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Ying Jing was stunned by Chu Ning’s domineering gesture.
The two held hands for three seconds, the heat of her skin scorching him as if it might leave a burn. Ying Jing, feeling utterly defeated, broke out in a cold sweat all over his back.
Chu Ning sat back down calmly and continued to eat her hot pot without skipping a beat.
“So this meal is on you,” Ying Jing muttered, licking his lips with little confidence.
Chu Ning glanced at him. “Reason?”
“You’re the boss; you should take care of your employees.”
“If I’m the boss, then incentives can only be used where they’re appropriate.”
Ying Jing didn’t quite understand.
“If you create value for me, I’ll reward you accordingly.” Chu Ning blew on her kelp before eating it, not even sparing him a glance. “Right now, you’re not there yet.”
“I can do it!” Ying Jing protested fiercely. “I’ll prove it to you—I can make money for you!”
Chu Ning ate the kelp and said calmly, “You could raise your voice a bit more. You’d make a great cheerleader.”
Ying Jing clicked his tongue, feeling frustrated. “You really have no sense of humanity.”
“Does being humane make money? Get you a raise? Make us a Fortune 500 company?” Chu Ning retorted. “Then I’ll chat with you about feelings every day.”
Ying Jing turned red from her last three words. He quietly lowered his head, unscrewed the bottle cap, and poured himself a glass of cola, gulping it down in one go. Just as he was about to pour a second glass, he suddenly remembered what Chu Ning had said—cola kills sperm.
...Maybe he shouldn’t drink it after all.
The hot pot meal was thoroughly satisfying. When it came time to pay, Boss Xiaoqiang gave them a discount and threw in two cups of herbal jelly. “Eat this to cool down. Come again next time.”
As they walked a ways, Ying Jing kept muttering, “What a great businessman—kind and considerate. A boss like that is truly likable and thoughtful.”
Chu Ning ignored his pointed remarks.
At this hour, there were many students on the road—some in groups of three or four, others in couples. Even in the cold winter, the girls braved the chill, wearing short skirts that drew attention to their legs. Later, they ran into a few classmates—Zhang Yuan, the chubby class monitor, and two other girls, including Zhang Huaiyu.
Zhang Huaiyu was the first to wave. “Ying Jing, where are you headed?”
“I just finished eating hot pot. Where are you guys going?”
“To get hot bubble tea—a new store with a buy-two-get-one-free deal. Want to join?”
They chattered animatedly. Chu Ning didn’t wait for him and walked ahead alone.
“Well, I’ll catch up with you later,” Ying Jing called to his classmates, eager to say goodbye. “I’ll tell you some good news later. Oh, and here—” He handed the box of herbal jelly to Zhang Huaiyu. “Winter makes people prone to overheating. Don’t eat too much spicy food.”
Like a tractor revving up, Ying Jing dashed back toward Chu Ning.
Zhang Huaiyu stood there, pinching the box of jelly. “Honestly, who needs cooling down in the middle of winter?”
One of the other girls teased, “Stop talking nonsense. Hand it over to me.”
Zhang Huaiyu dodged. “Dream on.”
Their classmates burst into playful teasing: “Oh-ho-ho!!”
Ying Jing, walking farther away, heard faint laughter and glanced back. Chu Ning wore a fitted white wool coat today, the belt tied loosely around her waist. She wasn’t wearing heels but instead sported matte flats that accentuated her delicate feet.
With clarity, she asked, “Is she your girlfriend?”
Ying Jing shook his head violently, reacting strongly. “Not at all!”
Chu Ning said, “That girl likes you.”
“...” Ying Jing was speechless for a moment before scratching his fingers nervously. “I mean, I’m this good-looking—it’s normal for people to like me.”
Chu Ning wanted to roll her eyes at him.
Unfazed, Ying Jing quickly bounded ahead of her, restless as a monkey. As they walked, he felt something press against his backpack. He turned around. “What are you doing?”
Chu Ning’s hand moved off his backpack. Calmly, she said, “There was a leaf on it.”
This was at the mouth of the alley, where the cold wind howled through. Ying Jing, still in his sleeveless basketball uniform, stood unfazed, showing no sign of feeling the cold. Before parting ways, Chu Ning called out to him: “Within three days, revise the project proposal again. Include your research plan and timeline, and send me a summary. It doesn’t need to be overly detailed yet, but the framework must be clear.”
Ying Jing nodded. “No problem!”
His response was so crisp and confident that it seemed foolproof, but Chu Ning furrowed her brows slightly.
Her car was parked nearby. She nodded at Ying Jing as a farewell. Before driving off, she glanced out the window. Ying Jing was still standing in place, watching her leave. His exaggerated basketball outfit looked out of place in the cold season, but he genuinely didn’t seem to feel the cold—not a single shiver.
