Great Power Reclamation

The International Youth Business Forum was held at a five-star hotel in the provincial capital. Ye Guigen originally didn't plan to go, but a remark from Ye Yuze changed his mind.

“Go see the world,” Grandpa said on the phone. “The Warrior Group will be handed over to you sooner or later, so it won’t hurt to start making contact with people at the international level now.”

When Ye Xin found out, she rummaged through the lab and pulled out a suit: "You can borrow it. Although it's Dad's old clothes, the material is good, and it should fit well if it's altered."

Yu'e personally altered the size, the stitches so fine that the changes were invisible. After Ye Guigen put it on, the boy in the mirror looked more mature. Although the boyishness in his eyes was still there, his shoulders were already strong enough to support the suit.

On the day of the forum, he flew to WLMQ alone. This was Ye Guigen's first time traveling far alone. As the sea of ​​clouds rolled outside the cabin window, he thought of his great-grandfather taking the train to Beijing for a meeting when he was young, his grandfather taking his first flight to Germany for an inspection, and his father living alone in the United States when he was a teenager.

The men of the Ye family seem destined to travel far away.

The forum was larger than he had imagined. Young entrepreneurs, scholars, and business owners from more than 30 countries gathered together, and various languages ​​mingled in the hall. Among the people dressed in suits, Ye Guigen stood out as exceptionally young.

Elizabeth Cavendish's speech was scheduled for the afternoon. Dressed in a custom-made suit, she stood confidently on the podium, and the hall fell silent as her grey-green eyes swept across the audience.

"The future business world belongs to those who can connect different civilizations."

Her voice was clear and powerful: "East and West, tradition and modernity, technology and humanities—true innovation happens at the border."

The speech was excellent, but what impressed Ye Guigen most was the Q&A session. Someone asked her about her views on the Belt and Road Initiative, and she replied:
"This is not simply economic cooperation, but a dialogue between civilizations. Just like the ancient Silk Road was not only a trade route, but also a route of ideas."

After her speech, she went straight to Ye Guigen and said, "You've come."

"Your speech was very good," Ye Guigen said.

"Thank you." Elizabeth glanced at his suit. "It fits perfectly. Was this your grandfather's taste when he was young?"

Ye Guigen asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

“This brand’s custom-made piece from thirty years ago has long been discontinued.” She smiled slightly. “I know a bit about fashion history. Come on, let me take you somewhere.”

She naturally took his arm and led him through the crowd. Various gazes fell upon them—curiosity, envy, scrutiny. Ye Guigen felt somewhat uncomfortable, but Elizabeth seemed unconcerned.

They went to the rooftop bar on the hotel's rooftop. The autumn night sky over WLMQ was clear, with sparse stars visible. The outline of the Tianshan Mountains in the distance was faintly visible in the darkness.

The waiter brought the drinks. Elizabeth received red wine, while Ye Guigen received juice.

“I thought you would drink,” she said.

"Not really."

“That’s good.” Elizabeth took a sip of her drink. “I started drinking when I was sixteen. My father said that in social situations, a woman should know how to appreciate wine, but never get drunk.”

She leaned against the railing, the wind blowing through her long hair: "Ye Guigen, do you know when I first heard about you?"

Ye Guigen shook his head.

“Three months ago, at an investment conference in London,” Elizabeth said, “someone mentioned the Warrior Group, and that Ye Feng had a son in the Military Reclamation City. They said that the boy might become the future leader of the Warrior Group, or he might become a spoiled brat.”

"What do you think?"

“I think…” she turned around, her grey-green eyes looking directly at him, “you are neither of those. You are the third possibility.”

"A third possibility?"

"A person who creates new possibilities."

Elizabeth said, “I see your grandfather’s shadow in your eyes, but there’s something different—a kind of…uncertainty. This isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. Those who are certain only follow the old path, while those who are uncertain are the ones who forge new ones.”

Ye Guigen fell silent. The girl spoke very directly, even aggressively, but every word she said hit the nail on the head.

"Why are you so interested in me?" he asked.

