"This way, follow me!"

  Alenbright sprinted through the streets, seemingly chasing an unseen individual, weaving through alleys without pause, finally stopping.

  Veyne, breathlessly pursuing, leaned against a wall, gasping for air.

  "Did… did you find it?"

  "No."

  Alenbright carefully sensed the direction of the brainwaves, his brow furrowed. Shaking his head, he turned and ran in another direction, Veyne scrambling to keep up.

  Mei followed closely behind Alenbright.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Absolutely sure!"

  Alenbright was certain it was an extraterrestrial: "The signal's this close; the extraterrestrial must be nearby! Absolutely!"

  He was utterly convinced.

  Yet, he couldn't catch up to the brainwave signal.

  Veyne and the others were exhausted. Alenbright had inexplicably led them back to his home. He rubbed his temples, perplexed.

  "No!"

  "It can't be!"

  "The brainwaves were clearly nearby!"

  "Why couldn't I catch up?"

  "There must be something wrong!"

  Alenbright's muttering made Veyne skeptical. Songveil whispered to Veyne, "Fatty, you don't think this guy's mind is…"

  "Shhh."

  Veyne cut Songveil off.

  He actually suspected the same thing.

  "No!"

  "It's not there!"

  "It's right here!"

  Alenbright suddenly realized. Following his intuition, he looked up at Mei, pointing a finger, certain. "It's you!"

  "Yes, you're the extraterrestrial, a real extraterrestrial. The extraterrestrial brainwaves have always been in your direction. I've been circling you this whole time!"

  "..."

  Veyne, Vairen, and Songveil exchanged glances, then looked at Mei. Honestly, the result was unexpected.

  Instinctively, they didn't believe Mei was an extraterrestrial. They wanted to deny it, but something felt strange. They needed to be objective.

  Mei's expression remained unchanged. She asked Alenbright,

  "What's your reasoning and evidence?"

  She wasn't acting or hiding anything, nor did she need to feign being an extraterrestrial while denying proof. She simply asked Alenbright for evidence, purely from a verification standpoint.

  This was also what Veyne and the others wanted to know.

  "It's you! I know it's you!"

  Alenbright couldn't articulate his reasoning or evidence, nor could he convince anyone that he truly possessed the ability to sense extraterrestrial brainwaves. His claim lacked persuasiveness.

  This was also the key question Veyne was now considering.

  Exactly.

  Even if Alenbright truly possessed this ability and had found an extraterrestrial, this extraterrestrial was indistinguishable from a human. Without compelling proof, Alenbright couldn't gain the trust of others.

  Moreover,

  Did he truly possess this ability?

  Unknown.

  At that moment,

  Clang clang!

  A loud banging sound echoed, followed by a group of medical personnel rushing into Alenbright's home. An elderly woman pointed at Alenbright, shouting.

  "He's my son!"

  "Doctor, take him to the mental hospital! He keeps talking about extraterrestrials and brainwaves; his mind and spirit are clearly affected. I think it's a relapse!"

  Seeing this,

  Alenbright's face turned pale.

  "I don't want to go to the mental hospital!"

  He made a run for the window, but was swiftly apprehended by the medical personnel, bundled into a car.

  Clang clang!

  The white vehicle drove away, its shiny side displaying the large red letters "Lamhyrien Mental Hospital." The others could only watch helplessly.

  They all turned to Mei.

  Mei spread her arms.

  "Him having a mental illness doesn't mean he wasn't telling the truth."

  "..."

  Veyne was speechless, rolling his eyes.

  "What the hell was that?"

  Songveil slapped his thigh, frustrated and tired. "A wasted trip."

  Vairen thought Mei's point was valid and analyzed the situation cautiously. Alenbright having a mental illness was one thing; whether or not he could sense extraterrestrials was another.

  However,

  His mental illness made his claims less credible, making objective analysis difficult.

  On the way back, the group chatted casually, discussing how to pursue this belief. Veyne mentioned his idea of starting a publishing company.

  Vairen would be the editor-in-chief.

  A magazine specializing in unidentified flying objects and extraterrestrial life.

