The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Shang Yibo followed Fang Xichen out of the study and back to his room on the third floor.

The curtains were drawn and soft ambient lighting was on in the room.

A glass of fresh milk was placed on the bedside table.

It was obvious that Fang Xichen had already come up and tidied up Shang Yibo's bedroom.

"Yibo, don't think about those things. Go take a shower, drink your milk, and get a good night's sleep."

Before leaving, Fang Xichen seemed to remember something, turned around, and smiled at him, saying, "I've read the script for 'The Legend of Huizhou Merchants.' Ling Shaojing is a very challenging role, and I like it very much. Do your best in the role. Mom is your fan."

"Mom, thank you." Shang Yibo said in a deep voice as he watched Fang Xichen's departing figure.

Fang Xichen waved his hand, and his figure disappeared into the corridor outside the door. With a soft "click", the door closer slowly closed the door, shutting everything out.

In the room, Shang Yibo was all alone. He quietly walked to the desk, slowly sat down, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"So I'm the son of a heartless and ungrateful scumbag." Shang Yibo muttered to himself, a bitter self-mockery curling at the corner of his mouth. He recalled the rumors about his father, Yin Bei, his past glory and his current desolation.

No one was willing to tell him what kind of person Yin Bei really was, what his strengths were, and what his despicable aspects were.

They were simply venting their emotions from their own perspective.

These are like deep scars, etched in his heart, making it impossible for him to let go.

He was young when his mother passed away and had almost no memory of it, but in the mouths of Chu Fanqing, Fang Xichen, and Aunt Yan, Shang Yuchen was always a beautiful and intelligent woman.

Shang Yibo has never met his biological father, Yin Bei, but he fully believes that his mother, such an outstanding woman, would not misjudge or love the wrong person.

Once he had this thought, Shang Yibo desperately wanted to know what kind of person Yin Bei, his father, really was.

"They say the things of the previous generation have nothing to do with me. Is that really true?" he asked himself in a low voice. "Then where did I come from?"

Shang Yibo felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out, leaving an empty void that he didn't know how to fill.

The door to the room thudded, and Chu Fanyan walked in.

"Yibo, you left your phone on the table. It rang twice already. Don't delay your business, I'll bring it to you."

Shang Yibo sat up, took the phone, and casually placed it on the bedside table.

Chu Fanyan stood there, stunned, staring at Shang Yibo.

"Aunt Yan, is there anything else?" Shang Yibo asked.

Aunt Yan said softly, "I shouldn't have said those things just now. He is, after all, your biological father. I'm sorry, Yibo. Don't be sad. It's all in the past."

"Aunt Yan, you should go back and rest. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Shang Yibo saw Chu Fanyan out the door.

The cell phone on the coffee table rang. He closed the door and went back to answer the call.

The caller was Zhou Yanruo: "You finally answered the phone."

"Yeah, my phone wasn't with me just now," Shang Yibo said in a muffled voice.

"Why does your voice sound like that? Are you in a bad mood? Is something wrong?"

"You called me to ask what's wrong?"

"Oh, by the way, we have a makeup test and stills shoot scheduled for tomorrow for 'The Legend of Huizhou Merchants.' You're still at 'Zi Mo Yuan,' right? The production studio is in Huairou, so we'll pick you up and we'll go together."

"Yanruo, you can enter the campus of Tsinghua and Peking University, right?" Shang Yibo suddenly asked.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.

Zhou Yanruo was silent for a moment, her voice filled with doubt and confusion, when she asked, "How did you know?"

When Shang Yibo suddenly mentioned 'Tsinghua and Peking Universities', she was stunned for a moment, and those long-forgotten memories surged into her mind like a tide.

Zhou Yanruo grew up in the faculty and staff quarters of Tsinghua and Peking Universities, a place filled with laughter and countless beautiful memories for her and her family.

However, since her parents' tragic death, she has never returned to that once familiar courtyard. It has become a forbidden zone in her heart, a painful place she can never touch again.

After that, she never mentioned this past event to anyone, burying it deep in the depths of her heart.

But now, Shang Yibo's sudden and inexplicable mention of it surprised and confused her.

Shang Yibo did not directly answer Zhou Yanruo.

He continued, "What time will work finish tomorrow morning? If you don't have any other plans for the afternoon, will you come with me to Tsinghua or Peking University?"

Yin Bei was once a professor at Tsinghua and Peking Universities; going there should allow me to learn more. Even if I can only find one photograph, it would be helpful.

"Ding Jiajia can accompany you. I have other plans tomorrow and can't go with you..."

Zhou Yanruo's refusal was somewhat abrupt; she instinctively didn't want to mention that place again, much less return to it.

This time, it was Shang Yibo's turn to be surprised.

He couldn't insist, so he could only reply, "Okay."

"We'll pick you up at 7 a.m. tomorrow." Zhou Yanruo said, and hung up the phone without waiting for Shang Yibo's response.

Shang Yibo put away his phone and smiled helplessly: "Zhou Yanruo has really changed."

Zhou Yanruo's excuse that she had other plans for tomorrow afternoon was not entirely a pretext to avoid going to Tsinghua and Peking Universities.

In fact, she already has her own things to do.

Just now, on her way home from the company, she received a call from Zhou Zihang: "Ruo Ruo, are you back in Beijing from your business trip?"

Zhou Yanruo then remembered that Zhou Zihang should have been back in China for two or three days. She had been so busy these past few days that she had completely forgotten about him.

"Zihang, I'm back in Beijing. I'm so sorry, I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't had a chance to contact you."

"It's okay, it's okay. I also had a lot of things to take care of after I returned to China, and I only just managed to find some time." Zhou Zihang's voice revealed a hint of melancholy.

Hearing Zhou Zihang repeatedly say "It's okay, it's okay," Zhou Yanruo felt even more guilty. She knew Zhou Zihang's personality well; since they met, he had never made her feel awkward. This time, it was clearly her oversight, and the reason he said that was simply to ease Zhou Yanruo's guilt.

"Where did you stay when you returned to Beijing?" Zhou Yanruo asked.

"The school has arranged an apartment for the experts, so I'll stay there temporarily. It will be more convenient when we're discussing business."

Zhou Zihang thought for a moment and then said, "Have you found a place for me? I've finished talking to the college, and I'm moving out next week."

“There are still vacancies in the apartment I rent, and the property management said I can sign a contract at any time.”

"Let's sign the contract tomorrow. I want to move in as soon as possible."

Zhou Yanruo smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I'll contact the property management and arrange a viewing tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow morning, after signing the contract, I'll go buy some daily necessities, and I can move in tonight."

"Is it really that urgent?"

Zhou Yanruo was at a loss with him; if she said a few more words, she didn't know how long he would nag her.

So he said, "I have work tomorrow morning, so how about this, I'll go with you to look at apartments tomorrow afternoon."

"It's a deal."

You could tell from Zhou Zihang's voice how excited he was.