threatened Xing Wu not to think he would have an easy life ahead.

Although Xing Wu had returned to school, Cao Ping promised to never give him peace, eventually dragging him down into the same gloom where he would never see the light of day. Xing Wu had witnessed Cao Ping's ruthlessness. Two years ago, Cao Ping had hacked his back with a meat cleaver, leaving a scar over a foot long that remained to this day.

From then on, Xing Wu became restless, always feeling that Cao Ping would come back for revenge. Qing Ye noticed that Xing Wu's academic ranking had plummeted, dropping by more than a hundred places compared to the last exam. Unable to hide her anxiety, she asked Xing Wu what was wrong, but he always brushed her off.

He frequently checked whether the location tracking software on Qing Ye's phone was running properly and repeatedly warned her to call him immediately if she encountered any emergencies. After Cao Ping's release from prison, gossip began to spread in his sister Cao Fan's class. Some said that Cao Fan had an ex-convict brother who was imprisoned two years ago for intentional assault. Cao Fan was under immense psychological pressure. Qing Ye could fully empathize with this.

Back then, Cao Fan had posted many threads on the school forum, exposing Qing Ye's unfortunate family background and her father, who had been taken away for investigation, causing Qing Ye to be pointed at wherever she went. Qing Ye walked over to Cao Fan and told the classmates who were intentionally spreading the rumors to shut up.

However, Cao Fan was not grateful for Qing Ye's timely help and even warned Qing Ye not to poke her nose into other people's business in the future. Sometimes Xing Wu seemed to deliberately avoid Qing Ye, but he had his two best friends follow her closely, fearing she might be bullied. Qing Ye kept waiting for Xing Wu to tell her the truth himself, but he avoided meeting her.

This made Qing Ye very anxious, as she had no idea what the reason was, and when she asked Xing Wu's friends, they refused to tell her the truth. Once, Qing Ye wanted to take a walk by the sea alone. Seeing that her phone was running out of battery and worried she might miss his calls, she sent Xing Wu her location.

When Xing Wu called and found that Qing Ye's phone was turned off, he was terrified and immediately rushed to the location. The sea was churning and rough, with the sound of waves echoing everywhere. Xing Wu called out Qing Ye's name for a long time but received no response. After searching many places, he finally spotted Qing Ye in a small corner next to a reef, where she was feeding stray cats.

Having just been consumed by the terrifying fear that she was in danger, Xing Wu was so thrilled to finally find her that he rushed over and hugged her tightly, as if holding his own heart. On the beach that day, Xing Wu told Qing Ye everything that had happened two years ago.

The school had held a basketball tournament, and the first-place winner would be admitted to a key provincial high school as a specially trained student athlete, along with a very generous cash prize. At that time, Xing Wu was desperate to pay off his mother's debts. Aiming for the prize money, he gave it his all and finally won the tournament. At that time, Cao Ping was also desperate to succeed, but he sprained his ankle during the game.

Holding a grudge, he went to settle scores with Xing Wu that night. Several of Xing Wu's good friends couldn't stand Cao Ping's unreasonable behavior. Furious, Cao Ping grabbed a meat cleaver from a restaurant and chopped Xing Wu's back while he was off guard. Xing Wu collapsed in a pool of blood. After treatment, a long scar was left on his back, completely shattering Xing Wu's dream of becoming a pilot.

Lately, Cao Fan had been staying up late to study, even holding scratch paper while eating. During an exam, she fainted after getting a nosebleed. Qing Ye, who was the first to notice, immediately reported it to the teacher, and Xing Wu, who was in the same class, carried Cao Fan on his back to the hospital. Hearing the news, Cao Ping misunderstood that Xing Wu and Qing Ye had harmed his sister, and he was so furious that he wanted to settle scores with them.

At the hospital, Qing Ye encountered Cao Ping. She was very nervous. Seeing Cao Ping approaching her step by step, she quickly opened her phone and sent a distress signal to Xing Wu. Upon receiving her location, Xing Wu rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, he was nearby buying wontons at the time, so he arrived quickly. He told Qing Ye to leave first, as he wanted to talk to Cao Ping alone.

Although they had already explained that Cao Fan's fainting had nothing to do with them, Cao Ping refused to believe it. Knowing that Cao Ping was Cao Fan's older brother, Qing Ye approached Cao Fan again. She solemnly told her that she could give up her spot in the winter camp to her, but she hoped Cao Fan could help resolve the feud between her and Cao Ping.

Cao Fan did not want her brother, who had just been released from prison, to make more mistakes. Knowing his fiery temper, she agreed to go see Cao Ping. Meanwhile, Xing Wu was asked out by Cao Ping again. Before leaving, Xing Wu called his friends and told them to take precautions. He already sensed that Cao Ping would target him again.

However, if he did not give Cao Ping an outlet to vent, Qing Ye would be put in danger. Xing Wu wanted to resolve this matter himself. Xing Wu went to Yang Gang's warehouse. The doors were quickly locked from the inside. Yang Gang had gathered several men holding steel pipes, who eyed Xing Wu menacingly. A beer bottle was thrown at Xing Wu's head, and he quickly began to bleed.

