With My Profound Love, I Offer to the Years

"..." Shen Nian's hand holding the magazine suddenly trembled, nearly tearing the page.

After a pause, she curved her lips into a smile and said, "Is that so? Congratulations, then."

She added, "I'll move out as soon as possible in the next few days."

"No need," Lu Lingchuan said. "The property deed is in your name."

His implication was that he had given her this house.

After so many years of entanglement, Shen Nian had never asked for anything from him.

Now that he was getting married, as his ex-girlfriend, receiving an apartment as compensation didn't seem too bad.

By accepting this material compensation, it seemed their years of complicated feelings and grievances could be considered settled.

"Thank you," she said to him.

They had become so estranged that they now had to thank each other.

Then, there was nothing left to say.

Lu Lingchuan remained silent, and Shen Nian didn't speak either. The two of them stood there in an awkward silence.

After a long moment of quiet, Lu Lingchuan took his clothes and left.

"Let's talk," Shen Nian's voice came from behind.

"..."

Watching his retreating figure, Shen Nian said, "Like when we first met."

They used to have so much to say to each other, how come they couldn't find any topics now?

Lu Lingchuan's figure wavered.

Just as he was about to turn around, he heard her say:

"Never mind."

Shen Nian chuckled softly, "I actually wanted to chat with you."

But she was afraid of seeing his indifferent attitude.

Afraid of making things difficult for him and embarrassing herself.

Shen Nian took a deep breath, looked up again, and showed a sincere smile.

She looked at him and said:

"President Lu, I wish you and Miss Liang an everlasting love, soaring high together. May you have a harmonious marriage and bear children soon."

"..." Lu Lingchuan stood there rigidly, not saying a word.

After standing there for who knows how long, he finally lifted his feet and left.

...

After that day, Lu Lingchuan never came back. They often ran into each other at the company, but maintained their distance.

Somehow the news spread, and everyone in the company knew that Lu Lingchuan and Liang Jinghe were getting married. It was said that the wedding date was set for the end of the year.

The end of the year meant late December, and it was already early December now.

That meant there was less than a month left.

"Haven't President Lu and Miss Liang only been together for a short time? Why are they getting married so quickly? Isn't it too rushed?"

"You don't understand. For rich people, marriage isn't just about feelings, it's also about benefits – what they call a strategic alliance. Our President Lu is handsome and wealthy, Miss Liang is a returnee from overseas. From any perspective, they're a match made in heaven. Plus, both families are prominent figures...

Their marriage is a foregone conclusion, whether it happens sooner or later. They might as well get married early, allowing the two powerful families to join forces and create more benefits for both parties."

In the company cafeteria, Shen Nian habitually found the most secluded spot to sit down. Even sitting in the corner, she could still hear employees commenting on Lu Lingchuan and Liang Jinghe.

Her hand holding the fork paused. There was still more than half a plate of pasta left in front of her, but she had lost her appetite completely.

Jiang Lingling wandered around the cafeteria with some documents, finally finding Shen Nian.

"Sister Nian," she walked over and sat across from Shen Nian.

"This is my latest revised project. Can you take a look to see if it's okay? The parts in red are my new changes."

These days, while Shen Nian was busy with the project, she was also closely monitoring Jiang Lingling's work. She had suddenly become much more demanding. Proposals that Jiang Lingling could previously get approved in two attempts were now being rejected even after seven or eight revisions.

Shen Nian looked at her: "It's lunchtime now, haven't you eaten?"

"I did, I gobbled down two pieces of bread," Jiang Lingling stared at the folder in her hands. "Sister Nian, you've rejected me so many times without approval, which shows this project is very important. I need to get it right quickly, I can't let you down."

Seeing her serious expression, Shen Nian's lips curved slightly: "Actually, the project isn't that important. I'm training your abilities."

Since she had lost her appetite anyway, she simply pushed her plate aside and opened the folder.

Inside, various colored pens had been used for revisions, each color representing a different round of changes. The pages were densely covered with notes, showing that Jiang Lingling had truly put her heart into it.

Looking only at the newly revised parts, this revision was quite good. The effect of so many rounds of changes was finally showing.

There was a red pen clipped to the folder. She took it and made a few more adjustments in several places, then pushed it back to Jiang Lingling: "This would be better, take note."

"Oh," Jiang Lingling quietly accepted the folder.

Shen Nian picked up her red tea and took a sip, looking at Jiang Lingling who was earnestly learning. A rare smile appeared on her face.

"That's more like it. Skills are learned for oneself. No matter how capable others are, it's their own business. It's best to rely on yourself for everything, because no one will protect you for a lifetime."

Jiang Lingling looked up: "Then will you protect me for a lifetime, Sister Nian?"

"..." Shen Nian was silent for two seconds, then firmly shook her head: "No."

"That's why you need to improve. This is the reason why I'm pushing your abilities."

After the project ended, she would be leaving, and Jiang Lingling was the one she worried about the most.

In a company where only the fittest survive, without ability, one would only face the fate of being discarded by the company.

After discussing with Jiang Lingling for a while, she went off to work on the project based on Shen Nian's guidance. After clearing her tray, Shen Nian also returned to work.

She had barely sat down when Xiao Mubai's call came in.

Shen Nian smiled, answered the phone, holding it with her left hand while her right hand busied with work.

"Why are you calling me at this time?"

On the other end, Xiao Mubai was also busy, his voice as gentle as ever: "Checking in, did you eat on time?"

Shen Nian couldn't help but laugh: "I did, just got back."

Xiao Mubai chuckled: "Don't lie to me, or I'll show you my angry face if I find out."

"Pfft." Shen Nian couldn't help but giggle: "Alright, please let Young Master Xiao show me a face change, I'll consider it a free performance."

They both laughed.

"Oh, right," remembering something, Xiao Mubai invited her: "I heard the zoo in the south of the city has opened. Want me to take you there after work today?"

Since Shen Nian's breakup with Lu Lingchuan, Xiao Mubai had been trying every day to take her out, making efforts to distract her.

"No need," she wasn't interested in animals and didn't want to go see them: "The project is in its final stages these days, it's already good if I don't have to work overtime. Where would I find time to watch animals?"

"Alright," Xiao Mubai always respected Shen Nian's wishes: "Then we'll go when you're free."

After finishing, he added with concern, "However, you need to be balanced with your busy schedule. Make sure to rest when you need to."

"Okay," Shen Nian obediently agreed.

"I have some work to do on my end, so I'll get back to it. Shall we hang up?"

"Xiao Mubai." Just as Xiao Mubai was about to end the call, Shen Nian stopped him.

Xiao Mubai asked, puzzled, "What is it?"

Holding her phone, Shen Nian said, "I just remembered something. I might need to trouble you with a favor."

"Go ahead."

"I own two properties. Could you help me find a reliable real estate agent to list them online for sale?"