I entered the bedroom. Yu Shixuan lay on her side reading a novel, with only an old desk lamp on. The dim yellow light illuminated her face like a calendar model from my childhood.

“Didn’t eat dinner, aren’t you hungry?”

She didn’t even lift her eyelids, as if that copy of “Amitabha, Kiss Kiss” in her hands was deadly fascinating.

I crouched in front of her: “Cheng Xia said we need to produce another version of the proposal in a week. If you still want this project, we need to start now.”

She still didn’t speak.

I sighed: “I don’t want to urge you to persist or anything. Honestly, this doesn’t mean much to you.”

Her father had a name in the industry. Plus with her credentials and awards, she’d never have to worry about finding work.

And with several million in hand, even if she never worked again, she wouldn’t starve.

This was society’s margin of error for children from wealthy families, which was why they had the courage to reach for higher worlds.

“But if you want to start a company, you have to accept the client’s demands, along with their doubt and criticism. What Cheng Xia said today is child’s play. You need to know that no men in the workplace will indulge you—every one of them is your enemy.”

She finally reacted, frowning as she asked: “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“If you don’t have any special reason, there’s really no need to suffer like this. You’re not short on money.”

She interrupted me: “Ren Dongxue, do you think you’re especially great or something?”

She threw down the book in her hands, her beautiful eyes like an angry cat’s: “You’re the only one in the world who can endure hardship, the only one who can work! Then why are you stuck in a broken place? How do you know I don’t have a reason? It’s not your place to lecture me.”

…When she got fierce, she left no room for anyone, including herself.

Now, she was using the same fierceness she’d used jumping from the ninth floor—on me.

I sighed: “Of course it’s not my place to lecture you, but I need to tell you—I’ll help you.”

She didn’t react immediately, still maintaining that aggressive posture.

“As long as it’s something you truly want to do, I’ll definitely help you.” I said: “Don’t be afraid. No matter how difficult the client, I’ll be with you to handle them.”

She stared at me. Something like ice shattered, refracting rainbow colors.

But she immediately turned her head away, not letting me see her face, only muttering softly: “Who’s afraid! I’m not afraid at all!”

I didn’t hear clearly: “What did you say!”

“I said!” She recovered that haughty manner, saying roughly: “What’s there to eat tonight! I’m starving!”

Grandma had made her porridge that evening. I also stir-fried salted egg yolk pumpkin and shredded potatoes, deliberately adding extra vinegar to awaken her appetite.

The child was truly starved, eating with her head down. Her eating manner was still quite elegant though.

While she ate, I introduced Nanbei University’s situation: “Its predecessor was called Nanbei Railway Technical College, specially training technical workers. Later it upgraded to undergraduate. It’s a quality choice for attending university in the Northeast. After President Wu arrived, it upgraded to first-tier.”

“What does this have to do with architecture?” she said.

“Huge connection. First, it has its own history, and this history is very tightly integrated with our Northeast’s old industrial zone history. This isn’t reflected much in Cheng Xia’s design—this is your opportunity to innovate.”

I also showed her President Wu’s encyclopedia entry: “Second, you need to research President Wu. He’s the founder of Nanbei University’s entire campus culture. He was deeply influenced by his alma mater Peking University, so you need to research Peking University’s elements to design something that satisfies him.”

Yu Shixuan looked at me askance: “How come you seem to understand architecture quite well?”

“I understand clients.”

After eating, Yu Shixuan revived with full energy, returning to her room to start high-energy work mode.

I was finally at ease and could play with my phone.

Only then did I realize that two hours ago, Zhou Ting had sent me a WeChat message saying he’d arrived. An hour later, he’d sent a picture of scallion-roasted lamb leg, saying: “Whenever you have time, I’ll come help you make it.”

I thought for a long time before replying: “No need.”

The other side almost immediately showed “typing…” but didn’t send a message for a while.

So I sent another: “My cooking skills are pretty good. Come to my place on Sunday, I’ll make you authentic Inner Mongolian roasted lamb leg.”

The “typing…” stopped. He sent an OK emoji.

Then sent many more topics: “When did you learn to cook?”

“Have time to try my family’s restaurant?”

