Chapter 36: “No Matter How Many Times We Start Over…”:

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Seeing that Wei Xun wasn’t saying anything—his expression somewhat complicated—Que Wanshu thought he must find the amount too small. Her fingers, resting on her lap, slowly clenched as she spoke softly:

“Although 1.5 million isn’t much, it’s not all the funds. I receive royalties, and as book sales increase, the royalties will also—”

Wei Xun cut her off.

“That’s not what I meant.”

He rubbed his forehead, looked up into her puzzled eyes, and sighed:

“What I mean is—you’re putting all your royalties into this? You’re not keeping any for yourself?”

Wei Xun wasn’t one of those pampered rich boys who had no concept of money. He had a solid understanding of job market trends. As far as he knew, speech therapists at Yun’an Hospital had decent but modest salaries. Healthcare was a tightly structured field—unlike tech or finance—where pay increases were minimal over time. Many medical professionals spend their lives on a fixed income.

In that context, if she had royalties as a financial cushion, her quality of life would be much better.

Wei Xun was a pragmatic egotist. He believed one should always prioritize securing their own interests and only consider helping society once they had enough surplus. So he couldn’t understand why she would donate all her royalties to a charity.

Especially since her current lifestyle was nowhere near what the Que family once had.

But Que Wanshu explained:

“I receive a stable monthly salary. It may seem like pocket change to you, but it’s more than enough for me to live comfortably. Plus, I’ve made some small investments in the stock market and ETFs.”

As a former heiress, Que Wanshu was by no means financially naive. Her investment strategies might be far from those of someone like Wei Xun, trained as a family successor, but they were sufficient for her current needs.

She and her mother weren’t destitute either. Even if she donated all her royalties, she wouldn’t fall into poverty.

She knew her values differed from his. She didn’t aim to change him—only to explain herself.

“Actually, when I first started making picture books, it wasn’t to make money. I just loved drawing, and I was lucky enough to meet someone who believed in me, so I gave it a try. The success that followed was a pleasant surprise.”

“Even if my books didn’t sell, even if not a single copy sold, I’d still create. So the royalties I’ve earned don’t really matter. And instead of using them to improve my lifestyle, I’d rather use them to help more kids like Chen Fan.”

She knew her thoughts were a bit naïve—maybe even too idealistic. But she didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. She had no intention of changing either. As long as she was able, she wanted to always follow her heart.

She didn’t care for others’ opinions. But because it was Wei Xun, she cared—just a little—what he thought.

So she gathered her courage and looked him in the eyes. Nervous, anxious, but firm, she said:

“It’s not like I haven’t considered things carefully. As long as I can maintain my current lifestyle, I want to donate all my royalties. Is that… not allowed?”

As she spoke, her tone was tentative. Her eyes were damp and glimmered like starlight—like a child who had done something brave and was quietly hoping for approval and praise.

When Wei Xun heard that soft “not allowed?” he felt his heart skip a beat. In that moment, only one thought filled his mind—

Yes.

You can do anything you want.

And I will do everything in my power to clear any obstacle in your way.

After holding her gaze for a moment, Wei Xun finally nodded and said gently:

“They’re your royalties. You have every right to use them as you see fit.”

Que Wanshu paused. Realizing he was affirming her decision, she smiled—broad and brilliant, like a rose blooming at dawn.

The sunlight poured in through the clear windows, casting a golden glow over her radiant expression. Her eyes sparkled even brighter than usual, as if they held light within them.

Wei Xun was momentarily stunned. He suddenly recalled a moment from years ago that felt incredibly similar to this.

It was when they were 18, not long after they started dating. During a holiday, they visited an ancient town near Zicheng.

The town was famous for its glassware, with classic architecture and Jiangnan-style misty landscapes. It was a popular tourist spot, always bustling with people.

There was a lively old street filled with glass craft shops, antique dealers, and local specialties. Because of the high tourist volume, there were also many beggars—some missing limbs, some emaciated—sprawled on the ground asking for help. Most tourists walked right past them, but a few stopped to give money.

Que Wanshu was one of those few.

She even went to an ATM to withdraw small bills when she didn’t have cash. If a sign said “hungry, need money for food,” she’d buy something warm and filling to give them.

Wei Xun hadn’t thought much of her kindness. He knew most of those beggars were professional scammers exploiting sympathy.

To him, she was just a soft-hearted fool, too easy to manipulate.

From a young age, Wei Xun understood the world was unfair. Most of society’s wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few. The lower you were on the ladder, the fewer resources you had. Some people had to fight tooth and nail just to survive, while others were born with everything and easily rose to the top.

He was one of the beneficiaries of this system.

Yes, he might feel a passing urge to help when he saw suffering. But he never sympathized too deeply, nor did he believe individual effort could truly change structural injustice.

Life was a continuous journey. Everyone had their own challenges to face.

Still, Wei Xun could understand people like Que Wanshu. She grew up in privilege, surrounded by people who treated her with warmth and kindness. Her world was full of light and beauty. She had never seen the cruelty of the world—so she became someone gentle and generous.

And there was nothing wrong with that.

After all, they had plenty of resources. Using a little to fulfill her kindness didn’t matter.

So Wei Xun hadn’t stopped her. But seeing her so innocently trusting, he couldn’t help but say:

“But what if the person you’re helping is just scamming you?”

Que Wanshu blinked.

“You mean the beggars? Hmm… Maybe some of them are scammers, but maybe some really need help.”

