20 Starry Night Talk

When Song Jiuchen woke up, Fang Shuning had already finished reading all the information and even started calculating the operating costs of taking over the cannery.

Currently, the advantages are that land and factory costs can be saved, the factory has a complete production line, supply chain support to save on transportation costs, and there are also policy support subsidies and tax incentives.

The downsides are that the factory buildings need repairs after being unused for a long time, the production equipment is aging and some equipment needs to be replaced, and there's also the issue of labor; it's uncertain how easy it will be to recruit people, especially since specialized technicians are required. Also, a food production license, environmental impact assessment, QS certification, and environmental protection facilities (wastewater treatment, exhaust gas treatment), etc., are needed.

Fang Shuning was overwhelmed by a mountain of questions and numbers.

Fang Shuning looked at the awakened Song Jiuchen, her face revealing neither joy nor sorrow, only a hint of weariness. She slowly spoke, "Song Jiuchen, I have a general understanding of the factory's current situation. I've done a rough calculation; the initial investment will be at least 6 million yuan. That's assuming everything goes smoothly. If things don't go well, it's an unpredictable figure. So..."

“I know, so it’s not something you have to do.” Song Jiuchen understood that there were things he was willing to pay the price for or sacrifice, but he couldn’t expect everyone to do the same.

It is only right to refuse.

"So, I need the average yield of yellow peaches from Xitang Village over the past three years, the yield of apples this year, and the amount of fruit that can be used for canning after removing the large and medium-sized fruits sold separately. Oh, and also the sales figures from your recent live streams. When can you give me this data the earliest?"

"You..." Song Jiuchen was shocked by Fang Shuning. He originally thought that she would refuse directly after seeing these numbers, but the current situation was something he had never dared to imagine.

"There's no such thing as wanting to profit without investing. Admittedly, this is a huge investment, but it's within my budget, and it's not impossible at the moment. However, I need to know the profit margin before I can determine whether this is something I can actually do."

Fang Shuning's tolerance level means that even if she loses this money, she can completely afford it. Moreover, this money is not entirely her responsibility; Cui Sitong is also involved.

The yield of yellow peaches in the first three years is easy to say, but this is the first year that apples have borne fruit, and it will take some time to get accurate data. However, the sales data from the live streaming platform can be directly provided to Fang Shuning.

While we should act as quickly as possible, we shouldn't rush things.

Fang Shuning stretched; she had been sitting for several hours and was tired and hungry.

He got up and took out two self-heating hot pots. This time, Song Jiuchen didn't refuse.

They sat cross-legged on the mats around the small table, waiting for the meal to begin.

Perhaps because the wait was too long, Fang Shuning took out some snacks and told Song Jiuchen not to be shy and to help himself to whatever he liked.

It's amazing how Fang Shuning seems to have a Doraemon pocket; anything imaginable or unimaginable can appear in her hands. Her serious demeanor is completely different from her current one. She seems unaffected by external influences, always firmly believing in herself. In her own world, she's a queen-like figure.

She's been like this since she was little—arrogant, domineering, and unrestrained. She's free-spirited and fearless, and it's only natural that someone as radiant as her is liked.

The self-heating hot pot was ready. Fang Shuning looked at Song Jiuchen, who seemed lost in thought, and waved her hand in front of him. "Hey~ wake up, you can eat now."

They devoured the food with gusto, leaving nothing behind in a flash.

Fang Shuning let out a satisfied burp, patting her belly with contentment. Song Jiuchen noticed these little gestures and couldn't help but smile.

Fang Shuning looked at Song Jiuchen, narrowed her eyes, and asked, "Secretary Song, do you like me?"

Song Jiuchen almost choked on his drink.

Too blunt! Fang Shuning is so blunt! What should I do? What should he say? What should he say? Oh dear, what should I do?

Fang Shuning rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward. "Why isn't Secretary Song saying anything? Doesn't he like it?"

My lips are bright red from eating spicy hot pot, and I want to kiss them.

"No...no." Song Jiuchen stammered out two words after a long pause.

"Oh~ no? Is this an answer to my first question or the second?" Fang Shuning pressed on.

Song Jiuchen looked like a rookie soldier being lectured, his face turning bright red, unable to utter a single word for a long time. Then, as if he had mustered up his courage and was about to throw caution to the wind, he said, "No, I like it, I mean I like it."

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Fang Shuning retreated, satisfied. Seeing that Fang Shuning didn't show any aversion, Song Jiuchen slowly relaxed and then said, "It's strange, maybe it's because the impression you left on me when I was little was too deep, planting a seed in my heart since I was young. Then, when I saw you again many years later, it sprouted. I couldn't understand what this feeling was before. I just felt that you were different from others, but I couldn't put my finger on why. But when I see you, I always become unnatural, nervous, and my heart races."

