The story afterward
At eight o'clock, the alarm clock started vibrating.
Jiang Cheng turned off his phone, tiptoed out of bed, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
He took off his pajamas, turned on the overhead shower, and took a quick cold shower.
Water droplets rippled across the muscles before falling to the ground.
Due to years of training, compared to the 20-year-old Jiang Chengyi, the 34-year-old no longer has the slightly thin physique of a young man. He has an upright posture, broad shoulders, and a wide chest, presenting a more mature and coordinated streamline. When he exerts force with his back, the bulging muscle lines are extremely beautiful, obvious yet aesthetically pleasing, and the whole body exudes a sense of steady strength.
After taking a shower, Jiang Cheng wrapped himself in a towel, stood in front of the mirror, and squeezed shaving foam onto his chin.
There's a very important report meeting at University A today, and as the main speaker, I need to make sure I look presentable.
After turning 30, his beard started to grow faster. If he didn't shave for two or three days, it would become noticeable. Several times when they kissed, Yu Miaomiao would laugh and push him away, saying that his stubble was making her itchy.
After shaving and rinsing off the foam, he began applying aftershave. Once he was done, he looked at himself in the mirror.
The face in the mirror had completely lost its baby fat; the jawline was clear and sharp. Due to slight loss of collagen, the contours of the cheekbones and brow bones were more prominent, casting patches of shadow under the light from the overhead lamp, giving it a strong, sculpted look.
The lines of the phoenix eyes are still clear and flowing, but they have lost their former flamboyance and sharpness. However, this does not mean that they have disappeared, but rather that they have been internalized into a more calm and confident style.
Jiang Chengyi seemed quite dissatisfied with his face. His gaze swept over it inch by inch, then fixed on a certain spot, and he frowned slightly.
A wrinkle has appeared at the corner of my left eye, I don't know when.
He took out a small mirror, examined it closely, and rubbed it with his fingers until the corners of his eyes turned red and hot. Finally, he confirmed that it was not a shadow or an illusion, and his breathing suddenly became low.
...
Yu Miaomiao was awakened by the sound of something falling in the bathroom.
She groggily opened her eyes, glanced at her phone, and realized it was almost time to get up, so she simply got out of bed to wash up.
She walked barefoot into the bathroom, where the light was on. Jiang Cheng had his hands on the sink, his head hanging down, seemingly doing something.
Yu Miaomiao keenly sensed that the other person was in a bad mood. She rubbed her eyes and asked, "What happened?"
"It's nothing, I just accidentally broke the mirror."
Jiang Cheng looked up and smiled slightly, as always, as if her feelings just now were just an illusion.
He carried Yu Miaomiao back to bed. "Wait a moment, I'll clean up the shards before I wash up."
"Okay, I'll sleep a little longer then, remember to wake me up..."
Yu Miaomiao nodded, her eyes half-closed, clearly still sleepy.
"Okay, I'll call you."
Having received an affirmative answer, she finally closed her eyes in relief and immediately fell asleep.
Jiang Chengyi did not leave. He bent down and stared intently at Yu Miaomiao.
The girl's narrow, small face was buried in the blanket, her light-colored hair was messy, her cheeks were slightly fleshy, and her face was soft, still so childlike and young, just like when Jiang Cheng first saw her fifteen years ago—
Time has not changed her at all.
Jiang Chengyi, on the other hand, is already an adult.
He watched silently for a long time before going to the bathroom to clean, then making breakfast and waking Yu Miaomiao up.
During dinner, Yu Miaomiao asked, "Are you really not coming to my press conference?"
Three years ago, she was promoted to head of the Demon Supervision Committee. Unable to endure the endless overtime and social engagements any longer, she finally decided to leave the Demon Department and devote herself to her beloved programming industry.
Using the influence of her online identity "YM", Yu Miaomiao quickly attracted investment and manpower. After more than three years of hard work, the company successfully listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board.
Today is the first technology launch event since the company went public, and she really hopes that Jiang Chengyi can be there.
Jiang Chengyi said apologetically, "This academic conference is very important and I can't cancel it. I'll try to finish as soon as possible and get here."
Yu Miaomiao nodded, stirring her oatmeal porridge, looking a little unhappy.
After finishing their meal, Jiang Cheng drove Yu Miaomiao to her company and then headed towards University A.
After the great success of the inner alchemy repair project, he received many invitations from the industry, and he chose the demonic power cultivation cycle mechanism, which he was most interested in, as his research direction.
Over the years, the cooperation between monsters and humans has become increasingly close. His company has also launched a university-enterprise cooperation project with University A. He accepted the invitation to take a temporary position at University A, where he occasionally teaches and mentors a few doctoral students.
Jiang Cheng drove the car to the teaching building, but did not get out. Instead, he sat in the driver's seat and silently watched one male college student after another pass by outside the car window.
