After Xu Zhenhua recovered from his illness, he became a doting father, as if he wanted to make up for everything he had neglected his children in the past, showering them with care and concern to the point of being nagging. But now that Xu Mengyao truly experienced the warmth of home, she felt a little lost. Did she still want this belated fatherly love?
She didn't want to take the college entrance exam with these thoughts in mind, so after the school allowed her to study freely, she asked for leave and went home to Linhe Town.
The road over there is repaired!
The road construction was a major achievement for the local government, and given her status, the town mayor of Linhe Town personally received her upon her arrival and drove her along the road to the village where she used to live.
There were no more members of the Wang family in the village. The village chief and the villagers all knew her. Last time they were a little reserved, but this time they were completely enthusiastic. That road had brought them so much convenience, and everyone in the village, young and old, was extremely grateful to Xu Mengyao.
This girl suffered so much in their village, yet she not only didn't hold a grudge against them, but she also helped build roads for the village. She's doing a great service to their village, and she's even more grateful than the villagers themselves. Xu Mengyao received gifts and heard praise all the way in.
Those vegetables, fruits, eggs, rice, noodles... so many gifts, they are not precious to her now, but they are precious sentiments.
She didn't think too much when she was repairing the road; she just wanted to make things easier for the villagers who went to school or sold their goods. Who knew she would receive so much heartfelt gratitude? This feeling left her speechless, yet inexplicably moved!
The village chief's house hosted a banquet, and she ate a meal with the villagers. There were also singing and dancing performances to liven up the atmosphere. Everyone was having a great time, and it was clear that they were genuinely happy and grateful. Xu Mengyao couldn't help but keep smiling along with them.
She had thought that going back to the village would make her feel uncomfortable, but she was surprised to find herself feeling very relaxed and happy. She thought it might be because of doing good deeds; seeing that doing good deeds helps them makes her happy too.
She wants to do even more good deeds and help even more people. Maybe some children like she was when she was a child will have a better life because of her help, and that would be worthwhile.
She set her life goals in the village where she grew up, and also figured some things out amidst the villagers' enthusiasm.
She should cherish every moment. Although her father's love came late, it's better than nothing. She should cherish all the good things in life so that she won't regret it when she loses them someday.
With her burdens lifted, Xu Mengyao returned to Yanjing and took the college entrance examination in top form. While she took the exam, Xu Zhenhua waited outside the school like other parents. As soon as Xu Mengyao came out after the exam, she saw him waving at her, and she smiled and responded.
This feels so good! From now on, she will not only have a brother, but also a father!
Xu Mengyao's grades have never been a concern. She studied science and became the top science student in Yanjing this year! Moreover, the principal said that he had previously offered her a guaranteed admission spot, but she declined it herself because her brother would throw her a celebration banquet for getting first place.
The principal had never heard such a reason for not having a quota before, and he was both amused and exasperated. Although Xu Mengyao had only studied at their school for a year, she had brought them quite a few benefits.
The gymnasium donated by the Xu family was loved by all the students, and the donated books in the library also brought them great convenience. Although the afternoon tea for senior students stopped after Xu Mengyao left, it had brought them countless small moments of warmth. Xu Mengyao had become a legendary figure in their school.
Just when everyone thought she would choose management to help her brother, she chose social work.
She earnestly shared her thoughts with Xu Zifan. She enjoyed doing charity and believed it was very meaningful. She hoped to establish a charitable organization in the future, using her position to encourage more people to do charity and help more people. Moreover, the Xu family also needed to engage in charity work, and doing it professionally would enhance their positive image.
Xu Zifan was quite surprised when he heard her say that. He hadn't expected her to have such clear goals and mature ideas, even having plans for her charitable development during and after university. Once he was certain that Xu Mengyao was genuinely committed to this path, he naturally offered her unconditional support.
Xu Zhenhua and Li Xiulan also felt that this was a good job for a girl, as she could gain a respected status in the industry and make good connections, which suited her identity very well.
And so, Xu Mengyao began to study with a clear goal in mind, engaging in various practical activities in her spare time, gradually building her network and starting with small acts of charity.
Xu Zifan kept an eye on her movements but didn't interfere too much, only helping or answering her questions when she asked for help. He watched his younger sister grow up little by little, and he also saw the Xu family business prosper.
Lu Keqing became the jewelry designer for the Xu family. Her designs were full of inspiration, injecting new vitality into the Xu family's jewelry and gradually surpassing the Liang family in terms of style.
Xu Zifan's investments in other industries have also yielded results, and the shareholders have praised him highly and all support his plan to vigorously develop the company.
In just five years, the Xu family has risen from the bottom of the four major families to the top, and its position is stable. It has also widened the gap with the second-ranked family. There is no one in the business world who does not know Xu Zifan. He has grown into a business tycoon.
