Yu Jiuyuan spoke up at the right moment: "It seems that Secretary Lin has not been idle during the winter vacation either."
She emphasized the word "doing things" and, seeing Lin Yanran's ears turn red, turned to Xie Zhecheng, saying, "Perfect timing. Lin Yanran is sensitive to business cases. Let him add a few real-world examples, and your outline will be more complete."
Xie Zhecheng did not refute, which can be taken as an admission.
Lin Yanran wanted to refuse, but seeing the smile in Yu Jiuyuan's eyes, she swallowed the words of refusal that were on the tip of her tongue and reluctantly pulled over a chair to sit down: "For the sake of the president, I'll say a few words."
The snow outside the window has started falling again, pattering softly on the glass like countless whispers.
In the study, Xie Zhecheng's pen flew across the paper, and Lin Yanran occasionally pointed out the oversights in a case. Her tone was still sharp, but it was no longer as aggressive as before.
Yu Jiuyuan sat in the middle, occasionally offering a cup of hot tea and adding a few key pieces of information, acting like a precise regulator, creating a wonderful balance between the two people who should have been at odds.
On the system panel, Lin Yanran's positive emotional fluctuations quietly increased by 8 points, and her favorability rating jumped to 48.
Hsieh Che-cheng's neutral mood dropped by 2 points, while his positive mood increased by 3. Although his favorability rating remained at 77, he was like an arrow ready to be released, just waiting for an opportunity.
Yu Jiuyuan picked up the hot cocoa, watching the rising steam blur her vision behind her glasses.
She knew that this seemingly ordinary gathering was just one step in a larger game.
Lin Yanran brought not only plum blossom cakes, but also news of the Su family's recent frequent contact with overseas capital.
Xie Zhecheng's debate outline contained his research on the regulatory loopholes in artificial intelligence, which happened to be related to the land project that Su Jiaxin was bidding for.
As for Rong Shenghan, he was sitting in the living room downstairs, seemingly chatting with the butler, but actually listening to the sounds upstairs. He always managed to build an invisible barrier for her in the most unintentional way.
Yuan Xu's video call came in at that moment.
On the screen, the boy, wearing a lab coat, had messy hair plastered to his forehead, and his eyes behind his glasses shone brightly: "Jiuyuan, the mimicry bacteria changed color at low temperatures! It's that kind of... orange-red, like the sunset!"
He turned the camera to the petri dish, so excited he was almost incoherent, "I took a time-lapse video, I'll show it to you when you get back."
"That's great." Yu Jiuyuan's voice softened unconsciously. "Remember to come early on New Year's Eve. I saved some squirrel-shaped mandarin fish for you, which you like."
After hanging up the phone, the discussion in the study came to an end. Xie Zhecheng put away the revised outline, stood up, and said, "I'll go back now. I'll complete the data next time."
Lin Yanran also got up, and when she reached the door, she suddenly turned around and looked at Yu Jiuyuan, saying, "The Su family is having a charity gala next week, and my dad asked me to take you with me."
He spoke in a harsh tone, as if issuing an order: "If you dare not go, you are disrespecting the Lin and Su families."
Yu Jiuyuan smiled: "Okay, time will tell."
Watching the two disappear into the snow one after the other, Yu Jiuyuan walked to the window and watched the two cars drive in different directions.
Xie Zhecheng's car smoothly merged into the traffic, while Lin Yanran hesitated for a moment at the intersection before finally turning in the opposite direction from the Su family's old house. He was probably looking for an excuse to shake off his father's surveillance.
The system panel flashed clearly in my mind:
Hsieh Che-cheng: Favorability rating 77, Emotional fluctuations (Negative 0/Neutral 3/Positive 108)
Lin Yanran: Favorability rating 48, Emotional fluctuations (Negative 0/Neutral 7/Positive 28)
Yuan Xu: Affection level 100, complete the walkthrough.
Rong Shenghan: Favorability 100, Complete the walkthrough
She exhaled softly, and the white mist condensed into tiny water droplets on the glass, which then slowly slid down like an invisible tear stain.
This game is far more than just a strategy guide.
The forces behind the Su family, the secret connections between Xie Zhecheng's family and the Yu family, Lin Yanran's father's ambition, and even Rong Shenghan's unfathomable background... all the clues are like scattered puzzle pieces, slowly coming together at her fingertips.
All she needs to do is wait patiently.
Wait for the right moment to put all the pieces back in their places, so that the truth hidden under the snow can be fully exposed to the sunlight.
Rong Shenghan's voice came from downstairs, as gentle as the fire in the fireplace: "Jiuyuan, come down and have a bowl of ginger soup. It's snowing heavily outside, don't catch a cold."
Yu Jiuyuan turned around, her face once again displaying that innocent and harmless smile, like a red plum blossom blooming in the snow, beautiful yet carrying an imperceptible sharpness.
This winter break is still a long way off.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com