Jing Qichi's transfer application was officially approved on the day before New Year's Eve. On the same day, AILab held a farewell gathering for Jiang Sen.
Those unaware of the details could still read the signals of an amicable parting—he would be leaving Huandao, but connections might not be entirely severed.
The administrative staff arranged an assortment of tea and snacks in the large conference room, without any additional decorations. Gong Naliang sent an email to all staff announcing the news while expressing gratitude for this capable leader's outstanding contributions to the team.
Well-wishers came in waves. Jiang Sen, like a bride or groom at a wedding, entertained guests with effortless charm, accepting wishes for a bright future and thanking everyone for their past support. His demeanor remained perfectly composed, revealing no particular emotion.
Jing Qichi waited until nearly the end of the workday before entering the conference room. The farewell party was winding down, with most plates on the table already empty. Spotting him, Jiang Sen gestured from across the room for him to come over while nodding to the person he'd been speaking with. The other party turned, saw Jing Qichi, and tactfully vacated the spot.
"Boss," Jing Qichi approached and called out as usual, but then found himself at a loss for words.
Jiang Sen had recently visited headquarters and spent this entire day in meetings upon his return. They hadn't crossed paths for nearly a week.
"What's this? The brat's getting shy on me now," Jiang Sen half-sat on the conference table with arms crossed, wearing a knowing smirk. "What, feeling guilty about not coming with me?"
"Not exactly," Jing Qichi smiled.
"Your transfer has my fingerprints all over it," Jiang Sen raised an eyebrow. "You'd better remember you owe me for this one."
"Huh?" Jing Qichi was puzzled. The official notice hadn't come down yet—Gong Naliang had personally informed him that morning.
Jiang Sen glanced around before lowering his voice, "The company's transferring the local Medical Platform operations over there. Combined with the healthcare management platform and sports rehabilitation products the Research and Development Center was already planning to develop, they're merging everything into a major healthcare division. You'll be leading the team."
The news was genuinely unexpected, leaving Jing Qichi momentarily stunned.
"Professor Gong took considerable heat for this. Don't let him down," Jiang Sen patted his shoulder meaningfully. "There'll definitely be pushback—plenty of people there are older, more experienced, or better educated than you. My advice? Ignore the noise. Focus on delivering solid work and let your capabilities speak for themselves."
Jing Qichi remained somewhat dazed. While he took Jiang Sen's words to heart, he'd never imagined being thrust into such a position.
At least not this soon.
"Boss," he looked at the man before him, "you... you all really have that much faith in me?"
"I know exactly what my people are capable of," Jiang Sen stated frankly. "Truth be told, I'd hoped you'd come with me. But... well, I completely understand your choice. Family comes first, and I can guess your reasoning."
Seeing his silence, Jiang Sen added, "Just don't neglect your own affairs either. I'm counting on you making this choice for family reasons."
"I know," Jing Qichi smiled. Suddenly overwhelmed by indescribable emotion, he stepped forward and embraced Jiang Sen with genuine feeling. "Boss, really... thank you."Memories began flooding his mind—the first encounter with Jiang Sen on the train, where he had proactively extended his hand for an introduction; the bewildering interview at Huandao that unexpectedly led to his hiring; and most of all, the first six months—a rookie forcibly wedged among a group of intellectually superior, forward-thinking master's and PhD holders, enduring daily feelings of being crushed, losing count of the nights he had fallen asleep at his desk. Back then, it was Jiang Sen who patted his shoulder and said, "If you don’t know, then learn. You’re young—what’s there to fear?" He would earnestly point out his shortcomings but also sternly reprimand his mistakes. He took him to industry conferences and actively mobilized support when he needed help. Only much later did Jing Qichi realize that this was Jiang Sen’s way of mentoring—his rapid growth, his achievements, his composure under the pressure of critical projects, and the recognition and praise that followed. Every step Jing Qichi took at Huandao was inseparable from Jiang Sen.
