Chapter 70: True Wealth and False Wealth

While speaking, Chen Sang showed Bai Li a photograph, pointing at another person in the picture and saying, "This is him, the son of Asia's CEO."

Bai Li's gaze lingered on the CEO son's face for only a second before she was drawn to Fang Ye in the front passenger seat.

Fang Ye was sitting in a black car, looking down with his eyes closed through the car window, appearing utterly exhausted.

This was the same Fang Ye Bai Li had seen on the sports field that day.

Only when he came to see her then, Fang Ye's eyes had been full of gentleness and lingering affection.

Not looking this tired at all.

Moreover, the angle from which the photo was taken made Bai Li feel a strong sense of familiarity. After pondering for a long time, she suddenly recalled the dream she had cast aside and forgotten long ago.

From this perspective, Fang Ye was just like in that dream, his gentle brows slightly furrowed, carrying a trace of sternness and underlying sharpness.

Having studied painting for many years, Bai Li was skilled at observing other people's expressions.

The difference was that the Fang Ye in her dream had a more restrained ambition, possessing the prestige of someone who had achieved great success, much like the wealthy Hong Kong tycoons featured in newspapers and magazines.

Yet right now, he was desperately suppressing it, refusing to let his ambition be exposed.

Her gaze trembled slightly.

She had once suspected that the dream was a mere illusion—a comforting fabrication created by her own mind because her body couldn't bear to see Fang Ye suffer so miserably.

After all, Fang Ye had revealed too little of himself to her, making it difficult for her to reconcile the dream with reality.

Now, this photograph left her startled.

It showed a side of Fang Ye she had never witnessed before.

He was reshaping her perception at an astonishing speed.

Beneath the whistling autumn wind, Bai Li could not stop herself from pondering several questions.

—Why did she have such a dream?

—Why did the Fang Ye in her dream murmur her name while facing the mountains full of wild pear trees?

—Was this dream real after all?

Could it be real?

Bai Li did not know, and she desperately sought the answer, yet a voice deep within her heart was crying out: It is real, it must be real!

Fang Ye had lived through such hardship, growing up carrying the burden of humiliation and oppression; the heavens truly owed him a brilliant and prosperous future.

Otherwise...

He would simply be too pitiful.

Reminded of the past by the photograph, Bai Li felt a dull ache in her chest. She sent Fang Ye a message inviting him to dinner tomorrow, then worked on her illustrations until midnight.

The night was long, and with the moon at its fullest, it cast the brightest silver light, illuminating the ground outside the window without even needing to turn off the lights.

Bai Li pulled out a blank sheet of paper.

Imagining that dream, she began to put pen to paper.

People often say that what you think about by day becomes your dreams by night, and dreams come most easily when the body is utterly exhausted. She hoped that by drawing the scene, she might be able to dream of it once more.

It wasn't for any other reason.

She simply longed to see Fang Ye's triumphant visage.

And she hoped to find an answer to her own lingering questions.

When she had carefully finished drawing the mountains full of wild pear trees and the bright yellow fluttering long silk ribbons of the temple, a serene chant seemed to echo in her ears like auditory hallucinations, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

In a daze, Bai Li crawled into her small bed. Only after wrapping herself tightly in the quilt, feeling a rising sense of security, did she finally close her bright eyes.

College life was busy; she needed to draw to earn money, attend classes, deal with the lingering muscle soreness from the military training that had just ended, and handle countless club invitations.

Yet she did not feel tired.

Because every step brought her a little closer to her goal.

Moreover, having escaped that rotten household, she lived each day with a sense of liberation.

With her dark, long eyelashes drooping, she began planning which art magazines to submit her work to in order to earn more money.

As she thought about it, the corners of her mouth slowly curled upward.

Autumn brought golden scenery along with a lingering melancholy, and the evening breeze crept continuously into the dormitory through every crack.

After Bai Li fell asleep, however, she did not dream of that ancient and distant temple in the mountains.

