Chapter 22
The International Conference Center's massive crystal chandeliers cast dazzling streams of light, illuminating the mirror-like marble floor and the packed auditorium, filled with leading experts and scholars from home and abroad. The air was filled with the aroma of fine fragrances, caffeine, and the invisible, solemn pressure of a temple of knowledge.
Xia Wan stood in the shadows of the backstage entrance, taking one last deep breath. Her cool fingertips unconsciously brushed the collar of her dark gray business suit, trying to smooth out the wrinkles that didn't exist. Her heart beat steadily and powerfully in her chest, with a strange, tempered calm. The quiet confidence ignited by Jiang Yu's words, "There's light in the plan" and "I'll be backstage," now enveloped her slender frame like an invisible armor.
She no longer glanced at the thin reminder cards in her hands. The entire plan, from the century-old craftsman's notes to the cutting-edge biomimetic composite materials, from every crack in the vault wall to the molecular structure of the new material, was already etched in her mind like a brand. It was her battlefield, her language, her light.
The host's steady voice carried through the microphone, "...Next, I would like to invite Engineer Xia Wan from the Jinzhou Institute of Architectural Science to present a report entitled 'Integrating Traditional Wisdom with Modern Technology: An Innovative Solution for Non-destructive Reinforcement of Underground Historic Spaces Based on Bionic Composite Materials.'"
There was polite and restrained applause.
Xia Wan straightened her back and stepped onto the brightly lit podium. Her high heels made a clear, steady sound on the polished floor. The lights were a bit glaring, blurring the faces of the audience into a dark background. She walked to the center of the podium, adjusted the height of the microphone, and calmly scanned the audience.
As her gaze passed over the front row, it paused for a fleeting moment. Jiang Yu sat there, not quite in the center, but at a clear angle with a clear view of the podium. He wore a neatly ironed dark gray suit, leaning back in his chair with a relaxed posture, his hands casually folded in his lap. His gaze rested calmly on her, his deep eyes devoid of any emotion, only a pure, listening concentration.
That gaze, like an anchor sinking into the deep sea, instantly stabilized the last trace of ripples in Xia Wan's heart.
She nodded slightly, and her clear and calm voice echoed clearly in the huge conference hall.
"Good afternoon, experts and colleagues. I am honored to share an innovative solution we explored for the settlement of key load-bearing walls in the underground vault renovation project of the Jinzhou Old Bank Building..."
The next twenty minutes became Xia Wan's solo stage.
She didn't use flowery rhetoric or exaggerated gestures. Her language was precise and concise, like the structural drawings in her hands, with clean lines and rigorous logic. She drew inspiration from the ancient wisdom about "glutinous rice mortar" found in the "Records of Internal Structural Technicians of Banks of the Republic of China," and skillfully transitioned to the design concepts of modern biomimetic composite materials. Using detailed experimental data and clear structural model animations, she meticulously presented a solution that embodied the wisdom of ancient texts and cutting-edge technology.
She described how the material simulates the biomineralization process to form a seamless bond with the ancient masonry structure at the microscopic level; she demonstrated how the new composite material, like a flowing "smart mortar", can precisely penetrate into the tiniest cracks and complete internal reinforcement without leaving any traces; she used a three-dimensional model to demonstrate the changes in stress distribution in the structure after reinforcement, and the data comparison convincingly proved its effectiveness and safety.
Her voice was low, yet powerful. The passion and conviction for her research, emanating from the depths of her soul, like the "intelligent mortar" she described in her proposal, silently permeated the minds of every listener. Standing under the spotlight, her slender figure seemed enveloped in the light, her slightly raised almond-shaped eyes gleaming with focus and confidence. She exuded an irresistible magnetism, unique to her professional field.
In the audience, the initial polite listening gradually gave way to focused thought. Several white-haired veteran experts nodded frequently, while younger scholars took notes rapidly. Questioning glances did not completely disappear, but more and more people were drawn to the unique approach and solid argument.
Jiang Yu sat in the audience, his eyes fixed on the podium. He watched her calmly expound in the beam of light, watched her precisely point a laser pointer at a complex structural joint, and watched her respond to a European expert's somewhat tricky question about the long-term durability of materials with a clear and coherent citation of accelerated aging test data. Her response was calm, professional, and undeniably confident.
His fingers, resting on his knees, curled up imperceptibly. Her deep eyes reflected her blossoming professional presence. Beneath the calm surface of the lake, something deeper seemed to surge quietly. The thing he called "light" now shone so brightly, so truly, that it illuminated the entire conference room. He didn't just "see" it; he was silently scorched by it, a silent corner of his heart.
When Xia Wan ended her report with the words, "The restoration of historical buildings is not only a technical challenge, but also a dialogue with time and wisdom. We hope to use the most humble attitude and the most cutting-edge exploration to allow these silent witnesses to continue to carry the memories of the future," there was a brief silence in the venue.
Immediately, applause erupted like a tide! It was passionate and sustained, far surpassing the politeness of the opening. This applause was a recognition of her innovative thinking, a respect for her solid work, and a tribute to her unique perspective and unwavering conviction.
Xia Wan stood at the center of the podium, bowing slightly in thanks. The lights were a bit dazzling, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement and concentration. Her eyes swept across the audience again, passing by the applauding experts and scholars, and finally, they returned to that familiar spot.
Jiang Yu was also clapping. His movements weren't exaggerated, just a steady clapping of his hands. But his gaze, piercing the crowd and the distance, locked firmly on her. His eyes, no longer calm and composed, were replaced by an extremely complex light, surging with deep emotions—undisguised admiration, pure joy for professional achievement, and a kind of... almost proud recognition? It was as if he was silently saying: See, this is what I call "light."