Cao Ping shouted at the thugs to stop, then walked up to Xing Wu himself. Looking into Cao Ping's eyes, Xing Wu warned him again that every debt has its debtor. Even if there was hatred, Cao Ping should direct it all at him and leave Qing Ye alone. But Cao Ping would not listen. Yang Gang handed Cao Ping a knife, and Cao Ping actually took it.

Fortunately, Qing Ye, Cao Fan, and a few friends rushed to the garage in time to stop the crime from happening. Xing Wu gripped the knife in Cao Ping's hand tightly with both hands, blood dripping down. Suddenly, sirens wailed, and the police arrived. Cao Fan knelt on the ground, crying and begging her brother to stop. Hearing her call him "brother" repeatedly, tears welled up in Cao Ping's eyes, and he realized he was wrong.

Xing Wu was taken to a local clinic to get bandaged. Fortunately, it was only a superficial wound. The doctor applied ointment and wrapped it in bandages. As long as he rested well and kept it dry, it would heal gradually. In the end, Xing Wu chose to settle the matter, sparing Cao Ping from a long prison sentence. Cao Fan went to the detention center to visit her brother.

She urged him not to always blame others, pointing out that Xing Wu had done nothing wrong in the first place, and it was they who had repeatedly directed their anger at innocent people. During the final exams, Qing Ye ranked first in her class, making her future entry into a prestigious university seem just around the corner. Business at the hair salon was also booming, leaving them with aching arms from the daily rush.

Qing Ye carefully calculated the salon's revenue for the second half of the year and found that they had actually made a million, which was more than enough to pay off all their loans. Li Lanfang was thrilled to see the salon's income. For many years, debt had weighed heavily on her heart like a mountain. Now, she could finally stand tall and live a slightly more relaxed life.

To express her gratitude, Li Lanfang specially gave Xing Wu five hundred yuan, telling him to take Qing Ye to the market when he was free and buy plenty of delicious food and fun things as the New Year approached. At the bustling market, Qing Ye saw seafood made into candied fruit skewers for the first time, and her eyes widened in surprise.

While at the market, Qing Ye saw a mother tying her daughter's shoelaces up ahead. It made her think of her own mother, who had passed away early. Qing Ye missed her mother very much. Xing Wu asked Qing Ye about her memories of her mother. Qing Ye said her mother loved challenging activities, like paragliding and flower viewing, and she traveled to different places every year. To cheer Qing Ye up, Xing Wu took her beachcombing.

Wearing a winter hat, it was Qing Ye's first time beachcombing, and she was shivering from the cold. However, after digging up several crabs, she was overjoyed. There were always many surprises on the beach, and the joy completely swept the cold away. After taking Qing Ye beachcombing, Xing Wu took her to an amusement park. Although he had never shown off his skills before, Xing Wu used a toy gun to pop all the balloons.

The vendor, seeing such incredible skill for the first time, willingly handed over a one-meter-tall plush doll. Holding the plush toy, Qing Ye kept giving Xing Wu a big thumbs-up. With the New Year approaching, Li Lanfang invited her close friends to her salon for free perms. Not only did she pay off all the money she had previously borrowed, but she also treated them to cherries.

The hair salon was filled with joy and harmony as the friends ate cherries and chatted about the past. Everyone was surprised by the reason Xing Wu had invited them over, and then Li Lanfang solemnly announced that she had paid off all her debts today! This was exciting news. Her friends had witnessed how hard it had been for Li Lanfang over the years, transitioning from just getting by to giving it her all.

The bitterness of her journey went without saying, but fortunately, the clouds had finally cleared to reveal the bright moon. The New Year was just around the corner, and Zhazha Pavilion was filled with a festive atmosphere. Families gathered together to wrap dumplings in a lively setting.

At Hong Mao's house, when his mother found out that her son had used his New Year's money to buy game skins, she was so angry that she picked up a feather duster to beat him. Seeing things turn bad, Hong Mao quickly ran away, making the scene quite lively. On the beach, they watched the lantern show held by the town. All kinds of uniquely shaped lanterns glowed red, making the scene very lively.

The air by the sea was always so fresh. On New Year's Eve, Xing Wu took Qing Ye to the Zhazha Pavilion market. The place was crowded with people sightseeing and wishing each other a Happy New Year. Hearing Qing Ye say she was cold, Xing Wu immediately poured some hot water for her from the thermos he had brought, and put the hat he had prepared on her head.

Feeling Xing Wu's thoughtfulness, Qing Ye could not help but blush. She seriously asked Xing Wu if she could still come here to celebrate the New Year next year if she went to college. Xing Wu looked into her eyes, smiled, and responded that she had always been a girl with her own ideas, and he would do his best to support her.

