Great Power Reclamation

In March, spring arrived late in London. The cherry blossoms along the Thames were in bloom, their pink and white petals falling in the wind like a gentle snowfall.

Ye Guigen's life seemed to have returned to normal: attending classes, studying, and participating in various social activities arranged by Elizabeth.

But he knew in his heart that some things had changed. The underground boxing scandal was like a mirror, reflecting the true face of this world—

Beneath the glamorous exterior lies cruelty, beneath the elegant speech lies scheming, and those dangers lurking in the shadows.

On March 10, Su Xiao arrived in London.

Ye Guigen went to Heathrow Airport to pick her up. In the arrival hall, he saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure:
Su Xiao was wearing a simple beige trench coat, dragging a small suitcase, her long hair tied in a ponytail, and her face bare of makeup.

Compared to a year ago, she has lost some weight, but her eyes are brighter and her back is straighter.

"Returning to one's roots!" Su Xiao's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she jogged over.

"Welcome to London." Ye Guigen took her luggage. "Was the journey smooth?"

"It went smoothly." Su Xiao followed beside him, curiously looking around:

"This is London... It's not quite what I imagined."

On the bus, Su Xiao excitedly recounted her learning experience at the Provincial Dance Academy.

She received a full-year scholarship and was selected as an outstanding student of the year, earning the opportunity to attend the Spring Masterclass at the Royal Academy of Dance in London.

“The professor said I’ve improved.” Su Xiao’s eyes sparkled. “He said there’s something new in my dancing… he said it’s ‘weight.’”

"weight?"

"Yes, it's the weight of life experience."

Su Xiao said earnestly, "Before, when I danced, I only showcased skills and beauty. Now, I use my body to tell stories. Stories of pain, stories of rebirth, stories of hope."

She looked out the window at the fleeting street scene: "Ye Guigen, do you know, sometimes I dream about that warehouse, about Old Scar's hands, about the way you rushed in. Every time I wake up from a nightmare, I go to the practice room and dance out all that fear and pain. As I dance, it becomes part of the dance."

Ye Guigen held her hand: "You are very strong."

Su Xiao smiled, a smile that held a sense of relief after enduring hardship:

"You taught me that falling down is not important, what's important is getting up."

She gently rested her head on his shoulder: "Thank you for always being there for me."

At that moment, a complex emotion welled up in Ye Guigen's heart.

He thought of Elizabeth—that powerful, complex woman, like a raging fire. He also thought of Su Xiao—that gentle, resilient girl, like a clear spring.

He didn't know which he wanted more. Or perhaps he wanted both, but that was impossible.

Over the next few days, Ye Guigen showed Su Xiao around London.

They went to the British Museum and paused before the Rosetta Stone; they went to the National Gallery and stood silently before Van Gogh's "Sunflowers"; they went to the West End Theatre and watched a performance of "Les Misérables".

Su Xiao was full of curiosity about everything, as excited as a child.

While feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square, she said, "It's good to be back home, London is wonderful. But I know this isn't for me. I'm just a passerby here."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because my roots are not here."

Su Xiao looked at the London Eye in the distance. "My roots are in that small county town in Gansu, in the days I spent in the military reclamation town, in the bigger world you showed me. London is beautiful, but it's just a stop on my journey."

She turned to Ye Guigen and said earnestly:
“You know what? My biggest dream isn’t to become a world-famous dancer, but to one day return to my hometown, open a dance school, and teach children like me to dance. To let them know that even if they are born in the smallest county, they can see a bigger world through dance.”

Ye Guigen looked at her. In the London March sunlight, Su Xiao's face had a holy glow.

At that moment, he understood that this girl had the purest original intention—not to conquer, not to possess, but to give.

On March 15th, Elizabeth met with Henry Cavendish in his top-floor office at the Cavendish Bank headquarters. It was a formal meeting between Henry Cavendish and Elizabeth.

“Relax,” Elizabeth said in the elevator. “Father has already approved of you. Today is just a formality.”

What does he approve of in me?

“I acknowledge that you are worthy of me,” Elizabeth smiled. “And I also acknowledge that the Ye family is worthy of the Cavendish family.”

The elevator doors opened, revealing a huge office with an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the City of London.

Henry Cavendish, who was sitting behind his desk, stood up when he saw them come in.

“Mr. Ye, welcome.” Henry extended his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Some things have impressed me, and some things…worry me.”

The three sat down. The waiter served tea and snacks and then left, leaving only them in the office.

“Elizabeth told me you want to be with her,” Henry said bluntly. “As a father, what I care about is, what can you give her?”

Ye Guigen thought for a moment: "Respect, support, and an equal future."

"An equal future?"

Henry raised an eyebrow. "The Cavendish family has a three-hundred-year history and controls one-tenth of Europe's capital flows. The Ye family, though it rose rapidly, has only been around for three generations. On what basis is your so-called equality based?"

"It's based on mutual need," Ye Guigen said calmly.