"Save the formalities. The world is small—we might cross paths again." Jiang Sen patted his back in response to the grateful hug, then stood up and checked the time. "I’ve got an engagement tonight. As your former boss, one last piece of advice: Xiao Jing, never forget your original intent, no matter what."
Jing Qichi nodded solemnly.
He wanted to share the news with Huan’er but quickly dismissed the thought—she had been busy lately, and so had he. Their calls had dwindled over the past two months, and the only video chat they managed was cut short after five minutes when a colleague called her away. His annual leave request had already been submitted to HR. With the transfer settled, he could finally catch his breath.
Before leaving work, Jing Qichi did two things: researched visa requirements and tentatively scheduled flight times.
Qiu Yang had skipped the farewell gathering to catch a flight home for New Year’s with his family. Jing Qichi had also planned to return to Tianhe, but his mother messaged that morning saying she’d be working the night shift and specifically told him to relax with Song Cong and the others. To reassure her, he agreed. As for why he hadn’t contacted Song Cong—Du Man had booked her parents a travel package out of town, so it was obvious the two were together.
The approaching New Year brought festive cheer everywhere.
Jing Qichi bought a microwavable meal and a dozen beers at the convenience store near his apartment, trudging back to his building with a heavy heart. The short walk made him think of Huan’er again—elated about the promotion, weighed down by the pressure, caught between joy and uncertainty, longing to share but having no one to confide in. Huan’er must have had many such moments. He wondered where he had been during hers. It seemed, somehow, he had been absent.
Because of time zones, distance, endless work, and the precarious nature of their careers, they had unwittingly entered a "cooling-off period."
Even if neither had voiced it, it had become an unspoken reality.
Leaving the TV off, Jing Qichi heated his meal, taking one bite and three sips of beer before feeling full halfway through. His phone buzzed with red envelopes in various group chats—company, class, soccer team. He alternated between grabbing and sending them, as if this was the only way to pass what should have been a lively evening. Just as he was about to shower, the doorbell rang, accompanied by a familiar voice, "Qi Chi, open up."
Song Cong and Du Man had arrived together.
Touched but unwilling to show it, Jing Qichi teased them as he let them in, "Finished your romantic getaway and now remember to visit the lonely bachelor?""Du Man shyly explained, 'We just had a meal together. I called you but you didn't answer.'
'How could I dare to answer?' Jing Qichi said with his usual nonchalant demeanor. 'If I'd gone, I might've been stabbed by someone.'
'Is this all you're eating?' Song Cong glanced at the fast food on the table and looked around. 'Where's Qiu Yang? I thought you two were together.'
'He went back to his hometown.'
'You really...' Song Cong glared at him, his tone full of genuine reproach. 'You should've told us earlier that he went back!'
'Make yourself at home, Du Man,' Jing Qichi quickly greeted the first-time visitor. 'What would you like to drink? Beer? Cola?'
'Anything is fine.' Du Man sat down next to Song Cong and looked around. 'Your place is quite tidy.'
'Haven't cleaned up in days because of overtime work.' Jing Qichi handed her a can of beer and lazily leaned back in a chair he pulled over. 'What brings you two here?'
'After dinner, we didn't know where to go. Song Cong said you have mahjong here, so we thought we could make up a table.' Du Man smiled. 'I even brought change.'
'Three players short of a game,' Jing Qichi teased. 'Maybe you two should go back?'
'Haven't you heard it's easier to invite the Buddha than to send him away?' Du Man, always one to banter, said, 'Leave the keys, you can go.' She took a sip of beer and asked, 'Did you call Huan'er? Last week she messaged saying she was traveling during the Christmas break. Hasn't returned to school yet, right?'
'Yeah, she went out with Qi Qi,' Jing Qichi answered casually. At that moment, he only thought of Qi Qi as their mutual old classmate, coincidentally in the same country as Huan'er, so it was natural they'd look out for each other while traveling.
'Oh, I see.' Only after Du Man's response did Jing Qichi belatedly realize his slip of the tongue.
That was Song Cong's ex!
Du Man looked at him, then at Song Cong, who was pretending to be composed, and burst out laughing. 'You two... performing a mime?'
