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Chu Ning let go of Zhao Mingchuan’s hand, intending to say thank you, but seeing his sour face, she no longer felt grateful.
Over there, Ying Jing had walked off like a piece of wood.
He looked back three times with every step, and even after getting into the car, he didn’t receive a glance from Chu Ning.
Zhao Mingchuan strode forward, not caring that her leg was hurting from the fall and she couldn’t walk fast. He opened the car door and got in.
Chu Ning slowly made her way to the car, reaching for the front passenger seat, then hesitated for half a second, deciding to go around to the backseat.
She pulled the rear door twice... it wouldn’t open.
Zhao Mingchuan had locked it.
Fine, she must have offended this ancestor again somehow.
The front passenger door opened easily, so Chu Ning sat down and fastened her seatbelt, asking, “Where do you want to go?”
He didn’t speak.
Chu Ning suggested, “Somewhere close, turn right and go straight for five hundred meters, there’s a noodle shop; the taste is decent. If you don’t want a late-night snack, then...”
Halfway through her sentence, Zhao Mingchuan turned the steering wheel.
Chu Ning stopped talking.
This noodle shop was one Chu Ning frequented. She loved noodles, especially the clear broth pork rib noodles here. Seeing how familiar she was with the boss, who greeted her enthusiastically, Zhao Mingchuan glanced a couple of times and surveyed the shop. The decor was old, the tables and chairs greasy, and the hygiene conditions quite worrisome.
“Is this the kind of life you usually lead?” he remarked coldly.
Chu Ning was used to his sarcasm; ignoring him was the right approach.
The pork rib noodles arrived. There were no disposable chopsticks here, only reusable bamboo ones that were disinfected.
Zhao Mingchuan had a phobia and didn’t touch them at all.
Chu Ning didn’t say anything, just asked for a cup of hot water, dipped the chopsticks in it for over ten seconds, and handed them to him.
“Just bear with it, it won’t kill you.”
Zhao Mingchuan accepted them. Seeing her eating happily, he decided not to fuss anymore.
After she ate a few bites comfortably, he coldly said:
“Have you learned your lesson about Xu Youshan?”
Chu Ning didn’t raise her head, vaguely responding, “Mm.”
Not arguing with him, this submissive attitude pleased Zhao Mingchuan, and his tone improved somewhat.
“When you first interacted with him, I warned you. You argued with me, defiant, waving your claws sharper than anyone else. Alright, let you have your way.” Zhao Mingchuan was arrogant from a young age, and Chu Ning hadn’t spared him any trouble. They clashed sharply, each conversation ending in bloodshed.
This time, however, Chu Ning only glanced at him, then lowered her head to eat her noodles, “Mm, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“...”
This docility rendered Zhao Mingchuan speechless as if he’d been fed a dumb pill.
Chu Ning pointed to his bowl, “Aren’t you going to eat? It’ll be less tasty when it gets cold.”
Zhao Mingchuan’s eyes were sharp, not missing any of her expressions.
Chu Ning gave him a radiant smile, “If you’re not eating, don’t waste it.” Then she reached across the table to take his noodles.
Zhao Mingchuan extended his chopsticks and sharply tapped her hand.
“Ow!!” Chu Ning cried out in pain, “What are you doing?! Is this how you act as a brother?! That hurts!”
This unintentional show of weakness softened Zhao Mingchuan’s expression.
“My things, you dare to touch.” He stirred the soup twice, lowering himself, and surprisingly started eating as well.
Chu Ning watched him silently. From her bag, she took out a cigarette, glanced around the shop—no other customers—and lit up.
With a puff, the smoke was thin like clouds. She set down the lighter.
Zhao Mingchuan glanced at her, “Put it out.”
Chu Ning’s gaze remained indifferent, the cigarette clutched between her fingers, making no move.
Zhao Mingchuan leaned over the table without gentleness, plucked the cigarette from her, pressed it on the tabletop, and tossed it into the trash can by his feet.
“You’ve picked up bad habits. Are you even a woman? Not a single part of you is likable to men.”
After he spoke, both fell silent.
Zhao Mingchuan uncomfortably turned his face, ignoring the awkward atmosphere.
Chu Ning stayed calm, poured him a glass of water, and pushed it over.
Zhao Mingchuan finally said, “Xu Youshan isn’t some naive fool. By ruining his plans and causing him to lose money, he won’t let you off easy.”
Chu Ning scoffed, “He acted shamelessly first. What, now it’s my turn to be careful?”
Zhao Mingchuan: “I warned you initially; such people shouldn’t be associated with from the beginning. Once on the same path, you need to believe in this curse—you’ve been in this circle for so many years, how come you haven’t improved?”
The shop was filled with the aroma of noodles, and a few more customers came in, gradually making the place lively.
Chu Ning withdrew her gaze, asking, “Did you come to see me tonight just to remind me of this?”