Several of Xing Wu's close friends from Zhazha Pavilion also arrived, and they all agreed to watch the New Year fireworks together. In previous years, Xing Wu's family could not afford fireworks and always watched their neighbors' instead. This time, Li Lanfang bought a lot of fireworks to share with the neighbors. Everyone chanted the New Year countdown in unison, each filled with hope for the future.

Suddenly, neighbors noticed that Li Lanfang's house was on fire and rushed over to help put it out. The fire raged fiercely. Realizing her mother was still trapped in the flames, Li Lanfang burst into tears and hurriedly called Xing Wu. Surrounded by the noisy sounds of celebrations, Xing Wu heard that his house was on fire and ran back desperately.

Braving immense danger, Xing Wu rushed into the burning house and carried out his grandmother, who was unable to walk. When Xing Wu emerged from the fire, his face was covered in black soot. Li Lanfang emotionally hugged her mother and her son. Although the hair salon was gone, fortunately, her family was safe. For the rest of New Year's Eve, Xing Wu took Qing Ye to stay at a classmate's house, while Li Lanfang and her mother stayed with a neighbor.

Xing Wu's house caught fire, leaving him with nowhere to stay during the Chinese New Year. Qing Ye asked Xing Wu if he was okay. Although Xing Wu remained calm, Qing Ye knew he must be very sad. He was the only boy in the family, and though he was just a high school student, he had long regarded himself as the pillar of the family. Having just returned to school, he could not earn money to support the family.

He had hoped to rely on the hair salon to cover his living expenses, but who knew the salon would also catch fire. That night, Li Lanfang took care of her paralyzed mother-in-law. Seeing that their only home was gone, the mother-in-law was deeply grieved. Li Lanfang helped change her mother-in-law's clothes due to incontinence while encouraging her to stay strong.

She comforted her, saying that although the house was gone now, they would rebuild it once they earned some money. The mother-in-law was usually not this pessimistic, but this time she was truly heartbroken. As a paralyzed old woman who could not move her legs and had an unreliable son, she could only rely on her daughter-in-law and grandson. Trembling, she pulled out a bank card from her inner pocket and gave it to Li Lanfang.

This was what she had risked her life to save during the fire. Li Lanfang hugged her, and the two comforted each other while crying. After settling Qing Ye in, Xing Wu called his mother, who was staying at a neighbor's house. They did not say much else, only reminding each other to take good care of the family and themselves. Li Lanfang's close friends brought over steaming hot dumplings from their homes.

Qing Ye sat in the yard in a daze. Xing Wu's books and schoolbag had been lost in the fire, and his livelihood equipment was also reduced to ashes. Her friends all stuffed some money into Li Lanfang's hands to help with household expenses. Deeply moved by their help, Li Lanfang shed tears of gratitude. Xing Wu's friends heard about the fire and immediately sent him WeChat messages, telling him they had already helped copy the study materials and books.

Passing by the hair salon, Xing Wu could not help but walk upstairs, only to find the inside completely charred. The wheelchair he had spent a fortune to buy for his grandmother was burnt down to its metal rims, and even the family portrait was scorched beyond recognition. Xing Wu fell into deep sorrow. Qing Ye arrived and patted his shoulder, silently offering her support. Xing Wu turned and hugged her tightly, finally breaking down in tears.

Beside the hair salon, Qing Ye encouraged him, saying that life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what flavor you're going to get next. When Xing Wu heard that Qing Ye had hidden his New Year's gift under his pillow, he immediately rushed back into the ruins and found the model airplane. Although it was charred black, Xing Wu joked that it looked like an antique finish and said he loved it very much.

Hu Zi called Xing Wu, reminding him that they had offended Cao Ping and Yang Gang not long ago, so the fire might have been arson. This jolted Xing Wu, who immediately called the police and then went to find Cao Ping. Cao Ping was completely bewildered when he heard about the fire. Xing Wu grabbed his collar and demanded to know if he did it, but Cao Ping immediately denied it.

Later, based on a tip from the public, the police identified Yang Gang as the suspect. Indeed, Yang Gang had appeared at the scene of the incident that night. He explained that he had accidentally started the fire by discarding a cigarette butt. Yang Gang was imprisoned, but since he had no assets under his name, Xing Wu did not receive any compensation. He would have to rely on himself to sort out their housing in the future.

Xing Wu went to the bank to withdraw money from the card his grandmother had given them. The bank teller told him there was only three hundred yuan in it, even though his grandmother had said there was over ten thousand. The teller printed out the bank statement, and one look was all it took for Xing Wu to understand. It turned out his father, Xing Guodong, had secretly withdrawn the money.

This worthless father always played the role of pulling the rug out from under them at the most critical moments. Back home, Xing Wu told his mother, Li Lanfang, that there was only three hundred yuan left in the account. Li Lanfang instructed Xing Wu not to tell his grandmother for now. Then, in utter disappointment, she threw away the marriage certificate she had secretly kept.

