Chapter 18.1

Friday came, marking the last workday of the week.

At 9:00 a.m., Song Wei was in the pantry making coffee. Ji Yao was there too. “Weiwei-jie, how about I request a water dispenser for your office? That way, you can make coffee right there.”

“No need. Coming out here to make it isn’t a problem,” Song Wei replied as she tore open a packet of instant coffee and poured it into her cup before adding hot water.

Ji Yao suggested, “If you want freshly brewed coffee, there’s a private café in the building next door. The coffee there is pretty good.”

Song Wei smiled, “No, thanks. I’m not much of a coffee person. I just drink it to stay alert.”

“Did you not sleep well last night?” Ji Yao asked.

She hadn’t, not really. Tossing and turning over lingering thoughts and having a series of dreams left her feeling restless. But that wasn’t something she wanted to discuss. She picked up a stirring stick and mixed the coffee evenly.

The pantry was a natural spot for casual conversation, and Ji Yao was brimming with things to share. “Wei-jie, it seems the company has landed another big project. Do you think it’ll be assigned to our team?”

Song Wei glanced at her. “Oh?”

“President Chen just got back yesterday, right? He and President Chu had gone to Shenzhen. This time, it’s a collaboration with Changyan Technology. You’ve heard of them, haven’t you?”

“Yes.” Changyan Technology was a leading tech company in the South and a world pioneer in precision medical equipment. He had mentioned the “Navigator” program they were targeting, but they hadn’t gone into details. Which team would handle the project hadn’t been decided yet.

Ji Yao was hopeful. “It’d be great if it’s ours. The performance bonus would be huge!”

Song Wei broke her reverie. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ve just taken on the Xingfu Jiaoyu project, and we’re already juggling three projects. Isn’t that enough to keep you busy?”

“Think about the money! Xingfu Jiaoyu is such a small project,” Ji Yao retorted.

Song Wei tapped her on the forehead. “Projects may differ in size, but work is work. If you can’t handle small projects well, how can the boss trust you with big ones?”

“Hehe, I was just saying. I’ll definitely work hard,” Ji Yao said, moving closer. In a whisper, she asked, “Wei-jie, did you really assign Xingfu Jiaoyu to Yao Miaoxuan?”

Song Wei didn’t respond immediately, raising her eyes to meet Ji Yao’s gaze.

Ji Yao cautioned, “Her temper’s not great. Even Sister Cheng rarely gave her tasks. Just make sure she doesn’t drive you mad.”

Song Wei smiled. “She won’t.”

Halfway through her instant coffee, Song Wei felt much more awake.

At 9:30 a.m., she sent Yao Miaoxuan a message through the office software: [Is the report ready?]

Five minutes later, the young woman appeared, looking awkward, clutching the report tightly, the paper creased from her grip.

Song Wei guessed what had happened. “It’s not a mess, is it?” she asked, holding out her hand. “Give me the report.”

Yao Miaoxuan hesitated briefly before stepping forward and placing the report in Song Wei’s palm.

“Summarize it,” Song Wei said.

Reluctantly, Yao Miaoxuan began, “In the past, smart education revolved around big data, aimed at advancing digital transformation. Recently, concepts like immersive learning spaces, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence have gained traction. Now, XR technology is emerging, but its application is still underdeveloped in the market…”

Song Wei listened attentively while flipping through the report’s ten-plus pages. After finishing, she closed it. “This is much better than last time. Well done. Your next task is to identify four competitors offering similar products and analyze them from the perspectives of industry trends, company positioning, product features, and user demographics. This will be a long-term task, with updates required at every project stage. Also, coordinate with Xingfu Jiaoyu Tech to clarify their requirements and project scope.”

Yao Miaoxuan frowned. “That’s a lot.”

“Dong Ruicheng is in your group. Divide the tasks between you two and submit the PRD to me by next Thursday.”

“Isn’t that too rushed?”

“Yes. The project has a two-month timeline.”

Yao Miaoxuan’s expression darkened again.

