The biting wind, sharp as a blade, stung Chai Yang's face.
His center of gravity shifted, his mind went blank. Words like "Yangyang Live," "Valuation Adjustment Mechanism," and "Jiangke Software" vanished without a trace. Years of ambition evaporated in an instant, and a sudden ringing pierced his eardrums.
He was going to die.
Baiqi Tower stood a hundred meters tall.
From the window on the top floor, the cars on the street looked like toy models.
Four people stood by the window: besides Nie Tianqing, there were Jiang Yubai, Lin Zhixia, and Secretary Shen.
Jiang Yubai swiftly grabbed Chai Yang's calf, exerting immense force in that split second. The veins on his arm bulged beneath his jacket. He usually practiced bench presses with barbells weighing over two hundred pounds, while Chai Yang weighed less than seventy kilograms. Lowering his center of gravity, he dragged Chai Yang downward. Secretary Shen quickly lent a hand, and Chai Yang gradually regained his senses.
Chai Yang desperately clung to the window frame, shouting, "Save me! President Jiang!"
Lin Zhixia slapped the alarm, setting it off.
A few seconds earlier, Lin Zhixia's view had been blocked by Nie Tianqing, so she hadn't clearly seen Chai Yang's movements. But she noticed that Chai Yang had called out, "President Jiang, save me!" instead of "Nie Tianqing, save me!" Nie Tianqing stood still like a bystander, so she positioned herself directly between Nie Tianqing and Jiang Yubai, fearing Nie Tianqing might interfere.
Nie Tianqing lifted his eyelids. Lin Zhixia said coldly, "Take my advice and calm down. The assistants and security are nearby. If you stop now, Chai Yang has no evidence. If you make another move, you'll be rotting in prison."
Nie Tianqing couldn't help but remark, "You're really clever."
"You're not stupid either," Lin Zhixia retorted. "You're quite composed."
While Lin Zhixia and Nie Tianqing were talking, Jiang Yubai and Secretary Shen had already pulled Chai Yang back inside. Numerous staff from the CEO's office rushed over, and security guards surrounded Jiang Yubai as if facing a grave threat. Chai Yang lay flat on the ground, arms outstretched in a "T" shape.
The marble floor was as white as snow, faintly reflective, dotted with a few bright red bloodstains—nosebleeds from Chai Yang's extreme tension.
Secretary Shen knelt on one knee. "Mr. Chai?"
Lin Zhixia took Jiang Yubai's right hand. Earlier, to save Chai Yang, he had exerted too much force, and his palm had been scraped raw by the rough fabric of Chai Yang's pants. But he acted as if nothing had happened, handling the aftermath: "Call the police and an ambulance. Our company is in the city center with heavy foot traffic. Chai Yang nearly jumped, and someone below might have recorded it. Arrange the PR press release..."
Hearing this, Secretary Shen immediately set Chai Yang aside. He pulled a small notebook from his pocket, jotting down notes as he said, "Don't worry, President Jiang. I'll contact the PR and legal departments right away."
It was time to shine! Secretary Shen thought.
As the "Group's Top Secretary," Secretary Shen always prioritized his work. He temporarily forgot about Chai Yang lying on the floor until Chai Yang let out a muffled cough.
Chai Yang sat up halfway, leaning against the wall, his face paler than ever before—Lin Zhixia remembered clearly that his expression was quite similar to when she first met him at the café.
Lin Zhixia studied him for a moment. Suddenly, he covered his face with both hands, as if gathering his thoughts."Mr. Chai," Secretary Shen stood ramrod straight, "the ambulance will be here soon."
Chai Yang didn't respond.
Nie Tianqing blended into the crowd, retreating step by step. Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, he left early.
Lin Zhixia glanced at Nie Tianqing's retreating figure before turning her gaze to Chai Yang. She asked, "Do you still want to discuss equity distribution? It's legal and reasonable for the company to buy back shares from departing employees. If you continue with the lawsuit, you'll definitely lose, and public opinion online will overwhelmingly side against you. It won't do you any good."
Chai Yang lifted his chin, looking at Jiang Yubai.
He blinked heavily, the folds of his eyelids clearly visible.
Jiang Yubai's secretary, assistants, the company's managing director, and investment managers all stood on the other side of the corridor. This group conversed in hushed tones, their voices so soft that Chai Yang faintly heard terms like "President Jiang."
Chai Yang ran a hand through his hair and muttered to himself, "President Jiang... saved me twice."
These were his final spoken words.
Lin Zhixia countered, "Back when we met at the café, that investor who arranged to meet you didn't take your business plan. Did you think that once you made it big, you could make them regret it? That once you became number one in some industry, those who looked down on you would be filled with remorse?"
Chai Yang leaned against the wall for support.
He ignored Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia remained magnanimous: "Professional investors have at least hundreds of projects in their portfolios. Good luck to you."
Chai Yang took a deep breath.
Around eight o'clock that evening, the local lifestyle channel in the provincial capital aired an interview.
According to reports, at approximately 1:20 PM Beijing time, on the top floor of a building in the provincial capital's financial district, Chai Yang, founder of "Yangyang Live," nearly jumped to his death. Journalists who received the tip rushed to the scene but arrived too late. Upholding the tenacious spirit of media professionals, they tracked him down to the hospital through various means and finally found Chai Yang lying in a hospital bed receiving an IV drip.
Chai Yang agreed to be interviewed.
The camera focused on his haggard face.
The journalists were still waiting for explosive revelations, unsure if such disclosures could even be made public, when Chai Yang spoke with unusual calm: "I lost the court case and haven't been in a good mental state. I've seen all the criticism from netizens, and I agree with what they're saying. Those who know me well understand that I came from the countryside alone to make my way, carrying heavy burdens on my shoulders but having thin skin. This afternoon I lost perspective and nearly jumped. Fortunately, my investor saved me. I've deleted all the videos I previously posted... That Jiangke Software could be revived is a blessing for me, the investors, and our employee team. Every investor manages hundreds of projects. I've made considerable money over these years. I'm withdrawing the contract dispute lawsuit - I shouldn't have acted impulsively, thought too little, complained too much, and didn't understand the law properly. This morning's court hearing made me reconsider... The trial process between Professor Lin and me is publicly available online... I'm still the same person I always was, the founder of Yangyang Live. Leading the team to advance triumphantly while serving customers and society remains my unch entrepreneurial mission!"
Chai Yang delivered this speech smoothly, without a single stumble.
The Lin family sat before the television with their dinner bowls. Lin Zeqiu frowned deeply and remarked, "Has he taken the wrong medicine? He's taking all the responsibility on himself?" Then he voiced his suspicion: "Does he have another move planned?""That's all," Lin Zhixia said mysteriously. "This matter about him ends here."
Lin Zhixia was deliberately imitating Jiang Yubai.
She lowered her voice.
Lin Zeqiu then lectured her: "Speak properly, make yourself clear."
Lin Zhixia changed the subject: "You don't need to worry about these things. Are you busy with work lately? I'm going to Hong Kong on business next month and want to bring a junior technician. Your name is on the list recommended by the supervisor, Brother."
Lin Zeqiu narrowed his eyes slightly, just like his favorite country dog emoji pack.
Lin Zhixia laughed heartily: "At our company, everyone recognizes your abilities."
Indeed.
Lin Zeqiu often heard one phrase - Wow, you truly live up to being Professor Lin's brother.
He put down his rice bowl and asked cautiously: "When you go to Shanghai on business, will Jiang Yubai be going with you?"
"Of course," Lin Zhixia said decisively. "Jiang Yubai is definitely going."
Lin Zeqiu picked up his rice bowl again. Holding his chopsticks, he stirred the rice in his bowl.
It was 2017, and their family's living conditions had greatly improved. Not only had they moved into a spacious, bright house, but the siblings' jobs had become more stable - though Lin Zhixia's performance was always more outstanding.
With Quantum Technology Company's users spanning the globe, Lin Zhixia's income had risen accordingly.
She was no longer the person she used to be.