  "That'll require a lot of money."

  "We'll figure something out."

  "Do you know how to start a publishing company?"

  "I'll research it when we get back."

  The next day,

  Vairen brought good news. He'd learned online that the Federation had acknowledged the existence of extraterrestrials and possessed substantial evidence.

  "Really?"

  Veyne was skeptical.

  "It's true!"

  Vairen nodded. "The news reported that they have an extraterrestrial body over there, secretly studied for many years, and recently decided to release the information publicly."

  Online news?

  Songveil questioned the authenticity. Online news wasn't reliable; the Federation might not even have done this.

  The internet of this era was wildly unregulated. For views and clicks, any fake news could be fabricated.

  "I think we should verify the authenticity."

  Sure enough.

  The spread of misinformation online was terrifying. People were fiercely debating, many completely believing the content.

  Conversely, major official news outlets were unusually quiet, seemingly inhabiting a different world, making no mention of extraterrestrials.

  After a while,

  The online buzz died down. The alleged extraterrestrial reveal was revealed to be false; overseas students reported no such event had occurred.

  The Federation hadn't acknowledged the existence of extraterrestrials.

  The disappointment didn't last long.

  Then,

  Several parents arrived armed with sticks and brooms, evicting Veyne and the others from the apartment and taking their children home.

  "Researching extraterrestrials all day! Are you crazy? Can that make money? Can you even eat? Do you have any prospects?!"

  "Get a job! We worked so hard to send you to university, and you're doing this?! You need to be more sensible!"

  The parents were disappointed in their children's choices.

  Soon,

  The lively room fell silent.

  Mei sat on a chair, adjusting a radio. As she tuned the frequency, the static and crackling gradually faded, revealing clearer sounds.

  "Celestara is just one planet in this galaxy. Let alone that, there are several planets with similar environments within 50 light-years."

  "The Tideborne Galaxy has a diameter of 100,000 light-years. If humanity and life are a one-in-a-trillion miracle, then this universe must be full of such miracles."

  "Humanity is too insignificant. Even the Tideborne Galaxy seems tiny in the grand scheme of the universe. I firmly believe other sentient life must exist in the universe."

  In the dilapidated apartment,

  Veyne stubbornly shared his beliefs with Mei. Forced by his parents to find a job, he'd immediately returned.

  He only felt at ease when surrounded by like-minded individuals. Seeing Mei fiddling with the radio, he became curious.

  "What are you doing?"

  Mei continuously adjusted the frequencies.

  "Seeing if I can pick up any interesting signals."

  "Where are Vairen and Songveil?"

  "They're probably not going out for a while. I think you should get a job; otherwise, your parents will break your legs."

  "The path to finding truth is arduous; I will not compromise!"

  Veyne declared resolutely.

  He'd said this many times. His family probably didn't realize how stubborn he truly was. He might be making excuses to avoid work, or perhaps he was genuinely driven by his beliefs.

  "I knew you'd come back."

  As they were chatting, Vairen entered. Mei's sharp eyes noticed some scrapes and scratches on his hands.

  Veyne was surprised.

  "Did your aunt and uncle let you out?"

  "No."

  Vairen had a triumphant, rebellious air. "I snuck out through the drainpipe. It was harder than I expected."

  "Dude, your place is on the fourth floor!"

  "That's right."

  A frail scholar climbing down a drainpipe from the fourth floor? He was lucky nothing happened.

  Veyne figured Vairen would know Songveil's situation.

  "How's Songveil?"

  "I heard her aunt wants her to go on a blind date or find a job. It's intense."

  "There's nothing we can do about that."

  Tzzz—

  "A distant, great civilization…"

  The persistent static abruptly vanished, replaced by a clear broadcast, like a clandestine transmission on a mysterious frequency. Veyne and Vairen were stunned.

  They immediately looked at Mei.

  Mei gave a thumbs-up.

  "Got it."

  "Amazing!!"

  Veyne's eyes shone. He and Vairen immediately crowded around the radio, listening intently. Vairen took out a notebook to record the broadcast information.

