Chapter 141: Having won the international gold medal, they officially started dating...
Chen Xi pulled another file out of the folder.
Shi Wan took it. The dark blue invitation was printed with German and English in gold foil, and its heavy texture represented the significance of the award.
“A global award…” Shi Wan repeated softly, her fingertips tracing the logo on the invitation.
It only took one month to go from winning a gold medal domestically to receiving a global nomination.
Even she herself found this speed incredible.
Su Qing's expression became serious with a hint of excitement. "If we can win this global recognition, the brand value will increase by at least three times."
Shi Wan placed the invitation on the table and looked out the window at the farm.
The autumn sun shines on the fields, turning them golden.
The catnip in the greenhouse swayed in the breeze. Outside the activity room window, Rou Rou played with the kittens on the grass. Around them, seven or eight other cats were also sunbathing on the lawn. Jin Dian was not yet familiar with the group, so he could only watch from a distance.
"Let's get ready to go," she finally said. "Su Qing will come to Germany with me, Chen Xi will stay on the farm to take care of things, and Lin Yao will continue to be in charge of promotional materials and media liaison."
"What about Xing Lin?" Su Qing asked. "We definitely need him for the technology demonstration."
Shi Wan paused for a moment.
After that night by the river, her relationship with Xinglin entered a delicate balance.
Closer than friends, but not yet formally defined.
Their tacit understanding deepened as they worked together, and their private interactions became increasingly natural, but neither of them tacitly broke the final barrier between them.
“Of course Xinglin will go,” she heard herself say. “He is the core of the system, and the technical defense cannot be conducted without him.”
Su Qing gave a meaningful "oh," but wisely refrained from asking further questions.
In the following weeks, the farm entered an unprecedented period of activity.
The production line in Zone 2 remained busy. Su Qing was busy arranging and handing over the tasks for her upcoming business trip, and the office lights stayed on until late at night every day.
Without hesitation, Shi Wan spent a huge sum of money in the system's shop to buy the piece of land that Chen Xi had his eye on, and she also bought several other properties in the surrounding area.
As a result, the construction of the third phase production line also began.
Shi Wan practically lived in the office.
I drink coffee one cup after another every day.
Chen Xi and Lin Yao were also extremely busy.
Only Xinglin maintained that composed pace.
He focused on improving the data system, occasionally bringing Shi Wan a cup of hot milk or a simple late-night snack late at night.
He always reminded Shi Wan, "Your health is the most important thing."
Shi Wan took the milk, the warm touch spreading from her palms to her heart.
Looking at Xinglin's gentle face under the light, she suddenly wanted to lean on him and temporarily put down all her fatigue and stress.
But she simply said softly, "Thank you."
On the night before she was to leave for Germany, Shi Wan finally confirmed all the preparations.
She leaned back in her office chair, looked out the window at the completely dark sky, and let out a long sigh.
My phone vibrated; it was a message from Xinglin: "I'm on the terrace, want to come look at the stars?"
Shi Wan hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "Okay."
On the terrace, Xinglin had already set out two cups of hot tea.
The starry sky was exceptionally clear on this autumn night, and the night was like a deep blue curtain hanging in the sky.
In the distance, fireflies twinkled in the fields, like stars fallen to the ground.
"We're leaving tomorrow, time flies." Shi Wan sat down in the rattan chair.
"Are you nervous?" Xinglin asked, sitting opposite her.
“There is still a little,” Shi Wan admitted, “not only the awards ceremony, but also the cooperation negotiations in Europe. Dr. Muller said that if we win the award, the cooperation terms can be reduced by another 10 percent.”
“We will win an award,” Xinglin said with a confident and calm tone. “Our concept and products are top-notch, and the international judges can see their value.”
Shi Wan chuckled to herself. Sometimes she didn't understand where Xing Lin got the confidence to trust her so much. Even she herself sometimes felt uncertain about it.
Looking at his profile bathed in starlight, Shi Wan asked again, "Xing Lin, you've experienced so many worlds, do you think everything I'm doing now has any meaning?"