Last Sunday, when she went grocery shopping with Lin Zeqiu, she didn't even check price tags at the seafood market. She would just put seafood directly into plastic bags and say to Lin Zeqiu: "Brother, let's have a feast today. Mom and Dad have never tried king crab before. Let's get one for each of the four of us."
How much did king crab cost per unit?
That exorbitant price made Lin Zeqiu's heart race.
When Lin Zhixia was paying, Lin Zeqiu grabbed her wrist and applied some pressure. Lin Zhixia said: "I've earned quite a lot of money and want to treat you and Mom and Dad to something nice... In our family before, Mom and Dad couldn't bear to eat shrimp dumplings, couldn't bear to eat beef, lamb, or fish. They would always save the best things for you and me."
Lin Zeqiu slowly released her hand.
He had been persuaded by his sister.
That evening, the four of them enjoyed a king crab feast at home - the delicate, soft crab meat melted in their mouths, the rich, fragrant aroma lingered in the dining room, refusing to dissipate for a long time.
Occasional luxury spending in life could actually bring immense happiness.
At that time, Lin Zhixia also said at the dining table: "I want to take you all to coastal cities to enjoy seafood to your heart's content."
So Lin Zeqiu thought that for this Hong Kong business trip, work would come first and personal matters second - she would take the family along for tourism.
He didn't say it out loud, but in his heart, he was quite looking forward to it.
The Hong Kong business trip was scheduled for early April.
Before leaving the provincial capital, Lin Zhixia called Chai Yang.
Chai Yang had changed quite a bit recently. He often went to burn incense at an ancient temple in the suburbs of the provincial capital. The temple was thriving with incense smoke perpetually curling upward. Sitting under an old tree, he answered Lin Zhixia's call.
Accompanied by the resounding toll of temple bells that seemed to stop passing clouds, Chai Yang said: "Professor Lin, President Jiang has communicated with me."
Lin Zhixia cut straight to the point: "About the circumstances leading to your resignation?"
"Yes," Chai Yang replied, then fell silent for a few seconds before saying: "Professor Lin, I'm sorry."He sat in the muddy ground after the rain had cleared, the damp soil slightly moistening his trouser legs. Unconcerned about the gazes of passersby, he stretched out his legs and leaned against the tree trunk, as if returning to the fields of his hometown.
The sky was blue, and his heart drifted far away. Unintentionally, he muttered again, "I'm sorry."
He hoped Lin Zhixia would reply with "It's okay," but her response exceeded his expectations: "Life is only a few decades long. Do what brings you peace of mind and bear the consequences."
Her words carried multiple layers of meaning—both an angel's gospel and a devil's admonition.
Chai Yang vaguely agreed and promptly hung up the phone.
The online conflict between Chai Yang and Lin Zhixia had lasted over half a year, ultimately ending with Chai Yang publicly posting an apology video. In the video, he appeared very sincere, not only saying "I'm sorry" to Lin Zhixia three times but also bowing in apology.
After watching the video, Tang Tingting's mind grew lively. She captured a few scenes and turned Chai Yang into a series of memes.
With a spirit of "selfless dedication," Tang Tingting freely shared this set of memes in their close friends' group chat. Duan Qiyan instantly replied, "Don't keep photos of that slacker in your phone."
Lin Zhixia chimed in, "Hahahahahaha."
Tang Tingting sent Lin Zhixia a heart emoji.
Duan Qiyan followed suit and sent a bunch of "ha" characters, but Tang Tingting treated him differently: "What are you 'ha'-ing about? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"
Duan Qiyan replied, "I just finished a class and am grading assignments in the office."
Tang Tingting didn't say anything more.
Their WeChat group fell into silence.
Nowadays, Duan Qiyan was a math competition coach at the high school division of Provincial No. 1 Middle School. He had gone through three rounds of interviews and rigorous selection before securing this precious job.
Duan Qiyan's monthly after-tax income was nearly twenty thousand yuan, and Provincial No. 1 Middle School had also allocated him a 90-square-meter, two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment close to the school. His life had become highly regimented—he woke up at 7 a.m. every day, exercised and jogged downstairs, returned home to shower and change clothes, then headed to school for work. On weekdays, he ate all three meals in the school cafeteria. On weekends, he would go on dates with Tang Tingting and treat her to meals at restaurants.
Duan Qiyan and Tang Tingting had been dating for a few months, but their relationship wasn't progressing as smoothly as he had imagined. Occasionally, when faced with tricky issues, he would seek advice from Jiang Yubai, after all, Jiang Yubai was the first among his friends to get engaged.
Jiang Yubai taught him a four-word mantra: "Gentle and considerate."
Jiang Yubai didn't elaborate further on these four words, leaving Duan Qiyan to comprehend and grasp their meaning on his own.
Duan Qiyan had great confidence in his own perceptiveness.
Last Saturday, Duan Qiyan invited Tang Tingting to his home, personally cooked a table full of dishes for her. After just a couple of bites, she said, "Honey, cooking must be tiring for you, right? Let me wipe your sweat."
As she wiped his forehead with a tissue, she calculated, "You're really skilled, quite the expert. After we get married, you can be in charge of grocery shopping and cooking. I have a lot going on at my company, so it'd be nice to come home to a ready-made meal."
After hearing this, Duan Qiyan casually responded, "I have a lot going on at school too." He emphasized, "I'm not a slacker."Tang Tingting hooked an arm over his shoulder and teased, "How busy can a teacher be? When we were in high school, which teacher stayed at school all day? The academic office didn't even require teachers to clock in."
Duan Qiyan used their mutual friend as an example: "Lin Zhixia is also a teacher, and she's busy all day long like a spinning wheel."
Tang Tingting raised her chopsticks: "Why compare yourself to her? She's a university professor with her own research group, supervising several graduate students, responsible for national-level projects, and tackling technical challenges for companies..."
Duan Qiyan let out a cold snort from deep in his throat.
That day, he lost his temper.
His way of showing anger was by not washing the dishes.
Tang Tingting didn't even notice.
She sat on the sofa with him and watched a romantic movie "The Classic," where the main characters were tormented by fate, deeply in love yet unable to stay together. Tang Tingting was profoundly moved. She cried her eyes out, eventually collapsing onto Duan Qiyan's lap, sobbing, "It's so tragic, both the male and female leads suffered so much. The male lead went blind, and the female lead married the second male lead. My heart aches for them..."
Duan Qiyan muttered to himself, "Why don't you ache for me..."
He sighed, "I'm a real person."
With the background noise from the TV, Tang Tingting didn't catch what he said. She lifted the hem of his clothes and asked carelessly, "What are you mumbling about?"
Duan Qiyan didn't respond.
From that day on, he didn't contact Tang Tingting for four full days. Tang Tingting didn't reach out to him either. The two of them fell into an inexplicable cold war. Because of this, Duan Qiyan specifically consulted Jiang Yubai for advice, and Jiang Yubai's response nearly made him despair.
Jiang Yubai said, "It's fine, just four days. The other party is busy with work, you should be more understanding."
What kind of terrible advisor is Jiang Yubai!
He truly possesses not a trace of the pride and arrogance expected of a wealthy young master.
His method for resolving marital disputes is simply to surrender.
He's clearly skilled in business—Jiangke Software is developing better and better, White Unicorn Fund's profits continue to rise, Quantum Technology Company's performance is growing steadily—but he's obviously not a qualified relationship counselor.
Duan Qiyan stopped seeking advice from Jiang Yubai.
Taking advantage of Lin Zhixia's appearance in the WeChat group, Duan Qiyan quickly private messaged her: "I have a friend whose girlfriend hasn't spoken to him for four days..."
Lin Zhixia immediately reflected on herself.
She had indeed become busy again recently.
Her Quantum Technology Company had gained unanimous recognition in the industry, with both government and corporate partners being quite satisfied. Academic and industrial circles were paying close attention to her, related research was springing up like mushrooms after rain, and her paper citation count had skyrocketed in a short time.
This created a virtuous cycle.
The university placed increasing importance on Lin Zhixia, with numerous undergraduates and master's students hoping to study under her guidance. Lin Zhixia even received emails from fellow PhDs inquiring whether she could provide postdoctoral positions.
