Li Mo

However, things didn't go smoothly.

That summer, the heat was intense, and the air in Yuehai was thick and humid. Liang Xinchong was helping Li Mo tidy up the shop, the afterglow of the setting sun bathing the small shop in a warm golden light.

Suddenly, a piercing noise shattered the tranquility. Several men with unfriendly expressions blocked the shop entrance again, cursing and swearing. The leader was the same one from last time, with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Murderer! Pay back the money!" The vile curses rang out again.

Liang Xinchong's face darkened instantly, and he almost reflexively reached for his phone to call the police.

This time, he absolutely could not allow them to harm Li Mo in the slightest.

"No," Li Mo suddenly grabbed his hand, her voice trembling slightly, her eyes filled with deep weariness and a resigned pain, "Liang Xinchong, don't call the police."

"Why?" Liang Xinchong was both anxious and angry, unable to understand. "This is harassment, it's illegal!"

Li Mo closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with tears.

She pulled him along to a secluded corner behind the shop. The summer night breeze was humid and hot, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in her words.

Through the fragmented narration, Liang Xinchong finally learned the secret that Li Mo had been so tightly guarding—

Her father, Li Jiansheng, did not die in a simple accident. He was involved in a serious traffic accident while drunk driving after a drinking party where he was trying to collect hard-earned money from his migrant workers. The accident resulted in the deaths of several migrant workers and serious injuries that landed him in prison.

The Li family went bankrupt to pay compensation, but it still couldn't quell the grief and hatred of some of the victims' families. These people who smashed the shop were among them.

“We…our family owes them.” Li Mo’s voice was low, like a sigh, filled with immense helplessness. “Our family wronged them first…”

Liang Xinchong remained silent.

He looked at her pale, fragile profile, and his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, aching terribly.

He finally understood where her extraordinary calmness and detachment came from, and why she repeatedly stopped him from calling the police—in the face of that complex tragedy and debt, legal intervention seemed so pale, and might even exacerbate the conflict.

Is he not good enough?

They couldn't even help her solve her current difficulties or shield her from the storm?

He had to help her unload this burden.

That evening, he found Shen Peixian and bluntly proposed to help them pay off their remaining debts.

Shen Peixian was stunned, then shook her head firmly: "No! Xin Chong, I appreciate your kindness. But this is not a small amount of money, and... you are still just boyfriend and girlfriend, so it is neither reasonable nor right for you to pay it back."

“Auntie,” Liang Xinchong stood straight, his eyes more resolute than ever before, “Li Mo and I will get married sooner or later. Her debts are my debts.”

His tone was firm and serious: "I can't watch her and you continue to live in this shadow."

He returned home and told his parents about Li Mo's family situation and his decision to help.

Although Liang's parents were surprised, seeing the unwavering determination in their son's eyes and feeling sorry for the strong girl he mentioned, they ultimately chose to support him.

Zhou Man, with tears in her eyes, said, "This child has suffered so much... We'll pay for it."

However, Liang Xinchong refused his parents' offer to give the money directly.

"Dad, Mom, consider this money a loan." His eyes were clear, with the fearlessness of a newborn calf. "Give me two years, and I will definitely pay you back with interest."

On the day the debt was paid off, Shen Peixian hugged Li Mo and cried for a long time; it was a feeling of relief after unloading a heavy burden.

Looking at Liang Xinchong, Li Mo felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude, but also an indescribable heartache and pressure.

Starting in his sophomore year, Liang Xinchong's lifestyle changed completely.

Besides his heavy academic workload, he devoted all his energy to starting his own business.

He used his knowledge of economics to keenly seize market opportunities and, together with several like-minded classmates, started from the most basic campus agents and mini-program development. He became extremely busy, often staying up late to work on plans, run the market, and meet with clients. During video calls, Li Mo could always see the dark circles under his eyes and the lingering fatigue between his brows.

But he never complained to her.

During each call, he would still share the progress with her with a smile, even if it was just a small, insignificant order, he would celebrate it as a victory.

Time flies, and I'm now a junior in college.

Liang Xinchong underwent a tremendous change, which, in the eyes of his parents, brought not only relief but also a sense of relief that "their son has finally grown up."

The boy who once needed connections to get him into the top class and was indifferent to his studies now has a calm and determined look in his eyes, and his words and actions reveal a composure honed by life's experiences.

He is truly ambitious, and this ambition is not forced but comes from the heart, a desire to take responsibility and create. This is different from the drive he had in high school to catch up with Li Mo; it has a clearer plan for the future and a sense of responsibility as a man.

In his junior year, Liang Xinchong's efforts finally bore fruit.

He astutely grasped the demand of today's young people for personalized, high-quality image documentation, and combined his interest and talent in photography to formally establish his own personal photography studio. He gave the studio a simple name: "Chongmo".

In the early days of the studio, he was the owner, chief photographer, customer service representative, and post-production editor.

He rented a small loft and meticulously decorated it into shooting scenes of different styles. From planning and shooting to retouching, he was demanding in every aspect and devoted himself to every client.

With its unique aesthetic, sincere attitude and excellent skills, "Chongmo" Studio has gradually gained a good reputation among young people and university students in Tianjin. Orders have gone from very few to requiring reservations several weeks in advance.

