Chapter 16 16 It was the kind that made his scalp tighten and his tailbone tingle...

Jokes aside, Qin Jixiu and Chi Shuang reached a consensus. Ultimately, voice assistants can't completely replace manual operation. The biggest technical bottleneck is data interoperability between modules. Breaking down these barriers can solve most problems.

Today, each leading company operates independently, and the virtue of leveraging strengths to overcome weaknesses has long been forgotten, let alone condescending to become a link in the supply chain. Each company wants to independently complete all design processes and dominate the market, but the reality is that there are no hexagonal warriors who are proficient in everything, so how can they produce perfect products?

Qin Jixiu said he still wanted to try and find a breakthrough, hoping to get related companies to move into the park within two years. He didn't want to rely on his old capital day after day and beg for technology from others. He wanted to do something truly big.

Chi Shuang said nothing, but just gave a thumbs up to express his admiration.

"My brother doesn't have enough vision," Chi Shuang sighed. "My dad taught me since I was a kid that no matter how tall you are, there are things you can't reach. If you can't reach it even with a ladder, you should just guard your own little piece of land. Doing so well is also considered a skill. The boss of our R&D department is only 45 years old. He works all night every day with everyone, and now he's bald. But when he goes out shopping with his wife, people would believe they are father and daughter."

Qin Jixiu asked in surprise: "Is it so exaggerated? I think Wu Min is fine. He has a big belly. I wonder how many delicacies he has eaten. He looks very lucky." Wu Min is the famous R&D director of Zhengfeng. He is capable and has always managed his subordinates with an iron-blooded approach. However, he likes to smile but hides a knife behind his back, so his subordinates secretly call him "Smiling Tiger".

"Shi Xiao, what do you think? What kind of person is Director Wu?" Shi Rui didn't expect that this question would be suddenly thrown to him. He had not been in the company for long and was transferred to the President's Office before he got to know all the people in the project department. He had never even met Director Wu of the R&D department.

It's really impolite to rashly comment on someone you haven't met. Shi Rui accurately turned the delicious crucian carp soup on the table in front of Chi Shuang and said, "I don't know Director Wu well, but I've heard that he's smart and capable, and a role model for new employees like me."

Not only was he very careful with his words, but when he stood up to scoop the fish soup, his shirt sleeves had already been rolled up to the appropriate height, and his hands held the bottom of the bowl steadily. One spoonful of soup and two pieces of fish, no more, no less.

The fish was naturally served for Chi Shuang. Chi Shuang thanked him generously and said thank you to the secretary.

Qin Jixiu stared at Shi Rui's fingertips, which were slightly red from being burned, and thought to himself that this boy knew how to endure hardships and knew when to do things. It was just that he was too permissive in matters of the heart. Apart from being fickle and promiscuous, he had no other shortcomings.

Qin Jixiu also drank the fish soup that Shi Rui scooped up, skimming off the chopped green onions floating on top. The fish soup was bright in color and tasted surprisingly good.

Perhaps seeing the satisfied look on his face, Shi Rui quickly scooped him a second bowl after he finished one bowl.

Chi Shuang then asked Qin Jixiu's grandfather how his health was recently.

"He used to complain of leg pain every time it was cloudy. The doctor came to see him, and they said it wasn't anything serious. When he was young, my grandfather loved dressing up, even in the snow wearing only a pair of pants. Joint pain is inevitable with age. The doctor prescribed some medicine and suggested he get more sun. He should be feeling much better now."

Chi Shuang subconsciously touched his knees and said that he didn't wear thermal underwear today, and wondered if he would get cold legs when he got older.

Qin Jixiu felt an inexplicable pain in his knee, but he still said "no, no" hypocritically.

As usual, Qin Jixiu also asked about his parents' recent situation and whether his sister had made any progress in her studies. Chi Shuang answered all of them one by one. Qin Jixiu had drunk some wine and suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly, because he couldn't remember what Chi Shuang's sister's name was. He remembered that it was three characters long and a bit difficult to pronounce.

Shi Rui leaned over and, while refilling his tea, quietly reminded her, "Zhao Xi."

Qin Jixiu remembered that he and Chi Shuang had discussed the name of his sister at that time. They said that the character "Zhao" was too big. Unfortunately, Mr. Chi's parents were very opinionated and thought that their precious daughter could bear this character.

"I heard that Zhaoxi wants to go abroad?" Qin Jixiu asked.

"Yeah, she gave up her good management studies and insisted on going to Country M to study sculpture. There's no artistic gene in our Chi family. The only sculpture we have at home is the God of Wealth. But the little girl won't give up. Now she plays with mud and makes clay figures at home every day. I really can't do anything about her."

Qin Jixiu glanced at Shi Rui and noticed that he had a downcast look on his face. He didn't seem as excited as when others talked about his field of expertise. Instead, he seemed indifferent. So he teased him, "If I remember correctly, Shi Rui's graduate studies seemed to be in sculpture."

"Oh? What a coincidence?"

The two big bosses spoke, their eyes all falling on Shi Rui's face.

Facing the two people's gazes, which clearly had different meanings, Shi Rui blinked and said, "I just learned it for fun. My professional grades are average, so in the end I still used my first degree to apply for the job."

