Joyful music resonated under the clear, azure sky. Beautiful white pigeons fluttered their wings atop the church tower before settling onto the vast, pristine green lawn before the entrance.
Inside the church, the romantic strains of the Wedding March played. Clad in a white veil and clutching a fragrant, exquisite bouquet of lilies, Tracy stepped into the sanctuary accompanied by her father. Everything was perfect. Through the thin veil, Liang Juejun could see the radiant happiness on Tracy’s face.
In life, there are countless brushes with others, but not every encounter solidifies into a lifelong commitment, and not every invitation transforms into deep mutual understanding. Unrequited love is a race against oneself; you may act as you please, while I pour out my heart in solitude. Fortunately, we can usually maintain the grace to let go and offer sincere blessings, along with a lingering hope for a beautiful romance. This way, we do not miss our own true love when it finally arrives.
Liang Guodong had spent the better part of his life in research, mentoring countless students, and was now fast approaching retirement age. In recent years, he had gradually stepped back from the front lines to focus on writing textbooks and academic treatises. Sometimes, a person truly needs a bit of solitude—the kind of loneliness that allows one to be more composed, more focused on a career or research, and more devoted to one's own scholarship. In Liang Juejun’s heart, the dedication and selfless investment of the older generation of researchers was undoubtedly her model.
Because of Liang Juejun’s arrival, the family had prepared a lavish spread of dishes. That evening, the three of them sat around the dining table, enjoying the warmth of a small family dinner.
Her father sighed. "It’s been over a year since you returned to C City."
Liang Juejun lowered her eyes and replied, "Yes."
"You’ve grown up, even Tracy is married now... your father is truly getting old," Liang Guodong remarked.
Liang Juejun reached out and took her father’s hand. "Dad, don't say that."
Her father gave a loving smile but remained silent. His wife, Mary, placed her hand over Liang Guodong’s as well.
Liang Juejun paused for a moment before speaking. "There is something I want to tell you both. I met someone in C City. We are together now. Her name is Xia Yinuo."
Hearing the words "her name," Liang Guodong looked at his only daughter and said, "I will say what I have always said: I hope you know what you are doing, and that you know how to take responsibility for your own choices."
Liang Juejun nodded.
Mary, however, immediately stood up to embrace her daughter. "Oh! Claire, I’m so happy for you!" She then turned to reproach her husband. "What are you doing, being so serious?"
Liang Juejun patted Mary’s back. "Thank you. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Liang Guodong cleared his throat. "Your father asks for nothing else, as long as you are happy. When will you bring her to meet us?"
Liang Juejun smiled. "There will be an opportunity."
Mary was practically dancing with excitement. "What kind of person is she? Oh! I hope I can meet her soon!"
Xia Yinuo’s small dimples surfaced in Liang Juejun’s mind. She said softly, "A kind and unassuming person."
***
Lately, Xia Yinuo had been spending more time in the lab than usual. It was past nine in the evening, and most of the others had already left. Xia Yinuo sat alone in the student office, processing experimental data. Wearing headphones, she rested her chin on her left hand and held a pen in her right, staring at the computer in deep thought, completely unaware that someone was knocking.
It wasn't until someone pushed the door open that Xia Yinuo realized someone was there. She took off her headphones and turned around.
Standing at the door was a girl who looked somewhat familiar, though Xia Yinuo didn't know her.
The girl asked politely, "Hello, Senior. Is Liu Yan here? I'm her roommate."
"Oh, she's not here," Xia Yinuo replied. "She should have gone back already."
"Oh, thank you! Sorry to bother you!" The girl backed out and closed the office door again.
Xia Yinuo didn't give it much thought and went back to staring at her screen.
By the time she got home, it was past eleven. The house felt cold and empty, and she wasn't ready to sleep just yet. After changing the water and feeding LoVo, she sighed at the turtle. "Am I good to you? The two of us used to be all alone, but now that I've found her, should I find a companion for you too?"
The phone rang. The caller ID showed Liang Juejun.
Xia Yinuo hurried to answer, her voice bright with joy. "Senior!"
"I knew you wouldn't be asleep this late." The voice on the other end sounded a bit languid.
"And you? Did you just get up?"
"I haven't gotten out of bed yet. I just woke up and stayed lying down to call you."
Xia Xiaobao’s heart felt as though it had been instantly filled with honey. The two of them were lovey-dovey for a good while before Liang Juejun urged Xia Yinuo to go to sleep.
***
Some battles are suited for a long war of attrition, while others require a preemptive strike and a swift resolution. In such matters, the role you play and the position you occupy are crucial.
Thus, on Friday evening, Gu Yizhi appeared at Tang Shuliang’s laboratory.
This time, Gu Yizhi didn't go looking for Tang Shuliang. Instead, she went straight to the student office and asked for Xia Yinuo by name. Her bright yellow coat paired with a white shirt and a royal blue skirt was, in a word, striking.
Ke Dinghao said, "Senior Xia is doing an experiment in the next room. Please wait a moment."
"No need, I'll go find her myself and take a look at the lab while I'm at it," Gu Yizhi said, heading toward the lab and leaving the junior students staring at each other in confusion.