He kept his promise.

After the studio became profitable, he not only paid off the money he borrowed from his parents on schedule, but also had his own account balance, which, while not substantial, continued to grow.

On the day he returned the money, he treated his parents to a meal. When he solemnly handed over the bank card, Liang Zhiyuan and Zhou Man looked at their confident and upright son, and their eyes were a little moist.

"Xiao Chong, you've really grown up!"

Meanwhile, Li Mo, at Beichuan University, is also shining brightly on her own path.

Despite the heavy workload at law school, she always maintained her focus and perseverance.

She studied until the library closed almost every time, flipping through the thick legal texts again and again, taking clear and organized notes.

Her name consistently ranks first on the academic achievement list, and her perfect GPA throughout the year serves as proof of her hard work.

The teachers admired her rigor and intelligence, and the students respected her perseverance and excellence.

Based on her current grades and overall performance, she has almost secured a coveted spot in the postgraduate entrance examination. She just needs to successfully complete the process in her senior year so that she can continue her studies in the hall of law.

They all strived in their respective fields and became better people.

During a video call at night, the two shared their achievements and exhaustion.

Liang Xinchong would excitedly show her newly shot client photos and tell her about the interesting things that happened during the shooting process; Li Mo would discuss complex case analyses with him or share the smooth progress of her postgraduate application process.

They are no longer just young lovers indulging in romantic feelings, but each other's strongest support and most loyal fans.

He admired her wisdom and independence, she felt sorry for his hard work and responsibility, and she loved even more the clear, puppy-like eyes he still showed for her after his success.

"My Momo is so amazing, she'll be Master Li from now on." He looked at her, his eyes shining with pride.

“You too, Boss Liang,” Li Mo replied with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of pride.

Li Mo would also go to Jinshi when she had free time, stay in his studio, and stay by his side.

In the loft of "Chongmo" studio, the lights always stay on very late at night.

A large solid wood desk was placed by the window, which was Liang Xinchong's workspace.

Two monitors were placed side by side on the table, with unfinished client photos still on the screens, and various photography equipment and contract documents were scattered around.

At the other end of the table, a lamp cast a warm glow, and Li Mo sat there quietly.

A thick book, "Introduction to Private International Law," lay open in front of her. The latte beside her had gone cold, and the pen tip made a regular scratching sound on the notebook.

This scene, in a daze, overlapped with the image of two people studying together at a desk in the art studio of Yuehai Middle School many years ago.

Back then, he was a struggling student racking his brains to catch up with her, while she was the patient "Teacher Li" explaining things to him.

Today, he is an entrepreneur striving for the future, and she is a prospective master's student pursuing her ideals.

Despite the changing times and identities, the tacit understanding of fighting side by side and accompanying each other has transcended the years and remains unchanged.

Liang Xinchong had just finished an online client meeting. He rubbed his slightly swollen temples and subconsciously turned to look at his side.

Under the lamplight, Li Mo frowned slightly, focusing intently on the complex clauses in the book, her profile soft yet focused.

Her long eyelashes cast a soft shadow under her eyelids, giving her a calm and intellectual beauty.

At this moment, all the fatigue of the day and the trivialities of the business world seemed to be purified by the tranquil space around her.

He was somewhat lost in thought, and the softest part of his heart was gently touched.

Li Mo seemed to sense his gaze, and looked up from her books, meeting his staring eyes.

She saw the pale blue under his eyes, and she also saw her own small reflection in his eyes.

She closed the book, a gentle smile slowly curving her lips, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet night:

“Liang Xinchong,” she smiled, her eyes filled with admiration, emotion, and a love deeply rooted in the passage of time, “you’ve changed.”

Liang Xinchong was slightly taken aback, thinking that she was saying that he was busy with work and had less time to spend with her, and was about to explain.

But she continued, her tone gentle yet certain: "It's gotten better."

Her gaze swept over his slightly mature and resolute features, over the studio that embodied his hard work, and finally settled on his face, adding clearly, word by word:

"I like you even more now."

It's not "like" but "like even more".

This means that she loves not only the passionate and persistent boy in her memory, but also the down-to-earth, hardworking man in front of her who is the one who provides her with a safe haven.

Her love for him grew and deepened as he matured.

Liang Xinchong's heart felt as if it had been instantly submerged by a warm tide, a bittersweet feeling, yet overflowing with indescribable emotion and happiness.

All his hard work of staying up all night and the pressure of starting a business became incredibly worthwhile in the face of her simple affirmation.

He stood up, walked around the desk, stood in front of her, and bent down to embrace her, chair and all.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, which carried a faint scent of ink and paper, and took a deep breath.

“Mmm,” he responded muffledly, his arms tightening, his voice trembling with barely perceptible sobs, “so that you will always like me more, I will always… always become better.”

Li Mo responded to him.

I wish time could stand still at this moment.

The city outside the window was still bustling with traffic, and the studio lights gently enveloped the two people embracing.

They are like two trees growing side by side, their roots intertwined in the soil, their branches flourishing in the sunshine and rain, together reaching the vast sky they have pioneered together.