After Chapter 68, the competition resumed...

The competition then returned to its initial enthusiastic atmosphere, with startups taking turns to present their innovative projects, making it seem as if the slightly stressful topic from before was just an insignificant interlude. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about it and turned their attention to an even more exciting and passionate competition.

Huang Shiyu was about to get up to answer an important phone call when she exchanged a glance with Lu Xiao. Just then, Li Xingzhou turned around to look for her and saw Huang Shiyu bending down slightly to hold up her phone. She seemed to be saying something to Lu Xiao before slowly and calmly walking towards the door.

As Huang Shiyu exited the competition hall, her phone was still ringing. She glanced at it and saw it was Wang Ping calling. She answered and asked, "How's everything going at the booth?"

"Everything went smoothly. Regarding what you told me, Mr. Huang, I've already spoken to my senior colleagues. I'll contact them again soon." Wang Ping hesitated for a moment, then added, "But isn't auctioning that batch of equipment too risky?"

"It's alright." Huang Shiyu put one hand in his pocket. "Risks and opportunities coexist."

“If the price is too high, let’s forget about it. The subsequent repair costs and other miscellaneous expenses add up, and it’s not worth it,” Wang Ping thought for a moment and said. “Besides, even if we win the bid, we’ll have to deal with both, and it might be too much of a loss.”

"Even if there's only a one percent chance, we should still film it." Huang Shiyu turned her neck, intending to change her posture, but upon seeing Li Xingzhou, she suddenly changed the subject, "So what's your suggestion?"

"I'm a bit busy right now... I'll talk to you later."

Although Wang Ping said that, the phone call didn't end. It stayed connected, and the faint, fragmented voices weren't diminished at all by the time they reached his ears through the microphone. It sounded like the person on the other end was very busy.

Li Xingzhou stood at the entrance of the corridor, his hands in his pockets, staring intently at her without saying a word.

Her gaze lingered on Li Xingzhou for a moment, she nodded slightly as a greeting, then turned and went to the other side of the corridor before saying, "I'll be waiting for your good news."

Wang Ping: "I understand, Mr. Huang."

After hanging up the phone, Huang Shiyu looked up and saw herself in the bathroom mirror.

He was clearly startled.

She rarely wears makeup.

The lights in the Expo Center's restrooms were also strong overhead lights. Looking in the mirror, the lights enveloped her entire body and face, covering her slightly tired face that was originally covered by makeup.

The light illuminated her features, making them appear three-dimensional and clear. Huang Shiyu stared at this face, which was neither obedient nor gentle. Instead, the makeup accentuated her originally restrained yet sharp features, highlighting them perfectly.

She suddenly remembered the time when Speedtech was acquired; she stood in her usual coffee shop, looking at herself through the thick glass.

The dazzling lights along the Huangpu River outlined her motionless reflection in the mirror as a distinct curve, the stronger the lights, the more undulating the curve appeared.

Huang Shiyu clearly remembers what he was thinking at that time.

She asked herself if she was content with this.

Will we lose again?

Why am I always just a little short?

She also asked herself what path to take next.

At that time, her uncertainty about the future was no different from the blurry night view outside the thick glass.

However, now, looking at herself in the mirror, scanning from her eyebrows to her nose and then to her mouth, she firmly tells herself that she will definitely take Xinyu Xinsheng public. Doesn't Song Chaoye think she is stubborn and can't do it?

She stared intently at herself in the mirror for a long time, then closed her eyes and, without saying a word, raised her hand and waved it at the mirror.

Bang!

Outside the door, Li Xingzhou, who had just come out of the men's restroom, was about to wash his hands when he turned on the tap. A muffled, heavy sound came from behind the white wall, like the sound of something heavy falling to the ground. He looked up at the source of the sound, not even noticing the water splashing onto his sleeves.

What is that silly girl doing in there, making such a big fuss?

Are they going to tear down the toilet?

Li Xingzhou stared at it for a moment, the air was completely silent, as if the sound just now was just his hallucination.

