Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 3017 A Night of Intoxicating Spring Breeze

That kiss was long, long enough for petals to fall all over my shoulders, long enough for the spring breeze to become gentle.

When Song Qingyun finally gently pushed Yang Geyong away, both of them were breathing rapidly.

A faint blush graced her face, but her eyes remained clear as ever, only now radiating a gentle light she didn't usually possess.

"I should go back now," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Yang Geyong didn't let go of her waist, but gently pressed his forehead against hers: "Just a little longer, just a little while."

His voice was low and hoarse, filled with pleading. At this moment, he was no longer the powerful business tycoon he once was, but just an ordinary man in love.

Song Qingyun softened. She reached out and straightened his slightly disheveled collar, her movements natural and intimate: "Okay, just for a little while."

The two sat down on the wicker chairs in the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a gentle orange-red, and the flowers in the courtyard swayed gently in the evening breeze.

“Qingyun,” Yang Geyong held her hand, his thumb gently stroking her fingers, “Do you know, for more than a year now, I’ve been having the same dream all the time.”

"What dream?"

“I dreamt that I was walking in a desert, thirsty and exhausted. Then I saw an oasis in the distance, with a clear spring and shady trees. I ran towards it as fast as I could, but I could never reach it. Every time I woke up, I felt extremely desperate.”

He turned to look at her, his eyes tender: "Now I know, that oasis is you. I don't need to run anymore, because I'm already here."

Song Qingyun's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected this seemingly rough and rugged man to possess such delicate metaphors. She grasped his hand in return, their fingers intertwined.

"Yang Geyong, I also have something to tell you." She looked at the sunset on the horizon, her tone calm and earnest.

“I am not an oasis, nor a salvation. I am just an ordinary woman with my own flaws and stubbornness. I may not be as passionate as you expect, and I may still be immersed in my own world. If what you want is a passionate, all-day love, then I may not be able to give you that.”

“That’s never been what I wanted,” Yang Geyong shook his head. “What I want is you, just the way you are. When you’re immersed in your own world, I can read a book or tend to the yard. I’ll be there whenever you want to talk. That’s enough.”

Song Qingyun turned to look at him, her eyes slightly moist: "You really... have changed so much."

"It's worth it to change for you."

Night fell quietly, and the stars began to twinkle. Yang Geyong stood up: "It's getting dark, I'll take you home."

"No need, I can manage myself..."

"Let me deliver it," Yang Geyong insisted, his tone gentle but leaving no room for refusal. "This is my first right and obligation as your boyfriend."

The word "boyfriend" made Song Qingyun's heart skip a beat, and her face flushed again. She didn't object, tacitly accepting the term.

On the way back, they were both quiet, but the atmosphere was different from usual. A sweet and subtle feeling filled the air. Yang Geyong drove, occasionally glancing at her with eyes so tender they could melt.

When they arrived at the studio downstairs, Yang Geyong turned off the engine but did not open the door immediately.

“Qingyun,” he looked at her, “may I come to see you tomorrow…?”

"I'm going to school tomorrow."

"Shall I take you there? And then wait for you to finish class?"

Song Qingyun smiled: "You don't need to be like that. We all have our own lives, don't we?"

"I know, but I just want to see you." Yang Geyong's tone was like that of a spoiled child. "I've endured so much for over a year, and now that things are finally finally over... can you just let me have my way for a few days?"

Seeing the expectation in his eyes, Song Qingyun's heart softened again: "Then... I don't have class tomorrow afternoon. If you're free, you can come to the studio."

“I’m free! I’m free anytime!” Yang Geyong immediately agreed.

"Then you should go back first and get some rest." Song Qingyun pushed open the car door.

"Wait." Yang Geyong took her hand and gently kissed the back of it. "Goodnight, Qingyun."

"……Good night."

Watching Song Qingyun go upstairs and the studio lights come on, Yang Geyong finally drove away. A silly grin spread across his face as he hummed an off-key tune all the way. At that moment, he felt like the happiest person in the world.

