Chapter 54

The blackout curtains sealed out every trace of sunlight, leaving the room in darkness even though it was broad daylight outside.

Even as Cheng Li opened her eyes, she could only make out the faint silhouette of the man before her.

But his breathy voice rang clear in her ears.

“Your Highness, was my service satisfactory?”

The sound teased her ears, sending tingles through her heart.

Seeing that she hadn’t replied, Rong Qi leaned in closer, his voice dropping an octave. “Hmm?”

Cheng Li, thoroughly flustered, hastily replied, “Very good, very good.”

In the dim light, Rong Qi raised his brows and drawled lazily, “Then it seems, Your Highness is quite pleased with me.”

His words came as his lips brushed near her ear, his warm breath grazing her skin. Instinctively, Cheng Li shrank her neck and repeated, “Satisfied, satisfied.”

“So, Your Highness, does this mean you’ll favor only me from now on?”

Cheng Li froze, staring blankly at him as her mind slowly pieced things together.

Oh, crap.

Save me!

This shameless man… He’s taking this too far!

In the faint glow, the man’s jet-black eyes, inexplicably luminous as if washed clean, locked onto her with intensity.

Awkwardly, Cheng Li stammered, “My harem…only consists of you.”

Who else would I favor if not you?

“Are you saying that if there were others, you might consider them too?” Rong Qi, clearly in character, continued his roleplay, calling her “Your Highness” at every turn, leaving Cheng Li blushing furiously.

She regretted starting this whole thing in the first place.

But Cheng Li wasn’t going to repeat her mistakes. She quickly shook her head and said firmly, “No. Among the endless waters, I only take a single sip.”

“This single sip of yours…”

Before he could finish, Cheng Li interrupted, “I’m so hungry. Really, really hungry.”

Rong Qi chuckled, his low laughter carrying a teasing undertone. Her plea sounded no different from begging for mercy.

“I’ll get up and make breakfast. You can stay and rest a little longer.”

With that, Rong Qi threw off the blanket and got out of bed.

Though Cheng Li now had the bed to herself, she couldn’t fall back asleep. Resigning herself, she got up and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

In the bathroom, as she brushed her teeth and glanced at herself in the mirror, she suddenly noticed several red marks on her chest.

At first, she didn’t think much of it and rubbed at them absentmindedly.

When the marks didn’t fade and only seemed to deepen, realization dawned.

These were… kiss marks.

As she brushed her teeth, Cheng Li stared at the reddish marks in the mirror and giggled softly to herself.

Fortunately, it was winter. When she got dressed, she simply chose a turtleneck sweater, hiding everything beneath the thick fabric.

When she stepped into the dining room, Rong Qi was just bringing breakfast out from the kitchen.

Cheng Li approached the table and saw a neatly made heart-shaped fried egg on a white plate.

“This…” Cheng Li exclaimed in surprise, staring at the egg.

Rong Qi smiled lightly. “You’re the one who bought the heart-shaped egg mold. Don’t you remember?”

Cheng Li had genuinely forgotten about it.

Back then, Rong Qi had mistaken her heart-shaped fried egg for a triangular one, and in a fit of annoyance, she’d ordered a heart-shaped mold online. However, after receiving it, she’d never actually used it.

To her surprise, it was Rong Qi who had found the mold and used it to make her a heart-shaped fried egg.

Sitting down, Cheng Li smiled at the egg and said, “It’s so pretty I almost don’t want to eat it.”

“If you like it, I’ll make one for you every day.”

As she ate, Cheng Li teased, “Mr. Rong, does anyone know you spend your mornings at home frying soft-boiled eggs for your wife?”

Rong Qi raised a brow at her playful tone and replied, “If you want people to know, I can make an announcement at the office tomorrow.”

Cheng Li: “…”

Can’t win. Definitely can’t win.

Silently, she focused on her breakfast.

The next day at work, Cheng Li was just finishing a meeting with her colleagues when Han Xiaolin entered and whispered, “President Ren is back.”

Cheng Li was surprised. Since the meeting was nearly over, she decided to end it early.

Once she left the conference room, she headed straight for Ren Kuang’s office.

She knocked lightly on the door, and a voice called out, “Come in.”

Opening the door, Cheng Li saw Ren Kuang standing in his office—right in the same spot where he had collapsed before. Standing at the doorway, Cheng Li felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as though it had all happened in another lifetime.

“Feels like it’s been ages, doesn’t it?” Ren Kuang noticed her daze and chuckled.

Cheng Li nodded and slowly stepped into the room.