Seeing how difficult things were for her aunt's family, Qing Ye called her father's colleague, hoping to borrow some money from him. However, during the call, she heard that her uncle was picking up medicine at the hospital and that one of his family members had just undergone surgery. Qing Ye had no choice but to dismiss the idea of borrowing money. After she hung up, Xing Wu comforted her and told her not to get distracted.

He said he would find a way to deal with the money, and she just needed to focus on her studies. Li Lanfang thought of a way to make money. She planned to go to the park to offer quick haircuts, which only required a pair of scissors and a few small tools to start the business smoothly. Xing Wu supported his mother's suggestion.

Haircutting was a necessity, and since his mother had this skill, as long as they took it slow, there would definitely be a way. Xing Wu also found himself a part-time job delivering food. He usually repaired mobile phones on the side and rushed to memorize vocabulary words whenever he had time. Qing Ye helped several classmates with tutoring, and they all sent her red packets. Knowing her difficulties, everyone actively lent a helping hand.

Xing Wu often worked all night delivering food. When Qing Ye was tutoring him, she noticed that he could not help but doze off, looking adorable. Qing Ye could not resist taking a picture of him. Whenever she felt tired from studying, she would take out her phone to look at the photo.

Zooming in on the details of Xing Wu's facial features, she felt that every part of his face was incredibly handsome, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. One day, while Li Lanfang was cutting hair in the park, a customer left without scanning the QR code to pay. She quickly followed to remind the man, but he tried to slip away. Fortunately, Xing Wu's homeroom teacher happened to drive by in a taxi.

Seeing someone trying to skip the bill, he immediately blocked the man's way with his car, and the man obediently paid up. To show her gratitude, Li Lanfang specially gave Xing Wu's teacher a haircut. It was Zhu Feng, Xing Wu's teacher, who had helped her settle the eyebrow tattooing incident last time. Although Zhu Feng was a homeroom teacher, he never put on airs and truly cared for his students.

When he was not working at school, he worked as a taxi driver and was a very down-to-earth person. Having earned some money, Li Lanfang improved the family's meals. For the first time, they had pork trotters for dinner. Grandmother expressed regret that Xing Wu could not eat them, so Qing Ye volunteered to deliver food to him. Xing Wu was currently working at a nearby fishery, and carrying fish products every day was very hard work.

After the Lantern Festival, while Qing Ye was hanging clothes on the rooftop, she suddenly spotted a familiar nanny van downstairs. Her father had arrived. It seemed he had settled his lawsuit and was now here to take her back. Qing Ye felt reluctant to leave. Since her mother's death, her father had been busy with work every day, leaving her with little companionship. Since coming to Zhazhating, she felt the warmth of a family every day.

The thought of returning to that stagnant, lifeless home made it hard for her to part with this place. Qing Ye's father informed her to get ready to go back and continue her studies abroad. Qing Ye disagreed, as she had completely adapted to life here. However, her father was displeased. He could not understand Zhazhating's backward economy and Qing Ye's current simple and crude living environment, and she even had a falling out with him.

Later, her father's colleague came to talk things through with Qing Ye. He told her that her aunt's family had just suffered a disaster, and there were now four mouths to feed. If Qing Ye could return home now, it would relieve some of the financial burden on her aunt's family. Thinking that it was for the good of her aunt's family, Qing Ye agreed to return.

Qing Ye's father also went to see Xing Wu and warned him not to have any contact with Qing Ye in the future. Xing Wu calmly and generously reminded him that Qing Ye was an adult and that it was her freedom to choose.

Qing Ye's father thought that people from a small place like Zhazhating would always try to curry favor with those of higher status. He deliberately reminded Xing Wu that once Qing Ye returned to Beijing, she would completely forget this place. Xing Wu responded indifferently, saying that if she forgot, then so be it. After saying this, he politely walked away, but then seemed to suddenly remember something.

He turned back and urged Qing Ye's father that no matter how busy he was with work in the future, he should try to spend more time with Qing Ye. Although she appeared to be very independent, she still needed care and love. Li Lanfang styled a beautiful haircut for Qing Ye.

Since her hair salon had been destroyed by fire and she had no decent gifts to offer, she combed Qing Ye's hair while telling her earnestly that all parents would look out for their children. She said that returning to Beijing to be with her father was the right choice. In the future, she would have money to spend, beautiful clothes to wear, and would never have to worry about three meals a day again.

Li Lanfang also shared her own story. When she was young, she fell for a young man. At that time, her parents were opposed to it, and even Qing Ye's mother did not think highly of her choice. However, Li Lanfang was determined to come to Zhazhating, even at the cost of turning against her parents and relatives. She never expected that she would be so blind.

Xing Wu's father was a good-for-nothing, which was why Li Lanfang ended up in such a miserable state now, with no happiness to speak of. In the evening, after finishing his part-time job, Xing Wu bought a candied hawthorn stick and went back, quietly placing it on Qing Ye's bedside table.

Thinking that Qing Ye would leave Zhazhating the next day and this might be the last time he would see her, Xing Wu looked earnestly at the peacefully sleeping Qing Ye. After an unknown amount of time, just as Xing Wu was about to leave, Qing Ye took his hand. She had been waiting for him to return.