Over the past few days, Lin Zhixia had been continuously interviewing undergraduates, master's students, and doctoral candidates.
To expand her research group and improve team quality, Lin Zhixia needed to ensure that students joining this year had solid foundations and stable mindsets. As always, she threw herself completely into her work, temporarily neglecting Jiang Yubai—this busy state happened to last exactly four days.So, Lin Zhixia defended herself, saying, "Your girlfriend didn't mean it. She's trying to balance family and career and is currently adjusting."
Duan Qiyan thought to himself: Incredible. A genius is truly a genius. She immediately saw through that I was talking about Tang Tingting and even helped persuade her.
Duan Qiyan couldn't help but feel touched. He replied, "Thank you."
Lin Zhixia sent a question mark in response.
Duan Qiyan replied with a "Chai Yang bowing" meme.
Around five o'clock that evening, Jiang Yubai got off work. All his business operations were on track, and his workload had lightened considerably over the past few days.
On the way home, driven by his chauffeur, he gazed out the window. The twilight scenery was picturesque, with the brilliant afterglow of the setting sun casting a warm hue over the skyscrapers. His secretary, unable to read his expression, tentatively called out in a low voice, "Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Yubai casually rested his left hand on the leather armrest. He wore an extremely expensive mechanical watch with a deep black dial. Secretary Shen glanced at it and reported the time, "It's almost six o'clock."
Jiang Yubai asked him, "What are your plans for tonight?"
Secretary Shen lowered his head slightly, adjusting his glasses, and replied, "Review the first-quarter financial reports, reread the managers' comments, confirm next week's schedule..."
Just as he was about to add, "Await your electronic review," Jiang Yubai cut him off: "International economic indicators have shifted, new policies have been announced, and the investment research team has revised the structural model. I need to attend the team meeting on Monday. On Tuesday, I'll be traveling to Hong Kong. You stay at the company and submit the quarterly profit analysis report as soon as possible."
Secretary Shen nodded repeatedly.
As the car continued smoothly forward, Jiang Yubai added, "Make sure to rest appropriately."
Secretary Shen responded without hesitation, "Mr. Jiang, I'll rest over the weekend."
A moment later, as if remembering something, he straightened up slightly, placing his palms on his knees. "Mr. Jiang, we've roughly figured out the situation with Nie Tianqing."
At this point, he paused.
The shifting twilight shadows fell on Jiang Yubai's profile, and Secretary Shen noticed his expression was almost entirely blank. Jiang Yubai remained calm and said, "Continue."
Secretary Shen reported truthfully, "Mr. Nie's family runs a small factory. Initially, they took out loans from the bank, but the bank later withdrew the credit line, causing a funding gap. His parents borrowed from private lenders at interest rates of 30% to 40%, and their house was mortgaged to the creditors. Mr. Nie moved from 'Taoyuan Riverside' to 'Ancheng Residential Area,' and his family's financial situation plummeted..."
"Taoyuan Riverside" was one of the city's most renowned affluent neighborhoods.
As for "Ancheng Residential Area," it was an old residential complex built in the 1980s and was also where Lin Zhixia's family used to live.
Jiang Yubai had never heard Lin Zhixia mention Nie Tianqing, and she probably didn't know that Nie Tianqing had once been her neighbor. Jiang Yubai found this intriguing, while Secretary Shen continued his diligent account: "The small factory owned by Mr. Nie's family... including raw materials, patent rights, and self-developed equipment, was sold off at a low price to..."
Jiang Yubai guessed, "Damei Construction Company?"
The chairman of Damei Construction Company was none other than Jiang Yubai's mother.
Secretary Shen straightened his posture and replied in a businesslike tone, "Yes, Mr. Jiang. The patent rights for that factory now belong entirely to Damei Construction."
Jiang Yubai's mother presided over multiple companies, with extensive involvement in industries such as apparel, steel, construction materials, and real estate. Jiang Yubai vaguely recalled that Nie Tianqing's expression had been somewhat unnatural during his first meeting with his mother. He had initially attributed it to his mother's remarkably youthful appearance, but now realized his earlier assumption had been simplistic—though back then, he had just turned ten, and the greatest setback he had faced was forcing himself to accept Lin Zhixia's intellectual superiority. Lacking business acumen at that age was hardly surprising.
He then asked, "What connection does Nie Tianqing have with Chai Yang?"
Secretary Shen discussed others' private affairs with utmost propriety: "Mr. Nie dated a woman in college... As you know, President Chai is married. His wife is Mr. Nie's former girlfriend. She's seven months pregnant, currently staying at Beijing's finest private maternity hospital... President Chai is unaware of his wife's past relationship with Nie Tianqing. Mr. Nie shouldn't be taking his frustrations out on President Chai."
On Chai Yang's wedding day, Jiang Yubai had been studying in the UK, while Secretary Shen was already a valued member of the conglomerate. Thus, Secretary Shen attended Chai Yang's wedding and met the bride.
Secretary Shen held nothing back: "The wedding venue was exceptionally lively—the groomsmen performed three separate acts..."
Jiang Yubai raised his left hand: "No need for those details."
Secretary Shen concluded: "We've privately gathered the general situation through multiple information channels."
Jiang Yubai offered no comment.
The car stopped outside the entrance of the luxury residential compound. The faint moonlight faded into the night as street lamps cast soft illumination along the long avenue. Walking alone down the street, Jiang Yubai's elongated shadow swept across lush grass when he suddenly heard Lin Zhixia's voice: "I just happened to reach your doorstep. I've been so busy these past few days, I didn't call you... But you must believe I'm always thinking of you."
He remained silent but smiled soundlessly.
His right hand reached behind his back and caught Lin Zhixia's outstretched left hand.
Their fingers interlaced, palms pressed together as they walked side by side toward home.
Before stepping through the doorway, Lin Zhixia remarked casually, "The moment I finished work today, I wanted to come find you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Yubai lifted her by the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder. Her legs dangling in the air, she quickly wrapped her arms around his shoulders, carried across the threshold like a sack.
With a heavy thud, the main door shut firmly. A glass vase on the entryway cabinet rippled with water patterns, lamplight shimmering through the transparent liquid as the scent of roses permeated the air. Lin Zhixia whispered, "Put me down."
Jiang Yubai responded, "Wait a bit longer."
Lin Zhixia couldn't help remarking, "You're playing quite wild today."
Jiang Yubai tightened his one-armed grip around her legs: "This counts as wild?"
"What else would it be?" Lin Zhixia reasoned logically. "Usually when we play games, you always let me win."
That wasn't necessarily true, Jiang Yubai thought privately.
Whenever Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai played strategy games, Jiang Yubai desperately wanted to win. He always planned meticulously, never intentionally losing a single time—whether during childhood or after growing up... Yet he had never emerged victorious.Jiang Yubai led Lin Zhixia into the study, where she settled onto a broad desk. Before he could take a step away, Lin Zhixia suddenly tugged at his tie, her fingers climbing upward until she lightly tapped his Adam's apple.
He swallowed before saying, "I have a gift for you."
"What gift?" Lin Zhixia tilted her head. "So mysterious."
Jiang Yubai pulled open the desk drawer and retrieved a substantial sandalwood-carved box. Opening it, he revealed a row of translucent amber pieces, each with natural coloration including pale red "Jet amber," vermilion "Blood amber," and the rare "Blue amber," all containing visible insects and botanical specimens. Lin Zhixia was instantly captivated.
She picked up one amber piece, cradling it in her palm: "This insect likely lived during the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago, belonging to the Chrysididae family of Hymenoptera."
Lowering her head, she continued: "This is from the Staphylinidae family of Coleoptera, also a living fossil from the Cretaceous..."
The amber collection had never been publicly exhibited, having circulated among various artists and collectors worldwide over the years before finally reaching Lin Zhixia's hands.
She handled them playfully, examining them closely with a magnifying glass. With keen interest, she remarked: "Look at this one - it probably belongs to the Archostemata suborder. Small-bodied, with pleurites on the prothorax, scaled surface texture, and five-segmented tarsi..."
At this point, Lin Zhixia belatedly realized: "Where did you acquire so many amber specimens?"
