The night on Lone Eagle Ridge was cold and still, the moonlight casting a pale glow on Qi Tongwei’s slightly weary face.
Standing at the edge of the cliff, his gaze was deep and unreadable, as if lost in memories.
He was filled with a sense of loss and dissatisfaction.
Not long ago, Qi Tongwei, fueled by passion and ambition, had visited the home of Chen Yanshi and his wife, hoping to gain their approval and support.
But reality had dealt him a harsh blow.
Chen Yanshi and his wife were cold and dismissive, their attitude laced with disdain, as if his background and origins were an insurmountable chasm separating them.
In that moment, Qi Tongwei’s heart sank like a stone in ice water.
On the way back from Chen's house, Qi Tongwei felt the weight of his despondency like a heavy mountain pressing down on him.
He was but a insignificant figure in the eyes of the Chens.
The feeling of being looked down upon was excruciating.
But what was even harder to swallow was that Wang Fuzhen, Chen Yang’s mother, had directly demanded that Chen Yang sever ties with him, leading to a heated confrontation.
In Wang Fuzhen's eyes, Qi Tongwei was simply not good enough for her daughter.
This news struck Qi Tongwei like a hammer, shattering his resolve.
He could not accept this reality, nor could he imagine a life without Chen Yang.
Yet, reality was merciless, leaving him no room for hesitation or retreat.
While Qi Tongwei was wallowing in pain and despair, a piece of good news arrived – Gao Yuliang had been appointed as the mayor of Luyu City.
This news sent shockwaves through their circle of classmates, with everyone showering him with congratulations and envious admiration.
At Gao Yuliang's celebratory banquet, Qi Tongwei wore a forced smile, exchanging pleasantries with his former classmates.
And then, he saw Wu Huifen.
She stood beside Gao Yuliang, her face beaming with happiness.
Wu Huifen, Gao Yuliang's wife, was completely immersed in her own joy, seemingly oblivious to Qi Tongwei's presence.
Qi Tongwei felt a pang in his heart. He approached them, raising his glass first, offering a toast to Gao Yuliang: "Teacher, congratulations on your promotion to Mayor of Luyu City! I hope you achieve even greater success in your new role!"
But Gao Yuliang did not react with the enthusiasm Qi Tongwei had anticipated.
He furrowed his brow slightly and looked at Qi Tongwei, saying, "Tongwei, your words are kind, but they are unrealistic. Our aim should be to serve the people and make a difference in our assigned roles."
Gao Yuliang's words were veiled but clearly conveyed his dissatisfaction and disapproval.
Qi Tongwei's face stiffened. He hadn't expected his congratulations to be met with such disapproval.
A surge of anger rose within him, but he dared not lash out. He could only suppress his anger, forcing out a response: "Teacher, you are right. I was too hasty."
His voice lacked conviction.
Just then, Wu Huifen stepped forward, taking the glass from Gao Yuliang's hand and offering it to Qi Tongwei: "Don't take it to heart. Your teacher simply wants you to serve the country and the people better."
Her voice was gentle and reassuring, offering Qi Tongwei a fleeting sense of warmth.
However, this warmth didn't last long. The arrival of Zhong Xiaoai shattered the fragile harmony.
She was dressed in a striking red evening gown, drawing all eyes to her.
But instead of bringing Qi Tongwei joy, her arrival filled him with unease.
Zhong Xiaoai was a forthright and direct girl. As soon as she entered the banquet hall, she began to drink heavily, quickly becoming tipsy.
Staggering towards Qi Tongwei, she slurred, "Qi Tongwei, why aren't you drinking? Are you looking down on us girls?"
Her voice was unclear, but her tone was assertive.
Qi Tongwei shook his head with a wry smile, "How could I look down on you? It's just... I'm not in the mood to drink tonight."
His voice was low and laced with a hint of helplessness.
But Zhong Xiaoai didn't understand his predicament, "No! You have to drink with me tonight! Let's have a good time!"
She grabbed a glass of wine and held it out to Qi Tongwei.
Qi Tongwei looked at the glass, his heart filled with hesitation. But seeing the look in Zhong Xiaoai's eyes, he accepted the glass and drank it down in one go.
In a corner of the banquet hall, Hou Liangping and Zhong Xiaoai whispered to each other.
Zhong Xiaoai's voice, though soft, pierced through Qi Tongwei's ears like a needle: "Liangping, do you think Qi Tongwei can truly change? He still seems the same, full of ambition."
Hou Liangping sighed, his gaze searching for Qi Tongwei in the crowd, "Xiaoai, people can change. Qi Tongwei... maybe he has really changed."
Qi Tongwei's heart skipped a beat. He had overheard their conversation unintentionally.
That familiar feeling of betrayal and misunderstanding washed over him once more, pulling him back to the dark corner where he felt abandoned by the world.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within him, and turned towards another room.
Inside the room, Gao Yuliang was engaged in a lively conversation with several other officials.
Seeing Qi Tongwei enter, he greeted him with a smile, "Tongwei, come sit. How was the banquet tonight? Did you make any progress?"
Qi Tongwei forced a smile and sat beside Gao Yuliang, "Teacher, the banquet was a success. But... I'm a little tired."
Noticing Qi Tongwei's subdued demeanor, Gao Yuliang asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Did someone say something to you?"
Qi Tongwei shook his head, choosing not to reveal the events that had unfolded outside the room.
He knew his position in this circle was precarious. One misstep could lead to his downfall.
So, he remained silent, swallowing his bitterness and despair.