The crystal chandelier in the villa reflected a soft, shimmering light onto the documents Xie Zhecheng handed over.

His fingertips were long and clean, his nails were neatly trimmed, and even the way he held the pen exuded perfectionist rigor. He was explaining the clinical application plan of the intelligent medical system to Yu Jiuyuan.

“The algorithm model here can be optimized.” Xie Zhecheng tapped his pen on a line of data, his voice deep and pleasant. “I conducted three sets of comparative experiments, and the corrected response speed can be improved by 12%.”

Yu Jiuyuan leaned closer to look, and the fragrance from her hair inadvertently brushed past Xie Zhecheng's ear.

He paused, a faint blush rising to the tips of his ears, but he maintained his composure: "Do you need me to send you the lab report?"

"Okay." She smiled and reached for the coffee on the table, but her fingertips "accidentally" touched the back of his hand.

The warm touch felt like a faint electric current, and both of them withdrew their hands at the same time. A sly glint flashed in her eyes, while he pushed up his glasses to hide his unease.

Xie Zhecheng's favorability +3, currently at 80.

When the system notification sounded in her mind, Yu Jiuyuan's smile deepened.

She turned her head and met Rong Shenghan standing at the door of the living room.

He had just returned from outside, his black overcoat still covered in snowflakes, his face as pale as frozen ice, but his eyes were dark and deep, as if brewing a storm.

Clearly, he saw everything that just happened.

Yu Jiuyuan acted as if she hadn't seen him, turning her head to continue discussing with Xie Zhecheng: "This optimization plan is crucial. I feel more at ease with you here for the negotiations with the hospital next week."

"I will prepare all the materials." Xie Zhecheng's gaze swept over Rong Shenghan, and he nodded indifferently as a greeting.

He already had some reservations about Rong Shenghan, and seeing the oppressive aura emanating from him, he became even less inclined to engage in any further social interaction.

Rong Shenghan ignored Xie Zhecheng's greeting and walked straight to Yu Jiuyuan's side.

The chill emanating from him seemed to lower the surrounding temperature, yet his tone remained as gentle as ever: "The snow is heavy outside, so I had the kitchen make some ginger tea. Have a cup to warm yourself up?"

Yu Jiuyuan didn't stop flipping through the documents, nor did she even lift her eyelids: "No need, Xie Zhecheng brought me hand-drip coffee, it's more refreshing than ginger tea."

She emphasized the three words "Xie Zhecheng" deliberately, like a fine needle piercing Rong Shenghan precisely.

Rong Shenghan's hand froze in mid-air, and the storm in his eyes intensified.

He looked at the coffee cup Xie Zhecheng had placed on the table. It was Yu Jiuyuan's favorite bone china cup, with faint lipstick marks still on the rim, clearly indicating that she had just used it.

The cup next to Xie Zhecheng was the same style but a different color, clearly a deliberate choice.

When did they become so close that they share a set of cups?

"Drinking too much coffee is bad for your stomach." Rong Shenghan's voice was lower, with a barely perceptible tension. "You said yesterday that your stomach was a little bloated."

"Really?" Yu Jiuyuan blinked, looking at Xie Zhecheng with an innocent smile. "I don't remember. I guess I was too busy with work to remember. Xie Zhecheng, do you think I look like I have an upset stomach right now?"

Xie Zhecheng looked up, his gaze lingering on her face for two seconds, and replied earnestly, "You look great, even more energetic than the last time I saw you."

Xie Zhecheng's favorability +2, currently 82.

Rong Shenghan's fingertips clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Hsieh Che-cheng's comment, "You look more energetic than when I last saw you," sounded like a silent mockery.

She was doing very well during his absence, even better than before.

"Ding-a-ling—" The doorbell rang.

The housekeeper opened the door, and Lin Yanran walked in carrying a large box, her face showing reluctance and awkwardness: "President, the student council's annual report you requested is ready."

He paused when he saw the scene in the living room. "President Xie is here too? And... Vice President Rong as well."

The atmosphere instantly became more subtle.

Lin Yanran placed the box on the table, which conveniently blocked Xie Zhecheng and Yu Jiuyuan.

He then realized how close the two of them were, their knees almost touching, and they were discussing things as intimately as a pair of partners who had worked together for many years.

Rong Shenghan stood to the side, like an unwanted shadow, exuding an aura of "keep away".

"You finished quickly." Yu Jiuyuan finally gave Lin Yanran a look. "Looks like you haven't been slacking off lately."

"Who said I was slacking off?" Lin Yanran immediately bristled. "I stayed up two nights in a row for this report!"

"Oh?" Yu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow. "Should I reward you? For example... let you be in charge of the cooperation negotiations with the hospital next week?"

Lin Yanran's eyes lit up, and she was about to agree when she heard Xie Zhecheng's cold voice: "The negotiations involve professional medical knowledge, and Officer Lin's current abilities may not be sufficient to handle it."

The implication was that he was not qualified.

Lin Yanran's face flushed instantly: "How do you know I can't?"

“You submitted a medical equipment procurement list last week, and you wrote down three incorrect parameters for the defibrillator,” Xie Zhecheng stated the fact expressionlessly. “It would be very embarrassing if you used it in a negotiation.”

"You!" Lin Yanran was so angry she couldn't speak.

Looking at the carnage before her, Yu Jiuyuan's eyes were brimming with a hint of madness.

She suddenly reached out and gently patted Xie Zhecheng's shoulder, her tone affectionate: "Don't say that, Director Lin is still in the learning stage. But President Xie is right, this negotiation is very important, it would be safer for the two of us to go together."

The words "the two of us" were like a feather, gently brushing against Xie Zhecheng's heart, and like an icicle, piercing Rong Shenghan's eyes.

Rong Shenghan finally couldn't hold back any longer.

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