Chapter 1, October 2024, Part 1...
October 2024, Shanghai.
The city is sharp and crowded, unable to stop wave after wave of pedestrians. The evening breeze blows across the Huangpu River, night falls, and a row of cars are parked under the tall buildings.
A gentle breeze blew in from outside the window. Huang Shiyu, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly stopped fastening his seatbelt. He then looked up at Song Chaoye, wondering if he had misheard.
"Shiyu, you heard me right. I said let's break up." Song Chaoye's emotionless voice rang out again, only to be quickly carried away by the wind outside the window. "We're not right for each other."
Seeing his indifferent expression, her heart sank, but she wore a blank look on her face.
"Why?" she asked.
The question landed clearly in the narrow carriage, but the speaker's tone was calm, as calm as if he were asking about the weather.
She looked at Song Chaoye's silent expression and laughed, "Song Chaoye must have a reason for dumping someone, you know I'm not that easy to fool."
Song Chaoye simply stated frankly: "Shiyu, my family has arranged a marriage for me, and we're about to get engaged, so let's call it a day. After all, you can't help me with my career."
"I told you before that if you wanted to marry me, I could marry you, but the condition was that you had to give up your job and be a good Mrs. Song, wouldn't that be better?"
"I never consider myself anyone's appendage," Huang Shiyu said.
Huang Shiyu does not agree that women are naturally suited to be confined to the home, but the world still subtly pushes women towards the home.
Regardless of this woman's abilities, it seems that being a beautiful and gentle housewife and stepping back from the front lines is the best choice.
The two fell silent for a moment. The wind blew, and the car's suspension made a sharp sound. It was the first time she had ever seen the wind.
Huang Shiyu lit a cigarette and shielded the flame of the lighter with his hand to prevent it from being extinguished by the occasional gust of wind blowing in from outside the window.
She took a deep drag and slowly exhaled, the white smoke quickly dissipating in the car, leaving only a faint smell of smoke.
She hadn't smoked in a long time, especially not in front of Song Chaoye.
Song Chaoye frowned slightly, but did not stop her. Seeing that she did not react, he continued, "I will withdraw my investment in Speed Technology and also withdraw from all subsequent projects."
Speed Technology is a medium-sized enterprise specializing in game development, co-founded by Huang Shiyu and Song Chaoye, and is just one step away from going public.
Huang Shiyu majored in finance in college. After graduation, he caught the wave of the times and entered the Financial Street. He was at the peak of his career right from the start, working on several IPO projects in investment banking and making a lot of money.
At that time, the internet was still booming and the market environment was very favorable. Both she and Song Chaoye wanted to enter a big track to make money. Song Chaoye had been deeply involved in the internet field for a long time. Given the environment at the time, Huang Shiyu recognized his expertise. So, the two hit it off and founded Speed Technology.
Song Chaoye's family business was in the hotel industry. Back then, they were young and ambitious, wanting to make a name for themselves and prove their worth. None of them could have imagined that a simple game could grow their small workshop into what it is today.
She slowly raised her eyes to look directly at him after smoking the cigarette down to the last bit. "To you, something worthless can be thrown away, right? No wonder they say businessmen value profit over parting."
He speaks slowly and gently, yet every word he utters is like a knife piercing the heart.
Upon hearing this, Song Chaoye's expression turned rather unpleasant.
The streetlights cast a soft glow on her face, while the outside lights were very bright, making her eyes, which were staring directly at him, even brighter.
Song Chaoye tried to look through her eyes to find the pain and sorrow hidden beneath her plain exterior.
But the eyes don't lie.
Looking at the person in front of me again, she was just like the first time I met her, calm and serene. Her facial features were smooth, her face was beautiful, her skin was fair, and her eyes always glanced at people indifferently. Her thin lips were slightly pursed, but she was not arrogant.
It's hard to describe that kind of temperament, but it gives people the feeling that they are always very calm and composed, and indifferent to everything.
The car window was half open, and the evening breeze brushed against the stray hairs on her head. The streetlights shone on her hair like spotlights, making it glitter.
Song Chaoye narrowed his eyes: "Shiyu, in some ways we are the same kind of people. Is it that you like me? You seem to not want my money and power, but in reality you are just using my status to climb up. You are more ambitious than many women, so you should be more sensible."
Huang Shiyu was stunned for a moment. Yes, for a moment she and Song Chaoye were indeed the same kind of people, who would not give up power and money. She did like Song Chaoye's identity. Who would not like such a title?
Being the girlfriend of the heir of the Yongzhen Group makes things particularly convenient for her.
But there's no doubt that she also had feelings for Song Chaoye.
I like Song Chaoye, who runs all over the street to buy medicine for her when she's sick and has a fever.