As if he had just thought of something, his calm expression changed instantly, his heart sank, and he hurriedly turned off the tap.

In the quiet space, after a long while, a short, labored breath could be heard.

She absolutely had to do it!

She silently repeated it to herself several times, clenching her fists. That obsession flowed from the gaps in Huang Shiyu's fists toward her reflection in the mirror, their fingers intertwined, reluctant to part.

Not only for herself, but also for all those who believed in her, she didn't want to end up disappointing everyone who trusted her.

So what if she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth like Song Chaoye?

Under the bright white light, Huang Shiyu's body trembled slightly, and the rhythm of his chest rising and falling was disordered.

Even if there's only a one percent chance of success, she'll still challenge that one percent chance amidst a ninety-nine percent failure rate.

The cake is only so big, and everyone wants to cut the biggest slice, so sometimes she doesn't hate Song Chaoye, and sometimes she hates him intensely.

But no matter what, she was determined to win this auction!

The intricate game of chess between her and Song Chaoye had already begun.

But in the end, who will be the one to drop that crucial finger?

The restroom was completely silent. The overhead light shone on her face like ice, making her look pale and cold as frost.

She opened her eyes again and stared at herself in the mirror, her gaze cold and resolute.

The expression in the mirror was filled with undisguised ambition and desire.

There's also the exhaustion that comes after being filled with desire.

Staring at it for a while, I felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

She turned on the tap and washed her face, but halfway through, she realized that she was wearing makeup and didn't know if Lu Xiao's cosmetics were waterproof.

Huang Shiyu looked up at the mirror and found that her makeup was intact. Water droplets slid down her cheeks and soaked into her suit collar. Looking at the large water stain, Huang Shiyu frowned.

The water splashed gently as she shook the water off her hands and turned off the tap.

This simple action caused her brows to furrow even deeper, and the color in her face plummeted to zero, making her small face look like it was filled with bitterness and resentment.

The punch she just threw at the mirror was a real, solid one.

Damn it! That hurts!

Huang Shiyu raised her hand and shook it, examining it carefully. Fortunately, it was only a little red and not to the point of breaking the skin.

I hadn't felt any pain before, but now that I've calmed down, it all came rushing out at once.

Just as she was about to step out of the restroom, the phone rang suddenly. It was Lu Xiao calling.

Huang Shiyu unconsciously stopped and answered the phone: "What is it?"

"Hey Boss Huang, did you fall into a trap? We're in the next group, should I send someone to poach you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?! Can't you wish me something good?"

Lu Xiao chuckled softly, "Alright, I'm not kidding anymore. It's really our turn now, come back quickly."

"Go back right away, wait for me for a few minutes."

Huang Shiyu came out of the restroom with her face covered in wet stains.

Just as I was about to return to the competition hall, I caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of my eye.

She saw Li Xingzhou leaning against the wall, his chin lowered, his hands in his pockets. He was tall with long legs, broad shoulders and a back, and his proportions were comparable to any supermodel. Even this common dark gray suit looked extraordinary on him.

Just then, Li Xingzhou also looked over.

There was no light on that side of the head, and the entire area was dark, making Li Xingzhou's bright eyes look like they were filled with tears.

Huang Shiyu raised an eyebrow.

For some reason, she felt that Li Xingzhou's gaze towards her this time was somewhat different from usual, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.

She watched Li Xingzhou walk from the darkness into the light.

"Wipe it off."

Hand it over.

Huang Shiyu was taken aback when she saw the handkerchief Li Xingzhou handed her. It wasn't a particularly cheap brand, and he was just going to use it to wipe her face like that? To be honest, it made her feel quite pressured. She glanced at him again, thinking to herself, "This guy even carries a handkerchief with him when he goes out."

Seeing her hesitation, Li Xingzhou knew without guessing that Huang Shiyu had realized the value of the handkerchief and dared not use it to wipe herself. Her thoughts were too easy to guess; they were all written in his eyes. But to him, no matter how expensive something was, it was ultimately meant to serve people, not to enslave them.

