From Boardroom to Bliss: Amelia's Journey of Love and Resilience

Amelia Duval joined the company straight out of university. For a fresh graduate to rise from a mere employee, battling her way to the position of CEO at Paladin Group today, the effort and dedication she poured in must have been unimaginable to others. However, outsiders saw it differently. In their eyes, whatever a beautiful woman did was wrong; even with outstanding work ability and even if she perfected a task, she couldn't escape slander and criticism.

Now, as CEO, Amelia no longer cares about the office politics or gossip. Let them say what they will; her conscience is clear. Her biggest desire now is to get married, to marry someone who truly loves her.

From Intern to Millionaire

It's incredibly difficult for any junior employee to climb the corporate ladder, even more so for an attractive woman. Perhaps luck was on her side. When Amelia first joined the company, it was just a small-scale startup in Poland. In the early days, there were only a handful of employees. She worked day and night, tirelessly managing sales, negotiating partnerships, and overseeing projects. She handled finance, sales, and even worked as a receptionist, personally taking on almost every company task, and excelling at each one.

When a company has a group of employees dedicated to its success, it's bound to grow and thrive. This was precisely the case for the Paladin Group, where every individual contributed relentlessly. Naturally, everyone's efforts were rewarded. Thanks to the collective hard work of these committed employees, the company generated significant profits in just one year. To show appreciation for their year of hard work, employees received substantial year-end bonuses. Amelia's bonus, remarkably, exceeded 1 million Euros.

If you suddenly found yourself with a million Euros, what would you do? Buy a house, a car, or luxury goods? Amelia didn't spend her money on any of those things. The very first thing she did was negotiate with the company's owner. While the negotiation wasn't entirely smooth, the final outcome left Amelia very satisfied: she used her year-end bonus to purchase 1% of the company's original shares. She had invested genuine emotion into this company, watching it grow stronger day by day.

The Boss's "Wandering Hand" and Amelia's "Counterattack"

For many entrepreneurs, failure means having no time for anything else—no romantic nights, no lavish parties, no indulging in pleasures. It's back to the drawing board, starting fresh. But success, on the other hand, can lead to complacency. The joy and sense of accomplishment from a successful venture can make them relax their guard, causing them to seek pleasure and satisfy the mental and physical exhaustion accumulated during their initial hard work.

Amelia's boss was no different. Perhaps he didn't see himself as a "playboy," just as an alcoholic never sees himself as an alcoholic, or a gambler never sees himself as a pitiful addict; they are always so self-righteous. This sudden success allowed the boss to slightly loosen up, and he was "self-indulging" in wild drinking, celebrating his triumph. When Amelia entered his office, the boss suddenly realized how beautiful Amelia was. Why hadn't he noticed before? At that moment, the boss felt a tiny regret for his "oversight."

"Wine is a matchmaker for lust," and fueled by alcohol, the boss's boldness became unprecedented. He made his move and indeed touched a soft, slippery hand. But what followed was a resounding slap and a shattered wine bottle clutched in the hand he had just touched. The boss never expected Amelia to be this kind of person—a beauty who dared to slap her boss and confront him with a broken glass bottle.

As a boss, one naturally hopes their subordinates will obediently work themselves to the bone for the thriving business. But the subordinate standing before him now could, at any moment, "buy out" his life. The boss sobered up instantly; he wasn't drunk enough to joke with his own life. A rose with thorns might prick you a little, but at least the flower is yours. But if it's a thorny "tigress," would you still dare to try and touch her? Of course, a boss is still a boss, and the first step to being a leader is often being "shameless." If you can be utterly uninhibited, you have the potential to be a leader.

He rubbed his face, which stung from Amelia's slap, and then looked at the furious Amelia. He apologized to her, saying he had lost control due to alcohol and asked her not to mind. Then he told Amelia to put the glass bottle down, warning her not to cut her hand. Seeing the boss's sincere apology, Amelia forgave him, but she made it clear she wouldn't tolerate a repeat. Amelia warned the boss: "As the boss, you can get handsy with other employees; I don't care about their reactions. But with me, this is the first and last time."