However, happiness is often accompanied by trials.

The next afternoon, Yang Geyong arrived at the studio as promised, carrying a large bouquet of white peonies—he remembered that Song Qingyun had said she liked this kind of flower.

As he went upstairs, he heard voices coming from the studio; it wasn't just Song Qingyun alone. He hesitated for a moment, then knocked on the door.

The door opened, and Song Qingyun saw him. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a complicated expression. Behind her stood two middle-aged women, the same two scholars who had been gossiping at the seminar last time.

“Mr. Yang, you’ve arrived.” Song Qingyun’s voice was calm. “Professor Zhang, Director Li, this is Mr. Yang Geyong.”

The two ladies' expressions immediately turned awkward when they saw Yang Geyong. Their gazes became even more complicated when they saw the flowers in Yang Geyong's hand.

"Mr. Yang, I've heard so much about you." Professor Zhang forced a smile.

"Hello, both of you." Yang Geyong nodded in greeting, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, and then handed the flowers to Song Qingyun, "I saw them on the way here and thought they suited you very well."

Song Qingyun took the flowers and said softly, "Thank you." She placed the flowers in the vase with natural, unpretentious movements.

"Qingyun, we'll be going now. Let's talk again another day." Director Li pulled Professor Zhang to his feet.

"Okay, thank you both for coming to see me." Song Qingyun saw them to the door.

The two professors left in a hurry, and their hushed conversation could be heard on the stairs:
"See? It really is..."

"Shh, stop talking..."

The door closed, and the studio fell silent. Song Qingyun turned to look at Yang Geyong, her expression somewhat helpless: "You heard everything?"

"I heard you." Yang Geyong walked up to her. "Do you mind?"

“I don’t care what they say,” Song Qingyun shook her head. “What I care about is that as long as I’m with you, these kinds of things will keep happening. Yang Geyong, are you really sure?”

Yang Geyong held her hand: "I've made up my mind. Qingyun, I'm sixty-three years old this year. I've spent half my life caring about what others think, and I've lived a very tiring life. Now I don't want to live like that anymore. I like you and I want to be with you. This is my choice and my right. I don't care what others say."

“But I do care.” Song Qingyun looked at him. “I care about my academic reputation and how others view my research. I don’t want my work to be questioned because of personal relationships.”

Yang Geyong fell silent. He understood Song Qingyun's concerns and respected her pride.

“Well then,” he thought for a moment and said, “in public, let’s keep our distance. You can continue to introduce me as ‘Mr. Yang’ instead of ‘boyfriend.’ In private, we can interact as we normally would. We can go public when you feel it’s appropriate. Is that alright?”

Song Qingyun never expected him to make such a compromise. This man, who once wanted to announce his feelings to the whole world, was now willing to hide his love for her.

“That’s not fair to you,” she said.

“There’s nothing unfair about it,” Yang Geyong laughed. “As long as I can be with you, anything is fine. Besides, the feeling of sneaking around is quite exciting, isn’t it?”

His last sentence was tinged with mockery, making Song Qingyun unable to help but laugh: "You..."

"What's wrong with me? Do you think I'm exceptionally good?" Yang Geyong raised his eyebrows smugly.

"Yes, yes, you're the best." Song Qingyun smiled and shook her head, her worries dissipating.

In the days that followed, the two began this "semi-public" relationship. In public, they maintained a polite distance; in private, however, they were deeply in love.

Yang Geyong would send flowers to Song Qingyun every day, but not roses, but various elegant flowers—peonies, magnolias, gardenias, orchids, each bouquet matching her temperament.

He would remember the books she liked and secretly buy them to put on her desk; he would research the dishes she loved and clumsily try to cook them; he would quietly bring her a late-night snack when she worked late into the night, and then quietly read a book to keep her company.