“What do you like to eat now, still spicy hot pot?”

Yu Shixuan had asked me before. She’d said: “Have you really decided to pursue things with Zhou Ting? Dull and slow-witted, he won’t have any great development.”

I said: “I don’t have much choice either.”

Zhou Ting was already the best one on my blind date journey.

“That Ba Te from Wuleji Village has some interest in you. You just never engaged.”

“Not in the same place, not suitable. Plus he’s a, how to say, idealist? I’m too worldly. Our personalities don’t match either.”

There was another reason I didn’t mention—he managed rural land development. Maybe he’d be useful in the future. Rashly dating and souring the relationship wouldn’t be worth it.

Yu Shixuan rolled her eyes. She said: “You and Cheng Xia didn’t have half a point of compatibility either. How come I didn’t see you weighing pros and cons then?”

“That’s different.”

“It’s all dating. What’s different?”

Right, what was different? I thought—why was Cheng Xia different?

That week, I worked during the day trying to finish everything, then charged home like a sharp sword at exactly six o’clock. At night I’d discuss things with Yu Shixuan until dawn.

She had a small team, but they were all in the south. I joined remote meetings, helping think of ideas, staying up until early morning every day.

This familiar life rhythm made me feel especially grounded. Every day after finishing work, I could fall asleep the second I lay in bed.

Zhou Ting had become a regular at my house. Knowing I was busy, he often brought stewed bird’s nest porridge and soup to see me. Our dates were just in Grandma’s vegetable garden. Winter was too cold—we’d clear snow and sweep fallen leaves together, then sit there chatting while drinking hot coffee.

He still spoke very little, mainly listening to me ramble. Whatever I said, he’d listen seriously, occasionally laughing himself into fits, tumbling to the ground, as if I were the most humorous person in the world.

Sunlight shone on his clean forehead, refracting rainbow colors.

A week passed quickly. The presentation was the next day.

That night, Yu Shixuan didn’t stay up late. She said: “This is my habit. The night before big exams I sleep early, because cramming won’t help—you just get more panicked.”

I said: “Aren’t you afraid of any oversights?”

She shrugged: “I always do well on exams.”

After saying this, she closed her computer and went to bed.

Instead, I tossed and turned.

Although I didn’t want to partner with Yu Shixuan to start a company,

I really hoped we could win this project.

First, after a week of repeated polishing, I’d convinced even myself—our proposal truly was the most excellent and meaningful.

I felt it deserved recognition.

Second, this was extraordinarily significant for Yu Shixuan. In her original world, she’d always been a winner. If she didn’t venture out, she’d remain a winner.

But now, this was the first step in independently building her own world, without “daddy” or “boyfriend.”

If she lost, she’d shrink back into her own world, maybe find a new Chi Na—which would be terrible for her.

I faced away from Yu Shixuan, unable to sleep, thinking about what else I could do.

Just then, Yu Shixuan suddenly gently embraced me. That sweet, fresh scent enveloped me.

“I’ll win,” her voice was like sleep-talking. “I have an extremely powerful reason. I don’t want to separate from you, to grow distant… so I must start this company.”

Her voice gradually weakened, becoming even breathing.

I processed this before understanding her meaning.

She didn’t come to partner with me because she wanted to start a company.

She wanted to start a company because she wanted to be with me.

My heart softened completely. How could there be such a child!

So foolish, so willful

…And so heart-meltingly tender.

I couldn’t sleep anyway.

After Yu Shixuan fell asleep, I quietly got up to check tomorrow’s PowerPoint, looking for places President Wu and others might question.

Suddenly, I saw something.

A tremendous fear gripped me like ghostly hands.

Here—there was an error.

And if there was an error here, the entire draft would be ruined…

I stared at it many times until my eyes were sore and tears flowed.

I wanted to wake Yu Shixuan immediately, but with less than five hours until the meeting, even waking her wouldn’t allow time to fix it.

The sky had already begun to show pale light. After hesitating a long time, I called Cheng Xia.

From staying up late, my voice was dry to the point of hoarseness: “I have something I want to tell you.”

Cheng Xia’s voice carried hazy drowsiness, but was still very gentle. He said: “I’ll come find you.”