Jiang Yubai explained that he had recently attended an auction titled "Natural History." His family possessed numerous collections. After careful selection, he happened to compile this complete set.
"How did you make your selections?" Lin Zhixia asked casually.
Jiang Yubai succinctly described: "Chose the largest ones with clear visibility."
Lin Zhixia laughed. Tilting her head up, she kissed his cheek while simultaneously securing the box lid. As he gently stroked her nape and their breaths mingled, he leaned down to brush a butterfly kiss against the corner of her lips. She turned her head, pink tongue darting out to lingeringly moisten her lips.
The central air conditioning temperature was slightly high, making Lin Zhixia feel warm. She removed her outer coat but remained seated on the desk. The trench coat draped around her waist accentuated her slender figure, while her pale white shirt stretched taut across her chest, outlining graceful curves.
Jiang Yubai twisted open a water bottle and took two long swallows, as if parched for quite some time. With his left hand slipped into his trouser pocket and right hand gripping the bottle, he drank with the deliberate posture of someone savoring fine wine while appreciating the view before him.
Jiang Yubai hinted subtly: "We haven't seen each other for a week."
Lin Zhixia immediately understood. Using a smiling tone, she suggested: "Shall we go to the bedroom?"
The plastic water bottle crinkled softly in Jiang Yubai's grip, denting inward until both sides touched. Just as he prepared to say "I'll take a shower," Lin Zhixia interjected: "There's something important I need to discuss with you."
Jiang Yubai instinctively stuffed the water bottle into the drawer, temporarily setting aside his improper thoughts. Lin Zhixia's demeanor grew increasingly solemn: "It's like this - I particularly love the amber box you gave me. Having read some paleontology books, I know amber from hundreds of millions of years ago serves as an extremely precious research resource..."Jiang Yubai guessed what she was going to say next. He said, "Donate them to a research institution. If they publish a paper, you can use it to teach me about the history of paleontology, Professor Lin."
Jiang Yubai was so considerate and reasonable that Lin Zhixia couldn't find the words to respond. She picked up the box and continued identifying the plants and animals trapped in the amber. She asked Jiang Yubai a few more questions to confirm the ownership of these treasures, still feeling slightly uneasy. "Are you really willing to let me donate all of them?"
"This piece," Jiang Yubai picked out a blue amber, "has no life form inside, only a bubble shaped like a heart. It has no biological research value. Keep it."
Lin Zhixia drew a heart on his palm. "Okay."
She pulled out her phone from her trench coat pocket. "Our university's School of Earth Sciences has a paleontology laboratory. The discipline leader of paleontology is Shen Fuxuan's dad, who is also Professor Shen Zhaohua's son-in-law. If I donate the amber to their laboratory, they might discover new species from the Earth's Cretaceous period..."
She took photos of the amber and saved them on her phone.
Jiang Yubai helped her categorize the amber pieces to make photographing easier. For the ten-thousandth time, she marveled at how gentle, kind, rational, calm, considerate, and graceful Jiang Yubai was... Working together, they completed the task perfectly in just over ten minutes.
Lin Zhixia was in high spirits. She left the study and ran into the bedroom.
Jiang Yubai followed close behind. He sat on the edge of the bed, hinting for Lin Zhixia to come closer. Without another word, she sat on his lap, and he kissed the corner of her lips—not a passionate kiss, just a faint, barely-there touch.
Lin Zhixia felt her heart itch with anticipation but deliberately adopted a serious tone. "I wanted to say..."
"What?" Jiang Yubai asked in return.
Lin Zhixia decided to tease him. She changed the subject: "Paleontology is the foundation of geology. The organisms preserved in amber reflect information about ancient environments and help in the search for various mineral resources..."
"I understand," Jiang Yubai interrupted her, "Professor Lin."
Lin Zhixia spontaneously played the teacher's role: "What the teacher just said are key points that have been repeatedly emphasized. They'll be on the final exam. If you're distracted and not paying attention now, there's really nothing more the teacher can do."
Jiang Yubai leaned close to her ear: "I'm distracted because..." His fingertip traced her collar. "I noticed your shirt buttons."
Lin Zhixia shivered with a tingling thrill.
When she didn't speak, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Lin Zhixia placed her hand over his. He murmured to himself, "Indeed, the buttons are fastened too tightly."
Like a very considerate student, he said, "Let me help you loosen the buttons..." He described, "It'll be more comfortable than now."
Jiang Yubai hadn't always been like this. He used to be a boy who would blush after just a few sweet words. Over the years, he had truly grown a lot... The more Lin Zhixia thought about it, the warmer her heart felt. And she never suppressed her emotions—she simply pulled Jiang Yubai down onto the bed with her.
Lin Zhixia spent a weekend at Jiang Yubai's home, their life together as sweet as honey.Through Professor Shen Zhaohua's connections, Lin Zhixia contacted He Yuanqian—who was Shen Fuxuan's father and a nationally renowned paleontology professor. After receiving the amber photos Lin Zhixia sent, he replied to her the next day.
He Yuanqian stated that batch of amber was extremely precious, with some species yet undiscovered. Lin Zhixia could lend them the amber for research over four years. Once their paper was successfully published after four years, they would return the amber. This research model was quite common in universities and scientific institutions—paleontology experts collaborating with collectors through signed contracts with fixed terms, returning collections intact upon expiration.
Lin Zhixia asked again, "Is permanent donation really unnecessary?"
On Monday morning, He Yuanqian replied via email: "Dear Professor Lin, we recommend considering permanent donation to the museum."
Museums were Lin Zhixia's favorite places. Since childhood, she had dreamed of visiting museums worldwide with Jiang Yubai. He Yuanqian's suggestion resonated deeply with her.
That afternoon, Lin Zhixia personally visited the School of Earth Sciences carrying the amber box. She signed a four-year amber research agreement and met Professor He Yuanqian in person.
He Yuanqian appeared around fifty years old—tall and slender with graying temples, wearing gold-rimmed glasses that gave him a scholarly demeanor. His eyes and eyebrows bore seventy percent resemblance to Shen Fuxuan. When Lin Zhixia met his gaze, it felt like seeing a fifty-year-old Shen Fuxuan.
He Yuanqian was amiable and talkative.
Wearing gloves while cleaning the amber, he chatted with Lin Zhixia about Shen Fuxuan. He mentioned that Shen Fuxuan had recently been transferred back from grassroots work and was now employed in the provincial capital, working long hours with strong career ambition.
News of Shen Fuxuan's political aspirations had long circulated among their friends.
Hearing about his recent situation didn't surprise Lin Zhixia at all.
Professor He Yuanqian said that to express gratitude for Lin Zhixia's generous contribution, he wanted to treat her to a meal along with Shen Fuxuan and his research team graduate students—every April, Professor He organized a group dinner because after April, as weather warmed, he would take students on field expeditions.
Lin Zhixia declined He Yuanqian's kind offer. She was departing for Hong Kong tomorrow and needed to pack tonight. Since she would remain in Hong Kong for two weeks, by her return to the provincial capital, Professor He and his students would have already left for their external research base.
The moon was full that night, its halo edged in silver like a jade-carved disc.
Lin Zeqiu was quite delighted.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he deftly folded clothes.
Curtains fluttered in the breeze as moonlight streamed indoors. Lin Zeqiu pressed down his suitcase and pulled out his phone to review "Hong Kong Travel Tips." Then he opened WeChat and drafted a Moments post: "Business trip to Hong Kong starting tomorrow for two weeks."
Hong Kong was a coastal city, and Lin Zeqiu had never seen the ocean with his own eyes. Like his sister Lin Zhixia, he held a vague innate yearning for island cities.
But after hesitating momentarily, he ultimately didn't publish the post. He hardly posted any updates throughout the year except for collecting merchant likes for discounts—from this perspective, he was perhaps somewhat impoverished.Lin Zeqiu was lost in thought for a moment when Lin Zhixia burst into his room. "Brother."
He responded, "Do you need something?"
Lin Zhixia said, "Tomorrow morning, Jiang Yubai will pick us up downstairs, then we'll go to the airport together. One of my classmates will be joining us—he's a competition teacher at Provincial No.1 High School and specifically took official leave…"
Lin Zeqiu vaguely recalled, "Is it that Duan Qiyan?"