Ren Kuang glanced down at the floor, as if reminiscing, before looking up with a faint smile. “If you hadn’t come back that day, I don’t know if I’d still be here.”

“You’re a good man, and fortune favors you,” Cheng Li replied.

She carefully studied Ren Kuang’s complexion and said softly, “You look much better now, but are you sure you don’t need more rest at home? The company is running smoothly without any issues.”

“If I stay home any longer, just lying around doing nothing, I’ll go stir-crazy. I couldn’t resist coming in to take a look,” Ren Kuang said, glancing outside. “And I see the company has been operating just fine in my absence.”

Hearing the slight melancholy in his tone, Cheng Li quickly said, “Everyone wanted to ensure everything was in order for your return. That’s why we’ve been working extra hard.”

Ren Kuang laughed at that.

Cheng Li handed him a folder. “We just wrapped up a meeting discussing our participation in the upcoming World Artificial Intelligence Conference. Here’s the process outline. Please take a look and let me know if there’s anything you’d like to adjust.”

She held the folder out to him.

“Forget it. I won’t look at it anymore. I initially thought I could just go through the motions and get by, but…” Ren Kuang gestured to the spot where he had previously collapsed and continued, “The moment I walked into this office, I felt uneasy, constantly imagining what might’ve happened if I hadn’t woken up that day.”

That’s just how people are. When someone overworks themselves to the point of exhaustion, no amount of advice from others makes a difference. But once they come face-to-face with death, they don’t need anyone to remind them—just thinking about it is enough to send chills down their spine.

Cheng Li softly reassured him, “It’s all in the past now, senior brother.”

“This World AI Conference is a big opportunity for you, Cheng Li,” Ren Kuang said, looking at her intently. “Once you join Qiyu, you won’t have the freedom to work as you do now. In such a massive corporation, with its complex organizational structure, you’ll be dealing with top-tier professionals in the field. If you were someone who cut corners, I wouldn’t be worried. But you focus solely on the work itself.”

Ren Kuang, preparing for his departure, couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned about Cheng Li.

Over the past few years working together, he had grown to deeply admire her. She never resorted to underhanded tactics, always dedicated herself to her work, and relentlessly pursued excellence in technology.

Having come from a major corporation before starting his own company, Ren Kuang understood firsthand how much harder it was to survive in a big company compared to a startup.

But he hoped Cheng Li would succeed.

“Senior brother, I know you’re worried about me. But life is never smooth sailing. Since I’ve chosen to strive forward, I’m not afraid of what challenges lie ahead. Whatever they may be, I’ll find a way to overcome them,” Cheng Li replied firmly.

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference, hosted in Shanghai, was organized by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Shanghai Municipal Government, with support from major research institutions like the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was the biggest event of the year.

Fanhai had been diligently preparing for months to participate in the conference.

Though the event was massive, boasting over a thousand booths, Fanhai was just a small participant among many. Still, the team’s enthusiasm was palpable.

After all, this was the first time in three years they had been invited to such a major event. In the past, they had only attended smaller, less prestigious ones.

The night before the event, Cheng Li found herself unable to sleep.

Noticing her unease, Rong Qi asked in a low voice, “What’s on your mind?”

Cheng Li shook her head. “Just thinking about tomorrow’s AI conference.”

Rong Qi, assuming it was something serious, realized it was merely work-related.

The two weren’t in their bedroom at the moment but were lounging on the sofa in the living room, each with a laptop. They had gradually shifted closer together until they were sitting side by side.

Suddenly, Cheng Li turned to Rong Qi. “When you started your own company, was it tough?”

“It wasn’t too bad,” Rong Qi replied casually.

Cheng Li’s eyes widened. Not too bad??

When she first joined Fanhai, she worked so hard that she felt physically ill, often to the point of nausea. It was a visceral reaction.

Seeing her slightly indignant expression, Rong Qi chuckled softly before offering a more serious explanation: “When I think back on it, it really wasn’t that bad. People have a way of protecting themselves—overly painful memories tend to fade over time. That’s why, when you bring them up later, it feels like they weren’t so bad.”

Cheng Li nodded in understanding. “I suppose that’s true. When I first joined Fanhai, I was so exhausted I started questioning life itself. My hair was falling out in clumps—thank goodness I had plenty to begin with. Even so, my mom bought sesame seeds for me and forced me to drink sesame paste every morning.”

Rong Qi’s eyes darkened slightly at her words.

Pulling Cheng Li into his arms, he murmured, “But when you look back at Fanhai now, don’t you feel like all your hard work was worth it?”

“Yes,” Cheng Li agreed, nodding.

