Chapter 90 It's been several days since I've been home...
Xia Zhiyao glanced down at her watch, silently counting the time in her mind. Zhang Luyuan's statement was coming to an end, and the invisible tension in her heart tightened inch by inch.
The heavy wooden door slowly opened with a low metallic sound. Xia Zhiyao stood up almost instinctively, her long legs moving but her shoulders remaining straight. Zheng Xiaotian also stood up, his movements leisurely and with a hint of deliberate composure, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Zhang Luyuan and his entourage emerged from inside, exuding composure and an air of confidence. A staff member offered him water, which he politely accepted. The smile on his lips was neither ostentatious nor deliberate, yet it stood out remarkably at that moment.
The team members behind him looked relaxed, talking quietly to each other, as if they had just won a great battle.
When he saw Xia Zhiyao and Zheng Xiaotian, he paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over them discreetly before he smiled and nodded, "Good luck to you two later." His voice was gentle and polite, yet carried a subtle hint of encouragement.
Zheng Xiaotian, with his hands in his pockets, raised an eyebrow and said in a seemingly casual tone, "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Zhang."
After Zhang Luyuan walked away, Zheng Xiaotian gave a low hum, turned to look at Xia Zhiyao, and asked in a very soft voice, "What do you think of them?"
Xia Zhiyao continued to gaze at that retreating figure, a fleeting moment of calm and judgment flashing in her eyes. She could sense that deliberate "good state": a bright and energetic demeanor, a perfectly timed smile—this was not Zhang Luyuan's usual self.
He has never liked to show his face and has always been calm and reserved, but now he has perfectly embodied the phrase "smooth sailing".
“He’s showing it to us.” She said calmly, her voice low but remarkably composed. “Otherwise, given his personality, he wouldn’t be so flamboyant.”
Zheng Xiaotian hummed in agreement, his smile becoming even more meaningful: "He just wants to provoke us."
Xia Zhiyao picked up the documents in her hand, raised her chin, and her gaze returned to the front, her eyes calm and sharp: "Then let him stir things up, it's our turn."
Xia Zhiyao took a deep breath, straightened her back, raised her chin, and walked steadily and powerfully toward the heavy door.
The moment she pushed open the door, the air seemed to change temperature abruptly. The air conditioning in the lobby was even stronger than in the waiting area, carrying a faint metallic smell that spread along the carpet, brushing against Xia Zhiyao's bare wrists, causing her to unconsciously hunch her shoulders.
Directly in front, the judges' panel stood in a row, as neat as a silent defensive line. Several pairs of eyes turned towards them almost simultaneously: some curious and inquisitive, some scrutinizing and weighing, and others filled with expectation and speculation.
Those gazes, under the lamplight, wove together into an invisible net, falling upon her as if every subtle movement was magnified.
The logo of Tianxing Fanglue was frozen on the big screen, and the cold white light reflected on her profile. Zheng Xiaotian followed closely behind, his steps were calm, and he had that professional smile on his face.
Xia Zhiyao gently placed the laptop on the table, her fingertips deftly adjusting the microphone and laser pointer with clean, precise movements, as steady as if she were conducting a meticulous experiment. At that moment, her breathing and heartbeat were synchronized, even the curve of her wrist carried a subtle sense of control.
She raised her eyes, her gaze slowly sweeping over the judges' panel and the guests present, the light shattering into a shimmering reflection in her pupils. Her voice was clear and penetrating: "Distinguished leaders, distinguished judges, good afternoon. I am Xia Zhiyao, the person in charge of the Tianxing Fanglue New Energy Project. I will now introduce the project proposal to you."
In just a few words, her voice gradually became clear and powerful, dispelling the lingering echo left by Zhang Luyuan.
The large screen then lit up, and light and shadow danced across her shoulders and fingertips.
She raised her hand to the first slide and began her presentation step by step, with clear logic: park planning, funding calculations, future revenue... every piece of data was as clear as the rhythm of her own heartbeat.
When she mentioned the key indicators, she paused for half a second, then made eye contact with the judges, her gaze calm yet sharp, as if silently announcing to the entire audience, "I am ready."
