Chapter 1: I am not an ant!

  "Sorry, sir, our recruitment event has already ended. Please come back next time!" A middle-aged manager in a suit said regretfully to a young man wearing ordinary jeans, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

  "Oh, thank you." Yang Tianyou said with a forced smile, his eyes full of disappointment and resentment.

  "It's just that you look down on me for not having money, isn't it? It's just that I offended the second young master of the Ximen family, right? Why do you all have this expression?" Yang Tianyou cursed in dissatisfaction.

  The world is full of people seeking profit, the world is full of people rushing to gain. This saying is absolutely right, Yang Tianyou is a university graduate who has graduated for three years, majoring in archaeology, his parents are ordinary families in the city, and the hopes of the two elderly people are all pinned on Yang Tianyou.

  Yang Tianyou did not disappoint the two elders' expectations and finally got into the best university in the city with excellent grades, which made the two elders happy for several days. Everything was so smooth and easy.

  In the four years of university, Yang Tianyou studied very hard. In the Department of Archaeology, there were not many people, and it was a relatively niche major. After all, not many young people are willing to waste their youth on dead objects. However, Yang Tianyou was very interested in this field and had a natural talent for it. Many experts and professors at school knew a young man named Yang Tianyou who always figured out things he didn't understand and was meticulous and bold. This is very important for archaeology, as it involves examining ancient artifacts that can easily oxidize over time, so one must be extremely careful to avoid causing unpredictable losses.

  There are very few companies in the field of archaeology, and if there are any, they are mostly private museums or private companies that are not guaranteed, Yang Tianyou would not consider them.

  Four years later, Yang Tianyou came to the Archaeological Research Center in Huaxia B City after graduating from university with excellent grades. At first, because Yang Tianyou was new, he was assigned to a research base located in a remote area as an assistant director.

  Yang Tianyou, who is only 25 years old, has been working in this base for two years. He is diligent and progressive, which is the evaluation of all his colleagues in this research base. In these two years, Yang Tianyou has become very familiar with everything here, especially with his supervisor, Director Luo Yanqiu. She is only 28 years old but has made outstanding contributions to the institute. Yang Tianyou has learned a lot from her and has to admit that she is a genius. Although she has a cold exterior, through two years of interaction, Yang Tianyou knows that she is actually warm inside and also an older sister type. He has had a secret crush on her for a long time.

  "Yang Tianyou, stay away from Luo Yanqiu from now on, or else be careful with your life." A pale-faced young man at the entrance of the research base threatened Yang Tianyou, his eyes full of unspoken arrogance.

  Yang Tianyou knew who this person was, he was the second young master of the Ximen family, one of the most powerful families in Huaxia Country, Ximen Jue. He was a standard spoiled rich kid. He had been chasing Luo Yanqiu for a long time, although he didn't know why he was pursuing her so tightly, maybe there was an unmentionable purpose.

  The most infuriating thing is that Yang Tianyou actually has an inferiority complex. Yes, looking at her wearing gold and silver, driving a limited edition sports car, Yang Tianyou feels very uncomfortable in his heart, and can't help but think to himself: am I on the same path as her?

  In the days that followed, Yang Tianyou became noticeably different, becoming taciturn and feeling as if everything was unreal.

  "Yang Tianyou, come with me." Luo Yanqiu threw out a sentence and walked into her own office.

  Yang Tianyou, who was in a daze, suddenly heard Luo Yanqiu's words and his heart shook. What's wrong with me? I shouldn't be like this. I, Yang Tianyou, am not someone who easily gives up. I must work hard and definitely can achieve my dreams. His firm eyes reappeared, the same person but in a different state, with strong confidence, Yang Tianyou walked firmly into Luo Yanqiu's office.

  "I..."

  "Don't speak yet, sit down first." Luo Yanqiu interrupted Yang Tianyou's words and gestured for him to take a seat without even looking at him.

  The courage and confidence that had been accumulated with great difficulty were instantly destroyed, Yang Tianyou sat sadly in the swivel chair opposite Luo Yanqiu, feeling a little excited and frightened. Yang Tianyou's heart was too fragile, he didn't know what Luo Yanqiu was thinking at all. Although Luo Yanqiu took good care of Yang Tianyou, it was not clear whether that represented love or not.

  "Want to have a few drinks with me?" Luo Yanqiu broke the silence between them. She also knew the reason for Yang Tianyou's depression over this period of time, but she didn't know what to say either. Although she was a genius, when it came to human relationships and social interactions, she was far inferior to those who often mixed with society, let alone someone like her who often spent several days alone, loneliness and solitude were almost her only friends.

  "Uh, okay...okay..." Yang Tianyou stuttered, anyone who hears that the person they secretly love is inviting them out would be excited, right? Yang Tianyou had a long-standing crush on Luo Yanqiu, even though she was three years older than him. But he liked that kind of sisterly affection, and wasn't it said that 'a woman is like gold at 30'? Yang Tianyou didn't care about Luo Yanqiu's age, especially since she was still so beautiful, even if she did seem a bit cold on the surface, which Yang Tianyou knew was just an act.

  "I'm coming." Yang Tianyou took the red wine from Luo Yanqiu's hand. As her assistant, Yang Tianyou was not surprised to see this kind of thing in Luo Yanqiu's office. For people like them, wine was also a good companion. Wine often accompanied loneliness, which was also a small sorrow.