Although they worked at different companies, their shared entrepreneurial experiences brought a mutual understanding between them.

All the blood, sweat, and tears shed along the way would eventually blossom into something brilliant and dazzling in the future.

*

On the first day of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, the Shanghai Expo Center was bustling from early morning. The event not only brought together major corporations but also top AI scientists, investors, and innovation teams. Many curious citizens also attended to explore the exhibits.

At events like this, companies often showcased their most groundbreaking technologies and products, surprising and captivating audiences.

Fanhai focused on autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems. Their booth displayed various software and hardware products. However, as a smaller company, their booth was tucked away in a less prominent area and was relatively modest in size.

Cheng Li was fully aware of this beforehand and thus felt no disappointment.

To attract attention, she had put in a great deal of effort.

She reworked a 3D animation previously created for a collaboration with Jiangchi Automobile, optimizing it further. The animation showcased an autonomous parking scene in a lively, visually appealing way, complete with cute mechanical sound effects.

Displayed on a large screen at the booth, the animation stood out from the surrounding high-tech, serious exhibits, instantly catching the eye.

Before long, people began to gather around to watch.

Cheng Li stayed close to the booth, rarely leaving the area.

That was until Zuo Qingqing returned, her voice filled with awe. “Sister Li, I just went to the restroom and passed by Pegasus Navigation’s booth. Their setup is huge—they even have a car on display!”

“A car? What kind of car?” Tang Ruiyuan asked as he approached, lowering his voice.

Zuo Qingqing replied, “It’s a new car they developed in collaboration with Fengrui Motors. Apparently, it’s equipped with their latest L4 autonomous driving software and hardware system. This is its first appearance at a domestic expo.”

Tang Ruiyuan chuckled. “They’re going all out. That’s a significant investment.”

Then, turning to Cheng Li, he asked, “Want to go check it out?”

Cheng Li, unfazed, replied, “Sure.”

The two wasted no time, heading straight for Pegasus Navigation’s booth. Zuo Qingqing stood frozen, dumbfounded by how openly they were “scouting the competition.”

Without needing much direction, they quickly found their way to Pegasus Navigation’s exhibition booth.

The booth stood out—it was enormous, and right in front of it was a car on display.

A crowd had already gathered around the vehicle, as Pegasus Navigation’s staff patiently began their explanation.

“This is the first vehicle jointly developed by Pegasus Navigation and Fengrui Automobiles, equipped with our fourth-generation autonomous driving software and hardware system. We are now gearing up for the first batch of mass production, following a six-month road test phase.”

Tang Ruiyuan scrutinized the car closely before suddenly commenting, “Looks like we’ll be Pegasus’s direct competitors in the future.”

“Getting ahead of yourself, aren’t you?” Cheng Li chuckled softly.

Tang Ruiyuan snorted. “We’re about to become part of Qiyu Tech—might as well talk big.”

Previously, as a startup, Fanhai had no way to compare itself to industry leaders like Pegasus in the autonomous driving sector. But things were different now. With Fanhai being acquired by Qiyu Tech, they were about to be integrated into Qiyu’s automotive division. This leap would elevate them from a small startup to part of a leading domestic team in the industry.

With the backing of a well-funded corporation, they had every reason to speak with confidence.

Cheng Li glanced at the bustling Pegasus Navigation booth, her eyes filled with quiet determination. “Exactly. Why can’t we surpass them? Sooner or later, we’ll do even better.”

The atmosphere around them buzzed with excitement. This gathering brought together the most cutting-edge AI technologies in the country.

This was not just a stage for dreams to take flight, but also a place full of opportunities for entrepreneurs. More importantly, it was a battlefield where top tech companies clashed fiercely.

No one here was willing to admit defeat easily.

*

During the New Year’s holiday, Cheng Li finally took some time off to return home.

With Rong Qi away from Shanghai for a few days, she stayed with her parents for two nights. Naturally, the topic of her company came up.

“Oh, Mom, you still have 3% of the company’s shares, right?” Cheng Li asked casually.

Mrs. Ling paused for a moment, then recalled, “Oh, you mean the shares I was holding for you?”

When Cheng Li first joined Fanhai, the company was still in its early stages. Ren Kuang was busy seeking investment from every direction. As a fresh graduate, Cheng Li had an impressive academic record but no real-world experience.

Logically, she shouldn’t have been able to acquire so many shares.

Even the previous chief architect, Yu Cheng, who had left, only held 5% of the shares, and that was purely through technical contributions.