Their eyes met, separated by the clamor of applause and the dazzling lights. Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Xia Wan clearly saw the deep light in his eyes, and her heart felt like it was being gently yet powerfully struck. A warm current, accompanied by a huge sense of accomplishment and an indescribable throbbing, instantly swept through her body. She raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing him with an extremely brief, yet incredibly clear smile. In that smile, there was the relief of having things settled, the gratitude of being recognized, and even a tacit understanding - "Did you see it?"
The corners of Jiang Yu's lips seemed to twitch upward ever so slightly, forming an almost invisible arc, like a tiny crack in a glacier just beginning to melt. He took in her smile, and also took in the silent understanding.
The applause died down. At the host's signal, Xia Wan stepped off the stage. Entering the shadows of the backstage, her tense nerves suddenly relaxed. A surge of exhaustion mixed with intense excitement washed over her, and she even felt a slight gait.
"Engineer Xia! That's great!" Colleagues from the project team immediately gathered around him, their excitement evident in words.
"Excellent presentation! The response about the long-term performance of materials is fantastic!"
“Several experts have privately expressed their interest and want to learn more!”
Surrounded by the enthusiasm of her colleagues, Xia Wan responded to their congratulations with a smile on her face, but her eyes subconsciously searched across the crowd for that figure.
Soon, she saw him. Jiang Yu didn't leave the venue immediately, but stood in a relatively quiet corner near the backstage entrance, whispering something with a heavyweight foreign expert at the meeting. He seemed to sense her gaze and glanced in her direction during a break in the conversation.
His eyes were still deep, but with a different, clear warmth. He nodded slightly and silently mouthed, "Very good."
Xia Wan's heartbeat quickened again. She tried to maintain a calm demeanor and said to her colleagues, "Thank you for your hard work. I'll go to the lounge and clean up."
She carried the documents and made her way through the crowd toward the lounge in the corner. When she passed Jiang Yu, he had just finished talking to the expert. The expert patted him on the shoulder and left with an approving look.
The lounge door was ajar. Xia Wan pushed it open, finding no one inside. She placed her documents on the table, walked to the window, and with her back to the door, took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart and churning emotions. The city outside the window looked pale in the winter sun, but a fiery fire burned within her chest.
At this moment, there were very light footsteps and the sound of a door being gently closed behind me.
Xia Wan's body tensed instantly, but she didn't turn around immediately.
Steady footsteps stopped a few steps behind her. The familiar, crisp scent of fir trees silently filled the air, blending with the faint aroma of the venue.
The lounge was unusually quiet, with only the faint sound of their breathing. The light from outside filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting stripes of light and dark on the polished floor.
Xia Wan slowly turned around.
Jiang Yu stood a few steps away from her, his tall figure casting a heavy shadow in the dimly lit lounge. He had shed his suit jacket, leaving him in a neatly pressed white shirt and dark gray vest. His tie was loosened, giving him a less formal, more casual, upright demeanor. His gaze rested on her face, no longer concealed, a turmoil of complex emotions swirling within it—a lingering admiration and joy for her success, a deeper, almost icy warmth, and a kind of... almost scrutinizing, captivating focus.
He didn't say anything, just looked at her like this. His gaze was like a substance, sweeping across her cheeks that were slightly flushed with excitement, across her bright but slightly tired eyes, and across the dark gray suit she was wearing, which looked particularly neat because of the report.
This silence, filled with immense tension, unnerved Xia Wan more than any words could have. The confidence and composure she had displayed on stage melted away beneath his stern gaze. She could even clearly hear the thrum of her own blood coursing through her veins.
"Jiang..." She opened her mouth, wanting to break the suffocating silence, but she didn't know what to say. "Thank you?" seemed too soft. "Report my feelings?" seemed too deliberate.
Jiang Yu took a step forward. The distance between them was not much closer, but the powerful presence on his body and the deep gaze that seemed to suck people in made Xia Wan subconsciously hold her breath.
He remained silent, simply raising his hand and, naturally, brushing away a strand of hair that had fallen onto her forehead. His fingertips were dry and slightly cool, carrying a faint scent of tobacco, as they gently brushed against the skin of her forehead, sending a subtle, electric-like shiver through her.
Xia Wan's body froze instantly, her heart tightening as if by an invisible hand. She stared at him in disbelief, her eyes wide. This action... was too intimate, it had already surpassed the boundaries of "classmates"!
Jiang Yu didn't seem to mind. His gaze remained fixed on hers, an indescribable undercurrent swirling in his deep eyes. He withdrew his hand, his fingertips still lingering on the delicate touch of her skin.
"Report," he finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a suppressed burning feeling that almost broke through the shackles. Every word clearly struck Xia Wan's tense nerves, "very successful."
Xia Wan's heartbeat was so fast that it was almost out of control.
"Thank you..." She uttered the two words with difficulty, her voice trembling slightly.
Jiang Yu's gaze lingered on her slightly trembling lips for a moment, his Adam's apple rolling ever so slightly. The lounge was so quiet that one could hear the dust settling. The sunlight from outside filtered through the slits in the blinds, casting a shimmer of light and shadow on his angular profile.
He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and his gaze returned to her eyes. The surging emotions in them settled down, leaving only a clear, unmistakable concentration and invitation.
"Xia Wan," his voice was low and clear, with a strange solemnity that broke all boundaries, clearly penetrating the silence, "Are you free tonight?"
He paused, as if observing her reaction, and then, clearly and word by word, he extended his invitation:
"Let's have a meal together."
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