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A few days later, Lin Yunxiao received a private call from Su Ning, who asked her to meet him at a very secluded private club in the suburbs.

The environment there is quiet and the security is tight, ensuring maximum privacy.

Lin Yunxiao went to the appointment with a feeling of unease.

She was led by a waiter to an elegant tea room, where she found Su Ning already waiting.

Today he was dressed casually, lacking his usual business elite aura and appearing more approachable, but his composure in controlling the overall situation remained.

"Sit down." Su Ning pointed to the seat opposite her and personally poured her a cup of freshly brewed tea, the aroma of which wafted gently.

Lin Yun smiled and sat down as instructed, holding the slightly hot teacup in both hands.

Head bowed, unable to meet Su Ning's eyes, his heart filled with struggle and a premonition of judgment.

Su Ning didn't beat around the bush, but went straight to the point, saying, "Yun Xiao, you don't need to feel any guilt about what's between us."

Lin Yunxiao suddenly looked up, staring at him in surprise.

“I know what you’re thinking and what you’re struggling with. Xiaojun is your good friend, and it’s only natural that you feel guilty and uneasy.”

"I asked you out today to make my stance clear. Our relationship is based on mutual consent. I admire you and am attracted to you, but there should be no coercion or moral constraints that cause you pain in this relationship."

"If... if one day you feel tired, weary, or unable to bear this pressure any longer, and want to end it all and return to your original, innocent life, you can leave at any time. I, Su Ning, will absolutely not force you in the slightest."

“I assure you that you are free to come and go. And whatever choice you make, the resources and support I promised you will remain in effect. This will not change because of our relationship.”

These words were like a boulder thrown into Lin Yunxiao's already turbulent heart.

She stared blankly at Su Ning, deeply shocked.

She considered many possibilities...

Suning might use its power to pressure her, it might use resources to tempt her, or it might even coldly ask her to recognize her "identity".

But she never expected that Suning would be so "understanding" and give her so much autonomy, even promising her a way out that she could safely withdraw at any time.

This did not make her feel relieved; instead, it made her even more conflicted.

On one hand, reason and morality were clamoring for her to seize the opportunity to completely sever this inappropriate relationship, get back on track, be worthy of Xiaojun's friendship, seek inner peace, and become an "innocent" person.

On the other hand... looking at the man in front of her, who was extraordinary in demeanor, deep in thought, yet unusually "generous" at this moment, the reluctance in her heart grew wildly like vines.

What she was reluctant to give up was not only the powerful financial resources and connections that Suning could provide, which allowed her to rise rapidly in the entertainment industry;
What she misses most is his talent for strategic planning, his professionalism and charm on set, the occasional moments when his soul resonates with hers, and even the "freedom of choice" he is giving her right now, which is full of respect.

All of this was like a deadly poison, making her addicted and unable to extricate herself.

Is it a choice between the seemingly easy moral escape or embracing this complex relationship filled with danger and a sense of immorality, yet which she finds incredibly alluring?

The scales in her heart were swaying violently, plunging her into a difficult choice.

Reason and desire, friendship and selfishness, innocence and depravity—a silent yet fierce battle unfolded in her mind.

Time seemed to stand still.

The aroma of tea still lingered in the air. Su Ning waited patiently, without urging him, simply watching Lin Yun smile quietly.

Finally, Lin Yunxiao slowly loosened his grip on the teacup, and his tense shoulders slumped down.

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength.

She raised her head and met Su Ning's gaze. In those beautiful eyes, the struggle had not faded, but there was now a hint of resigned determination.

He didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly to Su Ning.

This subtle gesture already signaled her surrender to Suning.

Choosing to stay with Suning meant choosing a path with an uncertain future, one destined to be filled with guilt and excitement.

For the dizzying power, and for the man himself whom she could not resist.

Seeing Lin Yun nod with a smile, Su Ning's lips finally curled into a meaningful, satisfied smile.

He had once again accurately grasped her psychology.

This silent contest ended in his complete victory.

He reached out and gently covered her trembling hand, which was resting on the table.

Then, pulling Lin Yunxiao, he entered a private room in the private club, once again falling into Su Ning's warm and powerful embrace.

