Chapter 12 It's so boring to be alone
Lin Wei's drastic measures and breakthrough ideas were like a shot in the arm, injecting the "Star Ocean Project" that was on the verge of paralysis.
Yu Ling, granted unprecedented authority and trust, led the core team and began intensively implementing Lin Wei's blueprint. They rebuilt user models, designed new conversion paths, and coordinated technical and product resources. The workload soared, and overtime became the norm.
This time, however, the rush was completely different from the previous hectic struggles. The goal was clear, the path defined, and behind her was Lin Wei, a powerful backer who cleared obstacles and mobilized resources. Yu Ling felt like a thoroughly honed blade, tempered by high pressure, unleashing astonishing energy. She was so immersed in this challenging yet exhilarating state that she often looked up to see the lights dim outside the window.
It was another late night working overtime. The clock passed ten o'clock.
Only a few lights remained on in the 17th-floor office area of Venusstar Technology. At Yu Ling's workstation, three monitors lit up, displaying densely packed data charts, user journey flow charts, and draft designs awaiting approval.
She rubbed her swollen temples, picked up the cold coffee beside her and took a sip. The bitter liquid slid down her throat, bringing a brief moment of clarity. Her fingertips danced across the keyboard, the tapping sound particularly clear in the silent room.
The phone screen lit up, and it was Zhao Chen's WeChat.
ZhaoC: [Image: A bowl of thick, soft chicken congee, garnished with green scallions and golden shredded chicken]
ZhaoC: General Ling, how's the battle going on the front lines? Midnight snack supplies have been delivered downstairs. Please indicate the drop-off coordinates. [Salute.jpg]
Yu Ling looked at the bowl of steaming porridge in the picture. She could almost smell the alluring aroma of rice and the sweetness of chicken soup. Her cold stomach was instantly enveloped by a warmth. She couldn't help but smile, and her fingers quickly replied:
[Ling]: Reporting to the commander! The enemy (data) is holding out stubbornly, and our army (plan) is closing in! We estimate it will take another hour to eliminate the remaining enemies! Requesting a midnight snack airdrop to the east battlefield on the 17th floor (my workstation)! [Struggle.jpg]
Less than three minutes after the message was sent, familiar footsteps approached. Yu Ling looked up and saw Zhao Chen, carrying the thermal bag, appear at the office door.
Today he wore a soft, dark gray cashmere sweater, topped with a matching tweed coat, which accentuated his taller and more slender figure. The light fell on his sharply defined profile, softening any sharpness that might have existed during the day, leaving only a gentle warmth like jade.
"General Ling, your supplies." He walked over to Yu Ling's workstation and gently placed the thermos bag on the corner of the desk. His voice was soft and smiling. The bag opened, and the rich aroma of raw chicken porridge instantly filled the air, domineeringly dispelling the heavy smell of coffee and paper that lingered in the office.
"Thank you, Director Zhao!" Yu Ling smiled, taking the spoon he offered her and eagerly scooping a spoonful into her mouth. The warm porridge slid down her esophagus, carrying the richness of the chicken broth and the tenderness of the shredded chicken. It instantly soothed her tired internal organs, and a sense of happiness washed over her. She sighed contentedly, "It's delicious! It saved my stomach from a breakdown."
Zhao Chen pulled up an empty chair and sat down beside Yu Ling naturally, showing no sign of leaving immediately. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the complex data charts and flow charts on her screen, his eyes focused and filled with a subtle admiration.
"The battle seems... stalemate?" he asked casually, his tone as relaxed as if he was chatting.
"Yeah, a little bit." Yu Ling sipped her porridge while pointing to a complex conversion funnel model on the screen. "Here, the conversion rate from users clicking on the ad to completing their first core experience is still relatively low.
"We've just released A/B test data on our newly designed guidance and incentive strategies. While the results have improved, they haven't reached the expected threshold yet. Mr. Lin has very high expectations..." She subconsciously shared the difficulties of her work with Zhao Chen, as if sharing a perfectly ordinary, everyday incident.
Zhao Chen listened quietly, his eyes scanning the detailed A/B test data report. His slender fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on his knees, as if he was thinking. After a moment, he leaned forward slightly and pointed to a data point in the report:
"Here, comparing the user behavior heatmaps for Groups 3 and 5, there are subtle differences in the marginal areas. Group 5 users paused on this secondary guide button for an extra 0.5 seconds before entering the experience. Although this time is short, combined with the bounce rate data, this 0.5 second of hesitation may be the key point of conversion loss."
Yu Ling looked in the direction he pointed. There were two densely packed, color-coded heat maps of user action paths. Her previous analysis had focused more on click volume and dwell time in the core area, overlooking the subtle differences in the peripheral buttons. Zhao Chen's guidance immediately recognized the problem—the secondary onboarding button's design might not have been clear or compelling enough, causing users to hesitate for a moment and increasing the risk of churn.
