Alphas should respect each other's strength.
After work that day, the two talked late into the night about a technical detail and walked together toward the underground parking garage.
Inside the car, Meng Yihe looked at the neon lights passing by outside the window and suddenly spoke, her voice particularly clear in the quiet car: "There hasn't been any movement from the Chen family recently."
This is not a question, but a statement.
Upon hearing this, Cui Yu, who was driving, subtly curved the corners of his mouth upwards, while keeping his eyes on the road ahead.
"Well, I guess I suddenly realized that forced relationships aren't sweet, and... they might even be a bit prickly."
Meng Yihe remained silent for a moment.
He knew that it wasn't just a matter of whether the melon was sweet or not.
He turned his head and looked at Cui Yu's sharply defined profile: "What did you do?"
Cui Yu turned on his turn signal and slowly parked the car on the side of the road—downstairs in front of Meng Yihe's apartment building. He then turned to look at Meng Yihe, his usual calm smile on his face: "It's nothing, I just helped them understand some basic business logic."
"Investing in a potential ally is far more rewarding and less risky than extorting a troubled potential in-law." His explanation was understated yet accurately captured the essence of the matter.
Meng Yihe looked at him, speechless for a moment.
"Thank you." In the end, Meng Yihe still managed to say those two words, her voice not loud, but clear enough.
This is the most direct response he can give at the moment.
"You're welcome. Like I said, it's just an equal exchange. You help me build a paper tower, and I'll help you... clear the noise around here."
“It’s very fair.” Cui Yu used that same flimsy reason again.
Meng Yihe didn't say anything more, but just gave him a deep look before pushing open the door and getting out of the car.
"See you tomorrow," Cui Yu said from behind him.
"Mmm," Meng Yihe responded softly and closed the car door.
The troubles facing the Meng family receded as quickly as the tide thanks to Cui Yu's intervention.
The tax audit concluded, ultimately finding no major violations and merely a false alarm. Faced with the strong counter-evidence presented by the legal team, the client who had filed the claim sheepishly withdrew his lawsuit and even voluntarily covered part of the litigation costs.
The biggest change came from Meng Yihe's parents.
When Meng Yihe received her mother's call again, she was prepared to hear another round of complaints or pressure. However, what came through the receiver was her mother's gentle, relieved tone.
"Little Crane, are you busy with work?"
Ye Chunhan's opening remarks still carried concern, but lacked the anxiety of the past.
"It's alright, is there anything wrong?" Meng Yihe maintained his usual conciseness.
"All those troubles at home are finally over," Ye Chunhan sighed, her tone complex.
"Your dad and I... this was really a false alarm."
She paused, lowered her voice, and said with obvious inquiry and a hint of awe, "Xiao He, I heard... that Xinghuan Group, especially your Director Cui, seemed to have put in a lot of effort in this matter?"
Meng Yihe's heart tightened slightly, but the message was still sent.
"I'm not aware of company-level matters." He chose his usual evasive strategy, his tone indifferent.
"Whether we understand it clearly or not, the Meng family must be aware of this favor." Ye Chunhan's tone became serious.
"That Director Cui, at such a young age, was able to reach that position at Xinghuan and resolve such troubles so calmly. He must be quite capable."
“Xiao He, you and him are on the same project, this is a rare opportunity.”
Her intentions became clear—a carefully considered suggestion based on social realities and interests.
"Among Alphas, the strong respect each other, and they need strong allies even more."
Mencius' mother's words carried the inherent logic of her social class.
"You and Director Cui are both top-tier Alphas, and you're working together. For both professional and personal reasons, you should maintain this relationship. It will only benefit your future development at Starworld, and even our family."
Meng Yihe frowned.
Ye Chunhan's words stripped away any emotional entanglements and pointed directly to connections and the exchange of benefits, which also made him uncomfortable.
He doesn't need to deliberately cultivate or "maintain" any relationships.
Especially with work partners.
"My career development is based on my own abilities, not on currying favor with anyone," he replied coldly.
"Mom isn't telling you to climb the social ladder!" Ye Chunhan's tone became more urgent.
"It's to make you cherish the support you already have! Having more friends means having more options, especially friends like Director Cui! I know you're aloof and don't like socializing, but you can't neglect proper etiquette and interactions! I heard he has a younger brother? Next time..."
“Mom,” Meng Yihe interrupted her. “I know what to do.”
“I will handle my own affairs. Please stop interfering, especially by not bothering my colleagues in any way. This is my bottom line.”
He once again drew a clear line.
