Work?!
Before Jiang Ningchu could even roll those two words over her tongue, the car had already glided smoothly out of the lane and onto the main road.
"Miss."
Driver He slowed down slightly and tapped the center console screen, bringing up the navigation interface. "What's the exact address?"
"Wait… hold on."
Jiang Ningchu's heartbeat skipped a beat without warning.
Jiang Heng knew she was going to work.
So he had actually been covering for her since this morning, and even arranged for a driver to be waiting…
After giving the address, she watched the street scenery recede at a steady pace outside the window, her thoughts drifting far away.
The 28th floor of Yunqi Plaza, with an expansive view.
The entire office area had almost no solid partition walls, and sunlight poured unreservedly through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows into the open space.
Calm light gray and off-white formed the base, while vibrant orange-red accents leaped across workstations, sofas, and artistic installations on the walls—striking and full of life.
The high ceilings diluted any sense of oppressive stuffiness, and the private offices and meeting rooms on the second floor hung like floating glass boxes, transparent on three sides, standing quietly amid light and shadow.
Jiang Ningchu sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in Lin Wei's office, her chair gliding gently with the slightest pressure from her.
She quietly gazed down at the flowing scene below:
Colleagues were scattered among the various curved desks—some staring intently at their screens, some standing before whiteboards in heated discussion, others chatting in the corridors with coffee cups in hand…
How wonderful.
The scene before her was exactly as she had imagined countless times.
Fluffy, bright, bursting with boundless vitality and a vibrant sense of creativity.
"No, wait… I still haven't fully wrapped my head around this."
Lin Wei was sunk into the sofa beside her desk, frowning as she held her phone screen up in front of her, scrutinizing the Moments post she'd made an hour ago over and over.
She'd looked at it so many times she could barely recognize the words anymore.
"You mean to say…"
Lin Wei looked up at Jiang Ningchu, who was sitting in the boss's chair, her voice full of lingering disbelief. "Just because I casually posted that one Moments update…"
She paused before forcing out the rest with difficulty, "It almost blew your entire cover?!"
Ten minutes earlier.
Lin Wei had met Jiang Ningchu upstairs and enthusiastically given her a tour of the company.
Not only did she introduce her to colleagues from every department, she also painted an exciting picture of their future working side by side.
Who could have imagined that one second the two of them would be passionately looking forward to tomorrow, and the next, back in this office with the door closed…
Jiang Ningchu settled into her leather boss's chair and began dropping bombs one after another, expressionless.
Lin Wei, who was always bold and brash—the type to use the sky as a blanket if it fell—went uncharacteristically silent after hearing that string of heart-stopping revelations.
Compared to Su Wanqing's emotional turmoil, the social death of having her impotence discussion on the terrace overheard by Jiang Heng was nothing at all.
When Jiang Ningchu was very young, she had been kidnapped.
Although she herself said her memory of it was very vague, the impact of that incident on Su Wanqing had been devastating.
Su Wanqing, who was already suffering from depression at the time, deteriorated sharply, and it took her several years to barely recover.
From then on, Su Wanqing's protectiveness over Jiang Ningchu bordered on paranoia.
When they were young, Lin Wei had helped Jiang Ningchu "escape" plenty of times.
The summer before their third year of junior high, she secretly took Jiang Ningchu to a concert, and the two of them had gotten so caught up in the fun that they lost all track of time.
Jiang Ningchu's phone died and shut off automatically, and Lin Wei had hers on silent. It wasn't until they got home late at night and saw Su Wanqing sitting in the living room—pale-faced and nearly collapsed from exhaustion—that they belatedly realized just how much trouble they had caused.
As they grew older, Lin Wei and Jiang Ningchu reached an unspoken understanding: when it came to Jiang Ningchu's little "adventures" and "experiments," keep them hidden whenever possible.
There was only one guiding principle behind every operation—do everything possible to keep Su Wanqing from worrying.
Lin Wei did her best to process the whole story, but she still wasn't entirely at ease.