"Yes," Lin Zhixia replied.
Lin Zeqiu nodded slightly. He earnestly reminded his sister, "Is everything settled at your school? Since you'll be away for two weeks, make sure your graduate students are properly arranged first."
"Don't worry about that," Lin Zhixia chatted with him. "I've had it planned long ago. Everything's calm at school, basically no issues…"
She sat down beside Lin Zeqiu and helped him fold clothes. "The day before yesterday, Jiang Yubai gave me some pieces of amber. This morning, I brought them into the Paleontology Laboratory…"
Lin Zeqiu paused his hands and continued, "The kind with insects trapped inside?"
Lin Zhixia immediately pulled out her phone. Just as she opened her photo album, Lin Zeqiu said, "So Jiang Yubai gave you these things? Dead flies, dead beetles, dead snails… They should really be donated to the laboratory. Keeping them at home is just disturbing."
Lin Zeqiu had a fatal weakness—since childhood, he had always intensely disliked, detested, and feared insects. He had once been bitten by a centipede, which made him resent all bugs ever since. Back in middle school, even when Lin Zhixia caught a beetle, it could make him drop his aloof and arrogant facade and scream loudly in the living room.
The memory of those past scenes clearly surfaced in Lin Zhixia's mind.
She covered her mouth and laughed.
Lin Zeqiu glanced sideways at her.
She immediately straightened her expression and patted Lin Zeqiu's shoulder. "There's a travel roster in the WeChat group. Check it, wake up at six tomorrow morning, no sleeping in. Alright, I've finished my instructions, time to return to my room. Good night, Brother.Lin Zeqiu reluctantly replied, "Good night.""
Lin Zhixia propped her chin with one hand. "Can't you call me by my childhood name?"
Lin Zeqiu locked his suitcase. "Always asking people to call you by your childhood name—are you twenty-two or two years old?"Lin Zhixia walked to the doorway, then turned back for a step, provocatively said, 'See you tomorrow morning, Qiuqiu.'"
Lin Zeqiu was left speechless by her.
Early the next morning, a light rain fell at the horizon, the misty rain creating a thin fog that enveloped the high-rise buildings in a vast haze.
The moisture-laden air seemed particularly fresh. Lin Zhixia stood downstairs with her luggage, taking a deep breath. Inspired, she recited Bai Yuchan's poem "Evening Talk at Riverside Tower": "River fog autumn tower white, lamp flowers night rain blue, nine heavens without a dream, this path entrusted to morning stars."
The poem contained both "river," "white," and "autumn." Lin Zeqiu glanced at her, but she only gazed into the distance. "Jiang Yubai is here." She waved at him twice, full of her usual enthusiasm.
Jiang Yubai's driver brought a business van spacious enough to accommodate both Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu's luggage. Lin Zeqiu followed his sister to sit in the back row, his seat directly facing Jiang Yubai. As the vehicle sped along the wide road, Lin Zhixia teased, "Today, our whole family is going on a trip."
Jiang Yubai played along, "There are many interesting places in Hong Kong. We can spare a day to explore."Lin Zeqiu remained silent. He rested his chin on his right hand, his gaze drifting out the window.
Lin Zhixia chatted with Jiang Yubai: "I've emailed Professor Gu Likai about establishing a Four-University Joint Research Group, including our university, Peking University, University of Hong Kong, and HKUST. There are two main objectives: first, remote testing of quantum communication; second, attempting to develop practical quantum universal computers... The chip issue has never been properly resolved. To be honest, I'm not very confident either. My current thought is that if the research fails, all technological breakthroughs during the exploration process hold certain value. When we previously developed the quantum programming language, we reconstructed graph theory - I participated relatively little in this part, as the main work was done by Feng Yuan and the team established with that Russian mathematician... Because the theory succeeded, Feng Yuan quickly passed his doctoral defense, and that Russian friend even has hopes of competing for the Fields Medal."
The Fields Medal is known as the Nobel Prize of mathematics.
As of now, the youngest recipient worldwide is Peter Scholze, who won the Fields at thirty. Lin Zhixia's Russian friend is also approaching thirty - not only is he exceptionally talented, but also extremely diligent and hardworking, maintaining high-intensity work and output year-round. Lin Zhixia sometimes wonders if he might actually be smarter than her, though they've chosen different development paths.
Jiang Yubai took out three bottles of mineral water, distributing them to Lin Zhixia, Lin Zeqiu, and himself. Both he and Lin Zhixia were people who valued ceremony - they clinked their water bottles together, with Jiang Yubai saying: "Here's to that friend winning the Fields."
"Can you win the Fields Medal?" Lin Zeqiu suddenly asked.
Lin Zhixia blinked: "Me?"
Lin Zeqiu sat upright: "If not you, then who? Neither I nor Jiang Yubai stand a chance."
The business sedan's interior was spacious, with leather seats featuring massage functions. Beneath the armrest was a custom-made small thermal container holding two freshly steamed baskets of soup dumplings. As soon as Jiang Yubai opened the lid, Lin Zhixia exclaimed excitedly: "So fragrant, let me try one! I was in such a rush leaving home this morning that I barely ate."
Jiang Yubai opened another porcelain plate containing stacked strawberry crepes. His thermal cup also held fragrant peach blossom lemon tea. The enticing aroma of food filled the entire cabin, and Lin Zhixia immediately sat beside Jiang Yubai. She drank from the cup he held, while he skillfully adjusted the rim's angle - clearly having done this countless times before.
Lin Zeqiu was taken aback.
Lin Zhixia continued: "You just asked if I could win the Fields?"
Rain pattered rhythmically against the car windows, her voice lighter than the rainfall: "Of course not, I don't specialize in mathematical theory research."
She traced the car window with her finger, following a water droplet's path downward: "We each have our own path. 'What we waste or gain are precisely the fleeting moments of time'[1]."
Jiang Yubai expressed agreement: "You must lose to gain."
Lin Zhixia high-fived him.
Lin Zeqiu leaned back against his seat. Jiang Yubai handed him a plate of soup dumplings, which he accepted absentmindedly. Only after eating two dumplings did he belatedly say: "Thank you..."Jiang Yubai responded naturally, "You're welcome, brother-in-law."
Lin Zeqiu pulled out a napkin and wiped his mouth. After that, he remained silent, maintaining an air of quiet reserve. He watched as the scenery outside the window rapidly changed, the rows of buildings gradually disappearing. Under the brilliant morning sun, the curved roof of the terminal building gleamed with golden splendor.
Just as an airplane happened to pass overhead, its flight path extending to the horizon and disappearing into clusters of white clouds, Lin Zeqiu was staring intently when Lin Zhixia patted his shoulder. "Let's go, time to get off."
That afternoon, Lin Zhixia and her companions arrived in Hong Kong and checked into the hotel operated by Jiang Yubai's family.
The hotel lobby was adorned with four crystal chandeliers with tassels, its granite floors spotlessly clean. The circular pillars were inlaid with gold leaf, exuding luxury from the inside out.
Lin Zeqiu looked around and tugged at Lin Zhixia's sleeve. "Business suites aren't cheap. How much will it cost for all of us to stay for two weeks?"
Lin Zhixia lowered her voice. "Travel expenses are reimbursable, and Jiang Yubai has an employee discount... Don't worry about the money. Besides contacting academic institutions, we're also here to explore the Hong Kong stock market. Our company might list in Hong Kong in the future, just like NetEase, Xiaomi, and Alibaba Group."
She patted his arm cheerfully. "By then, Lin Zeqiu, you'll be an executive of a listed company! How does that sound? Feeling more confident now?"
He scoffed lightly but didn't respond.
Lin Zhixia continued to encourage him. "You don't care about being an 'executive of a listed company'? As expected of you, Lin Zeqiu, treating money like dirt."
Lin Zeqiu tightly gripped the key card for the "business suite." He refused to let the bellhop carry his luggage, insisting on carrying it himself. Following Jiang Yubai into the elevator, Duan Qiyan chattered beside them. "Your official schedule starts tomorrow. You're free this afternoon, right? Want to go to Cheung Chau Island?"
