Jiang Yubai stared at Lin Zhixia for a few seconds, causing her to take a step back unconsciously. However, she did not lose any momentum at all. "Am I wrong?"
Jiang Yubai took the initiative to put himself in the role of "Exploring the Universe": "You are right, Captain Lin Zhixia."
When he was young, when Jiang Yubai played the role of "leader", he always pretended to be a calm and mature adult. Lin Zhixia thought he was serious and silly, which was very funny.
When he really grew up, his appearance and personality had changed, and when he said the five words "Captain Lin Zhixia" again, it brought Lin Zhixia a whole new experience.
Lin Zhixia's eyes became brighter. She asked him softly, "Are you free tonight?"
"There is a video conference tonight," Jiang Yubai said, "tomorrow..."
Before Jiang Yubai finished speaking, Lin Zhixia guessed what he meant and sighed, "Tomorrow morning, I have to teach undergraduates. In the afternoon, the laboratory needs to move equipment, and I have to watch. In the evening, I have a meeting with Luo Ying and Feng Yuan to discuss issues."
Jiang Yubai walked up the stairs. The clean glass door reflected his and Lin Zhixia's images. He stared at their shadows so close together and said to himself, "I can pick you up from get off work and take you home, and I can spend ten minutes with you."
This is not some special love talk.
But the true feelings he showed made Lin Zhixia's heart pound. She immediately took his arm and coaxed him sincerely: "How about this, I will stay at your house for a few days." She also drew a pie for him: "Next winter vacation, I have a month's vacation, we can travel around the world..."
Since Lin Zhixia had already learned to swim, she longed for an island vacation. She discussed it with Jiang Yubai, and they decided to spend a week in the Maldives during the winter vacation next year. They chatted and visited the office building. Before they knew it, more than two hours had passed, and the bright sky gradually dimmed. Lin Zhixia glanced out the window and said, "I want to go home."
Jiang Yubai also has to attend a business negotiation meeting.
Lin Zhixia knew he was very busy. She suggested, "My brother gets off work at 5:30. I'll go home with him. You can go to the meeting first."
Lin Zeqiu worked at this Internet company. But he didn't know about Jiang Yubai's connection with the company. If he knew, he might quit immediately and find another job as a programmer.
At 5:30 pm, Lin Zeqiu put on his backpack and left his workstation. The cell phone in his pocket kept vibrating. He took out his cell phone and saw that the caller was Lin Zhixia, so he pressed the answer button without hesitation.
On the phone, Lin Zhixia said to him: "Brother, are you off work? I visited the Quantum Technology Laboratory today and am now sitting in the reception room of your company. I want to go home with you... Jiang Yubai is going to drive us a ride."
Speaking of the Quantum Technology Laboratory, Lin Zeqiu had heard a little about it. He was a member of Lin Zhixia's team and learned a lot of inside information through emails and WeChat groups. He thought that the establishment of the Quantum Technology Laboratory was due to Jiang Yubai's connection, which led to the cooperation of many parties. Jiang Yubai himself had little to do with this Internet company. Jiang Yubai was just a simple third-generation rich man with a large network of contacts...that's all.
Jiang Yubai was going to send Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu home, and he obviously took the opportunity to show off. As Lin Zhixia's brother, Lin Zeqiu couldn't say much. He found his sister in the reception room. At that time, his sister was holding a cup of tea, lowering her head to eat a snack, and mumbled praise: "The strawberry cake is so delicious..."
Jiang Yubai didn't notice Lin Zeqiu. He raised his hand and wiped the cake crumbs from Lin Zhixia's lips with his fingertips.
Lin Zeqiu frowned slightly. But he did not criticize Jiang Yubai's behavior. He had repeatedly pondered Jiang Yubai's words and deeds, and had long figured out that Jiang Yubai often tried to win Lin Zhixia's favor by showing weakness, thereby successfully achieving some ulterior motives - this kid is simply unfathomable, Lin Zeqiu thought.
Jiang Yubai stood up, said hello to him, and walked with his brother and sister to the parking lot. On the way, Jiang Yubai talked to Lin Zeqiu about the new project within the company and asked him what he thought. He was more and more puzzled. How did Jiang Yubai know the performance evaluation model of their engineering department?
He couldn't help asking, "Where did you get all this information?"
Jiang Yubai replied: "My colleague told me."
colleague?
Before Lin Zeqiu could think about it, a young man came over from the opposite side of the parking lot. He was wearing a loose T-shirt and jeans, but he still looked tall and strong. He also had a superior appearance, with a straight nose and deep eyebrows. Compared to the youthful and introverted appearance in middle school, he now had a more mature temperament.