Meng's mother was silent for a few seconds on the other end, seemingly hurt, but more so helpless: "Alright... Mom is doing this for your own good, for the good of this family... Just keep that in mind."
The call ended.
...
The mass production of the "Galaxy" project has finally broken through all the initial bottlenecks and entered a stable and efficient operating track, just like a fine clock.
Long-term supply contracts with major downstream manufacturers have been signed one after another.
Prepayments began pouring into Xinghai's accounts, bringing in a strong cash flow.
Xinghai Technology has completely shaken off its past gloom and become the most dazzling new star within the group.
It even attracted special reports from financial media.
Inside the CEO's office.
"Well done! Director Meng, Director Cui!" The CEO said with a broad smile.
"Your move with 'Galaxy' was absolutely crucial! The board of directors is full of praise for your performance."
The CEO took out another document from the drawer, his expression becoming slightly more serious: "Now that 'Galaxy' is settled, the group has a new task that requires you two to make another trip."
Cui Yu and Meng Yihe exchanged a glance, their understanding unspoken.
New challenges have arisen.
“Please speak,” Cui Yu said.
"That's right." The CEO pushed the documents over.
"The group has been considering extending into the upstream raw materials sector to reduce costs and gain more control. Recently, a rare earth vein with great potential was discovered in Linnan in the southwest region, and the local exploration data and preliminary samples look very promising."
He pointed to a relatively remote location on the map.
"However, as you also know, resource-based projects are often quite complex. The strength of local partners, the mining environment, community relations, and some potential compliance risks all require the most reliable people to conduct on-site assessments and make the most accurate judgments."
"The group hopes that you two will personally visit Linnan to conduct an on-site inspection of the mining project, meet with potential local partners, and comprehensively assess the project's feasibility, risks, and value."
The CEO tapped the document one last time.
"This report will directly determine whether the group will invest heavily to acquire this mine."
The task is clear and important.
Linnan is located in the southwest, where economic development is relatively lagging, and the mining area is located in a remote area. This was undoubtedly a tough business trip away from the comfort zone of headquarters.
“No problem.” Cui Yu was the first to agree, his face showing his usual composure.
“Perfect timing. 'Galaxy' is also temporarily over. It’s good to get some fresh air.” He glanced at Meng Yihe.
Meng Yihe's attention was already on the document, quickly browsing through the key data and map coordinates. Hearing this, she simply nodded.
"Can."
His brain has begun to automatically analyze the technical parameters and potential risks related to the project.
"Great! I knew you guys were reliable!" The CEO was very satisfied. "Have your assistant arrange the itinerary as soon as possible. Conditions there might be quite tough, so please be careful."
Because of its remote location, there is no airport near the destination.
The project team chose to travel by car to Linnan.
After several hours of bumpy driving, Cui Yu and Meng Yihe arrived at their destination – Linnan Pingshan Town.
The town was more rudimentary than I had imagined, as if forgotten by time in a mountain valley. Low houses lined the dusty main street. Motorcycles and tricycles filled the streets, and the occasional old truck kicked up clouds of yellow dust. The air was thick with the smells of earth and burning firewood, a stark contrast to the cleanliness and efficiency of the city.
The local contact was handled by a mining company manager surnamed Wang, who had dark skin and a warm but somewhat shrewd smile. He received the inspection team warmly, but the shrewdness in his eyes did not escape the notice of Cui Yu and Meng Yihe.
The first day of the inspection was packed with activities.
In the morning, we listened to a preliminary introduction from the local geological department about the mineral reserves, grade, and mining history. The data looked enticing, but the details couldn't withstand Meng Yihe's sharp questioning.
In the afternoon, Meng Yihe and Cui Yu drove directly to the mine site for an on-site inspection.
The environment in the mining area is even harsher.
The mountain road was rugged, the mining face was covered in dust, and the roar of large machinery was constant.
Meng Yihe, dressed in his originally crisp suit trousers and leather shoes, was quickly covered in a layer of dust. But he didn't care. His attention was completely focused on the ore outcrop, core samples, and the mining face. He carefully inquired about the mining process, recovery rate, and wastewater treatment procedures.
The questions were professional and pointed, causing the accompanying mine technicians to frequently wipe away sweat.
Cui Yu focused more on talking with Manager Wang and several local officials to understand policy direction, land use, labor costs, and potential social relationship risks.
Cui Yu always wore a warm and welcoming smile.
A person with excellent conversational skills can extract useful information without making the other person too nervous.
The rest of the team members were also busy.