Zhao Mingchuan flicked his sleeve and stood up, “You aren’t worthy of this level. Remember this: your every word and action also represent the face of the Zhao family. If something goes wrong, don’t come begging me to clean up the mess.”
Chu Ning sat quietly in her chair, like a small mushroom.
Zhao Mingchuan’s harsh words didn’t last long. After a silence, he eventually compromised, telling her, “This aftermath, I’ll resolve for you. Don’t let it happen again.”
Chu Ning raised her head, her eyes innocent.
After a few seconds of eye contact, Zhao Mingchuan suddenly sneered.
He sat back down, pushed his chair back a bit, and leisurely crossed his legs. He watched her, piercing through her facade, giving no quarter.
“Chu Ning, can you stop pulling these opportunistic tricks?”
Chu Ning abruptly stiffened, her gaze alert, like a hedgehog retrieving its armor.
Zhao Mingchuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his innate confidence bordering on arrogance, “Yes, this is your true self—disliking me, disapproving of me, maybe even cursing me in your heart.”
“In fact, you already know that tearing this order apart means Xu Youshan won’t let you off easy. You’re troubled by this matter but have no better solution. When I come to you, you know I have the ability to tidy up this mess. So all night, you’ve been showing weakness to me, obedient in every way, every glance, every gesture, flattering my temper.”
Seeing her face gradually pale, Zhao Mingchuan’s tone became even more disdainful.
He continued, “You dare not defy me because you clearly know what’s most important right now.”
Chu Ning’s right hand resting on the table unconsciously tightened.
She remained silent.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Mingchuan eventually softened his tone, “You, woman, are very smart, but too smart. Going against it will trip you up on the word ‘smart.’“
Chu Ning felt waves of unease in her heart, her lips tightly closed, already feeling quite unhappy.
Zhao Mingchuan said, “When I talk sense to you, you don’t use your brain. When I kindly warn you, you insist on acting emotionally. You only dare to be defiant in front of me because you know, no matter how much I dislike you, for the public image of the Zhao family, I won’t truly break ties with you.”
If something really happens, he would still pull her out.
Chu Ning understood this very well.
Zhao Mingchuan’s words weren’t pleasant, but they held truth.
“As a woman, being a bit more sincere won’t hurt. Don’t bring that work mindset into your personal life. Acting this way, others won’t treat you sincerely either.”
Zhao Mingchuan effortlessly exposed the flaws on her person.
With nothing more to say, he called the boss to settle the bill.
Throughout the process, Chu Ning didn’t move, staring at a certain spot on the table, seemingly focused, but her eyes had already wandered.
Zhao Mingchuan walked a few steps ahead, turned his head, “Still not leaving?”
Chu Ning lowered her eyes. Perhaps due to speaking rarely, her voice sounded hoarse. She mumbled, shaking her head, “...my leg hurts.”
Zhao Mingchuan remembered her fall earlier and didn’t inquire whether it was real pain or an excuse.
He returned to her side, not looking at her, directly lifting her up.
It wasn’t until they exited the noodle shop that his hands let go.
On the way back, Chu Ning stared out the window, a stark contrast to her usual sharpness, appearing quite vulnerable at this moment.
Zhao Mingchuan’s words tonight were rather heavy, but it didn’t matter. Her heart had hardened over many years; a few jabs wouldn’t make a difference. Outside, the neon lights were scattered by the wind, casting fragmented shadows on her face.
“For a woman, being a bit more sincere won’t hurt.”
Chu Ning pondered this statement. Speaking of sincerity, she immediately thought of Ying Jing.
Having known him for several months, his impression was deeper than any passerby in her life. He lacked method in his actions, immature as a big boy, prone to throwing tantrums. Oh, and he cried quite often.
Thinking of this, Chu Ning’s lips curved slightly.
Then came that night’s calculated confession, painstakingly earning the phrase “I like you,” followed by Xingcheng where she foolishly fell for his tricks and was deceived into visiting his home. Chu Ning reached out to open the car window, and the winter night’s wind rushed into the car through any gap it could find.
Chu Ning was blown a bit more awake. The curve of her lips retracted, and she furrowed her brows. Ying Jing wasn’t perfect, but his sincerity was so precious.
In her heart, she sighed deeply and began reflecting if she should keep a greater distance from him.
Don’t ruin the young man’s feelings.
Zhao Mingchuan gloomily said, “It’s so cold, close the window!”
Chu Ning shot him a glance, “I’m not cold.”
Zhao Mingchuan reached out to her head, but upon landing, it was only a symbolic ruffle of her hair.
Chu Ning instantly resembled a lion’s mane. She wasn’t angry, calmly saying, “I haven’t washed my hair in four days.”
Zhao Mingchuan roared, “Go die, alright!”
Chu Ning burst into laughter, “Hahaha.”