The parking lot was empty and dimly lit.
The man stopped and stared at Lin Zhixia and her group quietly. He seemed to have something to say, but also seemed to have nothing to say.
Before Lin Zeqiu could react, Lin Zhixia greeted the man: "Senior Nie Tianqing?"
Nie Tianqing held a briefcase in his left hand and the car key in his right hand. He hesitated for a moment before walking towards Lin Zhixia: "Do you remember me?"
Of course.
Lin Zhixia remembers everyone who has met her.
Twelve years ago, Lin Zhixia visited Jiang Yubai's home for the first time and played "Bubble Ball War" with a group of children. Nie Tianqing was also there. The other children said that Nie Tianqing was a top student at the Provincial No. 1 Middle School, with excellent academic performance and was very amazing.
Later, Lin Zhixia was admitted to the Provincial No. 1 Middle School, and Nie Tianqing became her senior. However, the total number of words she and Nie Tianqing had spoken was no more than twenty.
Jiang Yubai had a vague impression of the three words "Nie Tianqing". Nie Tianqing stretched out a hand to him, and he shook hands with Nie Tianqing subconsciously - this scene did not seem like a reunion between former seniors and juniors, but more like a meeting between Party A and Party B in a business negotiation.
Nie Tianqing took the initiative to speak: "I am here to participate in the autumn recruitment interview, what about you?"
Jiang Yubai briefly summarized it: "We have cooperated with universities to build an emerging technology laboratory, and the business is still in its infancy."
The information Jiang Yubai revealed can be found on the Internet. The university where Lin Zhixia works is not the first to cooperate with enterprises. The rules and procedures in various aspects are relatively mature, and the first-hand news related to this is written by the administrative staff within the college.
Nie Tianqing couldn't get any valuable information. He exchanged a few pleasantries with Jiang Yubai and planned to leave first. Before leaving, he turned his eyes to Lin Zhixia and nodded at her.
Lin Zhixia waved at him.
He raised an eyebrow, then smiled.
His back gradually faded away.
Jiang Yubai stood there, silent for a moment.
Jiang Yubai had read the autumn recruitment brochure for this year. The interview dates for all positions were scheduled in mid-October. Right now, it was still late September. In other words, Nie Tianqing did not come to this company for an interview. So what was he doing? Why did he lie deliberately?
Jiang Yubai knew that Nie Tianqing was a senior at the Provincial No. 1 Middle School. After a brief thought, Jiang Yubai could not recall any encounters between him and Nie Tianqing. The "Bubble Ball Battle" twelve years ago had long faded from Jiang Yubai's memory. He only remembered Lin Zhixia's heroic figure holding the bubble ball to save the entire group. As for Nie Tianqing's personality and behavior habits at that time... it was a distant past that could not be verified.
Lin Zhixia's voice interrupted Jiang Yubai's thoughts: "What are you thinking about? About Nie Tianqing?"
Jiang Yubai said in a low voice: "Nothing."
Lin Zhixia lowered her head and smiled: "Even if you don't tell me, I can guess it."
Before he finished speaking, Lin Zeqiu happened to walk past Lin Zhixia and of course heard what Lin Zhixia said.
Lin Zeqiu put his hands tightly in his jacket pockets and said at the right time: "Lin Zhixia was very smart when she was a child. Her brain has been trained in recent years and she will only become smarter. If you have something wrong, don't hide it from her. If she finds out, it will be too late to save her."
Lin Zeqiu openly threatened Jiang Yubai, but Jiang Yubai was not angry at all. He even found it funny. He revealed a shocking secret: "Xia Xia and I exchange diaries every year. She knows all my secrets."
That is true.
Lin Zhixia agreed, "Yes, Jiang Yubai and I have exchanged diaries for more than ten years. He would even take photos and put them in his diary, showing them only to me."
Lin Zeqiu was defeated.
He had nothing to say.
He carried a briefcase across his shoulder and slowly approached Jiang Yubai's car.
Jiang Yubai opened the back door for him just like Lin Zeqiu's driver and waited for him to get in naturally - this made Lin Zeqiu feel a little better.
However, just as Lin Zeqiu sat down, Jiang Yubai slammed the car door shut. He grabbed Lin Zhixia's wrist and let her sit in the co-pilot's seat again.
Lin Zhixia turned her head and glanced at Lin Zeqiu in the back row: "Brother?"
Lin Zeqiu held his chin with one hand.
Lin Zhixia called him again: "Brother?"
Lin Zeqiu turned a deaf ear to it.
