Chapter 104: (Xu Jiamu x Cheng Siying)

At the moment Xu Jiamu spoke, her pupils slightly contracted. She glanced discreetly at her secretary standing beside her, noticing the secretary’s suppressed smile. Pausing briefly, she apologized to Cheng Siying, who was approaching from the other side of the bridge.

“I’m sorry.”

Cheng Siying stood in front of Xu Jiamu, looking up with a faint smile. “It’s okay.”

The two of them reached out and shook hands in the middle of the bridge.

“Professor Cheng, long time no see,” Xu Jiamu said. As they held hands for a moment, Xu Jiamu felt the skin on Cheng Siying’s palm was cooler than her own. She rubbed her fingers and said to Cheng Siying, “Let’s talk in the car.”

Cheng Siying slipped her hands into her pockets. “Shall we take a walk instead?”

“Sure.”

The two women walked down the bridge and strolled leisurely along the stone path. Their secretary intentionally lagged a few steps behind, observing the two women walking side by side.

“I saw it,” Cheng Siying spoke quietly in the silence. “Thank you.”

Xu Jiamu asked, “Hmm?”

She lowered her gaze, a puzzled expression crossing her face as she looked at the side profile of Cheng Siying.

In the dry and chilly winter air, the woman’s pale face was almost translucent, her cheeks tinged red by the cold. Sensing Xu Jiamu’s gaze, Cheng Siying’s gaze moved, her clear brown pupils looking at Xu Jiamu.

“I saw the bouquet at my father’s grave. Thank you.”

Xu Jiamu recalled how earlier this year, when she had just arrived in China, it happened to be the anniversary of her father’s passing. She had privately brought a bouquet to pay her respects at Cheng’s father’s grave. This was her random thought, something she deemed unworthy of publicity, as she didn’t write her name on the bouquet.

“How did you know—” Xu Jiamu’s words were cut short as she recalled the unfinished sentence of her secretary during her visit to PeakTech. She pursed her lips and softly said, “Since a long time ago, Universal has wanted to collaborate with Cheng’s.”

Especially last year, when news of Cheng’s crisis surfaced, major companies in the industry paid close attention. Unfortunately, Cheng’s declined Universal’s invitation and merged with PeakTech. Xu Jiamu learned that Cheng’s had also rejected an offer from Lu’s, and upon understanding the relationship between the CEO of PeakTech and the founder of Cheng’s Research Institute, and especially upon learning about the connection between Ji Yichen and Cheng Siying, she could only regretfully let the matter go.

But now that Cheng’s and PeakTech were rapidly disengaging, and their engagement was dissolved, she made a move without any further considerations.

Cheng Siying smiled lightly and whispered, “I hope there will be an opportunity for collaboration with Universal in the future.”

“Why not now?” Xu Jiamu halted her steps, facing Cheng Siying directly. “Professor Cheng, I sincerely invite you to join Universal. We will do our utmost to meet your requirements and support your research on new materials.”

Cheng Siying asked her, “Even if I need ten, twenty, thirty years, or even longer?”

Xu Jiamu’s voice was tranquil. “The emergence of new materials isn’t just for immediate gains, but for a distant future.”

“Even if it takes longer,” Xu Jiamu said.

“That’s really kind of you.”

Cheng Siying whispered. She lifted her gaze to the vast sky.

“But unfortunately…” Cheng Siying turned her head back, looking at Xu Jiamu’s sincere eyes. She spoke seriously, “Please forgive me, but I cannot accept your kindness.”

Xu Jiamu showed no surprised expression, just calmly asked, “May I inquire about Professor Cheng’s reasons?”

“If you feel something is inappropriate, I will adjust as much as possible.”

A withered leaf fell, spinning down. Under the bare tree shadows, two upright women faced each other.

“In this past year, my cooperation with PeakTech hasn’t been pleasant. Apart from the research itself, there’s another reason,” Cheng Siying whispered. “I grew up by my father’s side, watching him pour his heart and soul into new materials. After university, I deliberately chose the same field as my father, only to lend a hand to his research on new materials. Now, ninety percent of the new materials in PeakTech’s possession are the fruit of my father and his team’s efforts. I’ve merely done insignificant work. I’ve inherited my father’s legacy and his aspirations.”

