Su Minguan was startled, looking at her with some confusion.

Lin Yuchan was so excited she lightly jumped, as if standing on clouds, more floating than when she’d been on the lookout platform earlier.

The collective portraits from the teaching building walls had come to visit!

Though she couldn’t list their specific achievements in detail, she knew Xu Shou was China’s pioneer in modern chemistry enlightenment. Those chemical elements in the periodic table – sodium, potassium, calcium, oxygen, hydrogen – were named using his method of combining Western first syllables with corresponding Chinese radicals to create characters that conveyed both form and meaning, eventually appearing on millions of students’ test papers.

Hua Hengfang… mathematician, educator, translator, who translated countless science textbooks and created China’s first hydrogen balloon.

Li Shanlan needn’t be mentioned. Algebra, constants, exponents, functions, coefficients… these terms were all his translations. Without him, future mathematics textbooks would be unimaginably strange.

Of course, those achievements were all future matters. Western science had never been valued by traditional scholars. These god-level masters currently held status merely as “tutors,” “scribblers,” “craftsmen,” “artisans”… unknown to common people, inferior to popular opera singers.

Su Minguan looked at her in amazement, puzzled: “You know them?”

How could seeing them make her happier than seeing him?

Unreasonable!

“I… I don’t know them,” Lin Yuchan said with surging emotions, smiling broadly, “but I’ve long heard their great names, thunderous reputation, all pillars of the nation! Esteemed uncles, this young lady pays respects! What great works have you translated? Might I humbly request to study them?”

The scientists were first stunned. All coming from traditional scholarly farming families, seeing such an improper young lady, their first reaction was frowning.

Where did this crazy girl come from, following men onto steamships – so improper, like foreign ladies – was she from a respectable family?

But after frowning, they felt touched.

Her eyes showed no frivolity or debauchery, but rather genuine envious admiration.

The masters were all somewhat unsuccessful, not skilled in worldly affairs. But at least, they could distinguish genuine enthusiasm from false courtesy.

They looked at each other, all discovering surprise in the others’ eyes, overshadowing earlier slight displeasure.

Moreover, Rong Hong quickly smoothed things over: “This is the extraordinary lady I mentioned to you, haha, we’ve been business partners for a year. Miss Lin, you must also be here for the christening today? You got first look at this ship.”

Xu Shou smiled first, carefully breaking ice: “Miss, may I ask your father’s name?”

These natural philosophy scholars, being among the first Qing citizens to open their eyes to the world, were considered idle and even traitorous by fellow townspeople. Therefore they could only huddle together in small circles, purchasing foreign books through various channels, arduously supporting each other’s research.

Even senior scholars might not know their names. Today, a strange young girl spontaneously called them “pillars of the nation.”

Besides being moved, they inevitably speculated that her father or brothers must also be Western learning enthusiasts – they must get acquainted quickly.

As for that earlier “youthful romance” awkwardness…

Nonexistent. Such a once-in-a-century kindred spirit, they’d be delighted if Su Minguan courted a few more.

Hua Hengfang asked with a smile: “Miss, have you heard of the Pythagorean theorem?”

…

Su Minguan smiled helplessly.

The little monster he’d discovered with keen eyes was like a magnet, attracting more monsters to his side.

But his mood was good today. Seeing her radiant smile warmed his chest, reducing his wariness by three parts.

He gestured generously: “Please, gentlemen, come inside. Look around freely.”

**

The masters treated the steam engine like a giant panda, carefully approaching to observe. The more they looked, the more they loved it, faces wearing paternal, doting smiles.

Li Shanlan flipped through the English-German bilingual operation manual, writing frantically. Hua Hengfang boldly touched everything, nearly burning his hand. Xu Shou even rummaged around, finding a wrench, rubbing his hands together: “This casing should be removable…”

Rong Hong, seeing Su Minguan’s protective, fierce expression, quickly stopped him: “Xuecun, stop! If this engine breaks, you can’t afford compensation… no, no, no, no time for you to repair it – Minguan, don’t worry, I’ll watch them, won’t let them dismantle it. How much time do we have?”