“The Cavendish family needs to enter the Asian market, and the Ye family needs to consolidate its European business. This is a matter of commercial equality. As for personal matters… Elizabeth and I chose each other, which is a matter of emotional equality.”

Henry looked at him for a long time, then nodded:
“That’s a good answer. But I have another question: If one day the interests of the Cavendish family and the Ye family clash, whose side will you take?”

This is a very pointed question. Elizabeth looked at Ye Guigen nervously.

Ye Guigen paused for a few seconds, then said, "I will try my best to avoid that kind of conflict. But if it really happens, I will stand on the right side."

"The other side?"

"It's not the side that benefits the Cavendish family, nor the side that benefits the Ye family, but the side that is fairer and more sustainable for everyone."

Ye Guigen said, "My great-grandfather established the army to reclaim the city, not for the benefit of the Ye family, but to ensure that everyone who went there could survive."

“My grandfather founded the Warrior Group not just to make money, but to bring Chinese manufacturing to the world. My father established the Brothers Group so that the Chinese voice could be heard in global rule-making. The Ye family tradition has never been about narrow family interests.”

He paused for a moment: "If Elizabeth chooses me, she also chooses this tradition. So there will be no conflict, because we are pursuing the same thing—a fairer and more hopeful world."

The office fell silent. Henry Cavendish stared at Ye Guigen, his expression complex. After a long while, he smiled.

“Very good,” he said. “Elizabeth made the right choice.”

He stood up and walked to the window:
"Do you know what the Cavendish family's biggest problem is? We are too conservative, too focused on maintaining what we have, and have forgotten to create new things. Three hundred years of history is both a treasure and a burden."

He turned to look at Ye Guigen: "And your Ye family is the exact opposite. You have nothing, so you dare to create anything. That's why you've been able to get to where you are today in just three generations."

He walked up to Ye Guigen and patted him on the shoulder:
“I agree to you two being together. But on one condition: you must create something truly valuable, not just something you inherit, but something you create. Prove that you are worthy of each other and worthy of this era.”

As Elizabeth left Cavendish Bank, she excitedly hugged Ye Guigen:

"Did you hear that? Father has agreed!"

But Ye Guigen wasn't as excited as she was. Henry's words echoed in his mind:
"To create something truly valuable, not just to inherit, but to create."

He had been searching for his own path. Now he understood that the path was not to inherit the Warriors Group and the Brotherhood Group, but to build upon those two groups and create something new.

That evening, he called his father, Ye Feng.

"Dad, there's something I want to do."

"what's up?"

"I want to create a new investment fund," Ye Guigen said.
"We don't invest in established, large companies; we only invest in promising early-stage innovative projects, especially those that can solve real-world problems and improve the lives of ordinary people."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone: "Why?"

"Because I see the imbalance in this world."

Ye Guigen said, "In London and New York, I saw how capital chases short-term gains, how it creates bubbles, and how it exacerbates inequality." "But I also saw people doing truly valuable things—developing clean energy, improving medical technology, and creating educational opportunities. All they lack was funding and support."

He took a deep breath: "I want to be the one who supports them. To use the Ye family's capital, the Brothers Group's experience, and the Cavendish family's network to support those who truly want to change the world."

Ye Feng laughed: "Do you know how difficult this is? Early-stage investment is extremely risky; nine out of ten projects fail. Moreover, it's not the most profitable path."

"But this is the most valuable path."

Ye Guigen said, “My great-grandfather built the city, my grandfather started his business, and you established the Brothers Group. Each generation has been doing the most valuable thing in that era. Now it’s my turn. What I want to do is connect capital and goodwill, and let the money flow to where it is truly needed.”

There was another long silence on the other end of the phone. Then Ye Feng said:

“Okay. I’ll give you $100 million in seed funding. But there are two conditions: First, you must prove this model is viable within five years. Second, you must find at least three heavyweight partners.”

"I will."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Guigen stood by his dormitory window, gazing at the London night view. He had finally found his path—

Not inheritors, but connectors; not maintainers, but creators.

The next day, he arranged to meet Elizabeth and Su Xiao at the same coffee shop, but at a different time.

Elizabeth arrived first. Her eyes lit up after hearing Ye Guigen's idea:
“This is what Father meant by ‘creating something new’! Returning to one’s roots, this is fantastic! The Cavendish family can be your first partner. We have a vast network that can help you find the best projects.”

But she immediately frowned: "However, one hundred million dollars is too little. To make an early-stage investment, you need at least five hundred million."

"So I need to find other partners."

“I can help you.” Elizabeth grasped his hand:

"This is the true meaning of our being together—not just feelings, but a shared ideal. Let's do this together, like returning to our roots."

Seeing her excited expression, Ye Guigen felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Elizabeth understood him, supported him, and had the ability to help him. This was something Su Xiao couldn't do.

An hour later, Su Xiao arrived. After listening to Ye Guigen's idea, she remained silent for a long time.