Her speech was neither too fast nor too slow, and every word was clear, as if she had practiced countless times, or as if she was born with the ability to control the whole scene.
As the slides switched page by page, light and shadow danced across her shoulders and fingertips. Her gestures were clean and powerful, and the laser pointer traced clear lines across the screen, breaking down complex data and plans into intuitive visuals.
As she compared the charts, her voice deepened slightly: "This is our optimization model between energy utilization and operating costs. Please look at the data in the bottom right corner."
In that instant, the dense numbers on the screen became simple and easy to understand under her explanation, and some judges subconsciously nodded and took notes.
She hardly looked at the cue or script; she could recite data and policy provisions fluently. When talking about the park's long-term benefits and environmental indicators, she raised her hand and made a light gesture: "This means that within fifteen years we will reach the highest level of green energy standards in the country and achieve the goal of reducing costs by 30%." Her tone was naturally persuasive.
Zheng Xiaotian, sitting in the audience, turned his head and looked at her slender back. For the first time, a genuine look of surprise appeared in his eyes. This was not just a familiar partner giving a presentation, but more like an industry leader who could stand on his own.
Xia Zhiyao took a deep breath, turned slightly to the side, and glanced away: "Next, please let our investment manager, Mr. Zheng Xiaotian, provide further explanation."
Zheng Xiaotian was already prepared. Upon hearing her voice, he walked to the other side of the stage, took the microphone, and said calmly, "Distinguished leaders and judges, President Xia has just explained the overall plan and operation scheme in detail. Here, I would like to add a few key data points regarding investment and cash flow."
He calmly and methodically began his explanation: first, two clear funding distribution charts; then, a cost-benefit model under policy support; and finally, an investment and financing curve for the next five years. His voice wasn't as sharp as Xia Zhiyao's, but it possessed a steady strength, breaking down complex numbers into easily understandable logic, giving the audience a direct impression of the project's financial security.
In those five minutes, he only added the most crucial parts without elaborating further, highlighting his and Xia Zhiyao's division of labor and cooperation, and also subtly building a solid foundation for her brilliant presentation.
After he finished speaking, the two stood side by side on the stage, bowed slightly, and the whole audience applauded again. The calm and orderly atmosphere in the room almost completely diluted the "sense of advantage" that Zhang Luyuan's team had just left behind.
The large screen gradually dimmed, and the brief presentation of just over twenty minutes came to an end without anyone noticing. The entire audience fell silent, followed by sporadic applause.
Several experts on the judging panel exchanged glances; some nodded, while others smiled slightly.
At this moment, she is not the female executive behind Zheng Xiaotian, nor the girl in Zhang Luyuan's memory, but Tianxing Fanglue's sharpest card in the new energy track.
She and Zheng Xiaotian walked off the stage under the guidance of staff, followed by flashing lights and questions. The two maintained professional smiles as they walked side by side to the rest area, only letting out a sigh of relief when they were completely out of sight.
Zheng Xiaotian glanced at her half-jokingly: "So, Goddess of War, how would you rate yourself today?"
Xia Zhiyao smiled slightly, her tone light but with a hint of amusement: "Ninety points, the remaining ten are up to you."
"Tsk, you are something else." Zheng Xiaotian chuckled and exaggeratedly patted his chest: "I painstakingly made up for those five minutes, and it's only worth ten points."
"I know." Xia Zhiyao raised an eyebrow slightly, lowering her voice a little: "But you did well today."
The two exchanged a glance, smiled knowingly, and then immediately composed themselves, reverting to their calm and professional demeanor.
As Xia Zhiyao walked out of the venue, her steps remained as steady as ever. It wasn't until she stepped out the door and into the night breeze that her nerves, which had been tense all day, gradually relaxed.
The night breeze brushed against her cheek, carrying a coolness and a faint scent of the city. She exhaled softly, as if the burden in her heart had been blown away.
Zheng Xiaotian raised his chin beside her, glanced at the night, and casually said, "What should we eat? We should treat ourselves today."
Xia Zhiyao shook her head, raised her phone and smiled: "I haven't been home for a proper meal in days. If I don't go back soon, my family will start to complain."