Su Minguan warned: “One hour. Then I need to prepare for departure.”

“Oh, oh, enough, enough.”

Lin Yuchan also wanted to follow the masters and glean knowledge. But she disappointedly discovered that though Chinese people had some understanding of steam engines, terminology translated from foreign languages was extremely inconsistent. She couldn’t understand most of what they said. For instance, “gou ben” – she listened for ages before realizing this was a phonetic translation of German “Kolben,” meaning “piston.”

She thought she’d wait a few years until they compiled mature Tongwen Academy textbooks to study from.

Su Minguan gently patted her shoulder, indicating they should go out.

What was there to see in a bunch of grown men sticking their bottoms up? Having them treat his Luna as treasure made him somewhat uncomfortable, feeling like his little girl had been faire la bise by others.

Lin Yuchan laughed at his pettiness: “When they understand it, maybe they can build Chinese-made steamships. Then they’ll give you huge discounts, upgrading all Yixing’s sailboats with modern equipment. You’ll line up ships in the Huangpu River, making those foreign devils green with envy.”

Su Minguan said sadly, “When that time comes, I’ll demand percentage fees from them.”

Still one hour remaining. Su Minguan needed to supervise cargo loading and complete procedural documents. Lin Yuchan was reluctant to leave immediately, so he let her rest in his single small cabin.

The cabin was narrow, containing only a small bed, a small desk half-overlapping the bunk, overhead cabinets, with floor space for only two or three steps.

Most of the steamship’s compartments were for cargo. The captain’s cabin was equally small; the chief engineer and first mate only had bunk beds. Workers and sailors all slept in shared quarters. Su Minguan’s capsule cabin was already an extra luxurious treatment.

Su Minguan glanced at the desk, half-jokingly warning: “No snooping around.”

Desk drawers contained Yixing’s business documents or indecipherable Heaven and Earth Society records. Lin Yuchan naturally wouldn’t look, not betraying his trust.

However, the books he carried for entertainment were fair game.

He hadn’t touched classical texts like the Four Books and Five Classics for years. This trip, he chose novels, bringing the currently popular “Flowers in the Mirror,” with a pigeon feather bookmark.

The desk also held foreign books – foreign texts circulating in China were either miscellaneous missionary pamphlets or secondhand books brought by foreigners, then sold at the market. Chaotic assortments, mainly novels and picture books for long journey entertainment, are generally of poor quality.

Lin Yuchan examined them with interest.

Su Minguan had collected many foreign picture albums containing London and Paris pencil landscapes, Western beauties and still life sketches, bizarre anatomical diagrams, fencing technique illustrations, plus truncated scientific drawings that looked like microscopes and prism principles…

The ancient empire’s new generation constructed a strange world in their minds through these fragmentary images and letters.

Then, armed with this crude knowledge, they entered the same arena as those well-educated, aggressive Western capitalists.

Not yet defeated.

Moreover, she was certain they’d fight more skillfully with experience.

Among a stack of mediocre pocket Western novels left by American sailors, she was delighted to discover a volume of “The Wealth of Nations,” cover damaged, corners moldy, stuck to adjacent books.

Lin Yuchan immediately gave his small cheating life a boost, carefully extracting this “Wealth of Nations” volume, placing it prominently, opening to Nu Shang – Chapter One.

Actually she’d never read it completely either, only simplified excerpts in middle school. But as the foundational work of capitalist economics, she decided to make up this course in the Qing Dynasty, borrowing it from him later.

Just pretending to read seriously when Su Minguan entered. Before he could speak, she feigned surprise: “This book is very famous, many foreigners mention it!”

Su Minguan glanced at the page, then checked the clock, smiling: “You have ten minutes left.”

Lin Yuchan startled.

Who cared about “The Wealth of Nations” – she threw herself into his embrace for hugs first.

The cabin floor was uneven. Standing on a raised wooden plank, she was level with his gaze, feeling strange, as if she’d suddenly grown taller, naturally wrapping arms around his neck.