The boss wanted to get angry, of course he did. Wouldn't you? Since ancient times, bosses have lectured employees; when have employees dared to quit? But bosses are shrewd "old foxes." Being shrewd is a form of intelligence, after all, and he didn't want to be the one to have a "Waterloo halfway through his entrepreneurial journey" like Napoleon. The boss could only apologize and agree to Amelia's terms. Oh, and a quick mind is also a necessary skill for a boss.

Amelia saw that the boss had sobered up considerably, so she brought up the topic of investment. Despite the unpleasant incident that just occurred, business was business. As soon as money was mentioned, the boss's eyes instantly brightened. After all, an investment meant a long-term commitment to the company, sharing in its successes and failures. Cash, on the other hand, was different; once given, it was hers, and what she chose to do with it was her right, with no interference. But once she invested, Amelia would become his partner, and his future "power over life and death" concerning her would vanish.

Amelia's conditions rendered the boss's "delaying tactics" useless. Only someone like Amelia, with her clear strength, would dare to challenge him this way. If the boss didn't agree to Amelia's proposal, she would simply quit, taking her hard-won clients and business with her. She could even "poach a few people" and start her own rebellion, becoming a "grassroots queen" herself. Amelia could have pushed further, but she didn't. Firstly, she genuinely liked the company, and secondly, she believed in "leaving a line open" to avoid burning bridges. This is why most companies now cultivate talent in various areas—to create checks and balances and prevent anyone from becoming "too powerful for the master."

To negotiate with a boss, you need equal leverage, otherwise why would they even talk to you? Negotiation also requires skill. The boss saw his "empty box tactic" fail and tried to switch strategies, but Amelia went straight for the kill. Seeing no opportunity to showcase his persuasive abilities, the boss had no choice but to concede. He drafted the agreement, signed it, and she became an initial partner. Although Amelia's equity was somewhat small, she understood that "contentment is happiness" was the best way to survive. Looking at the bright stars over Rome, Amelia felt that everything she had done validated her past.

"You can't have your cake and eat it too"? "Can I try to have both?" The boss laughed, saying that's what he was thinking at the time. Later, perhaps because they developed a rapport after their initial clash, the boss confessed his "unspeakable secret" to Amelia.

Amelia's Path to CEO

As the company steadily expanded, growing from a small team of a dozen people to a medium-sized firm with hundreds, and finally a large corporation with thousands, its headquarters also shifted. From a "snail's abode" on the outskirts of Paris, it moved to a high-rise within the second ring road, eventually settling in a business tower in the heart of the city. Former long-term employees either left or, if they stayed, found themselves marginalized, barely clinging on. Only Amelia, however, rose through the ranks from a newcomer to her current position as CEO.

Naturally, gossip was rife. Some whispered she was the boss's "other woman," others that she was the "new favorite" of various shareholders. All sorts of rumors circulated, but Amelia never bothered to explain herself. She knew it would be futile, only making her seem guilty.

Indeed, there were young women in the company who fantasized about becoming like Amelia. Amelia didn't mind; after all, there's no harm in dreaming, only in the dreamers themselves. However, it seemed these young women "fantasized about the wrong people," leading to internal scandals. Wives would storm in to confront "the other woman," or young women would turn on each other in childish feuds—a lively spectacle, if nothing else. In the end, only Amelia remained standing at the CEO's door, witnessing the procession of young women. As they left, they would look back at where Amelia stood, some with sadness, some with resentment, some with a dazed confusion. There were many such looks.

Sometimes, Amelia felt like a "madam," watching young women arrive like "chirping birds and fragrant swallows," only to leave "sobbing and heartbroken."

The Survival Guide of a Beautiful CEO

As the saying goes, "a big forest holds all sorts of birds." And a large company definitely houses all kinds of people. This was especially true for a beautiful woman like Amelia, surrounded by "wolves" within the company. Many admired Amelia, but most had ulterior motives. Some wanted to climb the ladder, some wanted to make a move on her, some resorted to "dirty tricks," some used "schemes" to force Amelia into submission, and others employed "open tactics" to make her yield. Amelia had seen every trick and every maneuver. She had no choice but to counter every move, whether it was a hidden trap or an overt challenge, and she did so with a certain "joy."