Duan Qiyan wore an Adidas tracksuit and a black baseball cap, his attire and demeanor resembling that of a college student in his early twenties.
Tang Tingting observed him for a moment and smiled. "Sure, Cheung Chau has great seafood. Let's go there."
Lin Zhixia had learned from Jiang Yubai that Tang Tingting and Duan Qiyan's relationship was unstable—they not only argued but also periodically gave each other the silent treatment. To give them some alone time, Lin Zhixia made up an excuse. "You two go ahead. I won't join."
She tugged at Jiang Yubai's sleeve. "Jiang Yubai and I need to discuss some work matters."
Jiang Yubai understood her perfectly. He added, "The company plans to advance its Hong Kong listing next year."
Tang Tingting nodded repeatedly. "Alright, you two go ahead with your work."
She then turned to Luo Ying. "Senior, do you have plans tonight? Want to come to Cheung Chau with us?"
The gold-plated elevator walls reflected Luo Ying's tall figure. Her outfit was impeccably stylish, with long, wavy curls cascading down her back, the smooth black strands gleaming. A diamond earring on her left ear sparkled so brightly it almost dazzled Tang Tingting.
Luo Ying also carried a fragrance blending lily and rose, making Tang Tingting unconsciously take a deep breath. Luo Ying replied, "I'll pass, thank you. I'd like to read in my room. I haven't finished the papers from the Annals of Mathematics yet."
"Which part are you reading, Senior?" Lin Zhixia asked curiously.Luo Ying turned and smiled at her—a sincere yet demure smile that left Tang Tingting utterly captivated. But Lin Zhixia remained composed: "The review cycle for Annals of Mathematics is so long. One of my classmates submitted a paper over two years ago and still hasn’t received a response from the editors."
Luo Ying asked, "Have you ever submitted?"
Lin Zhixia shook her head.
Luo Ying murmured to herself, "I have."
Before the words faded, the elevator chimed softly, and its doors slid open.
Duan Qiyan seemed to possess boundless energy. Cheerfully hoisting his suitcase, he dashed into the hallway, calling out as he ran, "Tang Tingting, I found our room!"
Tang Tingting hurried after him. "Keep your voice down."
But Duan Qiyan retorted, "No one’s bothered. Jiang Yubai booked the entire floor."
Tang Tingting stared at Jiang Yubai in astonishment. "You’re seriously next-level rich."
Jiang Yubai sidestepped the topic. After confirming the next day’s schedule with his secretary and checking in on everyone’s work progress—with Duan Qiyan occasionally chiming in—they eventually bid each other goodnight at their respective doors.
Duan Qiyan and Tang Tingting were staying in Room 1401. As she pulled out her key card, Tang Tingting teased, "Hey, remember our high school study tour? Back then, I shared a room with Lin Zhixia, and you were with Shen Fuxuan..."
Seizing the opportunity, Duan Qiyan asked, "Would you rather room with me or Lin Zhixia?"
During the winter training camp in their first year of junior high, Lin Zhixia had salvaged Duan Qiyan’s reputation. Over the years, Duan Qiyan had remained grateful to her. Yet recently, he had abruptly begun treating Lin Zhixia as a rival.
Tang Tingting pulled him into the room and spoke to him earnestly: "Why do you always compare yourself to Lin Zhixia? You’re in your twenties now—stop being so competitive. You finally managed to take time off to come to Hong Kong with me. You need to learn to relax and not pick fights with me. I’ve been meaning to talk to you: for a man, family is what matters most. These are heartfelt words—outsiders won’t tell you this. Only I, as your girlfriend, will be honest with you."
Duan Qiyan was momentarily swayed.
Hesitating slightly, he said, "A man shouldn’t live off others or be a slacker. Career is what’s most important."
Tang Tingting gestured for him to sit on the bed. Then, crossing her legs and draping an arm over his shoulder, she guided him like a seasoned mentor: "Xiao Duan, don’t take things to extremes. When did I ever ask you to be a slacker? I just want you to focus more on family... I brought you out to meet my friends—could you save me some face and stop comparing yourself to Lin Zhixia? Lin Zhixia is my direct supervisor. If you keep nitpicking, it puts me in an awkward position. Try to see it from my perspective."
Duan Qiyan seemed somewhat convinced.
Encouraged, Tang Tingting pressed on: "Look, our company is going public in a couple of years. I’m the team lead in the hardware department, and you—you’re the husband of a team lead in a core department of a listed company, plus an Olympiad class teacher at Provincial No. 1 High School. Shouldn’t you have a broader outlook?"
Duan Qiyan smirked coldly. "So you’re saying my outlook isn’t broad enough now?"
Tang Tingting let out a drawn-out "ai," then asked, "Honey, why are you getting stuck on this again?"Duan Qiyan took off the cap from his head, and Tang Tingting ran her fingers through his hair. When he removed his sports jacket, she rubbed his arms. Back in middle school, he often played on the sports field—even during the hottest summer days, he dared to play soccer under the scorching sun. Years of sun exposure had left his skin with a deeper tone, a shade Tang Tingting quite liked.
She wrapped her hands around his upper arms, pressing and kneading, until his shoulders suddenly stiffened. They remained frozen for a few seconds before he stammered in a low voice, "Not now... I want to wait until after we're married."
Tang Tingting burst into boisterous, pig-like laughter: "Oh my god, hahahahaha, Duan Qiyan, what's with you? So hesitant! I never put those ideas in your head."
Duan Qiyan fell into deep thought.
She continued reminiscing with relish: "I remember, you were just like this in middle school. Back then, there were rumors about us, right? Haha, when we played a married couple in the stage play 'Changes,' our classmates said we were a 'drama couple' and destined to fall in love. You got so mad hearing that, your face turned beet red."
Lying on the bed, she mused: "Time flies. In the blink of an eye, over ten years have passed."
"We've all grown up," Duan Qiyan sighed.
He lay down beside her, and she murmured, "Yes, everyone has grown up."
That afternoon, no one went to Longzhou Island.
All team members stayed in their hotel rooms. Lin Zhixia changed into a nightgown and sat by the tea table, ceremoniously lifting a bowl of purple sweet potato fresh milk sago sent by the hotel. After taking a small sip, she repeatedly praised, "So delicious, so delicious."
Jiang Yubai leaned close to her: "How delicious is it?"
Just as Lin Zhixia was about to hand him the spoon, he bent down and kissed the corner of her lips, saying, "So sweet."
The distance between them was mere centimeters. Lin Zhixia's gaze drifted downward, catching sight of his Adam's apple bobbing, his partially exposed collarbone, and the smooth contours of his muscles faintly visible beneath his collar. Her breathing quickened, and she caught the faint, clean scent on him. Suddenly feeling parched, she tilted her head back and gulped down the entire bowl of sago.
Jiang Yubai warned her, "Be careful not to choke."
She set down the porcelain bowl and threw herself into his arms.
"Hold me," she cooed.
Lin Zhixia's skill in acting cute was truly unmatched.
With one arm wrapped around her back, Jiang Yubai listened as she confessed, "Last Friday night, I was at home doing Meditation, sorting through my old memories. I finally figured it out—from that time on, I've really liked you..."
Jiang Yubai braced himself, ready for Lin Zhixia's soul-stirring sweet talk. But before she could utter another word, her phone rang untimely. The screen displayed a landline number from a department at a local Hong Kong university. Not daring to delay, Lin Zhixia immediately answered.
Her voice instantly became steady and dignified.
The caller was an assistant to a university professor. The assistant's Mandarin was not standard, with slightly halting pronunciation, so Lin Zhixia switched to Cantonese. The conversation flowed much more smoothly—the only drawback being that Jiang Yubai couldn't understand what Lin Zhixia was saying.After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhixia acted as Jiang Yubai's Cantonese interpreter. She relayed the entire conversation content word for word, then earnestly arranged: "Tomorrow I'll bring my colleagues to give a lecture, then chat with their leadership. You go to your financial office for meetings, and in the evening, we'll meet at the university campus gate."
