A dream that ended before it even began

The wedding date, May Day, next year, was like a piece of warm jade, carefully placed in a prominent place on the calendar. Whenever Ye Yidong mentioned it, his eyes always shone with a warmth that bordered on reverence. He began enthusiastically planning the details—trying out menus again and again, selecting and reselecting invitations, even deliberating over the music that would play as background music at the wedding. His thoughtfulness and expectations were so concrete, so tangible, like a quilt fluffed by the sun in the spring, enveloping Lin Xiaoning, attempting to dispel the chill within her heart that even she herself couldn't quite put her finger on.

Lin Xiaoning cooperated, trying to immerse herself in the mundane, yet heartwarming, preparations. As she tried on her wedding dress, she gazed in the mirror, her slender figure outlined by the pure white gauze, trying to find a hint of the bride-to-be's shyness and joy. Yet, somewhere in her heart, a calm voice kept reminding her: Was this seemingly stable happiness built on quicksand? She shook her head, attributing this ominous feeling to premarital anxiety and the high pressures of work.

On the external communications front, successes continued to roll in. The core team of Fang Wei, Han Dong, and He Jun grew increasingly mature and capable. The popular science series "A Magical Journey of Purification" continued to gain traction, even attracting the attention of international environmental organizations, which requested collaboration to produce multilingual editions. Lin Xiaoning timely launched the "Changqing Open Day" event, inviting media, community residents, and students to visit the factory to witness firsthand its environmental investments and intelligent production lines. The Public Relations Department, a newly established department under scrutiny, quickly grew into a shining star. Even the typically demanding Xu Wu offered a rare public commendation during the monthly review meeting.

However, Lin Xiaoning is clearly aware that the booming external publicity is just icing on the cake. The real challenge lies in internal publicity - how to break the vicious circle of "whoever writes, reads, whoever reads, writes", or even "whoever writes, doesn't believe it", so that tens of thousands of employees can truly identify with the company's values, feel cohesion and a sense of belonging, rather than just mechanically completing KPIs.

She convened a team brainstorming session. Han Dong suggested creating a flashier app and an internal short video competition. He Jun believed the key lay in the reward and punishment system. Fang Wei silently flipped through old internal publications filled with slogans and empty talk. Suddenly, she looked up and said, "Boss, I think the problem isn't the form, it's the word 'credibility.' People don't believe these lofty words because they feel they're too far removed from us."

That sentence woke Lin Xiaoning up. She remembered what Professor Zhao Xianqi had said: "True persuasion lies in empathy and observation." She decided to change her strategy and launched an internal propaganda initiative called "Around Us." She removed the bulletin boards, which contained the chairman's speeches and grand strategic diagrams. Instead, she featured authentic moments of work from ordinary employees in various positions: the focused gaze of experienced technicians debugging equipment, the high-fives of young technicians celebrating after overcoming difficulties, the sight of logistics staff preparing hot meals for night shift workers... No embellishments, only genuine hard work and smiles.

She pushed each department to establish an instant reporting mechanism for "small deeds", unearthing details that were not formally commended but warmed people's hearts: maintenance workers took the initiative to use their rest time to repair public facilities in the dormitory area, the R&D team spontaneously provided a solution to a small bottleneck on the production line, and even someone held up a colleague who didn't bring an umbrella on a rainy day... These "small things" were disseminated promptly through corporate WeChat and internal broadcasts. No awards were given, only an expression of recognition and gratitude.

More importantly, Lin Xiaoning persuaded Wu Jiaming and Xu Wu to tie internal publicity to tangible improvements in employee well-being. When a report about ventilation problems in a workshop was published, the company quickly allocated funds for rectification. When concerns about limited promotion opportunities for junior employees were raised, the Human Resources Department quickly introduced more transparent promotion regulations. Action speaks louder than words.

Gradually, the "Around Us" project began to take effect. In the cafeteria, some people began discussing a colleague's dedication story, which had been broadcast yesterday. On the shuttle bus, some people would smile knowingly at a small incident in their team mentioned on the radio. A subtle sense of cohesion, based on genuine identification, quietly grew like spring rain moistening everything. Even Lao Wang, who had always been concerned only with production, once rubbed his hands and said to Lin Xiaoning, "Manager Lin, this news is quite interesting now. It seems to be true."

