Jiang Yubai activated the speakerphone.
Hearing Duan Qiyan's voice, Lin Zhixia immediately said, "We're planning to head back too. What would you like for dinner? I can bring something for you."
"I've already had dinner - oyster omelette and fish congee," Duan Qiyan replied in detail.
Lying on the hotel's large bed, Duan Qiyan's mind was filled with chaotic thoughts. After casually chatting with Jiang Yubai for a few moments, he ended the call.
With his arms pillowed behind his head and eyes closed, he dozed off, his mind and body drifting in dreams.
The room's lighting grew hazy and dim. Looking out the window, he saw the red buildings, weeping willows, ancient pines, lake views and pagoda shadows of Peking University. The bamboo at Linhu Xuan was covered in a layer of winter snow, while the white wax trees in front of the gymnasium were coated with autumn frost. The forsythia flowers east of the Electronic Education Building swayed in the bright spring breeze, and the road leading to the south gate was bathed in thick summer shade. For a moment, he couldn't distinguish between spring, summer, autumn, and winter, or between dawn and dusk, nor did he know where he was or where he was headed.
He heard someone call out: "Did you eat enough for dinner?"
Duan Qiyan jolted awake from his dream.
Tang Tingting reached a hand toward him. She felt his forehead and pressed her cheek against his: "You didn't bring an umbrella and got caught in the rain. You're not running a fever, are you?"
Duan Qiyan asked in return, "Did you just get back?"
Tang Tingting hooked her arm through his shoulder: "I came back with Lin Zhixia and the others. They reserved a table for dinner at the hotel - Jiang Yubai's treat. Come on, come with me to have something to eat."
Duan Qiyan threw on his jacket and followed Tang Tingting out.
They walked in silence, neither speaking a word.
The hotel corridor was carpeted in deep red. Tang Tingting, wearing high heels, walked quietly and slowly. Glancing sideways at Duan Qiyan, she saw him suddenly stop, brace one hand against the wall, and trap her in the corner.
Tang Tingting looked slightly surprised: "Well, aren't you something - you've learned how to do a kabedon."
On this torrentially rainy night, with water mist shrouding the bustling streets and wind rattling the windows, Duan Qiyan found himself unusually caught in an odd mood. He spoke as if to himself: "During my first month back in the provincial capital, the best job I found was as a high school teacher... Teaching keeps you quite busy - classes during the day, grading papers at night, answering students' questions between classes. Next semester, the school assigned me as a homeroom teacher..."
He hadn't organized his thoughts properly, randomly revealing some information.
Tang Tingting straightened his collar for him: "I was just about to tell you - tonight we split up, thinking you were with another group. While browsing the street stalls, I was thinking about buying something for you."
Meeting his gaze, she said, "Your job is quite good, and you're quite good too."
Duan Qiyan was still being difficult: "Come on, spare me those polite platitudes."
Tang Tingting burst out laughing. She linked arms with Duan Qiyan: "You're so wonderful - smart, hardworking, responsible, and so easy to take care of since you eat and sleep well."
These words of praise went straight to Duan Qiyan's heart. He wiped his hands on his pants pockets and couldn't help comparing himself to Lin Zhixia: "Can Lin Zhixia eat and sleep well too?"
"Not really," Tang Tingting stated truthfully. "She has a small appetite."Tang Tingting and Duan Qiyan chatted as they walked, both coming to a halt before the main entrance of the restaurant. Tang Tingting tightened her grip on Duan Qiyan's sleeve and suddenly spoke up: "Be confident, Xiao Duan. I've always regarded you as the 'First War God.'"
Duan Qiyan feigned humility: "The 'First War God' was so many years ago. A true hero doesn't boast about past glories."
Lin Zhixia's voice came from behind him: "You were the First War God of the Normal University Affiliated Elementary School in your childhood, and now you're an outstanding teacher at Provincial No. 1 High School, Teacher Duan."
Lin Zhixia happened to be standing directly beneath a pendant lamp, the light converging on her and making her shine brilliantly. The wall along the corridor was adorned with landscape paintings. The glow of mountains and waters, the clouds at dawn—all paled in comparison to her presence.
She stood firmly about a meter away, with Jiang Yubai and Luo Ying both positioned behind her—Luo Ying was dressed in full splendor tonight. She wore a pure black gown, her makeup exquisitely refined, with a crescent-shaped hairpin fastened beside her ear. Her aura was coldly enchanting, mysterious, and transcendent, exuding a sharp beauty akin to a blade being unsheathed.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was extraordinary.
