710: Chapter 75 Let's go back and choose a wedding dress.

"Dad, look! The clouds look like cotton candy!" Youyou pointed excitedly out the window.

Shen Yan leaned over and ruffled his daughter's hair.

"Yes, just like cotton candy."

He turned to look at Liu Hui. Liu Hui was smiling gently as she watched the father and daughter.

Sunlight streamed through the porthole, falling on her face, making her look impossibly tender.

In this moment, all the talk of commercial empires and Future Technology seemed to become less important.

The people before him were the ones he would fight with everything he had to protect.

The plane landed on a private island whose name couldn't even be found on a map.

Shen Yan had temporarily rented the island through Ning Ke's connections.

The island wasn't large, but it was fully equipped. Most importantly, it offered absolute privacy and tranquility.

The white sand was as fine as powder, feeling soft and yielding underfoot.

The seawater was a dreamy Tiffany blue, so clear that they could see schools of colorful fish darting among the coral.

As soon as Youyou saw the ocean, she cheered and rushed toward it like a happy little bird.

Liu Hui followed behind her, helping her take off her shoes and roll up her pant legs.

Shen Yan, meanwhile, called over the island's service team.

A middle-aged white man who looked like a butler stood respectfully before him, accompanied by a group of chefs, security personnel, and maids.

"Mr. Shen, welcome to 'Heart of the Sea' with your family. I am your exclusive butler, Robert. We will be at your service 24 hours a day for the next week."

"Thank you," Shen Yan nodded. "Arrange a beach banquet. The ingredients must be the freshest. Also, prepare some toys for the child, like a sand bucket and shovel."

"As you wish, sir."

Evening arrived.

The setting sun painted the sky in a brilliant orange-red.

The sea breeze gently caressed them, carrying a hint of warm saltiness.

Youyou was squatting on the sand, diligently building her sandcastle with the tools Shen Yan had arranged for.

Shen Yan helped beside her, awkwardly digging a 'moat.'

Liu Hui sat on a nearby lounge chair, holding a glass of juice, watching the father and daughter under the sunset, a smile lighting up her eyes.

She had never seen Shen Yan like this before.

Without the sharpness and depth he displayed in the business world, he looked like the most ordinary father, playing childish games with his daughter, his face radiating pure relaxation and doting affection.

"Dad, my castle needs the tallest tower!"

"Okay, we'll build the tallest one."

"It also needs little seashells for decoration!"

"No problem, Dad will go pick some for you."

Shen Yan actually ran to the water's edge and carefully sifted through the shells washed ashore.

Watching him, Liu Hui's eyes grew moist.

She knew how much this man carried on his shoulders.

His parents' deep-seated revenge, his sister's illness, the survival of the company, the betrayal of his Ex-wife...

Any one of those burdens would be enough to crush an ordinary person.

Yet, he had borne them all.

And while shouldering the weight of the entire world, he had also meticulously created the softest, warmest sky for the two of them.

"What are you thinking about?"

At some point, Shen Yan had walked up beside her, still clutching a few beautiful shells in his hand.

"Nothing," Liu Hui shook her head, reaching out to wipe some sand off his cheek. "I just feel like this right now is truly wonderful."

"It will be even better in the future," Shen Yan pulled her into his embrace.

He looked at the sandcastle that was already taking shape in the distance, and at his daughter still busy working there, and said softly,

"Before, I always felt I had to keep climbing, to stand high enough, in order to protect the people I cared about."

"But now I realize that sometimes, being able to crouch down like this and build a sandcastle with her is the entire meaning of my fight."

Liu Hui rested her head on his shoulder, not speaking, just hugging him tightly.

The beach banquet was ready.

White tablecloths, exquisite tableware, and flickering candlelight.

The chef was cooking lobster and grouper just pulled from the sea, filling the air with fragrance.

Youyou was already starving, sitting in her high chair and eating until her little mouth was greasy.

Shen Yan and Liu Hui sat opposite each other, slowly savoring red wine and chatting.

"Oh, right, my sister Shen Ya will come stay for a few days next week," Shen Yan mentioned.

"Really? That's wonderful!" Liu Hui exclaimed happily. "How is Xiaoya's recovery going? Is she adapting well to the work at the company?"

"She's recovering very well. She really likes her current job and is much more cheerful than before." Mentioning his sister, a look of relief also crossed Shen Yan's face.

"That’s great. I’ll cook some of her favorite dishes when she gets here," Liu Hui said warmly.

The two chatted about family matters, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Just then, the satellite phone Shen Yan had placed on the table vibrated once.

It was a message from Chen Guangke.

["Brother Yan, helium futures have been cleared. After deducting principal and fees, the net profit is 2.3 billion Euros."]

["All Star Ring Technology stock has also been absorbed. A total of 180 million USD was used. We currently hold 35% of the shares, making us the largest shareholder. Their short-selling attempt failed, and their capital chain is broken. They are expected to announce bankruptcy reorganization tomorrow morning."]

["The Treasure Pavilion artifact has also been secured. The base is intact and is being sent to the lab."]

Shen Yan finished reading, his expression unchanged, and deleted the message.

In less than a single day, wealth exceeding thirty billion RMB had silently flowed into his pocket.

And all he had done was make two phone calls.

This was the power the system granted him.

A terrifying power capable of disregarding all worldly rules and wantonly plundering wealth.

Yet, his heart was incomparably calm at this moment.

Because he knew that these cold figures were far less precious than the little face before him, which was squinting in happiness from eating delicious food.

He set down his wine glass and said to Liu Hui,

"When we get back this time, let's go pick out a wedding dress."

Liu Hui froze abruptly, her hand holding the knife and fork stopping mid-air.

"You... what did you say?"

Shen Yan looked at her and repeated himself seriously.

"I said, let's get married."

He had always felt his career was still on an upward trajectory, wanting to wait a bit longer.

But just now, he suddenly understood.

Even the tallest skyscraper needs the firmest foundation.

And Liu Hui and Youyou were the foundation of his life.

Liu Hui's eyes instantly turned red.

She had waited a long time for those words.

But she had never rushed him, because she understood his pressure and knew his pace.

She thought she would have to wait much longer.

She never expected happiness to arrive so suddenly.

"Mm," she nodded forcefully, her voice thick with unshed tears.

Nearby, Youyou saw her mother crying and quickly put down the lobster claw in her hand, asking anxiously,

"Auntie, why are you crying? Did Dad bully you?"

Liu Hui quickly turned her tears into a smile and shook her head.

"No, Auntie is... just too happy."

Youyou nodded, not quite understanding, then looked at Shen Yan and made a request in a milky voice.

"Dad, does this mean I can call Liu Hui Mom now, and call her Mom?"

Shen Yan smiled, pulled his daughter into his arms, and kissed her on the forehead.

"Of course you can."

The sea breeze blew, the candlelight flickered.

On the horizon, a bright moon quietly rose, casting its silver glow across the entire sea surface.

For Shen Yan, this trip was not just a physical relaxation.

It was a return of the soul.

At this moment, he only wanted to be Youyou's father and Liu Hui's husband.

That was enough.