Some did succeed, but all they got was an Amelia covered in "shit and piss." Even with the best intentions, once feces and urine were involved, much of the motivation dwindled, then the ideas, and finally, things just ended badly. Those higher in rank called Amelia a complete "lunatic," while those below her were fired by Amelia for various reasons. "If you seek your own demise, don't blame me for being merciless." Even those above Amelia couldn't do much about her. After all, how could they bear to bully someone they had tormented into a state of "shit and piss" with their vulgar methods? Sometimes these tactics just "got old" and lost their meaning.

If you want to "protect yourself," don't harbor so much ambition. And if you have so much ambition to climb, don't assume others are "up to no good."

After these incidents, people in the company completely lost interest in Amelia. She might have been a great beauty, but she was a "beautiful madwoman." The boss, knowing her character, overtly and subtly indicated his desire to marry her. Of course, Amelia was perfectly aware that the boss "cut one batch of leeks after another," changed clothes constantly, and couldn't shake off the mess in his pants—was he looking for a "toilet"? She neither wanted nor was willing, rejecting him both overtly and covertly. The boss was "hopeless," his shamelessness reaching new levels. Amelia sometimes wondered how such a "brazen person" could exist.

Where Is Her Love?

Sometimes, Amelia would drink alone in her London home, sitting, then lying down, drinking until she cried in agony, until she vomited violently, even hugging a pillow and imagining it was a man. Just think of Amelia—she had money, influence, status, but no man. She was a bona fide "single dog without a man," and a "noble single dog" at that. A noble single dog encountering a noble single dog pillow, only to produce a "pillow core covered in duck feathers." Looking at the wet patch on the pillow core, Amelia began to sob softly again.

Single dogs are single dogs not because they can't find other single dogs, but because they can't find the perfect single dog. In fact, single dogs pressured to marry are the most miserable. They have no dignity at home; "people hate single dogs, and even dogs abandon single dogs." Chopsticks come in pairs, so why are you alone? Grains of rice stick together, so why are you still single? Everything seems connected to single dogs, even real dogs draw a line. Amelia gloomily called her Labrador over. The Labrador looked at her, then at its "provider of food and clothing," and resolutely chose its provider.

When a single dog returns home, their "aunts and uncles" act as if they have trackers installed on every one of them. "Consider a research job? He has a house and a car, in his early 30s, a decent-looking guy, and you're both unmarried, why not go take a look?" Fine, she'd go, only for the woman to dislike the man's baldness, and the man to dislike the woman's beauty. "A CEO from a listed company, your equal, you'd have things to talk about. He's handsome, rich, and honest, why not give it a try?" They'd try, get along great, almost make it to the altar for the engagement, only for an ex to crash the engagement party by throwing wine, and the current partner to narrowly escape with their life after a knife incident.

Amelia was tired. She bid farewell to her parents. After this ordeal, her parents were utterly exhausted and stopped pressuring their daughter, allowing Amelia to return, disheveled, to the home she had fought for over a decade. She bought wine, ordered a meal, and sat by the window. Looking at the "colorful world" outside, she felt for the first time that she had been wrong. Even the wine she drank seemed depressed with her. The pillows on the sofa were no longer single; they had each other to lean on. The weeping woman cried by the window, and the window no longer felt so lonely.

Amelia's "Liberation"

Busyness truly is the best antidote for pain. Returning to the company, Amelia plunged herself into work. Working day and night made her forget all unpleasantries, until she suddenly collapsed in her office from exhaustion. A pristine white bed, bright lights, fresh flowers, and a "barely surviving single dog." In her hazy state, her parents had visited, company colleagues had come, everyone she knew had appeared, but he never did.

Once recovered, Amelia returned to her home again—the home with paired pillows, the window that had become lonely without her. She wanted to throw herself back into work, to forget the bad things, but her hands trembled even when holding a glass of water. Her body simply wouldn't let her exert herself, just as it wouldn't let her walk. She slumped onto the sofa, looking at the pillows. She mustered every ounce of remaining strength and furiously hurled one pillow at the window.

