The cold wind was as sharp as a knife, scratching Chai Yang's face painfully.
Chai Yang's center of gravity shifted, his mind went blank, words like "Yangyang Live", "betting agreement", "Jiangke Software" disappeared without a trace, years of ambition came to nothing, and a sudden tinnitus pierced his eardrum.
He is going to die.
The Baiqi Building is 100 meters high.
Looking out from the top-floor windows of the building, the cars on the street look like toy models.
There were four people standing by the window, in addition to Nie Tianqing, there were Jiang Yubai, Lin Zhixia and Secretary Shen.
Jiang Yubai was quick to grab Chai Yang's calf. He exerted a huge force at that moment, and the veins on his arm were bulging under his coat. He usually practiced bench press with a barbell of more than 200 kilograms, but Chai Yang weighed less than 70 kilograms. He lowered his center of gravity and dragged Chai Yang down. Secretary Shen quickly lent a hand, and Chai Yang gradually regained consciousness.
Chai Yang desperately grabbed the window sill and shouted, "Save me! President Jiang!"
Lin Zhixia slapped the alarm.
A few seconds ago, Lin Zhixia's sight was blocked by Nie Tianqing, and she didn't see Chai Yang's movements clearly. But she noticed that Chai Yang said "General Jiang, save me", not "Nie Tianqing, save me", and Nie Tianqing also stood still like a bystander. She was afraid that Nie Tianqing would interfere, so she stood between Nie Tianqing and Jiang Yubai.
Nie Tianqing raised his eyelids, and Lin Zhixia said coldly: "Listen to my advice, you'd better calm down, the assistant and security guards are nearby, you should stop now, Chai Yang has no evidence, if you do it again, you will be in jail for life."
Nie Tianqing couldn't help but sigh: "You are really smart."
"You're not stupid either," Lin Zhixia replied, "You're very patient."
While Lin Zhixia and Nie Tianqing were talking, Jiang Yubai and Secretary Shen had already dragged Chai Yang into the room. Many staff members from the president's office also rushed over. The security guards surrounded Jiang Yubai as if they were facing a powerful enemy, while Chai Yang lay flat on the ground with his arms stretched out in the shape of a "big" character.
The marble floor was as white as snow and reflected a few drops of bright red blood - that was Chai Yang's nosebleed due to excessive nervousness.
Secretary Shen knelt on one knee: "Mr. Chai?"
Lin Zhixia pulled Jiang Yubai's right hand. He had used too much force to save Chai Yang's life, and his palm was rubbed with blood by the rough fabric of Chai Yang's pants, but he handled the situation as if nothing had happened and said, "Call the police, call the emergency number. Our company is in the city center, with a large flow of people. Chai Yang almost jumped off the building. Someone downstairs might have taken a video. Arrange a public relations press release..."
When Secretary Shen heard this, he immediately left Chai Yang. He took out a booklet from his pocket and said while taking notes: "Don't worry, President Jiang, I will contact the Public Relations Department and the Legal Department right away."
It's time to show off! Secretary Shen thought.
As the "first secretary of the group", Secretary Shen always puts his work first. He temporarily forgot about Chai Yang lying on the ground until Chai Yang coughed.
Chai Yang half-sat up, leaning against the wall, his face paler than ever before - Lin Zhixia remembered very clearly that when she first met him in the cafe, his expression was very similar to his current one.
Lin Zhixia looked at him for a moment, and he suddenly covered his face with his hands, as if he was organizing his words.
"Mr. Chai," Secretary Shen stood up straight, "the ambulance is coming soon."
Chai Yang didn't answer.
Nie Tianqing mixed in the crowd, retreating step by step. When no one was paying attention, he left early.
Lin Zhixia glanced at Nie Tianqing's back, then turned to look at Chai Yang. She asked, "Do you still want to discuss equity distribution? The company's repurchase of the equity of resigned employees is legal and reasonable. If you continue to sue, you will definitely not win, and the online reputation will be one-sided, which will not benefit you."
Chai Yang raised his chin and looked at Jiang Yubai.