"You briefly appeared in my life and then left. I told myself that you would eventually leave, so I shouldn't have any meaningless fantasies. I often stare blankly at your chat box, wanting to talk to you, to say anything. I think and think, type and delete, delete and type again. I find myself laughing at myself for doing this."

"I tried to distract myself and read a book a few days ago. Of all things to do, I read a modern love story about first love, desire, and summer romance. The descriptions were so delicate that even someone as clumsy as me could understand my own feelings from it. I like you. Before, it might have been a vague attraction, but now it's real, I really like you."

"It's just that liking you is my own business, and I'm only worried that it might bother you. So, I didn't dare to say it. But just now, it flashed through my mind again, and I felt that I should express it openly and honestly, so that I wouldn't have any regrets. I won't do anything out of line. Someone as good as you deserves to be liked." After Song Jiuchen finished speaking, he felt a sense of relief, and his whole body felt much lighter.

To love something alone is a silent drama; to express one's true feelings is to add the bravest subtitles to it.

After a long, rambling conversation, Fang Shuning, who had initially been amused, gradually became serious. Was she wrong to mess with Song Jiuchen, such a clean and sincere person? Perhaps she shouldn't have provoked him in the first place?

Fang Shuning admitted that at first, she only wanted to kill time by provoking Song Jiuchen. After all, being at home was really boring.

But... but after listening to Song Jiuchen's words, I felt a mix of happiness and sadness.

"Song Jiuchen, I..." Fang Shuning, who was usually eloquent, choked up at this moment.

"It's getting late, I'll be going now. I'll get the data to you as soon as possible."

"good."

Actually, what Fang Shuning wanted to say was, "Song Jiuchen, I think I might like you a little too."

However, before Fang Shuning could even speak, Song Jiuchen had already fled in panic.

Fang Shuning stood there, lost in thought.

The door opened, and Fang Shuning thought Song Jiuchen had returned. She looked up and saw Fu Yuanzheng coming out of the guest room. Disappointed, she looked away.

Fu Yuanzheng didn't stand on ceremony and plopped down opposite Fang Shuning, no longer looking downcast. "I'm hungry, I want to eat self-heating hot pot too."

Fu Yuanzheng had been hungry for a while, and just as he was about to come out, Fang Shuning asked Song Jiuchen if he liked her. Fu Yuanzheng definitely couldn't come out at that moment and disturb the two of them. So he eavesdropped at the door.

But somehow, it sounded like their relationship had ended badly, which wasn't what he had imagined.

From an outsider's perspective, Fang Shuning definitely has feelings for Song Jiuchen; those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see things clearly.

Fang Shuning handed Fu Yuanzheng his things with a displeased expression. She was already annoyed, and seeing Fu Yuanzheng only made her more annoyed. After taking the things, she went back to her room.

"Sis, let's chat a little longer, you won't be able to sleep if you go back to your room anyway."

Has anyone ever told you that Fu Yuanzheng is a real chatterbox? But Fang Shuning sat back down. She really couldn't sleep, and when she couldn't sleep, she would start overthinking, and overthinking would make her depressed, and depression would make her develop nodules... It was all a chain reaction, so she might as well find a fault and yell at Fu Yuanzheng. After yelling, she would feel better.

While waiting for the self-heating hot pot to heat up, Fu Yuanzheng began to tell a story. He started with his classic line, "I have a friend..."

Fu Yuanzheng had a friend who met a girl in college and really liked her. But it was too late; graduation was approaching, and before he could confess his feelings, his father sent him abroad. When he first went abroad, his friend and the girl were still in contact, until one day, the girl messaged him saying she was in a relationship. After that, they gradually lost contact.

Fang Shuning asked, "Your friend must be really regretting it, regretting not confessing their feelings sooner. Being alone in a foreign country, and heartbroken, must be so painful."

Fu Yuanzheng thought about it and felt sad, but the reason for his sadness was not the breakup. To be honest, even if the two of them still kept in touch after going abroad, he understood that the words that were not spoken and the things that were not done were all in the past.

If you didn't seize the moment, it's gone forever. No amount of regret will change that.

He was just sad, sad that he couldn't make his own life choices; sad that he had to obey fate; sad that he was misunderstood and questioned.

Fang Shuning seemed to understand why the Crown Prince was such a different person before and after going abroad.

After saying all that, the steam from the self-heating hot pot dissipated, and Fang Shuning clearly saw Fu Yuanzheng's gaze fixed on her. So, Fang Shuning, seize the moment; what's past is past.