“Alright, I’ll let Yu Qing know.”
Wen Yang walked out of the entertainment room arm in arm with Fu Xingzhou. Aunt Zhong had already made breakfast. After eating with Fu Xingzhou, Wen Yang went back to her room to change clothes. She had no plans to go to the studio today. She chose a light blue waist-fitted long dress with a square neckline, which made her skin look like it was glowing.
Her wardrobe was often updated with new clothes. Several outfits were sent by Qiu Pei — including the one she was wearing now. Wen Yang didn’t know this, but Fu Xingzhou did. As he buttoned up his shirt — a formal deep gray-blue shirt — he glanced at her.
Seeing her in that dress, his eyes lit up in admiration.
Qiu Pei really knew what to buy for her.
After grabbing his coat, Fu Xingzhou took her hand and they headed out. Wen Yang carried a small handbag and wore modest heels, following him down the stairs.
She looked up and asked, “Where are we going?”
Fu Xingzhou opened the car door and replied, “You’ll see when we get there.”
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Yu Qing: Haha, no rush. I’m still trying to book a slot — they only allow ten groups a day. Not sure we’ll even get a spot.
Wen Yang: No worries. The day after tomorrow works too.
Thinking of what Fu Xingzhou had said the night before, she typed a message: Yu Qing, have you ever thought about expanding the studio or transitioning into architectural design?
A few minutes later, Yu Qing replied:
I haven’t thought about expansion or transitioning. I actually think things are great the way they are. If it were before, I would’ve wanted to grow bigger, but you know my health now. Lately, we’ve worked together to make the studio better, without putting pressure on each other. It’s been really comfortable, so there’s no need to think about becoming some huge operation.
As for transitioning, we already overlap a lot with architectural design. If good opportunities arise in the future, we can do them together.
Wen Yang: That’s great. That’s honestly how I feel too.
Yu Qing: What’s this? Your husband inspired you again?
Wen Yang: …
Husband!
She blushed helplessly and ignored Yu Qing.
Yu Qing sent her a meme.
Wen Yang sent one back.
Their car headed to a tech park under bright, clear weather.
When the car stopped, Wen Yang and Fu Xingzhou got out. Jiang Yue had already arrived and was waiting on the steps, with another man beside him. Wen Yang was momentarily surprised. Fu Xingzhou glanced at her, then took her hand and walked up the stairs.
Wen Yang noticed the company name:
— Kangyuan.
She immediately remembered that this was once a camera lens company. Back in college, she used to buy lenses from them. But over the years, the brand had slowly disappeared from the market.
She blinked.
As they stepped onto the platform, Kangyuan’s founder, Zhou Shiyuan, greeted Fu Xingzhou and nodded politely at Wen Yang.
Wen Yang smiled slightly.
Jiang Yue also greeted her, “Good morning, Miss Wen. You look beautiful today.”
Wen Yang smiled back, “Thank you, Secretary Jiang, for the compliment.”
Fu Xingzhou glanced at Jiang Yue, who laughed and said, “President Fu, shall we?”
The group entered the company. This was Wen Yang’s first time in a lens company — more precisely, a camera company — as she clearly noticed their internal R&D department.
As someone who loved cameras, everything she saw felt fresh and fascinating.
They walked all the way to the product department.
Once the door opened, several cameras were displayed on a long table, along with data sheets and technical specs.
Jiang Yue smiled and said, “Miss Wen, please try these out.”
Wen Yang looked up at Fu Xingzhou.
He smiled gently and said, “Go ahead.”
Wen Yang looked at him for a few seconds, then released his hand and walked toward the table. The cameras came in different colors but similar styles. Matching lenses were also laid out beside them.
She picked up a dark gray one — her usual preferred color — and began adjusting it. She pointed it toward the product room’s feature wall. The image quality was superb, with sharpness immediately evident.
Wen Yang tried it out. Clearly, it was a camera designed for landscape photography.
She moved the camera slightly and looked at Fu Xingzhou. “I want to test it outside.”
He smiled. “Let’s go.”
Wen Yang followed him, holding the camera in one hand and his hand in the other. She looked up and asked, “Didn’t Kangyuan go bankrupt? How is it still around?”
Jiang Yue, following behind with documents, smiled and replied, “President Fu acquired Kangyuan.”
Wen Yang let out a surprised “Ah.”
Fu Xingzhou simply smiled without answering. The group walked through a long corridor. When the door at the end opened, it revealed a vast open area behind the company, connecting to the mountains. Blue skies, white clouds, lush greenery, wide lawns, and a small park — it was breathtaking.
Wen Yang hadn’t expected to find such a hidden gem here. It was perfect for photos.
She lifted the camera and focused the lens.
Zhou Shiyuan brought some people out as well. They moved a table over and set down the remaining cameras.
Wen Yang took photos of the foot of the mountain, the white clouds, and the evergreen trees.
She also captured Kangyuan’s building.
This camera was especially suited for landscape photography, as if tailor-made for it—high sharpness, high resolution, high dynamic range. Most importantly, it performed well even at low sensitivity.
Wen Yang was very satisfied after shooting.