He blinked heavily, and the wrinkles on his eyelids were clearly visible.
Jiang Yubai's secretary, assistant, the company's managing director, and investment manager were all standing on the other side of the corridor. They were talking in low voices, and Chai Yang could vaguely hear words like "President Jiang".
Chai Yang wiped his hair and muttered to himself: "Boss Jiang... saved me twice."
These were the last words out of his mouth.
Lin Zhixia asked him back, "When we met in the cafe, the investor who asked you to meet didn't take your business plan with you. Do you think that when you become successful, you can slap them in the face? When you become the number one in a certain industry, you can make those who look down on you regret it?"
Chai Yang stood by the wall.
He ignored Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia still said generously: "Professional investors have at least hundreds of projects on hand. I wish you good luck."
Chai Yang took a deep breath.
At around 8 o'clock that evening, the local life channel in the provincial capital broadcast a news interview.
It is reported that at around 1:20 pm Beijing time, on the top floor of a building in the financial district of the provincial capital, Chai Yang, the founder of "Yang Yang Live", nearly jumped off a building. Reporters who received the intelligence rushed to the scene but found nothing. With the tenacity of media practitioners, they followed him to the hospital by all means and finally found Chai Yang lying on the hospital bed receiving an infusion.
Chai Yang agreed to be interviewed.
The camera was focused on his haggard face.
Reporters were still waiting for shocking news, and were not even sure whether the news would be released. Chai Yang was unusually calm and said, "I failed in court and I am not in a good mood. I have seen the criticisms from netizens and I agree with them. Friends who are familiar with me know that I came from the countryside to work hard alone. I have a heavy heart and a thin face. I didn't think it through in the afternoon and almost jumped. Fortunately, my investors saved me. I deleted the video I posted before... Jiangke Software can be helped up by It is a blessing for me, the investors, and the staff team. Each investor has hundreds of projects. I have made a lot of money in the past few years. I withdrew the lawsuit for the contract dispute. I shouldn’t have been impulsive. I thought too little, complained too much, and didn’t understand the law. The trial this morning made me rethink... The trial process between me and Professor Lin can be found on the Internet... I am still the same me as before, the founder of Yangyang Live, leading the team to move forward triumphantly. Serving customers and serving the society is my unchanging entrepreneurial purpose! "
Chai Yang spoke fluently without a single hitch.
Lin Zhixia and her family sat in front of the TV with their bowls in hand. Lin Zeqiu frowned and said, "He took the wrong medicine, and took all the responsibility on himself?" Then he asked suspiciously, "Does he have any other tricks?"
"That's all," Lin Zhixia said mysteriously, "This matter of his ends here."
Lin Zhixia intends to imitate Jiang Yubai.
She lowered her voice.
Lin Zeqiu then taught her: "Speak carefully and clearly."
Lin Zhixia changed the subject: "You don't have to worry about these things. Are you busy with work recently? I will be going to Hong Kong on a business trip next month. I want to bring a junior technician with me. You are on the list recommended by my supervisor, brother."
Lin Zeqiu narrowed his eyes slightly, just like his favorite idiot emoticon.
Lin Zhixia laughed and said, "In our company, everyone respects you."
Indeed.
Lin Zeqiu often heard a sentence - Wow, you are worthy of being Professor Lin's brother.
He put down his bowl and asked carefully, "You are going to Shanghai on a business trip. Is Jiang Yubai traveling with you?"
"Of course," Lin Zhixia said decisively, "Jiang Yubai will definitely go."
Lin Zeqiu picked up the rice bowl again. He held the chopsticks and poked the rice in the bowl.
The year is 2017, and their family's living conditions have greatly improved. Not only do they live in a spacious and bright house, but the brother and sister's jobs are also becoming more stable - Lin Zhixia's performance is always better.
Quantum Technology Company has users all over the world, and Lin Zhixia's income is soaring.
She is no longer the same person she once was.
