Luo Ying’s demeanor was exceptionally gentle and elegant. Tang Tingting watched in admiration: “Senior has such a good temperament.” After a pause, she sighed: “Our Provincial University No. 1 has quite a few handsome guys and beautiful girls.”
At the mention of “handsome guys,” Duan Qiyan perked up a bit.
He abandoned his lofty ideological realm and completely devolved into a shallow person. At this moment, all he wanted was to hear Tang Tingting praise his appearance, saying things like “Duan Qiyan is a genuinely handsome guy” or “Duan Qiyan, your physique is amazing.”
So he deliberately asked: “Tang Tingting, who are the handsome guys and beautiful girls in our class?”
Tang Tingting burst into laughter and earnestly counted: “Lin Zhixia, Jiang Yubai, Shen Fuxuan… Cao Wu isn’t bad either. Do you remember Cao Wu? Our class sports representative, tall with a body full of muscle. Cao Wu went to Tongji University to study architecture. He told me that after graduation, he could only carry bricks at construction sites.”
Lin Zhixia laughed “hahaha” and said: “He’s so modest.”
Tang Tingting affectionately took Lin Zhixia’s arm: “Shen Fuxuan is even more modest.”
Lin Zhixia asked curiously: “How is Shen Fuxuan lately? Have you been in contact with him?”
Tang Tingting spoke without reservation: “Shen Fuxuan is determined to enter politics. You know, after completing his undergraduate degree, he passed the civil service exam, was assigned to work at the grassroots level, and has been grinding away for a year. I heard he’s about to be transferred back. He’s quite capable—our class produces outstanding people.”
“They’re all excellent,” Lin Zhixia concluded.
Tang Tingting said, “Yes, everyone’s doing well, but you have the highest academic credentials.”
As she spoke, she pushed her suitcase—it was too heavy, and her wrist ached. She couldn’t help letting out a “hiss.” Duan Qiyan promptly picked up her luggage and rolled up his sleeves. His arm muscles were firm with visible veins. Tang Tingting glanced at them twice and said with feigned casualness: “Not bad, you’ve been working out well.”
Duan Qiyan grabbed the chain of her purse and mumbled: “Why didn’t you mention me earlier?”
Tang Tingting understood that Duan Qiyan meant that when she was counting handsome guys, she hadn’t included his name. She held back her laughter for a moment, then leaned her head to his ear and whispered: “You look quite good, but you’re my significant other, so I can’t brag about you. I didn’t say I was a beauty either, think about it.”
Duan Qiyan savored a hint of sweetness.
He put extra effort into carrying the suitcase.
Tang Tingting continued: “It’s almost five in the afternoon, my parents will be getting off work. Come home with me and let my parents see you. My dad doesn’t believe I have a boyfriend. He always says I’m making it up.”
“Okay,” Lin Zhixia agreed on his behalf, “let your father see Duan Qiyan.”
Tang Tingting put her arm around Lin Zhixia’s shoulders: “Are you free this weekend? Bring Jiang Yubai, and let’s all have a meal together. You don’t know how much I missed you in Beijing.”
Lin Zhixia said without hesitation: “I missed you too.”
“What about me?” Luo Ying interjected.
Lin Zhixia glanced at her.
Outside the airport, vehicles crowded together, and the sound of suitcases being dragged came from near and far. Luo Ying touched Lin Zhixia’s sleeve, her five fingers stretched slightly, almost touching Lin Zhixia’s back. Lin Zhixia finally spoke: “Yes, I often think of you and Senior Wei Ruoxing.”
Luo Ying smiled without speaking.
—
The taxi sped along the wide road and quickly arrived at Tang Tingting’s home. Tang Tingting took Duan Qiyan’s wrist, and before leaving, she said goodbye to Lin Zhixia: “See you at the company next week!”
“See you next week!” Lin Zhixia responded enthusiastically.
Tang Tingting smiled: “At the company, should I call you Director Lin?”
Lin Zhixia honestly said, “Other colleagues call me Professor Lin.”
“Alright then,” Tang Tingting immediately said, “Talk to you later, Professor Lin.”
Lin Zhixia waved at her.
After Tang Tingting and Duan Qiyan left, the taxi suddenly became much quieter.