Chu Ning pulled her gaze away, thinking to herself: Truly, the epitome of youth.
Once the taillights of her car disappeared around the corner of the alley, Ying Jing immediately collapsed into a ball, hunching like a shrimp, hugging himself and trembling. “I can’t keep this up anymore—it’s too, too cold. I need to warm up… by the fire...”
Back at the dormitory, Ying Jing burst through the door like a runaway missile. Qi Yu jumped in surprise. “I thought the door got blown over by the wind!”
Ying Jing shrugged his bag off and tossed it onto the table with a whoosh . Then he opened the wardrobe, rummaged out a down jacket, and bundled himself up tightly. “Damn! I’m freezing to death! My body hair is about to fly off!”
Qi Yu was unfazed—he’d seen this act before. “You never learn until you catch a cold, huh?”
Ying Jing sniffled. “When I was a kid, my dad was strict. Every winter, he’d toss me into the guard unit in our compound. I had to train with them outdoors—even in snowstorms, I had to stand at attention for two hours without moving. My feet would go numb, and when the river froze over, we had to go winter swimming. If I refused, my dad would kick me into the water. That almost caused my mom to divorce him.”
Qi Yu was shocked. “Your dad was in the military?”
Ying Jing replied, “He managed troops.” Getting back to the point, he said excitedly, “Let me tell you something—our project from last time has a chance!”
After explaining the situation, Qi Yu was still processing. “Really? For real?”
“Of course it’s real!” Ying Jing declared triumphantly. “Now the aerospace design department will have nothing to say!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed two small white sticks poking out of the side pocket of his backpack. He was sure he hadn’t put anything like that in there. Pulling them out, he realized they were two rainbow lollipops.
Thinking back, it must have been when they were in the alley. Chu Ning had tapped his backpack, saying there was a leaf on it—but she’d actually slipped in two candies.
The colorful sweets spiraled in hypnotic circles. Ying Jing’s heart suddenly warmed. Holding one in each hand, he pressed them against his eyes and grinned at Qi Yu. “No classes Friday night—let’s gather everyone, and I’ll treat them!”
After a moment’s thought, he added, “Most importantly, we need to let the aerospace design department know that we’ve got investors backing us too!”
________________________________________
While Ying Jing was celebrating, things weren’t going smoothly for Chu Ning.
The next day, she announced her decision at a meeting, causing quite a stir. Ningjing Investments had been developing steadily for four years, and two years ago, they had sold 45% of the company’s shares to attract investment. Several influential partners were involved.
They weren’t optimistic about this venture.
“Our business model focuses on short-term efficiency. At most, within half a year, we need to see a predetermined return rate. This project falls under the aerospace industry—a field we’ve never touched before. We don’t understand it, lack channels, and there’s no clear profit template.”
Chu Ning explained, “This project was initiated by C-Hang, the top aviation university in the country. If anyone knows what they’re doing, it’s them. So I believe these aren’t issues.”
“But honestly,” one person said, “this aviation simulation modeling technology leaves me confused. What applications does it have?”
“Military and civilian aircraft, engines, onboard equipment—all of them.”
The head of the venture capital department chimed in: “But President Ning, we’ve never dealt with these fields before.” Even if the technology matures, where would we sell it?
One question after another arose. After patiently listening to everyone’s concerns, Chu Ning made her final statement. Sitting upright, hands folded on the table, she spoke calmly: “It’s good that everyone is thinking long-term. Yes, this project has many details to refine and factors to consider. But its direction and prospects are undoubtedly correct.”
She paused for two seconds, looking at each person in the room. “The government is already supporting the development of this system. I believe this industry presents excellent investment opportunities. I want the company to maintain stable profits, but I also want it to be forward-thinking. Additionally, there’s a misunderstanding I want to clarify. The end goal of this project isn’t to apply the technology to a specific field—it’s focused on technical research. Once the project matures and is fully established, we can collaborate with domestic defense contractors. Instead of selling products, we’ll sell technology.”
Chu Ning elaborated on her views, centering her argument around one word—”profit.” “There’s a chance of failure, but if we succeed, the rewards will be immense.”
After her speech, the conference room fell into a prolonged silence.
Everyone looked at one another, as if they had countless thoughts but didn’t know where to begin.
Chu Ning barely managed to control the room during this first battle.
After the meeting, Guan Yu, who was on a business trip, called. Chu Ning sank into her leather chair, massaging her temples to relieve fatigue. “Your information network is impressive.”
Guan Yu said, “You’ve created quite a tense situation today. I heard from Zhou Qin that Vice President Wang is pretty upset. Hey, Ning, making decisions without consulting others isn’t like you—did something happen?”