She turned to Fu Xingzhou and said, “This camera is perfect for landscapes. The light quality is excellent.”
Fu Xingzhou looked at her and gently asked, “Does it feel good in your hands?”
Wen Yang nodded. “Of course. The grip feels great—very smooth. And all these colors are beautiful too. When will it hit the market?”
Fu Xingzhou replied, “Anytime. Just waiting for your confirmation.”
Wen Yang smiled. “I confirm.”
There was a smile in Fu Xingzhou’s eyes.
Wen Yang was rubbing the camera body, about to ask what it was called, when her fingertips touched an engraving on the body. She looked down—the brand name was engraved on the camera.
—Qingyang (Light Ripple)
Wen Yang froze, then looked up at Fu Xingzhou.
He met her gaze and gently asked, “Does the name sound good?”
Wen Yang’s heart pounded wildly. She said, “It sounds beautiful.”
Qingyang Camera.
Jiang Yue and Zhou Shiyuan were nearby. Jiang Yue nudged Zhou Shiyuan with his elbow. “Your savior.”
Zhou Shiyuan replied, “Goddess—gotta worship her from now on.”
Then Jiang Yue laughed heartily.
Since it was their own brand, before Wen Yang left, Zhou Shiyuan had someone pack up all the models she liked, along with compatible lenses, and deliver them to her car. Wen Yang glanced at the back seat full of cameras from the passenger seat and looked at Fu Xingzhou. “Isn’t this too much? I won’t be able to use them all.”
Fu Xingzhou started the car and said, “Some of them are for portrait photography too. Give them a try.”
Wen Yang replied, “Okay.”
The road leaving the tech park was a quiet boulevard. The tech park was far from the city center, in a quiet suburban area, though there were many traffic lights.
While waiting at a red light—
Wen Yang looked at Fu Xingzhou and asked, “When did you acquire this company? I’ve always liked Kangyuan’s lenses, but they fell from grace quickly.”
Fu Xingzhou glanced at her hand resting on the dashboard.
He looked at her for a few seconds, ran his fingers through her hair, smiled but didn’t answer the question. He simply said, “There are lots of companies like Kangyuan. Once they’ve enjoyed the boom, they get swept away by the waves and vanish.”
Wen Yang gave a light “ah” and said, “Did Kangyuan save the galaxy in their past life? You actually brought them back to life.”
Fu Xingzhou chuckled softly.
He didn’t tell her—
She was the real key to saving them.
Wen Yang, holding the soon-to-launch Qingyang camera, went with Fu Xingzhou to the ancient town’s old street in the southern part of the city. Fu Xingzhou wore no jacket, only a shirt. To match her style, he dressed more casually—unbuttoned the cuffs, rolled up the sleeves, and slightly loosened the collar. He walked beside her into the old city.
The old street of the ancient city used to be bustling.
Later, most people moved away after buying homes elsewhere. In order to preserve the old look of Nancheng, it had become a tourist spot. There were many people here taking pictures, strolling, sightseeing, and students doing sketching trips.
Wen Yang lifted her camera, looking for the perfect angle.
Fu Xingzhou held her small bag, guarding her closely.
Wen Yang was very focused on taking photos. Her light blue dress made her stand out. The sun was bright, so Fu Xingzhou casually bought her a hat. She smiled with her eyes curved, like starlight falling into her gaze.
She herself was a part of the scenery.
Wen Yang sipped coffee from a cup.
Fu Xingzhou lifted the camera with one hand and captured the moment when she turned to look at him.
Wen Yang ran back and tiptoed to see the shot.
Fu Xingzhou swiped a finger—image returned. Wen Yang blinked: “Am I really that pretty?”
Behind her was a large tree, sunlight filtering through its branches. Wearing the hat, she smiled with her eyes as she drank her coffee—like a fairy descending into the dusty sunlight.
Fu Xingzhou looked down at her and said, “You’re even more beautiful than that.”
Wen Yang looked up and met his gaze.
There were people nearby, so Fu Xingzhou didn’t kiss her. But his eyes held the reflection of her face.
Someone nearby thought they looked so perfect together that they secretly took a photo. Fu Xingzhou noticed the lens and pulled down Wen Yang’s hat slightly. The resulting photo came out beautifully—
But later, it was bought by Jiang Yue.
And then returned to Fu Xingzhou.
—
A car stopped in front of a Chinese restaurant.
Cheng Yanyu gripped the steering wheel, lips pressed tight.
He stared at the restaurant ahead, thinking of the two discarded bouquets of roses. His expression turned a little lost.
It was as if he could only keep going forward on this path—there was no turning back.
A few seconds later, he came back to himself and turned to the woman beside him. Li Man picked up her bag, about to get out of the car, when Cheng Yanyu stopped her: “A-Man.”
Li Man turned when she heard the familiar nickname.
Cheng Yanyu met her gaze, his voice very soft. He said, “My mom hasn’t been well lately. She’s been recovering back in our hometown. This trip to Nancheng is rare—mainly to help her relax.”
“Meeting you is just to reassure her.”
Li Man looked at the man who was two years younger than her. She clearly understood the deeper meaning behind his words. She raised her brows and was silent for a few seconds. For a moment, she felt a bit softhearted.
