Chapter 21

Dinner consisted of three dishes and a soup, most of which were cooked by Cheng Dingbo, while Cheng Li assisted him in the kitchen.

This time, Cheng Li paid close attention to the cooking process.

Cheng Dingbo, curious, asked, “You don’t usually show interest in learning how to cook. What’s the occasion today?”

“Well, you work so hard cooking every day. I thought I’d learn so I can help you out,” Cheng Li said intentionally.

Cheng Dingbo looked pleased. “You’re busy with work; don’t worry about it.”

The family of three had a relatively relaxed lifestyle. Two years ago, Ling Shuanghua had reached retirement age. Although the school wanted her to stay on, she felt she had worked hard all her life and didn’t want to continue.

Cheng Dingbo, though not yet retired, was a senior employee at his workplace and wasn’t very busy.

Ironically, it was Cheng Li, working at a startup, who exemplified Ling Shuanghua’s description: “Up earlier than the chickens, to bed later than the dogs.”

After dinner, Cheng Li returned to her room.

After washing up, she lay on her bed scrolling through cooking videos.

Suddenly, she sent a message to Rong Qi on WeChat: [Li Mi Kitchen is now open for business! Sir, what would you like to order?]

Moments later, her phone buzzed.

Rong Qi: [What’s on the menu?]

Cheng Li’s face fell instantly.

There was nothing on the menu—that’s why she was cramming.

Cheng Li replied honestly: [There isn’t one yet. That’s why I’m asking what you’d like to eat.]

Cheng Li: [Think of it as giving me some pointers in advance.]

Rong Qi: [Pointers?]

Chinese cuisine is vast and varied, with the Eight Great Cuisines alone enough to dazzle anyone.

Only after cooking earlier did Cheng Li realize she needed to take the initiative to ask Rong Qi.

After all, since she was cooking for him, it made sense to prepare dishes he liked.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, she typed: [What’s your favorite dish?]

Rong Qi: [Coke chicken wings, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, Kung Pao chicken.]

Looking at the list, Cheng Li was touched. These were all simple and easy-to-learn dishes.

Was that really all he wanted?

Then it hit her—what he craved wasn’t just the dishes, but the sense of home.

Cheng Li: [Got it.]

Cheng Li: [When would you like to place your order?]

Rong Qi: [Tomorrow.]

Cheng Li thought about her schedule for the next day. Luckily, she’d be at the office and could probably leave on time by six.

Cheng Li: [Alright, Li Mi Kitchen awaits your patronage.]

When Rong Qi stopped replying, Cheng Li continued watching cooking videos.

Soon, she reopened their chat log.

She read it from the beginning.

A delayed sense of embarrassment washed over her.

What was this “Li Mi Kitchen” nonsense?

Was she trying to be cute?

Ahhhhh!

What had possessed her to send such a message?

At twenty-eight years old, how could she still use such childish language?

She only talked like that with Meng Yuange, her best friend.

The two were so close they practically shared everything. No matter how cheesy or corny the tone, they’d accept it without question.

Cheng Li flipped over, lying flat on her back.

Her gaze fixed on the ceiling as fragments of her interactions with Rong Qi surfaced in her mind.

When did she start feeling comfortable enough to show him this childish side of herself?

Suddenly, her phone vibrated twice.

Cheng Li grabbed it and checked.

Rong Qi: [Li Mi Kitchen—is it exclusively open for me?]

For a moment, Cheng Li’s heart pounded uncontrollably.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, tapping nervously.

The answer was simple—yes or no.

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to type a reply.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed again.

Rong Qi: [Just asking casually.]

Rong Qi: [Goodnight.]

Cheng Li let out a loud “Ugh!” She knew she should feel relieved for not having to answer such an ambiguous question.

Yet a strange feeling lingered in her chest.

It was as if something was stuck—neither up nor down—leaving her short of breath.

Cheng Li: [You’re a bit possessive, aren’t you? What if I want to cook for my parents someday?]

Meanwhile, Rong Qi, sitting on the sofa at home, read her latest reply.

The slight disappointment he felt began to ease, though not entirely.

His fingers hovered over the screen but ultimately, he sent nothing.

*

After her chat with Dong Xin last night, both Ren Kuang and Cheng Li were brimming with energy.

Currently, Jiangchi Automobile was their largest and most promising potential client.