"Because the Cavendish family needs new partners," Elizabeth said frankly. "The European market is saturated, and Asia is the future. Warrior Group has deep roots in Northwest China and also has a presence in Central Asia, making it exactly the bridge we need."

"So I'm a bridge?"

“You are the one who built the bridge.” Elizabeth smiled. “Ye Guigen, you are only fifteen years old, but you have already experienced things that many people will never experience in their entire lives. You have faced the underworld alone, saved your friends, and worked on construction sites. These experiences are more valuable than any business school education.”

She took a step closer, a faint scent of perfume wafting over her: "I want to invest in you."

"Invest in me?"

"Yes. It's not about investing in the Warrior Group, it's about investing in you as a person."

Elizabeth said, "I will provide you with resources, connections, and vision. In return, when you take command of the Warriors in the future, the Cavendish family will be your most reliable ally."

Ye Guigen looked at her and suddenly asked, "Is this why you came to Junken City? Inspecting the projects is just a pretext; you really want to inspect me?"

“Intelligent,” Elizabeth did not deny, “but after meeting you in person, I found you even more interesting than described in the report.”

As night deepened, the bar emptied out. A waiter approached: "Miss Cavendish, your dinner reservation is ready."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said to Ye Guigen. "Would you like to have dinner together? I've booked a private room."

The private room was located on the other side of the hotel's top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of WLMQ's dazzling nightscape. Exquisite Western food was laid out on the table, and candles flickered on silver candlesticks.

“Ingredients from northern Xinjiang, prepared in a French style,” Elizabeth said. “Try it.”

During the meal, she talked about her childhood: growing up in a manor on the outskirts of London, starting horseback riding at six, learning Chinese at eight, being sent to a boarding school in Switzerland at twelve, and entering Cambridge at sixteen. Every holiday she interned in the family business, starting with the most basic report analysis.

“That sounds perfect,” Ye Guigen said.

“Perfect?” Elizabeth smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in her smile.

“Ye Guigen, have you ever seen a bird locked in a golden cage? I am that bird. Everything about me has been arranged—what to study, what to do, what kind of person to marry. A Cavendish daughter has no choice.”

She swirled her wine glass: "That's why I envy you. You have a choice."

"I also feel pressure."

“But it’s a different kind of pressure,” Elizabeth said. “Your pressure is ‘what kind of person you have to be,’ my pressure is ‘what kind of person we expect you to be.’”

After dinner, the waiter brought dessert and black tea. Elizabeth dismissed everyone, leaving only the two of them in the private room.

The candlelight danced on her face, and her grey-green eyes shifted unpredictably in the light and shadow.

"Ye Guigen, have you ever been with a woman?" she suddenly asked.

Ye Guigen's hand trembled, and he almost spilled the black tea.

Elizabeth laughed: "It seems not. Fifteen is considered young in China, but not much in Europe. My first boyfriend was fourteen, at a boarding school in Switzerland."

She stood up and walked to the window: "Sometimes I wonder what I would be like if I weren't a Cavendish daughter. Maybe I'd be working in a London café, having a romance without having to consider family interests, and living a simple life."

"But you can't."

“Yes, impossible.” She turned around. “So I chose another path—if I can’t escape, I’ll conquer. I will become the greatest heir in the history of the Cavendish family, and I will make everyone remember my name.”

Her eyes were intense, like burning flames. Ye Guigen was stunned by that gaze—

It wasn't Su Xiao's struggle against fate, nor Ye Xin's dedication to her ideals, but rather an almost insane ambition.

"Did I scare you?" Elizabeth walked over and sat down opposite him.

“No,” Ye Guigen said, “It’s just… you are different from the people I know.”

“You too.” Elizabeth reached out and gently touched his face. “Ye Guigen, you have something very pure about you. It’s rare to see that in this circle.”

Her fingers were cool, but soft to the touch. Ye Guigen stood there, frozen, unsure what to do.

“Stay tonight,” Elizabeth said softly. “This private room has a bedroom.”

Ye Guigen's heart raced: "I..."