Chi Shuang was immediately amused. "You and my sister are about the same age, and your personalities are similar. You look well-behaved, but you like to do some unconventional things. I really can't figure out what's going on in your minds. I want to intervene, but I think you definitely don't like being lectured, so I'll just forget it. Next time you come drink with Mr. Qin, I'll bring my sister with you, and you two can have a good chat. You have common topics, and maybe you can become good friends in the future."

Shi Rui didn't quite agree with his own "rebellious" ways, so when he heard Mr. Chi wanted to introduce his sister to him, he immediately became alert. It felt like two elders sitting together, inexplicably arranging a marriage for him.

His first reaction was to turn around and look at Qin Jixiu's expression.

Qin Jixiu had no expression on his face, and even put a small piece of fish into his mouth with a calm look, chewing it slowly.

Shi Rui felt that Qin Jixiu was waiting for him to express his opinion. Clearing his throat, he said, "That depends on whether Mr. Qin is willing for me to make friends outside."

Qin Jixiu swallowed the fish and raised his eyes. He recalled how he'd been jealous of "Ye Lansheng" and other male and female players, and had been indirectly reminding him to keep a distance from others. What had "Ye Lansheng" said back then? It seemed like he'd said something sweet like, "Even if I have more fun with others and play longer than you, you're the only one in my heart." Then he'd go on flirting and joking with the men and women in the guild, making many people feel guilty whenever they saw Qin Jixiu, as if they'd secretly done something shady to undermine the guild leader.

Chi Shuang looked at him with a look of surprise, a bit of inquiry. No matter how close this secretary was to the CEO, there shouldn't be any restrictions on friendships, right? After all, he didn't forbid his administrative male secretary from interacting with the opposite sex outside. Could it be that -

Does Qin Jixiu have a special relationship with this secretary?

No way? I haven't heard that Qin Jixiu likes men, although I haven't seen him have a girlfriend either.

Qin Jixiu laughed and turned the conversation back on track with a few words. He said, "Our company has never interfered too much in the private lives of our employees. President Chi's sister is very cute, and it's not a bad thing to have more friends." As long as you don't set your sights on her, otherwise if President Chi sends someone to hit you with a car, he will definitely not help call the police, and may even take the opportunity to step on his face a few times.

Shi Rui was not so happy after getting the "approval". He said to Chi Shuang, "Okay, if she has any questions about sculpture, she can talk to me."

Chi Shuang, wanting his sister to learn more about the profession, chatted with Shi Rui for a few more minutes. Qin Jixiu showed no interest and devoured the delicate fish in front of him. The red wine he brought today was excellent, with smooth tannins and only a slight astringency. He savored it leisurely, alone.

The conversation between the two stopped at some point. He turned his eyes away and found that they were both looking at him.

"how?"

Qin Jixiu's lips were slightly wet, and his lips were slightly open. Shi Rui looked at him and suddenly felt his throat tighten. He remembered the netizens' comments on Qin Jixiu's appearance. In fact, fancy words were redundant. Shi Rui had an idea in his mind -

Qin Jixiu is very cool.

It was the kind of pleasure that made his scalp tight and his tailbone numb.

Shi Rui rarely had such an exciting feeling. He lost his composure for a moment, staring at Qin Jixiu's lips and forgetting what to say, which made Qin Jixiu frown slightly.

Chi Shuang didn't know what kind of friendship he had established with Shi Rui during the conversation, and he actually started speaking for him: "Oh, Secretary Shi must be worried that you would get bored listening to our chat. I think it's getting late tonight, why don't we get together another day?"

"Okay," Qin Jixiu said half-jokingly, ending the dinner smoothly. "I was planning to invite Mr. Chi to sing, but Secretary Shi has some meeting materials to prepare back home, so we'll have to wait until next time."

After seeing off Mr. Chi, Shi Rui asked, "Mr. Qin, what is the material?"

"You go drive first, and we'll talk about it when we get home." Qin Jixiu had drunk some wine and felt a little sleepy. He didn't want to say much and waved his hand to let Shi Rui go get the car.

Qin Jixiu took the opportunity to smoke a cigarette and opened the car window as soon as he got in. The night breeze quickly blew away the smell of cigarettes. When the window was raised, the smell in the car was replaced by pleasant aromatherapy.

Shi Rui was driving in front.

Qin Jixiu crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and said without any prelude, "Are you happy to get to know Mr. Chi's sister?"

Countless bubbles surged in Shi Rui's heart, as if he had just drunk soda.

"No, how could that be? I was just being polite."

Qin Jixiu snorted and laughed.

At this moment, his cell phone suddenly lit up a few times. Qin Jixiu lowered his head. Someone in the guild group tagged him to ask something. He replied, and the other party had new questions. They chatted back and forth like this for a long time.

Shi Rui had stopped talking since he noticed from the rearview mirror that Qin Jixiu was chatting with someone. In the dim car, he could faintly see a smile on Qin Jixiu's lips. He guessed that the person opposite him was probably Qin Jixiu's boyfriend who watched the musical with him.

The man in the car, Mr. Qin, whom he had just met, had a partner and repeatedly sent him ambiguous signals. Logically, he should be angry and furious, but he was not. Shi Rui just felt that the smile was dazzling and felt a little uncomfortable.

But he couldn't figure out why.

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