Lin Zhixia explained: “Hello, I’m here for a meeting today. I called in advance.”
The receptionist made a “please” gesture and even escorted Lin Zhixia to the elevator.
Lin Zhixia chatted with her briefly and deduced from her few words that the company’s operational status wasn’t good, with very few daily visitors. However, Jiang Yubai had never mentioned these matters to Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia could guess Jiang Yubai’s mindset. He only wanted to strategize for her, not take up her time. In just one short year, he had successfully built a startup company with fully functioning departments. Now, they already had multiple departments, including operations, customer service, marketing, and product development. Their first-generation product will launch this October.
At this critical juncture, Chai Yang’s sudden criticism and attacks caught Lin Zhixia off guard.
Lin Zhixia knew that Jiang Yubai had invested a lot of money and effort into “PTSIC Quantum Laboratory.”
Furthermore, almost all members of the startup team were Lin Zhixia’s friends and family.
If Chai Yang continued to disparage the “quantum computing” industry, the company’s reputation would be affected, putting Lin Zhixia’s friends and family at risk of public scrutiny.
Lin Zhixia would never allow this to happen.
She decided to confront Chai Yang head-on.
*
Despite his young age, Chai Yang had built his fortune from scratch and was hailed as a “post-90s entrepreneurial legend,” attracting extremely high attention from internet users. He had up to one million Weibo followers and a very active WeChat public account.
Shortly after the Morning Daily interview was published, Chai Yang posted a thought-provoking message on WeChat and Weibo: “Persist in doing what you believe is right, even if you have to pay a price.”
Under this Weibo post, the most popular comment was: “Brother Chai, the waters are deep, those who know understand. You’re too straightforward. The internet industry gets more impetuous year by year, and no one is willing to calm down and create things. You lost in the faction struggles at Jiangke Software, but in ten years, when you look back, today will be your victory.”
Another netizen said: “I’m somewhat of an industry insider! Quantum computing isn’t science! It’s a hyped-up gimmick! Only Brother Chai dares to say it! Fully support Brother Chai! Give me a like!!”
Chai Yang replied to this netizen with a “shush” emoji.
This action from Chai Yang provoked Lin Zhixia’s dissatisfaction.
What’s he shushing about?
Lin Zhixia never prevented him from speaking!
He was targeting “PTSIC Quantum Laboratory.”
The PR department of “PTSIC Quantum Laboratory” responded quickly—public relations emphasizes timeliness—they held an emergency meeting this morning, which Lin Zhixia attended. She gave an impassioned speech at this meeting and immediately presented a response plan.
After an intense discussion, everyone took a vote—Lin Zhixia’s plan stood out. She would write a PR article for the company.
The PR department manager was a sharp and capable young woman in her thirties. This manager said to Lin Zhixia: “Professor Lin, after you complete the draft, we’ll help polish it.”
Lin Zhixia picked up her laptop: “Okay, I can finish it quickly.”
The manager continued: “Chai Yang has gone live streaming. In the streaming industry, traffic comes first, face second.”
“Yes,” Lin Zhixia chatted with the manager while typing, “Chai Yang’s streaming website has just started and has no user base. He needs traffic now.”
The manager took out her phone: “I’ve added Chai Yang’s personal WeChat…”
Lin Zhixia took her phone and checked Chai Yang’s Moments.
Chai Yang had just posted an update yesterday—a group photo from a team gathering. Chai Yang stood in the center, and standing to his left was Nie Tianqing.
Judging from their body language, Chai Yang and Nie Tianqing must have a fairly intimate friendship.
What was this about?
Why would Nie Tianqing know Chai Yang?
Many questions arose in Lin Zhixia’s mind, but her typing speed only increased. She quickly completed a short PR statement, clarifying the company’s functions and project types, and also included some bold words: “PTSIC’s first-generation product will be released soon. We welcome all netizens to follow us and invite you to become ‘product inspectors.’ Your personal experience trumps all words.”
The PR department colleagues reviewed Lin Zhixia’s article repeatedly, praising her clear thinking and concise writing.
