Xiu Gou's Taming Record

Three years later, it's graduation season at Tangcheng Polytechnic.

The June sunlight filtered through the camphor tree leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on the red brick road.

The campus was filled with students taking photos in their graduation gowns, a noisy scene tinged with the sadness of farewell.

Yu Heng leaned against a stone pillar outside the auditorium, watching a group of people taking photos in the distance.

Shen Yueling, dressed in her graduation gown and holding a bouquet of champagne roses, was slightly tilting her head, listening to what Bai Xinran was saying beside her.

Bai Xinran also graduated. She didn't wear an academic gown, but a well-tailored off-white dress. At the neckline, a very thin pale gold necklace was faintly visible—it was the "graduation gift" he had given her.

Bai Xinran seemed to notice his gaze, turned her head, and gave him a very slight wink.

Shen Yueling followed her gaze and looked over. She didn't show any expression, but simply raised her hand and quietly tucked a strand of Bai Xinran's wind-blown hair behind her ear, her fingertips lightly brushing against the necklace.

Zhou Mengqi, holding a camera, was helping them adjust their positions: "Sister Yue Ling, lower your head a little more... Yes, A Ling, smile!"

He Mengyao stood a few steps away with her arms crossed, sunglasses pushed up to her head, wearing an expensive silk shirt and a knee-length khaki skirt, looking every bit the social elite. She didn't participate in the photo shoot; her gaze swept over the group of girls, finally landing on Yu Heng. She raised an eyebrow and mouthed something.

Yu Heng understood: Tonight?

He nodded almost imperceptibly.

He Mengyao smiled with satisfaction and then looked down at her phone.

Last month, she spun off a small project from her company and assigned it to Yu Heng, euphemistically calling it "graduation start-up capital." The price was that Yu Heng had to take a week off to accompany her to an island to inspect her newly purchased yacht.

Ning Yutong jogged over, her graduation cap slightly askew, her face flushed from exercise.

"Yu Heng! We've finished taking photos!" She stopped mid-sentence, then saw He Mengyao, her voice trailing off, but she quickly smiled again, walked naturally to Yu Heng's side, and lightly touched the back of his hand. "Tonight... we'll have one last dorm gathering, I might have to go back a little late."

"Mmm," Yu Heng responded, scratching her palm with his finger.

Ning Yutong's ears turned slightly red, but she didn't dodge.

In her junior year of college, she finally stopped worrying about the title of "girlfriend". After a club celebration party, she drank too much, grabbed Yu Heng's sleeve, and asked in a tearful voice, "Is it okay as long as we don't date?"

Yu Heng didn't answer, but simply took her back to the villa.

The next morning, faced with Bai Xinran's calm gaze and the warm water he offered, she silently accepted a certain established fact.

Now, she is one of the de facto managers of the "Soul Pawnshop" account. Occasionally, Yu Heng would pull her to take some promotional photos of "Yueji" new products without showing her face. She has long since calmed down and would even help hand over a prop when Lin Yu was taking photos.

Speaking of Lin Yu, Yu Heng looked up and saw her coming out of the side door of the auditorium, accompanied by a tall, thin boy wearing glasses, who was carrying her bag.

That's her boyfriend, Xu Hao, who was admitted to the graduate program at the same university this year.

Lin Yu paused when she saw the crowd around Yu Heng, said something to Xu Hao, and walked over alone.

She wasn't wearing an academic gown, but rather a sharp apricot-colored suit skirt, and her hair was cut shorter, making her look even more capable.

"President Yu." She stopped two steps away, her tone businesslike, but with a smile in her eyes.

She has one year left on her agency contract. In the past few years, she has achieved good results, playing the second female lead in several low-budget web dramas. Although she has not become a big star, she has made a name for herself in the industry. More importantly, she has completely solved her family's financial difficulties.

The line between her and Yu Heng was never crossed, but they both knew it wasn't because they didn't want to, but because of a more complex obsession with "winning" and "losing".

She upheld her principles and earned respect and a successful career.

"Xu Hao is over there," Lin Yu gestured with her chin toward her boyfriend, "I won't stay any longer."