Jiang Yubai teased: "Dividing our forces."
"Mm-hmm," Lin Zhixia nodded, "After finishing work during the day, we can still go shopping together in the evening."
Early the next morning, Lin Zhixia and her colleagues went to a famous local university in Hong Kong. They held a lecture in a grand auditorium, exchanging with teachers and students about Quantum Technology Company's academic background and business model—the lecture was extremely successful, ending with the entire audience applauding, creating a highly enthusiastic atmosphere.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Zhixia negotiated the cooperation agreement for the "Four-University Joint Research Group" with the school administration. The university actively responded to her plan and was willing to cooperate in all academic work, though the specific details of the contract still needed repeated refinement.
Getting such a response on the first day of her business trip already satisfied Lin Zhixia quite a bit. She led her colleagues away from the campus, walking happily along the street outside the school. It was nearly six in the evening, with the sunset sinking, restaurant signs full of Hong Kong style lining the streets, and the aroma of food drifting through the vast space between heaven and earth.
Lin Zeqiu was relaxed. He raised his phone to take photos of the distant scenery.
At this moment, they passed through an old neighborhood, where a group of tourists ahead complained quietly: "Get lost! This cockroach can fly?"
A black dot faintly appeared on Lin Zeqiu's phone screen. Some subconscious instinct made him step back, but the black spot kept getting closer, accompanied by a buzzing sound of flapping wings.
He heard Lin Zhixia's tone carrying a hint of surprise: "This cockroach is really huge, the biggest I've ever seen."
Tang Tingting laughingly gave it a nickname: "Cockroach Colossal!"
Lin Zhixia laughed too.
How could they laugh about this?!
Lin Zeqiu had heard before that southern cockroaches were large and resilient, but he never expected to witness flying insects on his very first official business trip. His legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead, and even Luo Ying noticed his condition.
Luo Ying asked him: "Are you okay?"
Lin Zeqiu remained tight-lipped.
The sky grew increasingly dark, with colorful neon signs lighting up the long street. Lin Zhixia and Tang Tingting walked arm in arm toward a Cantonese restaurant. Standing outside a display window, they carefully studied the specialty menu posted on the glass. Flowing colored lights shone obliquely on their faces, creating a gorgeous, dazzling yet mundane beauty, like a scene from a 1990s Hong Kong film.
As if possessed, Luo Ying took out her camera.
Her lens focused on Lin Zhixia.
She activated the recording function, and Lin Zhixia seemed to sense it. She turned to look at Luo Ying: "Are you filming me?"
Luo Ying gripped the metal casing of her camera tightly, the outer edges of her nails slightly pale.
Lin Zhixia suddenly suggested: "Let's shoot a longer video with all colleagues in it, starting with me and Tang Tingting, how about that?"
Everyone agreed.Pedestrians came and went on the street, their footsteps either hurried or leisurely. The night sky was obscured by one shop sign after another, and Luo Ying found herself immersed in this bustling commercial district. She stood quietly in place, the surrounding noise not belonging to her. Through the camera display, Lin Zhixia gazed back at her through the lens.
Lin Zhixia wore a light beige dress suit, both her skirt hem and long hair tinged with the glow of lights. Her hair was dark, glossy, and smooth, with natural curls at the ends. Her skin was snow-white and delicate, her figure curvaceous—even her silhouette cast on the ground resembled a sketch, one drawn by a perfectionist.
She called out again, "Senior?"
After graduating from university, Luo Ying went abroad for her Ph.D., maintaining phone contact with Lin Zhixia. Every time Luo Ying answered the call, Lin Zhixia would first call out "Senior"—this form of address had persisted until now.
The camera screen was only palm-sized, such a confined space utterly incapable of restraining Luo Ying's emotions. She repeatedly recalled the tone Lin Zhixia used when discussing mathematics with her, Lin Zhixia's reputation, ideals, hobbies, worries... Countless fragments converged, piecing together traits that were both vague and clear—so contradictory, much like Luo Ying's current predicament.
Luo Ying was still filming Lin Zhixia. But she lowered her gaze to the floor, her palms slightly damp.
The restaurants lining the street each had their unique characteristics, and cooking fumes from the kitchens drifted into her eyes.
Only two short minutes had passed.
Lin Zhixia looked up at a ceiling tile: "I thought that cockroach had flown away, but it's been perched here all along. Let's include it in the shot—such large flying insects aren't common in my hometown."
Tang Tingting laughed heartily, "The giant is back. You have to admit, this little thing is quite clever."
Luo Ying remained calm and composed as well. While studying at Columbia University in the U.S., she lived in a student apartment in New York, where she had encountered a group of plump, round American cockroaches downstairs. After the initial shock wore off, she became immune to the appearance of cockroaches.
So, Luo Ying casually agreed, "Sure, I'm filming it."
Meanwhile, Lin Zeqiu's right eyelid twitched twice.
He had an extremely ominous premonition.
Why weren't his sister and her friends the slightest bit panicked at the sight of a cockroach? How could they gather around joking and filming videos? Did they plan to co-author an "Entomological Memoirs"? As Lin Zeqiu's thoughts ran wild, the cockroach suddenly sprang into action again, diving straight toward him at high speed with fierce momentum, wings vibrating, as if Lin Zeqiu were its sworn enemy.
Lin Zeqiu's scalp tingled faintly.
In his extreme tension, his mouth fell open, and the damned insect flew straight toward his lips and nostrils. His psychological defenses instantly crumbled, and he let out a piercing scream on the street: "Ah—bug!"
Everyone in the team except Lin Zhixia froze in astonishment.
Lin Zeqiu usually maintained an upright, aloof, serious, and unapproachable demeanor at the company. He was responsible for building the underlying technical platform, also known as a "basic architecture engineer," with the English title "infrastructure engineer." The technical team he led with two other tech experts was often called the "infra team." Everyone knew that members of the "infra team" were exceptionally skilled and remarkably capable.At this afternoon's negotiation meeting, Lin Zeqiu also received a full house of applause.
But now he was frantically shouting: "Help! Damn, there's a huge cockroach!"
Lin Zhixia immediately ran toward him: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm coming!"
Passersby stopped one after another. Tang Tingting was utterly confused: "What's going on... the younger sister saving her brother?"
Lin Zhixia did want to save her brother, but the current situation was somewhat tricky—the cockroach had landed on Lin Zeqiu's back. Lin Zeqiu, still shaken, asked: "Has the bug flown away?"
Just as Lin Zhixia was about to lie, a helpful hero came to the rescue from the street. This hero was nearly 1.9 meters tall, young and handsome, with an elegant demeanor, and he held a rolled-up newspaper in his hand. He slapped Lin Zeqiu's back hard with the newspaper, causing the cockroach to fall to the ground, where it was then crushed to pieces under his black leather shoes.
Lin Zhixia called out to him softly: "You're here."
"Who?" Lin Zeqiu asked warily.
He didn't dare turn around.
Because he had already guessed that the cockroach had met a tragic end behind him.
He heard Jiang Yubai's voice, devoid of any emotion: "It's fine, I've taken care of it."
Lin Zeqiu double-checked: "Is the corpse still there?"
"Destroyed," Jiang Yubai replied.
A Hong Kong-style signboard loomed over their heads, casting a dim shadow. Jiang Yubai slightly lowered his head, his profile half-lit and half-dark: "When I heard you calling for help, I left no survivors."
Only then did Lin Zeqiu turn around. The cockroach had indeed vanished from his world. He finally breathed a sigh of relief and even patted Jiang Yubai's shoulder—this was the first time in his life he had taken the initiative to show goodwill toward Jiang Yubai. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Yubai said: "Brother-in-law?"
Both Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu were wearing suits; they had both attended a very formal meeting today. Lin Zeqiu loosened his tie but still couldn't bring himself to say kinship terms like "brother-in-law." However, he promised: "I won't block you anymore..."
Up until now, Jiang Yubai had always been on Lin Zeqiu's WeChat block list. In other words, Jiang Yubai couldn't see Lin Zeqiu's Moments at all. Lin Zeqiu's willingness to unblock him was already an effort to show goodwill.