“The birth of new materials shouldn’t be treated as commodities sold at high prices, monopolized by businessmen. They should be applied to more fields, fulfilling their original purpose.”

Though deceived by PeakTech, her conviction grew stronger.

Cheng Siying told Xu Jiamu, “Even though I trust President Xu and trust Universal, I want the follow-up research on the new materials, whether it’s pricing or patents, to be under Cheng’s control. I want Cheng’s to be independent and self-reliant.”

Reaching this point, she suddenly averted her gaze and coughed softly. “Although currently, Cheng’s is facing difficulties, there will always be a way.”

“Just as in research, there will always be results.”

Whether good or bad.

Xu Jiamu blinked. “Professor Cheng, so you won’t be cooperating with Lu’s either?”

Cheng Siying nodded slowly.

“I see.” Xu Jiamu lightly tugged at her lip. “I thought Professor Cheng was concerned because Universal isn’t a domestic enterprise of China, hence you had reservations.”

Cheng Siying pursed her lips and chuckled softly. “To be honest, while science knows no borders, I still want the new materials to be born in a familiar place.”

“I understand,” Xu Jiamu nodded, no longer entangling the matter. She turned slightly, gazing at the calm lake not far away.

“Universal is in the process of selecting a site for a new technology park in cooperation with Lu’s,” Xu Jiamu said.

Cheng Siying was somewhat puzzled why she brought up this matter, but then she saw the woman in front of her raise her hand, pointing to a distance.

“The planned tech park is quite close to here,” Xu Jiamu added.

“The new tech park will take some time from selection to establishment, but for high-tech companies entering the tech park, we have corresponding preferential policies and support for research institutions.”

Xu Jiamu lowered her gaze and asked Cheng Siying, “Are you willing to lead your team to settle in the new tech park?”

Cheng Siying’s voice remained calm. “If the opportunity arises.”

If, by then, she had resolved her current dilemma.

“To rebuild the research institute, how much funding would you need?”

“If I cannot invest under the name of Universal, I’m willing to personally fund Professor Cheng,” Xu Jiamu said.

As Cheng Siying pondered the future, she heard Xu Jiamu’s voice. She looked up in surprise, gazing at Xu Jiamu.

The woman with black hair and blue eyes resembled a meticulously crafted piece of jade, with an almost perfect appearance and a subtle expression. After looking at her for a while, Cheng Siying felt as if the material used to sculpt her must have been extracted from extremely cold ice and snow.

But why did her words feel like erupting magma, scorching her soul?

Cheng Siying stared blankly as Xu Jiamu took out a slim dark blue wallet from her pocket. With her snow-white and slender fingers, Xu Jiamu pulled out a black and gold card and handed it over.

“This is my personal credit card, with no spending limit,” Xu Jiamu’s voice was faint. “Starting today, this card belongs to you.”

Cheng Siying was stunned by her words, rooted to the spot. Her mind buzzed, and only after a moment did she realize that at some point, Xu Jiamu had slipped the black card into her palm. Cheng Siying’s hand lay flat against the thin card, yet it felt heavy and hot, almost too much to hold.

“No…” Cheng Siying took a deep breath. “There’s no need!”

She took a step forward, intending to return the black card to Xu Jiamu. However, Xu Jiamu stepped back a pace, maintaining a distance of about a meter, and looked at her quietly.

Xu Jiamu smiled at Cheng Siying.

Though you’re attractive and even more so when you smile, you shouldn’t be offering money like this!

Cheng Siying extended her hand and said firmly, “It’s not allowed.”

“We should discuss this matter properly.”

Xu Jiamu nodded and retrieved the black card, holding it between two fingers. She asked Cheng Siying, “Can I get your contact information, Professor Cheng?”

Cheng Siying nodded.

After the clean profile pictures of the two lay in each other’s contact lists on the app, Xu Jiamu spoke to Cheng Siying again, “If we can’t cooperate, we can be friends. Professor Cheng, can I give you a ride back?”