She leaned forward and asked for confirmation, sounding none too confident: "So… your mom never got suspicious in the end, right? Are you sure… your brother actually helped this morning?"
"I guess… you could say that."
She'd racked her brain the entire way here without being able to figure out Jiang Heng's exact intentions in helping her out of that situation, so Jiang Ningchu decided to stop this pointless mental exhaustion for the time being.
"Anyway, Mom didn't press the matter this morning."
She sank back into her chair, her gaze going a little unfocused, with a hint of just-giving-up-and-lying-flat. "For the next few days, I plan to go to school as normal, then come here from campus. As for after that… I'll figure something out slowly."
"That's way too much of a detour?!"
Lin Wei clicked her tongue, straightened up from the sofa, locked her phone screen, and set it lightly on the table.
She walked over to Jiang Ningchu's chair, arms crossed, brows knitted, and began seriously brainstorming: "If you ask me, don't bother with all those roundabout routes. Just get Jiang Heng to cover for you, plain and simple."
Her speech sped up without her noticing, her eyes glittering with a reckless excitement. "You're going to join Jiang Corporation's legal department after graduation anyway, so just say you're going early to familiarize yourself with the environment. The logic is completely sound!"
The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and she even started adding details. "Besides, our company does handle a bit of peripheral business for Jiang Corporation's subsidiaries anyway. Worst case scenario, even if your mom catches on someday, with your brother backing you up, it can all be explained away somehow."
This bold proposal coincided exactly with the thought that had flashed through Jiang Ningchu's mind in the car that morning—the one she hadn't dared to dwell on.
She pressed her lips together and stayed silent.
It was true.
Whether it was scheming up excuses to move out, or taking a long detour from school every day, neither was as simple and straightforward as just saying she was interning at Jiang Group.
Su Wanqing had never cared to listen to Jiang Zhenting talk about the intricate corporate affairs of the Group, and she had no interest in which fields Jiang Corporation was involved in or how it operated.
But in her deeply ingrained worldview, the words "Jiang Corporation" themselves represented an absolute safe zone.
If Jiang Ningchu interned at Jiang Corporation, it would mean she was still within arm's reach, and Su Wanqing would be at ease.
And if Jiang Heng really did cooperate—if he stepped forward to confirm it, or simply tacitly allowed it—then for a few short months, given Su Wanqing's habits, she most likely wouldn't, and wouldn't need to, dig deeper or grow suspicious.
The only prerequisite was…
At the dining table, the image of Jiang Heng casually yet precisely swapping out the peanut butter flashed unbidden through her mind.
The thought she had forcibly suppressed loosened, just a little.
Jiang Ningchu's gaze drifted back downstairs.
Her colleagues were either deep in thought or engaged in lively discussion, each absorbed in their own work, energized and focused.
In her countless daydreams, she had always imagined herself as one of them—busy, but fulfilled, with goals to pursue and rewards to reap.
Her nails unconsciously dug into her fingertips. "I… could find a chance and give it a try?"
"Try it! You have to try it!"
Lin Wei was instantly set ablaze—she hadn't expected Jiang Ningchu to actually take this nearly reckless suggestion.
She strode over to the floor-to-ceiling window, her tone brimming with inexplicable encouragement. "Honestly, at the end of the day it comes down to one sentence. Sure, Young Master Jiang used to hate—er, wasn't too fond of you, but times have changed, and everyone's matured! People's minds change!"
"I'm serious."
Lin Wei tilted her head, carefully studying Jiang Ningchu's still tightly pressed lips. Afraid she might back out the next second, she quickly struck while the iron was hot, continuing her earnest analysis:
"Think about it again—is Jiang Heng the kind of person who would, for no reason at all, overflow with kindness and stick his nose into other people's business?"
"The fact that he spoke up to help you out this morning proves at least one thing: on this matter, his interests might just align with ours!"
Jiang Ningchu froze for a few seconds, then suddenly saw the light.
Yes.