Last Sunday, she and Lin Zeqiu went out to buy food. When they were at the seafood market, they didn't pay attention to the price tags. They just put the seafood in plastic bags and took it away. Then she said to Lin Zeqiu, "Brother, let's have a big meal today. Mom and Dad have never eaten king crabs, so we can have one for each of the four of us."
How much does king crab cost?
The high price made Lin Zeqiu's heart tremble with fear.
When Lin Zhixia was paying, Lin Zeqiu held her wrist and used a little force. Lin Zhixia said, "I have made a lot of money, and I want to treat you and Mom and Dad to something good... In the past, Mom and Dad were reluctant to eat shrimp dumplings, beef, mutton, and fish. They always saved the best things for you and me."
Lin Zeqiu slowly let go of her hand.
He was convinced by his sister.
That night, their family of four enjoyed a king crab feast at home - the delicate and soft crab meat melted in the mouth, and the mellow and rich aroma lingered in the restaurant for a long time.
Occasional luxury consumption in life can actually bring great happiness.
At that time, Lin Zhixia also said at the dinner table: "I want to take you to a city by the sea, so that you can enjoy seafood to your heart's content."
Lin Zeqiu thought that Lin Zhixia's business trip to Hong Kong this time would put business first and personal matters second, and she would take her family on a trip at the same time.
He didn't say it explicitly, but he was looking forward to it in his heart.
The business trip to Hong Kong is scheduled for early April.
Before leaving the provincial capital, Lin Zhixia called Chai Yang.
Chaiyang has changed a lot recently. He often goes to an ancient temple on the outskirts of the provincial capital to burn incense. The temple is very popular and filled with smoke all year round. He sits under an old tree and answers Lin Zhixia's call.
With the resounding sound of a bell, Chai Yang said, "Professor Lin, President Jiang has communicated with me."
Lin Zhixia said, "Did you communicate the reasons and consequences of your resignation?"
“Yes.” After saying these two words, Chai Yang was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Professor Lin, I’m sorry.”
He sat in the muddy ground after the rain, the wet soil making his trouser legs slightly damp. He didn't care about the looks of passers-by, stretched out his legs, leaned his back against the tree trunk, as if he had returned to the fields of his hometown.
The sky was blue, his heart was far away, and he said unintentionally, "I'm sorry."
He hoped that Lin Zhixia would answer "It doesn't matter", but her answer exceeded his expectations: "People only live for a few short decades. Do things that make you feel at ease and bear the consequences."
Her words contain multiple profound meanings. They are both gospel from angels and warning from the devil.
Chai Yang responded vaguely and then hung up the phone.
The online war between Chai Yang and Lin Zhixia lasted for more than half a year, and finally ended with Chai Yang publicly releasing an apology video. He was very sincere in the video, not only saying "I'm sorry" three times to Lin Zhixia, but also bowing to her to apologize.
After watching the video, Tang Tingting became interested. She captured a few frames and made a series of emoticons of Chai Yang.
In the spirit of "selfless dedication", Tang Tingting shared this set of emoticons in their close friend group for free, and Duan Qiyan replied immediately: "Don't save the photos of this kind of idiot in your phone."
Lin Zhixia echoed, “Hahahahahahahahaha.”
Tang Tingting gave Lin Zhixia a heart.
Duan Qiyan followed suit and also sent out a lot of "ha"s, but Tang Tingting treated him differently: "What ha? Aren't you in class?"
Duan Qiyan replied, "I just finished a class and am correcting homework in the office."
Tang Tingting didn't say anything else.
Their WeChat group fell into silence.
Duan Qiyan is now the math competition coach for the Provincial No. 1 High School. He passed three rounds of interviews and went through many rounds of selection before he got this precious job.
Duan Qiyan's monthly after-tax income was nearly 20,000 yuan, and the Provincial No. 1 Middle School also allocated him a 90-square-meter two-bedroom, one-living room house, which was very close to the school. Duan Qiyan's life became very regular - he got up at 7 o'clock every day, did morning exercises and jogging downstairs, went home to take a shower, changed clothes, and went to work at the school. On weekdays, he had breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the school cafeteria. On weekends, he would go out on a date with Tang Tingting and treat her to meals at restaurants outside.