He approached with the handkerchief in hand: "It's just a piece of cloth, it's meant to be used, so wipe your face."

Huang Shiyu knew that Li Xingzhou had noticed her hesitation. Since he had already said so, she didn't think about it anymore. She said thank you, took the handkerchief and wiped the water droplets from her forehead and chin. When she returned it to him, she asked him why he carried this thing with him.

Only Huang Shiyu would call this thing "this thing".

He didn't pretend that it was a habit he had developed since childhood, so he always carried it with him. Instead, he honestly said that he had tied it to his bag before, and when he took it off, he put it in his pocket and forgot to take it out.

Huang Shiyu nodded. She wasn't interested in the bag or the handkerchief, so she didn't ask anything. She casually loosened the tie that Lu Xiao had tied too tightly, afraid that it would be funny if she squeezed Lu Xiao so tightly that she couldn't breathe when she went on stage to give her presentation.

She hates trouble and is afraid of leaving any dark history. After all, as Lu Xiao said, she represents the company's image, and the founder and the brand's IP are tied together.

As she loosened her tie, Li Xingzhou noticed a wet patch under Huang Shiyu's suit collar and frowned: "Why is it so wet? Don't you know it's flu season?!"

"I'm young and in good health!" Although she said that, she still thought of the biting coldness of the cold water hitting her face earlier.

Li Xingzhou noticed that Huang Shiyu's expression changed slightly, though it was very subtle, but it didn't escape his notice. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, took it off, and handed it to her, saying, "You're all soaked. Use mine; you'll need to go on stage later."

She glanced at Li Xingzhou but didn't answer. After thinking for a moment, she said, "That's not a good idea. It seems like we have to go on stage for a group photo afterward."

"Take it, or you'll catch a cold and it won't be worth it. You'll regret it later."

Huang Shiyu's gaze traveled from his dark eyes to his muscular arms bound by his shirt, and then to the hand holding his suit jacket. "This is a bespoke suit, it doesn't suit you."

She had barely finished speaking when, for some reason, Li Xingzhou suddenly smiled at her.

It wasn't just a simple slight smile at her, nor was it a short, fleeting laugh.

I have a feeling that he has ill intentions.

Huang Shiyu looked completely bewildered.

really……

Li Xingzhou gave her a deep look: "You can wear it. It's not like you haven't worn my clothes before." His eyes held seven parts ambiguity and three parts seriousness.

Her intention was to subtly suggest that the fabric of the suit was too expensive for her to bear, but she didn't expect Li Xingzhou to interpret it in another way. How could he say such a blunt and presumptuous thing, making it seem as if the two of them had an affair before? Huang Shiyu was stunned. "Mr. Li, please have some self-respect."

"Just telling the truth."

Huang Shiyu remained silent.

He noticed that Huang Shiyu's cheeks were a little red, and he knew perfectly well that she was shy. So he stopped teasing her, lest he tease her too much later and then have to coax her back. Huang Shiyu was not easy to coax.

So, after a few back-and-forths, one refused and the other wanted to give, Huang Shiyu finally put on Li Xingzhou's T-shirt and suit, while hers was draped over Li Xingzhou's arm. Both of them had their ties on, except that Huang Shiyu's had been torn apart by herself and was almost a mess.

Huang Shiyu looked at it and realized she didn't know how to tie it either. Also, because of Li Xingzhou's staring gaze, she could only cautiously grope around and try to restore the faint trace that Lu Xiao had tied earlier.

Li Xingzhou watched as she struggled with her tie, looking utterly disheveled.

What a silly girl! Her practical skills are practically nonexistent. Her hands are better suited for navigating the business world.

Li Xingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly: "I'll help you."

Just as Huang Shiyu was about to say no, Li Xingzhou leaned down, and their eyes met. They stared at each other intently, as if they were arguing over every little detail.

The distance suddenly shrank, blocking the view and also the light source above Huang Shiyu's head. Under these circumstances, Li Xingzhou's eyes seemed brighter than before.

