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The shock was comparable to seeing a ghost!
Ying Jing’s heart raced, his back chilled, and cold sweat trickled down his waist. Everyone tells a few lies growing up, but never had his heart rate spiked to 280 beats per minute like now.
During these frozen seconds, Chu Ning had already turned to leave.
Instinctively, Ying Jing stepped forward to chase after her. Like a fish swimming against the current, he pushed through layers of people. Finally reaching her, he didn’t dare to get too close. Thus, they maintained an odd scene—
When Chu Ning sped up, Ying Jing followed suit.
When she slowed down, he mirrored her pace.
They kept a consistent half-meter distance between them.
“Damn! Are you racewalking?!” Little Liu laughed so hard he nearly collapsed, sneaking over to tease, “Sister Ning, need me to arrange something? What room theme do you fancy? Spicy Hawaii or Frozen Desire Inferno?”
Chu Ning shot him a glance, “Buzz off.”
“So you’re into this kind of thing,” Little Liu poked himself, sighing dramatically, “Do I still stand a chance?”
“Yeah, our company happens to be short on suckers.”
Not indulging in banter, Chu Ning turned to Ying Jing, “You, come out with me.”
Leading him out of the bar, she stopped at the entrance and fixed her gaze on him, “Where’s the project proposal?”
Ying Jing, feeling guilty, hid his hands behind his back and took a small step back.
Chu Ning advanced a large step, “Oh right, I forgot you’re in the middle of an exam.” Her tone was leisurely and disdainful, “So, how far along are you in your seduction techniques?”
Already burdened with guilt for being caught, her veiled lecture only fueled his frustration.
Ying Jing blurted out impulsively, “Why are you always so pushy?”
“Hmph, am I the one at fault here?” Chu Ning cut straight to the chase, “What you promised me, you need to follow through on.”
Ying Jing hesitated, her words slicing like flying daggers, his neck flushing red.
“I’m not playing games with you,” Chu Ning reminded him, “What I’ve invested is real money, a quarter or even half a year’s investment cost for a company. You need to understand what ‘Party A and Party B’ entails. If necessary, I can have my secretary arrange two free legal education sessions for you.”
At this point, could he salvage any dignity?
Under immense pressure, Ying Jing bravely met her gaze, lifting his chin defiantly—
“We haven’t signed a contract yet!”
This half-sentence was a stubborn show of defiance, while the latter half was a muttered emotional vent, “You can’t treat me like labor. We should respect each other, right? You’re so difficult to deal with; it’ll be troublesome later on.”
On principle, Chu Ning no longer wasted words with him.
“Fine, I won’t force you.”
With those four words, she left without another glance.
“...” Now it was Ying Jing’s turn to be dumbfounded.
Even her departing figure was crisp and decisive, accompanied by neon lights and chilly winds as she stepped into the night, her long hair rippling behind her ears like concentric circles.
She didn’t look back.
Returning to the bar, Ying Jing slumped lifelessly onto the sofa.
“Xiao Jing, come dance! This track is awesome!” friends called out.
Unenthusiastic, he waved them off, “I’ll rest for a bit. You guys go ahead.”
Qi Yu, who had been helping his girlfriend Gu Jinjin sell drinks, finally had time to approach, nudging his shoe tip, “Tired already? That’s not like you.”
“What do you mean by ‘like me’?” Ying Jing slouched on the sofa.
“Definitely not like this stagnant pond.”
“Tch.” Ying Jing found everything utterly tasteless.
After dispersing at around eleven, Zhou Yuan hailed a Didi ride. Ying Jing sighed at him, “Can’t you hail another car?!”
“No cabs available in this prime location—too many people, too few cars.” The chubby class monitor smirked, “Five of us can squeeze in.”
Their little schemes held no surprises.
Zhang Huaiyu was thoroughly intoxicated tonight, having drunk two small beers, bold and dizzy. Two girls sat by the window, and the group forcibly shoved Ying Jing inside. The backseat was cramped, and despite trying to avoid contact, Ying Jing squirmed and called out, “I’ll get out and call another cab. You guys go ahead.”
Bang! Another classmate squeezed in, and the door shut tightly.
“...” Ying Jing’s hand brushed the car roof, but Zhang Huaiyu still leaned towards him unintentionally.