  His heart skipped a beat as his hand accidentally touched hers, Yang Tianyou felt excited, although it was only for an instant. He sensed the smoothness, coolness, and faint fragrance that lingered, taking a light sniff to savor the scent without letting it go to waste. Relieved that Luo Yannv didn't notice his little thought, he also felt a tinge of disappointment, chuckling at himself before focusing on pouring two full cups.

  "Do you know, I've been considered a genius and a prodigy by others since I was young, the hope of my family. But do you know how many people understand the loneliness and desolation on this path? I'm really exhausted." After finishing speaking, Yang Tianyou tilted his head back and downed a full cup of red wine in one gulp, all the resentment and loneliness pouring into his stomach along with the wine. Luo Yanqiu's eyes were slightly dazed, unsure whether it was the effect of the alcohol or her own mental confusion.

  "Director..."

  "Call me Luo Jie," Luo Yanqiu interrupted Yang Tianyou's words with a somewhat drunken tone.

  "Yes, Luo Jie, I know you're a bit drunk. Do you want me to help you go inside and rest for a while?" Yang Tianyou asked with concern.

  "No need, I'm fine. I know that Ximen will come to bother you again, right? Don't mind him, he's just a self-righteous rich kid, but his family has a lot of power. If I'm not around, you have to be careful." Luo Yanqiu said with drunken eyes.

  "I know Luo Jie is under too much pressure, I just hope she can be happier." Yang Tianyou said sincerely.

  "Happy? I don't know how long it's been since someone last said that to me..." Luo Yanqiu murmured, her eyes filled with unspoken sorrow.

  At this time, Yang Tianyou's heart was not pleasant, he didn't even have the ability to protect himself, how could he protect his beloved woman? His hand subconsciously touched a piece of jade hanging from his neck, about the size of a fingernail, with a faint purple color inside, he didn't know how it was formed. This was something Yang Tianyou had unexpectedly discovered during an archaeological excavation, and no one else had found it, but Yang Tianyou thought it was very beautiful so he secretly kept it for himself.

  When he was a child, the fortune teller said that he had an emperor's fate, and Yang Tianyou found it very amusing. Now what time is it? Where did the emperor come from? If it's true, being a king of a different surname would be a big deal too. Yang Tianyou didn't take it seriously and just laughed it off.

  Since we're drinking, let's drink to our heart's content and forget all our troubles. At least this moment belongs to them.

  The bottle was empty, and another one was opened. I don't know how long it took, but there were already five wine bottles on the office desk.

  "Luojie, let me help you rest, you've had too much to drink, it's not good for your body, do you know that? Be good." Yang Tianyou gently comforted Luo Yanqiu.

  "I'm... I'm not drunk, you're the one who's drunk. I... still want to drink, quickly... bring... wine over, and keep me company." Luo Yanqiu said as she fell onto the table.

  Yang Tianyou struggled to keep himself awake, looking at the intoxicating Luo Yanqiu. Yang Tianyou's eyes were sometimes clear and sometimes struggling. A light kiss was printed on Luo Yanqiu's radiant brow, and Yang Tianyou trembled slightly as he picked up the already drunken Luo Yanqiu from his chair and walked towards the inner room.

  In the early morning, Yang Tianyou woke up from his dream. He had a very long dream that he became an emperor and married Luo Yanqiu as his empress. Under the witness of the whole world, Yang Tianyou and Luo Yanqiu stepped into the happy marriage hall, and then they happily entered the bridal chamber. It was so real that he clearly felt Luo Yanqiu's first painful moan and her tears of unknown happiness or sorrow.

  Suddenly, Yang Tianyou sat up abruptly, he was stunned, because this was in a strange place, not his bedroom. He suddenly remembered that he and Luo Yanqiu had been drinking, then they were both drunk, and he had supported her into the bedroom of the office suite. Ah, no way.

  However, the fact is that Yang Tianyou looked at the bed sheet with the dazzling red plum blossom, his head suddenly became dizzy. What about me and her? How could it be? It's really infuriating. Right, where did she go?

  Holding the salary slip in his hand, Yang Tianyou smiled self-deprecatingly. He was indeed a toad who had eaten swan meat, and he wondered if he could really afford it. Even the most beautiful flowers would wither without fertile soil and water source. Whatever, let things go as they may.

  In three days, Yang Tianyou had already found five employers, but was rejected by all of them for various reasons. Why? He finally heard something about himself during an interview when one of the interviewers received a phone call that he overheard.

  "Little Guo, remember if a kid named Yang Tianyou comes to you, don't take him in no matter what. This is an order from Young Master Xi Men." A middle-aged man's voice came through the phone and was heard clearly by Yang Tianyou.

  "What are you looking at? Hurry up and leave," the interviewer shouted with a hint of anger after noticing that Yang Tianyou had overheard him.

  "Hmph, I am Yang Tianyou, what's wrong with that? If you don't want me here, there are other places that will keep me."

  "You don't know who you've offended, do you, young master Xi Men? Do you know who that is? Someone you can afford to provoke? Scram, kid! In the eyes of young master Xi Men, you're nothing but an ant!" The interviewer bellowed.

  Since being inexplicably fired from the research institute, Yang Tianyou has been having a streak of bad luck. Not only has he not seen Luo Yanqiu again, but he also can't find a job. Those people wouldn't care about Yang Tianyou, a small fry, in order to avoid offending the Ximen family, so Yang Tianyou became tragic.

  "Is it just an ant itself?" Yang Tianyou muttered to himself.

  "I am not an ant, I am not." Yang Tianyou shouted loudly, ignoring the gaze of passersby, and ran frantically into the distance.