Just as Lin Xiaoning was gradually finding her way in the field of internal propaganda and her love life seemed to be on a stable track, a shadow was quietly spreading along an unexpected path.

After an interdepartmental coordination meeting, Su Qing "chancedly" ran into Ye Yidong, who had fallen behind. The corridor was empty, and Su Qing lowered her voice, offering a seemingly well-intentioned reminder: "Yidong, I heard you're getting married on May Day? What a perfect match, congratulations." She changed the subject subtly, a subtle smile playing on her lips. "But, in the workplace and in love, sometimes you really have to distinguish. Some people climb the ladder too quickly, and inevitably resort to extreme tactics. The night of the annual meeting... Haha, I saw Mr. Zhang helping Manager Lin into the room, and they didn't come out for a long time. These days, what wouldn't people do to get to the top? Don't be so honest."

Ye Yidong's face darkened instantly, and his tone became cold and hard: "Secretary Su, please respect yourself. Xiao Ning is not that kind of person."

Su Qing hit a snag, but she wasn't upset. Instead, she smiled meaningfully. "Believe it, believe it. I was just saying it casually." She walked away, her waist twisting, leaving Ye Yidong standing alone, a stone of doubt in his heart. He shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the despicable insinuation. He loved Xiao Ning and was willing to believe everything about her. However, the keywords "the night of the annual meeting," "Mr. Zhang," and "room" lingered like a virus.

Once suspicion takes root, it seeks nourishment. A few days later, Ye Zhengdong, in a rare move, invited his son home for dinner. The atmosphere at the table was somewhat subdued. Ye Zhengdong put down his chopsticks and looked at his son gravely. "Yidong, I don't object to you getting married. But there's something you must know." He stood up, pulled out a well-worn file bag from his study, and pushed it toward Ye Yidong.

"This is a copy of some relevant materials from back then...when we were handling Zhao Xianqi's case. Take a look at it. It's about Lin Xiaoning."

Ye Yidong opened it with suspicion, only to turn a few pages before his face turned pale. Inside were Lin Xiaoning's gynecological records from her college years, clearly documenting a premature termination of pregnancy. There was also a copy of a police report. While key information was redacted, the time, location, and outline of the incident matched Su Qing's subtle hints and the "annual meeting incident" she had hinted at. Lin Xiaoning's account in the record was fragmented, filled with phrases like "I don't remember" and "I was drunk," while Zhang Jun's statement seemed "reasonable."

"You investigated Xiao Ning?!" Ye Yidonggang stood up suddenly, his voice trembling with anger and shock.

Ye Zhengdong's eyes were calm, even a hint of fatigue. "It's not an investigation, it's related materials from the case file. Yidong, I don't want you to be kept in the dark. This girl has a complicated past. She may be capable, but her background and methods... Are you sure you can accept her completely? Including this... not-so-glorious past? Marriage is a major event in life. You're already an adult, and I don't want you to be kept in the dark."

"I don't believe it!" Ye Yidong growled, his fingers clenched tightly around the pages, his knuckles turning white. "These are things from the past! They don't reflect the present! I believe Xiaoning didn't mean it! She must have had her reasons!" He was defending Lin Xiaoning, but more likely trying to convince himself. The beautiful image he had carefully guarded and cherished couldn't be shattered like this.

Yet, the evidence was irrefutable. The hospital seal on the medical records, the format and numbering of the police report, all pointed to the authenticity of these documents. That night, Ye Yidong couldn't sleep. He thought of Lin Xiaoning's occasional absent-mindedness, the subtle guilt beneath her excessive consideration for him, and the details of the "annual meeting" that she resolutely refused to discuss... All the fragments seemed to point to a truth he didn't want to believe.

He began to deliberately avoid Lin Xiaoning's gaze, and there was a subtle stiffness in his embrace. Lin Xiaoning was keenly aware of his abnormality, and the familiar feeling of being scrutinized came over her again, making her feel uneasy. She asked tentatively, "Yidong, are you too tired lately? Or... is there something wrong?"

Ye Yidong always forced a smile and evaded the question, saying, "Nothing, just something about work that's bothering me." He couldn't bring himself to ask, fearing the answer would destroy everything, or that his suspicions would taint their relationship. He was caught in immense pain and struggle, his mind straining to find the "evidence" he knew, while his emotions weighed on his trust and reluctance to let go of Lin Xiaoning.