Song Qingyun gradually opened her heart. She would share the joys and confusions of her research with him, teach him to appreciate the beauty of ancient music, and rest on his shoulder when she was tired.

She discovered that although Yang Geyong did not understand academics, he possessed a simple wisdom that often gave her unexpected inspiration.

One weekend afternoon, Yang Geyong took Song Qingyun to a place—an ancient temple under restoration on the outskirts of Beijing.

"How did you know about this place?" Song Qingyun looked at the Tang-style building in front of her in surprise.

“I heard it from a friend who does ancient building restoration.” Yang Geyong led her inside. “He said that some fragments of Tang Dynasty murals have been discovered here, possibly depicting music and dance. I think you might be interested.”

The temple was quiet, with only a few workers on site. The person in charge recognized Yang Geyong and greeted him warmly: "Mr. Yang, you've arrived."

"Mr. Li, this is the Teacher Song I told you about, an expert in ancient music."

"Professor Song, it's an honor to meet you!" Engineer Li's eyes lit up. "We've recently discovered some murals depicting music and dance, and we were just about to have an expert take a look!"

Song Qingyun immediately perked up. Led by the workers, they arrived at the rear hall, where scaffolding was erected and the mottled traces of murals were faintly visible on the walls.

“Look here,” Li Gong pointed to one of the sections, “Although it’s incomplete, you can tell that a musician was playing it. The instrument looks like a konghou…”

Song Qingyun leaned closer for a closer look, her eyes gleaming with expertise: "It's a konghou, and its shape... is very similar to the ones in the Dunhuang murals, but with subtle differences. This might be a local variant from Chang'an..."

She was completely absorbed, taking notes in her notebook and discussing with Engineer Li. Yang Geyong stood quietly to the side, watching her confidently shine in her professional field, his eyes filled with admiration and pride.

An hour later, Song Qingyun and Engineer Li finished their discussion. Her cheeks flushed with excitement, she turned to Yang Geyong and said, "This is so valuable! These discoveries may fill a research gap! Yang Geyong, thank you for bringing me here!"

"I'm glad I could help you." Yang Geyong smiled and handed her a bottle of water. "You look so happy."

"Of course I'm happy! This is a very important discovery!" Song Qingyun took a sip of water, her eyes sparkling.

On the way back, Song Qingyun was still excitedly talking about the murals. Yang Geyong drove, glancing at her from time to time, his heart filled with happiness.

“Qingyun,” he suddenly said, “seeing you just now made me feel especially satisfied.”

"why?"

"Because if I can do something for you, even something small, that makes you so happy, I feel it's all worth it," Yang Geyong said earnestly. "Before, I always thought about giving you this and that, but now I know that the best gift is understanding what you truly need."

Song Qingyun felt a warmth in her heart. She reached out and gently placed her hand on his hand that was gripping the steering wheel: "You already understand very well."

The car stopped at the red light. Yang Geyong turned to look at her, his eyes gentle: "Qingyun, can I ask you a question?"

"You ask."

"What...do you like about me?"

This question startled Song Qingyun. She thought about it carefully and said:
"I like your changes. I like your sincerity. I like your rare patience and tolerance now. And I also like... that you always let me see another side of the world."

"the other side?"

“Yes. Your world and my world are completely different, but you are willing to enter my world and show me yours.” Song Qingyun smiled. “This makes me feel that life can have many possibilities.”

The light turned green. Yang Geyong started the car, a satisfied smile on his face: "That's enough. Qingyun, with your words, my year and a half of cultivation has been worthwhile."

Days passed by, and summer arrived in the blink of an eye. Song Qingyun's monograph was officially published, causing quite a stir in academic circles.

At the book launch, she stood on stage calmly, dressed in a simple white shirt and dark trousers, and shared her research. The audience was filled with scholars, media, and readers.

Yang Geyong was also there. He sat in the corner of the last row, quietly watching her on stage. He didn't go up to congratulate her, but simply nodded and smiled gently at her when her gaze swept over him.