It felt uncomfortable.
Awkward.
Unable to bear it, Ying Jing nudged the girl next to him, “Move her over a bit.”
The girl lazily tugged Zhang Huaiyu’s arm, giving up with an expression of helplessness, “You’re more attractive.”
Laughter filled the car.
Ying Jing couldn’t endure it anymore, using his strength to pry Zhang Huaiyu away and pushing her to the side.
Zhang Huaiyu froze.
Even the gentlest touch from a man felt brutal to a woman. Seeing her teary eyes, Ying Jing was stunned.
“Sorry,” he immediately apologized, clasping his hands together in apology, “I controlled my strength, did I hurt you? Driver, please stop. Don’t crowd you all, I’ll call another cab.”
Ying Jing insisted on getting out, and just as he closed the door, Zhang Huaiyu burst into tears.
Half an hour later, back at the dormitory, several close friends cornered him on a chair for interrogation: “Comrade Xiao Jing, your behavior today was unmanly!”
“Yes, Zhang Huaiyu is a girl; you need to be gentler.”
Ying Jing hadn’t recovered from his gloominess, and now faced another round of criticism, which only added to his frustration. He kicked the stool, “What’s wrong with you all? Why don’t you become matchmakers?”
“Do you really not know that Zhang Huaiyu likes you?”
Ying Jing was speechless, “Why should I know?”
“Tch!”
“Tch your head.” Ying Jing straightened his back, clearly stating his thoughts, “A bunch of busybodies. Regardless of whether it’s true or not, if a girl doesn’t explicitly say it, I’ll pretend I know nothing. Maintain distance, don’t give her ideas.”
“What if she confesses to you?”
“That’s different.” Ying Jing tapped the table, “People might not mean anything, but your instigations make things awkward! Stop meddling, alright?!”
The chubby class monitor exclaimed, “Xiao Jing, we haven’t seen you date anyone in college. How do you talk like an expert?”
“Even if I haven’t eaten pork, I’ve seen pigs run.” Ying Jing said, “My sister always makes me watch Korean dramas with her. All those tragic love stories boil down to the same thing.”
No ambiguity, no hurting anyone’s pride.
Seeing through but not exposing, striving to maintain peace on both sides.
This was Ying Jing’s most straightforward thought within his meager understanding of relationships.
Finally, he reminded everyone, “It’s fine for me as a guy, but girls are sensitive about their pride. Don’t stir the waters; it affects them badly.”
At this moment, Ying Jing suddenly thought of Chu Ning tonight.
Her actions were like a steel warrior, but her resolute and strong departing figure… would she be sensitive?
All night, Ying Jing drifted around like a ghost, washing up and going to bed, tossing and turning like a caterpillar.
He buried his head under the blanket, sighing! It seemed like he’d made another mistake.
________________________________________
Chu Ning worked nonstop throughout the day.
The first payment for the VR goggles order from Jinmu North City had already been transferred. Their business manager communicated progress with her and selected three manufacturers for Chu Ning’s review. They were located in three different cities, both north and south. The Jinmu North City business manager detailed the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Chu Ning was fairly satisfied with their cooperative attitude, adopting a harmonious stance, she was generous, “You have experience in this area. For specific production, you make the decisions.”
“Thank you, President Ning,” the business manager said, “If production goes smoothly, the first batch will be ready by early next month.”
After the discussion, she attended two more meetings in the afternoon before finally dispersing after work.
The employees finally regained their energy, enthusiastically discussing:
“A new Hunan restaurant opened downstairs. Let’s order via Meituan, it’s quite a bargain.”
The fresh and lively faces of the young employees were full of energy, built on a foundation of hard work and dedication. Though occasionally weary from their efforts, every step they took was grounded in reality. With dreams and determination, this was the most beautiful essence of human life.
Before leaving, Zhou Qin knocked on Chu Ning’s office door. “President Ning, aren’t you leaving yet? We’re going to eat Hunan cuisine tonight—would you like to join us?”
Chu Ning smiled faintly. “Thank you, but go ahead and enjoy yourselves. I still have some work to finish.”
Zhou Qin nodded. “Alright, President Ning, see you!”
Ten minutes later, the office fell into silence.
