When the visitation time ended, Ye Xiaoqiong left without hesitation.

She truly held no lingering affection for Du Zhaoji.

So much so that Du Zhaoji couldn’t even be certain whether what she said was true or false – had they had a child? Was it terminated?

These questions stuck in his throat like fishbones, leaving Du Zhaoji without answers.

He thought Ye Xiaoqiong would visit the prison again, but he was wrong once more – she never appeared again!

He still had one of her family’s ancestral paintings, but Ye Xiaoqiong seemed completely indifferent, showing no intention of asking for its return.

So where did Ye Xiaoqiong go after leaving the prison?

While Du Zhaoji and Zhou Yi pondered this question, Ye Xiaoqiong had no intention of seeking either of them out again.

She was now in Pengcheng.

After leaving the prison, she contacted Xia Xiaolan, telling her she had gathered enough money and hoped to buy back the Ye family antiques.

Xia Xiaolan had kept the Ye family antiques in a bank safety deposit box in Pengcheng, and these items had finally waited for their original owner’s return.

“How have you been these past two years?”

Ye Xiaoqiong provided the money, and Xia Xiaolan handed over the antiques. These were originally Ye family possessions, and Xia Xiaolan had never intended to profit from them.

Although these items would be worth a lot in the future, Xia Xiaolan didn’t care about the potential appreciation – keeping the Ye family’s belongings had made her uneasy at night.

Ye Xiaoqiong had managed to redeem all the antiques in just over two years, and Xia Xiaolan acknowledged her efforts.

Ye Xiaoqiong examined each item carefully.

The ancestral home had been reclaimed over two years ago, and except for the Qiu Ying painting in Du Zhaoji’s possession, she had bought back all the family heirlooms – as the unfilial daughter of the Ye family, she was truly working hard to make amends for the mistakes caused by her foolishness.

“I’ve been doing well. By chance, I became a business broker these past two years – or as they call it overseas, an information consulting company. This line of work is quite profitable. Once I save enough capital, I plan to transition into industry!”

For this, she did have to thank Du Zhaoji – he had brought her to a better platform.

But the principle was the principle; she couldn’t forgive what he had done to her because of this.

“I heard you married Zhou Cheng. Congratulations, Xiaolan!”

You probably don’t even know how much you’ve influenced me, Ye Xiaoqiong said silently to herself.

Xia Xiaolan looked at her, “Thank you, Zhou Cheng and I did get married. But never mind about me – you met Zhou Yi in Beijing, right? I can stay out of your conflicts, but I hope both of you can move past the history soon.”

Meeting one scoundrel doesn’t mean all men are scoundrels.

Xia Xiaolan felt that both Ye Xiaoqiong and Zhou Yi were becoming better versions of themselves, heading toward better lives. There was no need to let one failed relationship confine them forever… Why should they? Were they supposed to remain faithful to that scoundrel Yuan Han? They were in their prime – boldly dating and starting new relationships was the true way to move on!

Zhou Yi could wait – that one had limited mental capacity, and Xia Xiaolan thought it best for her to finish law school first.

Ye Xiaoqiong was different – she had truly transformed. The confidence and composure in one’s eyes couldn’t be faked.

Ye Xiaoqiong smiled and winked:

“Many men pursue me. I’m open to dating men I find agreeable, and I don’t reject the idea of remarrying, but he must have the charm to move my heart!”

Dating men who liked her, marrying a man she loved – Ye Xiaoqiong had clear thoughts about this.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t say more. Ye Xiaoqiong wasn’t just growing more confident, but also wiser.

She liked this version of Ye Xiaoqiong.

Ye Xiaoqiong picked up her suitcase and waved:

“I look forward to the day we can cooperate in business. Goodbye!”

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “I believe that day will come. Goodbye.”

They parted ways outside the bank, Ye Xiaoqiong’s car turning left, Xia Xiaolan’s right. Xia Xiaolan’s new secretary, who had learned to read her moods, boldly asked:

“Director Xia, was that your friend?”

Director Xia seemed to be in a good mood.

As a secretary, she had to try to please.

Xia Xiaolan nodded slowly.

She felt there was no problem being friends with the current Ye Xiaoqiong. Not every friendship needed constant contact – a noble friendship could be as pure as water. Knowing Ye Xiaoqiong was doing well made Xia Xiaolan happy for her.

That big fool Zhou Yi was too sensitive. The current Ye Xiaoqiong wouldn’t cling to past grievances… The revenge was complete, and Ye Xiaoqiong had started a new life.

It was a more confident, broader world!

1990 was a sweet year.

That summer, Bai Zhenzhu and Pan Bohua held their wedding, and in late autumn, Xu Jing and Zhuo Weiping got their marriage certificate. Both couples had dated for quite some time, so Xia Xiaolan wasn’t surprised to attend their weddings.

However, when she discovered her roommate Su Jing had suddenly obtained a marriage certificate with Gong Yang, Xia Xiaolan was truly shocked.

Su Jing and Gong Yang?!

Su Jing hugged her neck: “You’re the great matchmaker, I must thank you!”

Xia Xiaolan was indeed the matchmaker – without her arranging summer internships for the girls of Room 307, Su Jing would never have had the chance to meet Gong Yang. Their connection wasn’t completely unexpected; compared to architectural design, Su Jing preferred interior design, and during the two-month summer internship, she and Gong Yang spent time together daily, sharing common interests and language.

After returning to school, Su Jing maintained contact with Gong Yang, exchanging letters, their feelings gradually warming.

They hadn’t announced it publicly, as Su Jing felt embarrassed.

She had truly gone just for the internship, never intending to steal away ‘Yuan Hui’s’ chief designer.

During job assignments after graduation, Su Jing fought hard to be assigned to Yangcheng.

Yangcheng was close to Pengcheng, allowing her relationship with Gong Yang to finally take root.

In Room 307, Su Jing was the second to marry after Xia Xiaolan. Because she acted quickly and decisively, this news not only surprised the residents of Room 307 but also dealt a heavy blow to Zhuo Na in Shangdu.

Zhuo Na had always had feelings for Gong Yang…

She complained at home: “What was Xia Xiaolan thinking, why did she introduce someone to Brother Gong? As if Huaqing graduates would have trouble finding partners!”

Zhuo Weiping hit her hard, “What does this have to do with Xiaolan? You liked him but never said anything, there’s no point complaining now!”

Zhuo Na covered her face with her blanket.

“I liked Brother Gong so much that I even helped find him part-time work. If I didn’t like him, why would I have bothered?”

Zhuo Weiping remained unmoved.

Secret crushes were nonsense – if you had feelings, you should express them. How could you know what the other person thought if you didn’t speak up?

Her little sister had been pampered since childhood and never experienced hardship. If Gong Yang hadn’t gone south, even if these two had gotten together, they would have needed family support to get by – two young art students would inevitably struggle financially.

Zhuo Na’s secret crush was like children playing house. True love couldn’t be stopped by practical conditions; it would cross mountains and seas to be with that person. Zhuo Na lacked courage – she didn’t even dare to face the workplace, choosing instead to pursue graduate studies after her bachelor’s degree, wanting to hide in the ivory tower for two more years!