Jiang Heng probably didn't care at all about her preferences, her plans, or the little bit of "self" she guarded so carefully.
He might have no interest in her as a person, let alone care whether she lived or died.
But he definitely, certainly, would not want to see Su Wanqing fall back into anxiety and worry because of her affairs.
The fog that had been swirling in her mind instantly dispersed, and everything became clear.
"You're right."
Infected by the unreasonable confidence and optimism in Lin Wei's words, Jiang Ningchu took a deep breath and stood up as well.
She looked into the distance with resolve. "I'll do my best!"
"That's more like it! Start by getting into the role!"
The problem that had given her a headache all morning finally had a solution, and Lin Wei instantly switched back to work mode.
She turned around briskly, grabbed a stack of folders from the desk, and slapped them down on Jiang Ningchu's desk with a thud.
"Here, these are contracts for the company's recent projects. I'm heading out to meet a client soon, so you take a look at these first."
She patted the blue-covered document on top, her tone lightening:
"The projects aren't particularly complicated, and the terms are fairly standard—perfect for you to practice on."
"Review the terms while going through the details: the client's requirements, our delivery commitments, pricing structure, intellectual property ownership… If there's anything you don't understand, message me on WeChat. Once you've gone through these contracts, you'll basically have a good sense of what the company does and how it operates."
Lin Wei winked at Jiang Ningchu and encouraged her, "Spend the next few days getting familiar with things. Once you've got a general picture, we'll discuss which project you want to join!"
Jiang Ningchu had been worried about not knowing where to start in a new industry, but she hadn't expected Lin Wei to arrange everything so thoughtfully.
She picked up the heavy stack of files and saluted Lin Wei, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Yes, Boss Lin! Mission guaranteed!"
Carrying the files back to her workstation, Jiang Ningchu quickly settled her mind.
The rigorous yet abstract legal provisions from her textbooks intertwined with concrete project requirements, specific creative descriptions, delivery deadlines, and profit distribution—the theoretical knowledge became tangible and real.
Time slipped quietly by in concentration.
Before she knew it, the full daylight outside the window had gradually faded.
The sky was layered with golden-orange glow, deepening from pale to rich, blending with the lights inside the office building. Everywhere the eye could see was a tranquil, mellow dusk.
Jiang Ningchu finally lifted her head from the last document and let out a long breath.
She straightened up, rubbed her slightly stiff neck, and began organizing the files covered in colorful sticky notes on her desk.
The phone screen beside her suddenly lit up.
Jiang Ningchu picked it up casually and was somewhat surprised to see the three characters flashing on the screen.
It was Zhou Yichi.
Jiang Ningchu got out of the car at the entrance of the old street's alley, and looking up, she spotted the wooden signboard of "Shen Ji Tea House" not far away.
Zhou Yichi, waiting at the door, caught sight of her almost the moment her gaze searched in his direction.
He raised his hand and waved toward her.
Shen Ji Tea House was built along the river, an elegant three-story wooden building with upturned eaves and distinctive wood grain.
Its fame relied not on advertising but on decades of consistent reputation. When food bloggers mentioned this place, they always cited the legend of "sold at dawn, gone by noon."
In the ground-floor hall, the square tables were packed with diners who had come seeking its fame. The hum of voices, the clatter of dishes, and the billowing steam constantly escaping from behind the kitchen curtain mingled together—bustling and full of lively warmth.
"Dressed so formally today?"
Zhou Yichi walked over naturally, took the bag from Jiang Ningchu's hand, and led her through the hall toward the stairs.
Before she could explain, he continued on his own, "I originally booked the private room for another advisor in the department, but his schedule was suddenly canceled. I remember you mentioned before that you love their pastries?"
"I do."
Jiang Ningchu nodded and walked at his side.
She could sense that Zhou Yichi seemed to be in a good mood.
Over the past three years, their way of getting along had been more or less like this—simple and ordinary.
On campus, they mostly read quietly or worked on their papers side by side in the library; off campus, they attended lectures of interest and academic forums together.