She returned to the company once more, marching into the boss's office with a resignation letter. The boss hadn't even had a chance to congratulate the "king's return" before a resignation letter flew onto his desk. He was baffled by her approach—one moment working frantically, the next calmly resigning. The boss was puzzled, and employees expected an explanation. Amelia's explanation was simple: "I'm tired. I want to go out and see the world." The boss offered, "If you want to travel, I'll give you a vacation. A month, a year, how about that?" Amelia just smiled faintly at him, and he knew her mind was made up. He read the resignation letter, casually put it in his drawer, and told Amelia, "The CEO position is open for you. Come back whenever you want. Your original shares are always yours." Amelia had expected the boss to try to talk her out of it, but it seemed she had overthought it. "No need," Amelia said, turning and walking out, leaving behind a thoughtful boss.

She returned to her office—oh, right, it wasn't hers anymore. Amelia handed over her work, packed her personal belongings from the desk, left the employee badges that had changed with her promotions over the past decade, picked up her things, and walked straight out. Many colleagues came to see her off, but the boss did not emerge. Amelia said goodbye to everyone individually, finally glancing at the boss's door before walking out of the company.

Back home, Amelia buried her face in the sofa and cried in agony, so tragically, so heartbroken. "But why am I crying into two pillows?" She didn't want to be a "single dog," so she tossed one pillow aside and deeply sobbed into the other. She continued to cry intermittently throughout the night, intermittently downing beer. With a "clink," the glass in Amelia's hand fell, followed by a series of clinks like bouncing musical notes, scattering across the room, finally tumbling chaotically into Amelia's ears. Amelia struggled to her feet, but looking at the scattered beer bottles, she rubbed her face hard with both hands, wobbled into the bathroom, and stared at her completely transformed reflection in the mirror. Amelia even wondered if the mirror itself had "cheated" on her.

"Big Sister" Fiasco and "Single Declaration"

Amelia packed her luggage in her room and walked out, without a single lingering glance, pulling her suitcase towards the elevator. Amelia didn't know where to go; she had no direction, only a desire to wander. So, she joined a tour group and traveled smoothly south, arriving at the Portuguese coast. The sand on the beach was soft, and Amelia immersed her entire being in the ocean, quietly enjoying the pleasure the sea brought to her body and soul while wearing sunglasses. Just then, someone gently tapped her shoulder. Amelia turned to see a bald man holding a telephoto camera. "Big sister, excuse me please. We need to take a shot in this spot, thank you, big sister." Amelia instantly blew her top, shouting loudly at the "bald man" in front of her: "You're the big sister! Your whole family are big sisters!" With that, Amelia picked up her shoe and furiously walked away. The man left behind touched his bald head and muttered to himself, "Didn't I say thank you?"

After touring around and being "fed a lot of dog food" (witnessing many couples), Amelia returned home. Amelia felt she shouldn't wallow any longer. Being alone was actually quite good. Her parents were no longer pressuring her to marry, and living alone was perfectly fine—at least no one fought her for food or the TV. She still had her parents to take care of. Amelia looked at herself in the mirror, pumping herself up, and shouted loudly at her reflection: "Goodbye today, embrace singlehood!"

Amelia pulled out a set of sexy pajamas she had kept for years, originally intended for her first man. After waiting all these years, the pajamas had gone to waste. So, she put them on and provocatively turned in front of the mirror. "So sexy, you ugly mirror are getting a good deal!" Amelia, in her sexy pajamas, came into the living room and loudly declared: "Today is Amelia's Singlehood Farewell Concert! Everyone, let's get high, let's get high!" With the volume turned to maximum and the microphone raised as high as possible, Amelia wildly sang and danced on the floor, drinking beer and continuously swaying. She danced until late into the night, drank until late, and finally vomited well into the early hours.