Her lips naturally pressed against his ear, suddenly bringing up old accounts, whispering: “Good thing I didn’t follow Aunt Hong in self-combing then.”

Su Minguan: “…”

“Maybe I had a premonition then that such a day would come, that I’d find someone whose fate was connected to mine.”

Su Minguan forcefully held his breath.

He told himself: She’s teasing me.

She’s trying to make me happy.

Back then, she couldn’t even fill her stomach, so where would she find time for such thoughts?

She’s just strange. Born strange from day one.

She…

He gently pushed her away, eyes full of affection, gazing at her wantonly.

“A’Mei,” his voice low and probing, “I don’t understand – what do you like about me?”

Lin Yuchan suddenly felt inexplicably shy, closing her mouth and slowly lowering her head.

Previously, when negotiating business, glaring at each other unflinchingly for minutes was routine. Today she suddenly became thin-skinned, unable to maintain eye contact for more than seconds. Perhaps the cabin’s cramped space, closed windows, and poor air circulation gave her a hypnotic, slightly intoxicated feeling.

She lightly reached out, suddenly touching his ear, surprisingly soft, earlobes full, somewhat cool.

Su Minguan protested softly: “Ticklish! Let go.”

Then she definitely couldn’t let go. She enjoyed herself, couldn’t help pinching again.

He forgot that earlier question, suddenly trembling violently, barely managing to push away slightly, pressing forehead to forehead, sharp eyes beneath handsome brows glaring at her with false bravado.

Nose tip half an inch from hers. She could count his lashes, eyes showing somewhat predatory fierceness.

“Let. Go.”

She slowly cowered, nervously withdrawing her hand, but was suddenly tightly grasped, held in a small bundle, not allowed to leave. His other hand secretly advanced, circling behind her head, supporting her soft hair, gently sliding to her neck, fingertips exploring downward, slipping half an inch into her back collar, extremely lightly pinching that usually hidden small patch of skin.

“Little monster, will you miss me?”

Her whole body felt electrified, momentarily weak-kneed, certainly would have fallen if not supported. Burning from the inside out, making a small sound, not knowing what she was protesting.

She thought she was just opening a door, now discovering she’d pried open a tottering Yangtze River dam. Muddy floodwaters with massive waves had filled her head, washing her into complete disarray.

This “puppy love” progress bar was wrong! Was it too late to regret now?

Su Minguan got his revenge, eyes curving with satisfaction, softly teasing: “Oh my, nervous now.”

She glared at him shamefully and angrily, yet couldn’t bear seeming too fierce. The red flush hadn’t faded from her face, looking like a kitten just awakened from deep sleep.

The little girl was cunning and adorable. At least within this year, he allowed himself to be close to her, tease her, and practice some rather bold ideas.

The clock moved quickly – five minutes remaining.

Lin Yuchan recovered her composure, suddenly saying softly: “On the return trip’s empty cargo hold, bring me some cotton samples, okay?”

The shipping convention was no empty holds. After reaching destinations, if customers had no requirements, shipping companies would purchase local specialties themselves, with dock wholesalers buying at low prices, adding extra profit to the trip.

Boya Hongkou previously specialized in tea, having no return cargo needs.

Su Minguan smiled: “How can you arrange things now? That costs extra.”

She also smiled, speaking sweetly: “You were planning to collect cotton anyway, right? Just consider it collected for me.”

Su Minguan lightly sniffed her hair fragrance, whispering, “Kiss me once.”

Lin Yuchan was embarrassed, ears burning. After a long while, making up her mind, finding a safe position, standing on tiptoes on the wooden plank, gently kissing his forehead.

Su Minguan closed his eyes, savoring the moment, his mouth corners slowly showing a smile.

Then he released her, creating appropriate social distance, before pulling a blank order form from the drawer, saying seriously: “How can you arrange things now? That costs extra. Fill out a form first.”

He wouldn’t fall for beauty traps.