  "A distant, great civilization; the twinkling constellations of the universe; each civilization's birth is a miracle. Looking up at the sky, we firmly believe that other sentient life exists in the universe. We have finally found them. This is a momentous occasion for two great civilizations. Please trust our benevolent intentions… 1753… 8761…"

  Tzzz—

  The broadcast was once again obscured by static. Vairen remembered the final two strings of numbers, a bright light shining in his eyes.

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Veyne was incredulous.

  "This is an extraterrestrial civilization's cosmic broadcast?"

  He couldn't believe this broken radio had received a cosmic broadcast. Mei offered an explanation: "It's a Lamhyrien radio wave."

  It might be an extraterrestrial civilization, or just some pranksters. This broadcast was likely transmitted by some Lamhyrien antenna and picked up by their radio.

  Better to err on the side of caution. Veyne was energized.

  "Unfortunately, we couldn't hear the end of the broadcast clearly. What do those numbers mean?"

  Vairen fell into thought.

  "A phone number?"

  "A code?"

  Then,

  "Could it be coordinates?"

  Mei's statement gave Vairen an epiphany.

  "Very likely!"

  Vairen acted decisively. "I'll go to the library. They have nationwide Lamhyrien latitude and longitude coordinates. These might be coordinates!"

  "I'll make a call."

  Veyne pulled two coins from his pocket, memorized the number, and went out to find a phone, acting swiftly and decisively.

  "Aure, keep adjusting the frequency. See if you can receive the broadcast again."

  "Okay."

  ...

  The next day,

  Vairen appeared with dark circles under his eyes, but his excitement was undeniable. He held a Lamhyrien atlas. "I found it."

  "Where?"

  Veyne rushed closer; his phone call yesterday had yielded nothing.

  "Here."

  Whether by coincidence or a deliberate prank, Vairen said, "These are the coordinates for Three East Mountains."

  "Three East Mountains?"

  "Yes."

  Veyne immediately recalled a forum post he'd seen at the internet café, mentioning mysterious creature sightings in Three East Mountains.

  Maintaining their objective approach, they decided to immediately set off for Three East Mountains for verification. Regardless of truth or falsehood, they had to go.

  Mei asked, "Overnight trip?"

  Veyne nodded.

  "Probably."

  "Then I'll prepare some camping necessities: tents, sleeping bags, and rations. We can't spend the night in the mountains without them."

  "Okay."

  They didn't question Mei's ability to procure these items; she always delivered. Mei's logistical capabilities were consistently reliable.

  Several days later,

  The clueless Veyne and Vairen, equipped with the gear Mei provided, ascended Three East Mountains. They had no prior mountain climbing or camping experience.

  But it didn't matter.

  They knew Mei could handle everything.

  Who knew why she knew everything, but she did.

  The next day,

  Veyne and Vairen's parents learned that their sons had gone to Three East Mountains, nearly scaring them to death. Experienced climbers sometimes perished on Three East Mountains.

  Let alone two people with absolutely no experience.

  If they didn't return in two days, their parents would surely report them missing and send a search and rescue team. They only hoped they wouldn't find two bodies.

  "Huff—"

  "Huff—"

  Veyne was panting, exhausted: "I knew mountain climbing was tiring, but this tiring? I… I need a break…"

  Mei tossed Veyne a water bottle. "East Three Mountain lacks established trails, so the climb is strenuous. Watch your step; twisted ankles are a hassle."

  As dusk approached,

  Just as they were about to set up the tents, Vairen looked startled. He strained his ears, amazed. "Did… did you hear something?"

  "Haha, fellas, here, one bottle each! More where that came from, don't be shy!"

  Under the dim moonlight, the stars twinkled.

  A friendly, burly man offered Mei and her companions a bottle of beer each. He was particularly jovial and hospitable, inviting them to chat.

  East Three Mountain was famous in Lamhyrien; groups of people climbing and camping there were common. Mei and her companions had encountered experienced campers.

  Ordinary people couldn't climb this far.

  "Thanks."

  Mei accepted the beer.

  "No worries!"

  To be honest,

  Veyne was slightly disappointed. It wasn't an extraterrestrial or some mysterious creature, just a group of hiking and camping enthusiasts.