Zheng Xiaotian was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow and laughed, his tone carrying a hint of amusement: "Oh, I didn't realize Zhou Yue was so jealous."
Xia Zhiyao couldn't help but laugh, and waved her hand, "Alright, we still have to prepare for the second round tomorrow, so go back early."
Zheng Xiaotian waved to her: "Go back and say hello to him for me, don't let him get really jealous."
She shook her head with a smile, turned and walked towards the car. The city's night wind blew again, scattering their laughter at the street corner.
Xia Zhiyao opened the car door and sat inside. The car still had the warmth from the daytime sun, and the smell of the leather seats mixed with a faint fragrance, which was completely different from the air conditioning in the conference room.
She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, paused for two seconds on her phone screen, and finally typed: "[All done, going home now]".
Less than half a minute after the message was sent, the screen lit up with Zhou Yue's reply: "I just got home."
Those four simple words felt like a warm current flowing from her fingertips into her heart, washing away the fatigue of the whole day. She stared at the words twice, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly. The tension in her chest finally eased.
The city lights swept past the window, the neon lights stretching out little by little, and she could almost picture the lamp in her home.
Xia Zhiyao pushed open the door, and a faint clinking of bowls came from behind her. She paused, slowed her pace, and looked down down the corridor. She saw that the dining table was already full of takeout dishes, with steam rising between the bowls and plates.
Zhou Yue was wearing a blue loungewear T-shirt and shorts, her hair was half-dry, and she looked relaxed and clean.
He was busy at the dining table, where plates and chopsticks were already laid out, and several takeout boxes were laid out in a row. He held a disposable spoon in his hand, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was still hesitating whether to eat directly from the takeout boxes or to pour them out one by one to make it look more like a proper dinner.
Hearing the door open, he subconsciously looked up, his eyes lighting up instantly, like light suddenly reflecting into a deep pool of water, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly: "You're back."
Xia Zhiyao was stunned for a moment, still holding the document bag in her hand. Her gaze shifted back and forth between the steaming dishes on the table and his casual home attire, and her chest suddenly softened.
The cold light, seriousness, applause, and cameras of the daytime seemed to be gently brushed aside by this scene, leaving behind a quiet and warm little world.
"You were so busy today, why are you back so early?" she asked, her voice a little hoarse.
"I finished work early." Zhou Yue held up the takeout box, looked up at her, and said in a low voice, "I thought you probably didn't eat well, so I ordered a few of your favorite dishes."
Xia Zhiyao noticed his hesitation and said, "Let's just eat like this, so we don't have to wash the dishes."
Xia Zhiyao changed her shoes, washed her hands, and then sat down at the dining table. She seemed to have finally taken off her armor. Zhou Yue handed her chopsticks and sat down opposite her.
"I knew you'd go straight home after you finished today." He said softly as he served her food, his voice gentle as if he were coaxing her. "You've been working so hard on that project lately, go to bed early after dinner."
Xia Zhiyao looked up at him, a fleeting look of surprise and exhaustion crossing her eyes, and a slight smile played on her lips: "You really are a prophet."
Zhou Yue smiled and didn't say anything more. Xia Zhiyao lowered her head and took a sip of soup. The warmth went down her throat and into her stomach, and she finally felt like she was "back home".
While eating, Xia Zhiyao explained the bidding process, the review questions, and the general arrangements for the second round. Her voice was steady, with occasional professional analysis.
As Zhou Yue listened, he responded calmly, serving her food and soup with a composed expression and not asking any further questions.
The two chatted as they ate, talking about everything from work to the office desk and chair she had recently taken a liking to, from new energy policies to the new intern at the company. Their tone was unhurried, as if it were a deliberately maintained routine.
After cleaning up the dishes, Xia Zhiyao took a shower. When she came out, she was drying her hair with a towel on and saw Zhou Yue leaning back on the sofa with the financial channel on. He was turning the remote control in his hand, looking indifferent.
She walked over and stood next to the sofa: "I have something to tell you."
Zhou Yue looked up at her, his expression still calm: "Hmm?"
"Zhang Luyuan is in charge of Heyi's side, and he came today."
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