But he hadn’t mentioned this earlier, gaining a free kiss.

Lin Yuchan fumed for one second, decisively accepting reality. Looking up at the clock – three minutes left.

She grabbed a pencil and filled it out rapidly. One minute, still time to check insurance clauses once. If there were loopholes, he definitely wouldn’t mind taking advantage.

At most, showing some gallantry, charging a bit less.

“Done.” She collected the receipt copy. “I’ll discuss the rest with the duty clerk. Deduct payment from your debt to me.”

She wasn’t greedy. First, she ordered small samples to familiarize herself with the market, finding people to learn appraisal and sorting methods. Not much money – forty taels maximum.

Ding-a-ling, bells rang on deck, reminding idle people to leave for final clearance before departure.

Someone shouted outside the cabin: “Boss! Awaiting your orders, ready to go anytime!”

Su Minguan opened the cabin door, smiling: “Miss Lin, see you in the summer.”

His state switched rapidly. Except for parts gentle afterglow in his eyes, his attitude was no different from other customers.

Lin Yuchan smiled at him.

Leaving, she suddenly heard him lower his voice: “Leave me something.”

She didn’t understand immediately: “What?”

Bells are still ringing. He hesitated briefly, somewhat impatiently repeating: “Leave me some of your belongings.”

She hesitated, searching her bag, pulling out a soft, small cloth.

Su Minguan snatched it, looking down – a pink-green small undergarment embroidered with rabbits.

His face instantly flushed: “Yours?”

Lin Yuchan quickly grabbed it back, weakly saying: “I can’t wear that. It’s a gift for Feilun…”

Who told her to leave hastily today? No time to pack properly, bringing random things.

However, she finally understood Su Minguan’s meaning. Suppressing laughter, she produced a small sandalwood soap from a tin box. She carried it for hand washing.

Su Minguan accepted it, smelling the same fragrance as her hands.

He placed the soap in his chest, lip corners lifting, formally bowing to her.

“Miss Lin, safe travels.”

The teaching building portrait masters also disembarked simultaneously. Xu Shou had already drawn steam engine internal structure sketches, pointing and discussing technical details with Hua Hengfang, nearly missing the gangplank. Rong Hong and Li Shanlan began discussing Tongwen Academy mathematics textbooks, saying something that made both laugh heartily.

Rong Hong called to Lin Yuchan with a smile: “Miss Lin, you said earlier you knew my friends’ names – how was that again?”

Lin Yuchan: “…”

She’d been vague earlier, but now couldn’t speak clearly. Couldn’t say she’d seen them on walls…

“Um… heard foreigners at Customs discussing them.”

This was the universal answer.

Li Shanlan shook his head bitterly.

“See, flowers bloom inside walls, but fragrance drifts outside.”

Others quickly consoled him, saying the court recently showed reform signs, seeking Western learning talents, and everyone would eventually achieve recognition.

Xu Shou and Hua Hengfang didn’t live in Shanghai; Li Shanlan needed to return to his inn. So everyone said farewell.

Xu Shou joked: “Miss Lin, when this Su fellow buys other novel items, please notify me immediately.”

Though Lin Yuchan was usually brazen, she instantly blushed, not knowing how to respond.

A great scientist was teasing her!

Fortunately, in the great scientists’ eyes, she was just a delightful ornament. Their minds full of steam engines and calculus, no idle interest in judging her feminine virtue.

Leaving the wharf, passing through gates, and exiting an alley, they suddenly saw road construction ahead with billowing dust, requiring a detour.

Rong Hong and Lin Yuchan walked side by side when he suddenly turned to look at her.

“Miss Lin, you mentioned before that your parents died?”

Lin Yuchan was puzzled, nodding.

Of course – wherever that opium addict father was lingering, he was dead to her.

Rong Hong smiled meaningfully: “Need a matchmaker?”

Lin Yuchan: “…”

What was happening today – the masters were collectively bullying her!