"Midnight Disturbance" and the "New Neighbor"

The next morning, the phone incessantly buzzed by Amelia's ear. Half-asleep on the sofa, she kept thinking spring had arrived and bees were buzzing everywhere collecting nectar. Amelia chuckled in her dream, then with a wave of her hand, her phone clattered to the floor, the loud thud reverberating violently across the wooden boards. The sudden noise jolted Amelia, who was dreaming of shooing away bees, awake. She looked around, rubbed her temples, then vigorously rubbed her face, taking in the complete disarray and scattered vomit. "Is this even me?" she wondered.

Amelia quickly got up. Today was her first day of singlehood. She quickly tidied up, organizing what needed organizing and cleaning what needed cleaning. Just as she finished, the doorbell rang impatiently. "Who's ringing so early?" Amelia went to the door and peered through the peephole, instantly startled. Two stern-faced Berlin police officers stood outside. She quickly opened the door, and seeing a woman, the officers began to inquire, "Mr. Schmidt downstairs reported you for harassment. Is there any truth to that?"

Amelia adamantly denied it, saying it was impossible as she'd never even met him. The police then said, "Well, then you'll have to come with us and explain it clearly to him. Why report such a thing? A beautiful girl harassing him? Isn't this just nonsense?"

Amelia followed the police downstairs. The police rang the downstairs doorbell, and after a moment, a man with a wide yawn opened the door. He wiped his glasses and put them on. When he saw it was the police, he instantly became much more alert, asking in a strong German accent, "Officer, wha-wha-what's the matter?" One officer replied, "You reported someone harassing you." The man, still with his German accent, scratched his head, paused, and said, "Yes, yes, I reported it. She was awake half the night upstairs, either jumping or singing, keeping me up all night! Look!" He then lifted his glasses, pulling down his dark, sleepless eye bags for them to see. "Then you should call building security. The security will come and deal with it! And you need to speak more standard Mandarin, otherwise it's easy to cause misunderstandings!" the police officer sternly advised. The man with glasses, still yawning, replied in his German accent, "I couln't find da number for security, and it was so loud in da middle of da night I really couln't sleep, so what could I do? I thought dere was a party upstairs!" "But you can't just dial 119 for anything. This is a minor issue. You need to call and request to withdraw the report later, otherwise we'll have to open a case." The man with glasses repeatedly agreed. The police then turned to Amelia and said, "And you, you're a young woman, don't you work during the day? Why were you jumping around in the middle of the night?" Amelia could only say she'd be more careful next time.

After the police left, Amelia intended to apologize to the man with glasses, but before she even reached his door, he closed it, almost hitting her nose. Amelia furiously raised her fist, then lowered it, thinking that she was in the wrong first, so it was normal for him to ignore her. She decided to try apologizing another day.

"Unreasonable" Apology and "Surprise" Confession

The next day, Amelia bought some gifts, intending to go downstairs specifically to apologize to the man with glasses. Downstairs, she rang the doorbell, and after a moment, a handsome man opened the door and said, "Madam, whom are you looking for?" Amelia hadn't looked closely yesterday, but this man with glasses was quite handsome after all! Amelia said, "Hello, my name is Amelia Duval, I'm here to apologize. I'm your upstairs neighbor." The handsome man said, "Oh," and then with a lightning-fast thud, he closed the door. Amelia's expression was one of disbelief. What was wrong with this person? She was genuinely here to apologize! So Amelia rang the doorbell again. A moment later, the door reopened, his handsome face reappearing, and he asked, "Miss, are you done yet? Alright, I accept your apology, please don't disturb me, thank you." Just as the handsome man with glasses was about to close the door, Amelia jammed her foot in, stopping it, and then said, "How can you be so rude? I came to apologize, the least you can do is let me in!" The man with glasses said helplessly, "Fine, I accept your apology. Leave the things and go."