However, some expressed concerns: “Professor Lin, are you sure our company’s product can withstand public scrutiny?”
“I’m sure,” Lin Zhixia answered. “Don’t worry.”
*
Lin Zhixia reassured the PR department.
After the PR manager published the statement, Chai Yang reposted the original text on Weibo. He implied: “Time will prove everything.”
Lin Zhixia slightly frowned.
She could almost be certain that Chai Yang’s current reactions were all for creating buzz and traffic.
Lin Zhixia felt somewhat complicated. As she browsed through Chai Yang’s Weibo comments, she suddenly discovered an insult from a male netizen named “Qiuqiu Promotion and Raise”: “Attention-seeking clown.”
With some suspicion, Lin Zhixia clicked on this male netizen’s profile. After reading all his Weibo posts, she was one hundred percent certain of his identity and sent him a private message: “Is that you! Lin Zeqiu?”
He instantly replied: “Are you doxxing me?”
Lin Zhixia was stunned for a second, then immediately sent a voice message: “It’s me, brother.”
Lin Zeqiu typed a string of ellipses.
A moment later, he said, “Don’t mind Chai Yang, just focus on your work.”
Lin Zhixia said, “Okay, you too. Let’s work hard together.”
Given that Lin Zeqiu’s online name was “Qiuqiu Promotion and Raise,” Lin Zhixia changed her own Weibo name to “Xiaxia Blazing Trails.” In that moment, she realized something: “You quite like your nickname, don’t you? Qiuqiu, Qiuqiu?”
Lin Zeqiu seemed to vanish into thin air, never replying to her with a single word.
*
Meanwhile, in the “Quantum Programming” WeChat group Lin Zhixia had created, most group members were in unprecedentedly high spirits. Duan Qiyan even analyzed Chai Yang’s statement word by word, ultimately concluding: “Chai Yang is just a poser.”
Lin Zhixia didn’t discuss Chai Yang. She asked Duan Qiyan, “Have you secured your job?”
After completing his undergraduate studies, Duan Qiyan worked at a financial institution, but he didn’t adapt well to the finance industry environment. Combined with the high living pressure in Beijing, he simply resigned.
Carrying his luggage, Duan Qiyan returned to the provincial capital, coincidentally, when the Provincial No.1 High School was recruiting competition coaches with preferential treatment and housing solutions.
Without any hesitation, Duan Qiyan directly participated in Provincial No.1 High School’s recruitment fair. He originally thought that as a talented graduate from Peking University, he would stand out effortlessly, and the teachers at Provincial No.1 High School would beg him to stay and teach—however, he never imagined that the recruitment fair would be full of hidden talents, and Duan Qiyan’s competitors included mathematics master’s graduates from Tsinghua University.
The job market competition was truly getting increasingly fierce.
Duan Qiyan underwent three rounds of interviews—in the final round, he even met his high school homeroom teacher.
After the interview, the homeroom teacher chatted with him, asking about his classmates’ current situations. Duan Qiyan focused on introducing Lin Zhixia. The homeroom teacher nodded frequently but said, “Lin Zhixia is a good student, and you are a good student too. Everyone has their path. Don’t do anything against your conscience, and you’ll be successful.”
The recruitment results from Provincial No.1 High School had not yet been announced. Duan Qiyan recalled the homeroom teacher’s words again. A trace of sentiment welled up in his heart, so he contacted Jiang Yubai: “Are you free this weekend? Let’s get together?”
Jiang Yubai declined: “I have something important this weekend.”
Duan Qiyan asked: “What is it?”
Jiang Yubai briefly said, “Family matter.”
Duan Qiyan was quite smart. He guessed it: “Are you and Lin Zhixia getting married soon?”
Jiang Yubai gladly admitted: “We’re already engaged.”
Duan Qiyan immediately asked for advice: “How did you propose? Just say it directly?”
Jiang Yubai recalled his experience that night. He indeed hadn’t beaten around the bush and had directly proposed marriage to Lin Zhixia. So he described: “I spoke from my heart.”