From a distance, she saw the figure standing at the lab bench—a blue sweater, a straight and slender back.
Gu Yizhi walked up quietly and gave Xia Yinuo a light tap on the shoulder. "What, you don't wear lab coats for experiments anymore?"
Xia Yinuo turned around at the sound. For a split second, her eyes held the look of a startled fawn, but she returned to normal in the next moment. "Senior Gu, why are you here?"
The sleeves of her sweater were pushed up, leaving her bare arms exposed to the cold. She was, however, dutifully wearing gloves and a mask. The blue sweater and white mask made her look exceptionally clean and fair. Her eyes were devoid of any makeup, yet they were clear and bright.
Gu Yizhi smiled. "I came to take you to dinner! And don't be so formal with the 'Senior' and 'Ma'am' stuff; it's too distant. Hurry up and finish; I'll wait for you."
Xia Yinuo looked at Gu Yizhi with doubt, so Gu Yizhi added, "Alright, I have something to discuss with you."
Xia Yinuo frowned slightly. "Okay. By the way, I only took off the lab coat because I accidentally got something on it just now."
Gu Yizhi smiled without a word and found a stool to sit on. Xia Yinuo had no choice but to quickly finish her work, take off her gloves and mask, wash her hands, and head out with Gu Yizhi.
"Let's go to Liu Ji," Gu Yizhi suggested. "I used to go there often with friends when I was at C University. Is it still open?"
"Yes, it's still open."
Liu Ji was a Sichuan restaurant, a twenty-year-old local staple right next to the university. Xia Yinuo didn't mention that she actually couldn't handle spicy food very well. Fortunately, it wasn't very crowded that day, so they didn't have to wait for a table. As they sat down, Gu Yizhi took off her coat, acting as if they were old friends who had known each other for years. Since the other woman wasn't being formal, Xia Yinuo remained poised and natural.
Only after they finished ordering did Gu Yizhi speak. "I wanted to talk to you about two things today: one professional, one personal. Which would you like to hear first?"
"Let's start with the professional one."
"You probably got a general idea of our company's situation during the meeting in your conference room the other day. Beyond the official talk, I want to tell you a bit more about the company in private."
Xia Yinuo nodded. "I'm all ears."
"Business is business. The prerequisite for our independent R&D is having enough capital for the technical department. So, currently, besides acting as an agent for imported consumables, we also take on some outsourcing projects. You've been in research for many years; you should be quite familiar with this."
Universities, research institutes, and even hospital laboratories often outsource part of their experiments to biotech companies when they have sufficient funding but insufficient manpower. It saves time and effort for them, while the company gains profit and a reputation.
Xia Yinuo nodded.
Gu Yizhi continued, "To be honest, I don't really want to focus on the outsourcing business. Diverting energy to these projects affects the progress of our own R&D products. But in the early stages of the company, we had to do it for the sake of revenue. To that end, we hired a large group of technicians this year. Now, the R&D department is attached to the technical department, collectively known as the Technical R&D Department. We need a domestic Technical Director to work alongside my partner John—the other Technical Director—to co-manage the department. We need someone who is very familiar with domestic project and patent applications, and who possesses the necessary theoretical and technical skills. I believe you are the best candidate."
Xia Yinuo thought for a moment and said, "From AM's philosophy, outsourcing is indeed not a long-term solution. I truly admire your courage."
Gu Yizhi smiled at this and went on, "And I can guarantee that you only need to focus on what you should be doing. As for the company's sales performance, it will have absolutely nothing to do with you; the sales department will handle that. The entire company will vigorously support the work of the Technical R&D Department."
Xia Yinuo asked, "Why choose me? I have no work experience and my seniority is low. You could clearly headhunt more experienced managers from other companies or find a 'sea turtle' returning from abroad."
Gu Yizhi placed her long, beautiful hand on the table, her index finger tapping the surface at a leisurely pace. She then smiled and said, "That's a good question. There are several reasons. Which one do you want to hear first?"
"All of them," Xia Yinuo replied, neither haughty nor humble.
Gu Yizhi spoke with conviction, her words sharp and precise, leaving almost no room for rebuttal. She was truly a businesswoman who calculated everything down to the last detail.
Although the fact that Gu Yizhi had looked into her family background made Xia Yinuo a bit uncomfortable, she still smiled and said, "Senior Gu, you truly live up to your reputation as our most distinguished alumna."
Gu Yizhi arched an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying the praise.
"Finally, if I must add a personal reason... it's because you are young, beautiful, capable, and have potential. I feel we share a certain destiny. I like you very much."
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
刘记 | Liu Ji / Liu's Restaurant | A local Sichuan restaurant near C University.
柯定豪 | Ke Dinghao | A junior student in the lab.
海龟 | Sea turtle | Slang for "hǎi-guī" (overseas returnee), a pun on "hǎi-guī" (returning from the sea).
不卑不亢 | Neither haughty nor humble | An idiom describing a composed and balanced attitude.
在商言商 | Business is business | An idiom meaning to talk about business in a business-like manner.
