Luo Ying's behavior was very gentle and elegant. Tang Tingting was amazed: "Senior sister has such a good temperament." After a pause, she sighed: "There are quite a lot of handsome men and beautiful women in our Provincial No. 1 Middle School."
Duan Qiyan got a little excited when the word "handsome guy" was mentioned.
He abandoned his lofty ideological realm and completely became a vulgar scoundrel - at this moment, he only wanted to hear Tang Tingting praise his appearance, saying things like "Duan Qiyan is a real handsome guy", "Duan Qiyan, you have an amazing figure".
So, he deliberately asked: "Tang Tingting, who are the handsome guys and beautiful girls in our middle school class?"
Tang Tingting chuckled and counted them carefully: "Lin Zhixia, Jiang Yubai, Shen Fuxuan... Actually, Cao Wu is not bad either. Do you remember Cao Wu? He was the sports commissioner of our class and had a body full of tendons in high school. Cao Wu went to Tongji to study architecture. He told me that after graduation, he could only move bricks on the construction site."
Lin Zhixia laughed “Hahahaha”: “He is so humble.”
Tang Tingting held Lin Zhixia's arm in an intimate manner: "Shen Fuxuan is more modest."
Lin Zhixia asked curiously: "How is Shen Fuxuan doing recently? Have you contacted him?"
Tang Tingting told him everything she knew, "Shen Fuxuan is determined to go into politics. You know, he graduated from college, passed the civil service exam, was transferred to the grassroots, and trained for a year. I heard that he will be transferred back soon. He's quite impressive. There are many talented people in our class."
"They are all excellent." Lin Zhixia concluded.
Tang Tingting said: "Yes, everyone is doing well, but you are the one with the highest academic qualifications."
As she spoke, she pushed the suitcase - the suitcase was too heavy, her wrists were sore, and she couldn't help but let out a hiss. Duan Qiyan picked up her luggage and rolled up his sleeves. His arm muscles were tight and veins were visible. Tang Tingting glanced at him and said casually, "You're good. You've practiced well."
Duan Qiyan grabbed the chain of her purse and said in a vague voice: "Why didn't you say anything to me just now?"
Tang Tingting understood that Duan Qiyan meant that she had not mentioned Duan Qiyan's name when she was counting handsome guys. She suppressed her laughter for a while, leaned her head to his ear, and whispered to him: "You look pretty good, but you are my family member, I am embarrassed to brag about myself. I didn't say I was a beauty, you can judge for yourself."
Duan Qiyan tasted a hint of sweetness.
He worked extra hard to carry the suitcase.
Tang Tingting added, "It's almost five in the afternoon, and my parents are about to get off work. Why don't you come home with me so that they can see you? My dad doesn't believe I have a boyfriend, he always says I'm bragging."
"Okay," Lin Zhixia agreed, "Let your father take a look at Duan Qiyan."
Tang Tingting put her arm around Lin Zhixia's shoulders and said, "Are you free this weekend? Invite Jiang Yubai and let's have a meal together. You don't know how much I miss you in Beijing."
Lin Zhixia said without hesitation: "I miss you too."
"What about me?" Luo Ying interrupted.
Lin Zhixia glanced at her sideways.
Outside the airport, the traffic was crowded, and the sound of suitcases being dragged could be heard from nearby and far away. Luo Ying took hold of Lin Zhixia's sleeve, with her five fingers slightly stretched out, almost touching the back of Lin Zhixia's hand. Lin Zhixia then said, "Well, I often think of you and Senior Sister Wei Ruoxing."
Luo Ying smiled but said nothing.
The taxi sped along the wide road and soon arrived at Tang Tingting's home. Tang Tingting took Duan Qiyan's wrist and said hello to Lin Zhixia before leaving: "See you at the company next week!"
"See you next week!" Lin Zhixia responded enthusiastically.
Tang Tingting smiled and said, "I'm in the company, should I call you Mr. Lin?"
Lin Zhixia said honestly: "Other colleagues call me Professor Lin."