Amelia was furious. Changing her tone, she said, "The least you can do when your neighbor comes to apologize is let them in!" The man with glasses had never seen such an "unreasonable" person and said, "It's not convenient inside. I've taken the things, and I've accepted the apology." Amelia retorted, "What's inconvenient? I'm a woman, I won't eat you. Besides, if you leave the door open, it'll be easier to explain everything." The man with glasses was utterly speechless and had no choice but to open the door and let Amelia carry the gifts into the room. Amelia looked around, casually asking, "Where should I put these? I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I just bought some random things. I hope you don't mind." The room's decor was not unlike hers, just much tidier than her own "nest." Amelia then tentatively asked, "Where's your girlfriend? Doesn't she live with you?" The man with glasses looked at her helplessly and said, "No, I don't have a girlfriend." Amelia asked again, "Don't your parents live with you?" The man with glasses poured Amelia a glass of water and handed it to her, saying, "My parents are in Bavaria; I'm here for work." Amelia then asked, "What kind of work do you do?" The man with glasses retorted, "Miss, are you here to check my household registration?" Amelia felt she had gone a bit too far, so she turned and formally apologized to the man with glasses, then prepared to leave. He accepted her apology and motioned for her to leave quickly. Just as Amelia reached the door, she suddenly remembered she'd forgotten to ask his name. Before she could even turn, the door closed.

The doorbell rang again. The man with glasses looked at the beautiful Amelia before him, utterly speechless, and said, "Ms. Amelia, is there anything else?" Amelia sheepishly said, "I forgot to ask your name."

The man with glasses simply told Amelia: "My name is Jan Schmidt." Before Amelia could fully process it, the door closed once more. Amelia suddenly felt as if she had grasped onto something. If she let go now, she might never have another chance.

So Amelia took a deep breath and rang the doorbell once more. The door opened again, but this time, it opened completely. The man with glasses stood with his arms crossed, saying seriously, "Ask whatever you want to ask; I'll answer it all at once!"

Amelia took another deep breath, pursed her lips, and said, "Mr. Jan Schmidt, would you mind having a girlfriend!"

After saying it, Amelia shyly turned and ran out, leaving Jan Schmidt standing there in shock, watching her bounce away, almost tripping, in the distance.

Mr. Schmidt's Sweet Reply

Closing the door, Jan Schmidt sat on the sofa, resting his chin on his right hand, recalling Amelia's sudden declaration: "Would you mind having a girlfriend!" A subtle smile crept onto his lips. This woman was truly unpredictable, and delightfully amusing. He remembered her "singlehood farewell concert" from last night, the deafening singing, and her "unreasonable" apology this morning, along with her eyes, still slightly red from yesterday's indulgence. He had encountered countless admirers before, both overt and covert, but Amelia was unique. She possessed a raw, uninhibited "true nature" that caught him completely off guard and left him pondering.

From Neighborly Squabble to Budding Romance

The next morning, the doorbell rang again. Jan Schmidt opened the door, and as expected, it was Amelia. He was ready for her next "barrage of questions," but instead, Amelia held a large breakfast bag, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"Good morning, Mr. Schmidt!" Amelia's voice was a little hoarse, but it sounded especially pleasant. "Did you sleep well last night? I made some breakfast; I wanted to make up for all the noise."

Jan Schmidt raised an eyebrow, taking the breakfast bag. Inside were steaming German sausages and pretzels, along with a fragrant cup of coffee. He smiled, truly smiling at her for the first time.

"Come in, Ms. Amelia," his voice was much softer than usual.

Amelia was a little surprised, but obediently stepped inside. They sat at the dining table, eating breakfast and chatting. From initial awkwardness and wariness, they gradually relaxed and found they shared many common interests and hobbies. Amelia recounted her struggles at Paladin Group, the gossip she endured, and her deep-seated exhaustion and yearning. Jan Schmidt, in turn, shared his career in Berlin and why he came to Paris seeking new challenges.

"I do mind," Jan Schmidt suddenly said, putting down his coffee cup and looking seriously at Amelia, interrupting her story.

Amelia's heart leaped to her throat. She thought he was going to reject her, and disappointment flickered in her eyes.

"I mind having only one girlfriend." Jan Schmidt paused, a smile returning to his lips. "I think I need an fiancée."

Amelia froze for a moment, then a blush spread across her cheeks. She looked at the genuine smile in Jan Schmidt's eyes, her heart pounding as if it would burst. She had finally found him—a man who didn't mind her past, didn't care about her status, and only saw her for who she was.