Jiang Yubai and Luo Ying took their seats on either side of Lin Zhixia, while Lin Zeqiu's seat unexpectedly ended up close to Jiang Yubai. After exchanging a few words, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu no longer confronted each other and were able to coexist harmoniously.
Lin Zhixia was deeply gratified.
The dining table was laden with delectable dishes that appealed to all senses—aromatic, flavorful, and steaming like mist. Lin Zhixia extended her chopsticks and gently picked up a slippery fish ball, but it slipped from her grasp, fell into the soup bowl, and splashed a few droplets.
Luo Ying picked up a spoon, scooped up two fish balls, and placed them into Lin Zhixia's bowl.
Lin Zhixia said politely, "Thank you."
"Don't stand on ceremony with me," Luo Ying replied. "I happen to be sitting next to you—it was no trouble at all."
Lin Zhixia casually asked her, "Do you like eating fish balls?"
Luo Ying lifted her wine glass and took a sip of red wine: "I prefer vegetarian dishes." She lowered the rim of her glass and clinked it with Lin Zhixia's.
Lin Zhixia turned and asked the waiter, "Hello, could I have a strawberry-flavored drink?"
Jiang Yubai chimed in, "I ordered freshly squeezed strawberry juice. The kitchen is still preparing it; it hasn't been served yet."
But Luo Ying said, "Strawberry wine has a low alcohol content, and rose wine is also quite nice. I recommend you try them."
Jiang Yubai declined on her behalf: "She doesn't drink often and has little experience with alcohol."
Luo Ying set down her chopsticks.
Jiang Yubai picked up a shrimp dumpling and placed it into Lin Zhixia's bowl, right on top of the fish balls. He asked her as if casually, "Does the shrimp dumpling suit your taste?"
Lin Zhixia took a small bite, savoring it carefully before saying, "It's delicious."
In truth, earlier that evening, Lin Zhixia had already sampled Hong Kong street food at the night market. She wasn't particularly hungry now, feeling about half-full, so she ate slowly. Meanwhile, Luo Ying added a piece of sea cucumber to her rice bowl, steadily placing it atop the shrimp dumpling.
Jiang Yubai took a glass of juice brought by the waiter and handed it to Lin Zhixia: "Your freshly squeezed strawberry juice."
"I might not be able to finish it," Lin Zhixia said honestly. "I'm a bit full."
Luo Ying's tone was natural: "Let's share a little. Pour what you can't finish into my glass."She held a stemmed glass with two fingers, pouring red wine until it was one-third full. Lin Zhixia then added some strawberry juice to it. Gently swirling the glass, her nails seemed to glow with a lustrous sheen, as if tinted by the hues of roses and red wine.
She sipped her wine in silence, not touching her chopsticks again.
The others were all focused on their meals, with Lin Zeqiu particularly enjoying his food. He scooped a ladle of braised beef brisket with radish over his rice, took two big mouthfuls, and then, catching Jiang Yubai’s refined and elegant dining manner out of the corner of his eye, unconsciously straightened his posture and began to chew slowly and deliberately.
The atmosphere in the dining room was unusually quiet. Lin Zeqiu randomly brought up a topic: "The chef’s skills are quite good."
"Yes," Lin Zhixia agreed.
At that moment, Luo Ying slid over a glass of red wine mixed with strawberry juice. Lin Zhixia downed it in one go. The rich aroma of the wine blended perfectly with the fresh sweetness of the strawberry, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Unable to resist, she drank another half glass. Lin Zeqiu said bluntly, "Drink less. Your alcohol tolerance is so low."
"It’s fine," Lin Zhixia boasted recklessly, "I’ve never been drunk."
Jiang Yubai questioned her, "Is that so?"
Lin Zhixia raised her hand and lightly patted Jiang Yubai’s shoulder, as if she were his business partner. Then, she stood up from her seat. Everyone looked up at her, but she said, "Everyone, enjoy your food and drinks while listening to me. I’d like to summarize our work achievements…"
The clinking of bowls and chopkins around them grew even softer.
Lin Zhixia took two steps back, clasped her hands behind her, and said with a slightly serious tone, "Today is the first day of our business trip. We’ve reached a cooperation intent with a local university in Hong Kong, which I hadn’t anticipated. Progress has been smoother than I expected. I plan to establish a branch company in Hong Kong, complete the listing plan by 2019, and resolve the chip challenges before 2021."
In reality, Lin Zhixia was quite drunk.
But her expression remained calm and composed, her tone firm and resolute, her steps steady and dignified. Everyone present thought Lin Zhixia was delivering an impassioned, heartfelt speech.