This torment lasted for weeks, and Ye Yidong quickly withered. He could no longer face Lin Xiaoning naturally. Every time he saw her unconditional trust in him (which he even thought might be a facade), guilt and suspicion gnawed at him like a venomous snake. He knew that if he continued to stay at the company and see her every day, these emotions would eventually boil over, and no matter the outcome, it would be a devastating blow to Lin Xiaoning's rising career. Xu Wu's respect, the PR department she had painstakingly built, her newly rediscovered confidence... He couldn't be the one to destroy her.

Finally, he made a painful decision. After a seemingly peaceful dinner, he shook Lin Xiaoning's hand and said in a low but firm voice, "Xiaoning, my family recently arranged an overseas study opportunity for me to go to the United States for two years. I think it's a great opportunity for advancement, and I'd like to apply."

Lin Xiaoning was stunned, her heart sinking: "Two years? Then our wedding..."

"The wedding...can be postponed." Ye Yidong avoided her gaze. "Wait until I get back. Right now, the company is preparing for its IPO, and the legal department needs a more international perspective. Besides," he paused, then found a seemingly reasonable excuse, "we're all in the company, and you're a senior executive now. As a legal officer, I need to recuse myself from certain procedures, which will be better for your career."

The reasons were all reasonable, and he was thinking of her in every way. But Lin Xiaoning read a different message from his flickering eyes and tense jawline. It wasn't a discussion, it was a notification. It was a cautious, yet resolute retreat. She felt a bone-chilling chill, spreading from their clasped fingertips to her entire body. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask, "Is it because of what happened that night?" She wanted to ask, "Do you know something?" But in the end, thousands of words got stuck in her throat, and she only said softly, "Oh... Okay, this is a rare opportunity, go ahead."

She didn't cry or ask questions, her unusual calmness only making Ye Yidong's heart ache even more. He knew she understood. Some things don't need to be spoken out loud. An unspoken parting is more despairing than a bitter argument.

Ye Yidong's study-abroad application was quickly approved, and he departed in a hurried and unassuming manner. At the airport, they exchanged a gentle hug, like a normal farewell to work. Ye Yidong's gaze was filled with a complex mix of guilt, reluctance, and a sense of relief. Lin Xiaoning watched him disappear through the security checkpoint, feeling as if a vital part of her heart had been emptied.

Lin Xiaoning didn't know how she spent the night she returned...

Ye Yidong's sudden departure, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, caused quite a stir within the company. Sister Wang was the first to come and ask about it, sighing, "What's wrong with Xiaoye? She's about to get married, so why would she run so far away? Xiaoning, don't be sad. Men, sometimes, just do what they want..."

After hearing the news, Wu Jiaming just looked at Lin Xiaoning deeply and said lightly: "Concentrate and do the job well." There was no emotion in his tone, but it carried the insight of a veteran.

After a meeting, Liu Feng patted his chest and said to Lin Xiaoning: "Manager Lin, don't worry! If the Public Relations Department needs any support from other departments, just let us know! The recent publicity is awesome, and the orders are almost exploded. I admire you but not anyone else... Xiaoye is really stupid. He has such a good "baby" and he actually feels at ease to go to the United States. I simply cannot understand it." He was still enthusiastic, but never mentioned the reason why Ye Yidong left.

Only when facing Su Qing, Lin Xiaoning felt evasive eyes, subtle ridicule, and exaggerated footsteps with head held high and chest puffed out in front of her... A cold hatred quietly grew.

Everyone sensed a problem, yet everyone remained silent. Lin Xiaoning's life seemed to be instantly torn in two. On the surface, she remained the capable and accomplished PR manager, leading her team through one challenge after another, and the "Besides" project gained increasing traction. But only she knew that every night, when she returned to her spacious yet cold company-assigned apartment, the boundless loneliness and deep-seated doubt would overwhelm her like a tide.

She had lost Ye Yidong, her last refuge, and also her fundamental faith in love and humanity. The road ahead was uncertain, and she could only continue alone, scarred and with no one to share her secrets, on this path filled with thorns and temptations. The design for the wedding invitation lay quietly in her drawer, like a dream that ended before it even began.