“Just sleeping.” Elizabeth smiled. “What are you thinking? But if you’d like… I wouldn’t mind.”

She stood up, walked behind him, and gently placed her hands on his shoulders:

"Ye Guigen, you will have to face this world sooner or later. The things between men and women, the things between power and desire, the things between light and darkness. Rather than letting others teach you, I will do it myself."

Her voice was low and seductive: "I won't hurt you. I'm just... letting you see what the adult world is like in advance."

Ye Guigen's mind was in complete chaos. Reason told him he should leave, but his body wouldn't obey. The scent of Elizabeth's perfume, the warmth of her fingertips, the implications in her words—everything was like a whirlpool, pulling him deeper into it.

"Why me?" he heard himself ask.

“Because you are the one who returns to his roots,” Elizabeth leaned down and whispered in his ear, “and also because… I love the light in your eyes.”

She took his hand and stood up, leading him towards the bedroom. The door opened, revealing a large bed with scented candles burning on the bedside table, filling the air with a faint sandalwood fragrance.

"Are you scared?" Elizabeth asked.

Ye Guigen nodded, then shook his head.

Elizabeth smiled, a smile that was incredibly gentle in the candlelight:

"Don't be afraid. Tonight, I'll teach you your first lesson—how to face what you want but are afraid to have."

She unbuttoned his suit jacket, slowly and gently. Then she unbuttoned his shirt, one button, two buttons…

Ye Guigen could feel his heart pounding, so fast it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest. He could smell the fragrance in Elizabeth's hair and see his own reflection in her grey-green eyes—a nervous and bewildered boy.

“Relax,” Elizabeth said, stroking his chest with her fingers. “Your muscles are too tense.”

She took off her coat, revealing a silk slip dress underneath. In the candlelight, her skin was as smooth as porcelain, her collarbones were beautifully defined, and her shoulders were rounded.

Ye Guigen had never seen anything like it. He had seen Su Xiao's body on stage before; that was the beauty of art.

But the beauty before my eyes is different—it is real, tangible, and carries warmth and fragrance.

“Come here.” Elizabeth took his hand and led him to sit on the edge of the bed. She then knelt opposite him, cupping his face in her hands.

“Return to your roots, look at me,” she said. “Remember this moment. Remember how you felt the first time you faced desire. Remember whether you wanted it or were afraid.”

Her lips pressed against mine.

It was very soft, with a sweet taste of red wine. Ye Guigen closed his eyes, and all sounds disappeared, leaving only his heartbeat and breathing.

The kiss was light and brief. Elizabeth stepped back slightly, looking at him: "How was it?"

Ye Guigen was speechless.

"Want to do it again?" she asked.

This time, Ye Guigen took the initiative. He awkwardly kissed her, unsure where to put his hands, finally placing them gently on her waist. The silk felt smooth and slightly cool, but the body below was warm and soft.

Elizabeth guided him, teaching him how to kiss, how to breathe, and how to relax. Like a patient teacher, she led him step by step into unfamiliar territory.

After what seemed like an eternity, she stopped, pressing her forehead against his: "That's enough. Don't be too greedy on the first time."

They lay in bed, Elizabeth nestled in his arms. The candle was half-burnt, its wax dripping into the silver dish.

"Ye Guigen, will you remember tonight?" she asked softly.

"meeting."

“That’s good.” She smiled. “I don’t ask you to love me, or even to remember me. But I want you to remember how you felt tonight—that feeling of fear and longing when faced with something you want. That’s the first lesson of adulthood.”

Ye Guigen put his arm around her, his fingers running through her long hair: "Why did you teach me all this?"

"Because I want to plant a seed in your heart."

Elizabeth said, "No matter where you go or what kind of person you become in the future, you will remember that one night in a hotel in the capital of northern Xinjiang, a woman named Elizabeth taught you the secrets of the adult world."

She looked up at him: "And I like you. Not the kind of 'love to the point of life and death,' but... I admire you. You have a primal vitality, which is precious in this overly civilized world." That night, Ye Guigen barely slept. He listened to Elizabeth's breathing, felt the warmth of her body, and replayed everything that had happened in his mind.