  He dejectedly took a swig of beer.

  Vairen, possessing excellent social skills, quickly integrated with the group, chatting amiably with the men.

  Then,

  Vairen asked, "Hey, did you hear a broadcast before coming to East Three Mountain? There are many other mountains suitable for camping nearby. East Three Mountain isn't ideal for camping."

  Hearing this,

  Veyne discreetly pricked up his ears.

  The man looked puzzled.

  "What broadcast?"

  One of the enthusiasts explained, "Exactly because East Three Mountain is difficult to climb, we chose to come here. Conquering an easy mountain wouldn't be as rewarding."

  "I see."

  The man pressed Vairen, genuinely curious.

  "What broadcast were you talking about?"

  "Um… the Lamhyrien tourist guide."

  "This damn place even has a tourist guide?"

  Vairen couldn't help but laugh.

  "Who would've thought?"

  "Right."

  After chatting for a while, the man asked, "You and your chubby friend aren't exactly mountain climbers, are you? I saw you both; you looked exhausted."

  "It's our first time mountain climbing."

  Then,

  The man looked at Mei. "That girl is strong. She climbed up here without breaking a sweat; I didn't see her take a single deep breath. Her stamina far surpasses yours."

  Careless words, insightful ears.

  After hearing this, Vairen suddenly recalled something from university. Without exaggeration, he'd never actually seen Mei look tired.

  At the same time,

  Alenbright's words to Mei from a few days ago flashed through Vairen's mind.

  "Him having a mental illness doesn't mean he wasn't telling the truth."

  ...

  Vairen took out his notebook and wrote a sentence under the starlight.

  【Mei's stamina is exceptional; I've never seen her sweat or look tired, and I've never even seen her gasp for breath.】

  Suspicion was pointless.

  Let the evidence speak.

  Vairen began to pay attention to Mei's unusual traits, but still treated her as a close friend; there was no conflict between them.

  The next day,

  The camping enthusiasts packed up and descended the mountain. They had conquered East Three Mountain and had no intention of staying longer.

  Mei asked Veyne,

  "Descending?"

  "Let's wait another day."

  Just one more day at most.

  He understood this reckless climb had been risky and impulsive. If they didn't descend tomorrow, their families would send a search and rescue team.

  Turning around,

  Veyne asked Vairen with a mischievous grin, "How was your chat with that guy yesterday?"

  "The guy was really nice…"

  "No, I meant the girl."

  "Huh?"

  Vairen feigned ignorance. "What girl?"

  "Don't play dumb! Look at this guy! I clearly saw you two chatting intensely yesterday. You were totally smitten! You're usually so quiet, but you were quite talkative!"

  Veyne pressed relentlessly.

  Vairen played dumb, refusing to admit anything.

  Matters of the heart were unpredictable. During university, there had been plenty of attractive girls, yet Vairen hadn't shown interest in any of them, never even dating.

  Unexpectedly, the usually quiet guy had found someone he liked—a surprise.

  "Anyway,"

  Mei asked Veyne, "Even if the broadcast was real, and the location was East Three Mountain, it didn't say they'd be descending within two days."

  "..."

  Veyne fell silent.

  Mei pressed further, "Why these two days?"

  "Couldn't bear to leave without trying."

  A classic case of wishful thinking.

  Veyne had no idea when the extraterrestrials would leave East Three Mountain.

  The next day,

  Unsurprisingly, the trio waited another day on the mountain. Veyne and Vairen were covered in mosquito bites, but to no avail.

  They had to descend.

  At the foot of the mountain, a car stopped by the roadside. The window rolled down, and a girl leaned out, waving. "Vairen, over here!"

  "..."

  Veyne's eyes widened.

  "What speed! The progress is too fast!"

  While on the mountain, he'd underestimated Vairen. He'd barely started showing interest, and she was already picking him up in her car. He'd never received such treatment.

  "Jealous much!"

  Mei sensed this small group was nearing dissolution. Once Vairen was in a relationship, he might not hang out with them as much.

  But she thought it was fine.