In this moment, there was a hint of ordinary sibling interaction.
Zhao Mingchuan looked at the girl’s bright smile, subtly turning his head, touching his nose, and then casually driving as if nothing happened.
Since returning from this trip to Xingcheng, Chu Ning had intentionally avoided Ying Jing for half a month.
Project progress reports continued via email and text messages. Chu Ning read them and no longer replied with even a “good.” Work-related matters were entirely handed over to her assistant to handle. Ying Jing had also called her during non-work hours, but Chu Ning answered with a very bland attitude, not giving him any desire to chat.
Ying Jing felt very disheartened because she always said she was busy whenever he tried. He dared not complain or express dissatisfaction.
Because he feared she would think he was immature and not grown-up enough.
Such torment...
Ying Jing hit a wall, tossing and turning on his dorm bed, shaking restlessly, “Ahhh!!!”
Qi Yu poked his head out, “What’s this? Intermittent brain spasm?”
“Fuck off.” Ying Jing threw a pillow at him.
Qi Yu caught it and tossed it back, “Our second phase progress is still holding up nicely. If there are no accidents, we can submit the report to the investors next week. By the way, do you have any ideas for the next step?”
Ying Jing gathered his focus, thinking clearly about the main issues: “Our program is halfway through. The static, dynamic, and logical relationships of the grouped parts are fairly balanced, basically meeting the requirements for continuous system models. In the third phase, I want to try state variables, to see if we can test the performance changes of spacecraft at discrete time points. Once all processes are validated, I also want our design to not only perform simulation experiments but also data processing and analysis verification.”
Qi Yu exclaimed, “That’s a complete software system!”
Ying Jing was very calm, “I aim to create a complete virtual system.”
Qi Yu: “If we succeed, we can also—”
“Apply for a patent!”
“Apply for a patent.”
Both spoke simultaneously, but Ying Jing’s tone was calmer.
Qi Yu was completely thrilled, “Is it possible...”
“Of course, it’s possible.”
Before Qi Yu could finish his sentence, Ying Jing guessed what he was about to say and responded decisively, “Absolutely.”
The application of simulation technology in the aerospace field was vast and full of imagination—spaceship launches, planet exploration, the launch of new-generation spacecraft. These seemingly unreachable things would one day become reality.
Just like decades ago, who would have predicted the widespread use of drones and driverless cars in today’s technological fields. The continuous advancement of these high-end precise sciences was the true crux of a nation.
Grand, heroic, passionate.
Difficult, long, rugged.
Ying Jing closed his eyes. That picture in his mind might one day become magnificent. Full of unknowns, but if not attempted, it would forever remain an unknown number. He liked the current version of himself—diligent, hardworking, motivated.
In the end, the rigid lines of that picture gradually receded and softened, sketching a white rose.
Ying Jing carefully held this rose, wondering when that person would smell the fragrance and kiss the stamen of his flower.
Ying Jing picked up his phone again, opened WeChat, and looked at the pinned Chu Ning. For nearly ten consecutive days, their chat box was filled with his monologues. Long progress reports, sometimes unable to resist, he’d ask her, “What are you doing?”
Chu Ning either didn’t reply or waited a whole day to respond with two words: “In a meeting.”
Afraid she’d be busy again, Ying Jing almost instantaneously typed—Are you this busy?
When will you have time?
Hey, do you feel like having hot pot?
Finally.
...Alright, take care of yourself...
All of Ying Jing’s loneliness was written in this string of exclamation marks.
The white rose he bought from the flower shop last time was still on his desk, albeit dried up, and he hadn’t thrown it away. Ying Jing touched its head and softly said, “My luck hasn’t been good this year. The New Year is approaching soon; next year, things will get better, right... She’ll like me a little more, right...”
The semester was nearing its end, and in just over a week, winter vacation would begin.
On the weekend, Ying Jing organized the second phase project report materials, just needing to create a PPT to wrap it up. The team members were all happy; the holiday was approaching, and the project was proceeding smoothly. This semester, everyone learned a lot of new knowledge, tried many new things, and was full of energy!
Ying Jing even formally held a summary meeting, especially commending Zhang Huaiyu: “You’re so meticulous. Many testing problems were discovered thanks to your efforts.”
Zhou Yuan was the first to applaud, “Good job!”
Qi Yu and Wan Pengpeng also gave her a thumbs-up.
Zhang Huaiyu didn’t modestly accept it, smiling and saying, “See, Boss, wasn’t it the right decision to recruit me into the team?”
Ying Jing also smiled, “Absolutely.” He thought for a moment, earnestly reflecting, “Doing a project for the first time, I have many shortcomings. Many things were considered selfishly from my perspective, losing objectivity, which is actually very bad. Here, I also apologize to everyone.”
Ying Jing solemnly stood up and bowed.