Securing a spot as a supplier for Jiangchi Automobile would significantly boost Fanhai’s chances for the next round of funding.

It would demonstrate that they weren’t just a tech company—they could deliver scalable products.

“Qingqing, can you check when the 3D animation will be ready for me?” Cheng Li asked her assistant, Zuo Qingqing, who sat at the workstation next to her.

“Sure thing! I’ll ask right away,” Qingqing replied.

Cheng Li sat at her desk, massaging her temples.

She could distinctly feel that ever since Yu Cheng left, there was a palpable sense of slackness among the team.

Or more precisely, a lack of respect or fear.

Back when Yu Cheng was around, Cheng Li focused on managing project progress, while Yu Cheng was like an imposing mountain looming overhead. With him there, no one dared to slack off openly.

Perhaps it was also tied to his personality—strict and aggressively authoritative.

The incident that occurred when Cheng Li ran into him at a conference clearly illustrated this.

Yu Cheng was never the kind of person one could easily get along with.

Cheng Li, on the other hand, was different. She was mild-mannered, composed, and rarely lost her temper. Even when projects hit roadblocks, she worked alongside the team rather than berating her subordinates.

But now her role had changed.

Although Cheng Li could have moved into Yu Cheng’s former office, she chose to keep her original desk to facilitate communication with the team.

However, this effort didn’t seem to resonate with the team.

Instead, it gave rise to an even more relaxed atmosphere.

As Cheng Li waited for Zuo Qingqing’s response, she couldn’t help but pick up her phone.

Initially, she wanted to vent to Meng Yuange.

But when she opened WeChat, the first thing she saw was Rong Qi’s pinned profile picture.

Since her last message to him last night, he hadn’t responded.

Cheng Li stared at it absentmindedly for a while.

Suddenly, Meng Yuange sent her a message: [Help me! I’m dying!]

Cheng Li: [What’s wrong?]

Meng Yuange: [Do you know any way to get in touch with those big shots?]

Meng Yuange: [Should I wait for them outside their company? Or camp at their house?]

Cheng Li: […]

Cheng Li: [If you do that, the only thing you’ll get is a pair of silver handcuffs from the police.]

Meng Yuange: [I’m about to get crushed by these overachievers around me. After today’s meeting, I feel utterly defeated. Why do they find it so easy to schedule exclusive interviews? I’ve only managed a few major features this year. And it’s only the third quarter, but the editor-in-chief is already talking about our annual KPIs.]

Cheng Li: [Jealous.]

Meng Yuange: [Jealous of what?]

Cheng Li: [That everyone around you is so competitive.]

Cheng Li: [Here, I have to prod people with a stick to get them moving. I’ve been asking for a 3D animation for three days, and it’s still not done.]

Meng Yuange: […]

The miseries of life differ from person to person.

But Cheng Li thought she might have a way to help Meng Yuange.

Cheng Li: [Who do you want to interview?]

Meng Yuange: [Anyone high-profile, impactful, and newsworthy. I’m not picky.]

Seeing how desperate she was, Cheng Li pressed her lips together thoughtfully.

Cheng Li: [How about Rong Qi? Is he high-profile enough?]

Meng Yuange: [High-profile enough???]

Meng Yuange: [I command you to remove the question mark!]

Meng Yuange: [Who do you think you’re insulting?]

Meng Yuange: [If anyone could get me an exclusive with Rong Qi, they’d be my honorary parent.]

Cheng Li: […]

There’s no need to make such dramatic declarations.

After her conversation with Meng Yuange, Cheng Li seemed to find her courage.

Cheng Li: [I need your advice on something.]

Rong Qi replied quickly: [I’m all ears.]

Those two words instantly eased her mind.

It seemed he wasn’t upset about last night after all.

Cheng Li: [What would you do if a subordinate kept delaying their work?]

Almost immediately, she felt her question might not have been framed well.

But before she could dwell on it, her phone rang.

It was Rong Qi.

Startled, Cheng Li quickly found a quiet spot to answer the call.

“Hello,” she said softly.

Rong Qi got straight to the point. “Are they merely procrastinating, or is there another underlying issue?”

His sharp insight caught her off guard.

She replied awkwardly, “I think it might also have to do with my recent promotion to Chief Architect. When my predecessor was here, they rarely displayed such lack of initiative.”