She was so utterly exhausted that her sleep quality was exceptional, and she slept soundly until broad daylight.

Birds leaped among the branches of the parasol trees, tilting their heads to chirp and observe the humans.

On that crisp, chilly morning, when Bai Li woke up, an indescribable sense of disappointment lingered in her heart.

Still, she quickly washed up, placed the illustration she had finished last night into a document envelope, and took it to the courier station outside the campus to mail it to the art magazine.

By late afternoon, Bai Li tucked her bank card into her bag, changed into an autumn dress, and opened her phone to send the restaurant location to Fang Ye.

She was not very well-off.

Therefore, she wouldn't foolishly spend money to book a restaurant that merely looked prestigious.

Prior to this, she had earnestly searched through many restaurants in Northern City, browsed every review app, and selected a place that was delicious, affordable, had a great atmosphere, and was impeccably clean.

Though not luxurious, she had put a tremendous amount of thought into contacting them and making the reservation. To prevent Fang Ye from paying, she cleverly purchased a set meal for three online and paid for it in advance.

At that moment, she experienced the long-lost joy of giving.

Having constantly been the recipient of Fang Ye's unilateral kindness, she couldn't help smiling at the rare opportunity to return the favor.

The other three girls in her dormitory were locals, so they naturally went home for the weekend to enjoy family time.

Bai Li sat on her stool, cradling a cup of water, waiting for Fang Ye's reply.

Just as she was about to get another cup of water, her darkened screen lit up once more.

Accompanied by a ringtone, it was a call from Fang Ye.

Bai Li answered it and switched to speakerphone. The man's cold yet slightly raspy voice came through.

"Are you ready?"

Bai Li felt as though the entire world had cleared up.

A sweet smile spread across her face involuntarily, "Yes, Brother. I'll take a taxi over in a bit. If you're nearby, you can go ahead and arrive first—just give my name."

The sound of traffic came from Fang Ye's end as he replied gently, "Alright, come on downstairs once you're ready. I'm waiting for you at the school gate."

Bai Li froze.

Did her brother come to pick her up?

When had he arrived? Or did Fang Ye have classes today?

She didn't stop to ask why; instead, she picked up her phone, swiftly grabbed her bag, and closed the dormitory door.

Leaving the quiet environment, the subtle acoustics of her call changed as well. In the open space, her voice drifted closer and farther as she ran, "Brother, wait for me, I'm coming right now."

Fang Ye let out a low chuckle, his lazy voice exceptionally pleasant to the ear.

"Okay, don't run. Walk slowly."

Cradling the phone, Bai Li murmured a soft acknowledgement, yet she didn't slow her hurried pace. The early autumn air was filled with moisture, her breathing grew shallow, and the cool breeze brushed against her face, making her smile all the more radiant.

Just the thought of Fang Ye waiting downstairs made her heart race uncontrollably.

There were many people at Qingda University's main gate. Even on a Saturday, quite a few students hadn't gone home, and everyone was lining up to hail cabs, preparing to head out and enjoy themselves.

Amidst the bustling crowd and street vendors, Bai Li couldn't spot a familiar figure. Holding her phone, she couldn't help asking, "Brother, where are you?"

Fang Ye: "At the taxi stand on the far right."

Bai Li looked in the direction he indicated.

And she spotted a black car with its hazard lights flashing.

The time happened to be the transition between dusk and twilight, and a setting sun cast its lingering rays at the end of the city street.

Bai Li walked hesitantly toward the black car.

After waiting for a moment, the car window rolled down automatically, revealing the man's enchanting brows and eyes.

"What are you waiting for? Get in the car."

Wuwuwu, thank you to all the dear readers who spoke up for me and read my books. I will work even harder! Thank you for your support during this low-rating incident. I will write every story in my heart to a satisfying conclusion. In 2024, I hope these unpleasant people and events stay far away from me; I just want to write books.

(End of this chapter)