She wasn't bothered at all. Back when they were together, Song Cong was just the top student in their grade, an old classmate she'd turn to for academic help, a name in her contacts rarely reached out to. At that time, Du Man never imagined they could become friends, let alone sitting side by side on the same couch many years later.
In Du Man's view, a person's present is shaped by countless past moments, bright or dim, which temper and ultimately define who they are now. So she didn't mind at all; she was even grateful for those past experiences that brought Song Cong to her.
'Let's toast,' Jing Qichi raised his beer to break the silence, took a sip, and then said, 'Why aren't you two dating yet?'
Song Cong, who was drinking, choked hard at this, coughing until tears welled up. Du Man handed him tissues while patting his back, her face flushed but silent.
Jing Qichi suppressed a laugh, turned on his phone screen, and held it up to them. 'Four minutes left, or this will have to wait till next year.'
Eleven fifty-six, no, eleven fifty-seven.
Three minutes left.
Song Cong stopped coughing. He could almost hear the second hand ticking.
'I don't want you to end up like me,' Jing Qichi said quietly. 'Hesitating and missing many important moments.'"Du Man was about to say something, but Song Cong beat her to it. He covered her phone screen with his hand, gazing at her intently. "It's not about the timing... Manman, I really want to be with you."
Du Man's eyes instantly reddened.
"I'm not as perfect as everyone says, but I'm not that bad either." Song Cong smiled at her. "You can fix any physical ailments, and you can repair other aspects too..."
Du Man's eyes were still red, but a smile danced in them. "What physical ailments do you have?"
The question left Song Cong torn between laughter and exasperation.
"Dr. Du means she'll make you get a full physical before agreeing," Jing Qichi interjected, deliberately pretending to scroll through his contacts. "My mom's on duty today—let's go now. I'll have her squeeze you in."
"Like we need you for that." Du Man tilted her head at him. "I can handle my own family."
"Hear that, family?" Song Cong pulled Du Man's hand under the coffee table, raising an eyebrow at his friend. "With those old bones of yours, you'll get the friends-and-family discount for future appointments."
Du Man turned her palm up, interlacing their fingers. His hand was so warm.
From classmates to friends to lovers, from strangers to familiars to soulmates—they'd walked steadily toward each other along the path of time, never missing a step, not even the tiniest one.
Jing Qichi rolled his eyes at them, amused by the poetic justice—this must be his punishment for all those times he and Huan'er had made everyone groan with their public displays of affection.
"I'm going to shower. Take your time." He stood up with his empty beer can, then turned back after one step. "Oh, I'm planning to combine my Spring Festival leave with annual leave to visit Huan'er."
Song Cong asked, "Your leave got approved?"
"I got promoted. After New Year's, I'm transferring to the R&D Center."
"What?"
Du Man looked confused. "Changing jobs?"
"Their company's R&D Center," Song Cong quickly explained. "Basically, he's not staying in Beijing—he's going where Huan'er is."
Du Man blinked in surprise, then burst into laughter. "Jing Qichi, that's wonderful!"
"It is good," Song Cong said with mixed emotions. "Just... sudden."
Because he knew Jing Qichi better, he understood exactly how much effort his friend had poured in—far more than others—to reach this point. Not that he'd completely secured his future in Beijing, but within his field, Jing Qichi was already among the top of their generation.
"I've been thinking about it for a while. The opportunity just came at the right time." Jing Qichi watched distant fireworks blooming outside the window. "Lao Song, remember that winter break in sophomore year when the three of us hid at the base drinking? Aunt Lina was on night shift for New Year's Eve, right? I wanted to buy some bottle rockets, but you insisted the security guards would catch us, so we got alcohol instead."
"That did happen." Song Cong grinned at Du Man. "Fireworks would've been better—I got scolded when I got home, and he almost got beaten."
"Guess your alcohol tolerance wasn't great back then." Du Man chuckled, then sighed. "Time flies—it's already been ten years."
"Yeah." Jing Qichi gazed at the bursts of color rising and fading in the sky. "Ten years in the blink of an eye."
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