上海安全生产监督局

Chapter 24

He sat in the empty seat next to the school leaders and leaned forward to adjust the microphone in front of him, revealing well-shaped wrist bones.

Lu Lingchuan\'s gaze swept over the audience below before retracting. He began, "Hello everyone. I\'m Lu Lingchuan. It is my honor to be here today as the outstanding graduate representative."

"...Shen Nian did not hear what Lu Lingchuan said next. She simply stared at him blankly.

The distance between them was somewhat far, with so many people in between. In fact, Shen Nian could not see him clearly, but just seeing his figure caused scenes to involuntarily emerge in her mind – that face.

How could he be here?

In recent days, their conversations had been limited to work matters, nothing more.

She had never mentioned that she would be returning to University A for the centennial celebration, just as he had not revealed that he would be giving a speech on stage as an outstanding graduate representative.

The host was also a student from University A. He looked at Lu Lingchuan excitedly, apparently recognizing him.

As soon as Lu Lingchuan finished speaking, the host immediately raised the microphone to his lips.

"Greetings, Senior Lu Lingchuan. I am a third-year student at our University A. When summer break ends, I will be entering my fourth and final year while also facing an extremely important issue – employment."

"There are many peers below at my grade level, including juniors and freshmen. Today is University A’s hundredth anniversary celebration and we are honored to have invited so many outstanding alumni to return. We are also honored to be able to speak with Senior Lu Lingchuan."

"I have some questions that I want answered. Senior Lu Lingchuan, would you be willing to address them?"

Lu Lingchuan nodded slightly. "Go ahead."

"Firstly, there is constant debate among students regarding career options. Some think that working at a company offers limited prospects for advancement and that entrepreneurship is the only path to success. Others argue that entrepreneurship has its pros and cons and does not guarantee winning outcomes – one careless misstep could lead to financial ruin. For stability and security, working at an established company may be better. What is Senior Lu Lingchuan\'s view on this issue...?"

Lu Lingchuan steadied the microphone in front with one hand. His low yet appealing voice resonated to every corner of the venue through the speakers.

"Every choice has its pros and cons. Choose the one most suitable for yourself instead of blindly following the crowd into something you are not adept at."

The host nodded and moved on to the second question. "It is well known that Senior Lu Lingchuan is now a very successful investor. Do you have any tips for success that you can share?"

"I don\'t have any special secrets to success. Just two words of advice for you all – learn continuously."

"I think I understand what Senior Lu Lingchuan means," the host responded. "Keep improving through continuous learning and accumulating experience. Is that right?"

"Yes," Lu Lingchuan nodded, his gaze still searching for his target among the crowd.

"My professor once mentioned Senior Lu Lingchuan in class. He said that you had already started your business ventures while still a student on campus. That is why you have achieved such success at a young age now."

"My success was not accomplished through my efforts alone." Lu Lingchuan\'s voice was deep.

Hearing this, the host immediately asked, "Was there someone else involved?"

"Yes," came Lu Lingchuan\'s faint reply through the speakers to everyone\'s ears.

"Who was that person...?"

"A girl who changed the trajectory of my life."

The crowd let out cries of surprise, followed by hushed murmurs.

Changed his life\'s trajectory...

Hearing those words left Shen Nian somewhat stunned.

In fact, Lu Lingchuan had never intended to embark on the path of investment and entrepreneurship. He had other ideals and aspirations.

The reason he ended up on this path was because of Lu Lingrui.

The messy and complicated matters from years ago had tainted Lu Lingrui. The two drunk culprits responsible had some power and background backing them. Their connections were trying to get the offenders released, but the Lu family insisted on having them sentenced to death. For this reason, the Lu family had exhausted all connections, yet the case remained at an impasse even four years on without resolution.

Lu Lingchuan got into investment and entrepreneurship in order to expand his network and get to know more influential figures of power, so he could ensure those two beasts from that year would be sentenced to death!

If Lu Lingrui had not died, Lu Lingchuan would not have chosen his current path today. From this perspective, it seemed that she really did alter the course of Lu Lingchuan\'s life.

Thinking of this, Shen Nian couldn\'t help a self-deprecating laugh.

Sensing an intense stare, Shen Nian lifted her head and met Lu Lingchuan\'s eyes. She froze.

She did not know when Lu Lingchuan had started watching her. His long narrow eyes were profound as he looked at her with complicated emotions. Shen Nian was stunned into silence.

Despite the great distance separating them, in that moment, everyone else faded into the background. The true protagonists were only him...and her.

Shen Nian opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but realized she had lost her voice in that instant.

I once hesitated, looking back at that faint glimmer of hope...

Yet it remains neglected as always.

In a fleeting moment, Shen Nian suddenly felt an urge to ask Lu Lingchuan.

Are you willing to save me?

"Thud!"

Her phone slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, the sound instantly jolting Shen Nian back to reality.

Lu Lingchuan was still watching her, but Shen Nian awkwardly avoided his gaze and lowered her head to pick up her phone from the floor.

Then she fled like a frightened deer.

Before getting to know Shen Nian, Lu Lingchuan\'s goal had always been to become an exceptional person.

At that time, marriage and love were far less important to him than his career.

It was only after getting to know Shen Nian that he realized how desperately he wanted to bring a girl home as his wife, to have her by his side in name and status.

If not for what happened that year... Perhaps they would already be married with a child.

No, there should have been...

Two.

Gazing at her through the crowd, emotions surged within him. Meeting those beautiful eyes, Lu Lingchuan was suddenly tempted to disregard all lingering concerns and reservations, to disregard everything and run to her side and ask –

Are you still willing to be with me?

If she said yes, he would give up everything else, wanting only her.

A flash of dim light glimmered in the lifeless eyes, flickering unsteadily. The previously dark path ahead suddenly had a ray of light. If he could grasp that ray, he could escape the darkness and see the light again.

But just as he was about to voice his question, Shen Nian suddenly got up to hurriedly take her leave.

It was like having a bucket of cold water dumped on him. The eyes that were previously full of hope instantly dulled once more.

Unbidden, scenes emerged in his mind of Lu Lingrui lying in the ambulance, clearly beyond saving yet still clinging onto his little finger with all her might to give him a pained smile; his mother\'s mental breakdown; and Shen Nian mumbling deliriously in the late hours of the night, tormented by nightmares.

There were far too many lingering concerns and considerations, so he could not simply disregard them all to run to her and take her into his embrace.

Despite being so close, it felt like they were still worlds apart.