Duan Qiyan raised his hand to ask, "Your team has only been established for a few years, and now you’re opening a new company and planning to list in Hong Kong. Can you handle all that?"
Lin Zhixia nodded in approval. "That’s a very good question."
Duan Qiyan raised his glass to her.
Lin Zhixia slowly circled the round table, exuding the demeanor of a CEO. She said, "Quantum Computing is heating up, and competition is intensifying. In this field, I hope we can achieve industry leadership, even global dominance. IBM is building quantum computers in Germany, and Google aims to develop the world’s most complex Quantum Processor by 2023. The United States has twelve AI and quantum research institutes, and Europe is executing the Quantum Flagship Program. Our company has already built brand recognition, completed initial capital accumulation, and at this stage…"
All the listeners, including Jiang Yubai, stopped eating. Their gazes converged on Lin Zhixia, who had turned the hotel gathering into a company meeting. Leaning slightly forward, she placed both hands on the edge of the table and continued speaking eloquently: "Everyone, you are all core members of our team…"
Duan Qiyan turned his face away, and Lin Zhixia added, "And family members of core members."
Duan Qiyan turned his face back.Lin Zhixia said with great determination, "With the growing number of clients, what we need is global influence—to capture the market quickly and achieve technological upgrades. No matter how busy or tired I am, I won’t delay the company’s progress."
She recalled the product promotion shows she had watched on television as a child. Mimicking the host’s tone, she remarked meaningfully, "Only by building the brand bigger and stronger can we attract talent and ensure long-term sustainability. My individual success is like a lone rider, but our team’s success is an unstoppable force. From a macro perspective, every step must be steady—but that doesn’t mean we have to adopt conservatism. Expanding partnerships and recruiting more talent are this year’s key priorities."
"Excellent!" Tang Tingting was the first to applaud. "Well said, President Lin! I support you wholeheartedly!"
Tang Tingting glanced at Duan Qiyan.
Duan Qiyan silently recited the phrase "marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog," and joined in the applause. Lin Zeqiu’s gaze was somewhat complicated, while Luo Ying wore a faint smile at the corner of her lips. Only Jiang Yubai knew that Lin Zhixia was tipsy.
Jiang Yubai stepped in to smooth things over for Lin Zhixia.
He briefly analyzed the company’s strengths and weaknesses—the Quantum Programming System and Quantum Cloud Computing Platform pioneered by Lin Zhixia represented the cutting edge of global technology. However, any materials publicly released by Lin Zhixia or her team could enlighten their competitors, exposing her to fierce and brutal industry competition in the near future.
"Really?" Lin Zhixia asked, half-convinced and half-skeptical.
Jiang Yubai maintained a businesslike demeanor. "I discussed related issues in today’s meeting. You can review the minutes."
"Then I’ll go back to your room with you now," Lin Zhixia said, moving behind Jiang Yubai.
This was exactly the outcome Jiang Yubai had wanted. He had expended considerable effort to steer the situation in this direction. Taking Lin Zhixia by the wrist, he bid farewell to their friends and quietly led her away.
Luo Ying lowered her gaze, her head slightly bowed. She glanced at Lin Zhixia’s bowl and noticed half a fish ball and a small piece of sea cucumber left behind.
A faint, lingering sweetness of strawberry hung in the air around them. The scent was intoxicating and unsettling, a sensation Luo Ying had never experienced before. This novel feeling was both a comfort and a torment. She felt as if she had been split in two—one half filled with chaotic emotions, the other echoing with rationality. Reason told her that love should be mutual, and her feelings for Lin Zhixia weren’t that deep. She merely admired her beauty, cheerfulness, and optimism, and revered her for reaching the pinnacle of their industry at such a young age.
Luo Ying tried to convince herself with this reasoning. But in her distraction, she accidentally bit her tongue. Blood welled up, the metallic taste spreading through her mouth, a sour and astringent sensation filling her throat.
She was still thinking of Lin Zhixia.
She had never suffered a loss since childhood, but this time, what could she use to compete? And what right did she have to compete?
It felt as if a clock had been installed in her heart, its second hand ticking away, recording countless sleepless days and nights. The rotating tip carved out a circular hollow... Time flew like an arrow, and she was the bullseye.
*The night rain pattered softly, its sound mingling with the faint glow of streetlights blurred by the misty drizzle. The apricot tree in the hotel's front courtyard endured the wind and rain as Lin Zhixia leaned against a floor-to-ceiling window and sighed, "Fine rain dampens clothes unseen, idle flowers fall to the ground unheard."