The once bustling workspace slowly calmed as the residual heat from the computers faded. Chu Ning had just finished reviewing the next quarter’s work plan when night had fully settled. She glanced at her watch—it was already 8 PM. Preparing to get up and pour herself a glass of water, she suddenly heard—
Bang! A strange noise came from outside her office.
Chu Ning slowed her movements and turned toward the door. Silence followed.
She walked over, her hand gripping her cup like a makeshift weapon. “Who’s there?”
No response.
Summoning her courage, Chu Ning yanked the door open—
Ying Jing let out a startled shout. “You scared me to death!” He clutched his chest. “Why did you open the door so suddenly?!”
“...” Chu Ning quickly suppressed her earlier tension. She hadn’t expected it to be him. Frowning, she asked, “What are you sneaking around here for?”
Ying Jing corrected her. “I wasn’t sneaking—I just hadn’t had time to knock yet!”
Well, he always had a way of making excuses. Chu Ning didn’t bother arguing further; it was his style.
Seeing her displeased expression, Ying Jing inexplicably grew nervous. Straightening up, he blurted out, “I came to apologize. I’m sorry.”
Chu Ning paused, looking at him.
Under her gaze, Ying Jing grew flustered. His eyes darted left. “...Last night was my fault. I shouldn’t have lied about being in an exam.”
Then his eyes shifted right. “You wanted to invest, everyone was happy, so I invited them to celebrate at the bar. That’s all. I didn’t mean any harm. Sorry—I was wrong.”
Chu Ning asked, “Where exactly did you go wrong?”
Ying Jing hesitated. “I shouldn’t have betrayed your trust.”
The term felt heavy. Chu Ning retorted bluntly, “Did you memorize that apology before coming here?”
Ying Jing flushed with embarrassment, unsure whether to defend himself or admit guilt. He stood awkwardly, his fair complexion reddened by the office’s warm air. Today, he wasn’t dressed in anything outlandish—a short black down jacket over a blue-gray plaid shirt, neatly pressed collar, prominent Adam’s apple. Quite pleasing to the eye.
Chu Ning sighed, stepping aside. “Come in.”
Her office wasn’t large but was clean, comfortable, and tastefully decorated. Every item was carefully chosen—reflecting her refined taste.
“Sit,” Chu Ning said, moving behind her desk. They faced each other.
A brief silence.
“I’m not angry because you lied. Your reasons were valid, understandable, and acceptable,” Chu Ning began. “But before playing, you should have considered that you still had unfinished tasks. You could’ve told me beforehand if you needed more time. I would’ve agreed.”
Ying Jing gradually lowered his head.
“This is only the beginning. We have a long road ahead. I provide the funding, and you put in the effort—we’re both contributing. I’m open to communication, willing to cooperate and adjust as much as possible. But my bottom line is clear: no敷衍or deceit.”
Her words were firm yet softened by the twilight filtering through the windows. The fading light bathed her figure, giving her an ethereal glow. Her posture was gentle, her expression serene. Ying Jing stared at her for a long moment, unconsciously digging his nails into his palm before shifting his gaze away.
No further explanation was needed.
Chu Ning knew he was intelligent. Inexperience was his weakness, but his sincerity made up for it.
His roots were good.
“Do you have anything else to say?” Chu Ning asked perfunctorily.
“Gurgle—” An inappropriate sound suddenly broke the atmosphere.
“...”
“...”
Ying Jing grinned sheepishly at her. “Can we eat first? Let’s talk while eating.”
His bright, glistening eyes resembled those of a begging puppy. Chu Ning held his gaze for three seconds before breaking into a smile.
The tension dissolved completely.
Chu Ning ordered takeout—three dishes and a soup. When the restaurant confirmed the order, they asked, “Would you like to add anything else?”
“No, thank you.” Just before hanging up, she added, “Wait—four extra bowls of rice, please.”
This meal was thoroughly satisfying for Ying Jing. Chu Ning ate only half a bowl before setting her chopsticks down, watching him with amusement.
Ying Jing didn’t feel self-conscious. Between bites, he asked, “Is watching me eat enjoyable?”
“Hmm?”
“My eating manners are good, my appetite is hearty, and I’m not picky. Look—I don’t waste a single grain of rice.”
Chu Ning’s lips curved slightly as she nodded. “Mm.”
