When the invitation to the Su family's charity gala was delivered to the Yu family, Yu Jiuyuan was in Yuan Xu's laboratory.
The incubator emitted a soft hum, and the boy, dressed in a white lab coat, carefully used a pipette to drop orange bacterial solution into the culture medium.
His eyelashes were long, casting a small shadow under his eyes when he lowered them. His profile was made even more slender by the cold light of the sterile workbench, yet it exuded an almost devout focus.
"Be careful, this is a newly stabilized mutant strain," Yuan Xu reminded without looking up, her fingertips as steady as precision instruments embedded in the control panel.
Yu Jiuyuan responded and dripped the bacterial solution evenly.
Today she wore a light gray turtleneck sweater with a sterile coat that Yuan Xu had specially prepared over it. Her long hair was loosely tied back, revealing her smooth neck. She looked less aloof than usual and more down-to-earth.
“The invitation from the Su family,” she suddenly said, looking at the gradually spreading orange-red color in the petri dish, “was sent by Lin Yanran.”
Yuan Xu paused, the tip of the pipette hovering in mid-air: "The Su family? The Su family that's so close to the Lin family?" He was never sensitive to business matters, but suddenly remembered that Yu Jiuyuan had been drugged twice, both times related to the Su family.
“Hmm.” Yu Jiuyuan covered the petri dish and put it into the incubator. “It’s called a charity gala, but it’s actually a business networking event.”
She turned around and looked at Yuan Xu. "You've been in the lab all winter break. Want to go get some fresh air together? Just think of it as... observing samples of human social behavior."
Yuan Xu's eyes lit up, as if she had heard an interesting experimental topic: "Can we record data? For example, the duration of handshakes between people of different statuses, the frequency of smiles..."
“Of course you can.” Yu Jiuyuan smiled and reached out to tidy his slightly messy hair. “But remember to wear formal attire, not a lab coat.”
The boy's ears turned red instantly. He lowered his head and hummed in agreement, his fingertips lightly tracing circles on the control panel, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
On the system panel, Yuan Xu's favorability rating is still at a full 100, and her positive emotions continue to ripple like warm water, so pure that it puts people at ease.
It was nearly dusk when I left the laboratory.
As soon as the car left the research park, I received a call from Xie Zhecheng. His voice came through the receiver, with its usual coolness, but with a touch more warmth than usual: "The supplementary data for the debate competition has been compiled and sent to your email."
"Received, thank you." Yu Jiuyuan looked at the street scene flashing past the window. "By the way, will you be attending the Su family's charity gala?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before a response came through: "The Xie family and the Su family are collaborating, and my father asked me to attend." He paused, then added, "Is there anything you need me to investigate?"
Yu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow. Xie Zhecheng was always like this; he never offered unsolicited concern, yet he always managed to pinpoint her needs precisely. She chuckled softly, "No need, just asking. See you then."
After hanging up the phone, driver Lao Chen suddenly spoke up: "Miss, Young Master Rong's car is up ahead."
Yu Jiuyuan looked up and, sure enough, saw a familiar black Bentley parked on the side of the road.
Rong Shenghan leaned against the car, wearing a camel coat and holding a thermal bag. When she saw her car approaching, he waved and smiled as gently as the evening sun.
“I just got it from the kitchen at home,” he said, opening the passenger door and handing her the insulated bag. “It’s the crab roe xiaolongbao you said you liked last time, it’s still warm.”
Yu Jiuyuan opened the insulated bag, and a warm, delicious aroma wafted out.
The pleats of the xiaolongbao were pinched evenly, with a faint pink hue, clearly indicating that they were made with care.
She picked one up and took a small bite; the broth melted on her tongue, perfectly fresh.
"Will the Rong family also attend the Su family's banquet?" she asked, her gaze fixed on his face.
Rong Shenghan leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping his knee. His smile remained gentle, but a subtle, unspoken meaning flickered in his eyes. "My father wants me to make an appearance." He turned to look at her. "I heard you'll be bringing Yuan Xu with you?"
"Yes, let him change his environment."
“Alright.” Rong Shenghan nodded. “The old man from the Su family really enjoys tending to flowers and plants. Yuan Xu might be able to get along with him.”
He mentioned it casually, but he accurately pointed out the breakthrough: the old man of the Su family's hobby of gardening happened to be related to Yuan Xu's biological research.
Yu Jiuyuan understood in her heart, but her face remained calm: "You are quite well-informed."
“I just happened to hear about it.” He smiled and then brought up another matter. “By the way, I had someone investigate the land plot in the east of the city that the Su family bid for, and we found that their source of funds is very unclear, it seems like… it was transferred from several overseas shell companies.”
This is exactly what Yu Jiuyuan wanted to know.
She looked up at Rong Shenghan, whose gaze was open and honest, as if he were simply sharing some trivial news.
But she knew what kind of power and intentions were hidden behind this "coincidental" news.
On the system panel, Rong Shenghan's favorability rating remained steadily at 100. The fluctuations in his positive emotions were like a calm lake, without ripples, yet unfathomable.
As the car approached the Yu family's old residence, Rong Shenghan suddenly took out a small velvet box: "This is for you."
Yu Jiuyuan opened it, and inside was a necklace.
A small microscope pendant hangs from the platinum chain, its lens inlaid with tiny diamonds that refract light into delicate sparkles.
“Yuan Xu said this design is very similar to the old microscope in your lab,” Rong Shenghan explained naturally. “Wearing it at the banquet might help you meet someone with similar interests.”
Yu Jiuyuan's fingertips caressed the pendant, the cool touch pendant seeping through her skin.
She knew that this was not only a gift, but also a hint: the microscope was related to Yuan Xu's research and also implied the profound meaning of "observation" and "insight".
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