Jiang Yubai stood beside her, holding a cup of light tea. She bent down to take a sip from his cup, and he murmured, "President Lin."
Lin Zhixia nearly choked on the tea. Coughing lightly, she straightened up and adjusted her collar before saying, "Are we role-playing as CEO and secretary? I'm the CEO, and you're the secretary."
"Sure," Jiang Yubai agreed readily.
"Secretary Jiang," Lin Zhixia said, getting into character, "follow me."
They walked into the bedroom together.
The white gauze curtains were drawn to either side of the window. As Lin Zhixia closed them, her phone screen lit up—she had received a WeChat message from Luo Ying.
That evening, Lin Zhixia had picked out a pair of Strawberry pendant earrings at a street-side accessory shop. She and Luo Ying had checked out together, and the earrings were in Luo Ying's purse. Luo Ying mentioned the earrings in her message, so Lin Zhixia replied, "I'll come find you and return the money while I'm at it."
Luo Ying responded instantly: "I'll wait for you."
Lin Zhixia sent a heart emoji in return.
Hearts were the most common emoji she used when chatting with her female friends—a habit she had developed in college. Back then, her roommate Deng Shasha was struggling academically and urgently needed tutoring. Lin Zhixia volunteered to become Deng Shasha's tutor.
Deng Shasha often professed her love to Lin Zhixia. On WeChat, she was fervent and passionate: "Xiao Lin, I love you so much! My life can't go on without you, my guiding light. You must go over the exam papers with me before the test! I'll cover all your meal card expenses!" These declarations were usually accompanied by a bright red, pulsating heart emoji.
However, this approach didn't work with Senior Luo Ying.
Whenever she saw a heart emoji, Luo Ying would stop responding.
"She seems off today," Lin Zhixia mused thoughtfully. "I should go check on her."
The room was dimly lit, shadows intertwining. Jiang Yubai stood at the threshold between the bedroom and the living room, blocking Lin Zhixia's path. "It's 9:30 p.m.—time for bed. You can go tomorrow."
Lin Zhixia explained, "It's fine, I'll be quick. Senior said she's waiting for me."
Jiang Yubai fell silent for a moment before asking, "Waiting for you?"
"What's wrong?" Lin Zhixia countered. "You're not quite yourself today either. Is there something you're hiding from me?"
Jiang Yubai loosened his tie, removed his watch, and placed them on the cabinet. He sat down at a desk, opened his laptop, and began signing important documents with a stylus. As he worked, he said to Lin Zhixia, "It's nothing. Go ahead. I'll wait up for you."
Jiang Yubai had once discussed "how to maintain a household" with Duan Qiyan. Duan Qiyan pointed out that the most important elements between spouses were trust, personal space, and emotional connection—a perspective that held some truth.
Jiang Yubai was a man of action. He diligently implemented the three principles of "how to maintain a household": trust each other, grant freedom, and nurture emotional bonds.Lin Zhixia grabbed his arm, pressing for details. "When I get back, I want to hear what's truly in your heart." She whispered softly in his ear, "Let's talk on the bed."
Jiang Yubai's pen paused.
Lin Zhixia wrapped her arms around his neck, planting several kisses on his face before darting out of the study.
Outside the hallway, the rain had ceased. Dark clouds dispersed, revealing a dim moon and a few lonely stars hanging in the night sky.
Lin Zhixia knocked on Luo Ying's door.
Luo Ying was dressed in a women's suit. She hadn't changed into sleepwear nor removed her makeup. Neatly dressed and calm, she asked gently, "Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thank you," Lin Zhixia replied honestly. "I've eaten too much today."
Luo Ying gave a slight nod.
The floor-to-ceiling window in the living room was cracked open, letting in the cool post-rain breeze that carried a faint fragrance mixed with the scent of roses—emanating from a scented candle by the window.
Encased in glass with its top open, the candle's flame flickered unsteadily in the wind.
Lin Zhixia was partly distracted by the candle, while Luo Ying had already found the pair of earrings. She handed them to Lin Zhixia, adding, "They're not expensive. No need to pay me back—consider them a gift."
But Lin Zhixia rounded up the amount and directly transferred the money via WeChat: "Converted to RMB, it's still several hundred yuan."
Luo Ying smiled and asked, "Do you never accept gifts from others?"
"I don't know why," Lin Zhixia tucked her phone behind her back, "I..."
Luo Ying picked up a long glass rod, adjusting the candle's wick. The flame illuminated her face, reflecting on the rain-streaked windowpane. Without even glancing at Lin Zhixia, Luo Ying listened as Lin Zhixia confessed openly, "I feel awkward accepting your gifts. Maybe it's because back when I sold a software, you didn't take a single cent. Since then, I've always felt I owed you a favor."