"Okay," Yu Heng looked at her and suddenly smiled, "I sent you a sample of the new product. Don't go too far, and be careful not to overdo it."

Lin Yu paused for a moment, then realized what he meant. Her face flushed slightly, she glared at him, turned and left, but her steps were a little hurried.

Xu Hao came up to her, took her hand, and the two walked away talking in hushed tones.

Yu Heng watched their retreating figures and thought to himself, "This game is probably a draw, at least for now. We'll see about the future later."

"dad!"

A clear, childlike voice rang out.

Yu Heng turned around and saw Zhou Wanyi leading a chubby-faced little boy over.

The little boy broke free from his mother's hand and stumbled over to hug Yu Heng's leg.

Yu Heng bent down and picked him up, then weighed him in his arms: "Xiao Hui, you've gotten heavier again."

As Zhou Wanyi approached, she appeared fuller than she had been a few years ago, but her complexion was excellent. She wore a light purple dress, and her hair was gently draped over her shoulders.

She first nodded to Shen Yueling and the others, then looked at Yu Heng with a gentle gaze: "Mom said you should come home for dinner tonight, so she made you some soup."

"It depends." Yu Heng held Yu Hui in one arm, and his free hand naturally rested on Zhou Wanyi's lower back, gently massaging it. "It might finish late here."

Zhou Wanyi's waist felt slightly weak from his touch, and a blush rose on her face, but she didn't pull away. She just whispered, "I'll save that soup for you."

Qin Ya's exaggerated laughter came from not far away.

She was already a high school student and had grown much taller. Although she was still a bit rebellious, she wore her school uniform neatly and was taking pictures of Qin Lu with her phone.

"Mom! Stand up straight! Yes, look at me here!" Qin Lu laughed helplessly at her words. She was wearing a well-fitting suit dress, and her lower abdomen was already showing a slight bulge.

She stroked her lower abdomen, looking in Yu Heng's direction with a soft gaze.

This child was planned. After Qin Ya found out, she hesitated for a few days, and finally muttered, "I'll have one myself in a few years."

After saying that, she frowned again, wondering what the child should call Qin Lu's baby if she had one? Sister or Aunt?

Zhou Mengqi finally finished taking photos and ran over to complain that she was hungry.

Shen Yueling glanced at Yu Heng and said, "Ah Ling prepared everything at the villa this morning."

So the group, in a grand yet completely natural manner, headed towards the familiar villa area in the university town.

Inside the villa, a long dining table was already set with exquisite meals and drinks.

Bai Xinran, wearing an apron, was making the last soup in the kitchen when Shen Yueling went over to bring it out for her.

He Mengyao took a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet as if she knew it well, and opened it by herself.

Ning Yutong and Zhou Mengqi huddled together looking at the photos they had just taken, laughing and joking.

Qin Lu was helped to rest on the sofa by Qin Ya.

Zhou Wanyi was playing with building blocks with Yu Hui.

Yu Heng stood at the intersection of the living room and the dining room, looking at the people in the house, noisy and full of life, each occupying a corner of his life and space, yet miraculously maintaining a certain balance.

Yu Heng went to the balcony and lit a cigarette.

Light footsteps sounded behind her. Shen Yueling walked over and stood beside him, watching the sunset sink into the city skyline in the distance. She didn't speak, just stayed quietly.

A long time passed, so long that the cigarette was almost burned out, before she spoke softly, as if to him, yet also as if to herself:

"So noisy."

"But," she paused, her voice even softer, as if about to be carried away by the evening breeze, "it seems...not so bad."

Yu Heng stubbed out his cigarette, reached out, and took her hand, which was resting on the railing. Her hand was slightly cool, but quickly, she returned the gesture, squeezing his hand tightly.

From downstairs came Qin Ya's voice calling for dinner to be served, full of youthful energy.

Yu Heng released Shen Yueling's hand and turned to walk towards the warm light and noise.

"Let's eat," he said.

All the stories seem to have come to a temporary end.

The sun is shining brightly, and the future is long.

And they are all there.

(End of the book)