On her last night in Zhazhating, she did not want to sleep at all, so she asked Xing Wu to take her to the seaside. The night sea still resounded with the sound of waves. Except for the crashing waves, everything around was quiet, and the lighthouse cast a soft yet steady light. Qing Ye sighed, reflecting on how uncomfortable she had felt when she first came to Zhazhating.

The second time she returned, she felt fortunate to have a safe hiding place. Now that she was about to leave Zhazhating, she found it very hard to say goodbye and wanted to take Xing Wu back with her. Qing Ye leaned against Xing Wu's shoulder, her tears falling uncontrollably. Xing Wu patted her hand and encouraged her that once she left Zhazhating, she should never think of coming back.

Qing Ye decided to apply for Tsinghua or Peking University, and she hoped Xing Wu could also come to see her. Xing Wu admitted frankly that with his grades, he could not apply for the same school at all. Qing Ye did not agree with him giving up so early, reminding him that as long as he set his mind to it, he would surely get closer step by step.

To give Xing Wu some encouragement, Qing Ye deleted their contact information and told him to find a way to reach her. Xing Wu walked Qing Ye back to rest. Upon parting, Qing Ye asked if he would come to see her off the next day. Xing Wu only smiled in response, telling her to move forward bravely and never look back. The next day, Qing Ye took her father to eat breakfast in Zhazhating.

The breakfast here was very clean, and the taste was definitely not inferior to that of big cities. Qing Ye told her father about her experiences here, saying that these friends had been very helpful and their feelings were pure, which made her experience a warmth and security that was rare in Beijing. When Qing Ye left, she did not see Xing Wu coming to see her off. At that time, Xing Wu was moving logistics cargo.

He received a call from his friend informing him of Qing Ye's departure, but he simply continued to keep busy with the work at hand. As the vehicle quickly drove away from Zhazhating, Qing Ye's father told his daughter about his plans. In a while, they were going to attend a welcome banquet hosted by Meng Ruihang's family. Qing Ye did not want to go.

When she was at her lowest and had gone there to seek help, Meng Ruihang's mother had avoided her like the plague to avoid being implicated. Now that she saw their family was doing well again, she swarmed over like a fly. Qing Ye's father reminded her to look forward, as the two families would still have business dealings in the future.

After Qing Ye returned to Beijing, although it was the place where she grew up, she now constantly thought about her days in Zhazhating. She missed her aunt and her grandmother calling her for dinner. She looked through the photos she had taken before over and over again, in which everyone was smiling brilliantly. Not only Qing Ye, but even her aunt and Xing Wu felt a sense of emptiness at home.

When Qing Ye was at home, it was always full of laughter, but now it had suddenly become quiet. Seeing that Xing Wu and Li Lanfang were both feeling lost, Grandmother comforted them, saying that Qing Ye had gone to Beijing to enjoy her life, not to suffer, and she was back with her father. Xing Wu handed the wages he had earned during this period to his mother.

His mother urged him to study hard in the future and stop working part-time. Before Qing Ye left, her father had sent one hundred thousand yuan to help them out, which was likely at Qing Ye's request. With this money, the hair salon could be renovated. Li Lanfang and Xing Wu were busy every day, and the hair salon that was once burned down was now glowing with new life.

Day by day, Xing Wu saw the changes at home, as well as the lavender garden that Qing Ye loved to visit the most. The lavender looked lovely. When approaching the flowers, one could smell a faint fragrance, reminding him of how Qing Ye used to stand there, breathing freely and being intoxicated by the scent. The Gaokao was approaching, and the senior year classes began to enter intense revision.

Li Lanfang tried her best to improve her son's meals and urged him to review well and strive to get into a good school. While eating, Grandmother wanted to pick up a poached egg for Xing Wu. She tried several times but failed to pick it up. Li Lanfang immediately helped her put the egg into Xing Wu's bowl.

Everyone chatted while eating, and Li Lanfang suggested that the day after tomorrow, she would take Grandmother and Xing Wu to the Mazu temple to pray for blessings. At that time, Grandmother seemed a bit melancholic, muttering that they would go the day after tomorrow. The next day, a scream came from the room. Li Lanfang called for Xing Wu to come quickly, as Grandmother could not be woken up. Xing Wu rushed Grandmother to the hospital.

After emergency rescue, the doctor helplessly announced that because the elderly woman's physical functions were very poor, some rescue measures could not be performed at all. Grandmother's life entered its final countdown. On her deathbed, she told Li Lanfang that many years ago, when Li Lanfang hurriedly ran to the city, although she did not speak the truth, Grandmother had already vaguely sensed that her son must have died.

Li Lanfang wiped her tears and explained that she had received a call from the police at the time, asking her to identify the body. It seemed that Xing Wu's father had owed too much debt and was injured by debt collectors. The elderly had to bury the young. Over the years, Grandmother did not ask, and Li Lanfang still did her best to fulfill her duty as a daughter-in-law and took good care of her mother-in-law.