Chu Ning chuckled, tapping her foot on the ground as she turned her chair toward the floor-to-ceiling window. “A few days ago, I narrowly escaped death. Doesn’t that count as a big shock?”
Guan Yu sighed sympathetically. “I was scared out of my mind. But Ning, let me give you a heads-up—don’t let things get too strained with Vice President Wang. You’ll be working together long-term, and team alignment is crucial. Otherwise, you’ll have headaches.”
Chu Ning replied lightly, “Mm, I have it under control. By the way, you’re an original shareholder too. Any opinions? Speak freely.”
Guan Yu laughed. “How dare I have opinions? I throw the costs to you and just collect dividends every year. Where else can I find such an easy job?”
Chu Ning teased, half-serious: “What if we lose money?”
Guan Yu joked, “Then you’ll have to marry me as compensation.”
Chu Ning chuckled and spun her chair back, leaning back comfortably while massaging her neck. “You couldn’t handle me.”
Guan Yu asked, “Who’s participating in this project?”
“A student—from C-Hang.”
“Good heavens! Ning, you’re really bold!” Guan Yu exclaimed dramatically. “Going after students now?”
Chu Ning laughed at her exaggeration. “I’m not that adventurous.”
Having spent time abroad, Guan Yu had a relaxed attitude toward relationships. “Sister-brother romances are trendy these days—what about ‘puppy love’? Eh... Hello? Hello?”
Chu Ning ended the frivolous call.
She checked the time. It was the third day, and Ying Jing’s revised project proposal should have been sent to her by now. Yet, by the end of the workday, there was no response. She called him, and though the line connected, he didn’t pick up.
After dinner, she tried again. This time, Ying Jing answered, deliberately lowering his voice. “What is it? I’m in class right now; I’ll talk later.”
“...” Fine. Chu Ning acknowledged and hung up.
As soon as the call ended, Ying Jing exhaled deeply, releasing the phone he’d been covering with his hand. Shaking it to ease the tension, he felt the emptiness of lying wash over him. He re-entered the bar, where the deafening music pulsed through the air, stimulating emotions and drowning out guilt.
All residual unease vanished as Ying Jing relaxed, diving back into the dance floor.
Close friends from school had gathered. Class monitor Zhou Yuan guzzled beer enthusiastically. “It feels so good! We spread the news yesterday, and the design department’s faces turned black!”
Another chimed in, “Exactly! They think they’ve monopolized all the good opportunities? Thanks to Ying Jing, we finally got some respect!”
Ying Jing felt proud. In his mind, the first wave of satisfaction from Chu Ning’s investment was “revenge” and “payback.” This kind of vanity was external, direct, and numbing to discernment.
On the second-floor railing overlooking the bar, a group of young people were drinking and having fun. The bar owner, Little Liu, flitted around inviting friends. The bar had only been open for less than a month, and business was booming—it was packed every night.
Little Liu waved to a server. “Milk, add ice cubes.”
As he turned back, his gaze inadvertently fell on the dance floor below.
He had a good memory, especially for things related to close friends. Little Liu spotted Ying Jing and instantly recalled that he was the guy who had been with Chu Ning on the bar’s opening night.
Little Liu loved drama and was naturally excitable. After staring for a while, he stuck a cigarette in his mouth and dialed a number:
“Hello, Sister Ning.”
Over the next half hour, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively, and the crowd thickened.
Zhang Huaiyu leaned close to Ying Jing. She was wearing makeup today, her eye makeup particularly striking. Their classmates cheered wildly. Emboldened, Zhang Huaiyu naturally wrapped her arms around Ying Jing’s neck. Instinctively, Ying Jing tried to pull back, but the crowded dance floor offered no escape.
Someone shoved him, sending him stumbling forward and inevitably colliding with Zhang Huaiyu.
Whistles blew around them. “Give us a hug! A kiss!”
Ying Jing’s white T-shirt was soaked with sweat. Awkwardly, he clasped his hands behind his back, but Zhang Huaiyu clung to his neck, refusing to let go.
“You—you shouldn’t listen to them. Um, loosen your grip.”
“What?” Zhang Huaiyu’s drunken eyes blurred as she leaned her full weight on him, clearly enjoying herself.
Ying Jing had no choice but to lean closer to her ear and repeat himself.
From afar, the scene looked like an intimate couple whispering sweet nothings. Ying Jing struggled to shrug her off, but as he moved, his gaze suddenly landed on a figure in white at the entrance.
Recognizing her, a chill shot up his spine, freezing him in place.
Under the dazzling neon lights, Chu Ning stood calm and composed. Their eyes locked for several seconds, the vibrant colors of the club swirling around them.
She pointed at him, mouthing two words:
“Come here.”
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