Holding his phone, Duan Qiyan was deep in thought. He had been back in the provincial capital for two weeks, while Tang Tingting remained working in Beijing. Tang Tingting chatted with Duan Qiyan every day, either teasing him or making him laugh… He felt that he should also speak from his heart to her.
On an autumn night, with a clear moon and sparse stars, a cool breeze brushing against people, Duan Qiyan bought a bottle of erguotou downstairs. He sat on the tiles beside a flower bed, tilted his head back to down a large gulp of baijiu, and under the influence of alcohol, sent Tang Tingting a cheesy WeChat message: “You’re the only one who can make me wear capri pants in the middle of summer.”
Tang Tingting replied: “I’m doing this for your good. If I accidentally touch your thigh, you’ll complain for half a day.”
According to Duan Qiyan’s habit, he would likely have replied, “If you don’t touch me, there wouldn’t be so many issues,” but today, he asked: “Do you still want to touch my thigh?”
Tang Tingting didn’t respond for a long time.
Just as Duan Qiyan was preparing to finish a bottle of baijiu, Tang Tingting sent a long message: “I just spoke with Lin Zhixia. Next month, I’ll be joining the PTSIC Quantum Laboratory. I’ve quit my job in Beijing.”
She asked him: “Hey, do you understand?”
The night breeze was cooler than the alcohol, the streetlight shadows flickered momentarily, and Duan Qiyan felt dizzy, as if he had stayed up until four in the morning without sleeping. He answered: “What’s there not to understand?”
Tang Tingting sent him a smiley face.
He unprecedentedly mocked himself: “I’m holding you back. I’m a good-for-nothing who couldn’t stay in Beijing.”
Tang Tingting unusually showed him her gentle side: “How could a good-for-nothing get into Peking University? Don’t make me laugh. It’s not that you couldn’t stay, you’re just more suited to the provincial capital environment. Being a competition coach at Provincial No.1 High School is great—base salary over 200,000, plus housing allocation. Have some confidence, Primary School Attached to Normal University’s First Warrior? Besides, working at PTSIC with Lin Zhixia as my boss, I’m more than willing to work for her. I don’t think it’s bad at all.”
Tang Tingting also sent Duan Qiyan her chat records with Lin Zhixia.
In this chat record, Lin Zhixia excitedly said: “Are you coming to our company? You studied hardware and have work experience. Our company needs talents like you… That’s great! When are you coming back? I’ll pick you up.”
Duan Qiyan copied and pasted Lin Zhixia’s question: “That’s great! When are you coming back? I’ll pick you up.”
Tang Tingting said: “Damn, please don’t imitate Lin Zhixia’s way of speaking.”
Duan Qiyan inexplicably asked her: “Between Lin Zhixia and me, whom do you like more?”
Tang Tingting coldly replied: “You two aren’t comparable.”
Duan Qiyan sneered: “Fine, now that you’ve got me, you don’t cherish me anymore, is that it?”
Tang Tingting grew cold toward him: “If that’s what you think, I can’t help it. I need to hand over my work and still have overtime. Let’s not chat for now.”
Duan Qiyan, new to the field of love, suffered a miserable defeat. He suddenly felt somewhat envious of Jiang Yubai—look at Jiang Yubai, who had already established his relationship with Lin Zhixia and was now about to get married. When he started dating Lin Zhixia, he almost didn’t encounter any obstacles.
*
At this moment, Lin Zhixia sneezed.
She had just finished her shower and come out of the bathroom.
Jiang Yubai lifted a corner of the blanket: “Come quickly, don’t catch a cold.”
Lin Zhixia took a quick step, rushing toward him. She pounced into his arms, her hands clinging to his shoulders: “Just now, while you were working in the study, my mom sent me a text message.”
This weekend, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia’s parents would formally meet. Lin Zhixia revealed: “Mom asked me what gift she should bring for your parents. For their first meeting, she and Dad don’t want to come empty-handed.”