If it were the younger Lin Zhixia, she would have most likely shouted "brother, brother, brother" in a row. But now that she has grown up, she already has many different tactics. She said very calmly, "I want to tell you something. You work in an Internet company, so you must know better than me that the performance of small retail stores is not as good as that of online stores. I have discussed with my mother and asked her to sell the old house in Ancheng Community and give the remaining money to me. I will help her with financial investment..."
Lin Zeqiu finally responded: "Do you want your parents to retire and take care of you?"
“Yes,” Lin Zhixia replied, “They work so hard.”
Lin Zeqiu leaned back in his chair. He stretched out his legs and sighed silently. He was born a few years earlier than Lin Zhixia. When Lin Zhixia was still young, he had seen how hard the adults in the family worked.
He said to himself, "I support my parents' retirement with both hands. It's time for me to take care of them. I can't bear to eat or use anything. I can't compare to the city people who were born and raised in the city."
After saying this, he realized belatedly that Jiang Yubai was still sitting in the car.
At this time, Jiang Yubai acted as the driver. He held the steering wheel and the car was running on the road. He did not interrupt the conversation between Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu, just like an ordinary driver who was conscientious.
Lin Zeqiu folded his arms and glanced at Jiang Yubai's silhouette.
Lin Zhixia didn't notice the subtle atmosphere and continued to talk: "Dad wanted to learn Tai Chi, so I signed him up for a Tai Chi class in the gym in our community, every Monday to Thursday..."
Lin Zeqiu suddenly realized: "You and your parents have discussed so many things, why didn't your parents tell me?"
Lin Zhixia explained, "I was not busy at work a few days ago, so I got up early in the morning and chatted with my parents at home. You were still asleep at that time. You didn't talk much at the dinner table..."
Lin Zeqiu was in a complicated mood. In his family, all the responsibilities that should have been borne by his elder brother were taken on by his younger sister alone.
What made Lin Zeqiu even more upset was that early the next morning, Lin Zhixia packed her suitcase, said goodbye to her parents, and moved to Jiang Yubai's house "temporarily".
When Lin Zeqiu sent Lin Zhixia out, Lin Zhixia repeatedly assured him: "Don't worry, I will take good care of myself."
It was a fresh autumn morning, with light morning mist shrouding the dawning city, and the faint scent of osmanthus floating in the air. Jiang Yubai stood downstairs of a residential building with his hands in his pockets. He looked up at the sky, his expression the same as before, and his profile alone was very eye-catching, with a line drawn from his forehead to the bridge of his nose, lips, and chin, and that line was also perfect.
Lin Zhixia sensitively noticed that Jiang Yubai's mentality was different from usual - although his expression and appearance had not changed.
She ran towards him dragging her suitcase.
Lin Zeqiu called her from behind: "Hey, what are you in such a hurry for?"
Hey, a girl in her early twenties...
Lin Zeqiu thought that she was not stable enough to be so excited when seeing her boyfriend.
Lin Zhixia didn't care how Lin Zeqiu called her. She jumped in front of Jiang Yubai, stared at him for a few seconds, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"There are a lot of things going on in the company these past two days," Jiang Yubai explained patiently, "I may not have time..."
There was a pause.
He is still crafting his words.
Lin Zhixia guessed what he meant: "No time to spend with me?"
Jiang Yubai immediately denied: "No."
Lin Zhixia was very considerate and saw through his thoughts: "We have all grown up, we have to work and take responsibility... You have grown up very well, have a high emotional intelligence, and are especially good at dealing with others, but you don't have to treat me like that... What I mean is that you can talk to me directly, just like I do to you. No matter what happens, I will always stand by your side."
After saying that, Lin Zhixia hid the suitcase behind her.
Because Lin Zeqiu was still standing like a stick not far away, Lin Zhixia could not make any intimate gestures towards Jiang Yubai. She stood straight and said simply: "You should focus on your work first. I won't live at your house anymore."
Jiang Yubai didn't expect that she would consider it so carefully.
But the next second, he held Lin Zhixia's wrist tightly like a kiss. She didn't blink, trying to guess his situation by observing his expression, but he smiled suddenly, and Haitang and Qiugui were eclipsed by this smile.
"Stop laughing," Lin Zhixia said soberly, "Have you had breakfast? Come to my house and have some breakfast."
Jiang Yubai said honestly: "I didn't eat anything after we separated last night."
"Didn't you have dinner?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhixia said seriously, "No matter how busy you are, you have to eat." Then she asked, "What kind of breakfast do you want?"
Jiang Yubai was absent-minded and blurted out: "You feed me?"
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