She had been holding this question in for a long time.
In the gaps between her busy schedules, or when she was alone late at night, she would sometimes doubt herself: had she really done so much, gone through all that trouble, that it was all worth it?
Is she on the right track now?
What if she makes a wrong decision one day?
She often has these thoughts and feels somewhat uneasy.
Xinglin was silent for a moment, then turned to look at her seriously: "Shi Wan, what do you think is a meaningful and important event?"
Shi Wan was stumped by the question.
"Changing the world is a big deal, but isn't it a big deal to help an abandoned cat find a home, to let an elderly dog live out its days in peace, to bring warmth to someone who is lonely because of a pet?" Xinglin's voice was soft. "How can it be meaningless to make those little lives that can't speak live better lives?"
He paused and continued, “I’ve seen too many worlds in the system, but what touches me the most are always those subtle moments of warmth: a smile, a hug, a heartfelt meal, a sincere act of care. The farm is such a place, and you’ve made it such a warm and real place.”
Shi Wan lowered her head and looked at the reflection of the tea swirling in her cup.
She suddenly felt a pang of emotion, realizing that the reason why people can't always walk alone is probably because, in moments of vulnerability, even a simple word of encouragement can help them keep moving forward.
“Moreover,” Xinglin’s voice softened, “you have helped many people find value and a sense of belonging. Su Qing found what she truly wanted to do here; Chen Xi found stability here with the mountain breeze; Lin Yao turned her hobby into a career; Isabella’s studio is thriving, as are the farm staff and the pets and their owners.”
He reached out and gently touched the back of her hand. "Shi Wan, you created more than just a successful business project. You created a warm home, a place where life is treated with kindness. This is more precious than any other great thing."
"Persistence is also an achievement. At least along the way, you have not lowered your requirements and standards, you have not forgotten your original intention and vision, and you have been working hard."
Shi Wan raised her head, her eyes slightly red.
Under the starlight, Xinglin's gaze was so gentle it seemed to envelop her entirely.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't say anything.
Finally, she simply took his hand that was touching hers.
We didn't interlock our fingers; I just held his fingers very lightly.
But at that moment, all the fatigue, stress, and self-doubt were dispelled.
"Thank you." She only managed to say those two words, but both of them understood the weight they carried.
Xinglin did not pull his hand away, but simply let her hold it.
The two sat quietly, gazing at the starry sky and listening to the low chirping of autumn insects.
Flights to Germany take off in the early morning.
Shi Wan sat by the window, watching the city outside the porthole gradually shrink, and felt a strange sensation in her heart.
Six months ago, she was still nervous about the first batch of prototypes; six months later, she will be standing on the international podium.
Su Qing sat next to her, already clearly outlining the itinerary, "I've contacted several European distributors at the networking dinner after the awards ceremony; we can discuss collaborations while we're there. Also, the Munich pet show is being held at the same time; we can go check it out..."
Xinglin sat on the other side of the aisle, quietly reading a German technical magazine.
He learned German systematically and speaks it fluently, like a native speaker.
Shi Wan occasionally glanced at him and noticed that he looked particularly focused when he was reading, his brows slightly furrowed.
November in Germany already has a chill in the air; the sky is a clean gray-blue, and the air is crisp and refreshing.
The person who picked me up at the airport was a staff member arranged by Isabella, a German girl named Anna, who spoke fluent Chinese.
"Mr. Shi, Manager Su, Mr. Xinglin, welcome to Munich. The hotel has been arranged; it's in the city center, very close to the awards ceremony venue."
As the car drove through the streets of Munich, ancient buildings and modern designs coexisted harmoniously.
Looking at the foreign scenery outside the window, Shi Wan felt that sense of unreality again.
She actually came here.
The awards ceremony was held on the evening of the second day.
During the day, Shi Wan led her team to the venue for a final rehearsal, confirming every detail to ensure everything went perfectly.
When the presentation video designed by Lin Yao was played on the big screen, the exquisite visuals and moving music made several staff members stop and watch.