They may be reserved, reckless, or thin, but each of them exudes an undeniable vigor and vitality, so full of life.
They may have nothing, but their youth is their greatest asset.
Then, Jiang Cheng opened a shopping app and ordered a set of the best-rated moisturizing and anti-wrinkle skincare products.
After doing all this, he couldn't help but laugh at himself.
No matter how much he takes care of himself, he can't go back to being twenty years old. The age gap between him and Yu Miaomiao still exists, and no amount of effort will help.
Even so, he couldn't help but try it if it had even the slightest effect.
The afternoon session was a report meeting. He negotiated with the experts ahead of him one by one and finally found one who was willing to switch places with him. He then sped up the process and finished the meeting ahead of schedule.
Finally, I managed to arrive at the venue before the press conference started.
Instead of messaging Yu Miaomiao, he found a seat in the audience, wanting to surprise her.
After the host warmed up the audience, they got to the main topic, "Now, please welcome CEO Yu Miaomiao!"
Amid thunderous applause, Yu Miaomiao appeared.
She wasn't wearing formal attire, but rather ordinary casual clothes. Her face was narrow and small, with large eyes that had a hint of dark green. She looked very young, showing no signs of being 33 years old. If it weren't for her imposing presence, she might have been mistaken for a recent college graduate.
Yu Miaomiao didn't exchange many pleasantries and began introducing the new generation of products. Her language was concise and straightforward, yet not boring, and she pointed out the innovations and technical challenges incisively.
Her voice was flat, her face expressionless, and she didn't interact with the audience. She showed no intention of being friendly or approachable in public, instead exuding a sense of entitlement and arrogance. Yet, given her achievements, she didn't evoke disgust but rather admiration.
The reporter next to him quickly took photos, muttering, "I never expected the CEO of this dark horse company to be so young!"
Jiang Cheng stared intently at the stage, his eyes fixed on the figure of this person.
Half an hour later, Yu Miaomiao finished her speech and stepped down from the stage, and Jiang Chengyi also left the audience and walked backstage.
Pushing open the door to the lounge, he saw Yu Miaomiao handling business on her laptop, while her assistant beside her was reporting something in a low voice, her attitude respectful, and she occasionally nodded in response.
He knocked on the door.
Yu Miaomiao was engrossed in her work and didn't notice, but her assistant noticed first, "Brother Jiang, you're here."
She looked up abruptly at the doorway, her cold expression vanishing in surprise. "Why are you here!"
As Jiang Cheng approached, he explained, "I made some adjustments, and it just so happened to be there."
The assistant tactfully left the lounge.
Yu Miaomiao tossed her laptop aside. "How was the press conference?"
Her eyes sparkled, and her tone was unusually light, with a hint of self-satisfaction.
“Fantastic! I think this will be a disruptive innovation.”
Yu Miaomiao snorted, "Of course, they don't even know who developed it."
Jiang Chengyi felt as if he could see a kitten wagging its tail and showing off to him, and couldn't help but laugh.
He was about to say something more when he heard a clear shout from outside the door.
"Sister Miaomiao?"
Immediately afterwards, the door was pushed open.
A young man burst in, saw Yu Miaomiao on the sofa, grinned, and gave her a bright smile.
"I knew Sister Miaomiao was here."
He has light blond hair and deep blue eyes. His features are deep and three-dimensional, yet he doesn't appear mature. When he smiles, he reveals two sharp canine teeth, giving him a youthful and bright handsomeness.
He rushed over, wanting to give Yu Miaomiao a warm hug, but she pushed him away ruthlessly, asking with disdain, "Why are you here?"
"I'm Miaomiao's investor, isn't it normal for me to come to the press conference?"
The young man blinked his blue eyes like an innocent big dog.
Jiang Chengyi frowned without making a sound.
He knew this person; he was Liang Qiu, the youngest son of the richest man in City A, an investor in Yu Miaomiao's early entrepreneurial venture. Liang Qiu was of mixed Chinese and French descent, grew up abroad, loved programming, and greatly admired the forum guru "YM." Upon learning that she was going to start a business, he returned to China without hesitation to invest.
He's only 20 years old and still in college, but he's as idle as an unemployed bum, calling Yu Miaomiao every day under the guise of learning about the company's development.
"Sister Miaomiao, who is this?"
Liang Qiu seemed to only now notice the third person in the room.
Jiang Chengyi extended his hand, saying, "I am Jiang Chengyi, Miaomiao's lover, and I am currently a professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at University A."
Liang Qiu warmly shook his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Liang Qiu, my English name is Alphonse, you can also call me Al."
He patted his head dramatically, "Oh dear, were you there at the dinner party before?"
"I'm sorry, I was so focused on Sister Miaomiao that I didn't listen carefully. I thought you were a senior executive at the company. You don't mind, do you, Uncle Jiang?"