  What young person doesn't fall in love?

  Vairen went on one mountain trip and came back with a girlfriend. Veyne went on one mountain trip, came home, and got a beating from his worried mother.

  Predictably,

  After that, Vairen spent less and less time with them. Songveil was pressured to find a job because she didn't want to go on blind dates.

  In the apartment, only Mei and Veyne's presence was frequent. Veyne always had strange ideas, and Mei helped him experiment,

  All of them ended in failure.

  Until one day,

  Veyne excitedly told Mei that he'd created a website to document their search for extraterrestrials and their experiences.

  "A publishing company isn't feasible yet, but a personal website is our first step. One day, we can make it big!"

  Veyne was full of hope for the future.

  He believed many others also believed in extraterrestrial civilizations and extraterrestrials, seeking fame and fortune.

  Undeniably,

  The chubby guy's action was remarkably swift. He wasn't particularly proficient in computers in university, but he learned and created a personal website.

  Mei didn't mind; she was happy to participate. This was fun for her too.

  "So, I'm the editor-in-chief?"

  "Exactly!"

  Veyne patted Mei's shoulder, entrusting her with an important task.

  "From now on, you're the Chief Editor, Aure!"

  ...

  "Haha, Aure, I knew this plan would work!"

  Veyne was greatly encouraged, feeling like a genius. This internet step was definitely the right one; the future belonged to the internet!

  "Very likely."

  Mei hadn't expected Veyne's personal website to be so successful. Websites in this era weren't expected to be sophisticated; the interface was very simple.

  It was essentially an online diary format, but because Veyne was a good writer and understood how to engage readers' emotions and curiosity,

  It resembled a fictionalized online diary.

  This format was incredibly popular in the current online environment and naturally attracted a lot of traffic.

  It instantly gained quite a following.

  Mei was responsible for writing, but Veyne edited and polished the content. This pseudo-documentary style was his idea.

  Mei moved the mouse. The website's traffic was clearly displayed—1243 views wasn't incredibly high, but it was definitely significant.

  In this context, the number of views was very impressive. For a new website, this was a great start.

  "Keep working hard!"

  Veyne patted Mei's shoulder confidently. "Let's make this a huge success!"

  Vairen was dating, spending less time with Mei and the others, but he occasionally joined them for fun.

  After learning about Veyne's website's rapid growth, he happily spent his savings to buy Veyne a digital camera.

  Veyne was amazed when he saw it.

  "Whoa, how much did that cost?!"

  "Not much."

  Vairen didn't mention the price, demonstrating his material and emotional support for Veyne's venture—he was invested in it.

  "Let's celebrate, brother!"

  Veyne was overjoyed.

  He could now take pictures and upload them online, making his online diary more realistic and attracting more viewers.

  As for Songveil,

  She'd reportedly gone to a major city to seek her fortune.

  Veyne and the others hadn't seen her since.

  Veyne understood Vairen's situation. Hanging out with them wasn't getting him anywhere. Finding a girl he liked, he needed stability.

  He complained occasionally, but he wasn't angry at Vairen.

  Thinking this,

  He looked at Mei, patted her shoulder, and sighed, "Hey, it's just you and me now. Don't you abandon me too!"

  Mei asked, "Aren't you planning to get married?"

  "Forget it."

  Veyne fiddled with his new gadget, muttering, "I know my own situation; I won't drag anyone down."

  He probably felt he had no prospects, but he didn't mind. He was afraid marriage would affect his beliefs.

  Mei gave him a thumbs-up in acknowledgement.

  "Tough."

  Undeniably, the greatest opportunity of this era was the burgeoning internet. Veyne, with his fervent passion, successfully rode this wave.

  This year witnessed the explosive growth of the internet. The number of households with personal computers in the country increased rapidly, and internet cafes sprung up everywhere.

  The number of households with personal computers soared from a few hundred thousand. The number of internet users also exploded.

  Thanks to the booming internet, Veyne's personal website's traffic and popularity skyrocketed. Consequently, advertising companies began to approach him.