But Jiang Yubai couldn't change his merchant nature of being profit-driven. He bargained: "Next August, I plan to hold a wedding with Lin Zhixia."
At first, Lin Zeqiu didn't react: "Next August? If you want to hold it, then... hold the wedding?"
Lin Zeqiu's expression turned slightly serious. Although he knew that Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai getting married was inevitable, in his and their parents' hearts, Lin Zhixia was always the one who needed more protection. After all, any emotional pain was a permanent torment for her.
Lin Zeqiu strolled along the street of the Hong Kong night market, with Jiang Yubai walking beside him. Their conversation consistently revolved around Lin Zhixia. Lin Zeqiu sensed the depth of Jiang Yubai's feelings for Lin Zhixia. Given that Lin Zeqiu had been single since birth, he didn't quite understand Jiang Yubai's state, but deep down, he genuinely hoped Jiang Yubai would maintain this level of enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, the person in question, Lin Zhixia, accompanied by Tang Tingting and Luo Ying, was busy sampling various delicacies. They were selecting pretty and unique earrings and bracelets in a roadside jewelry shop, completely unaware that Duan Qiyan had already been left behind by the group.
*Duan Qiyan carried his phone with him, but to save money, he hadn't activated the "Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan roaming service." As a result, his phone couldn't connect to the internet or make calls.
He wandered along the bustling main street, stopping and starting, gradually drifting away from his friends.
The night was endlessly dark, like a vast sea submerged in darkness, with neon signs resembling isolated islands one after another. Duan Qiyan looked around and suddenly lost his sense of direction. He stood bewildered at the busy intersection, like a yacht that had ceased sailing.
Fortunately, he had a thousand Hong Kong dollars tucked in his pocket.
Worst case, he could just take a taxi back to the hotel, he calculated.
With that thought, Duan Qiyan relaxed.
He walked into a small restaurant and bought an oyster omelet and a bowl of fish congee. It was currently the peak dining hour, with crowds everywhere, and all the seats in the restaurant were already taken. So, carrying his plastic takeout box, he sat on a bench by the street. Under the soft glow of the streetlamp, he lowered his head and began picking at his food with chopsticks.
A few mainland tourists passed in front of him. Leading the group was a refined and amiable middle-aged man who said to his young son, "Is Hong Kong fun?"
The son replied, "Yeah, it's fun."
Dad added, "Good boy, next semester when you enter sixth grade, if you get perfect scores again, Dad will take you abroad for a trip!"
The son asked him, "Dad, if I get into Tsinghua or Peking University for college, where will you take me?"
Dad laughed and encouraged, "If you get into Peking University or Tsinghua, you'll have money. You can go wherever you want, no need for Dad to take you..."
Duan Qiyan crossed his legs. As an outstanding graduate of Peking University, he always carried a faint, indescribable pride in his heart. His university classmates were spread all over the world—some pursuing PhDs, some starting businesses, others working—each heading toward vastly different futures. However, getting into Peking University or Tsinghua didn't necessarily mean "having money."
No one spoke to Duan Qiyan. So, amidst the bustling night market, he pondered life.
In his teens, he had been full of lofty ambitions.
But now, he had achieved none of them.
He crouched on the street like a minor gangster from a Hong Kong film, holding disposable chopsticks and eating from a plastic bag. The night wind grew colder, and raindrops began to fall on his head. Suddenly, a bitter and desolate feeling of "unfulfilled ambitions" welled up in his heart.
"It's raining," Lin Zhixia said.
Pedestrians scattered on the street, dark clouds covering the moonlight. Tang Tingting exclaimed in surprise, "It's really raining? The weather forecast said there was only a thirty percent chance of rain today."
Lin Zhixia pulled out her phone. "I'll send a text to Jiang Yubai and the others."
"Duan Qiyan is probably with them," Tang Tingting guessed.
Lin Zhixia agreed, "Most likely."
They were in a jewelry store, where Luo Ying was still picking out earrings. She picked up a delicate pair of red Strawberry earrings and held them up to Lin Zhixia. "Do these look nice? Should I help you try them on?"
Tang Tingting reminded her, "Senior, she doesn't have pierced ears."
"I know," Luo Ying said, straightening the golden chain of the earrings. The plump, red Strawberry rested on her fingertip. "These are clip-ons. You can wear them even without pierced ears."
Lin Zhixia stood in front of a mirror, and Luo Ying followed silently. She lifted Lin Zhixia's long hair, draping it behind her ears—the strands were soft, smooth, and shone jet-black, like the finest black silk.
"Your hair is very well-maintained," Luo Ying remarked softly.
"Maybe it's because I brush it every day and get enough sleep," Lin Zhixia shared her hair care secrets generously. She looked at Luo Ying in the mirror and returned the compliment: "Senior, you're the most beautiful."
Luo Ying smiled. Her smile was so radiant it could put flowers to shame.
Without touching Lin Zhixia's skin, she simply opened the ear clip, letting the metal gently press against Lin Zhixia's earlobe.Luo Ying's fingers were slender, long, and snow-white. Lin Zhixia's skin tone was similar to hers, and for a fleeting moment, her mind grew hazy, making her increasingly conscious of her own movements.
A faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air. Luo Ying stood so close to Lin Zhixia that the scent vividly and intensely stirred her nerves. The faster her heart raced, the harder it was to conceal it, so she simply held her breath until she finally fastened the ear clip.
Lin Zhixia fiddled with the strawberry pendant dangling from her left ear.
"Quite cute," she said.
Luo Ying happened to be standing behind Lin Zhixia. She lifted a strand of Lin Zhixia's hair, twirled it around her finger, then slowly released it. Her fingers nearly brushed against Lin Zhixia's body, but the moment she felt the warmth emanating through Lin Zhixia's dress, she immediately withdrew from all contact.
She took a step back and covered her cheeks.
"Senior?" Lin Zhixia turned to look at her.
Luo Ying suggested, "Let's head back to the hotel."
Lin Zhixia stared into her eyes. "Your face looks a bit pale. Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's stuffy in here," Luo Ying offered a casual excuse.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the night rain fell heavier, splashing against the transparent glass and instantly scattering into countless tiny streams. Pedestrians hurried along the street, while Jiang Yubai stood motionless under a black umbrella. Through the window, he watched Luo Ying and Lin Zhixia inside the shop.
Lin Zeqiu didn't notice anything unusual in the shop. He only asked Jiang Yubai, "Are you feeling off?"
Jiang Yubai replied, "It's nothing."
Lin Zeqiu then asked, "Is Duan Qiyan inside too?"
Jiang Yubai answered casually, "Very likely."
"That guy," Lin Zeqiu said, "has been following them picking out jewelry for so long."
Lin Zeqiu shoved his hands into his pockets and strode into the shop. After chatting for a while, they suddenly realized Duan Qiyan was missing. Tang Tingting grew anxious, straightening the chain of her purse with her right hand, her arm tense. Lin Zhixia comforted her, "Duan Qiyan has money with him. He can take a taxi back to the hotel."
Lin Zeqiu added, "He's a grown man, not a seven or eight-year-old boy."
Tang Tingting pulled an umbrella from her bag. "I feel a little guilty. He's a high school competition teacher with no winter or summer breaks, only one week of annual leave... He came to Hong Kong with us, and both our groups lost track of him... His phone isn't working, and he only has cash on him. With the heavy rain now, it'll be hard for him to catch a taxi..."
Tang Tingting proposed a plan. Since the long street was one-way, she decided to search for Duan Qiyan alone while the others returned to the hotel. If they ran into Duan Qiyan, they should call her.
Before Tang Tingting finished speaking, Jiang Yubai's phone suddenly rang. He answered the WeChat call, and Duan Qiyan informed him from the other end, "I'm back at the hotel. What about you?"
Jiang Yubai put the call on speaker. As he got into a business sedan, Lin Zhixia responded, "We're planning to head back too. What do you want for dinner? I can bring something for you."
"I had oyster omelet and fish congee," Duan Qiyan replied in detail. He lay on the large hotel bed, staring at the ceiling. Jiang Yubai chatted with him for a few more moments before ending the call.
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