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Chen Xiaojun was an incredibly perceptive woman; she clearly noticed the undeniable solemnity and fervor in Su Ning's eyes when he said, "I'll marry you."

That wasn't a man's perfunctory or impulsive act when he was deeply in love, but a promise made after careful consideration, almost like burning one's bridges.

This profound and genuine affection, like a warm current, instantly broke down the dam she had built in her heart because of Fan Lin, Liu Tao, and those vague rumors.

She knew all too well that a man like Su Ning would never lack temptations, and that his world was far more expansive and complex than she had imagined.

Demanding that he immediately sever all ties with the past and become as devoted and transparent as an ordinary lover is neither realistic nor wise.

True wisdom lies not in dwelling on someone's past, but in holding firmly onto the sincere heart they entrust to you, a heart that points towards the future.

Therefore, Chen Xiaojun made a clear-headed and firm choice.

She carefully put away her longing for "the only one" for the time being, no longer letting suspicion and unease consume their feelings for each other.

She chose to believe his vow at that moment and entered his life with a more mature and inclusive attitude.

She was no longer just the diligent assistant in "Bizarre and Strange," or the ambiguous lover hiding in the shadows.

She truly became Suning's "confidante," deeply involved in and concerned with all aspects of Suning's operations.

This role transcends that of a simple work partner or lover; it represents a deeper level of bond and fusion.

At work, she is Suning's sharpest spear and strongest shield.

Chen Xiaojun has grown at an astonishing pace, integrating the business logic she learned in her MBA program with the industry experience she accumulated on film sets.

She was no longer content with simply following orders; she began to participate in strategic planning.

When Suning was undecided about the investment direction for a new project, she could work overnight to compile a detailed industry analysis report, using data and case studies to support her decision, which became the most important basis for his decision-making.

At the same time, he filtered out countless unnecessary social engagements for Suning, skillfully navigating between investors, platforms, and creative teams.

A crucial financing negotiation has stalled, with the other party's representative taking a hard line.

Instead of a direct confrontation, Chen Xiaojun "coincidentally" met the other party's wife during a tea break. A few heartfelt words about children's education instantly bridged the gap and indirectly created a turning point for the afternoon's negotiations.

She always does this: without needing to be stern or harsh, a well-timed reminder or a calm arrangement is all it takes to defuse potential risks and preserve a peaceful environment for Suning to focus on his creative work.

In life, Chen Xiaojun is Suning's warmest harbor and most sober mirror.

Chen Xiaojun manages his luxury mansion in Hangzhou very well.

She remembered that he had a bad stomach, so she would always prepare nourishing medicinal meals in advance; she remembered that he was a picky eater, so she would quietly ask the private chef to adjust the dishes.

That once quiet and lifeless space began to fill with the aroma of home-cooked meals because of her presence. Several potted plants appeared on the balcony, and the messy documents on the bookshelf were neatly organized.

This place is no longer just a temporary residence, but has become a true "home".

She understood his emotional needs even better.

When he returned from the world of fame and fortune, reeking of alcohol and exhausted, she never pressed him for answers, but simply offered him a bowl of hangover soup at just the right temperature and some soft loungewear.

When he gets irritable or easily angered due to creative blocks or external pressure, she will quietly stay by his side, sometimes just playing a piece of his favorite obscure jazz, and sometimes diverting his attention with interesting news he has heard in the industry.

She no longer demanded that he report his whereabouts at all times, but instead used trust and consideration to build a sense of relaxation and comfort that Su Ning felt like she had never experienced before.

One time, Su Ning had a burst of inspiration at three in the morning and rushed to his study to work. When he came out, he found a warm light on in the living room, and Chen Xiaojun was asleep on the sofa with a glass of milk that had been prepared for him but had gone cold next to him.

At that moment, the warmth that welled up in Suning's heart was more genuine than any vow of eternal love.

Most importantly, Chen Xiaojun began to subtly integrate into and influence Suning's circle, reshaping her own identity.

She would communicate the project's progress with Fan Lin in a professional and straightforward manner, as a partner in the "Bizarre and Unusual" film and television company, skillfully downplaying any potential awkwardness from the past.