Zhao Lei and his team carefully checked the original copies of various contracts and qualification documents, while Lin Xueyue was responsible for recording all the key points of the talks and the details observed. Their work provided important support for decision-making.
The security personnel remained vigilant and kept a close eye on their surroundings.
After a long day of running around, everyone felt exhausted.
Meng Yihe, in particular, was exhausted from the intense mental work and the uncomfortable environment, which left a noticeable look of fatigue on his face and his lips pursed tighter than usual.
That evening, the group stayed at the best guesthouse in town.
It was actually just a simple family-run guesthouse.
The room was fairly clean. However, the facilities were outdated, the soundproofing was extremely poor, and you could clearly hear dogs barking in the street and conversations next door. The hot water supply was unreliable, and the internet signal was intermittent.
The team had a simple dinner on the first floor of the hotel. The food was heavily seasoned and full of local flavors, but it was a bit hard for those who were used to fine cuisine to adapt to.
After the meal, Cui Yu and Meng Yihe were arranged to share a room.
This is already the best "standard room" in the hotel.
The room was small, with two single beds and a small bedside table between them.
A faint smell of mildew mixed with the odor of disinfectant filled the air.
Seeing Meng Yihe subconsciously frowning as she looked around the room, Cui Yu couldn't help but chuckle and tease, "I'm sorry to trouble Director Meng. Once the project is finalized, I'll have the CEO reimburse us for a five-star hotel stay."
Meng Yihe ignored him. He put his suitcase against the wall, took out his laptop and a thick stack of documents he had received that day, and sat down at the desk by the window. The desk was slightly wobbly, but it didn't affect him much.
He was clearly prepared to continue working.
"Director Meng, is it really that bad?" Cui Yu took off his coat and hung it on a makeshift clothes rack. "The signal here is unreliable, making video conferencing difficult. You should get some rest; we have to go to even more remote places tomorrow."
"Some data needs initial processing." Meng Yihe didn't look up; the light from the screen illuminated his expressionless face. "You should rest first."
Looking at his workaholic appearance, Cui Yu shook her head helplessly and went to wash up.
When he came out, Meng Yihe was still in that position, her fingertips rapidly tapping on the keyboard, occasionally making marks on the documents.
Cui Yu didn't bother him anymore.
I leaned against the other bed, took out my phone to process some necessary information while there was a signal.
He would occasionally glance at Meng Yihe's focused profile. In the dim light, the other's upright back and slightly furrowed brows contrasted sharply with the simple environment.
After an unknown amount of time, Meng Yihe finally closed her laptop, rubbed her sore eyes, and got up to wash up.
The sound of rushing water filled the air.
Not long after, Cui Yu put down his phone and asked, "Director Meng, how's it going with this mine?"
The sound of flowing water stopped, and Meng Yihe's voice came through the door: "The reserve data is inflated, the mining technology is outdated, environmental protection investment is seriously insufficient, and management is chaotic."
"The potential risks are very high." Meng Yihe's assessment was as direct and harsh as ever.
“But the resources themselves are indeed attractive, right?” Cui Yu continued.
"Mmm," Meng Yihe responded and came out, her hair still damp.
"It deserves in-depth evaluation, but we must be very cautious." Meng Yihe simply wiped her hair.
They lay down, each in their own space, their breathing clearly audible. Their bodies were exhausted, but their minds were perhaps still active from the day's events, or perhaps wary of the unfamiliar surroundings.
Neither of them seemed to be able to fall asleep immediately.
In the silence, Meng Yihe suddenly spoke in a low voice, as if talking to himself, or as if sharing something rare: "For projects in remote mining areas like this, success or failure often does not depend on the technology itself, but on human and social factors."
Cui Yu, his eyes open in the darkness, smiled slightly upon hearing this: "I think so too, so bringing you along this time was the right thing to do."
Meng Yihe didn't reply. After a while, his breathing became even and deep, as if he had fallen asleep. Cui Yu, on the other bed, listened to his steady breathing and gradually closed her eyes as well.
Outside the window, the mountain town was completely asleep.
Only a few long barks came from an unknown stray dog in the distance, which were then swallowed up by a deeper silence.
The wind swept across the mountains surrounding the town, making a low, mournful sound, occasionally rustling up scraps of paper or plastic sheeting from street corners, as if something was moving uneasily in the shadows.
A cold moon hung in the sky, its pale light barely outlining the distorted silhouette of the abandoned factory buildings in the distance.
The first day of the inspection trip ended in this simple guesthouse, amidst the boundless night outside the window.
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