After returning home, Li Xu suddenly proposed an unexpected idea instead of giving Yuan Chu the deep lecture he had intended.
"Chu Chu, let's go abroad."
"Go abroad?"
"Yes, I need to study further after graduation, and I want you to come with me. Otherwise, I won't be at ease."
Initially, he was hesitant and wanted to consult Yuan Chu, but after what happened today, he decided to take charge and bring her overseas.
Yuan Chu didn't hesitate, "Wherever you go, I'll go."
That one sentence instantly soothed Li Xi's troubled heart. He longed for the days when they relied on each other; though difficult, they were peaceful.
However, upon re-entering society, a flood of complications arose, leaving him overwhelmed. Many people in Qing City knew him, and more would seek connections through Yuan Chu.
He didn't want her to be disturbed by random people, so perhaps studying abroad was a better option.
Yuan Chu didn't need to worry about language barriers. As long as her Child of Destiny was by her side, she could thrive even in a remote tribe.
However, Li Xi's departure was a year earlier than she had anticipated.
With their plans settled, they began preparing right away.
Yuan Chu even stopped attending school to focus on preparing for their overseas studies.
Sun Xinrong had seriously offended Li Xi this time, and there would be no future for them together.
Li Xi bore grudges, especially when it came to matters involving Yuan Chu; anything that touched his bottom line was unforgivable.
During the time Yuan Chu prepared to study abroad, Sun Xinrong's family's company suffered several setbacks, taking a significant hit.
It would take at least a year or two before she could indulge in gambling with others again.
Six months later, Li Xi packed up Yuan Chu and took her to M Country.
The unfamiliar environment was actually more comforting. The two seemed to have returned to the days when they were in the hospital.
One studied finance and economics, the other life sciences. Though in different fields, they got along harmoniously, with an innate understanding.
In just over a year, Li Xi successfully launched his fashion brand into the foreign market.
On Yuan Chu's 16th birthday, he hosted a fashion show themed 16 Years of Blooming Youth, with Yuan Chu as the main model.
Yuan Chu wasn't a professional model and had no fame, so there was a lot of opposition.
At 16, Yuan Chu was 165 cm tall, slender, with long legs.
In the Western modeling world, her attributes weren't particularly outstanding, which naturally drew skepticism.
To maintain uniformity, the average height of the models invited was around 167 cm, meaning Yuan Chu was below average.
While Lian usually considered his subordinates' opinions, this time, he acted like a tyrant. If anyone complained too much, he snapped, "Anyone who keeps babbling can get lost!"
Yuan Chu remained unaffected by the suspicious and hostile gazes around her, her mental strength surprisingly strong.
She quickly changed into the exquisite outfit and confidently stepped onto the runway.
The once shy girl had gradually matured, blooming like a flower and revealing her beauty.
Her steps were firm, her posture graceful, and despite walking among a group of tall, foreign girls with sharp features, her aura was not overshadowed. The audience's attention was naturally drawn to her.
At 16, she was transitioning from innocence to maturity. Emerging from the shadows, she walked with steady elegance, gradually shining bright.
What was once unremarkable now began to radiate brilliance under the audience's gaze.
Standing on the runway, Yuan Chu looked down at Li Xi.
In Li Xi's eyes was a depth of emotion as vast as the ocean: "Happy birthday, my Chu Chu."
For him, she could be both unnoticed and dazzling, content in a corner or willing to leave her homeland.
She was like his guardian angel, protecting him without complaint. He wanted to give her the very best, in exchange for her eternal company.
The fashion show was a success, and Yuan Chu garnered significant attention, with invitations to walk in other shows pouring in.
However, she turned them all down, focusing primarily on her research. Apart from Li Xi's shows, she had no interest in participating in others.
Those who had looked down on her changed their tune, advising Li Xi to groom Yuan Chu as their exclusive model.
Li Xi retorted, "Get lost! She's 'exclusive' to me, not to 'you all.'"
Most of Yuan Chu's photos were personally taken by Li Xi. Over the years, they had accumulated over three thousand pictures, enough to fill an entire bookshelf.
After the fashion show, Li Xu's business entered a rapid growth phase, with increasing demands on his time.
Wealth flowed in like a tide, with any investment yielding substantial profits.
Especially the projects developed for Yuan Chu—like amusement parks, snack factories, and malls—all turned into cash machines.
At 18, Yuan Chu completed all her studies and graduated early. During this period, she improved several medical devices, such as the medical image processing instrument, the neural signal detection device, and the mind-controlled motion assistance apparatus.
She also published papers on cell biology, immunology, microbiology, and other fields, causing quite a stir in the industry.
After graduating, Yuan Chu declined to continue her studies at the university and returned to Z Country with Li Xi.
By then, Li Xi's net worth was nearly comparable to the original Li family, while Lian Tian Group's strength had declined, especially after Li Xu’s aunt, Lian Wenhong, was tricked by Li Xi into making a bad investment, leading to a massive debt. She was quietly selling off her shares.
