Just this afternoon, Lin Qing had told Fu Sinian with absolute certainty that she wouldn’t get pregnant…
Now what? She had forgotten to read the instructions, forgotten to take the second pill 12 hours later.
It had already been nearly a week.
Taking it now would be useless.
Lin Qing felt utterly hopeless. She had just told Fu Sinian she wouldn’t get pregnant, and now…
She counted the days seriously on her fingers.
It would take about another week before she could even test to see whether she was pregnant or not.
Her mind was in turmoil. What if she really was pregnant? She felt like a child herself—how could she possibly imagine having and raising a child?
With both hands, Lin Qing clawed at her hair in frustration.
After struggling for several minutes, she glanced at the time. It was already past eight.
Forget it. No use overthinking now.
She should focus on finishing the project at hand.
Half an hour later, Lin Qing brewed herself a cup of coffee and placed it on her desk.
The weather tonight was quite warm, and it wasn’t raining. She opened the window.
Her study was her regular workspace for overtime. The desk sat by the window, and from the third floor, she could see a giant camphor tree in the garden. Whenever the wind blew, a few leaves would drift onto the windowsill.
Outside, the moon had risen—its light clear and gentle, casting a soft glow like flowing water.
Lin Qing sat by the window, working.
She opened her laptop and searched online for Dongxin Company. She discovered it was a diversified business involved in manufacturing, real estate, and other sectors. Its business overlapped with Ruifeng Group’s by about 80%, but in scale, it was far smaller.
After browsing online for relevant information, she gained a basic understanding of Dongxin.
Since Huading Law Firm mainly focused on litigation and didn’t systematically collect financial data on market companies, Lin Qing decided to call Tang Yining.
Tang Yining, still working overtime, picked up. “Hello, Xiao Qing?”
“You’re still working at the firm?”
“Yep.”
“I need a favor.”
“Go ahead.”
“Have Dongxin’s financial audits from the past five years been done by your firm, An Yu?”
“Yes, why?”
“I’m doing due diligence. Can you send me the data?”
“Sure.”
Without hesitation, Tang Yining agreed.
A few minutes later, Lin Qing received Dongxin’s past five years of balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
With the data in hand, Lin Qing began writing a financial analysis.
Her university major was in law, but she had always known she wanted to go into non-litigation work. So in her sophomore year, she studied introductory accounting and economic law on her own and passed the junior accountant certification. She was capable of doing basic financial report analysis.
So, she got to work.
Two hours passed, and she finished analyzing a year’s worth of Dongxin’s three major financial statements.
She stretched her aching neck and looked at the mere two pages of investigation results. Deciding the workload was far too large for one person, she planned to assign tasks to colleagues at the firm the next day.
Yawning, she turned off the lights, left the study, returned to her bedroom, climbed under the covers, and went to sleep.
_________
The Next Morning, 9:00 AM – Huading Law Firm
Lin Qing organized and filed the completed analysis reports for the three financial statements. Then, together with Shen Xiao, she selected two newly arrived interns to form the team for this merger and acquisition project.
At the round table in the office, Lin Qing sat in the middle while the others gathered around her.
She began, “The due diligence service contract is divided into several main parts, including but not limited to Dongxin Company’s business registration info, tax information, shareholder status, business qualifications, and more. Shen Xiao, you’ll handle the company contracts and legal compliance section. Li Yue, you’ll be responsible for the ownership and valuation of Dongxin’s assets. Ji He, you’ll write the section on business registration, tax, and business qualifications. As for the financial statement analysis and legal dispute investigation, I’ll handle those.”
“Everyone, try to have the first draft completed within half a month and submit it to me for review. Only then can we move on to the next phase—formulating the acquisition strategy and conducting a risk assessment. That’s the division of labor. Any questions?”
Shen Xiao responded, “None.”
Having worked with Lin Qing for a while and participated in numerous major projects, Shen Xiao felt confident about his tasks.
