Jiang Yubai stared at Lin Zhixia for several seconds, causing her to unconsciously take a step back, though her demeanor remained undiminished: "Am I wrong?"
Jiang Yubai voluntarily slipped into the role from "Exploring the Universe": "You're absolutely right, Captain Lin Zhixia."
When they were children and Jiang Yubai played the "leader" role, he always deliberately put on a solemn adult act. Lin Zhixia found him both serious and silly, which was quite amusing.
Now that he had truly grown up, with changes in both appearance and personality, hearing him say "Captain Lin Zhixia" again gave Lin Zhixia a completely new feeling.
Lin Zhixia's eyes grew even brighter. She asked him softly: "Are you free tonight?"
"I have a video conference tonight," Jiang Yubai said, "Tomorrow..."
Before Jiang Yubai could finish, Lin Zhixia guessed what he meant and sighed: "Tomorrow morning I have to teach undergraduate classes, in the afternoon the Laboratory needs to move equipment so I have to supervise, and in the evening I need to meet with Luo Ying and Feng Yuan to discuss issues."
Jiang Yubai walked up the steps. The polished glass door reflected his and Lin Zhixia's images. Gazing at their close reflections, he murmured to himself: "If I pick you up after work and take you home, I can spend ten minutes with you."
It wasn't particularly remarkable sweet talk.
But the genuine emotion he revealed made Lin Zhixia's heart pound rapidly. She immediately linked arms with him and sincerely coaxed him: "How about this - I'll stay at your place for a few days first." She even painted him a rosy picture: "Next winter break, I have a month off. We can travel around the world..."
Since Lin Zhixia had already learned how to swim, she was particularly drawn to island vacations. After discussing with Jiang Yubai, they decided to spend a week in the Maldives during next year's winter break. As they chatted while touring the office building, over two hours passed unnoticed, the brilliant daylight gradually fading. Lin Zhixia glanced out the window and said: "I want to go home."
Jiang Yubai still had a business negotiation meeting to attend.
Lin Zhixia knew he was very busy. She suggested: "My Brother gets off work at 5:30. I'll go home with him. You should go to your meeting first."
Lin Zeqiu worked at this internet company. However, he wasn't aware of Jiang Yubai's connection to the company. If he found out, he might immediately resign and look for another programming job.
At 5:30 in the afternoon, Lin Zeqiu slung his backpack over his shoulder and left his workstation, his phone vibrating constantly in his clothes pocket. He took out his phone, saw that the caller was Lin Zhixia, and without hesitation answered the call.
On the phone, Lin Zhixia told him: "Brother, are you off work? I visited the Quantum Technology Laboratory today and I'm now sitting in your company's reception room. I thought we could go home together... Jiang Yubai can give us a ride."
As for that Quantum Technology Laboratory, Lin Zeqiu had heard something about it. As a member of Lin Zhixia's team, he had learned quite a bit of internal information through emails and WeChat groups. He believed that the establishment of the Quantum Technology Laboratory relied on Jiang Yubai's connections to facilitate multi-party collaboration. As for Jiang Yubai's relationship with this internet company, he thought it wasn't particularly close - Jiang Yubai was simply a third-generation rich kid with an extensive network of contacts... that was all.Jiang Yubai offering to take Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu home was clearly seizing an opportunity to impress. As Lin Zhixia's brother, Lin Zeqiu couldn't very well object. He found his sister in the reception room. At that moment, she was holding a cup of tea, nibbling on a pastry with her head bowed, and mumbling praises: "The strawberry cake is so delicious..."
Jiang Yubai didn't notice Lin Zeqiu. He raised his hand and used his fingertip to wipe away the cake crumbs from the corner of Lin Zhixia's lips.
Lin Zeqiu's brow furrowed slightly. But he didn't criticize Jiang Yubai's action. Having repeatedly analyzed Jiang Yubai's words and deeds, he had long since concluded that Jiang Yubai often played the sympathy card to win Lin Zhixia's favor, thereby achieving certain ulterior motives—this guy is truly unfathomable, Lin Zeqiu thought to himself.
Jiang Yubai stood up, greeted him, and led the siblings toward the parking lot. On the way, Jiang Yubai brought up the company's new internal project with Lin Zeqiu, asking for his opinion. Lin Zeqiu grew increasingly puzzled—how did Jiang Yubai know about their engineering department's performance evaluation model?
He couldn't help but ask, "Where did you gather all this information?"
Jiang Yubai replied, "A colleague told me."
A colleague?