When something worth a small celebration came along—like finishing exams or a successful experiment—they would find a distinctive restaurant that suited both their tastes for a meal together.
"Good that I remembered correctly."
Zhou Yichi glanced at her, gazing for a moment before speaking in a tone that carried a hint of consolation, "Before I left for that training program, I said I'd take you out for a nice meal, but then I got swamped and kept putting it off—it's been almost half a month."
Jiang Ningchu's steps faltered slightly.
So… he remembered.
"I submitted my experiment report today, and the feedback was good."
Zhou Yichi led her onward, letting out a soft sigh. "It's just that I'll have to rush off again, following my advisor to Bincheng for an industry seminar. The schedule is tight this time, and I don't know how many days I'll be gone."
A very subtle tone.
Clearly proud, yet between the lines mixed with a measure of helpless apology.
It wasn't pure sharing, nor a solemn apology—it was more like a gentle statement somewhere between an announcement and a request for understanding.
Jiang Ningchu didn't know at what moment she had let it go, but hearing him say this, she felt no stir of emotion in her heart. She simply went along with his words and replied with a light smile, "Mm, work comes first."
Upstairs was a whole different scene.
Along the river stood a row of elegant semi-private dining rooms, separated by translucent carved wooden screens with openwork patterns—maintaining a sense of privacy without feeling enclosed.
The ceilings weren't completely sealed; bamboo blinds hung sparsely from above.
Zhou Yichi stopped, checked the reservation number on his phone, carefully compared it against the small wooden plaques hanging beside each screen, and headed straight for the room at the very back. "Here."
Jiang Ningchu followed behind him, her gaze sweeping past the silent carved screens one by one.
Just as her eyes crossed the gap between two adjacent rooms, a silhouette behind a screen caught her attention.
Tall, cold, sharp—even as a blurry outline, it was unmistakably distinctive.
That was…
A string in her heart suddenly pulled taut.
Did she see it wrong?!
How could that be… It couldn't possibly be such a coincidence…
The blood in her entire body seemed to rush straight to her head in an instant.
She lowered her lashes, forcing herself not to look in that direction again.
The second floor was relatively quiet, and the hurried footsteps and murmurs of Zhou Yichi and Jiang Ningchu, one following the other, stood out with unusual clarity.
Inside one of the rooms, all was tranquil. Jiang Heng was speaking in low tones with the blond man seated across from him.
Evan was a classmate of his from the MIT Sloan School of Management, specializing in finance and innovation management, while Jiang Heng had majored in EECS. The two had met through an interdisciplinary project.
Evan had traveled across the ocean specifically to China to study the tech venture capital ecosystem, and had taken a keen interest in Jiang Heng's low-profile ventures in hard tech and cross-border capital over the past few years. He had arranged this meeting with him two months in advance.
The wooden structure of the old building carried sound remarkably well; the faint murmur of voices from the neighboring room could just barely be made out.
Hearing that familiar voice, Jiang Heng's fingers, wrapped around a white porcelain teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.
Tiny ripples spread across the surface of the tea.
What a coincidence.
He lowered his eyes, thick lashes concealing the cold glint that flashed through them.
Meanwhile, on the other side, a waiter briskly set out the dishes and respectfully handed handwritten menus to Zhou Yichi and Jiang Ningchu.
"Could you please scald our tableware with boiling water?"
Zhou Yichi took the menu, first carefully wiped down the edges of the table with a wet wipe, then opened the menu and ordered several signature dishes.
When he looked up after finishing, he found Jiang Ningchu across from him staring blankly at the carvings on the screen.
He was slightly taken aback and called out softly, "Xiaochu?"
"Hm?"
Jiang Ningchu snapped back to her senses.
If that figure just now really was Jiang Heng…
Then right now, with only a screen between them, her back was turned to…
"Is there anything in particular you'd like to eat?"
Zhou Yichi frowned slightly, thinking she was hesitating over the order, and looked over the menu again carefully.
