dognovel Chapter 44 Be My Girlfriend
Chapter 44 Be My Girlfriend
After leaving the internet cafe, they didn't go to any fancy restaurants, but simply ate a clean and tidy-looking little eatery on the roadside. During the meal, they mostly talked about the interesting things that happened during the basketball game, the new changes at the internet cafe, and some rumors circulating at school.
After dinner, Lingyun and An Shiyu strolled side by side along the moat. The scattered lights on the opposite bank were reflected on the water, swaying gently in the breeze. The air was filled with the damp scent of grass and earth, and the occasional faint chirping of insects could be heard.
"It's hard to imagine," An Shiyu stopped, holding onto the cold stone railing, gazing at the dark river, her voice soft, "Just a few months ago, you were on the court, desperately defending for a single point, and now you're already planning the future of an electronics factory, talking about breaking the foreign technology monopoly."
Her profile appeared exceptionally beautiful in the hazy night, exuding a serene charm unique to those from scholarly families.
Ling Yun stood beside her, also gazing at the river: "Sometimes, I feel like I'm dreaming. But once you take that step, there's no going back. And..." He paused, his tone becoming deep, "Seeing laid-off workers fighting tooth and nail for a cleaning job makes me feel like someone has to do something."
An Shiyu turned her head, her clear eyes gleaming in the darkness: "So that's why you were so determined to take over the electronics factory?"
"It's not about making money. The financial industry is far more profitable than industry," Ling Yun answered frankly. "Money is important, but it's just a tool, it has no real meaning. The electronics factory, the workers, the still-functioning equipment—that's what matters. Only production has meaning, only production can create value. Money is just one link in this chain."
He spoke calmly, without any grand pronouncements, yet his words revealed a grounded idealism rooted in reality.
An Shiyu listened quietly without saying a word, but her eyes were overflowing with approval and appreciation. She had seen too many boastful boys, but rarely had she met someone like Ling Yun, who, despite doing something extraordinary, spoke with such steadiness and had such a broad perspective.
"And what about you?" Ling Yun looked at her. "What are your plans after graduation? With your grades and abilities, staying at the university, or getting a job in a government agency or newspaper should be easy for you."
An Shiyu gently smoothed her wind-blown hair, her gaze returning to the distance. "I think following the established path is just fine. Find a stable job, maybe marry a suitable person, be a good wife and mother, and live a peaceful life." She smiled slightly, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice. "Isn't that a bit pathetic?"
"Everyone has a different definition of 'being successful'," Ling Yun shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with living a stable life."
"Yes, that's right," An Shiyu said softly, "but after meeting you, I seem to have... seen a different possibility. A more... magnificent, and more real life. Watching you make money from the stock market, how you open an internet cafe, how you face the workers' doubts, and how you decisively eliminate the corrupt officials..."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet night, as if she were stating a conclusion she had thought about for a long time.
Ling Yun's heart stirred. He knew all too well the choices and pressures faced by women of this era, especially those like An Shiyu who came from good families and were outstanding in themselves. The fact that she could say these words meant that a profound change had taken place within her.
"And you?" An Shiyu turned her head again, looking intently at him. "What kind of future do you see? And what do you want?"
This is a fundamental question.
Ling Yun remained silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts. He couldn't say that he had been reborn from the future, but he could share his judgment based on the "prophet" and his own ambitions.
"The future I envision," he began slowly, his voice deep and powerful, "is a world where information technology will completely transform human life and production methods. Computers will be ubiquitous in every household, mobile phones will become as commonplace as watches are today, and people will be able to access information, communicate, and complete transactions through the internet. China will not forever remain just the world's factory; we will have our own core technologies, our own world-class brands, and we will occupy an important place in the wave of globalization."
He paused, looked at An Shiyu, his eyes incredibly serious: "What I want is to be one of the drivers of this wave, not a bystander. I want to be personally involved in building the technologies and companies that can change people's lives and make this country stronger. This process is destined to be full of thorns, and may even lead to utter destruction, but... it's worth it."
The river breeze was cool, but it couldn't dispel the ever-growing attraction and resonance between the two.
An Shiyu looked at him, at this boy whose figure stood tall and straight in the night, his eyes sharp as stars yet calm as still water. His ambition wasn't the acquisition of power, nor was it greed for wealth, but rather an almost instinctive desire to create and change. This desire resonated strongly with the deep-seated yearning within her to avoid mediocrity.
A shared set of values is far more enduring than physical attraction or fleeting passion.
"A very grand dream," An Shiyu said softly, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "It sounds... tough, but also very interesting."
"Yes, it's very interesting." Ling Yun smiled as well. "So, I need a companion who can understand this 'interesting' aspect and perhaps even experience it together."
He took a small step forward, closing the distance between them, his gaze fixed intently on An Shiyu's face, no longer avoiding her gaze.
"Shiyu," his voice was clear and solemn, particularly melodious on the quiet riverbank, "I like you. Not just a fleeting impulse, but based on our time together, on our shared views on many issues, and on the resilience and wisdom I've witnessed in you. Will you... be my girlfriend?"
There were no flowery words, no deliberate romantic preamble, only the most direct and sincere confession. Just like his style of doing things, precise, decisive, and hitting the nail on the head.
An Shiyu's heart skipped a beat, and her face flushed slightly.
She raised her eyes and bravely met Ling Yun's gaze. Those eyes, which were always gentle and smiling, were now filled with the same seriousness and a trace of her own unyielding strength.
She didn't display the usual coyness and shyness of a young girl. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, a mischievous smile on her face, and asked, "Does being Lingyun's girlfriend mean staying up all night with you to look at financial statements, listening to you talk about technical parameters I don't understand, and constantly worrying about what shocking decisions you'll make?"
Ling Yun paused for a moment, then chuckled: "Maybe. And I'll probably be very busy, so I won't have much time to spend with you, like watching a movie or taking a walk."
"That sounds like a huge loss." An Shiyu pretended to think, but the smile in her eyes was already impossible to hide.
"Yes, it's a bit of a loss." Ling Yun nodded cooperatively, then held out his hand, palm up, with an expectation that brooked no refusal. "So, are you willing to take a loss?"
The thoughtful expression on her face instantly melted away, transforming into an incredibly bright and warm smile. Without the slightest hesitation, she gently placed her hand in his palm.
"Alright," her voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of sweetness, "considering how sincere you are, and that your dream sounds pretty cool, I'll take this loss."
He felt the cool touch of her fingertips on his palm, which was then enveloped in a warmer, softer sensation.
Ling Yun held her hand tightly, as if he were holding a rare treasure. The emotional void in his heart was quietly filled at that moment. He knew that he had found not only a lover, but also a confidant and comrade-in-arms who could understand and support him on this arduous journey.
The river flows silently, witnessing the tranquility and beauty of this moment.
They smiled at each other, everything understood without words. Hand in hand, they continued walking along the riverbank.