She said, “Little brother, I came to this meeting because I understand your meaning.”
Cheng Yanyu looked at her and nodded.
Li Man gave a slight smile. The two got out of the car and entered the restaurant.
Cheng Yanyu had reserved a private room. His parents were already there. Zheng Guili and Cheng Shan sat inside. Li Man walked in arm-in-arm with Cheng Yanyu, the door opened.
Zheng Guili, hair graying at the temples, sat at the round table with Cheng Shan. They both looked up.
Zheng Guili had always preferred light-colored clothing. Today, she had clearly dressed more formally. Cheng Shan looked plain and simple. Their outfits were modest.
So modest, in fact, that in a crowd, they would pass for any average parents.
Cheng Yanyu brought Li Man to the table. Zheng Guili and Cheng Shan stood up. The scent of perfume, the impeccable makeup, the handbag in her hand, the bracelet on her wrist, the earrings—everything about Li Man exuded extravagance.
The overwhelming pressure of glamour.
Zheng Guili looked at Li Man.
A sudden worry bloomed in her heart—Could her son afford a woman like this?
Li Man met Zheng Guili’s assessing gaze and did her own assessing in return. In that moment, she realized what it meant to be “downward compatible.” She could see straight through this couple’s background—Zheng Guili even had that typical small-town temper.
Cheng Yanyu introduced them: “Mom, this is Li Man.”
“Li Man, this is my mom and dad.”
Li Man glanced at Zheng Guili, then Cheng Shan, and nodded slightly.
Zheng Guili returned to herself and said, “Please, have a seat.”
Cheng Shan glanced at Li Man but didn’t speak at all. His brows furrowed slightly, while Zheng Guili sat down with a heavy heart. Cheng Yanyu pulled out a chair for Li Man.
Li Man sat down.
Zheng Guili watched her son pull out the chair.
Li Man looked proud and didn’t even say “thank you.”
She glanced at Cheng Yanyu.
His expression was colder than before. He picked up the menu and handed it to Zheng Guili. She hesitated and said, “Give it to Li Man. Li Man, what would you like to eat? Yanyu said the roast duck here is really good. How about that?”
Li Man looked up and smiled—though it didn’t reach her eyes. She said, “You all go ahead and order.”
“Is there anything you feel like eating? You can look at the menu.” Zheng Guili pushed the menu toward her.
Li Man smiled again and said, “I’m easy.”
Cheng Shan took the menu and said, “Stop passing it around. I’ll order. Guili, you like roast duck, right? Let’s get more of that.”
Li Man looked up at Cheng Shan.
She could feel the discontent in his tone.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She had always wanted simple things in life. And after marrying Fu Xingzhou, things became even simpler. Qiu Pei was out of the country most of the year and rarely seen. The only elder in the family was the old lady at the ancestral home. That old lady was well-read, gentle, and even if she had discontent, she never voiced it directly. Spending time with her was easy—just do what she liked.
Some of the maids gossiped, of course—saying it was a marriage of convenience, that she was climbing the social ladder. But if she so much as mentioned it to the old lady, the woman would quietly dismiss those people for peace and quiet.
Eventually, she almost never heard such talk again.
People like Cheng Shan, who directly displayed their dissatisfaction through behavior, were overtly judgmental. Li Man had seen such types before—but seeing it now only reinforced how incompatible she was with this world.
She didn’t even need to speak to know she’d have nothing to talk about with Zheng Guili. There was nothing about her that matched Li Man’s world. This kind of in-law was no different from the hired help.
She didn’t even dare tell Qin Mu that she met Cheng Yanyu’s parents today.
And not telling was the right choice.
After Cheng Shan finished ordering—
Li Man’s phone rang. She answered—it was the studio calling. She asked a couple of questions, then turned to Cheng Yanyu and said, “Something came up at the studio. A-Sang needs me to go look at the design drafts.”
Cheng Yanyu had just picked up the menu again to order her a salad. When he heard that, he looked up.
Zheng Guili and Cheng Shan looked at her too.
The way the three of them looked at her made Li Man feel a sharp sense of alienation—as if they belonged to a completely different world. She smiled slightly and said, “Little brother, I need to head back to the studio. You stay and eat with your parents.”
She nodded politely to Zheng Guili and Cheng Shan, then turned and walked out, heels clicking.
Sansukini: Wow! What a snob! So disdainful. Imagine thinking that they’re “downward compatible”. Yikes! In my country, we call people like this “matapobre,” which is a person who looks down on the poor or ordinary people. Even Fu Xingzhou’s mom is humble and pampering Wen Yang, and she’s richer than Li Man.
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You can also check out my other translations Here
She is a calculating person. She is assessing people to see what she can get from them. If they don’t match her standards, they are out of “her league”. She is deeply regretting her action but it’s a no return road. They should just break up.
Isn’t she from a simple, single parent household like what the ex scum told his parents? And they said she ‘climbed the ranks’ through the previous marriage, so she must have been broke before, quite funny and ironic to see her scorn what she thinks of as ‘peasants’ when she was once like that too. Like babe pls…HAHAHAH