Xing Wu and his mother stayed by Grandmother's side, looking back at happy memories. Looking at the lush green grass outside the window, Grandmother smiled and sighed that she had enjoyed a lot of happiness in this life and that it was worth living. After saying this, she passed away peacefully. After Xing Wu and Li Lanfang finished Grandmother's funeral, many people from Zhazhating went to see her off.

Facing the tombstone, Xing Wu recalled the time when Grandmother was around. When he was a child, Grandmother always carried him on her back to the town for medical treatment. On such long mountain roads, Grandmother carried Xing Wu back and forth many times. Xing Wu felt sorry for Grandmother, and these memories would accompany him forever, bringing him warmth and courage. In the blink of an eye, the Gaokao arrived.

Xing Wu and his classmates took the school bus to the test center. In the examination room, Xing Wu answered the questions seriously. This set of exam papers carried all his expectations and longings for the future.

Qing Ye also took the college entrance examination. Her father wanted her to choose a school for studying abroad, but Qing Ye no longer wanted to go to another country. She decided to attend a university in China. Her father did not agree, believing that studying abroad was also the dream of Qing Ye's late mother. However, Qing Ye understood better that her mother had always supported her decisions during her lifetime.

Her previous decision to study abroad was simply following the crowd. After a year of reflection, she felt that domestic universities were also very excellent. Ultimately, Qing Ye went to the top university in the country, Qingbei University. On her first day of school, she sent her location to Xing Wu and asked to meet him there. Xing Wu received the location from Qing Ye.

Seeing the many beautiful sights on campus and, most importantly, knowing the person he cared about most was there, Xing Wu felt his blood boil with excitement. He decided to repeat his senior year of high school. His good friends were sincerely happy for him when they heard his decision. A few more years passed, and Qing Ye had graduated from university.

She did not return to the family business but instead accumulated experience and trained her management skills at an outside company. Her father sometimes came to visit her and urged her to come home and live with him, but Qing Ye yearned for freedom. Over the years, she held onto her beliefs and achieved many successes, so her father had no way to continue controlling her thoughts. While handling her company's business, Qing Ye met her former friend Meng Ruihang.

Although the boy's family and hers were old family friends, Qing Ye did not like him. In her heart, she had always been waiting for Xing Wu because Xing Wu had promised her that he would definitely come to find her. Later, Qing Ye received a letter from Fan Tong in Zhazhating. Fan Tong and Shi Min were getting married and invited Qing Ye to return to Zhazhating for the wedding.

Over the years, Qing Ye frequently interacted with her friends from Zhazhating and liked their posts on social media, but she had almost no contact with Xing Wu. She remembered that before she returned to Beijing, she had deleted their contact information to give Xing Wu motivation. Not knowing how Xing Wu was doing now, Qing Ye decisively bought a plane ticket. Back in Zhazhating, Fan Tong and Shi Min were exceptionally happy.

The two had been together from high school through university and then into the workforce, maintaining a great relationship throughout. At first, Shi Min's father did not think highly of them, but after seeing that Fan Tong was indeed a motivated young man, he finally agreed to the marriage. The wedding was arranged on a lawn. Witnessing her good classmates tie the knot, Qing Ye could not help but feel her eyes turn red.

Everyone began asking each other about their recent lives. Shi Min could not help but sigh, saying that if Qing Ye had not returned to Beijing during their senior year of high school, she might be married to Xing Wu by now. Xing Wu was not only handsome and courageous but also of good character, and he remained the most promising boy in Zhazhating.

At the wedding, Shi Min gave her bouquet to Qing Ye, hoping to hear good news from her friend soon. Qing Ye nodded with a smile, though she still had not seen Xing Wu arrive. Fan Tong called Xing Wu and learned he was on the way. He quickly told Qing Ye to wait a moment. However, at that moment, Qing Ye's phone rang.

It was her company boss calling because there was a very important matter to handle regarding a project she was responsible for. The boss asked Qing Ye to return quickly. Qing Ye had no choice but to take her leave first. As her vehicle traveled on the road back to Beijing, Qing Ye felt regret that she did not see Xing Wu during this trip back to Zhazhating.

At that time, Xing Wu was also in a taxi heading toward Zhazhating. Their two taxis almost brushed past each other. Driven by a sensation, Qing Ye could not help but look back at that taxi. Xing Wu also turned his head at the same time, but the two of them still missed each other.

Xing Wu finally arrived at the wedding, but his friends regretted that he did not see Qing Ye. Xing Wu could only smile modestly and say that they might meet next time. Pang Hu took a photo of Xing Wu and posted it on his Moments. When Qing Ye saw Pang Hu's post, she felt regretful that she had returned too early today. During this visit to Zhazhating, Xing Wu also reported a piece of good news to his mother.

His graduate supervisor had recommended him for a job at a very prestigious aircraft manufacturing plant in Beijing, which meant he was getting closer to his dream. Li Lanfang was very happy to hear this, seeing that her son was becoming very successful.