……

In the following period, Suning skillfully maneuvered between Chen Xiaojun and Lin Yunxiao.

The presence of two stunningly beautiful women with completely different personalities and temperaments is undoubtedly the greatest reward for Suning.

One day, a notification sound that only he could perceive rang out deep within his mind...

[The new instance world "Forrest Gump" has been opened. Please prepare to travel there within 24 hours.]

Forrest Gump... Su Ning's heart stirred slightly.

He was naturally familiar with this classic film, which tells the story of Forrest Gump, who has an IQ of only 75, and through his pure, kind, and persistent heart, he witnesses decades of historical changes in the United States and creates countless miracles in his life.

This is a world full of opportunities and historical turning points.

Presumably, there shouldn't be any ridiculous or illegal plot points or storylines...

To get a better "preview" of the world they were about to experience, Su Ning suggested to Chen Xiaojun that evening, "Xiaojun, let's watch an old movie tonight, Forrest Gump."

"Forrest Gump? Why do you suddenly want to watch this?" Chen Xiaojun was a little curious, but she still obediently prepared the projection equipment and comfortable cushions.

“Classics are always worth savoring repeatedly,” Su Ning said, pulling her to sit on the sofa in the home theater. His tone was calm and showed no signs of anything amiss. “Moreover, I’ve recently been thinking about studying this kind of narrative technique that spans the long river of time and intertwines personal fate with the torrent of the era. Perhaps it will inspire future projects.”

"Our CEO Su is becoming more and more artistic!" Chen Xiaojun, unsuspecting, smiled and snuggled up to him, thoughtfully preparing snacks and fruit.

So, in the following days, whenever he had free time in the evenings, Su Ning would drag Chen Xiaojun along to watch Forrest Gump together.

He watched with exceptional focus, paying attention not only to the main plot but also to the fleeting historical background, social details, character relationships, and even some key time points and locations that Forrest Gump casually mentioned.

He repeatedly paused and replayed the video, analyzing every possible opportunity that could be a starting point.

“Forrest Gump is truly a fool with good luck,” Chen Xiaojun said, watching Forrest Gump running on the screen. “But his mother is truly great, and Jenny… sigh, she’s also a pitiful person.”

“Hmm,” Su Ning replied thoughtfully, “His ‘foolishness’ may be a kind of barrier, allowing him to avoid many complicated schemes and simply stick to what he believes is right. And behind every ‘coincidence’ lies the pulse of the times.”

"Wow, honey, you've really seen things clearly!" Chen Xiaojun looked at him with admiration.

She felt that her husband not only had a first-rate business mind, but also had such insightful appreciation of art.

She was completely unaware that what Su Ning was currently conducting was a "strategic analysis" concerning survival and mission completion in the other world. Su Ning meticulously traced Forrest Gump's life trajectory: college football star, military service in the Vietnam War, ping-pong diplomacy, shrimp boat startup, investment in Apple... each node contained enormous potential and risks.

He needs to develop a preliminary action plan.

The preparations were completed quietly.

On the last night before her transmigration, Su Ning stayed with Chen Xiaojun as usual until she fell into a deep sleep.

Su Ning gently brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and placed a tender kiss on her smooth forehead.

"Sweet dreams," he murmured, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of farewell.

After confirming that Chen Xiaojun's breathing was stable and that she had entered a deep sleep, Su Ning quietly got up and walked to the French windows in the study.

The city lights at night are dazzling, a completely different scene from the American small town in the 1950s depicted in "Forrest Gump".

He took a deep breath and silently said in his mind: "System, confirmed to have crossed into the Forrest Gump dungeon world."

[Command confirmed. Initiating spacetime anchoring... Energy infusion... Teleportation activated. Wishing you success in your mission.]

An invisible ripple spread out from Su Ning, and his figure gradually became blurred and transparent in the study, eventually disappearing completely like ink merging into water.

Only the ever-shining neon lights outside the window prove that time in this world is still passing normally.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Chen Xiaojun was completely unaware of this, still immersed in a peaceful sleep, perhaps dreaming of the drama "The Story of Minglan" that she and Su Ning were about to start filming, oblivious to her husband's latest "journey".