After the press conference ended, Song Qingyun was surrounded by reporters and readers. Yang Geyong quietly left and waited for her outside the venue.

An hour later, Song Qingyun finally managed to get out. Seeing Yang Geyong waiting under the shade of a tree, she quickly walked over: "Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long." Yang Geyong handed her a bottle of ice water. "Are you tired?"

"A little, but I'm very happy." Song Qingyun took a sip of water, her eyes curving into crescents. "The book sold very well, and the reviews were good too."

"I knew you could do it." Yang Geyong opened the car door for her. "How do you want to celebrate?"

Song Qingyun got into the car and thought for a moment: "I want to go somewhere quiet, just the two of us."

"Okay, I'll take you to a nice place."

Yang Geyong drove her to a private club at the foot of Xishan Mountain. The place was quiet and secluded, built by the lake, with each private room having its own courtyard.

Sitting on the lakeside terrace, a gentle evening breeze carried the fragrance of lotus blossoms. The waiter served several delicate Jiangnan dishes and a pot of warmed Shaoxing wine.

"Congratulations, Qingyun." Yang Geyong raised his glass. "To your career, to everything you've achieved."

"Thank you." Song Qingyun clinked glasses with him.

After several rounds of drinks, the moonlight gradually brightened. The lake reflected the twinkling lights, creating a scene of unreal beauty.

“Yang Geyong,” Song Qingyun suddenly said, “I think… let’s go public.”

Yang Geyong paused, then asked, "Have you thought this through?"

"I've thought it through." Song Qingyun nodded. "I can't let you hide in the shadows forever. Your changes, your good qualities, should be seen. I can't live in the eyes of others forever either."

“My research results are there for all to see, and they won’t be diminished just because I’m with someone. If anyone questions them because of this, that’s their problem, not mine.”

She looked at him, her eyes resolute: "I want to be with you openly and honestly."

Yang Geyong's heart warmed, and he grasped her hand: "Qingyun, do you know what this means? There might be more criticism, more trouble..."

"I'm not afraid," Song Qingyun smiled. "Didn't you say you'd hold the sky up even if it fell?"

“Yes, I’ll take care of it.” Yang Geyong nodded vigorously, tears welling in his eyes. “Qingyun, I…”

"No need to say anything." Song Qingyun leaned down and gently kissed his lips.

The kiss was tender and lingering, carrying the mellow aroma of Shaoxing wine and the gentle breeze of a summer night. Yang Geyong pulled her into his arms, kissing her passionately and intently.

Faint music drifted from afar, the player unknown. Moonlight shimmered on the lake's surface. This night was as beautiful as a dream.

However, dreams always come to an end.

Late at night, Yang Geyong escorted Song Qingyun back to her studio. At the door, he hugged her again: "Qingyun, thank you."

"no need thank me?"

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity, thank you for facing this with me." Yang Geyong's voice was choked with emotion. "I promise, you won't regret it."

"I believe you." Song Qingyun stroked his face. "Go back now, be careful on the way."

"See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Watching Yang Geyong's car drive away, Song Qingyun turned and went upstairs. She walked to the window, watching the car lights disappear into the distance, her heart filled with sweetness, yet also with a faint unease.

She didn't know where this unease came from. Perhaps it was because happiness had come too suddenly, or perhaps it was because she knew that reality never shows mercy to anyone.

On his way back, Yang Geyong received a call from Zhao Ling'er. This timing was very unusual.

"Ge Yong, are you asleep?" Zhao Ling'er's voice sounded very calm.

"Not yet, I just took Qingyun home. Is something the matter?"

"It's nothing serious, it's just... I'm going to the United States next week to handle some things with the foundation, and I might be there for a while. Before I leave, I'd like to have a meal with you and talk about the children."

Yang Geyong paused for a moment, then said, "Okay, you decide the time and place."

"Then let's meet tomorrow at noon, the usual place."

"Row."