After a moment, he raised his eyes and said gently to the waiter waiting nearby, "Sorry, please remove the crystal shrimp dumplings we ordered."
Then he turned to Jiang Ningchu and, without revealing anything, breathed a small sigh of relief. "You're allergic—you can't eat those, right?"
"It's fine. You can have some."
Jiang Ningchu had fully come back to her senses now. She glanced at the menu. "Do you still have the lotus blossom pastries?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
The waiter bowed slightly. "The lotus blossom pastries are made in limited quantities and must be reserved in advance each day. Today's allocation has sold out."
He paused, then politely added, "However, we do have vacuum-packed ready-made gift boxes. The taste is fairly similar to the freshly made ones. Would you like some?"
At that, Zhou Yichi immediately nodded. "Please add one for us."
"No need," Jiang Ningchu replied softly.
She did genuinely love Shen Ji's lotus blossom pastries.
But this time-honored establishment was so famous that admirers flocked there daily, and a reservation was nearly impossible to get.
She had never tasted the legendary fresh-baked version that "always sold out by noon," though she'd always told herself she had to come try it someday.
Now she was actually sitting in the restaurant, and she still could only get the pre-made kind.
She felt more than a little disappointed.
"What's wrong?"
Zhou Yichi's brow furrowed slightly, then quickly smoothed out.
He leaned forward a little and lowered his voice, adding a coaxing note to it. "It slipped my mind for a moment, but it's lotus blossom pastries, right? Well, we're here anyway—why not take some home to try?"
Jiang Ningchu couldn't be bothered to explain and just shook her head. "I'm tired of them."
Zhou Yichi's gaze dimmed for an instant. He handed the menu back to the server. "This will do for now, thank you."
He took the tableware that had been freshly scalded with boiling water and arranged it carefully in front of Jiang Ningchu, his tone nothing short of gentle. "It's alright. Next time you want some, we'll come early. Or—I could try to book a fresh batch of lotus blossom pastries in advance. How does that sound?"
From the neighboring room came the faint sound of low, fluent English conversation, clear yet unfamiliar.
Jiang Ningchu forced the corners of her lips up and looked out at the heavy darkness of the night.
How does that sound.
Fine.
For a moment she felt dazed, as if she had fallen into some inexplicable cycle.
Once the experiments are done, let's go on a graduation trip. How does that sound?
Fine.
When the time is right, we'll officially visit your family. How does that sound?
Fine.
When you graduate, we'll get married. How does that sound?
Fine.
Every question was sincere; every answer, taken for granted.
Yet the promises, piled one atop another, were like mountain ranges that could never be crossed, standing silently upon her heart, suffocating her.
The meal itself was pleasant enough.
Zhou Yichi shared his recent research results in an even tone, and Jiang Ningchu listened quietly, nodding and offering soft responses from time to time.
It was no different from the countless similar dinners over the past three years.
"Pardon the interruption."
The server approached noiselessly and set a small, exquisite bamboo steamer steadily in the center of the table.
Before the lid was even lifted, a delicate lotus fragrance was already drifting out.
"This is the last order of lotus blossom pastries for the day. Please enjoy."
Zhou Yichi looked up in surprise. "But… didn't they say they were sold out? How are there more?"
Jiang Ningchu set down her porcelain spoon and stared at the pastries that weren't theirs. "We didn't order these, did we…?"
"No, you didn't."
Highly professional, the server gathered the empty plates before him, bowed slightly, and explained politely, "These lotus blossom pastries were reserved by a guest in the private room next door. Before he left just now, he instructed us to bring them over. They're fresh out of the oven—please enjoy."
"Next door?"
Zhou Yichi set down his bamboo chopsticks. "Do we know him?"
As he spoke, he stood and walked around the carved screen toward the door.
The thought of that familiar figure she'd glimpsed earlier made Jiang Ningchu's heart race.
Jiang Heng?!
She quickened her pace and hurried after him.