The black sedan drove smoothly on the snow-covered road, its tires making a soft crunching sound as they rolled over the remaining snow.
The street scene outside the car window slowly receded, and the halo of the streetlights stretched long light trails on the window, like time being stretched out.
Yu Jiuyuan leaned back in the back seat, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the thin frost that had condensed on the car window.
Xie Zhecheng drove in front, while Lin Yanran sat in the passenger seat. The two didn't talk much the whole way, and the only sound in the car was the faint breeze from the air conditioning vents.
The argument at the entrance of the exhibition hall was like a silent battle, which ended with Xie Zhecheng's insistence on "going by" and Lin Yanran's excuse of "reporting on work".
Yu Jiuyuan didn't object anymore. She wanted to see just how awkward these two people with their own thoughts could get.
“Um…” Lin Yanran suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence, “Thank you for your help at the exhibition today.”
He didn't turn around; his voice was muffled in his throat, as if he had mustered up a great deal of courage.
Yu Jiuyuan glanced at him in the rearview mirror. The boy's ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and his knuckles were white as he gripped the seatbelt.
"Thank me for what?" she teased him deliberately.
"Thank you..." Lin Yanran hesitated, unable to finish her sentence for a long time, and finally mumbled, "Thank you for not making me lose face in front of that guy surnamed Su."
This reason was clearly made up on the spot.
Yu Jiuyuan smiled and didn't expose her: "It's just a small favor. After all, you're a member of the student council. If you embarrass yourself, you'll also embarrass the student council."
This answer maintained distance while also giving him a way out.
Lin Yanran visibly breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt inexplicably disappointed, like a puppy expecting praise but only receiving a "not bad" in return.
Xie Zhecheng glanced at Yu Jiuyuan in the rearview mirror, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
She always knows how to win people's hearts in the most appropriate way, without making people feel distant, while maintaining just the right distance, like a precise dancer who is always on the perfect beat.
"Oh, right," Yu Jiuyuan suddenly remembered something and looked at Xie Zhecheng, "You just said that the Xie Group participated in the research and development of intelligent medical systems?"
"Yes, it's a project my mother is in charge of."
Xie Zhecheng's tone softened, and when he mentioned his mother, a rare warmth appeared in his usually cold eyes. "She is a neurosurgeon who has always wanted to use technology to solve the problem of remote surgery."
"That's amazing," Yu Jiuyuan said sincerely.
She knew that Xie Zhecheng's mother was a leading figure in the medical field, but she never expected that she was also promoting such cutting-edge technological research and development.
"Once the system is officially put into use, I can invite you to visit it."
Xie Zhecheng's tone carried a barely perceptible expectation, "My mother will probably like you very much."
The implication in those words was so obvious that even Lin Yanran caught it. She turned around abruptly and glared at Xie Zhecheng: "What is Young Master Xie trying to do? Meet the parents ahead of time?"
Xie Zhecheng ignored him, focusing intently on Yu Jiuyuan in the rearview mirror.
Yu Jiuyuan smiled and avoided the topic: "Let's talk about it later. I'm busy with winter break."
Her refusal wasn't harsh, but it was clear enough.
Xie Zhecheng's eyes dimmed slightly, but he didn't insist any further. He simply gave a soft "hmm" and focused on driving again.
Silence fell in the carriage again, but this time there was a subtle tension in the silence.
Lin Yanran looked at the fleeting night view outside the window, feeling as if something was blocking her heart.
For the first time, he realized so clearly that Yu Jiuyuan was never short of outstanding people around her. Xie Zhecheng's talent, Rong Shenghan's unfathomable depth, and even Yuan Xu, who spent all her time in the laboratory, all knew better than him how to please her.
Aside from throwing tantrums and putting on airs, he seems to know nothing else.
This realization made him inexplicably irritable, and he unconsciously tapped his fingers on his knees, as if venting something.
Yu Jiuyuan noticed his unease but didn't point it out.
A favorability rating of 46 means he's still testing the waters and wavering. This slight setback might help him understand his own feelings more clearly and make it easier for her to control him.
Just like training animals, occasional setbacks can make them more reliant on their owner's guidance.
The car drove into the villa area and stopped in front of Yu Jiuyuan's villa.
The butler was already waiting at the door, holding a thick shawl.
"Thank you, Young Master, for bringing me back." Yu Jiuyuan opened the car door, and the butler immediately stepped forward to drape a shawl over her shoulders.
"You're welcome." Xie Zhecheng unbuckled his seatbelt, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end he only said, "Get some rest."
Lin Yanran also got out of the car, walked up to Yu Jiuyuan, opened her mouth, and finally only said, "I will report to you about the student council tomorrow."
“Okay.” Yu Jiuyuan smiled and turned to walk into the villa.
As she reached the door, she glanced back. Xie Zhecheng's car was still parked there, its headlights casting two warm beams of light on the snow, like two eyes waiting for their owner.
She didn't look any further and pushed the door open to go inside.
The villa was quiet, the fire in the fireplace was still burning, and the air was filled with the familiar scent of fir trees, a fragrance that Rong Shenghan usually used.
He's back.
The moment the thought crossed Yu Jiuyuan's mind, she saw a familiar figure sitting on the sofa in the living room.
Rong Shenghan was wearing a beige cashmere sweater and looking down at the documents in his hand. The warm yellow light fell on him, giving him a soft halo and making him look gentle and harmless.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, a familiar smile immediately spreading across his face: "You're back?"
"Hmm." Yu Jiuyuan took off her shawl and handed it to the butler, then walked up to him. "Is everything done?"
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