Before Lin Zeqiu could ponder further, a young man approached from across the parking lot. Dressed in a loose T-shirt and jeans, he still managed to showcase a robust and tall physique—his features were equally striking, with a straight nose bridge and deep-set eyes. Compared to his reserved, youthful self during middle school, he now exuded a rather mature aura.
The parking lot was vast, quiet, and dimly lit.
The man halted, quietly gazing at Lin Zhixia and her companions. He seemed to have something to say, yet also seemed to have nothing to say.
Before Lin Zeqiu could react, Lin Zhixia greeted the man: "Senior Nie Tianqing?"
Nie Tianqing held a briefcase in his left hand and car keys in his right. He hesitated for a moment before walking toward Lin Zhixia: "You still remember me?"
Of course.
Lin Zhixia remembered everyone she had ever met.
Twelve years ago, when Lin Zhixia first visited Jiang Yubai's home and played "Bubble Ball Battle" with a group of children, Nie Tianqing had also been present. The other children all said that Nie Tianqing was a top student from Provincial First High School, with excellent academic performance—very impressive.
Later, when Lin Zhixia was admitted to Provincial First High School, Nie Tianqing became her senior. However, the total number of words they had exchanged didn't exceed twenty sentences.
Jiang Yubai had a vague impression of the name "Nie Tianqing." When Nie Tianqing extended a hand toward him, Jiang Yubai instinctively shook it—the scene felt less like a reunion of former schoolmates and more like a meeting between two parties in a business negotiation.
Nie Tianqing initiated the conversation: "I'm here for the autumn recruitment interview. What about you?"
Jiang Yubai summarized briefly: "We've partnered with a university to establish an emerging technology Laboratory. The business is still in its early stages."
The information Jiang Yubai disclosed could all be found online. The university where Lin Zhixia worked wasn't new to corporate collaborations; all related regulations and processes were quite mature, and firsthand news about such matters was personally written by the college's administrative staff.
Nie Tianqing couldn't extract any valuable information. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Jiang Yubai, he prepared to leave. Before departing, his gaze shifted to Lin Zhixia, and he gave her a slight nod.Lin Zhixia waved at him.
He raised an eyebrow, then smiled.
His figure gradually faded into the distance.
Jiang Yubai stood still for a moment.
Jiang Yubai had seen this year's autumn recruitment brochure. All positions' interview dates were scheduled for mid-October, and it was currently late September. In other words, Nie Tianqing hadn't come to this company for an interview. So what was he here for? Why deliberately lie?
Jiang Yubai knew Nie Tianqing was his senior from Provincial First High School. After brief reflection, Jiang Yubai couldn't recall any interactions between them. That "Bubble Ball Battle" from twelve years ago had long faded from Jiang Yubai's memory. He only remembered Lin Zhixia's heroic stance holding the bubble ball to save their entire team. As for Nie Tianqing's personality and behavior back then... those were distant memories too remote to verify.
Lin Zhixia's voice interrupted Jiang Yubai's thoughts: "What are you thinking about? Nie Tianqing?"
Jiang Yubai concealed the truth: "Nothing."
Lin Zhixia lowered her head with a smile: "Even if you don't tell me, I can guess."
Before she finished speaking, Lin Zeqiu happened to pass by and overheard her words.
With both hands tucked tightly in his coat pockets, Lin Zeqiu interjected at the right moment: "Lin Zhixia was very smart since childhood. After all these years of mental exercise, she's only gotten smarter. If you have something to hide from her, don't bother - once she finds out, it'll be too late to fix."
Though Lin Zeqiu was openly threatening him, Jiang Yubai wasn't angry but rather amused. He dropped a bombshell: "Xia Xia and I exchange diaries every year. She knows all my secrets."
This was true.
Lin Zhixia chimed in: "That's right, Jiang Yubai and I have been exchanging diaries for over ten years. He even takes photos and puts them in the diary, only showing them to me."
Lin Zeqiu was defeated.
He had nothing to say.
With his messenger bag slung across his shoulder, he slowly approached one of Jiang Yubai's cars.
Jiang Yubai opened the rear door like a chauffeur for Lin Zeqiu, naturally waiting for him to get in - which Lin Zeqiu found somewhat satisfying.
However, the moment Lin Zeqiu settled in his seat, Jiang Yubai slammed the door shut with a "thud." He took Lin Zhixia's wrist and helped her into the passenger seat.
Lin Zhixia turned to look at Lin Zeqiu in the back: "Brother?"
Lin Zeqiu rested his chin in his hand.
Lin Zhixia called him again: "Brother?"
Lin Zeqiu pretended not to hear.