But the two interns, Li Yue and Ji He, looked nervous. Clearly anxious about not performing well on such an important assignment.
Li Yue asked cautiously, “Lawyer Lin, isn’t two weeks a bit too rushed? We still have some other materials and documents to work on—I’m worried we won’t finish in time.”
Ji He added, “Yeah, Lawyer Lin, if it were just one year’s worth of data, it’d be okay. But five years of analysis with only four of us… isn’t that a bit much?”
The due diligence was commissioned by Ruifeng Group—part of the highly reputable Fu family. For new interns like Li Yue and Ji He, it was natural to feel pressure. Lin Qing understood this, but she didn’t intend to extend the deadline.
She closed the file, and stated clearly and firmly, “Two weeks is enough. Besides, you’re not writing it alone. Feeling pressure is normal, but pressure creates motivation. You’re being included in this Ruifeng project because we want to assess your capabilities. Huading doesn’t hire people without value. Both Lawyer Jiang and I will consider your performance on this project during the final hiring evaluation. Whether or not you get the offer will depend entirely on your own ability.”
She laid everything out, making the expectations clear.
Neither Ji He nor Li Yue dared to speak further and simply nodded.
“All right, that’s it for today. Get to your tasks.”
The small internal meeting concluded just like that.
At the end of the workday, Lin Qing was getting off with Su Yi.
Su Yi, looking at a message in their group chat, turned to ask, “Next week is the 50th anniversary celebration of No. 1 High School. The class monitor invited us to attend. You in?”
Lin Qing asked, “What day is it? If it’s a weekday, I’ll pass.”
She didn’t want to delay her project progress over a school celebration.
“This time it’s on a Sunday. Let’s go. We missed the 45th anniversary last time because we were in court and got teased by the monitor for months. If we don’t go this time, we’ll never hear the end of it.”
Seeing that Su Yi really wanted to go, Lin Qing thought about it. She’d never attended one of these events before—going once wouldn’t hurt.
She agreed, “Seeing how much you want to go, I guess I’ll risk my life to accompany a gentleman.”
Su Yi grinned. “You get me.”
The two of them left the law firm, chatting and laughing.
_______
Seven Days Later – Nancheng No. 1 High School’s Anniversary Celebration Begins
A little after 2 p.m., Lin Qing drove her white Mercedes to the school.
The parking lot was packed with all kinds of cars. After parking, she got out, only to spot a familiar car parked right next to hers—a Porsche. The license plate was striking, made up of five number eights, bold and eye-catching.
She frowned.
Why is Fu Sinian here too?
She remembered that he usually didn’t like attending events like this.
Just then, her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Lin Qing answered.
Su Yi urged, “Are you here yet? I’m already on the field.”
“I just parked, heading over now.”
After hanging up, Lin Qing made her way inside.
In preparation for the 50th anniversary, Nancheng No. 1 had renovated much of the school. As she walked, she glanced at the various features around campus, memories of her student days flashing through her mind.
She couldn’t help but marvel at how fast time had flown.
It’s already been over ten years since she graduated.
The school field was bustling with excitement and people. The event had drawn many alumni. With a history spanning over fifty years, the school had produced countless outstanding graduates.
There were young faces full of vitality, and older alumni with graying hair. Everyone mingled, chatting happily with old friends—the atmosphere warm and festive.
Lin Qing quickly found Su Yi, who was chatting with Zhou Yue.
Zhou Yue looked surprised to see Lin Qing and greeted her warmly, “Lin Qing, long time no see.”
Zhou Yue had been a high school classmate of both Su Yi and Lin Qing. Though she hadn’t been especially close to Lin Qing back then, she still reached out for a friendly handshake.
Now that Lin Qing had entered the professional world, her temperament had softened. She was no longer the cold and aloof girl obsessed with academics. She welcomed the small talk and reconnected pleasantly with her classmates.
Half an hour later, the group sat in the last few rows beneath the main stage, ready to watch the performance.