The situation for Li Xi’s eldest and second brothers wasn't much better. They barely maintained the family business with the remaining resources.
After the financial crisis, Lian Tian Group's assets shrunk by a quarter, and management flaws became increasingly apparent, signaling the company's imminent collapse.
Li Xi had long severed ties with them, but the Li siblings hadn't given up on drawing him in. Li Xi's business acumen made them envious, and they hoped to use his abilities to revive Lian Tian Group.
But Li Xi was unmoved, avoiding them altogether. When he was hospitalized, they showed no concern; when the family split, they didn't hesitate for a moment.
They even tried to seize his parents' assets, and if it weren't for his grandfather's protection, he wouldn't know what would be left.
"You ungrateful little wolf, so heartless to your uncles, you'll get your retribution!" Li Wenhong lashed out after being turned away yet again.
Li Xi didn't care about her words, but that night, he suddenly coughed up blood.
When he rinsed his mouth, the blood mixed with water, staining the basin red.
He was momentarily stunned, his mind blank. Then he calmly cleaned himself and the basin, as if nothing had happened.
The next day, he secretly went to the hospital for a check-up. The results showed that his organs were deteriorating and would continue to decline at twice the normal rate.
Li Xi's heart sank. His first thought wasn't about himself but Yuan Chu. Her body might be suffering the same accelerated decay.
This thought filled him with an overwhelming fear he hadn't felt in years.
He brought Yuan Chu to the hospital, anxiously awaiting her results.
Yuan Chu knew what he feared and what they were about to face.
Her life was linked to the Child of Destiny, her body mirroring his condition. So, what he feared was bound to happen.
Sure enough, her results were almost identical to his. At their current rate of decline, they might not live past 40.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Yuan Chu comforted him.
Li Xi tightly held her hand, his expression grave.
He was 25, leaving less than 15 years. It was too short. He wanted to live longer with Chu Chu and wasn't ready to leave the world so soon.
"Chu Chu, you shouldn't go to the lab anymore. Just rest at home," Li Xi pleaded, terrified she might leave before him.
"My research is at a critical stage. Please give me a little more time," Yuan Chu refused his request for the first time.
"You must promise it won't affect your health." Li Xi insisted, not reassured.
"Okay, I promise."
But their bodies seemed to have hit fast-forward, weakening by the day. First, they lost their appetites, then came the constant vomiting, insomnia, dizziness, and a host of minor ailments.
Li Xi repeatedly urged Yuan Chu to leave the lab and rest at home, but she refused each time.
A year later, Li Xi suddenly collapsed, and not long after, Yuan Chu also fainted in the lab. As their life force weakened, so did their fortune.
Yuan Chu's fainting was a self-protection mechanism to avoid detection by the heavens. Though she remained conscious, no one was around, and she lay on the floor, relieved Li Xi hadn't found her.
But Lian woke up earlier than expected and, finding her lying there as if dead, turned pale with fear.
Only after confirming she was okay did he feel a bit relieved, but he forbade her from entering the lab again, with bodyguards and nurses on constant standby.
"Brother, trust me. Once my research makes a breakthrough, we'll be healthy again." Yuan Chu lay cocooned in bed, wrapped like a silkworm by him, a hint of helplessness on her face.
"I'm afraid your body will give out before then," Li Xi said sternly, "There are plenty of others in the lab. If they can't produce results without you, what's the point?"
"I'm leading this research, and I hold the core technology. Without me, it's unlikely they'll achieve a breakthrough in the short term." Although Yuan Chu had a strong learning ability, it still took her some effort to fully understand this world's medical system.
Li Xi remained silent, his face full of refusal. The fear and heartache from seeing Yuan Chu lying on the ground before was something he didn't want to experience again.
"I promise to live with you until we're ninety-nine," Yuan Chu said, holding his hand and smiling, "As long as you give me a little faith."
I've always had faith in you! Li Xi silently repeated in his heart. However, he didn't want to see her struggling alone while he was unable to do anything.
"Helping me acquire advanced equipment and providing sufficient research funds so I can focus on my experiments is the best support you can give me." Yuan Chu was fully aware of his worries.
Li Xi leaned against her, holding her hand tightly, already convinced by her words.
"Before I agree, you must promise me one thing," Li Xi gently rubbed her fingers, his tone soft.
"Alright, what is it?"
"Marry me."
Yuan Chu: "…I'm not old enough to legally marry yet."
Li Xi somehow produced a ring and held it out to her.
"Then let's get engaged first."
Before she could respond, he added, "And you’re not allowed to refuse."
Yuan Chu: "…" Alright, whatever you say.
She took the ring from his hand and slipped it onto her ring finger. "Is this okay?"
"Perfectly okay!" Li Xi's lips curled into a smile, his spirits lifting.
The girl he had protected for ten years had finally been promoted from little sister to fiancée.
Even if they only had ten years left, he wanted to spend every moment with her. Every minute, every second was precious.
He didn't want to miss a thing.
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