Chu Zhiye slowly returned to the residential area.

"Mr. Chu is back," the community security guard greeted him.

"Yes." He smiled at us.

After chatting with the security guard for a few minutes, I entered the residential area.

When I got home, I turned on the lights, and the room was brightly lit.

He went into the bathroom to wash up, and after he finished, he went to the balcony. The night view of Shanghai was in full view, and Shanghai was as prosperous as ever.

He turned his neck and looked towards the next room.

It was pitch black and completely empty.

"Six years..." he sighed.

Shen Ling said she would teach in the rural area for no more than a year, but she never expected it to last for six years. During those six years, she never came back and heard a few words from her parents.

Shen Ling's parents demanded that she return to Shanghai, but she kept delaying until today.

"Impressive," Chu Zhi couldn't help but exclaim.

He couldn't do the same thing as Shen Ling.

After a moment of reflection, he looked away and went inside to sleep.

... ...

The following day, I visited Founder Investment.

The news report immediately caught my eye: "Breaking News Today: New World Development's board of directors has undergone a major reshuffle, with many directors leaving the board. Chairman Xu Hui has stepped down, and his daughter Xu Man has taken over his position. Now Xu Man holds a dominant position on the board. Will this have an impact on New World Development? Are there any major plans for the future?"

"Today we have invited Ms. Xu Man for an interview."

Chu Zhi also looked at Xu Man inside. She was beautiful and dressed in a suit, which revealed her domineering aura. She still had that high posture.

"Ms. Xu Man, now that you've become the chairperson of New World, are you happy?"

"No, it's just a change of location."

"Oh, what makes you happy?" the reporter asked curiously.

Upon hearing this, Xu Man remained silent, biting her lip as if hesitating. After three or four seconds, she finally spoke: "The last time I was happy was six years ago..."

As the TV channel changed, the receptionist, holding the remote, suddenly realized someone was nearby.

Upon seeing that it was Chu Zhiye, the receptionist was immediately surprised and hurriedly got up to greet him: "Mr. Chu, good morning."

"Good morning." Chu Zhi nodded in response, then headed into the company.

Seeing that Chu Zhiye's figure had disappeared, the receptionist relaxed and switched back to the previous channel.

The reporter said to the camera, "Ms. Xu Man seems to be thinking about something unpleasant and is unwilling to continue our interview."

"Huh? What's wrong?" the receptionist asked in surprise.

... ...

Chu Zhi also entered the office and began his day's work.

Work until you get off work.

He stood at the window and stretched.

It was gloomy outside, and there seemed to be signs of rain.

"I need to hurry home so I don't get soaked again," Chu Zhiye muttered to himself.

He doesn't want to use an umbrella because he knows that even in heavy rain or torrential rain, he will get wet, and in light or moderate rain, his clothes will get wet.

He quickly tidied up the documents and then rushed home before the rain started.

Rumble...

May God protect you.

I had just gotten home when a sudden clap of thunder sounded, followed by a downpour.

Chu Zhiye stood on the balcony, looking down at the pedestrians below, some running quickly, some seeking shelter from the rain, and some letting the downpour soak their clothes, fearlessly forging ahead...

He couldn't help but smile.

"People are taking shelter from the rain, but you're laughing up there. Can I interpret that as a sense of superiority?" A beautiful figure stood on the balcony next door.

Six years have passed, and Shen Ling is still as beautiful as ever. Her face is like a finely carved jade, fair with a faint blush, and her big eyes are bright and spirited, with deep eyes that seem to hold the stars and the sea.

Living in Chengdu year-round, where there are often cloudy days, seems to have made her skin even whiter, as pure and white as the first snow of winter.

"No," Chu Zhiye replied.

I don't believe it.

Shen Ling's smile spread from her lips to the corners of her eyes, forming faint crow's feet. But this did not detract from her beauty; on the contrary, it added to the charm and approachability of her smile.

"Everyone has a sense of superiority, and you are no exception. In fact, your family background, education, and even your understanding of the world have made your sense of superiority even more... well, it's perverted."

Chu Zhi was speechless: "Pervert?"

"I don't know how to describe it, just think of it as perverted," Shen Ling replied casually.

"What's it like teaching in a rural area?"

Shen Ling smiled and said, "There are good and bad aspects, but the good aspects outweigh the bad."

Chu Zhi nodded: "That's good."

Aren't you going to ask me why I came back?

Why did you come back?

Shen Ling replied, "I had a serious illness and almost died. It was during that life-or-death crisis that I realized I wasn't married yet. That was such a waste, so I decided to come back and get married."

Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?

"No."

"Am I capable?"

Shen Ling and Chu Zhi looked at each other and laughed together.

... ...

Three days later.

The Chu Family Villa.

Accompanied by a series of crackling firecrackers, Chu Zhi and Shen Ling got married.

First bow to Heaven and Earth.

Second bow to the parents.

The husband and wife bow to each other.

... ...

Chu Jin, holding her son in the audience, complained, "I don't know what Chu Zhiye and Shen Ling were thinking. Marriage is a major life event, it only happens once in a lifetime. How could they so easily brush it off?"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think that our Chu family had fallen into decline."

Today is Chu Zhiye and Shen Ling's wedding day, but they insisted on a low-key and simple wedding, with both families simply having a ceremony and a meal.

Only two families and very close friends attended the wedding, making a total of only five tables of guests.