If this were her childhood self, Lin Zhixia would likely have erupted with a series of "Brotherbrotherbrotherbrother." But now, grown up, she had developed various tactics. She said with exceptional calm: "I want to inform you about something. Since you work in an internet company, you must know better than me that small retail physical stores can't compete with online shops nowadays. I've discussed with Mom about selling our old house in Ancheng Community. The remaining money will be given to me to manage investments for her..."
Lin Zeqiu finally responded: "You want our parents to retire?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia answered. "They've worked too hard."
Lin Zeqiu leaned back in his seat. He stretched his legs and sighed silently. Having been born several years earlier than Lin Zhixia, he had witnessed how hard the adults in their family worked back when Lin Zhixia was still too young to understand.He muttered to himself, "I fully support Mom and Dad retiring. They should have started taking better care of themselves long ago. They're always reluctant to eat well or use nice things—not like those born and raised in the city."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he belatedly remembered—Jiang Yubai was still sitting in the car.
At this moment, Jiang Yubai was playing the role of driver. Gripping the steering wheel as the car sped along the highway, he didn't interrupt the sibling conversation between Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu, behaving just like a dedicated ordinary chauffeur.
Lin Zeqiu crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Yubai's profile.
Lin Zhixia, unaware of the subtle atmosphere, continued chattering enthusiastically: "Dad wants to learn Tai Chi, so I signed him up for a class at our community gym." It runs every Monday through Thursday..."
Lin Zeqiu suddenly realized: "You've arranged all these things with Mom and Dad? Why didn't they tell me anything?"
Lin Zhixia explained: "I wasn't busy with work these past few days, so I woke up early and chatted with Mom and Dad at home while you were still asleep. And you hardly talk during dinner anyway..."
Lin Zeqiu felt complicated emotions. In his family, all the responsibilities that should have fallen to the older brother had been shouldered by his younger sister alone.
What made Lin Zeqiu even more upset was that early the next morning, Lin Zhixia packed her suitcase, said goodbye to their parents, and moved to Jiang Yubai's house for a "temporary stay."
When Lin Zeqiu saw Lin Zhixia off, she repeatedly assured him: "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself."
It was a crisp autumn morning with pale dawn mist enveloping the waking city. The faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers drifted everywhere. Jiang Yubai stood with his hands in his pockets at the entrance of their residential building, looking up at the sky with his usual expression. Even just his profile was strikingly handsome—the line from his forehead down his nose bridge, lips, and chin was flawlessly defined.
Lin Zhixia keenly sensed that Jiang Yubai's state of mind was different from usual—though his appearance and demeanor showed no change.
She hurried toward him, pulling her suitcase behind her with quick steps.
Lin Zeqiu called after her: "Hey, what's the rush?"
Ah, girls in their early twenties...
Getting so excited to see her boyfriend—really not very dignified, Lin Zeqiu thought.
Lin Zhixia paid no attention to Lin Zeqiu's calling. She bounded up to Jiang Yubai, met his eyes for a few seconds, and asked: "What's wrong?"
"Work has been busy these past couple days," Jiang Yubai explained patiently. "I might not have much time..."
He paused mid-sentence.
Still searching for the right words.
Lin Zhixia guessed his meaning: "No time to spend with me?"
Jiang Yubai immediately denied it: "No."
But Lin Zhixia was understanding and saw through him: "We've both grown up—we have work, responsibilities... You've grown up so well, with high emotional intelligence, especially skilled at dealing with people... but you don't need to be that way with me... What I mean is, you can be direct with me, straightforward, just like I am with you. No matter what happens, I'll always be on your side."
After saying this, Lin Zhixia hid her suitcase behind her back.With Lin Zeqiu still standing like a stick not far away, Lin Zhixia couldn't make any intimate gestures toward Jiang Yubai. She stood straight and simply stated, "You should focus on your work first. I won't be staying at your place."
Jiang Yubai hadn't expected her to be so considerate.
Yet the next second, he gripped Lin Zhixia's wrist tightly as if snatching a bride, refusing to let go. She stared unblinkingly, trying to deduce his situation from his expression, but he suddenly smiled—a smile that would put even cherry blossoms and autumn osmanthus to shame.
"Stop smiling," Lin Zhixia said with clear-headed practicality. "Have you eaten breakfast? Come to my place for some."
Jiang Yubai answered honestly, "I haven't eaten anything since we parted last night."
"You didn't have dinner?"
"No."
Lin Zhixia grew somewhat stern. "You should eat no matter how busy you are." Then she asked, "What would you like for breakfast?"
Distracted, Jiang Yubai blurted out, "Will you feed me?"
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