Since he was going to Beijing, Li Lanfang gave Xing Wu the 100,000 yuan she had saved over the years, telling him to find the time to repay the 100,000 yuan that Qing Ye's father had given them back then. Xing Wu told his mother that he had already repaid the 100,000 yuan to Qing Ye's father a long time ago.

When he went to Beijing, Qing Ye's father was very surprised to hear that he had come specifically to return the money. Originally, the father had not intended to take the money back, and he did not expect people from Zhazhating to be so honorable. The company where Qing Ye worked was recently conducting a rural assistance project for Creation Technology. She set the site for the experimental project in Zhazhating. Meng Ruihang worked at the same company as her.

Over the years, he had been silently protecting Qing Ye, hoping that one day she would change her mind. Qing Ye knew Meng Ruihang's feelings, but she did not like him. For five years, she had not flirted with any man, waiting and hoping to meet Xing Wu again. At night, Qing Ye browsed through her Moments to find photos of her friends in Zhazhating with Xing Wu. Her heart was filled with immense longing.

Sometimes she felt particularly stifled, so she called her college best friend out for a meal. Seeing that Qing Ye had reached a certain age, her friend advised her to be more proactive and seek out that white moonlight. However, Qing Ye believed that she was the one who had taken the initiative to delete Xing Wu's contact information back then.

Although Xing Wu had promised to let her move forward and said he would follow behind her, he still had not appeared after all this time. Qing Ye was dazed from drinking and walked home alone. She met Meng Ruihang on the way. Meng Ruihang had just come out of Qing Ye's residential area and immediately supported the tipsy Qing Ye as she went back.

Having had some alcohol, Qing Ye grabbed Meng Ruihang and asked him if Xing Wu had come. Meng Ruihang understood that in Qing Ye's heart, there was always a place reserved for Xing Wu. Qing Ye's college roommate, Qu Bing, could not bear to see her friend in a state of unrequited love, so she enthusiastically arranged a blind date dinner and asked her younger brother to introduce the best single boys around him.

As it happened, Qu Bing's brother was Xing Wu's new colleague. When Xing Wu saw Qing Ye's photo on the brother's phone, he had originally intended to refuse any blind date dinner, but he immediately changed his mind. He was ecstatic in his heart, for he could finally see Qing Ye! For this dinner, Xing Wu dressed very formally. Qing Ye had originally come along with her friend just for a meal, but she ended up meeting her white moonlight!

Qing Ye suppressed her surging emotions and shook hands politely with Xing Wu, pretending it was their first time meeting. The two of them looked at each other and smiled. Qing Ye included Zhazhating in the experimental project, thus giving her more opportunities to revisit the old place. In Zhazhating, she could still feel the free and happy atmosphere. Old neighbors greeted her warmly. Qing Ye brought a bouquet of flowers to visit Grandma and then went to see her aunt.

Li Lanfang was especially happy to see Qing Ye return. She took Qing Ye on a tour of the rebuilt Xuandao. When Qing Ye first came to Xuandao, she could only wash in the public bathroom, but now she could bathe at home without any danger. The room's furnishings were just as they were before the fire, and many pieces of furniture were even handmade by Xing Wu. The wardrobe was larger than the previous one.

Xing Wu knew Qing Ye's preferences, and every arrangement seemed very thoughtful to her. In the room, she also saw the pink neck pillow she had given him. Li Lanfang told Xing Wu through WeChat that Qing Ye was back. After receiving the message from his mother, Xing Wu immediately booked the earliest flight. He wanted to go back to see Qing Ye and give her a brave confession.

In the early morning, Qing Ye went for a stroll near Zhazhating. When Xing Wu returned home and did not see her, he instinctively went to the lighthouse. This lighthouse held many warm memories for the two of them. Xing Wu told himself that slowing down was sometimes a wise thing to do. After so long, he did not know what her current state of mind was. As long as Qing Ye could be happy, he would be glad.

Xing Wu turned his head and saw Qing Ye walking toward him. Fate was just like that; surprises were always hidden in unexpected encounters. This time, Qing Ye did not want to miss out again. Xing Wu walked over with a smile and took the initiative to kiss her. Qing Ye boldly threw her arms around Xing Wu's neck to meet him. The two of them finally kissed, and for a very long time!

At this moment, they admitted in their hearts that the five years of waiting had not been in vain. From then on, the two became a couple. Their good friends at Zhazhating heard the good news and immediately brought a cake to celebrate their new relationship. Five years ago, their friends already felt that this golden couple was a perfect match, and now the dream had finally come true. Xing Wu and Qing Ye returned to Beijing together.

In the underground parking lot, Qing Ye's father happened to see the two of them holding hands. Qing Ye was called into the car by her father. He told her that a few years ago, Xing Wu had come to see him and returned 150,000 yuan, claiming it covered the interest as well as Qing Ye's previous accommodation fees at Xuandao. He also told Qing Ye to bring Xing Wu home for dinner when she had time.