"Okay," Tang Tingting said immediately, "Let's talk when we have time, 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 often. In order to liven up the atmosphere, Lin Zhixia took the initiative to ask, "Senior, it's past six o'clock, do you want to have dinner?"
Luo Ying nodded: "Yes, I'm a little hungry." She also said: "My parents are not at home. They are on a business trip to Shanghai."
Lin Zhixia took out her phone, looked through Dianping.com, and found a restaurant with a high rate of positive reviews. They got off the car early and had dinner together in the restaurant. Luo Ying sat next to Lin Zhixia and said softly, "You have been back to China for a long time. You have published many papers, and your company is running well. Students are praising your good lectures online... You are good at everything."
“Senior is better,” Lin Zhixia responded, “Just like when we did group work, you have put a lot of effort into the quantum computing platform. I am really happy that you are willing to join the company as a full-time employee.”
The waiter brought a bottle of champagne.
Luo Ying stretched out her index and middle fingers and lifted the belly of the goblet.
She swirled the glass and pressed her fingernails against the rim.
Her nails were neatly trimmed and sleek, with a natural light pink hue that reflected the color of the wine in the glass, gleaming slightly like pearls.
At this time, Lin Zhixia saw the French words on the bottle clearly - it turned out to be a bottle of strawberry champagne. She was immediately excited. Who can resist the temptation of strawberries? She immediately poured herself half a glass, picked up the glass and took two sips, exclaiming: "What an authentic strawberry wine."
Luo Ying hesitated and asked, "Can you drink?"
"Sure," Lin Zhixia vowed, "I won't get drunk."
Luo Ying believed it to be true.
She continued chatting with Lin Zhixia, who could easily make her laugh. Whenever she laughed, her eyes moved like water, her rosy lips curved, and even the platinum necklace she wore looked more dazzling.
Under the influence of alcohol, Lin Zhixia seemed to be drunk. She stared at Luo Ying, and Luo Ying asked her again: "Am I pretty?"
Lin Zhixia blurted out: "You are the most beautiful senior I know."
They were in an elegant Western restaurant. There was a Ginza candle on the table. The candle flame kept jumping, and the flames swayed in Lin Zhixia's eyes, just like two flames falling into a clear spring.
Luo Ying stared at her, picked up the cup, and flicked the straw with her fingertips. Suddenly, Lin Zhixia's cell phone rang - the screen showed that the caller's name was "Jiang Jiang Jiang Jiang Yubai".
Lin Zhixia pressed the answer button.
Jiang Yubai said succinctly: "I just got on the plane."
"Yes," Lin Zhixia replied, "I'll pick you up tomorrow... at 10 a.m."
Jiang Yubai reacted quickly: "Have you been drinking?"
Lin Zhixia narrated truthfully: "I drank a little bit, and I was having dinner with my senior sister. In order to graduate as soon as possible, my senior sister did not return to China for three years, and did not take a vacation. She joined our quantum technology company when she came back. She really loves the quantum computing industry. Just now, my senior sister told me that she especially likes to work overtime, and it would be best if she could work overtime with me every day. 996 doesn't matter, and 007 is also acceptable. I want to give a thumbs up to my senior sister's professionalism!"
When the word "senior" came out, Jiang Yubai paused. He threw the file bag on the seat, and the secretary said beside him: "Mr. Jiang?"
The secretary bent down and helped him pick up the file bag.
Jiang Yubai thanked the secretary.
He sat on the soft seat of the plane and savored Lin Zhixia's words carefully - the so-called "996" means "working from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week". "007" is even more extreme, meaning "working from noon to midnight, seven days a week". Both of the above overtime modes will make employees feel exhausted.
As far as he knew, Luo Ying's parents were well-known entrepreneurs in the provincial capital, and their company was doing well. Her ambition was not to do business, and there was no commercial interest involved, so why did she ask for overtime
Jiang Yubai looked out the window and responded calmly: "You can't drink much. You get drunk after just one sip. I'll call your brother and ask him to take you home. Go to bed early and have a good rest. You don't need to pick me up tomorrow. I'll go to your house to find you."