"You don't owe me anything," Luo Ying replied softly. "You taught me programming and guided me into the field."
Gazing at the full moon in the sky, Lin Zhixia continued, "After you finished your Ph.D., you could have landed a much better job, yet you chose to join our startup. You arrive at work by eight every morning, leave the latest at night, and your performance evaluations are the best. This year's 'Outstanding Employee Special Award' will undoubtedly be yours, Senior."
Luo Ying found an excuse: "The company you and Jiang Yubai co-founded has a one hundred percent chance of going public. By working overtime, I can earn more stock. I came for the money... It's not as pure-hearted as you think."
Lin Zhixia was somewhat surprised. She turned her head, quietly studying Luo Ying.
"Senior," Lin Zhixia said softly, "I've always felt..."
Only when Luo Ying met her gaze did she offer her assessment: "Your character is gentle on the outside but strong within. Once you make a decision, it's hard for others to sway you." After a pause, she added, "I finished my undergraduate degree in three years. During my final year, we often attended classes together, formed teams, and worked on assignments. That experience, for me..."
Luo Ying closed her eyes for two seconds before reopening them. Her emotions surged intensely, but her facial expression remained subtle. Lin Zhixia always called her "Senior, Senior," and she constantly strived to play the role of a caring elder sister—a habit she had nearly ingrained without even realizing it.Lin Zhixia observed her expression, her palms growing slightly warm. She keenly detected that subtle, indescribable change in Luo Ying, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew tense. Lin Zhixia quickened her pace of speech: "To me, it's a memory worth cherishing."
"Is Jiang Yubai good to you?" Luo Ying changed the subject. "I've always felt men are unreliable."
She removed the hair tie from her wrist and tied up her long hair, revealing a graceful, swan-like neck as white as snow.
Lin Zhixia also tucked her own strands of hair behind her ear and replied very seriously: "Jiang Yubai is very good to me. He's a very interesting person. However, no one is forever reliable—in a way, I'm not reliable either."
She seemed to be conveying a subtle hint.
Luo Ying touched the cold windowsill. Remaining silent, she thought to herself: Indeed, Lin Zhixia was exceptionally intelligent, with an extraordinarily high IQ—a genius among geniuses, a truly deserving prodigy. It wasn't surprising that she could guess Luo Ying's thoughts.
Luo Ying's hands felt restless, and her mind remained tangled. Having been tactfully exposed by Lin Zhixia, she could only repeatedly ponder her words. When Lin Zhixia described herself as "unreliable," the implication couldn't be clearer—Lin Zhixia probably intended to pull Luo Ying back before she sank too deep into the mire. Now was the perfect time to intervene, because the seeds of emotion had just begun to sprout in Luo Ying's heart. It was like a long-dormant ancient well suddenly infused with fresh, flowing water, where a small fish swam at the bottom, churning the water into turbulent, murky waves stirred up by its tail.
Previously, Luo Ying had rejected many outstanding men. One of them had bluntly asked her, "Are you a lesbian?"
Provoked, she blurted out, "I'm not a lesbian. I'm straight."
Yet, the chain of reactions triggered by Lin Zhixia confirmed that man's judgment. Luo Ying felt agitated and helpless. She wrapped a silk curtain tie around her wrist and murmured softly, "What you said earlier is right. No one is perfect, and no life is flawless... Many things people yearn for remain forever out of reach in this lifetime."
Lin Zhixia took a step back, their reflections overlapping on the glass window.
Luo Ying stumbled over her words, "I am, actually I..."
Lin Zhixia soothed her, "Life is divided into several stages, and what we desire in each stage differs. Local optima don't equate to global optima... Not obtaining something isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Luo Ying let out a light sigh.
Lin Zhixia gave an example: "When I was little, I wanted a whole basket of strawberry candies. If that childhood dream had come true, I'd surely have a mouthful of cavities now."
Luo Ying chuckled at this and replied, "It's almost ten o'clock. You should head back to your room. We have a meeting tomorrow morning."
"Alright, I'll take my leave now," Lin Zhixia bid her farewell. "Rest early, and I'll see you in the morning."
Luo Ying remained motionless where she stood.
A soft closing sound came from the living room as Lin Zhixia's footsteps gradually faded away.
Slowly, Luo Ying let go of the curtain. The candlelight by the window was faint, its flame dim and yellowish, dripping wax that formed flower-like patterns.
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