  That day,

  Veyne was excitedly sleepless.

  s meant revenue, and revenue meant this was a genuine job and career—no longer a hobby.

  Within three years,

  Veyne's personal website had become a major platform, evolving from a personal diary into the nation's most popular blog site.

  Anyone could record their diaries and share them with netizens for discussion. It had also developed into the nation's largest online fiction platform.

  Holding two major platforms with massive traffic and popularity, Veyne's online empire was thriving, unrivaled.

  The transformation from a two-person operation to an office, then to a major internet company, all happened within a mere three years.

  However,

  Unless absolutely necessary, Veyne rarely managed company affairs. He maintained a section on his website for his own extraterrestrial search diary, which he continued to update.

  At this point,

  After the initial wave of internet hype, Veyne's search diary no longer brought much novelty to netizens, and its popularity waned.

  But he didn't care.

  The consequence was increasing internal company chaos. High-level executives attempted to sideline Veyne and Mei. Upon realizing this,

  Veyne sold the company without hesitation.

  Yes,

  He sold the entire website and company.

  Mei confirmed again, "Are you sure?"

  "Sold."

  Veyne never really cared about the company's development. "I'm too lazy to waste time and energy on internal conflicts. Let's just resolve this quickly."

  "Fair enough."

  Ultimately,

  The company and website were acquired by a major domestic internet enterprise for 5 million. The founders divided the proceeds.

  Veyne received the largest share—2 million; Mei received 1.5 million; the other founders divided the rest as they saw fit—it no longer concerned them.

  Immediately,

  Veyne gave a large portion to his parents for their retirement. He used the remaining hundreds of thousands to finally start the publishing company he'd always wanted, with Mei as an investor.

  Veyne may not have been a successful businessman. If he'd continued, he might have made the company even bigger.

  But he was stubborn, his heart unyielding.

  His focus remained on extraterrestrials.

  However,

  As time went on, willpower and belief eroded. The lack of progress caused Veyne's belief to waver.

  This was his greatest fear.

  He began to question his beliefs and the pursuit of truth. Mei, on the other hand, never showed any sign of wavering.

  Her belief and willpower were stronger than steel.

  Veyne couldn't help but ask Mei, "Aure, do you really believe extraterrestrial civilizations and extraterrestrials exist? Have you ever doubted your beliefs?"

  Mei's answer was simple.

  "You'll know when you find them."

  Veyne rolled his eyes.

  "That's nonsense."

  Knock knock knock!

  "Come in."

  A shy girl entered the office, somewhat hesitantly presenting her resume. "Hello, I'm here for the editorial position."

  ...

  Bang bang bang bang!

  The sound of fireworks and the smell of gunpowder filled the air. A sleek convoy of cars pulled up to the curb. Veyne, sporting a sharp new haircut and a dark suit, had broken his promise.

  The chubby guy had gotten married. Not only had his parents urged him, but he genuinely liked the girl. The bride was none other than the girl who'd applied for the editorial position at the publishing company a year ago.

  Her name was Ciomi.

  No matter how resolute his words had been, time changes everything. Romance was unpredictable. Veyne had thought his beliefs were unshakeable.

  But he'd been wrong.

  He couldn't let this girl go.

  Changing one's heart wasn't necessarily a bad thing; his younger self had been immature, and his past beliefs equally so.

  Many things change over time, including himself.

  "Fatty, strike a pose!"

  Mei fiddled with her camera. Veyne grinned, striking a cool pose in front of the car.

  Click!

  The image was captured.

  At the wedding,

  Vairen arrived in a suit and dress shoes. He and his girlfriend were close, and everyone thought he'd be the first of the group to marry.

  Unexpectedly, it was Veyne. Vairen's girlfriend rarely met Mei and the others, and they didn't ask Vairen much about her.

  "Come on, come on, Best Man, let's do a toast!"

  Their friendship remained strong.

  Vairen felt no awkwardness, joining Veyne in making merry at the wedding. Mei acted as Veyne's designated driver, holding him steady when he became intoxicated.

  Finally,

  "Best Man, let's take a picture!"

  "Okay!"