Finding Their Home Together

A year later, in front of Notre Dame, Amelia, in her pristine white wedding gown, walked hand-in-hand with Jan Schmidt into the halls of matrimony. The wedding was simple yet warm, attended only by close family and friends. Her parents watched their daughter's happy smile, their anxiety about her marriage gone, replaced by profound contentment.

For their honeymoon, they chose a small island along the Mediterranean coast. In the early morning, Amelia leaned on Jan's shoulder, watching the sunrise over the sea. She felt like the ocean itself, fully immersing her entire being into this hard-won happiness.

All the past "flirtations," all the "shit and piss" incidents, had become distant memories. Now, Amelia woke up every morning with a man who loved her, understood her, and made her feel secure. She was no longer the "noble single dog" crying alone; the pillows on her sofa would always be a pair. Outside the window, the Seine River flowed gently, bearing witness to the newlyweds' sweetness and joy.

Amelia finally understood that true happiness wasn't about professional success or lavish living, but about finding someone to share life with—someone who allowed you to willingly shed all your pretenses and be your most authentic self.

Upon their return from the honeymoon, Amelia and Jan Schmidt's bubble of happiness didn't immediately burst, but the "gravitational pull" of reality quietly began to assert itself.

The "Symphony" of Adjustment

Newlyweds, as expected, were full of sweet nothings and affectionate gestures. Jan Schmidt was thoughtful and attentive, and Amelia, shedding her CEO "armor," displayed the tenderness of a young woman. They furnished their new home in the Berlin suburbs together, hotly debating over sofa colors and balcony flowers, eventually finding the most comfortable solutions through mutual compromise. Amelia's "spontaneity" and Jan Schmidt's "German precision" became the two charming contrasts in their daily lives.

For instance, Amelia would always casually hang her wet towel over the bathroom door after showering, while Jan Schmidt would silently fold it and place it in the laundry basket. At first, Amelia would grumble, "Oh, Mr. Schmidt, can't you be less 'strict'?" Jan Schmidt would adjust his glasses and say earnestly, "Amelia, neatness is a fundamental aesthetic of life." These minor frictions sometimes led to a "harmless" verbal "battle," usually ending with a playfully affectionate hug from Amelia or a resigned kiss from Jan Schmidt. They learned to understand each other's habits through these small matters and found balance in their love.

A CEO's "Sweet" Predicament

Though Amelia had resigned from her CEO position, she wasn't entirely "idle." She shifted her focus to the original shares she owned in Paladin Group. As a major shareholder, she still needed to keep an eye on the company's development, regularly attend board meetings, and sometimes even step in to handle significant "public relations crises."

On one occasion, Paladin Group was targeted by the media due to an "environmental scandal," forcing Amelia to rush back to Paris from a vacation in Sicily, Italy, to deal with it. While Jan Schmidt understood her sense of responsibility, seeing her exhausted demeanor and anxious eyes still tugged at his heart. During that time, Amelia often worked through the night, and Jan Schmidt would silently stay by her side, preparing late-night snacks for her and helping her organize documents, becoming her strongest support.

"Do you regret resigning?" Jan Schmidt once asked, half-jokingly.

Amelia leaned on his shoulder and softly replied, "No regrets. Every decision I make now is for myself and our shared future, not to meet others' expectations. It's just that I didn't realize that even after shedding a huge burden, I couldn't shed this sense of responsibility." Jan Schmidt kissed her hair. "That's not a burden; it's your value. As long as you're by my side, I won't feel lonely."

Whispers of the Past

Even as Amelia and Jan Schmidt reveled in their life together, external gossip lingered like an unshakeable shadow. Especially after Amelia's resignation, some people began to speculate that she had "fallen out of favor," and some "busybody" even exaggerated her past "romantic escapades," ensuring the rumors reached Jan Schmidt's ears.

Initially, Jan Schmidt did feel uncomfortable. He was, after all, a traditional German man who valued reputation greatly. One time, he overheard colleagues in the coffee room discussing Amelia's past, and his face instantly darkened. Back home, he spoke coldly to Amelia for the first time.