His smile remained bright, but his words carried a blatant provocation, and he deliberately emphasized the last "Uncle Jiang".
Jiang Cheng remained unfazed and smiled slightly, "Of course I don't mind. After all, Miao Miao and I are more than ten years older than you, so it's only right that you call me uncle."
Liang Qiu's expression changed. "I didn't say anything about Sister Miaomiao, I was—"
His words were impatiently interrupted by Yu Miaomiao, who said, "You're so long-winded."
Liang Qiu immediately covered his mouth and quieted down, looking pitifully at Yu Miaomiao with his wet blue eyes.
Yu Miaomiao didn't even glance at him, and chatted quietly with Jiang Cheng.
The press conference ended quickly, and the timing was perfect, so everyone drove to the hotel for a meal.
In the car, Jiang Cheng asked, seemingly casually, "Um... Liang Qiu, does he come to see you often?"
Yu Miaomiao wrinkled her nose. "He comes to the company to bother me all the time. If he weren't an investor, I would have had security put him on the access control blacklist long ago."
"What does Miaomiao think of him as a person?"
She shook her head. "He's cunning and treacherous, with impure motives. He keeps pestering me about the company's projects. I suspect he wants to find out secrets so he can start his own business."
Jiang Chengyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The dinner was held at a five-star hotel. Yu Miaomiao booked a banquet hall, set up five tables, and invited everyone from the company.
Yu Miaomiao didn't like to make any fancy moves. She picked up the microphone, said a few words, and then asked for the food to be served.
Most of the company members were tech geeks who didn't know anything about socializing, and no one came to toast Yu Miaomiao. They were all busy eating, after all, five-star hotel food was a rare treat.
Yu Miaomiao, however, was not interested and only tried the first few dishes before stopping.
She whispered to Jiang Chengyi, "It's not as good as what you make."
Jiang Chengyi ladled a bowl of soup for her, saying, "Have something to eat to fill your stomach. I'll make you something delicious when we get back."
"Sister Miaomiao!"
That annoying voice rang out again.
Yu Miaomiao sighed heavily.
Liang Qiu moved a chair over and pushed aside the CFO—a decisive and capable woman—who was originally to her left, and sat down next to her.
She looked at Liang Qiu expressionlessly. "What do you want?"
"Sister Miaomiao, I don't think you really like the food here. The restaurant next door is owned by my family. It's a Black Pearl Three-Diamond restaurant. Let's go eat there after the banquet!"
"I'm not going."
"What kind of food does Sister Miaomiao like to eat? My house has all kinds of restaurants."
Yu Miaomiao threw the spoon into the soup bowl, "I don't like eating."
The obvious perfunctory recovery left Liang Qiu visibly disappointed, but he quickly regained his vitality.
He thought for a moment and changed the subject, "Sister Miaomiao, there's something I don't quite understand about today's press conference. Could you explain it to me?"
This was a reasonable request from the investor, and Yu Miaomiao couldn't refuse. She glanced helplessly at Jiang Chengyi, then frowned and began to explain to the young man.
Her voice was clear and cool, like flowing spring water, and when lowered, it carried a unique charm.
Jiang Chengyi's indifferent gaze swept over Liang Qiu, who stared intently at Yu Miaomiao, nodding and asking questions from time to time, like a silly golden retriever seeking attention.
Her blue eyes shone with obvious affection, but the other person didn't receive any of it.
He sneered inwardly. This man couldn't get a response from Yu Miaomiao when he talked about other topics, so he could only bring up company projects. He was probably secretly pleased with himself, but little did he know that he had already been identified as an internal traitor by Yu Miaomiao.
He is frivolous and naive, impulsive and foolish. If you compare him to Jiang Chengyi, probably no one would think he can beat Jiang Chengyi.
But……
Jiang Cheng's heart sank as he looked into Liang Qiu's bright, loving blue eyes.
But he possessed something Jiang Chengyi could never have: youth.
His eyes were bright and his skin firm. He was carefree and energetic. His love was that of a young man, passionate and undisguised, just like Jiang Chengyi fifteen years ago.
The real Jiang Chengyi, however, struggled in the long river of time, swept forward, unable to stop, and inevitably left behind the marks worn away by the sands of time.
He was already a 34-year-old middle-aged man with wrinkles.
Yu Miaomiao is exactly the same as she was at 20.
Compared to Jiang Chengyi, Liang Qiu seems to be a better match for Yu Miaomiao.
Jiang Chengyi silently clenched his fist.
yes.
Jiang Chengyi, 34, is the youngest full professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at University A; he is a promising young talent in the eyes of his colleagues; he is a respected mentor to his students; and he is a valued subordinate to his superiors. However, he is not the young man who was a good match for Yu Miaomiao back then.
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