Wei Xun thought: Not some. Most of them are.

He wanted to break her rose-colored view of the world—but didn’t want her to lose hope, either. His expression twisted with inner conflict.

Wanshu chuckled, blinking playfully:

“I know what you’re thinking. You think most of them are liars, and I’m just a rich fool with too much sympathy, right?”

Wei Xun instinctively nodded.

A second later, she punched him hard in the arm.

Wanshu gave him a glare and huffed:

“Of course I know many of them are frauds. Maybe even nine out of ten.”

Wei Xun was stunned—he hadn’t expected her to know that.

“Then why do you still give them money?” he asked.

She lowered her eyes, her voice soft:

“Even if only one out of ten truly needs help, it’s still worth it. I don’t want to assume the worst about everyone. I can afford to give, and I want to give. Whatever they do with the money afterward is none of my business. My goodwill is real, and so is the money. If someone chooses to use that goodwill to deceive, that’s the problem—not me.”

“Besides, we can’t decide that kindness is worthless or stupid just because some people don’t value it. That’s backwards, isn’t it?”

The value of kindness shouldn’t be defined by the person who receives it.

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Even if goodwill is met with betrayal, the kindness itself still holds value—it remains something the world cannot do without.

Whether it’s the desire to help others, the sympathy that rises despite fear of being deceived, or the longing to change an unjust world—these are the most precious qualities in the human heart.

And it’s precisely these small, accumulating acts of kindness that build the warm and bright side of society.

Que Wanshu smiled gently.

“As long as the intention is there, that’s what matters.”

As she spoke, her expression was soft and natural. The afternoon sun fell gently on her face, making her smile glow with radiant beauty—so beautiful it seemed almost unreal.

Just like this moment.

Wei Xun couldn’t help but be moved.

Maybe he still thought her ideals were a little naive, but through her, he came to understand the true value of goodwill. He realized that balance in the world didn’t rely only on systems and rules—it also needed the tiny sparks of human kindness and warmth.

No, he wouldn’t become an idealist because of this. But in a cruel world dominated by power and capital, he was willing to do everything he could to protect her rare innocence and belief.

As he looked at her, so close, Wei Xun was suddenly reminded of something she once said on that old town street years ago. He thought about the picture book he had just taken the time to read thoroughly.

He realized then—she had always been like this.

Que Wanshu had always been this kind of person.

She possessed a soul that he deeply admired.

She was the kind of woman he would fall in love with—again and again, no matter how many times life restarted.

His heart surged with emotion. After quietly looking at her for a moment, he suddenly called her name:

“—Que Wanshu.”

She looked at him, responding softly:

“Hm?”

Wei Xun suddenly smiled. His eyes curved slightly, and a warm, gentle smile spread across his face, softening the sharp angles of his features.

He said:

“How are you so amazing?”

Que Wanshu froze.

It was like time had stopped. Her breath caught, and the surrounding sounds slowly faded. Her mind went blank.

In contrast, what she could hear with crystal clarity was the thumping of her heart, echoing through her ears—and the sudden sting in her eyes.

She lifted a hand to rub at her eyes.

Before she could even think of a response, she heard him continue:

“The proposal still needs some revisions. I’ll send it to you after it’s done.”

Que Wanshu pressed her lips together and nodded gently, swallowing down the lump in her throat.

“…Okay.”

Wei Xun smiled and stood up from the couch.

“Let’s go.”

Que Wanshu instinctively followed him. Halfway out the door, she suddenly remembered to ask:

“Where are we going?”

“To eat.”

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After finishing their meal, Wei Xun took Que Wanshu home. Sitting in his car afterward, he scanned the digital copy of her proposal and sent it to Zuo Nan, asking him to revise it.

Zuo Nan quickly read it. He was genuinely impressed that Que Wanshu was willing to donate her royalties to establish a scholarship fund. But regarding the funding—

He asked,

“President Wei, 1.5 million is enough as startup capital, but for long-term development…”

“It’s a bit short,” Wei Xun agreed. In the world of philanthropic projects, where startup budgets often run in the tens or hundreds of millions, 1.5 million was relatively minor.

He thought for a moment and said:

“I’ll contribute an additional amount in my own name—to round it up.”

Zuo Nan hesitated.

“Round it up? Two hundred?”

Wei Xun paused.

“One thousand.”

Zuo Nan: “……”

Who the hell “rounds up” from 1.5 million to 10 million?! These rich people are insane!

Still, as Wei Xun’s assistant, Zuo Nan had seen plenty of big money before. Even though he was dying to rant, his face remained calm and professional:

“Understood. I’ll modify the proposal to reflect a project budget of 10 million.”

There was silence on the other end. Wei Xun didn’t respond immediately.

Zuo Nan prompted,

“President Wei?”

Wei Xun suddenly said,

“Actually, let’s still proceed with the original 1.5 million for now.”

“The remaining 8.5 million will serve as a reserve fund. Only if the project hits a bottleneck or encounters financial difficulties will we tap into it.”

Zuo Nan was stunned. That didn’t sound like Wei Xun’s usual approach.

Curious, he asked,

“May I ask why? Launching the project with the full 10 million would provide more flexibility, wouldn’t it?”

Wei Xun replied softly, his voice tinged with tenderness:

“This project is led by Wanshu. I don’t want my involvement to diminish the role she plays in it.”

Zuo Nan fell silent.

At that moment, only one thought filled his mind—

Oh my god. President Wei is seriously in love.

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