Of course, she would also act as a junior, humbly seeking advice from senior directors like Kong Sheng on professional matters during set visits. Her sincere words earned her respect and goodwill within the industry.

She gradually made everyone see that she stood by Suning's side not because of an ambiguous relationship, but because of her real and indispensable value and ability.

Chen Xiaojun has subtly and quietly made herself an inseparable part of Suning's life and business.

She was no longer just a vine yearning for his protection, but had grown into a kapok tree whose roots intertwined with his, standing shoulder to shoulder with him through wind and rain.

She understood that only by becoming strong and important enough could the vow of "I will marry you" become not just a momentary emotion, but an inevitable future.

And she is moving steadily toward this goal, her gaze firm.

Chen Xiaojun leaned on Su Ning's shoulder, looking down at the night view of West Lake in the distance. "Su Ning, how about I take you back to meet my parents sometime?"

“Okay! You can arrange it.” Su Ning agreed without any hesitation.

"If my parents knew about our original relationship, they would be very surprised." At this moment, Chen Xiaojun suddenly remembered the car accident and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Hehe, yeah! I never expected that a car accident would entangle us together, and I never expected that I would fall in love with a female driver who caused the accident."

"Hmph! You're really my nemesis! Knowing full well that this is a trap, I still willingly jumped in."

Su Ning suddenly hugged Chen Xiaojun and kissed her, then said with a mischievous smile, "Junjun, a moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold! Let's hurry back to our room and rest."

"Ah."

……

The night was deep and all was quiet.

Inside the master bedroom of a luxury mansion by West Lake in Hangzhou, only the steady, alternating breathing of the two remained.

Su Ning's arm was resting on Chen Xiaojun's head, and her other hand naturally wrapped around Chen Xiaojun's waist, holding her tightly in her arms.

At this moment, Chen Xiaojun was fast asleep, her cheeks flushed, and a faint, serene smile on her lips, as if she were having a sweet dream.

Su Ning's chin rested gently on the top of her head, the faint fragrance of her hair lingering around her nose, and she fell into a deep sleep in this tranquility.

However, at this deepest moment of consciousness, a cold, abrupt, and completely alien mechanical voice, like a stone thrown into a still lake, suddenly rang out in the deepest part of Su Ning's consciousness...

【ding dong】

[System repair progress +1%, current overall repair progress 18%]

Su Ning was a light sleeper, and the sound startled him awake, but he remained asleep, not disturbing the beauty in his arms.

He mentally calculated that when the "Sito" dungeon ended, the progress would be 16.3%.

Afterwards, the ambiguous entanglement with Fan Lin in Beijing, and the several late-night "script discussions" with Liu Tao on the set of "Nirvana in Fire," all these things pushed the progress to 17.5%. And tonight, the complete union of body and soul with Chen Xiaojun, this genuine and unwavering emotional bond, finally pushed that difficult mark again, breaking through the 18% barrier.

[System basic functions are being restored... Analysis module loading...]

[The world coordinates for the next instance have been locked, and the spacetime parameters are stable.]

[Host, would you like to initiate the time travel immediately?]

The cold, emotionless notification tone made Suning's heart skip a beat.

He slowly opened his eyes, adjusted to the darkness for a moment, and looked down at Chen Xiaojun, who was still fast asleep.

Unaware of his gaze, she unconsciously buried her face further into his chest, seeking a warmer spot.

Suning's expression was complicated.

He knew that once he chose to travel through time, the passage of time in the alternate world would not affect reality.

Therefore, Suning can be said to have no scruples...

He reached out his free hand and very gently brushed away a stray hair from her forehead, feeling the warmth and reality emanating from her skin.

The system didn't urge them; it simply waited quietly for instructions.

The entanglements of the real world deepen: Chen Xiaojun's deep affection, Fan Lin's entanglements, Song Yujie's fiery passion, Liu Tao's occasional flirting and teasing, and the unfinished business...

However, the system's repair is related to its more fundamental secrets, and the dungeon world contains unimaginable power and opportunities.

Therefore, he has no choice but to back down or slack off.

Finally, Suning's gaze hardened again.

He placed a silent kiss on Chen Xiaojun's smooth forehead, a kiss that carried a sense of farewell.

"Crossing."