Hanging up the phone, Yang Geyong gazed at the night sky, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. Although his relationship with Zhao Ling'er was over, they still shared decades of affection and a child together. He couldn't skip this dinner.

But he didn't know that this meal would change everything.

The next day at noon, Yang Geyong arrived at the private restaurant they used to frequent, as agreed. Zhao Ling'er was already there; she looked to be in good spirits, dressed appropriately, and with exquisite makeup.

"You're here, have a seat." Zhao Ling'er smiled at him.

Yang Geyong sat down, and a waiter came to pour him tea.

"Are the children all well?" Yang Geyong asked.

“Everything’s fine. The eldest is getting a promotion next month, and the second eldest is preparing his doctoral dissertation.” Zhao Ling’er said, taking a folder out of her bag. “These are their recent photos, and also the second eldest’s dissertation abstract. He said he wanted you to take a look.”

Yang Geyong took the photos and flipped through them one by one. Looking at the photos of the children growing up, he was filled with emotion.

The dishes arrived, all of which were their favorites. The two ate and chatted, and the atmosphere was unusually peaceful.

"Ge Yong," Zhao Ling'er suddenly put down her chopsticks halfway through the meal, "There's something I want to tell you."

"You said."

“I had a physical exam recently and they found something wrong,” Zhao Ling’er said calmly. “Breast cancer, stage II.”

Yang Geyong's hand trembled, and his chopsticks fell onto the table: "What?"

"I've been diagnosed. I'm going to the US next week for surgery and follow-up treatment."

Zhao Ling'er looked at him, "I didn't want to tell you, but I thought it would be better to say it. In case... in case something happens, the children will need your help to take care of them."

Yang Geyong's mind went blank. He looked at Zhao Ling'er, the woman who had been entangled with him for most of his life, calmly announcing her cancer diagnosis. He suddenly remembered many years ago, when they were in the Production and Construction Corps, Zhao Ling'er had handled every crisis with the same composure.

"Why...why didn't you say so sooner?" His voice was hoarse.

"It's all the same whether you say it sooner or later, you still need to get treatment." Zhao Ling'er smiled. "Don't worry, if it's discovered early, the cure rate is very high. I just... I just suddenly felt that life is unpredictable, and some things should be said."

She paused, looking at Yang Geyong: "Geyong, I'm sorry for all these years. I know I've been too domineering and controlling, making you feel suffocated. I also know that you and Teacher Song are truly in love. I wish you both the best."

"Ling'er, don't say that..." Yang Geyong felt a tightness in his chest.

“I’m telling the truth.” Zhao Ling’er shook her head. “Being sick has made me understand a lot of things. Life is short, and it’s not easy to meet someone you truly love. Treat her well, and live your own life well too. Between us… let’s leave it at that, it’s fine.”

For the latter half of the meal, Yang Geyong lost his appetite. Looking at Zhao Ling'er's calm face, his heart was in turmoil.

On the way home, neither of them spoke. When they arrived at the entrance of her residential complex, before getting out of the car, Zhao Ling'er suddenly said, "Ge Yong, can I hug you? Just as... goodbye."

Yang Geyong hesitated for a moment, then got out of the car and gently embraced her. This embrace contained no romantic feelings, only the complex bond forged through decades of shared trials and tribulations.

"Take care," Zhao Ling'er whispered in his ear.

"You too, you must get cured." Yang Geyong's voice choked with emotion.

"I will." Zhao Ling'er let go of him, turned around and walked into the residential area. Her back was straight, but she looked a little lonely.

Yang Geyong stood by the car, watching her figure disappear, and remained motionless for a long time.

He knew that some responsibilities would never disappear with a divorce agreement. Some debts would take a lifetime to repay.

Meanwhile, Song Qingyun was still waiting for him in the studio. She had deliberately ended her work early today, wanting to celebrate with him their first night of going public with their relationship.

Little did she know that this night would change the fate of three people.