When he was nearly done, she pulled a folder from her drawer. “Here’s the contract. Take a look. If everything’s fine, sign it.”
Ying Jing flipped through it. “Is this... okay?”
Chu Ning replied, “From my side, there are no issues.”
“Okay!” Ying Jing uncapped his pen and swiftly signed his name on the last page.
After he finished, Chu Ning spoke calmly. “You didn’t even read it before signing?”
“What else was I supposed to do? Didn’t you say there were no issues?”
“The second clause, article eighteen—this is a twenty-year binding contract.”
“...” Ying Jing’s eyes widened. “Shit!!”
He hurriedly flipped back through the pages, searching... but couldn’t find any such clause.
Ying Jing scratched the desk nervously. “You tricked me.”
Chu Ning chuckled. “If you keep being so careless, you’ll end up sold and still counting someone else’s money. Always be cautious when signing anything—it’s never a bad idea.”
Ying Jing nodded. “Got it, Teacher Ning. You’re like one of Beijing’s top ten special-grade teachers.”
What nonsense.
It was getting late. Chu Ning rose to leave. Ying Jing quickly offered, “Let me walk you out.”
“No need—I’m driving.” Chu Ning shut down her computer, picked up her bag and scarf, her heels clicking crisply against the floor.
“Even if you’re driving, I’ll still see you off.” Ying Jing hovered around her like a shadow, darting left and right. Outside, he rushed to press the elevator button, holding the door open with a polite gesture. “After you.”
Chu Ning’s expression softened slightly. “Why do you want to see me off?”
He answered matter-of-factly, “Because you’re a woman!”
Chu Ning instinctively suspected this was just an excuse to hitch a ride, but she couldn’t help feeling a slight warmth in her heart.
In the car, they approached a red light at a fork in the road. Ying Jing suddenly said, “Isn’t this the way to our school?”
Chu Ning hummed in acknowledgment. “Don’t tell me you want me to drop you off?”
“Tsk!” Ying Jing hastily defended himself. “That’s a misunderstanding!”
Chu Ning remained calm. “Wanna play the gentleman?”
“I am a gentleman.”
As Chu Ning smiled, neon lights spilled through the window, softening her features. Her usually sharp lips appeared gentler under the glow.
Indulging him, she changed lanes, heading back toward the city center.
Ying Jing glanced at her residential complex—it was quite upscale. After he got out of the car, Chu Ning asked, “How will you get back?”
“I’ll be fine—I can take the subway.” Ying Jing waved through the car window. “Rest early. Bye!”
Chu Ning nodded, about to press the accelerator.
“Wait—” Ying Jing called out, his expression turning serious. Raising his right hand toward the night sky, he declared, “I promise never to lie to you again or ignore your calls. I swear.”
Their eyes met for several seconds. This time, he didn’t shy away from her gaze, allowing her to scrutinize him fully.
Chu Ning gave a small nod. “Alright.”
With that, they parted ways. Her white Audi continued to the parking lot, turning twice before reaching her spot. As she shifted gears to reverse, her movement paused. Glancing at her watch, she realized—the subway wouldn’t be running at this hour.
Chu Ning frowned, lowering her gaze.
________________________________________
Winter nights in Beijing carried a biting chill.
Ying Jing shoved his hands into his pockets, but the cold still seeped through. He walked a few steps, glancing back at the road. Damn it—no taxis in sight.
So cold!
He silently vowed to wear thermal pants as soon as he got home.
Headlights flashed in the distance. Thinking it was a taxi, Ying Jing prepared to wave—but then he recognized the car. It looked familiar.
The car stopped. Inside, the driver seemed to be having an internal debate. After a while, the window rolled down.
Chu Ning looked mildly exasperated but kept her tone even. Looking at Ying Jing, she said, “Get in.”
Exclamation marks practically exploded above Ying Jing’s head!!
“Why are you back? Get in? What for?” Finally realizing, he gasped, staring at her as if she were a creature from another world. “...Are you personally driving me back to school?”
At this point, could he even refuse?
He had escorted her home, and now she had come back to drive him.
Chu Ning endured the boy’s chatter and astonishment, mentally rolling her eyes—
One neurotic man isn’t enough; why am I putting myself through this madness? Am I sick?
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