Duan Qiyan and Tang Tingting have been dating for a few months, but their relationship has not developed as smoothly as he imagined. Occasionally, when he encounters some difficult problems, he has to ask Jiang Yubai for advice, after all, Jiang Yubai is the first person in his circle of friends to get engaged.
Jiang Yubai taught him a four-character motto: "Gentle and considerate."
Jiang Yubai did not explain these four words in detail, and just let Duan Qiyan feel and understand them on his own.
Duan Qiyan is very confident in his own understanding.
Last Saturday, Duan Qiyan called Tang Tingting home and cooked a table of dishes for her. After she had just taken two bites, she said, "Honey, you must be tired from cooking. Let me wipe your sweat off."
As she wiped his forehead with a tissue, she thought: "You are really good at cooking. You are quite capable. When we get married, you will be responsible for buying groceries and cooking. I have a lot of work to do at the company, so I can eat ready-made meals when I go home."
After hearing this, Duan Qiyan casually replied, "I have a lot of things to do at school." He emphasized, "I'm not a slacker."
Tang Tingting hooked her arm around his shoulders and teased, "How busy can a teacher be? When we were in high school, which teacher stayed in school all day? The Academic Affairs Office didn't even allow teachers to work in the office."
Duan Qiyan cited a mutual friend as an example: "Lin Zhixia is also a teacher. She is busy all day long like a wheel."
Tang Tingting picked up her chopsticks: "Why are you competing with her? She is a university professor, has a special research group, supervises several graduate students, is in charge of a large national project, and has to overcome the company's technical difficulties..."
Duan Qiyan let out a sneer from his throat.
That day, he got angry.
His anger manifested itself in not washing the dishes.
Tang Tingting didn't notice this at all.
Tang Tingting sat on the sofa and watched a romantic movie "If Love Has Destiny" with him. The hero and heroine in the movie were teased by fate and could not stay together despite their love. Tang Tingting was deeply moved. She cried so hard that she finally fell on Duan Qiyan's thigh, sobbing and saying, "It's so tragic. The hero and heroine are both so tragic. The hero is actually blind, and the heroine married the second male lead. I feel so sorry for them..."
Duan Qiyan murmured to himself: "Why don't you feel sorry for me..."
He sighed: "I am a real person."
The TV was noisy in the background, so Tang Tingting couldn't hear what he said. She lifted the hem of his shirt and asked him heartlessly, "What are you mumbling about?"
Duan Qiyan did not answer.
From that day on, he didn't contact Tang Tingting for four days. Tang Tingting didn't take the initiative to contact him. The two of them fell into an inexplicable cold war. For this reason, Duan Qiyan specifically consulted Jiang Yubai, and Jiang Yubai's answer made him despair.
Jiang Yubai said, "It's okay, it's only four days. He's busy with work, please be considerate."
What kind of military strategist is Jiang Yubai?
There really isn't a trace of the arrogance and arrogance of a rich and noble young man in him.
His way of resolving marital disputes is simply to admit defeat.
He is obviously good at doing business - Jiangke Software is developing better and better, Baiqi Fund's profits continue to rise, and Quantum Technology Company's performance is booming, but he is obviously not a qualified emotional counselor.
Duan Qiyan no longer asked Jiang Yubai for advice.
While Lin Zhixia was chatting in the WeChat group, Duan Qiyan quickly chatted with Lin Zhixia privately: "I have a friend whose girlfriend has ignored him for four days..."
Lin Zhixia immediately reflected on herself.
She has indeed been busy again recently.
Her quantum technology company has been unanimously recognized by the industry. The governments and enterprises that cooperate with the company are quite satisfied. The academic and industrial circles pay close attention to her. Related research has sprung up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, and the number of citations of her papers has increased dramatically in a short period of time.
This triggers a virtuous cycle.
The school attached more and more importance to Lin Zhixia, and a group of undergraduates and master's students hoped to become her disciples. Lin Zhixia even received emails from fellow doctoral students asking her if she could provide a postdoctoral position.