Qing Dynasty customs were conservative. Even progressive returnee students like Rong Hong, though advanced in thinking, having seen only traditional men and women daily since returning, immediately smelled unusual relationships seeing her alone with Su Minguan on the lookout platform, knowing things weren’t simple.

This also showed Su Minguan’s terrifyingly deep scheming – regardless of his private feelings toward her, he’d left no handles in public.

She lowered her head awkwardly: “No, no, no need, haven’t reached that point…”

Then immediately added: “Won’t affect Hongkou branch business.”

Rong Hong was a business partner, not a gossip reporter. This latter statement was probably what he wanted to hear.

Rong Hong chuckled softly, dropping the subject, pulling red paper from his chest.

“Miss Lin,” he smiled, “originally planned to have someone deliver this later. Since we met today, see what this is.”

Lin Yuchan took it, glanced briefly, and was shocked into stopping.

“Chang Baoluo is getting married?”

How long had it been? Half a year?

Rong Hong smiled: “Also fate. The girl he’s courting is also Christian, very compatible, engaged within a month. He was embarrassed to send you an invitation, but I thought you wouldn’t mind.”

Lin Yuchan: “Oh my, wouldn’t dare mind, haha.”

But she couldn’t help asking more: “Are you certain this girl…”

Rong Hong: “I met her once – taller than you, plumper than you, round face, small voice, blushes talking to people – don’t worry, completely different from you!”

Lin Yuchan, her thoughts transparent, couldn’t help but blush and giggle.

Then she was relieved.

This high-level intellectual, once enlightened, was truly formidable.

Seeing him finally escape that addled one-sided infatuation filled her with fireworks-worthy joy.

Though Chang Baoluo’s unrequited confusion had nearly severed her partnership with Rong Hong, the blessing in disguise created Boya Hongkou. The anger and hurt then seemed insignificant now.

Where was life’s smooth path? Just various ups and downs and downs and downs.

She pretended difficulty: “Do I need to prepare a red envelope? I have no money now…”

Rong Hong quickly said: “Look, it’s written on the invitation – modern wedding, no gift money. Don’t worry.”

Lin Yuchan collected the invitation, chatting casually with Rong Hong while pondering how to broach the topic.

Tea processing profits showed declining trends. As Boya Hongkou’s second shareholder, she planned expanding business scope, testing cotton waters…

Before speaking, someone suddenly called ahead.

“Mr. Rong Hong?” A clerk-like person across the street waved. “My master requests your presence!”

Rong Hong was puzzled. Didn’t recognize him.

The other party was too lazy to cross over, perhaps having sedan chairs or carriages nearby, just bowing and urging persistently.

Rong Hong was confused but said, “Miss Lin, wait for me.”

He went forward.

Lin Yuchan looked down at the invitation, but immediately raised her head, watching Rong Hong’s retreating figure with sudden, weak unease.

Road renovation from the wharf to the French Concession required a small detour.

Across the street was Shanghai County territory. The Qing held complete sovereignty.

Only a low fence separated the areas, gates usually opened, and were only checked morning and evening.

She suddenly stepped forward, shouting: “Mr. Rong, don’t go yet!”

She glimpsed that clerk’s side alley, hiding a squad of officers!

Too late. She saw Rong Hong step into Shanghai County territory, immediately surrounded by three to five officers, arms twisted behind his back.

Rong Hong cried in shock: “I’ve committed no crime!”

Someone reached out, yanking off his hat, revealing short hair beneath, and sneering some words.

Onlookers immediately swarmed.

Lin Yuchan was stunned, blood rushing to her head, ears roaring. The invitation crumpled in her grip.

Someone had lured Rong Hong into the county, apparently treating him as a rebel!

Rong Hong suddenly turned, forcefully waving at Lin Yuchan – meaning run!

Officers simultaneously noticed this young woman accompanying Rong Hong. Someone strode toward her.

Simultaneously shouting: “What’s your relationship to Rong Hong? Come here!”

Lin Yuchan stood in the concession, three steps from Qing territory. Watching the officer approach, one foot suspended mid-air, heart pounding with terror.