During that period, the eldest branch of the family was at the height of their glory. Visitors flocked to their home every day, and as a result, people became increasingly unrestrained in their speech around them.  

However, his family was not the type to nitpick or complain. They were well aware that Yang Meilian had a competitive and petty nature, always eager to compare herself to others.  

As long as Yang Meilian didn’t do anything outright immoral or cross any fundamental boundaries, his family was willing to tolerate her behavior.  

Moreover, knowing that the eldest branch had a major celebration coming up, they didn’t want to spoil the mood, so they made a conscious effort to avoid their courtyard.  

To be honest, when he heard that his cousin—who had always been academically inferior to him—had been admitted, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of jealousy. At most, he was a little disappointed.  

His father was exceptionally talented in woodworking, especially in crafting wooden pieces. His hands were deft and precise, and even when making the same design, the finished products from his hands were always more exquisite and beautiful than those of other craftsmen.  

Perhaps due to his father’s influence or the environment at home, he had also developed a fondness for woodworking from a young age. He loved doodling in notebooks, sketching all sorts of whimsical designs.  

Gradually, he grew to love design—whether it was architectural blueprints, furniture models, or decorative ornaments.  

Anything related to woodworking fascinated him, and he was always brimming with creative ideas. However, back then, he was still young, and schools didn’t offer specialized courses in such fields, so he was entirely self-taught, driven purely by passion.  

Luckily, after graduating high school, the provincial university had just introduced a new major in architecture. After reading the course description, he immediately became deeply interested and decisively applied for the program.  

At the time, the education system followed a 6-2-2 model—six years of elementary school, two years each of middle and high school. Since he had started school early, he graduated in the same year as his eldest cousin at the age of eighteen.  

In April of last year, the government conducted a selection exam for college students across the country, offering opportunities for further study. Naturally, everyone wanted a chance.  

He was no exception.  

As an architecture student, studying abroad would allow him to return with a master’s degree, effectively enhancing his credentials and adding prestige to his qualifications.  

Though he was easygoing in daily life, he took his studies very seriously and strived for perfection. However, the school’s curriculum was too superficial to satisfy his thirst for knowledge.  

So, upon learning about the opportunity to study abroad before graduation, he signed up without hesitation. He wanted to see the wider world.  

From childhood to adulthood, Qi Han had lived a smooth and carefree life. With open-minded, harmonious parents and a well-off family, it was inevitable that he developed some traits of a privileged young master.  

Generous, straightforward, harmless, and carefree—he was utterly guileless. Most of his time was either spent tinkering in the workshop or hanging out with his friends.  

In short, in his past life, Qi Han had been a bright and simple young man.