In recent days, Lin Zhixia has been interviewing undergraduates, master's students, and doctoral students.
In order to expand the research group and improve the quality of the team, Lin Zhixia must ensure that the students who join the group this year have a solid foundation and a stable mentality. She devoted herself to the work as always, temporarily ignoring Jiang Yubai - this busy state lasted exactly four days.
So, Lin Zhixia defended herself by saying, "My girlfriend didn't do it on purpose. She needs to balance her family and career, and she is adjusting."
Duan Qiyan thought: It’s really not easy, a genius is a genius, she saw through that I was talking about Tang Tingting at a glance, and she also helped me persuade Tang Tingting.
Duan Qiyan couldn't help but feel touched. He replied, "Thank you."
Lin Zhixia sent a question mark.
Duan Qiyan sent an emoticon of "Chai Yang bowing".
Jiang Yubai got off work at around five in the evening. All his business was on track, and his workload had been reduced a lot in the past few days.
On the way home, he looked out the window. The dusk scenery was picturesque, and the brilliant afterglow of the setting sun shone on the tall buildings. His secretary couldn't see his expression, so he tentatively whispered, "President Jiang."
Jiang Yubai's left hand was casually placed on the armrest of the leather chair. He was wearing an extremely expensive mechanical watch with a dark black dial. Secretary Shen took a closer look and reported the time: "It's almost six o'clock."
Jiang Yubai asked him: "What are your plans tonight?"
Secretary Shen lowered his head slightly and pushed up his glasses: "Check the first quarter report, reread the managers' comments, and confirm the schedule for next week..."
He was about to say "Waiting for your electronic review" when Jiang Yubai interrupted him: "International economic indicators have changed, new policies have been released, and the investment research team has changed the structural model. I have to attend the team meeting next Monday. I will be on a business trip to Hong Kong on Tuesday. You stay in the company and submit this quarter's profit analysis report as soon as possible."
Secretary Shen nodded repeatedly.
The car moved forward steadily, and Jiang Yubai instructed again: "You should take a proper rest."
Secretary Shen responded without hesitation: "Mr. Jiang, I'll take a rest this weekend."
After a moment, he suddenly remembered something, sat up straighter, and put his hands on his knees: "Boss Jiang, we have roughly figured out what happened with Nie Tianqing."
At this point, he paused.
The changing light and shadow of dusk shone on Jiang Yubai's profile, and Secretary Shen realized that he had almost no expression. He still said calmly: "Go on."
Secretary Shen reported truthfully: "Mr. Nie's family opened a small factory. They originally borrowed money from the bank, but later the bank withdrew the loan and the factory's funds were cut off. His parents borrowed private loans with interest rates of 30% or 40%, and mortgaged the house to the creditor. Mr. Nie moved from 'Taoyuan Riverbank' to 'Ancheng Community', and his family's financial situation plummeted..."
"Taoyuan Riverside" is one of the most famous wealthy areas in the city.
As for the "Ancheng Community", it is an old-style residential building built in the 1980s, and it is also where Lin Zhixia's family used to live.
Jiang Yubai had never heard Lin Zhixia talk about Nie Tianqing, and she probably didn't know that Nie Tianqing was once her neighbor. Jiang Yubai was quite amused, while Secretary Shen was still narrating conscientiously: "Mr. Nie's family's small factory... along with the raw materials, patents, and independently developed equipment, was sold to..."
Jiang Yubai guessed, "Damei Construction Company?"
The chairman of Damei Construction Company is Jiang Yubai's mother.
Secretary Shen crossed his knees and said in a businesslike tone, "Yes, Mr. Jiang, the patent rights of that factory now belong to Damei Construction."
Jiang Yubai's mother is in charge of several companies, and she is widely involved in clothing, steel, building materials, real estate and other industries. Jiang Yubai vaguely remembered that Nie Tianqing's expression was not natural when he first met his mother. He originally thought that it was because his mother looked too young. It seems that he thought too simply at the time. However, he was just ten years old at the time. The biggest setback in his life was forcing himself to accept Lin Zhixia's talent. It was reasonable that he lacked a certain business acumen.