Lin Zhixia didn't think about it. She agreed, "Okay, see you tomorrow."
After saying that, she hung up the phone.
Luo Ying asked: "What did Jiang Yubai say?"
Lin Zhixia relayed 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 showed up. Lin Zhixia still insisted on her decision—she and Lin Zeqiu first sent Luo Ying home before she followed Lin Zeqiu out of Luo Ying's residence.
The night was dark, and the mist dyed the moon white. Lin Zeqiu held his sister's hand and taught her earnestly: "Don't drink outside next time... Not with your senior sister either. You haven't seen her for several years, so your relationship is not close enough."
Lin Zhixia asked in confusion: "Why are you so wary? Didn't you and I grow up together?"
Lin Zeqiu kept silent.
Lin Zhixia yawned: "Brother, let me ask you a question. When girls approach you, do you suspect that they have bad intentions?"
Yes.
That's right.
Lin Zhixia's words touched Lin Zeqiu's heart.
Since childhood, Lin Zeqiu always felt that the girls who liked him were attracted by his appearance. In comparison, work is closer to reality - in the workplace, a sweat is equal to a performance, and a performance can be exchanged for a bonus, which he deserves.
He walked and pondered, and Lin Zhixia called him: "Brother?"
Lin Zeqiu was very cold: "What's the point of falling in love, let me ask you."
The leaves rustled, the night wind blew through the treetops, and he crushed the moonlight to the ground.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Zhixia would probably shut up.
But now, Lin Zhixia is unusually bold. She explained unyieldingly: "That feeling is wonderful, my heartbeat speeds up, my brain is very clear, and all the sleepiness is gone... At first I couldn't get used to it. When I thought of Jiang Yubai at night, I couldn't sleep and began to fantasize about meeting him the next day. When I was with him, I was relaxed and nervous, excited and happy. He always understood me, even if he didn't understand my research at all. Do you understand?"
Lin Zeqiu said: "It's contradictory."
Lin Zhixia didn't argue any more.
Lin Zhixia's description left a deep impression on Lin Zeqiu - Lin Zeqiu's attitude towards Jiang Yubai improved a little. The next evening, when Jiang Yubai came to visit, Lin Zeqiu even opened the door for Jiang Yubai himself.
Jiang Yubai came in carrying a bag of gifts.
Lin Zhixia ran towards him: "Thank you for your hard work. Are you tired after being on a business trip for a few days?"
Jiang Yubai said, "Not tired, I work fourteen hours a day and rest ten hours..." He said calmly, "I can handle it."
Lin Zhixia hugged his arm and said, "You're so pitiful. Are you sleepy now? Come to my room and lie down for a while."
Just like that, Jiang Yubai was brought into Lin Zhixia's bedroom, and she locked the door. Of course, Lin Zeqiu couldn't say anything.
Lin Zeqiu returned to his room and watched TV absentmindedly. Jiang Yubai was indeed feeling tired and sleepy—Jiang Yubai had just returned from Europe and had not yet adjusted to the time difference.
Jiang Yubai lay down on Lin Zhixia's bed. Lin Zhixia touched his face. He turned his head and listened to her: "My undergraduate and doctoral supervisors, senior sister Wei Ruoxing, and the mathematician friend from Russia, all four of them agreed to be senior consultants for our company. My brother plans to apply for a transfer to our company to work on the underlying framework technology. 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 said in a lowering voice, "Go forward bravely."
Lin Zhixia thought he was about to fall asleep. She quietly lay down beside him, but he hugged her. He said, "Sleep with me for a while."
Lin Zhixia closed her eyes obediently. Of course, she didn't sleep. In a meditative state, she sorted out her thoughts and reviewed her years of research and exploration. She still had a bold quantum chip idea that had not yet been realized - just as Jiang Yubai said, she would bravely move forward.