"Oh my god! I actually overlooked this!" Yu Ling slapped her forehead in frustration, then her eyes lit up. "You have such a keen eye! You can even see this?" She looked at Zhao Chen, her eyes filled with surprise and admiration. This kind of observation and sensitivity to data is definitely not something an ordinary person can possess!
Zhao Chen seemed a little embarrassed by her gaze. He raised his hand and touched the tip of his nose, revealing a shy smile.
"Well, I used to... well, I did game UI testing for a friend for a while, and I got used to staring at those heatmaps and finding flaws." He brushed it off lightly, then naturally changed the subject. "Since that might be the problem, why not try adjusting the button's text? Or maybe changing it to a more eye-catching color? Or even... adding a subtle animation?"
His suggestions hit the nail on the head and provided specific, actionable optimization directions. Yu Ling immediately opened the design file and, following Zhao Chen's ideas, experimented with modifying the text and style of the secondary call-to-action button, discussing with him which wording would best motivate users to click.
The two of them were huddled together in front of the computer screen, one concentrating on revising the design draft while the other gently offered suggestions.
Zhao Chen's delicate cedar scent, mixed with the warm aroma of raw chicken porridge, lingered at Yu Ling's nose. His warm breath occasionally brushed against her ear as he spoke, bringing a subtle tickle. Yu Ling's heartbeat inexplicably quickened, her cheeks flushed, and she forced herself to focus on the screen.
The optimization plan was initially finalized, and Yu Ling felt her thinking broadened considerably. She stretched, loosening her stiff neck. "Done! I'll have the designers produce the drawings tomorrow, and the technical team will simultaneously modify the code and test the results! Hopefully, it works this time!" With a tired yet satisfied smile on her face, she tilted her head to meet Zhao Chen's amber eyes, close at hand, gently smiling.
Their eyes met. The air seemed to freeze for a moment. The light from the office ceiling lamp fell on his thick eyelashes, casting a small shadow. The smile in his eyes was clear, like a glass filled with tiny starlight. Yu Ling's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly looked away, feeling the heat in her ears spreading.
"Well... the porridge is finished. Why don't you go back and rest early? It will probably take me a while." Yu Ling packed the thermal box in a panic, trying to break the delicate atmosphere.
Zhao Chen didn't move. He tilted his head slightly, looked into Yu Ling's evasive eyes, and suddenly spoke, his voice a little lower than before, almost a coquettish tone.
"Lingling..." He drew out the last syllable, like a lazy big cat scratching people with its claws, "It's so boring to work overtime alone." He paused, his eyes revealing just the right amount of grievance and expectation, "I'll be alone when I go back, how about I accompany you? I promise to be quiet and will never disturb you while you work!" He raised three fingers and made an oath, his expression serious and with a bit of childish pleading.
Yu Ling was left in a state of confusion by his sudden act of "coquettishness." A tall, long-legged, and introverted man, looking at you with such wet eyes and saying, "It's so boring to be alone," was simply offensive!
She thought of the top-notch luxurious furniture and daily necessities at home, and then looked at the man in front of her who was a top chef wearing an apron, could accurately snipe financial scams with his mobile phone, and could point out problems by looking at a heat map, but now he looked like a large dog begging for shelter... The huge contrast made her completely unable to cope!
"Aren't you tired?" Yu Ling tried to struggle.
"Not tired! Watching you work, I see you are very motivated!" Zhao Chen replied immediately, his eyes sparkling with undisguised "sincerity".
"...Okay." Yu Ling sighed helplessly and pointed to the empty seat next to her, "Then you sit here and keep quiet." She really couldn't bear to reject those amber eyes that were full of "please take me in".
"As you command!" Zhao Chen's face lit up immediately, as if he had received a special pardon. He deftly dragged his chair a little closer to Yu Ling (but keeping a polite distance), then, like a magic trick, pulled out an ultra-thin silver laptop from his coat pocket.
The computer's design was incredibly simple and sleek, its metal body gleaming with a cool sheen. It lacked any branding and was as thin as a magazine. Zhao Chen placed it on his lap and turned it on. The moment the screen lit up, Yu Ling caught a glimpse of the starry-eyed, pure black desktop background. There were no fancy icons, only a simple terminal window quietly floating above it.
Zhao Chen's slender fingers landed on the keyboard. It seemed to be specially made, with extremely short key travel and virtually no sound. His fingertips danced across the keyboard at a dizzying speed!
Not just typing, but typing code!
On the screen, in the black command window, lines of white code cascaded down like a waterfall! It was so fast that Yu Ling couldn't even make out what he was typing; all she could see was a blurry white afterimage! His finger movements were precise, steady, and swift, with a smooth rhythm and absolute control!
The focused profile, the slightly pursed thin lips, and the cool and sharp light flashing in his eyes like a precision instrument are completely different from his usual gentle and homely appearance when he wears an apron and cuts vegetables!
Yu Ling was completely stunned and forgot to move the mouse.
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