He also liked to foolishly appear in front of her with a cake when she was angry, just because she had said that eating something sweet would make her feel better.
This was a fatal blow to her vitals.
Song Chaoye said she was sensible, and she was indeed very sensible. Whether it was six years ago or now, Huang Shiyu has always been very sensible.
"Give me back the bracelet I gave you. I don't think you need it anymore." Huang Shiyu ignored his question, her voice calm and even, but a small wound in her heart had been struck so hard that it could never be mended.
Song Chaoye stopped talking, nodded silently, and returned the white jade bodhi bracelet that was wrapped around his wrist to her.
The bracelet was still warm and a little hot to the touch. She had asked Song Chaoye what gift he wanted, and since she was working in Hangzhou at the time, he said that praying for marriage at Faxi Temple was very effective. So she got him a white jade bodhi bracelet for protection.
Huang Shiyu decisively pushed open the door and got out of the car, the evening breeze blowing against her face.
It was as if they were slapping her in the face.
“Song Chaoye.” She paused, looking at him. The streetlights along the street seemed to be trying to hide in his exceptionally resolute eyes, reflecting a cold light. “I will not give up on this project.” After saying that, she slammed the car door shut and walked towards the company, ignoring the reaction of the person behind her.
"Shiyu, you're a good person in every way, but you're inflexible and stubborn. Sometimes you have to allow yourself to not do things."
With the blue ocean of artificial intelligence within reach and the project's successful incubation imminent, Song Chaoye's withdrawal of shares was tantamount to withdrawing investment. But having come this far, she never considered giving up.
Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; she has no way out.
Huang Shiyu tried to ignore the scorching gaze behind him and the coaxing voice, and quickly walked out of the car's sight.
Huang Shiyu walked in the last wind of winter. As the wind blew, the wind surged, intertwined, and then scattered in the thin night, like the remnants of a bygone era.
She looked at the tall buildings in the distance, where people came and went day and night in the brightly lit blocks. Huang Shiyu's thoughts drifted, and a breath caught in her throat, making her eyes redden.
Her acquaintance with Song Chaoye stemmed from a microeconomics class. Coincidentally, her good friend Lu Xiao had something to do that day and asked her to cover for her. She originally refused to do it, but Lu Xiao almost knelt down and begged her, saying that the teacher was very strict and she could fail if she wasn't careful. She had no choice but to go, even if it was at 8 a.m.
The utterly tedious knowledge attempted to invade her brain, but she resolutely rejected it. As she pondered whether to go to work part-time with Lu Xiao this weekend, fate intervened, and Lu Xiao's name appeared on the screen. She was called upon to answer a question. Perhaps her panic was too obvious, because Song Chaoye, who was next to her, noticed her and thoughtfully slipped her a note with the answer.
In that class, besides listening attentively, she would occasionally steal glances at Song Chaoye, only to find that he wasn't paying much attention either.
The boy has long, slender hands with prominent veins on the back of his hands. He sits upright like a clock, making him hard to miss.
Song Dynasty calligraphers held their brushes upright and wrote characters in an orderly manner, yet one could still sense the spirit of their brushstrokes at the end.
Judging from that, it's not just a superficial skill.
For some reason, Huang Shiyu felt that he must be quite good at calligraphy.
Compared to Song Chaoye, Huang Shiyu is the epitome of countless ordinary girls.
Without a family to rely on, I traveled from a small county town to the big city of Shanghai, from one mountain to another, encountering thorns everywhere I went.
She once envied those born in Rome, and also admired those who lived passionately and authentically, and always maintained a positive attitude.
What started as a fleeting glimpse turned into a frequent encounter in the library and student council. Their conversations expanded from nodding acquaintances to a wide range of topics, including history, philosophy, literature, and more. Huang Shiyu admired Song Chaoye's effortless and eloquent conversation, while Song Chaoye appreciated Huang Shiyu's openness to the unknown. At the prime of their youth, it was only a matter of time before these two young people developed budding feelings for each other.
I remember an ordinary winter day, rain mixed with the tail of snow, falling on his hands that weren't holding an umbrella. That day was both cold and warm; the weather was cold, but people's hearts were warm. Song Chaoye was holding a bouquet of roses, wrapped in paper with the words "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" written by him. Huang Shiyu saw time and sincerity in his eyes. She believed Song Chaoye's words, each one trembling from his lips. Later, she realized that she was just like that "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix," worthless and destined to be discarded.
A brief encounter of fate, the connection vanishes as soon as it ends.
The night in Lujiazui is dazzling and eye-catching, like sparkling golden beads, with huge LED screens looping SpeedTech game advertisements every thirty seconds.