The driver was a taciturn middle-aged man, and Luo Ying didn’t speak much either. To liven up the atmosphere, Lin Zhixia took the initiative and asked: “Senior, it’s past six, would you like to have dinner?”
Luo Ying nodded: “I am a bit hungry.” She added: “My parents aren’t home. They’re on a business trip to Shanghai.”
Lin Zhixia took out her phone, browsed through reviews, and found a highly-rated restaurant. They got out of the taxi early and had dinner together at that restaurant. Luo Ying sat next to Lin Zhixia and said softly, “You’ve been back in China for over a year, published many papers, the company is running well, and students praise your teaching online… you’re good at everything.”
“Senior is even better,” Lin Zhixia responded. “Just like when we used to do group assignments, you’ve put a lot of effort into the quantum computing platform. I’m really happy that you’re willing to join the company as a full-time employee.”
The server brought a bottle of champagne.
Luo Ying extended her index and middle fingers, holding the bowl of the wine glass.
She swirled the glass, her nail touching the rim.
Her nails were trimmed round and neat, with a natural light pink sheen, reflecting the color of the wine in the glass, glistening slightly like pearls.
At this moment, Lin Zhixia saw the French words on the bottle—it was a bottle of strawberry champagne. She immediately became excited—who could resist the temptation of strawberries? She quickly poured herself half a glass, picked it up, and took two sips, exclaiming: “Such authentic strawberry wine.”
Luo Ying asked hesitantly: “Can you drink alcohol?”
“Yes,” Lin Zhixia assured her confidently, “I won’t get drunk.”
Luo Ying believed her.
She continued chatting with Lin Zhixia, who easily made her laugh. Whenever she laughed, her eyes sparkled like flowing water, the corners of her rosy lips curved into an arc, and even her platinum necklace seemed to shine brighter.
Under the influence of alcohol, Lin Zhixia seemed slightly intoxicated. She stared at Luo Ying, who asked her: “Am I pretty?”
Lin Zhixia blurted out: “You’re the most beautiful senior I know.”
They were in an elegant Western restaurant with a silver candle holder on the table. The candlelight danced restlessly, reflecting in Lin Zhixia’s eyes, as if two flames had fallen into a clear spring.
Luo Ying gazed at her, picking up her glass, her fingertips slowly brushing past the straw. Suddenly, Lin Zhixia’s phone rang—the screen displayed the caller as “Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai.”
Lin Zhixia pressed the answer button.
Jiang Yubai said concisely: “I just boarded the plane.”
“Mm,” Lin Zhixia replied, “I’ll… pick you up at ten tomorrow morning.”
Jiang Yubai responded keenly: “You’ve been drinking?”
Lin Zhixia truthfully narrated: “Just a little bit. I’m having dinner with Senior. Senior, to graduate quickly, hasn’t returned to China for a whole year, took no vacation, and joined our quantum technology company immediately upon return. She truly loves the quantum computing industry. Just now, Senior also told me that she especially enjoys working overtime, preferably working overtime with me every day. She doesn’t mind 996, and can even accept 007. I have to applaud Senior’s dedication.”
At the mention of “Senior,” Jiang Yubai paused. He tossed his document bag onto the seat, and his secretary stood nearby asking, “Director Jiang?”
The secretary bent down to help him pick up the document bag.
Jiang Yubai thanked his secretary.
He sat down in the soft seat of the plane and carefully considered Lin Zhixia’s words—the so-called “996” refers to “working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week.” And “007” is even more extreme, representing “working from midnight to midnight, seven days a week, non-stop.” Both overtime models would leave employees feeling exhausted.
As far as he knew, Luo Ying’s parents were well-known entrepreneurs in the provincial capital, and their company was operating well. Her ambition was not in business, with no commercial interests involved, so why would she propose working overtime?
Jiang Yubai looked out the window and responded calmly: “Your alcohol tolerance is too low. One sip and you’re drunk. I’ll call your brother to take you home. Go to bed early tonight and get some good rest. You don’t need to pick me up tomorrow. I’ll come to find you at your home.”
Lin Zhixia didn’t think too much about it. She agreed: “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
With that, she hung up the phone.