The instant the command settled in his mind, an invisible force enveloped his body.

The warm touch in his arms vanished abruptly, and the space seemed to undergo a barely perceptible distortion.

The next second, Su Ning's figure disappeared completely from the bedroom bed, as if erased by an eraser.

Inside the room, only Chen Xiaojun's breathing remained as she slept soundly, along with the cool moonlight seeping in from outside the window.

The warmth and scent of Su Ning still lingered on the pillow, as if he had never left.

A new and unknown adventure has quietly begun in another time and space.

……

After a brief but intense feeling of weightlessness and spatial distortion, Su Ning's feet touched solid ground again.

The surrounding light suddenly changed, from the dimness of the bedroom to a mixture of slightly old streetlights and natural daylight.

He quickly regained his balance, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings like a scanner.

This is an unfamiliar street, with buildings that have a distinctly dated feel, mostly five or six stories high, their walls mottled and bearing the marks of time.

The Guangyue Tower in the distance is a historical landmark, and Su Ning, who has some geographical and historical knowledge, roughly guessed where it was located.

The pedestrians on the street were dressed simply, mainly in gray, blue and black. The sound of bicycle bells rose and fell, and occasionally an old car, such as a Santana or a Xiali, would slowly drive by with the roar of its engine.

The air was filled with a slightly slow-paced atmosphere that belonged to a specific era.

The pedestrians hurried by, seemingly busy making a living, and no one noticed the man who suddenly appeared on the street corner, dressed in modern casual clothes that seemed out of place with his surroundings.

Suning breathed a slight sigh of relief, at least it didn't cause any unnecessary commotion.

Just then, that cold, mechanical voice rang in his mind again, seemingly clearer and more stable than before:
[Instance time-space drop complete. Host has safely arrived in the target instance world.]

[Current global symbol: "The Way of Heaven"]

[Timeframe: February 1996]

Location: Ancient city in Shandong.

[Brief World Background: This world is undergoing a period of dramatic socio-economic transformation, where rules and unspoken rules intertwine, and all walks of life rise and fall in the tides of the times. The clash between cultural attributes and commercial logic constitutes one of the fundamental operating principles of this world.]

The main quest (Phase 1) has been released.

[Mission Objective: Locate and pinpoint the hidden key figure in this world—Ding Yuanying. Establish initial contact with him.]

[Mission Description: Ding Yuanying, Master of Economics from the University of Berlin, formerly worked at HNS International Financial Investment Company in Berlin and was the Director of the Securities Department at Beijing Tongda Securities Company. Currently living in seclusion, he possesses profound insights into cultural attributes and the laws governing social operation. He is reclusive and acts eccentrically. Finding him is key to unlocking the core storyline of this world.]

【mission rewards:
1. Cash: RMB 10 billion (to be injected into the host's system account in a legal and compliant manner in accordance with various global financial rules).

2. Cultivation Resources: 10 Qi-Nourishing Pills (Suitable for Qi Refining stage cultivators; it strengthens the foundation and promotes cultivation).

As he listened to the system's explanation, Suning's eyes gradually deepened.

In 1996, China's market economy was just beginning to flourish. "The Way of Heaven," written by Ding Yuanying...

These keywords, taken together, point to a complex world full of intellectual battles and moral dilemmas.

One billion in cash is undoubtedly an astronomical figure in this era, enough to leverage many things; and those ten Qi-cultivating pills are cultivation resources he has always dreamed of in the real world, which are crucial to consolidating his Qi Refining Level 10 realm.

The task is clear and the reward is generous, but the difficulty is obviously not small.

Finding a "knowledgeable person" who is deliberately hiding is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Suning took a deep breath of the slightly dry, chilly air of the 1990s, without taking off his overly conspicuous modern jacket.

In this day and age, people rely on their appearance to reflect their strength.

However, Suning needs to quickly acquire information about this era and find a starting point for the storyline.

“Ding Yuanying…” He murmured the name, his gaze fixed on the gray sky at the end of the street, a challenging smile playing on his lips. “Then let me see where you, this ‘hidden king,’ are hiding in this ancient city.”

A new journey officially began under the skies of 1996, a year brimming with both opportunities and challenges.

...(End of chapter)