“I don’t really understand these things,” she concluded, “but it sounds like you want to do good.”

"Correct."

"That's great." Su Xiao smiled. "Although I can't be of much help, I'll cheer you on."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Ye Guigen, you know, on the plane to London, I thought about a lot of things. About you, about me, about us."

She looked into his eyes: "I like you, I've always liked you. But I also know that we're not on the same path. You're walking the main road to heaven, while I'm walking a narrow bridge. We can't walk side by side forever; that would only make us both tired."

Ye Guigen felt a pang of pain in his heart: "Su Xiao..."

"Let me finish," Su Xiao said softly. "During my time in London, I saw your world—so complex, so vast, so... heavy. The life I want is very simple: to dance, to teach children to dance, and to live a peaceful life."

She held his hand: "Ye Guigen, you are a good person, you deserve the best. And that best person is someone who can fight alongside you, someone who can understand your ideals and support your cause. That person is Elizabeth, not me."

Tears streamed down her face, but she smiled.
"So, I'm letting go. It's not that I don't love you, but that I love you too much, so I want you to be happy. And I will find my own happiness—on the stage, in the classroom, among those children who love to dance."

Ye Guigen was speechless. He wanted to hug her, to tell her it wasn't like that, to tell her they could go together.

But he knew Su Xiao was right. Their paths were different, and forcing them to be together would only cause them both pain.

"Are we still friends?" he asked.

"We'll always be friends." Su Xiao wiped away her tears. "You'll always be one of the most important people in my life. I'll always be grateful to you and wish you all the best."

She stood up and gently kissed his forehead: "Goodbye, Ye Guigen. I wish you success."

Watching her departing figure, Ye Guigen felt a void in his heart. He knew that some things had come to an end.

That kind of pure, simple emotion, untainted by any self-interest, may never exist again.

But he also knew that something had begun. A path that truly belonged to him, an ideal worth fighting for, and a partner to fight alongside him.

That night, Ye Guigen began writing his business plan. He named his fund "Cornerstone and Wings"—the cornerstone being down-to-earth innovators, and the wings being the support of capital and resources.

He listed a series of investment areas: clean energy, medical technology, educational technology, agricultural innovation... each of which is a field that can truly improve the lives of ordinary people.

At three in the morning, he received an email from Ye Xin. Attached was a business plan—the plan for the company she wanted to start.

The company is called "Qingliu Technology," and its main business is water treatment and environmental monitoring technology. Their first-generation product is an improved water quality analyzer, which has already obtained patents in China and Germany.

"I plan to set up R&D centers in both Berlin and Shenzhen," Ye Xin wrote in the email.
"German technology, Chinese manufacturing, global market. This is my 'kingdom.' Ye Guigen, what do you think?"

Ye Guigen smiled. His little aunt, the one who was going to be queen, had already taken off.

He replied, “Great. Need investment? I’m actually setting up a fund.”

Five minutes later, Ye Xin called: "Are you serious?"

“Really. A hundred million US dollars in seed funding, specifically for early-stage innovative projects. Your ‘Clearstream Technology’ could be our first project.”

On the other end of the phone, Ye Xin was silent for a moment, then laughed:
"Ye Guigen, you've grown up. Okay, I accept the investment. But on the condition that I have complete autonomy in running the business."

"Of course. I only invest, I don't interfere."

“There’s one more condition,” Ye Xin said. “I want to become an advisor to your fund. After all, I’m someone who’s on the front lines of innovation, and I know what entrepreneurs need most.”

"make a deal."

After hanging up the phone, dawn was breaking. Ye Guigen stood by the window, watching London gradually awaken.

This ancient city, once the center of the British Empire, remains the financial heart of the world.

And he, a young man from a military reclamation city in Northwest China, is about to begin his journey here.

Not as the heir of the Ye family, but as Ye Guigen himself.

It's not about inheriting something, but about creating something.

The phone rang. It was Elizabeth: "Are you awake? My father wants to see you about the fund. He said he can introduce you to a few potential partners."

"I'm coming right away."

Before leaving the house, Ye Guigen glanced at himself in the mirror. His eighteen-year-old face still carried a hint of childishness, but his eyes already held a certain firmness.

He thought of his great-grandfather, Ye Wancheng, who was over eighty years old and still tinkering with various medicines in the nursing home, his eyes still shining.

I thought of my grandfather, Ye Yuze, who started as a middleman, built the Warrior Group, and changed the fate of countless people.

I thought of my father, Ye Feng, who started from scratch on Wall Street, built the Brothers Group, and took capital to the world.

Now, it's his turn.

The path of returning to one's roots.

The road of foundation and wings.

A path connecting capital and goodwill.

It may be difficult, it may fail, but so what?

At least he's on his own path.

This is enough.

In the early morning in London, sunlight pierces through the thin mist, illuminating the Thames.

The boy stepped out the door and into the new world that awaited him.

The road ahead is still long.

But he was ready. (End of Chapter)