  At the banquet table, the inebriated Veyne was propped up by Mei and Vairen, his head resting on Vairen's shoulder, snoring softly.

  Click!

  A photo of the three friends together was taken.

  In a hazy state,

  Veyne asked, "Where's Songveil? Why didn't she come?"

  "I haven't contacted her in a while,"

  Vairen said, "She rarely comes back after going to work."

  They used to contact each other frequently, but before cell phones, it was difficult to stay in touch. Now, almost everyone owned a mobile phone, but contact was still hard.

  "Right, here's this for you."

  Vairen placed the small notebook into Veyne's pocket, containing information he'd recorded during their extraterrestrial searches.

  Veyne mumbled,

  "For… for me?"

  "I don't need it anymore. You're starting a publishing company, right? This information might be useful."

  "Go… go…"

  Veyne nodded, falling completely asleep.

  Even Veyne himself understood that the internet was the biggest opportunity of this era. If he'd continued running the company, it likely would have grown even larger.

  He didn't care.

  However, his parents and family couldn't ignore this. Years after his marriage, the internet company Veyne had founded before selling it had grown exponentially.

  It had become a major player in the industry.

  The diary and fiction platforms were spun off and, under skillful business management, capitalized on the explosive growth of the internet.

  It soared to incredible heights.

  Veyne's parents didn't understand the many factors involved in business. They felt that if Veyne hadn't sold the company, he would be even more successful now.

  Their incessant nagging irritated Veyne.

  He felt that enough money was enough.

  But it wasn't sustainable.

  The publishing company was struggling. A magazine focusing solely on extraterrestrials and mysterious events was too niche.

  It had very limited appeal.

  People preferred sensationalized news and celebrity gossip.

  The publishing company's readership and website traffic plummeted. Ciomi began to worry about their future.

  One day,

  She said to Veyne, "If you hadn't sold that company, things would be different. Like this, I don't even dare to have children."

  "..."

  Veyne was speechless.

  That evening,

  While having dinner with Mei, he sighed deeply. "Damn it, Aure, I think I've cornered myself."

  He'd focused solely on searching for extraterrestrial civilizations and extraterrestrials, aware that marriage and family might hinder him, yet he'd chosen marriage anyway.

  He wanted both, leading to a difficult situation.

  Mei simply asked,

  "Are you continuing with the publishing company?"

  A soul-searching question.

  Such is the life of a middle-aged man.

  One choice after another, their intertwining creating problems that could shatter anyone's spirit.

  "..."

  The chubby man fell silent again.

  After a while,

  "Damn it!"

  Veyne declared fiercely, "I'm continuing! I refuse to compromise!"

  Despite his resolve,

  That night, he gave all his savings to his wife—money for their child's future education and other expenses.

  He was determined to see it through.

  The following year,

  Ciomi gave birth to their son, making Veyne overjoyed. However, the publishing company continued to falter, nearing closure.

  Thankfully, Mei invested heavily, keeping the company afloat for another year. In contrast, the company Veyne had sold continued to grow, fueling his regret.

  Initially, he hadn't cared, but the constant nagging began to irritate him, and he found himself increasingly concerned—a much more frustrating situation.

  Veyne's life became increasingly strained and impoverished, but Mei's continued companionship provided some solace.

  "Aure, honestly, I don't understand. You could have a much better career elsewhere. Your talent was clear when we built that company. This publishing company's closure is inevitable. You should find another path."

  The chubby man spoke with deep regret, Mei being almost his sole pillar of support in his persistent pursuit of his dreams. If Mei left, he'd likely collapse.

  He didn't want to give up, but he felt guilty for hindering Mei's career over the years. In his youth, he'd felt fortunate to have such a friend.

  Now middle-aged, he truly felt guilty towards Mei. If he hadn't hindered her, she would undoubtedly be very successful.

  When he sold the company, Mei, as a founder, could have easily stayed, but she'd followed him into the chaotic world of publishing.

  "Don't worry, I have a backup plan."

  "Damn it, you must have saved my life in a past life."

  Veyne understood Mei's implication. He was so moved that he welled up, then became invigorated.

  "Let's go, let's interview!"