Su Qing and Isabella were checking the German translation of the speech in the audience, scrutinizing it word by word.
"Are you still nervous?" Xinglin asked Shi Wan during a break in rehearsals.
"It was calmer than I expected," Shi Wan said honestly. "Maybe it's because we've done everything we were supposed to do, and now we're leaving the rest to the judges."
Xinglin nodded and reached out to pat the back of her head reassuringly, "That's a good mindset."
In the evening, the team returned to the hotel to make preparations.
Shi Wan changed into a formal dress, still a champagne-colored long dress with a simple cut and an exquisite design at the waist.
The stylist styled her hair and applied exquisite makeup.
The person in the mirror is confident and elegant, with a restrained radiance.
Su Qing knocked on the door and came in. When she saw Shi Wan's appearance, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Beautiful and elegant, you are definitely the most charming female CEO tonight."
Shi Wan was amused by her words.
As night falls, the lights of Munich gradually illuminate the city.
“Let’s go,” she said, “to meet our moment.”
The venue was already full of people.
Representatives from more than 30 countries around the world, industry experts, and media reporters.
Shi Wan's team was seated in the third row.
After taking her seat, she looked around and saw many familiar faces.
There were experts I'd met in industry journals, colleagues I'd exchanged ideas with at exhibitions, and several white-haired academic giants.
“Look, that’s Dr. Johnson from the US, the chief editor of a pet nutrition textbook,” Su Qing whispered. “And that’s Professor Tanaka from Japan, one of the developers of Asian pet food standards.”
Shi Wan nodded, her palms slightly sweaty.
Xinglin sat down next to her. "Don't be nervous. You're here to tell stories, not to take an exam."
Shi Wan was helpless. She hadn't expected that Xing Lin had overheard her brainwashing words and then used them to comfort her.
The awards ceremony begins.
The host opened the event in English, German, and Chinese, followed by the presentation of awards one by one.
Shi Wan watched intently, applauding each winner.
"Next up is the Global Pet Nutrition Innovation Award." The host raised his voice slightly. "This year, the judging committee received 276 applications from 42 countries. After three rounds of rigorous review, three winners were finally selected."
An introductory video began playing on the large screen.
Shi Wan saw her family's farm.
The morning sun shines on the fields, Tangyuan squats on the windowsill licking its fur, the mountain breeze patrols the yard, the production line runs smoothly, and the code on the data system screen scrolls like flowing water.
Then there are images of herself: giving a presentation in a conference room, inspecting on a production line, petting cats on a farm, and smiling on an awards podium.
After the video finished playing, the host announced, "The bronze award goes to the intelligent feeding system from the United States. The silver award goes to the nutritional formula specifically for senior dogs from Japan."
Shi Wan's heart jumped.
Lin Yao clenched her hands, and Su Qing held her breath.
"Gold Award..." The host paused, and the spotlight swept across the venue, "From China's Meow Meow Mimi Farm, a data-driven customized pet nutrition solution!"
Thunderous applause erupted.
Shi Wan was momentarily dazed, until Lin Yao excitedly pushed her, "Sister Wanwan! It's us! The Gold Award!"
She stood up and walked towards the stage under the spotlight.
My steps were a little unsteady, but each step was steady.
Xinglin whispered behind her, "Go, shine on your stage."
Stepping onto the stage and accepting the heavy trophy, Shi Wan looked down at the audience.
The lights were a bit glaring, but she could see Su Qing's eyes shining with excitement, and Lin Yao clapping enthusiastically.
And then there's the arrival of stars.
He sat quietly, looking at her with a gentle yet proud gaze, as if to say, "See, I knew you would win."
The host handed her the microphone.
Shi Wan took a deep breath and began her acceptance speech, which she had practiced for a long time.
"Thank you to the judging committee, and thank you to everyone who has supported us. This award doesn't belong to me alone; it belongs to every member of the farm, to all the pet owners who believe in us, and to every little life on the farm."