Qing Ye's father had never thought highly of Xing Wu, feeling that the disparity in their family backgrounds was too great. He believed his precious daughter should be matched with a husband from a family of equal status. Clearly, Xing Wu, who came from a poor mountain ravine, was not a good choice.

Qing Ye's father felt that Meng Ruihang was a more suitable match, as the two families were long-time friends with substantial wealth and constant business dealings over the years. Xing Wu went to Qing Ye's room to cook for her. Both of them felt a long-lost warmth. They were very familiar with each other and needed no period of adjustment. Qing Ye asked Xing Wu if he was worried about meeting her father, and Xing Wu smiled and shrugged.

In fact, Xing Wu was now fully engaged in the work he loved, researching in the field of aircraft manufacturing. He was greatly satisfied spiritually and deeply loved Qing Ye, willing to work hard and contribute. When the day arrived for the scheduled visit to her father, Qing Ye brought Xing Wu as promised.

Her father used the excuse of asking Xing Wu for help in transplanting green plants to imply that he should not dream of two different types of flowers being planted together. However, Xing Wu disagreed. He believed that if one mastered the habits and characteristics of the flowers and added a little special care, two different types of flowers could completely be grown together.

Qing Ye's father was not convinced by Xing Wu's few words. He invited both Qing Ye and Xing Wu to play golf and also called Meng Ruihang over. He originally intended to have the two compete to belittle Xing Wu for being unsophisticated and unable to play golf. To his surprise, although it was Xing Wu's first time playing, he quickly got the hang of it and performed no worse than Meng Ruihang.

Seeing Qing Ye and Xing Wu holding hands, Meng Ruihang knew he held no advantage and could only say good things about Xing Wu. After dinner, Meng Ruihang rode back in the same car with Qing Ye and Xing Wu. He announced that he planned to go abroad for further studies for a period to heal his emotional wounds.

In reality, Meng Ruihang had been the closest to Qing Ye, but his mother's opportunistic ways had chilled Qing Ye's heart, naturally causing her to grow distant from him. During Qing Ye's most difficult period, it was Xing Wu who had been protecting her without looking down on her background. His simple nature and sense of responsibility deeply moved Qing Ye, giving her a sense of security she had never felt before.

Therefore, Xing Wu's brilliance was enough to overshadow Meng Ruihang, and he would forever occupy an important place in Qing Ye's heart. Li Lanfang was genuinely happy to hear that her son was bringing his girlfriend back to Zhazating. For many years, she had hoped her son would become successful and start a family early. She began tidying up long in advance, preparing to welcome her son's girlfriend for her first visit.

When Teacher Zhu Feng heard that Xing Wu had returned, he specially called him to invite him back to his alma mater to give a speech to the senior students to boost morale. Xing Wu used to be a typical bad student, but now he has transformed into a model of success. Xing Wu understood that Qing Ye was a huge part of the reason for this change.

In the evening, because his roommate needed a place to stay, Xing Wu had to go to Qing Ye's house for the night. They cooked and drank together, enjoying an unprecedented relaxed experience, and even slept together. They were perfectly in sync in every way, immersed in immense happiness. Li Lanfang went to the Zhazating station to meet her son. When she saw that the girlfriend Xing Wu brought back was actually Qing Ye, her eyes turned red.

Qing Ye was high-born, pure, and kind; she was the perfect daughter-in-law. However, Li Lanfang also had some concerns, as the gap between the two families was quite large. After her friend heard her worries, the friend felt that Xing Wu, now a graduate of a prestigious university with technical skills, was considered an outstanding catch whom many girls would compete to meet. Hearing her friend's advice, Li Lanfang felt much more relieved.

In Zhazating, Xing Wu took Qing Ye to revisit the paths they had walked before. Qing Ye recalled her first time meeting Xing Wu and seeing his unique shamat style; she had thought he was a hoodlum. As time passed, she discovered he was a caring and warm man, and she realized he was responsible and capable of handling things, giving her a full sense of security.

Of course, Qing Ye did not stop her personal progress for the sake of her relationship. She still got into a prestigious university, gave up on an easy life, and instead went to a top-tier company to gain experience and skills. She worked diligently and kept her emotional life simple and consistent, always protecting her reputation, naturally making her worthy of love. Now, the relationship between Zhu Feng and Li Lanfang is heating up.

They often go to the market to buy groceries and cook together, living an ordinary life. Sometimes, when Li Lanfang is not busy at the shop, she joins her friends for live streaming to help sell local specialties through e-commerce and promote their hometown's features. Xing Wu went to his alma mater to give a lecture to his juniors.

Looking at the youthful faces below the podium that looked just like his own back then, he remembered the hardships of the past, and ripples of emotion rose in his heart. At this moment, he passed on the words Qing Ye had used to encourage him during his low point to his juniors: Life is a box of chocolates; you never know what the next one will taste like. But you need to persist in your dreams.

As long as you are willing to give your all, your dreams will never be too far away. This drama is dedicated to the young friends who once had dreams and persisted in them! The End