……

After a familiar sense of spatial distortion, Su Ning's consciousness gradually cleared from the chaos.

The first thing that hits the senses is the unpleasant smell of disinfectant mixed with old wooden furniture.

Suning opened her eyes and saw a low, somewhat mottled ceiling. Beneath her was a hard, single iron bed covered with rough cotton cloth.

He sat up abruptly and looked around.

This is a spacious but old dormitory with a dozen or so similar iron bunk beds, and some children dressed in simple, even somewhat worn, clothes are still asleep.

Simple religious paintings adorn the walls, and birdsong drifts in from outside the window, creating a slow and rustic atmosphere unique to the 1950s.

Immediately afterwards, he noticed something was wrong with his body...

My field of vision has become lower, and my arms and legs have become thin and short.

He raised his hand and saw a pair of small, thin hands belonging to a child.

[Identity registration complete: Ning Su, born in 1950, age 7, Chinese-American orphan at Green Creek Orphanage, Alabama.]

The system's prompts were cold and precise.

Ning Su – that is his name and identity in this world.

A Chinese orphan living on the margins of society in the American South in 1950.

In 1950... At that time, Forrest Gump should have been around that age, perhaps in a small town in this state.

But he himself became a helpless orphan.

The Green Creek Orphanage sounds idyllic, but the reality is far from it.

Resources are scarce here, and the management follows a rigid Catholic charity style. The children get up, pray, eat, work, and study in a routine manner, and their lives are monotonous and austere.

As one of the very few children of color in the institution, especially those with an Asian face, Xiao Suning's situation is even more delicate.

He often felt the curious or distant gazes of some children, and occasionally some ignorant white children would imitate the tone of adults and make unfriendly mocking remarks to him.

Breakfast was always the same: oatmeal and hard bread.

The children lined up quietly to receive their share.

Su Ning silently carried her tray and found a corner seat to sit down.

He ate in small bites, finding the food tasteless, but his mind was racing.

"Hey, you yellow-skinned kid, your hair looks like a black mop!" A chubby boy deliberately bumped his table with a plate, almost spilling the porridge.

Su Ning raised her head and calmly glanced at the boy. Unlike a typical seven-year-old, she didn't show fear or cry. The calmness in her eyes, which was beyond her years, made the provocative boy pause for a moment.

"Robert, go back to your seat!" a stern-faced nun promptly reprimanded.

The boy walked away dejectedly.

Suning lowered his head and continued eating his oatmeal porridge.

In this environment, pointless conflicts will only bring trouble.

What he needs is to integrate, to observe, and to accumulate strength.

The daytime classes were so simple that he found them boring, consisting mainly of basic reading, writing, arithmetic, and religious doctrines.

But he still behaved like an ordinary child, listening attentively, even though his soul had long been weathered by life.

The afternoon is work time. Older children need to help clean the yard or kitchen, while younger children like Suning are assigned to do some simple crafts, such as pasting envelopes or sorting donated old clothes.

When organizing clothes, Suning pays special attention to old newspapers.

Through those yellowed papers and blurred print, he tried to capture the information of this era...

President Truman, the shadow of the Cold War, racial segregation policies... and perhaps some clues that could connect to Forrest Gump.

At night, lying on the hard bed, listening to the even breathing of the children around her, Su Ning would look out at the cool moonlight and ponder her next step.

His seven-year-old body limited his mobility, and his orphanage status made it difficult for him to access the wider world.

But I possess knowledge and insight that transcends this era by decades, and I have tasks assigned by the system.

"Forrest Gump..." Su Ning murmured the name in her heart.

They must find a way to leave the orphanage, or at least, find a way to cross paths with that "lucky" fool.

Alabama is not a large state, and he believed that the threads of fate would eventually bring them together.

Now, what Suning needs is patience, and to fight for his first chance to change his fate in this seemingly difficult orphanage life.

Perhaps one could start by "performing well" to earn opportunities to go out, or by attracting the attention of a potential sponsor?
For seven-year-old Suno, the summer of 1950 was destined to be the beginning of a period of dormancy and planning.

...(End of chapter)