In the empty office building, Speed Technology employees sat scattered in the double workstation area, whispering among themselves during their spare time.
"When do you think our two bosses will finally get married? We working people just want a long, relaxing vacation."
"It should be soon. I heard from the older employees that our two bosses were together in college and started their business together after graduation. Haven't you seen that there's a fresh rose in General Manager Huang's office every day? That's a romantic gesture from our General Manager Song."
"Isn't this the kind of love story I imagined, from campus to wedding dress? When I first came here, I thought President Huang was just a pretty face with no substance, but I never expected her to have this kind of relationship."
Huang Shiyu has a precocious appearance, bright and flamboyant. When she stands in the middle, everyone around her is just a foil, which makes many people pay attention to her face while ignoring her abilities.
"Breaking news! Breaking news! Quick, look at the link I posted in the group chat. Ugh, the couple I just started shipping has already broken up. Rich people really know how to have fun."
Looking at the news in the private group chat on the Link work software, several people showed expressions of disbelief. Someone asked in confusion, "My God, President Song actually got married. What about President Huang?"
The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment and began to chatter amongst themselves, their discussions becoming increasingly outrageous, gradually evolving into a tale of love, hate, and entanglement between the three.
"Chatting during work hours can certainly help relieve stress, but shouldn't we strike a balance?"
Speed Technology has a small number of employees, only twenty in total including those recruited from universities this year. As Huang Shiyu said, it is small but complete, so it is not too noisy. As soon as Huang Shiyu's voice rang out, the surrounding area fell silent.
Huang Shiyu stood in the blind spot, her skin as white as snow. She wore a loose sweatshirt, her whole body a drunken mess. Her face was expressionless, unlike her usual face with a faint smile, the ever-smiling Buddha.
Everyone's hearts skipped a beat.
After all, gossiping about your boss behind their back is a major taboo in the workplace.
"Everyone, don't you agree?"
The office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one made a sound or dared to move. Everyone stared intently at Huang Shiyu, observing whether her expression would undergo any complex changes.
Although Huang Shiyu still had a smile on his face as always, there was always an invisible sense of pressure in him.
It seems these people can understand her double entendre, so she has achieved her goal.
Huang Shiyu tilted her head slightly and winked at the person next to her, signaling her to speak up and break the suffocating atmosphere.
"The boss has spoken, so hurry up and leave. Have you finished everything?"
The person who spoke was Wang Ping, the developer of the Link communication software, who was in charge of software development. He was a steady and reliable person.
As if remembering something, Huang Shiyu asked Wang Ping, "How's the game that President Song is working on coming along?"
Wang Ping said, "We're basically in the final stages, but Mr. Song wants to add a few more levels because he thinks the game is too easy and users won't have a good experience."
"Yes, I guessed it."
Game development has always been Speed Technology's strength, and the person who made Speed Technology rise rapidly is Song Chaoye. He majored in digital media technology and has made achievements in major game companies. He understands users' preferences better.
Huang Shiyu's business acumen knows no bounds, and she also recognized the endless potential of users, since the best game developers were in their company.
Huang Shiyu was only twenty-seven years old, just a few years out of school, and still had a friendly demeanor, which he showed to his subordinates as well: "It's alright, go ahead and get busy."
After speaking, he walked past Wang Ping and headed straight for the office.
The moment she left, all the employees instinctively stole glances at Huang Shiyu's back, wanting to know what her expression would be after seeing the news, but they were destined not to see it.
Huang Shiyu sat in his large office, calmly looking at the eye-catching news reports on his phone.
[After a passionate pre-wedding kiss, Song Chaoye and Lang Yue will hold their romantic wedding in San Diego this January!]
The headline is typical of Hong Kong media.
In the dimly lit private room, Song Chaoye lay lazily on the sofa, backlit. The light was dim and unclear. The two kissed, the atmosphere ambiguous and tense. The woman stroked his hair with one hand, while the man turned his head, revealing one eye, which was directly facing Huang Shiyu in front of the screen.
Like a swift leopard, with sharp and fierce eyes.
She tossed her phone aside and started working, trying to numb herself with the workload.
After a long while, the phone rang with a notification sound indicating that a message had been received.
It was a message from Douyin (TikTok). She glanced at it, thinking it was a product promotion, and was about to scroll past it.
The notification sounded again, and this time she saw that it was a message from her Douyin contact.
The notification didn't show her name, so she assumed it was Lu Xiao sharing another funny video with her.
Upon clicking through, I discovered it wasn't true.
[Anonymous User: Should we link our couple's space?]
[Anonymous user: Inviting you to create a couple's space. Do you accept the invitation?]
A note from the author:
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