As dawn approached, Elizabeth woke up. She kissed his forehead: "I have to go. My flight back to London is this morning."

"So fast?"

“It’s a business matter.” She sat up and put on her bathrobe. “Ye Guigen, remember our agreement. I will invest in you and give you resources. What you need to do is grow as quickly as possible and become someone worthy of these investments.”

She handed him a card: "This is my personal email and phone number. Contact me anytime if you need anything. But remember, don't use this connection lightly until you have enough power."

Ye Guigen took the card: "Will you come back?"

“Yes, it will,” Elizabeth smiled. “When the Warriors and the Cavendish family officially cooperate. Or… when you want to see me.”

She walked to the door, then turned back: "Oh, right, that girl who danced, Su Xiao. I've heard about her. Tell her there's a scholarship program at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, and I can recommend her."

Why help her?

“Because you care about her,” Elizabeth said, “and I care about you. This isn’t a transaction, it’s a gift.”

The door closed.

Ye Guigen lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Morning light streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting long, thin streaks of light on the wall.

He remembered the warmth of Su Xiao leaning on his shoulder, Ye Xin's focused profile in the laboratory, and his mother's words, "No man in the Ye family is a coward."

Now, he has new memories—Elizabeth's kiss, her body temperature, and her words about "the secrets of the adult world."

My phone rang. It was a message from Ye Xin: "How's the forum? When are you coming back?"

Ye Guigen replied: "I'll be back this afternoon."

He got up to take a shower, and as the warm water washed over his body, he closed his eyes and could still feel the touch of Elizabeth's fingers.

It was already evening when he returned to Junken City. Ye Xin picked him up at the airport and was taken aback when she saw him: "You... seem different."

"What's different?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Ye Xin said, scrutinizing him closely. "It just feels like... he's grown up."

Back home, Ye Guigen went to his grandfather's study first. Ye Yuze was looking at documents. Seeing him come in, he took off his reading glasses and asked, "You're back? How's the forum?"

“It’s very large and very international,” Ye Guigen said. “I met Elizabeth Cavendish.”

Ye Yuze's eyes flickered: "The Cavendish family? What did they talk to you about?"

"She said she wanted to invest in me."

"Investing in you personally?"

"Correct."

Ye Yuze was silent for a moment, then nodded:

"The Cavendish family has a keen eye. If they value you, it means you have worth. But ultimately, you should be careful. Behind every act of kindness from these established financial families lies a calculation."

"I know."

"Good to know," Ye Yuze said. "But this is also an opportunity. If you can establish a relationship with the Cavendish family, it will greatly help the internationalization of the Warrior Group."

After leaving the study, Ye Guigen went to Su Xiao's residence. She was packing her luggage, preparing to register at the Provincial Dance Academy.

"I'm leaving," Su Xiao said. "My train leaves early tomorrow morning."

"I send you."

"No need, I can manage on my own." Su Xiao smiled. "Ye Guigen, thank you for giving me a chance to start over. I will dance well and live up to your expectations."

Ye Guigen hesitated for a moment, but still said, "The Royal Academy of Dance in London has a scholarship program; perhaps you could try it."

Su Xiao's eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed: "That's a world-class dance academy, how can I possibly get in?"

“Someone can recommend you,” Ye Guigen said. “Elizabeth Cavendish.”

Su Xiao was stunned: "Why...why did she help me?"

"Because she thinks you have talent."

Su Xiao stared at Ye Guigen for a long time before suddenly asking, "Ye Guigen, what... is your relationship with her?"

"Partner. Perhaps... a friend."

"Just friends?" Su Xiao asked softly. "Your eyes looked different when you mentioned her."

Ye Guigen didn't know how to answer.

Su Xiao smiled, a smile of relief in it: "It's okay. Ye Guigen, you deserve someone better. Someone like me... isn't good enough for you."

"It's not a question of whether they are worthy or not..."

