Three days after the hearing, the audit team's formal report came down. Zhao Zheng was dismissed and transferred to judicial authorities. Zhao Yuwei, as an accomplice in the same case, was taken away by economic crime investigators that afternoon. Lin Yue moved to another city and never contacted anyone again.



The signing date between Tianxing and Gu Group was set for mid-September.



In the multi-function hall sat five members of the board of directors, several executives, and a few media outlets. When I stood in front of the signing table to sign, a flash went off. Tianxing fifty-one percent, independent brand. The final curriculum approval authority was exchanged for one percent in dividends.



The instant the pen landed on the paper, I made a fist in my heart: Su Qing, you won.



Auntie was the first to applaud. The female director with the pearl necklace was second. The square-glasses male director was third. Gu Lingfeng stood next to Grandpa and did not applaud. He kept looking at me.



When I walked back down, he took one step.



Then in front of everyone, he knelt on one knee.



The small black box opened. A rose-gold simple band. On the inner circle were engraved four characters: Unforgettable.



"My mom said, marry a wife when she is most certain. Your pen did not shake when you signed just now. I think now is the time."



Looking at his handsome and sincere face.



"I do."



Everyone around laughed. Auntie laughed out loud. The female director with the pearl necklace used a folder to cover her face. The square-glasses male director raised his phone. Gu Lingfeng's hand shook when he put the ring on my ring finger. Signing hundred-million-yuan contracts steady as a scalpel, but when putting a ring on me, he even got the direction wrong.



I looked down watching him turn the ring half a circle to align it. His fingertips touched my knuckles, slightly burning.



"Nervous?"



He did not look up. A very faint red glow appeared on his ear tips: "Say less."



I looked at his hair whorl. That voice that blocked the knife for me at the China World Trade Center banquet - at this moment it was pressed down to only remaining breath sounds. That day at the cafe he was also like this - gaze crossing over from above the phone, without moving his expression, wrist slightly tilted. A passerby I randomly grabbed to act - three minutes settled three years of mess for me. At that time I did not know who he was. He did not know who I was. Between us was separated a cafe table, empty cups, and a game that had not yet started.



"Gu Lingfeng."



"Mm?"



"What about me caught your eye?"



He stood up and pulled me into his embrace, holding tightly.



"Can't put it into words. Just want to keep holding you. Afraid you'll run away."



- The End -