He then asked, "What is the connection between Nie Tianqing and Chai Yang?"
Secretary Shen used the most honest tone to discuss other people's private affairs: "Mr. Nie dated a girl in college... You know, Mr. Chai is married, and his wife is Mr. Nie's ex-girlfriend. She is seven months pregnant and is waiting to give birth in the best private obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Beijing... Mr. Chai is not aware of the relationship between his wife and Nie Tianqing, and Mr. Nie should not take his anger out on Mr. Chai."
On the day of Chai Yang's wedding, Jiang Yubai was still studying in the UK, and Secretary Shen was already a glorious member of the group. Therefore, Secretary Shen attended Chai Yang's wedding and met the bride.
Secretary Shen told us everything he knew, "The wedding was very lively, and the groomsmen performed three shows..."
Jiang Yubai raised his left hand: "You don't need to talk about this."
Secretary Shen concluded: "We have learned the general situation privately through various information channels."
Jiang Yubai did not make any comments.
The car stopped outside the main entrance of the luxury residential area. The faint moonlight faded into the night. The soft light of the street lamps illuminated a long street. Jiang Yubai walked alone on the street, his slender shadow crossing a patch of lush grass. At this moment, he heard Lin Zhixia's voice: "I just walked to your door. I was too busy these days and didn't call you... But you have to believe that I always think of you."
He was still silent, but he smiled silently.
He reached his right hand behind his back and grabbed Lin Zhixia's left hand.
They held hands and walked side by side on the way home.
Before entering the house, Lin Zhixia said, "I wanted to come see you as soon as I got off work today..."
Before Lin Zhixia finished her words, Jiang Yubai lifted her up by the waist. Her legs were hanging in the air, and she quickly hugged his shoulders, and was carried over the threshold by him like a sack.
With a loud "bang", the front door was tightly closed. A glass vase on the wooden cabinet at the entrance was rippled with water. The light spread in the transparent water color. The fragrance of roses filled the air. Lin Zhixia whispered, "Put me down."
Jiang Yubai said, "Wait a little longer."
Lin Zhixia couldn't help but sigh: "You played so wild today."
Jiang Yubai held her legs tightly with one hand: "Is this considered wild?"
"What else?" Lin Zhixia said with reason, "Normally, you always give in to me no matter what we play."
That's not necessarily true, Jiang Yubai thought to himself.
Whenever Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai played puzzle games, Jiang Yubai wanted to win. He always tried his best and never deliberately lost once, no matter when he was a child or when he grew up...but he never won.
Jiang Yubai brought Lin Zhixia into the study, and she sat on a wide desk. Before Jiang Yubai took a step, Lin Zhixia suddenly grabbed his tie, moving her fingertips up alternately, and finally, she gently touched his Adam's apple.
He swallowed and said, "I have a gift for you."
"What gift?" Lin Zhixia tilted her head, "It's so mysterious."
Jiang Yubai pulled open the drawer of his desk and took out a heavy box carved from sandalwood. He opened the box and displayed a row of ambers that looked like glass. Each piece of amber was very natural in color, including light red "amber", vermilion "blood amber", and the rare "blue amber", which contained insects and flowers visible to the naked eye. Lin Zhixia was indeed deeply attracted.
She grabbed a piece of amber and placed it in her palm. "This insect probably lived in the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago. It belongs to the family Hymenoptera."
She lowered her head and said, "This is a member of the Coleoptera family, a living fossil from the Cretaceous period..."
The amber in the box has never been publicly exposed. Over the years, it has been circulated among artists and collectors around the world, and now it has fallen into Lin Zhixia's hands.
Lin Zhixia held them in her hands and played with them, and even examined them carefully with a magnifying glass. She said with interest, "Look at this one, it may belong to the suborder Protothecia, it is small in size, has side plates on the prothorax, scales on the body surface, and a total of five tarsal segments..."
At this point, Lin Zhixia realized belatedly: "Where did you get so much amber?"