“I think so too,” Zhong Rou said, cracking sunflower seeds. “If I get married, I’ll make sure the whole world knows.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "I'm going to set off a nuclear bomb to celebrate my wedding."

Gao Ruoyun glared at her daughter: "Can you even get married?"

"cannot!"

"Damn!" Gao Ruoyun's lips twitched.

"Oh my, the Chu family finally has a worthy successor!" Chu's mother was overjoyed. "Hehe..."

After a simple ceremony, the wedding banquet began.

The Chu and Shen families had a simple meal, and the wedding banquet came to an end.

... ...

The wedding was over, and life went on as usual, without anything changing.

After Shen Ling finished taking care of everything, she saw all the guests off.

On this day, we arrived at the half-acre pond.

Six years later, the waitresses were still working here. When they saw Shen Ling, they were overjoyed: "Sister Shen."

When did you get back?

"They didn't even tell us."

Shen Ling chatted with a few subordinates for a few minutes, informing them of her marriage to Chu Zhiye.

Upon hearing this news, the waiters exchanged glances, their eyes revealing an expression of "I knew it."

The waiters had already guessed that the two would end up together.

There was no basis, no fact, just a feeling that they were the same kind of people.

Shen Ling circled the half-acre pond, surveying her surroundings.

Six years have passed, and everything at Banmu Fangtang remains unchanged—the same bookshelves, the same arrangement... as if frozen in time.

Suddenly, the clicking sound of high heels came from afar.

Looking in the direction of the sound, Shen Ling saw a woman in a suit approaching, exuding an aura of domineering power.

Hello, I am... .

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Ling interrupted her: "Xu Man."

"You know me?" Xu Man asked, frowning.

"Mm." Shen Ling nodded.

Xu Man cut to the chase: "You two are married?"

"right."

"What will it take for you to leave Chu Zhiye?"

"terribly sorry."

“New World Development is yours.” Xu Man’s voice was filled with stubbornness.

"I'm sorry," Shen Ling shook her head.

What exactly do you want?

Shen Ling looked at Xu Man and said softly, "Chu Zhi is not a commodity to be traded at will. You are still making the same mistake you made six years ago."

Upon hearing this, Xu Man's round face lost all color, her skin looked as if all life had been drained away, appearing unusually cold and fragile.

Her lips were pale and slightly pursed, as if even a smile had become a luxury.

Xu Man turned and left, a tear drifting in the air, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

... ...

On this day, the Chu family received shocking news.

Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue left home to travel the world, intending to visit every corner of the globe.

"No way!" Mother Chu reacted the most strongly. "I want to travel around the world too. I've never been abroad and haven't seen the sights of other countries, like the pyramids, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Statue of Liberty, and the Great Wall."

Chu's father corrected him, "The Great Wall is in China."

Chu's mother glared at her husband, who immediately shut up.

The next day, the Chu family discovered that Chu's mother and father had also secretly slipped away.

The group looked up at the stairs. Zhong Ping and Gao Ruoyun, carrying their luggage, chuckled and said, "We're planning to buy some steamed buns."

"Yes." Gao Ruoyun nodded.

All the elders of the Chu and Zhong families have passed away, leaving only a few younger members.

Chu Zhiye and Chu Jin looked at each other and sighed.

"Go, all of you go."

Even so, they were quite happy.

Over the years, in order to take care of Chu Zhiye and Chu Jin, these elders have stayed at home and haven't gone anywhere.

Being able to travel now is a good thing.

... ...

Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue traveled from east to west, visiting Russia in the north, where they experienced the icy landscapes, the Middle East, where they encountered gunfire and various forms of conflict, and finally Western Europe, the old heartland of the Industrial Revolution...

They traveled around the world, visiting every famous corner of the globe.

He eventually returned to China.

Forty years later.

Chu Fang lay in the sun, the warmth of the sun on his skin. He was surrounded by family and friends: Chu Yi, Zhou Qiong, Chu Jin, Chu Zhiye, Zhong Rou, his grandson, granddaughter, grandson's daughter, granddaughter's daughter...

Decades have passed, and the Chu family has grown into a large clan.

Chu Fang was getting old, and his voice became increasingly heavy as he said, "Ms. Zhong."

"Sigh." Zhong Tingyue's brows were full of wrinkles, layer upon layer, but one could still vaguely see the beauty of her youth.

Chu Fang forcefully raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from Zhong Tingyue's eyes.

"No, don't cry, you'll look ugly."

Chu Fang looked at his wife and forced a smile: "Ms. Zhong, the luckiest thing in my life is meeting you."

"I really wish I could live for ten thousand years and continue to be with you through happiness, joy, and sorrow, but unfortunately I can't."

I'll go first.

"Yes, I'm sorry."

After saying that, Chu Fang closed his eyes.

"father."

"grandfather."

"Grandpa."

The people around him were shouting themselves hoarse.

"mother!!!"

"What’s wrong with you?!!!"

... ...

Three days later, in the Shanghai Mausoleum.

The Chu family members gathered here, gazing at the tomb. The tombstone reads: Tomb of the late father (husband) Chu Fang and the late mother (wife) Zhong Tingyue.

Everyone bowed deeply to respectfully see the two ancestors off.

It wasn't until much later that the Chu family members gradually dispersed. A while after they left, two butterflies landed on the tombstone and then took flight.

Two butterflies walked together.

...

end!

I don't know what to say, so I'll just wish everyone a Happy New Year.