“Exactly.” Su Xiao interrupted him. “I know my place. Ye Guigen, you saved me and gave me a chance at a new life. I will always be grateful to you. But our paths are different. You are taking the main road to heaven, while I am taking the narrow bridge.”

She came over and gently hugged him: "Thank you for everything. Really."

The hug was light and brief. Then Su Xiao pulled away, tears welling in her eyes, but her smile was bright.

"Let's go, I need to continue packing. I'll write to you when we get to the provincial capital."

As Ye Guigen stepped out of Su Xiao's residence, night had already fallen. He stood on the street, the autumn wind bringing a chill.

Ye Guigen's phone vibrated; it was a text message from an unknown number, but he knew who it was.

"Arrived in London. Remember our promise. Looking forward to seeing you again. —E"

Ye Guigen stared at that short line of text for a long time. Then he deleted the message, but the number was already memorized.

Back in the courtyard, Ye Xin was waiting for him.

"Did you send Su Xiao away?" she asked.

"Ah."

"That's fine," Ye Xin said. "You all need space to grow."

The two sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard. The night sky was clear, and a few bright stars could be seen.

"Ye Guigen, what do you think is the most important thing in a person's life?" Ye Xin suddenly asked.

Ye Guigen thought for a moment: "Find your own path."

“Yes,” Ye Xin said, “but sometimes when there are too many paths, it’s hard to know which one to choose.”

Looking at the starry sky, she said, "When I'm working on water quality testing equipment in the lab, I sometimes wonder, can what I'm doing really change the world? Maybe it can only change a river or a few villages. Compared to my aunts building hospitals and schools in East Africa, it's too small."

“But my great-grandfather said that changing the world starts with changing a river,” Ye Guigen said.

Ye Xin smiled: "You're starting to look more and more like your great-grandfather."

"And what about you? What kind of person do you want to become?"

“Queen.” Ye Xin said without hesitation, “Not a queen who rules over others, but a queen who controls her own destiny. I want my own kingdom—maybe a laboratory, maybe a company, maybe a piece of land. There, I will be in charge.”

Her eyes gleamed in the night: "Ye Guigen, let's have a competition. Let's see who achieves their goal first."

"it is good."

The two brothers made a vow by high-fiving.

As night deepened, Ye Guigen returned to his room. He didn't turn on the light, but stood by the window, gazing at the night view of the military reclamation city.

The city stood quiet and resolute in the night, like a lurking beast awaiting the dawn.

He thought of many people: his great-grandfather's silhouette as he surveyed the Gobi Desert, his grandfather's hands covered in oil stains in the workshop, and his father's calm and composed demeanor at the negotiating table.

I remembered Su Xiao shining on stage and Ye Xin focused in the laboratory.

I also remembered Elizabeth's grey-green eyes and that night in the provincial capital.

This world is vast, with many paths and many people. He cannot walk every path, nor meet every person.

But at least, he's already on his way.

The road ahead is long, with light and shadow, warmth and cold, loyalty and betrayal.

But he was ready.

Because he is a man who returns to his roots.

There are no cowards among the men of the Ye family.

Outside the window, the military reclamation city is ablaze with lights. Under each lamp lies a story, a dream, and a life striving for progress.

In a corner of the city, a boy stood by the window, watching all this, and had already made up his mind.

He wants to go his own way.

No matter where that road leads.

He will keep going.

Because some seeds, once planted, will definitely take root and sprout.

Some lights, once seen, will never be forgotten.

Some people, once you meet them, are destined to leave a mark on your life.

The night is deep.

But dawn will always come.

Just like the poplars that my great-grandfather planted in the Gobi Desert, they will one day grow into towering trees.

Just like the first machine that Grandpa built in the workshop, it will one day become a huge industrial empire.

Just like the chess pieces that the father has laid out in the global market, they will eventually connect into one.

And now, it's his turn.

The journey of returning to one's roots has only just begun.

He will keep going.

Keep going.

Walk until you can't walk any further.

Until one truly returns to one's roots.

The starlight twinkled outside the window, like countless eyes watching the night, the boy, and the story about to unfold.

But the story has only just begun. (End of Chapter)