Lu Keqing and Xu Mengyao have both graduated. Lu Keqing became the chief designer of Xu's Jewelry. Because her designs have won many international awards, she is known as the "Ghost Hand Designer," meaning that all jewelry becomes exquisite and stunning in her hands.
Xu Mengyao established a charitable foundation, built many schools across the country, did a lot of charity work, and personally went to various remote places to understand the local conditions and bring his charitable work there.
She had seen the Wang family near Linhe Town. After their release from prison, they couldn't make a living; some were disabled, others disfigured, and they all begged on the streets. She only glanced at them before forgetting about them; now, seeing them was no different from seeing a stranger.
As luck would have it, Xu Mengyao met a male teacher who was also volunteering as a teacher in a remote mountain village. The male teacher's name was Xia Feng, and he was the same age as Xu Mengyao. He taught the children math, Chinese, and English there.
Xia Feng showed Xu Mengyao everything about the local area and helped her put her charitable work into practice. The two got along very well. Later, when Xu Mengyao returned to Beijing for the Chinese New Year, she unexpectedly saw him at a banquet!
It turns out that Xia Feng is the young master of the Xia family, one of the four great families. Because he didn't have to inherit the family business, his family was quite lenient with him, so he went off to experience life and never returned, spending two years as a volunteer teacher. This time, the Xia family finally managed to find him and bring him back, but he doesn't want to work for the company and is trying to find a way to continue doing what he loves.
The two were surprised by this coincidence, and their shared interests led to many topics of conversation, making for a very pleasant chat.
Not long after, Xu Mengyao approached Xu Zifan and asked him a very serious question, "Brother, how do you know if the other person is sincere when you're dating?"
Xu Zifan knew about her recent situation and wasn't surprised at all. "You've fallen for that boy from the Xia family?"
Xu Mengyao blushed slightly, but still asked seriously, "I haven't paid much attention to other couples. I see that you and your sister-in-law are very loving, but it seems that there is only social status and responsibility between my father and mother. My mother has also done a lot of things behind my father's back. The Wang family couple quarrels all day long and sometimes even fights. I don't know how my feelings for Xia Feng will turn into in the future."
Xu Zifan hadn't seen his sister look so bewildered in years. He thought for a moment and said, "No matter what kind of feelings they are, only your own heart can tell if they are true or false. Yao Yao, if a man loves you, he will never bear to see you sad or heartbroken, so just judge based on your own feelings."
But there's a saying you can take as a reference: "Late marriage and late childbirth ensure peace of mind." It's always good to consider this. Don't be afraid; even if it turns out you were blind to have chosen the wrong person, you can always find someone else. Your brother will always be there for you.
Xu Mengyao couldn't help but smile. Her brother was always like this; he would do anything she wanted to do and would always protect her, like a guardian angel.
She also understood her brother's views on love: don't think about love that lasts forever, and don't be foolish enough to sacrifice yourself for love and make yourself feel wronged. The most important thing in pursuing love is to make yourself happy. If you are not happy, then just find someone else.
Compared to those stories of deep and profound love, this seems a bit selfish, but she thinks her brother must be right. A person doesn't live for many years, and only when you are happy and excellent can you attract equally excellent people to be happy together. Just like the family affection she once longed for but could not obtain, it has now come to her side on its own initiative.
Having gotten rid of the trouble, Xu Mengyao quickly accepted Xia Feng's pursuit. The two did charity work together and did it very well. They gradually gained respect and status in the industry through their own efforts, and their development was very promising.
The year Xu Zifan became the richest man in China, he proposed to Lu Keqing. Coincidentally, Xia Feng also successfully proposed to Xu Mengyao. The two couples discussed it and held a wedding of the century together. Afterwards, Xu Zifan took Lu Keqing to an island for their honeymoon. He actually bought the island where they had fallen in love and gave it to Lu Keqing as a wedding gift.
Throughout his life, he rediscovered his original passion, built his company into the biggest one, loved his wife and children, protected his sister, and enjoyed a happy life with them. Because of the original owner's personality, he lived a carefree and unrestrained life, quite flamboyant, and his days were incredibly enjoyable.
Such a wonderful life often passes in the blink of an eye. When Xu Zifan was ninety years old, he saw off his wife and sister before he could leave this world in peace.
Only at the very end did he truly complete his mission of making his sister happy. Even after returning to the void, he could still recall his sister's smiling words to him on her deathbed.
"Brother, I suffered a lot in the first seventeen years of my life... but since you came into my life, all my suffering has vanished... the rest of my life has been filled with laughter and joy... Brother, I often think that being your sister... is truly the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me..."
This must be the best affirmation for him, right? Xu Zifan recalled the joys of this life in the virtual space, letting the memories settle before calming his emotions and entering the next world. Life goes on; those he loved have all been reincarnated, and he has begun a completely new life once again.