Amelia subtly sensed his mood. She didn't press him but silently brewed him a cup of hot tea. It wasn't until Jan Schmidt himself brought it up, with a hint of suppressed anger, asking about the rumors. Amelia didn't defend herself; she simply looked at him calmly, her eyes showing a trace of weariness and candidness.

"Jan, I once was a person struggling in the mud. For survival, for my dreams, I used certain methods and endured some less-than-glorious past. I won't deny their existence because they made me who I am today," Amelia said, taking his hand. "If you find it unacceptable, I understand. But if you're willing to believe me, I promise you, from now on, my life is only about you, and nothing else."

Jan Schmidt looked at the honest and firm light in her eyes, and his doubts instantly dissipated. He held her tightly, understanding for the first time the immense strength and subtle vulnerability within this woman. From that day on, no matter who spoke of Amelia's past in front of him, he would unequivocally retort: "I only believe what I see; I only believe my wife." Their trust, forged in the storms, became even stronger.

The Continuation of Life and New Challenges

In their third year of marriage, an unexpected surprise arrived—Amelia was pregnant. The news delighted and astonished the couple. Amelia had once thought she might never have children in her life, and Jan Schmidt had always hoped for a family of his own.

During her pregnancy, Amelia experienced an unprecedented "sweet torment." Morning sickness, swelling, mood swings... The woman who once commanded the corporate world now frowned because she couldn't eat and complained about her swollen feet. Jan Schmidt transformed into a "super dad," learning to cook various nutritious meals, getting up in the middle of the night to soothe her to sleep, and even specially learning flamenco dance to lift her spirits, awkwardly dancing for her at home, making Amelia laugh uncontrollably.

The birth of their child brought a monumental change to their lives. Their world for two became a family of three, filled with the child's cries, laughter, and babbling filling every corner of their lives. Amelia experienced the transformation of "a mother's strength," finding that motherhood made her softer yet more resilient. And Jan Schmidt, once a meticulous gentleman, became a "big boy" who would lie on the floor playing LEGOs with their child.

Of course, raising a child also brought their share of "chaos." Midnight diaper changes, anxiety during the child's illnesses, disagreements over parenting philosophies... These became new "sour notes" in their lives. But each time they saw their child's innocent smile, a sense of responsibility and commitment made everything else seem trivial.

Experiencing Love in the Mundane

Decades passed in the blink of an eye. Amelia and Jan Schmidt, the couple who once made promises under the "Roman stars," experienced the ups and downs of careers, the intrusion of gossip, the joy of new life, and the traces of aging. Their hair gradually silvered, and their faces became etched with the marks of time.

Amelia was no longer the girl frantically running to prove herself; she learned to slow down and enjoy life. She began to learn oil painting again, while Jan Schmidt cultivated a small vegetable patch in their backyard, planting lavender and rosemary. On weekends, they would take their children and grandchildren to Provence in southern France for holidays, savoring local delicacies and embracing the tranquility of the countryside.

In their later years, their favorite thing to do was sit on the balcony of their Paris city center apartment. Amelia would lean on Jan Schmidt's shoulder, watching the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower outside the window. He would read her the news from the newspaper, and she would tell him amusing anecdotes from their youth.

"Jan, do you remember the first time I came to your place to apologize, and you almost slammed the door on my nose?" Amelia asked with a laugh.

Jan Schmidt chuckled too, tightening his grip on her hand. "I remember. That was the most 'forceful' apology I'd ever witnessed. But I remember even more vividly when you asked if I'd mind having a girlfriend, and then shyly ran away."

Amelia looked up at him, her eyes still sparkling with affection. "Meeting you was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me."

Jan Schmidt kissed her forehead. "Me too, Amelia. You're like a diamond; rough around the edges when unpolished, but through the Honing of time, you only shine more brightly."

Their lives continued to be filled with laughter and occasional complaints and quarrels. But these were merely brief interludes in the symphony of their love. They had long understood that happiness isn't about perfection, but about choosing to stay together and cherishing each other despite imperfections. Their lives, because they had each other, truly became complete and rich.