Onstage, the host announced, “Let’s welcome our distinguished alumnus representative, Zhao Ningzhou, to give a speech.”
Lin Qing’s expression froze.
She looked up.
A man in a black shirt and matching black trousers stepped onto the stage. His short hair was neat and clean-cut, and the gold-rimmed glasses on his face glinted under the sun.
Su Yi nudged Lin Qing with her elbow. “Why is he here?”
Lin Qing responded blandly, “If I knew, would I be asking you?”
Zhou Yue, seated beside Lin Qing, asked curiously, “Didn’t you date Zhao Ningzhou?”
Lin Qing looked surprised. “How do you know?”
“Well, he’s the second young master of the Zhao family in West City. I remember how attentive he was to you back then—it was obvious there was something going on. I’m not surprised at all.”
“It’s not your fault things didn’t work out. Long-distance relationships are hard. Time apart always creates problems.”
“It’s all in the past,” Lin Qing said calmly.
She looked toward the stage. Her heart was quiet, without the slightest ripple.
Back then, when she chose to study abroad, Zhao Ningzhou wanted her to stay. She didn’t listen. He didn’t wait. Four years was long enough for a heart to change.
Su Yi leaned in and whispered, “I heard he and Jiang Wanyin broke up.”
“Broke up? Really?” Zhou Yue was surprised. “Just two months ago, my friend saw them shopping together. Said they were about to get engaged.”
Su Yi shrugged, “You never know with relationships. Maybe Old Master Zhao refused to approve. I mean, I seriously doubt a small-time actress from the entertainment industry could marry into the Zhao family so easily.”
Her tone grew indignant on Lin Qing’s behalf.
Lin Qing had planned to talk marriage with Zhao Ningzhou after graduating and returning home. Instead, she was met with a breakup.
It was Zhao Ningzhou who initiated it—said he’d fallen for someone else. Their seven years together, just wiped away.
From that moment, Su Yi had branded Zhao Ningzhou a certified jerk.
Su Yi vented to Zhou Yue, “Don’t be fooled by that pretty face. That Zhao guy? Total scumbag.”
Zhou Yue asked, “How bad was he?”
Lin Qing didn’t join in the conversation.
Back then, after the breakup, she’d confronted Zhao Ningzhou—and even Jiang Wanyin.
Jiang Wanyin told her bluntly: You left for four years. Zhao Ningzhou isn’t a monk. He has no obligation to sit around like a hermit waiting for you to come back.
At the time, Lin Qing didn’t understand. She blamed Zhao Ningzhou completely. She got drunk, cried, cursed him for breaking his promise.
But now, looking back, she realized Zhao Ningzhou had always been the one giving more. Older than her, he had taken care of her in every way, always accommodating her.
She was the one who gave less in that relationship. So what right did she have to expect him to wait for her?
Maybe, the moment she chose to leave the country, she had already lost him.
Applause erupted from the stage.
Pulled from her thoughts, Lin Qing looked up—now there was another familiar figure standing up there.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Fu Sinian. I’m honored to speak here today as a distinguished representative of our alma mater…”
White shirt, black trousers, holding a microphone with poised confidence—his voice cool and clear, spreading across the field.
The moment Fu Sinian appeared, whispers rippled through the crowd.
“That’s the legendary top student from back in the day. Never lost first place in a single exam.”
“I heard his engagement to the Song family’s heiress was called off last month. They looked perfect together—what a shame.”
“He’s next in line to take over the Fu family, right? Some people really are born into Rome. So enviable.”
All around, people murmured in awe.
Lin Qing sat quietly, lips pressed together. Her gaze was fixed on one person.
The setting sun cast golden light across the stage. The once-boyish figure from her memory had shed his youthful edges and grown into a man—calm, steady, and composed.
What hadn’t changed was the way he still stood in the spotlight, admired and followed by everyone.
As if he was born to be at the center of attention.
Heaven’s favored son.
That title, without doubt, belonged to Fu Sinian.