Ding Ning is now the head of the Ding Corporation. Recently, she has mobilized all her funds to desperately obstruct the projects of the Ji family.

This kind of tactic where one sacrifices oneself to inflict damage on the enemy is most taboo in the business world.

It belongs to the realm of spiteful fighting.

Netizens are, however, enjoying the spectacle. Some say Ding Ning is fighting for her dignity in a rage for her beloved.

Others say Ding Ning is blinded by love, losing all rationality for a man.

But regardless of what is said, Ding Ning's strategy is effective.

The Ji family, initially unwilling to get involved in this war, finally stepped in.

To my surprise, this time they publicly expressed unconditional support for all decisions made by Ji Qianqian.

They openly accepted Ding Ning's provocation.

The Ji family's stance gave me confidence.

I contacted a group of brothers from my startup days to begin finding business loopholes in the Ding Corporation.

Unexpectedly, I indeed discovered issues.

"The funds chain of Dongsheng has a problem, all projects have been halted, and companies cooperating with them are also affected," Chen Yi reported with the investigated data.

Dongsheng project.

It was the project that once had Ding and Ji families competing, later conceded by Ji Qianqian for my sake.

Chen Yi held the investigative report, "Ding Ning poured a large amount of idle funds into the project during her early-stage standoff with the Ji family. Now, there’s no extra money to turnover. The Jiabao Group had conflicts with the Ding family over arranged marriage issues, and they're now planning to throw a stone at them while they're down. Let the Ji family team up with the Jiabao Group to snatch another project. This way, the Ding family will be at their wit’s end and won't last a few days."

The business world is like a battlefield.

Every decision impacts the survival of a company.

Seeing me silent, Chen Yi frowned, "Shi Yuan, you’re not still thinking about Ding Ning, are you?"

I was stunned after he spoke.

Then I shook my head.

Chen Yi's expression was stern, "Brother, you must do this. As long as Ding Ning remains in her position, you’ll get no peace; she’ll always find ways to trouble you, trouble the Ji family."

A few days later, trouble did occur at the Ding family.

All projects were halted.

Thousands of workers collectively demanded their wages.

I couldn’t imagine how proud Ding Ning would handle such chaos at this moment.

With the Ding family's network, I thought she could withstand it.

However, Ding Ning seemed to give up.

It was as if she suddenly lost all her fighting spirit. She applied for bankruptcy and entrusted subordinate companies to take over the unfinished projects, accounting to the workers.

On New Year’s Day, I received a call from the old housekeeper who had left the Ding family.

He said Ding Ning asked him to contact me.

She wanted to meet me.

At 8 PM, at an arcade in the city center.

It was a place we used to frequent when we were little.

But I didn’t go.

If Ding Ning and I are destined not to be together.

Then I hope she looks forward too.

But I didn’t expect that the next morning, I received a call from the police.

Ding Ning committed suicide.

Right under the pear tree at the villa where we planted it together.

After that, I dared not accept any news related to Ding Ning's death. I blocked all information, pretending she was still alive.

The following month, I received a letter sent by the Time Post Office.

It was written by Ding Ning to me.

As if she had known I wouldn’t go that day, she chose to send it the following month.

On the envelope, it read:

To Mr. Fu, personally.

As I tore the letter open, it felt like the little girl was standing in front of me.

"By the time you read this letter, I should no longer be here. But don't worry, I left you some money, which was saved in an account many years ago, and the balance should be enough for you to live a carefree life. I didn’t tell you before because I was afraid that you would have the capital to leave me once you had money.

You've always asked me why our relationship changed so drastically after junior high, haven't you?

I never told you, during the summer of the first year, I overheard your conversation with your mother.

At that time, you said you hated the Ding family, you hated everyone in the Ding family.

You said you didn’t like me, you questioned why she insisted on repaying the kindness.

At that moment, I realized that you stayed with the Ding family, stayed by my side, just to repay the debt of my brother's death.

It turned out you disliked me that much.

So, I decided to dislike you too. I thought of ways to bully you, making you feel my sadness. But every time I saw you cry, it was only me who felt sad.

Struggling for so many years, entangled for so many years, I originally thought it would be fine like this.

But I didn’t expect you to leave.

When you resolutely set the fire, preferring to die rather than stay by my side, I was suddenly scared.

Do you hate me to the core?

Just like I hate myself right now.

I have thought more than once, how great it would be if time could flow backward.

Back to that flourishing summer.

Back to when I didn’t know the truth yet.

Then I could straightforwardly say I love you.

Maybe the outcome would be different.

Unfortunately, there is no ‘if’ in this world."

Reading the letter to this point, the sky began to snow.

Suddenly, I remembered a year during the Spring Festival, it also snowed heavily.

The living room was playing the gala, adults were making dumplings in the kitchen.

I secretly pulled Ding Ning outside and handed the little girl a bundle of sparklers.

She held the sparklers, and the fireworks burned in the silent snowy night, blooming into a beautiful flower.

It was the most beautiful firework I'd ever seen.

In a trance, Ji Qianqian came in holding a black umbrella from outside.

She sheltered me from the falling snowflakes on me, "What are you doing standing foolishly by the mailbox alone?"

"Waiting for you."

Ji Qianqian chuckled softly, "Let’s go home quickly."

Go home.

I was taken aback.

What a beautiful word.

But it seemed... I had no home.

Ji Qianqian took my hand, leading me to her home.

Our steps were slow.

Leaving a trail of shallow footprints in the snow.

Suddenly, I thought of the last sentence in Ding Ning's letter.

She told me, "Fu Shi Yuan, I wanted to meet with you to tell you that the debt to the Ding family is paid. Congratulations, you are free."

——The End——