Jiang Yubai told Lin Zhixia that not long ago, he participated in an auction called "Natural History". He also had many collections at home. After a lot of selection, he just picked out a whole box.
"How do you choose?" Lin Zhixia asked casually.
Jiang Yubai described it succinctly: "Pick the biggest one so you can see it clearly."
Lin Zhixia smiled. She raised her head and kissed his cheek, closing the lid of the wooden box. He caressed her neck, and as their breaths intertwined, he leaned over slightly and kissed the corner of her lips lightly. She tilted her head, extended her pink tongue, and licked her lips with lingering desire.
The temperature of the central air conditioner was high, and Lin Zhixia felt a little hot. She took off her coat and continued to sit on the table. The windbreaker was wrapped around her waist, forming a slender waistline. The light white shirt she was wearing was tied tightly in front of her chest, with a beautiful curve.
Jiang Yubai opened a bottle of mineral water and took two sips, looking like he had been thirsty for a long time. He put his left hand diagonally into his trouser pocket and held the mineral water bottle tightly with his right hand. With the beautiful scenery in front of him, he drank the water as if he was tasting wine.
Jiang Yubai said implicitly: "We haven't seen each other for a week."
Lin Zhixia understood instantly. She said with a smile: "Let's go to the bedroom?"
Jiang Yubai squeezed the mineral water bottle, making a light "crack" sound. The plastic dented inwards and the two sides stuck together. He was about to say "I'm going to take a shower", but Lin Zhixia said, "I have something important to discuss with you."
Jiang Yubai subconsciously put the mineral water bottle into the drawer, and temporarily put aside the dirty thoughts in his mind. Lin Zhixia's attitude became more serious: "It's like this, I like the amber box you gave me very much. I have read some paleontology books, and amber from hundreds of millions of years ago is a very valuable source of research..."
Jiang Yubai guessed what she would say next. He said, "Donate them to a research institution. If the institution publishes a paper, you can take the paper and teach me the history of paleontology, Teacher Lin."
Jiang Yubai was so considerate and reasonable that Lin Zhixia couldn't guess a word he said. She picked up the box and continued to identify the animals and plants in the amber. She asked Jiang Yubai a few more questions to confirm the ownership of this batch of treasures. She was still a little worried: "Are you really willing to let me donate them all?"
"This one," Jiang Yubai picked out a piece of blue amber, "has no life inside, only a bubble heart. It has no value for biological research, so keep it."
Lin Zhixia drew a heart on his palm: "Okay."
She pulled out her cell phone from her windbreaker pocket. "There is a paleontology laboratory in the School of Earth Sciences at our school. The head of paleontology is Shen Fuxuan's father, who is also the son-in-law of Professor Shen Zhaohua. I donated amber to their laboratory, and maybe I can discover new species from the Cretaceous period of the Earth..."
She took a photo of Amber and saved it on her phone.
Jiang Yubai helped her sort the amber so that she could take photos. For the ten thousandth time, she was impressed by Jiang Yubai's gentleness, kindness, rationality, calmness, wisdom, thoughtfulness, and generosity... They worked together and completed the task successfully after more than ten minutes.
Lin Zhixia was in a good mood. She left the study and ran into the bedroom.
Jiang Yubai followed her into the room. He sat down on the bed, signaling Lin Zhixia to get closer to him. Without saying a word, she sat on his thighs, and he kissed the corner of her lips again—it wasn't a passionate kiss, just a light touch.
Lin Zhixia was so tempted by him that she put on a serious attitude: "I want to say..."
"What?" Jiang Yubai asked back.
Lin Zhixia was teasing him. She began to change the subject: "Paleontology is the basis of geology. The organisms in amber reflect the information of the ancient environment and help to find various mineral resources..."
"I understand," Jiang Yubai interrupted her, "Teacher Lin."
Lin Zhixia improvised the role of a teacher: "What the teacher said just now were all important points that were repeatedly emphasized. They will be tested in the final exam. Now you are distracted and not listening carefully. The teacher really can't do anything."