Like the flowing night, boundless and endless, yet at this moment, a tiny, shimmering star has taken up residence in those deep, dark eyes.

Huang Shiyu's tacit approval seemed like an encouragement. He slightly raised his right hand, his fingers deftly moving in and out of the tie, and in no time he had tied a very beautiful Windsor knot.

After finishing, Li Xingzhou didn't immediately remove his hand. Instead, he began to smooth out the wrinkles on Huang Shiyu's suit jacket. Actually, the suit was well-tailored, made of pure wool, and handcrafted with various high-end techniques. There were no unnatural wrinkles at all, but he still ran his fingertips over them one by one.

The movement, as light as a feather, invigorated every nerve in Huang Shiyu's body and affected every breath she took.

For a moment, Huang Shiyu felt her heart soften and warm, as if it were soaking in a vat of red wine, slowly swelling. This slight intoxication first rose to her heart, and then spread throughout her body like waves of seawater.

If Li Xingzhou were to let go at this moment, Huang Shiyu felt that he might fall flat on his face and sit on the ground.

In this state, Huang Shiyu's mind went blank for once.

She wasn't sure if Li Xingzhou was deliberately flirting with her, whether it was intentional or just a case of unintentional mishap.

But she was truly spineless; Li Xingzhou easily won her heart again.

Sure enough, as the saying goes, even heroes have difficulty resisting the charms of a beautiful woman. Huang Shiyu thought to himself, there must be some truth to the saying that has been passed down through the ages.

Li Xingzhou stared at Huang Shiyu's ears, which were gradually turning red. He paused slightly as he adjusted his collar and glanced at her face. "You're wearing makeup?"

Huang Shiyu suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Hmm, is it pretty?"

A light was on on the left, near the corridor, casting a soft glow on her face, making her skin appear fair and radiant. He looked at her face in the light, carefully examining her features, which had been enhanced with makeup.

Her facial features were already strong, and her skin was extremely thin. After being meticulously sculpted, the transitions of her facial features and bone structure were revealed just right.

She is indeed very beautiful. Her beauty has a certain intensity, which is very eye-catching. When she is not smiling, there is a kind of beauty that carries a sense of awe and even a touch of ruthlessness.

He raised his hand and gently traced her cheek with his fingers, from her forehead to her chin. "What do you think?"

Huang Shiyu didn't turn her head away from Li Xingzhou's touch, but looked directly into his eyes and cleared her throat, "It's just that the lipstick color is a bit too red, otherwise I think it looks pretty good."

Then it seems like it was drawn too heavily, making it look a bit fierce.

Huang Shiyu silently added this sentence in his mind.

She asked Li Xingzhou, "How is it?"

He lifted her chin, looked into her eyes, and said, "What? Want me to praise you?"

"Fine, don't tell me then." Huang Shiyu shrugged, pursed her lips, and looked at the other person.

The two looked at each other silently.

Li Xingzhou's hand remained on her chin, and Huang Shiyu did not dodge, letting his fingertips trace her sharp features, long and straight nose, eyebrows and eyes.

The cool sensation where my fingertips glide brings a restless unease to my heart, one that I can't stop.

He carefully used his fingertips as a paintbrush to trace the design, finally stopping at those delicate lips with a light, fleeting stroke.

Before Huang Shiyu could say anything, Li Xingzhou's hand fell.

"Hmm? Quite sexy."

Huang Shiyu thought she had misheard. She squinted and looked at him with a puzzled, confused, surprised, and critical gaze, probably asking, "Did you take the wrong medicine today? Is this word appropriate to describe me? Does she even have anything to do with the word 'sexy'?"

Seeing the other person's expression switching back and forth between "Are you kidding me?" and "Are you crazy?", Li Xingzhou smiled after a moment, his eyes still fixed on her, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "You look very sexy with lipstick on."

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Author's Note: Young couples are just so sweet~ Let's start with a little sweetness~