Her voice trembled slightly, but quickly regained its composure. "Our initial motivation for doing this was simple: to ensure that every pet can eat the food that is best suited to it. In the face of this goal, differences in nationality, culture, and language are not important. Because love for life is a universal language."
A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.
Shi Wan looked in Xing Lin's direction and continued, "I want to especially thank my team, and thank our data engineer Xing Lin. Without his skills and everyone's hard work, we wouldn't have achieved what we have today."
She raised the trophy, "Finally, I would like to dedicate this award to all those who work tirelessly for the welfare of pets. Let us continue to work together to create a better world for those who cannot speak. Thank you!"
The applause lasted for a long time.
Shi Wan bowed and stepped off the stage. As she returned to her seat, Su Qing hugged her tightly. "President Shi, you're absolutely right! We did it! The global gold award!"
Lin Yao was already sobbing uncontrollably, "Sister Wanwan, I'm so proud..."
Shi Wan held the trophy, feeling the cool touch of the metal, but her heart was filled with warmth.
She looked at Xinglin, and he was looking at her too, his eyes sparkling.
"Congratulations," he said softly.
"Congratulations to us," Shi Wan said earnestly.
At the celebratory dinner following the awards ceremony, Shi Wan became the center of attention.
People kept coming to congratulate us, exchange ideas, and discuss potential collaborations.
Xinglin stayed by her side, handling the technical discussions with grace.
Su Qing was working hard to expand her network, while Lin Yao was researching food and drinks on the side.
Dr. Muller also arrived. He raised his glass to congratulate Shi Wan, saying, "Ms. Shi, you truly deserve it. Our collaboration can now officially begin."
"Thank you, Doctor." Shi Wan clinked glasses with him. "I look forward to our future collaboration."
The dinner lasted until late at night.
When she returned to the hotel, Shi Wan was so tired that she almost wanted to collapse onto the bed.
But after thinking about the consequences of doing so, which would result in several large, persistent pimples, she stubbornly convinced herself to go wash up.
Looking at the Munich night view, she felt a strange sense of peace.
The glory of the global gold medal is dazzling, but she calmed down after receiving the award.
At this moment, what she cares about more is the new challenges that are about to come and the relationship that is finally about to officially begin.
A soft knock sounded on the door.
Shi Wan opened the door, and Xing Lin stood outside, holding a cup of hot milk.
It's amazing how he can always find a kitchen, no matter which country he's in.
"Drink some before you sleep." He handed her the milk.
Shi Wan took the cup, the warm touch spreading from her palms to her heart.
She looked at him. "Can't sleep? Let's talk."
Xinglin entered the room.
The two sat down on a small sofa by the window, gazing at the foreign night view.
Shi Wan chuckled, "Seeing how calm you were on stage today, I didn't feel so nervous anymore."
Xinglin jokingly replied, "Then how about I set it up? How about I use this expression from now on?"
Shi Wan laughed, then politely declined.
She lowered her head to drink her milk, and the room became quiet, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner running.
“Xinglin,” she suddenly said, “after we return to China and the third phase of the production line is stable, let’s be together, officially together.”
She spoke softly, but clearly.
This was a choice she made after careful consideration, and it was a choice she truly made.
There will never be another person who treats her so well, nor another person who understands her so well.
Xinglin's hand trembled slightly.
“Okay.” His voice was a little hoarse, but incredibly firm. “I will spend all my time loving you and protecting you and everything on the farm.”
Shi Wan's face flushed in the night.
She put down her milk glass and gently took his hand in hers.
This time, their fingers were intertwined.
Looking into Xing Lin's gentle eyes, Shi Wan suddenly felt that all the hardships and pressures she had endured along the way had found an outlet.
Munich outside the window gradually fell asleep.
Meanwhile, on a farm thousands of miles away, Tangyuan was squatting on the windowsill of the main house, gazing at the eastern sky.
The mountain wind patrolled its roster and then returned to the doghouse to lie down.
Everything is as usual, peaceful and beautiful.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com