Suddenly, Cheng Li regretted troubling him with such trivial matters.

“That means it’s not just their problem,” Rong Qi continued without hesitation. “You need to reflect on your team’s management and communication. Is there a clear project timeline, and are they adhering to it strictly?”

Cheng Li murmured, “We do have a weekly plan.”

When she fell silent, Rong Qi stated plainly, “In the early stages of a startup, leadership can rely on lofty visions and promises of a bright future to motivate employees. But people aren’t machines—passion alone won’t last long. This is when disciplined management and incentives become essential. Clear rewards and penalties are necessary tools in management.”

Cheng Li carefully absorbed his words, nodding as she listened.

“I think I understand now. This is the time for me to assert myself as a leader, rather than continue negotiating,” she said.

Rong Qi responded with a soft hum.

Cheng Li chuckled. “Thank you for taking the time to help me with something so minor.”

“It’s normal to feel lost when transitioning from a technical role to management,” he replied calmly. “Nobody is born knowing how to lead.”

Cheng Li pressed her lips together, her heart swelling with gratitude.

Although the promotion was exciting, the shift in her responsibilities brought about new challenges.

“I’m happy,” Rong Qi suddenly said.

Startled, Cheng Li blurted out, “Why?”

“Because you’re willing to ask me for help in moments like these,” he replied.

Cheng Li couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m happy too, that you’re willing to guide me—a lost lamb in the workplace.”

“A lamb?” Rong Qi seemed amused by her choice of words.

Cheng Li suddenly remembered Meng Yuange’s request. She considered bringing it up but decided that a phone call wasn’t the right setting for such a discussion.

Instead, she held back and said softly, “I’ll get back to work now.”

“Alright. See you tonight,” Rong Qi replied unexpectedly.

Cheng Li paused for a moment before responding, “See you tonight.”

When she returned, she noticed Zuo Qingqing glancing at her cautiously. In a low voice, Zuo Qingqing said, “Xiao Tian mentioned that the animation company still hasn’t delivered the file. It seems we’ll have to wait another two days.”

The automatic parking system they were working on had not yet undergone trial runs, meaning they lacked operational video evidence. To continue discussions with Jiangchi Automobile for collaboration, they needed tangible results to present.

It’s often said that many companies rely on flashy PowerPoint presentations to pave their way forward with nothing more than clever speech and aesthetics.

Cheng Li didn’t want Fanhai Intelligent Systems to become one of those companies.

But even something as basic as a 3D animation had been endlessly delayed.

Zuo Qingqing noticed Cheng Li’s expression and was startled.

Everyone in the company knew Cheng Li to be mild-tempered, almost never losing her composure.

Cheng Li turned her head and saw Xiao Tian chatting idly with a colleague, showing no sense of urgency.

She placed both hands on her desk and stood up abruptly.

Walking over to Xiao Tian, she asked directly, “When did you say the 3D animation would be ready?”

Xiao Tian froze for a moment, murmuring, “Tuesday.”

“What day is it today?” Cheng Li asked sharply.

Everyone nearby turned their attention to the scene, confused about what was happening.

“Thursday,” Xiao Tian replied, her voice growing weaker.

Cheng Li pressed further, “When will you deliver it now?”

Xiao Tian glanced up at her, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Well?” Cheng Li enunciated each word, staring intently at her.

“In another two days,” Xiao Tian finally managed to say.

“Is that accurate? Have you confirmed it with the other party?” Cheng Li continued, leaving no room for excuses.

Xiao Tian was visibly flustered. She had only casually checked in with the animation company and never followed up rigorously, receiving vague replies in return.

“This will be noted in your performance review for the month,” Cheng Li declared without hesitation.

Xiao Tian immediately stood up, protesting, “Manager Cheng, I did check in! It’s the other party delaying things.”

Cheng Li met her gaze steadily. “I assigned you the task of delivering the 3D animation by Tuesday. What is your completion rate? Do you think simply checking in qualifies as completing your work?”

Xiao Tian was left speechless.

“This isn’t your first instance of slacking off, but I hope it will be the last,” Cheng Li said firmly before turning and walking away, giving Xiao Tian no further chance to argue.

The incident sparked a noticeable buzz around the office.

Later that afternoon, as Cheng Li went to the pantry to make coffee, she overheard two employees chatting.