Perhaps Xu Jiamu’s casual handoff of the black card made this proposal seem more natural than exchanging contact information. When the black car stopped in front of the research institute, Xu Jiamu got out.

“Can I have a tour, please?”

“Of course,” Cheng Siying explained, “but many of the equipment has been removed from the research institute, so it might look a bit empty.”

“That’s fine.”

For the second time, Xu Jiamu stepped through the gates of the research institute. It was a spacious place, and Cheng Siying introduced her around. She explained that the institute was built on the land her father had purchased before. Since the institute didn’t need too much space in total, many areas were left abandoned and overgrown with grass.

“But I’ve already sold the land along with the institute. Now we’re just leasing it,” Cheng Siying said in a soft tone, without a trace of sorrow in her voice.

I see, Xu Jiamu nodded to herself.

She had come to visit, and as she followed Cheng Siying on a few rounds, she responded earnestly whenever Cheng Siying said, “This is the library,” “This is the conference room,” “This is Laboratory 1,” “This is the separator,” and so on, with a thoughtful “Mmm” and nod.

Both of them were serious—one in explaining, the other in listening—without any hint of insincerity. The tour concluded smoothly and pleasantly.

Though the respective secretaries of Xu Jiamu and Cheng Siying who followed behind them didn’t detect any signs of enjoyment on their faces.

Before parting ways, Xu Jiamu said to Cheng Siying, “Please consider my previous proposal.”

“Alright,” Cheng Siying escorted Xu Jiamu to the car, “Drive safely.”

“Okay, thank you.”

The car door closed, Xu Jiamu raised her gaze and instructed the driver, “Go.”

Her tone carried a sense of urgency.

The driver pressed the gas pedal, and the car quickly disappeared from Cheng Siying’s sight.

“Phew, turns out the CEO of Universal Group is so young and beautiful!” the assistant, whose face was stiff from smiling, raised a hand to rub his face. “And she looks cold and imposing, not easy to approach.”

Huh?

Cheng Siying asked in confusion, “Really?”

The assistant nodded, still recovering from the experience. “Just like when you’re working, Sis Cheng, but, um… Wait, it felt scarier somehow. After all, Sis Cheng, you still smile.”

This CEO always keeps her lips straight, making people wonder if she’s capable of any expressions at all!

“Miss Xu does smile,” Cheng Siying explained for Xu Jiamu.

And she looks beautiful when she smiles. Of course, she’s good-looking enough even without that.

“Hehe, I don’t dare to look at her face much. I just remember her expression being really cold.”

As they conversed, they returned to the lobby of the research institute. On the reception desk, the pristine surface held a black card, resting quietly. It stood out starkly against the white table.

Cheng Siying: “…”

?

Assistant: “Hey, what’s this?”

Curiously, he picked up the card and saw the black and gold credit card, with a name imprinted on it.

Michael Aston.

“Who?” the assistant asked in confusion.

Cheng Siying: “…”

Inside the sleek black car driving along a smooth road, a notification sound came from a phone.

Xu Jiamu shifted her gaze from the window and picked up her phone.

Professor Cheng: “Miss Xu, you left something behind.”

She sent a photo.

A smile tugged at the corner of Xu Jiamu’s lips.

“Yeah, I forgot. How about you return it to me the next time we meet, Professor Cheng?”

“Oh, during this time, Professor Cheng can use it freely, as a thank-you payment for finding lost property.”

Cheng Siying looked at the screen, where Xu Jiamu had sent a cute pearl smiley face, and blinked in a mixture of confusion and surprise.

So… Miss Xu also uses these adorable emojis in private?

She imagined the icy woman sending emojis with a smile on her face, finding amusement in the thought.

Although she wouldn’t actually use Xu Jiamu’s credit card, the feeling of being unconditionally trusted by someone was really heartwarming.

Carefully, Cheng Siying placed the black card into a white envelope and tucked it into her pocket.

Well then, until next time.

The author has something to say:

Xu Jiamu: For me, money is just a number.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu

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