Zhao Guangyuan didn’t comment on whether Zhao Mingshi should stay in the U.S., nor did he object to him going abroad—he just didn’t understand what Mingshi meant by C programming language.
When Zhao Shuo got home, Zhao Guangyuan asked for his opinion. Zhao Shuo wholeheartedly supported it.
“Alright.”
Without hesitation, Zhao Guangyuan nodded and decided to send Zhao Mingshi abroad. This was a good thing, so naturally he supported it.
They fully backed the expenses, ensuring Zhao Mingshi could study overseas without worry. Zhao Guangyuan and Su Lan immediately started looking into the procedures for studying abroad. Zhao Guangyuan even made two trips to Fudan University to see if the school had policies to help expedite Zhao Mingshi’s departure.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mingshi, still at school, was thrilled to hear the news. He began researching the procedures and school policies for studying abroad, checking which American universities could accept him.
But word of his imminent departure spread quickly through the dormitory—and eventually reached his ex-girlfriend.
She confronted him, asking if he was really leaving soon. Zhao Mingshi, annoyed that his decision seemed to concern her, replied firmly, “I have my own plans. What’s wrong with going abroad? If you want to go, you can. I won’t stop you. Why are you questioning me?”
She cried, “But didn’t you say you loved me?!”
“At the hotel last time, you said it yourself! Have you forgotten?”
“If you truly loved me, how could you just leave me here and go abroad?”
“What am I to you?”
Zhao Mingshi frowned, his face tight. “We broke up. You’re not my girlfriend anymore.”
She was stunned. Tears streamed down her face. “You say that now? But if we’ve broken up, why did you still go to the hotel with me and say you loved me?”
“You just wanted to sleep with me, didn’t you?”
Zhao Mingshi’s frown deepened. “An Qiao, don’t put it that way. I didn’t force you—you went there on your own.”
“We both went to the hotel. We did it together. Don’t put all the blame on me. And stop talking about love. What difference does love make compared to the future? Love can’t stand in the way of my future.”
“We broke up peacefully. What happened was an accident, and you were willing. You’re no longer mine, so you have no right to question me.”
Zhao Mingshi didn’t feel heartless. To him, love and career were separate. Love couldn’t hinder his future; that was all.
But An Qiao was devastated. Back in the dorm, she cried uncontrollably. She was supposed to graduate in June and was busy preparing for her thesis defense and job placement. Now, she was completely distraught.
In a desperate act, she used the blade of a pair of scissors to cut her wrist, thinking that if something happened to her, Zhao Mingshi might feel guilty and stay—proof of her love for him.
The beeping of an ambulance pierced the air as it rushed into Fudan University.
…………………
An Qiao left a suicide note, accusing Zhao Mingshi of deceiving her in both love and body. The news spread rapidly, creating an uproar.
Zhao Mingshi was summoned repeatedly by his counselor, department, and faculty. He was stunned. An Qiao had tried to kill herself over a relationship? He never imagined it.
The school contacted the Zhao family. Zhao Guangyuan, Su Lan, and Zhao Shuo rushed to the school. Police arrived, all taking the incident seriously.
Although An Qiao came from an ordinary family, she was a Fudan student with excellent grades and abilities. Her file had been submitted to the Personnel Bureau, and she was slated for prime job placements. Now, everything was in jeopardy. The receiving companies called the Personnel Bureau in confusion.
The school leaders scolded Zhao Mingshi: “How could a relationship drive a girl to attempt suicide? Are you out of your mind?!”
“Her suicide note has your name—there’s no one else. Can you deny it?!”
Zhao Mingshi panicked, frustrated at his own bad luck. He couldn’t believe An Qiao would attempt suicide over something so trivial.
He yelled inwardly, furious: why die in such a way—and why drag him into it?
At the meetings with school leaders and police, realizing this could ruin his future, Zhao Mingshi felt even more anger toward An Qiao than he had toward Jiang Luo before.
That night, late, leaving the school administration building, a silent Zhao Guangyuan slapped him across the face.
“Dad…” Zhao Shuo began.
“Don’t call me Dad!” Zhao Guangyuan snapped. He pointed at Zhao Mingshi. “You secretly dated, went to a hotel with a girl, and you knew about it early, right? You stayed silent! Covered for him! Indulged him! And now look at the result?!”
Zhao Mingshi buried his head, tears flowing. He didn’t truly want to cry—he just knew it was useless to argue now. Tears might at least earn him some sympathy.
Back home, after Zhao Guangyuan and Su Lan went to rest, Zhao Mingshi quietly entered Zhao Shuo’s room. Kneeling by the bed, he looked up, tearful: “Brother, please send me abroad, okay? I know I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. An Qiao’s suicide—this could ruin me, really ruin me. Please, help me. I have to go abroad, I must go.”
Meanwhile, in the hospital, An Qiao lay with eyes open, staring blankly at the white ceiling, her face pale and expressionless.
Outside, her parents and sister faced school leaders and counselors in despair, some sitting silently, some crying hysterically.
Their daughter had attempted suicide, deceived in love and body. They were the real victims, yet the school and police seemed more intent on minimizing the incident than punishing the boy. To make matters worse, An Qiao lost her promised job placements and could only graduate and fend for herself.
Her mother cried on the floor, kicking her legs, wailing: “It’s not fair! There’s no justice! What did we do wrong? What did our daughter do wrong?!”
Meanwhile, in Haimen at Hongming, workers busily moved machines, cleaned workshops, and inventoried remaining materials, all with hopeful expressions about the future.
In Haicheng, at Huo Zongzhuo’s new company, Xue Zhizhong signed several contracts, smiling. He had partnered with Huo Zongzhuo to supply glass for a piece of land development. Though a small stake, glass was profitable. With Huo Zongzhuo’s backing, his future seemed secure.
Xue Zhizhong was practical—contracts signed, he planned to ingratiate himself with Huo Zongzhuo. He knew what Huo liked and had been preparing for this.
Meanwhile, Bai Ting and Wang Junwei researched distributing BB machines, traveling to multiple locations, even by train.
Zhang Xiangping, learning from a rural couple who sold goods at a stall, studied what she could sell profitably on her own.
Jiang Jianmin teased her: “If you have time to do that, why not watch TV or knit Zhao Mingshi a sweater?”
Zhang Xiangping snapped: “You know nothing! When I make money, don’t come near me.”
A month later, at Hongming in Haicheng, the first batch of new machines arrived, driven into the factory by truck. Everyone was delighted.
Pan Xiao went to get water and cigarettes for the drivers while directing workers to move the machines.
His pager rang. He quickly stepped aside and answered: “Hello? Oh, Mr. Jiang. Yes, yes, everything’s arrived, correct. Okay, I’ll make sure they’re careful. Don’t worry, Mr. Jiang.”
After hanging up, he turned to continue his work.
A worker carrying a machine passed by and teased, “Director Pan, now you’re a big boss too, with your own pager. Capitalism is catching up to you fast!”