Jiang Yubai whispered in her ear: "I was distracted because..." His fingertips brushed across her collar: "I saw the buttons of your shirt."
Lin Zhixia felt a slight itch and shiver as he stimulated her.
She didn't say anything, so he asked her, "What's wrong?"
Lin Zhixia held the back of his hand, and he said to himself, "Sure enough, the buttons are too tight."
He was like a kind student: "I'll help you unbutton it..." He described: "It will be more comfortable than it is now."
Jiang Yubai was not like this before. He used to be a boy who would blush when he heard a few nice words. Over the years, he has indeed grown a lot... The more Lin Zhixia thought about it, the warmer her heart became. And she never suppressed her emotions, so she simply pulled Jiang Yubai to the bed.
Lin Zhixia spent a weekend at Jiang Yubai's home, and their life was as sweet as honey.
Lin Zhixia also contacted He Yuanqian through Professor Shen Zhaohua. He Yuanqian is Shen Fuxuan's father and a national-level professor of paleontology. He received the amber photo sent by Lin Zhixia and replied to her the next day.
He Yuanqian said that the amber was extremely valuable, and some species had not yet been discovered. Lin Zhixia could lend the amber to them for research for four years, and after four years, when the paper was successfully published, they would return the amber. This research model is quite common in universities and research institutions - paleontologists cooperate with collectors, sign contracts, and agree on a deadline. When the deadline is up, the collection will be returned intact.
Lin Zhixia asked again: "Is it really not necessary to donate forever?"
On Monday morning, Ho Yuan-qian replied by email: “Hello Professor Lin, I suggest you consider making a permanent donation to the museum.”
Museums are Lin Zhixia's favorite place to go. She had a wish when she was a child, she wanted to go to museums all over the world with Jiang Yubai, and He Yuanqian's suggestion touched Lin Zhixia's heart.
That afternoon, Lin Zhixia personally went to the School of Earth Sciences with the amber box in her arms. She signed a four-year amber research agreement and met Professor He Yuanqian in person.
He Yuanqian was about fifty years old, tall and thin, with slightly gray hair. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, giving him the air of a scholar. His eyebrows and eyes were 70% similar to Shen Fuxuan. Lin Zhixia looked at him for a moment, as if she saw the fifty-year-old Shen Fuxuan.
He Yuanqian is an easy-going and talkative person.
Wearing a pair of gloves, he wiped the amber while chatting with Lin Zhixia about Shen Fuxuan. He said that Shen Fuxuan had just been transferred back from the grassroots level and was currently working in the provincial capital. He went out early and came back late, and was quite ambitious.
The news that Shen Chongxuan was determined to go into politics had already spread throughout his circle of friends.
Lin Zhixia was not surprised at all when she heard about his recent situation.
Professor He Yuanqian said that in order to thank Lin Zhixia for her generous assistance, he wanted to treat Lin Zhixia to a meal, and also invite Shen Fuxuan and the graduate students in his research group. Professor He would organize a dinner party every April, because after April, when the weather gets warmer, he would take his students out for field trips.
Lin Zhixia declined He Yuanqian's kindness. She was going to Hong Kong on a business trip tomorrow and had to pack her luggage at night. She would stay in Hong Kong for another two weeks. When she returned to the provincial capital, Professor He and his students would have already gone to the research base outside the province.
The moon that night was very round, with a halo inlaid with a circle of silver, like a round jade disk.
Lin Zeqiu was very happy.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, folding his clothes skillfully.
The curtains fluttered in the wind, and the moonlight flowed into the room. Lin Zeqiu packed his suitcase tightly, took out his phone, and read the "Hong Kong Travel Guide". Then, he opened WeChat and edited a circle of friends: "Starting tomorrow, I will be on a business trip to Hong Kong for two weeks."
Hong Kong is a city by the sea, but Lin Zeqiu has never seen the sea in person. Just like his sister Lin Zhixia, he has a vague natural yearning for the island city.
But he hesitated for a moment and finally did not post the message. He rarely posted anything in the past year, except for giving likes to merchants to get discounts.
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