At the time, Cheng Li had taken a bold step. She borrowed 500,000 yuan from her parents and invested the entire amount into the company. Since the money came from her parents, she felt it would be inappropriate to put the shares under her own name, so she had them registered under her mother’s name instead.

“Now that our company is being acquired, you’ll need to sign some agreements after the New Year to sell off the shares,” Cheng Li explained matter-of-factly.

Since Qiyu Tech was acquiring Fanhai Zhixing outright, Cheng Li also planned to have her mother sell the 3% of shares along with the rest.

Mrs. Ling didn’t give it much thought and agreed readily, saying, “Sure, just let me know when to sign.”

To her, the shares were technically Cheng Li’s, so she didn’t mind.

However, Mr. Cheng was a little more curious. “Your company’s being sold? How much? And how much is your 3% worth now?”

Although the acquisition was still confidential, it was no secret to Mrs. Ling as a shareholder. Cheng Li decided not to hide it from her father either, knowing the news would be public soon enough.

“Our company sold for over 400 million yuan. Mom’s 3% will be worth about 10 million yuan,” Cheng Li replied calmly.

The parents, who had been casually eating their meal, suddenly froze. They both looked up, staring at Cheng Li with wide eyes.

They exclaimed in unison, “How much?”

“About 10 million yuan. Of course, we’ll need to pay some taxes, but we’ll figure that out later,” Cheng Li explained nonchalantly.

The two exchanged incredulous glances, unable to hide the astonishment and disbelief in their eyes.

Her father did some quick math in his head, exclaiming, “That’s a twenty-fold return! Isn’t your industry a bit… too lucrative?”

Cheng Li chuckled. “This is nothing. We just got lucky because we were acquired by a big company. Back in the day, the earliest investors in Tencent saw returns of up to 7,000 times their investment.”

Since the rise of the internet, the tech industry had become a massive goldmine. While some found fortunes, many also lost everything.

“So, once the money comes in, you two should take a vacation. Go to the Maldives, Tahiti, or Europe. Mom’s English is good enough to handle travel anywhere in the world,” Cheng Li suggested with a grin.

Mrs. Ling finally recovered from her shock and replied matter-of-factly, “Vacation? Nonsense. First, we’ll invest the money wisely. Then, we’ll look into buying a house. I was planning to help you with a down payment before you got married, but now you’ve completely caught me off guard. Still, it’s not too late to buy one now—after all, this is all your money.”

Cheng Li laughed, “I just climbed out of the startup pit, and now you’re pushing me into the home loan pit. You really are my biological mom.”

“That’s non-negotiable. Back when your dad and I were buying this house, we scrimped and saved. I was practically eating steamed buns from the school cafeteria every day. Only when you have a roof over your head can you feel at ease,” Mrs. Ling declared firmly.

“Buying a house isn’t urgent. We’ll talk about it later,” Cheng Li replied.

The family of three fell silent for a moment. Mrs. Ling looked at her daughter and said with a hint of emotion, “I never got to enjoy the riches of my husband, but now I’m reaping the benefits of my daughter’s success.”

Mrs. Ling was truly happy. She had always worried about the gap between Cheng Li and Rong Qi.

On one hand, she was proud of her son-in-law’s excellence, but on the other, she feared that Rong Qi’s exceptional achievements might cause Cheng Li to feel inadequate or suffer grievances.

But now, she suddenly realized that Cheng Li had grown into someone far more accomplished than she had ever imagined.

“So now you understand that all those days of waking up earlier than the chickens and going to bed later than the dogs have some value after all,” Cheng Li said softly, noticing the look on her mother’s face, and chuckled.

*

A week after New Year’s.

The signing ceremony for Qiyu Tech’s acquisition of Fanhai was officially held in the conference room of Qiyu’s headquarters.

As Fanhai’s chief architect, Cheng Li also attended the ceremony.

When Ren Kuang and Rong Qi signed the contract in the office, Cheng Li found herself momentarily dazed.

Looking ahead, she was about to officially step into this new company. But this time, unlike the nervousness she felt when she first joined Fanhai, she was filled with excitement.

After the signing, Rong Qi, representing Qiyu, shook hands with the members of Fanhai one by one.

Once he finished the routine handshakes with the people in front, he walked over to Cheng Li, extended his hand, and said in a soft voice, “Cheng Li, welcome to Qiyu Tech. I’m thrilled to soon have the opportunity to work alongside you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Rong. I will work even harder from now on,” Cheng Li replied earnestly, raising her hand to shake his.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, their hands met in a light handshake.

The room erupted into applause.

Yet, no one noticed that as Rong Qi released her hand, his fingertip lightly grazed her palm, teasingly.