Luo Ying asked: “What did Jiang Yubai say?”
Lin Zhixia repeated Jiang Yubai’s instructions word for word.
Luo Ying did not comment.
Luo Ying and Lin Zhixia stayed in the restaurant for more than an hour before Lin Zeqiu appeared. Lin Zhixia still insisted—she and Lin Zeqiu first sent Luo Ying home, and only then did she leave with Lin Zeqiu from Luo Ying’s residence.
The night was deep, a thin mist whitened the moon. Lin Zeqiu held his sister’s hand and earnestly advised: “Next time, don’t drink outside… not even with your senior. You haven’t seen her for several years, the relationship isn’t close enough.”
Lin Zhixia asked puzzledly: “Why are you so guarded? Didn’t we grow up together?”
Lin Zeqiu remained silent.
Lin Zhixia yawned: “Brother, let me interview you. When girls approach you, do you immediately suspect they have ill intentions?”
Yes.
That’s right.
Lin Zhixia’s words hit the mark with Lin Zeqiu.
From a young age, Lin Zeqiu always felt that girls who liked him were only attracted to his appearance. In comparison, work was more practical—in the workplace, effort equals performance, and performance can be exchanged for bonuses that he deservedly earned.
He walked while deep in thought. Lin Zhixia called out to him: “Brother?”
Lin Zeqiu responded very coldly: “What’s the point of dating, I ask you?”
The leaves rustled, the night wind passed through the treetops, and he stepped on shattered moonlight. He continued: “It’s self-inflicted trouble.”
In the past, Lin Zhixia would have probably kept quiet.
But now, Lin Zhixia was unusually bold. She persisted in explaining: “That feeling is magical—your heart races, your brain becomes very clear, all drowsiness disappears… At first, I couldn’t adapt. At night, just thinking about Jiang Yubai would keep me awake, imagining meeting him the next day. When I’m with him, I feel both relaxed and tense, excited and happy. He always understands me, even though he doesn’t understand my research at all. Do you understand now?”
But Lin Zeqiu said, “Self-contradictory.”
Lin Zhixia didn’t argue further.
—
Those few sentences Lin Zhixia described left a deep impression on Lin Zeqiu—his attitude toward Jiang Yubai improved a little bit more. The next evening, when Jiang Yubai came to visit, Lin Zeqiu even personally opened the door for him.
Jiang Yubai entered with a bag of gifts.
Lin Zhixia ran to him: “You’ve worked hard, being away for a few days. Are you very tired?”
But Jiang Yubai said: “Not tired, working fourteen hours a day, resting ten hours…” he said softly: “I can handle it.”
Lin Zhixia hugged his arm: “You make people worry about you. Are you sleepy now? Go to my room and take a nap.”
And so, Jiang Yubai was led by Lin Zhixia into her bedroom, and she even locked the door. Of course, Lin Zeqiu couldn’t say anything about it.
Lin Zeqiu returned to his room and absent-mindedly watched a TV program. Coincidentally, his friend invited him out to watch a ball game, so he changed clothes and went out.
Jiang Yubai did indeed feel tired and drowsy—he had just returned from Europe and hadn’t adjusted to the time difference yet.
Jiang Yubai lay on Lin Zhixia’s bed. Lin Zhixia touched his face, and he turned his head to listen as she said: “My undergraduate and doctoral advisors, Senior Wei Ruoxing, and that mathematician friend from Russia—all four of them have agreed to be senior consultants for our company. My brother plans to apply for a transfer to work on the underlying framework technology at our company. Tang Tingting and Luo Ying have already joined the company, and Feng Yuan and Wen Qi will probably join next year. Their trust in me…”
“You deserve it,” Jiang Yubai’s voice gradually lowered, “walk forward bravely.”
Lin Zhixia thought he was about to fall asleep. She quietly lay down beside him, but he pulled her into his arms. He said, “Sleep with me for a while.”
Lin Zhixia obediently closed her eyes. Of course, she didn’t sleep. She was in a state of meditation, meticulously organizing her thoughts, reviewing years of exploration and research. She still had a bold quantum chip concept yet to be realized—as Jiang Yubai had said, she would walk forward bravely.