“That Xiao Tian has been slacking off for ages. Honestly, I can’t stand people like her. They hold up everyone else’s progress.”

“The worst part is having someone like that on a project team. Her slow pace indirectly increases our workload. I thought she’d get away with it again this time, but Manager Cheng really didn’t go easy on her.”

“Exactly. We used to think Manager Cheng was too nice to manage people effectively.”

“Today, though, her questioning was so satisfying. She didn’t even raise her voice, but she made Xiao Tian so embarrassed she couldn’t say a word.”

“I agree. I like how Manager Cheng doesn’t tolerate nonsense. People like Xiao Tian need to be held accountable for their laziness.”

Hearing their quiet conversation, Cheng Li left the area without making a sound.

Standing in the hallway, she looked out the window.

The setting sun bathed the sky in shades of crimson, and her heart unexpectedly felt lighter.

*

That evening, as soon as Cheng Li received a WeChat message from Rong Qi, she hurried downstairs.

She had planned to meet him at the usual spot, but to her surprise, she saw a silver Porsche parked by the roadside, hazard lights flashing.

Through the windshield, she recognized the familiar figure in the driver’s seat.

She quickly ran over and got into the car, asking in astonishment, “You drove here yourself?”

“Why not?” Rong Qi replied with a rhetorical question.

Just as Cheng Li was about to respond, he leaned toward her.

The confined space of the car immediately felt even smaller.

Her breath caught as he closed the distance between them.

“Seatbelt,” he said casually, as if it were the most ordinary thing.

Rong Qi reached over to pull the seatbelt from behind her. The sound of the belt sliding out was soft but seemed to resonate in Cheng Li’s chest.

After fastening her seatbelt, Rong Qi returned his focus to the steering wheel.

The drive was quiet, and Cheng Li began recounting the follow-up to Xiao Tian’s incident.

Rong Qi listened attentively as he drove, making the time pass quickly.

When they arrived at a gated upscale community, the barrier lifted automatically upon scanning his license plate.

Cheng Li realized this wasn’t the garden house she had expected.

“Where is this?” she asked, thinking they’d be cooking at the garden house.

Rong Qi glanced at her but didn’t answer.

She soon figured it out—this must be his usual residence.

Cheng Li recalled his grandmother mentioning that Rong Qi didn’t live with the elderly couple.

The car drove into an underground garage, where the sight of countless luxury cars left Cheng Li momentarily speechless.

So this was the famed luxury garage.

She’d seen online videos showcasing such garages but never expected to witness one firsthand.

They entered an elevator, and Rong Qi pressed the button.

“Twenty-sixth floor,” he said.

Cheng Li didn’t understand why he emphasized it but nodded anyway.

When the elevator doors opened, they stepped directly into a private foyer.

The apartment featured a spacious open-plan living area, predominantly decorated in white, exuding a warmth Cheng Li hadn’t anticipated.

Opposite her, a floor-to-ceiling window offered an unobstructed view of the Huangpu River.

As the city lights began to glow, the riverside skyline sparkled with a captivating brilliance that made the heart of the city breathtakingly beautiful.

“Would you like a tour?” Rong Qi asked, turning to her.

Cheng Li nodded.

This was Cheng Li’s first time touring such a spacious and luxurious flat. Whether it was the furnishings or the design, everything exuded an impeccable aesthetic that was pleasing to the eyes.

After finishing the tour, she returned to stand before the floor-to-ceiling windows. Offering a genuine compliment, she said, “Your home really is everyone’s dream house.”

A place one could only imagine having in their dreams.

“What do you think could be improved?” Rong Qi asked.

Cheng Li blinked in surprise. “It’s perfect.”

Rong Qi replied calmly, “As long as you like it.”

As long as she liked it?

Cheng Li was momentarily at a loss for words.

“When you move in someday, anything you don’t like can be changed,” Rong Qi said, not giving her any room to evade the topic.

This left Cheng Li dumbfounded. She hesitantly stammered, “Are you talking about… living together?”

This was completely unexpected.

Rong Qi’s dark eyes locked onto hers. After a brief pause, he suddenly smiled.

“I prefer to call it married life for newlyweds.”

Author’s Note:
Rong Qi: What “living together”? I’m a man with a marriage certificate.
Cheng Li: Spill it! How long have you been plotting this?!