The team spontaneously applauded, Zhou Yuan shouted, “Little Jing, you’re awesome!”
Ying Jing extended his right hand, “No, we’re awesome.”
“Yes.”
“Everyone is awesome.”
One by one, the hands of the five people stacked on top of Ying Jing’s hand.
“Wish us better and better,” Qi Yu said.
“3—2—1—better and better! Yeah!”
Today was sunny, the sky outside the window blue and cloudless. At first glance, it didn’t look like a harsh winter but rather a bright spring day.
When youth is in its prime,
Do not waste good times.
They chatted further about their respective ideas. After expressing their views, Ying Jing noted a few good ideas, and Qi Yu reminded him, “When will President Ning release the funds for the third phase? After the start of next semester, some experimental units need to be repurchased.”
Ying Jing: “Once Zhang Huaiyu’s final data is out, I’ll finalize the report tonight and present it tomorrow. If everything goes smoothly, it should be in place before the holiday.”
Qi Yu was reassured, “That’s good.”
Half an hour later, the meeting dispersed.
Zhang Huaiyu still needed to stay behind; she had one more set of climate change simulation data to complete. Ying Jing was temporarily called away by Li Zhoushan and couldn’t accompany her.
“It’s okay, I can manage alone.” Zhang Huaiyu reassured him, “It should take about three hours to get the data. I’ll send it to you as soon as it’s ready.”
Ying Jing nodded, “Alright, then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Hmph, such an official tone. Treat me to hot milk tea tomorrow. I want an extra five yuan worth of nuts, large size!” Zhang Huaiyu tilted her head, particularly serious.
“Hehe, okay.” Ying Jing stopped at the door, sticking his head back in, reminding her, “Oh, remember to turn off the power, be mindful of safety.”
Zhang Huaiyu gave an OK gesture and then waved him off impatiently, signaling him to hurry up.
Ying Jing closed the door.
Li Zhoushan was in the southwestern teaching building, handing him a stack of materials, “Can you read English?”
Ying Jing skimmed through briefly; they were all foreign literature. He treated them like treasures, exclaiming, “Yes!”
“Alright, take them.” Li Zhoushan twitched his small mustache, “Don’t slack off during the holidays, indulgence leads to ruin.”
Ying Jing nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken, happily carrying his treasures back to the dormitory. He randomly picked one to read, engrossed until the dorm lights went out. Immersed in the satisfaction brought by knowledge, his mood was buoyant. Even Chu Ning’s indifference seemed less troubling.
Ying Jing planned to visit her company tomorrow afternoon, report the progress, and sign the authorization documents for the funds.
If lucky, perhaps he could even invite her to dinner.
Unconsciously, the corners of his mouth lifted, almost elated.
His joy didn’t last long, interrupted by a sudden loud ringtone. Late at night, the ringtone was eerie. Ying Jing suppressed a momentary heartbeat, glanced at it—it was Zhang Huaiyu calling.
Great, the experimental data is out!
What a perfect day!
Ying Jing pressed to answer, “Is it the data…?”
On the other end was a wretched sobbing, Zhang Huaiyu crying uncontrollably, “Something happened! Something happened in the lab!”
Ying Jing’s mind exploded, but he tried to stay calm, “Don’t panic, tell me slowly.”
However, Zhang Huaiyu was gasping for air. Ying Jing scolded, “Stop crying!”
“Waaah... the lab... the equipment burned... short circuit... they said no one unplugged the socket... but I... I definitely checked before leaving...”
Through the broken sobs, Ying Jing grasped the general situation. His heart sank, trembling as he asked, “How much was burned?”
Zhang Huaiyu listed a series of items; the more Ying Jing heard, the more his ears rang.
This laboratory was the only one in the North China region rated as a national-level virtual simulation technology research laboratory among universities.
It wasn’t just regular computer equipment; there were super-simulation models of launch platforms and aircraft engines. These items couldn’t be measured in money—the science and technology embodied within were classified as confidential.
Ying Jing pinched his thigh, forcing himself to stay calm, calm, calm.
He asked, “When you left, did you notice anything unusual?”
Zhang Huaiyu sobbed, “No.”
Ying Jing believed her; she was naturally meticulous and stringent.
He asked again, “Did you encounter anyone?”
Sniffling and sobbing, “...No... Ah, wait, I remember now.”
“What?”
“I went to the restroom midway through the experiment. On the way, I bumped into Luo Jia, and he... he asked me what I was doing... Waaah... The school said they would investigate and hold someone accountable... Waaah... Because we were the last ones to use the lab, I just heard the director calling someone from Ningjing Investment...”
Ying Jing felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.
It’s over!
It’s over...
Before finishing this call, his phone suddenly prompted, “You have an incoming call from 158xxx. Do you want to answer?”
Ying Jing glanced at the screen—
Chu Ning was calling.
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