In the afternoon, the product team held a meeting. Several product managers attended, some of whom Song Wei met for the first time. Polite introductions were exchanged, and contact details shared.

The manager sitting beside her, surnamed Zhen, remarked, “They say the new manager is very strict, but you don’t seem that way. Manager Song, you look so young, like a fresh graduate.”

Song Wei wasn’t sure how to respond. She smiled awkwardly. Where had the reputation for being strict come from? She considered herself gentle.

After the meeting, Jiang Zhendong called her aside. “Manager Song, the company plans to take on a new project. Do you have the bandwidth for it?”

“What project?” she asked.

“A collaboration with Changyan in Shenzhen.”

Song Wei was surprised. “It’s confirmed?”

“Yes. The news came this morning. President Chen will go next week to sign the contract.”

So, he’d secured it after all. Still, Song Wei didn’t hesitate. “Boss Jiang, I’ve just taken over Xingfu Jiaoyu, and there are two other projects left by Sister Cheng. Plus, I’m not particularly familiar with medical products. I’m afraid I’m not the best fit.”

Jiang Zhendong responded, “The two projects from Li Cheng are already mature and won’t require much effort. Xingfu Jiaoyu isn’t demanding either. You have time. The Changyan collaboration is set to be a key project for the first half of the year. Think it over. President Chen and I will evaluate and assign it to the most suitable manager.”

In a more serious tone, he added, “You’re new here. If you can seize this opportunity, it’ll significantly benefit your career here. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Song Wei understood but still didn’t agree.

After years of working in the capital, she had learned to avoid standing out unnecessarily. She wasn’t particularly aggressive and preferred to work steadily. Taking on two major projects as soon as she joined—what would the other managers think?

She wasn’t trying to appease them but to protect herself.

The tallest tree catches the wind.

At 6:00 p.m., Ji Yao came to remind her it was time to clock out.

Something crossed Song Wei’s mind, and her mood visibly dropped.

Her phone buzzed with a message: [Should I drive you home first?]

She replied: [No need. I’ll go by myself.]

[See you tonight.]

“See you tonight” were three ominous words.

…

Chen Jubai didn’t return to Chen Yun’s house; instead, he went to his usual residence near the company to pack up. There wasn’t much to pack, so he arrived at her house a little before seven.

Song Gaoyi had already bought groceries and was busy in the kitchen. Chen Jubai peeked inside and asked, “Dad, is Weiwei back?”

“She is. She’s tidying up her room. Take your luggage into her room first, then come back out.”

“Alright.”

Chen Jubai pushed his suitcase towards the east bedroom.

“Not that one. The east one,” Song Gao Yi called from the kitchen.

She halted briefly before continuing.

It wasn’t her first time entering that room.

The door was open. Song Wei was facing the closet, organizing her clothes. Hearing the movement, she turned her head briefly before turning back. “Just leave it there. I’m not done yet.”

“Okay, but I need to change.”

Her posture stiffened as she pointed to the adjacent bathroom. “Change there.”

Chen Jubai retrieved his loungewear from the suitcase and entered the bathroom.

The space was well-maintained, clean, and neatly arranged. However, the vanity was cluttered with over twenty bottles and jars of varying sizes, which surprised him.

The recessed shelves were orderly, holding face towels and feminine products. Towels hung neatly on hooks, and toothpaste and toothbrushes were all aligned.

It was entirely Song Wei’s domain.

Chen Jubai picked up a peculiar makeup tool from the storage basket, feeling as if he were stepping into a new, unfamiliar world. The air carried her distinct scent, wrapping around him in an odd yet comforting way, rendering his mind momentarily blank.

He emerged five to six minutes later, only to find the room empty.

The bed in the center had been freshly made, with a pale blue bedsheet adorned with small yellow flowers at the corner—simple and refreshing.

Yet, the bed looked overly smooth, like one prepared in a hotel suite.

His gaze darkened slightly before he left the room.

In the kitchen, Song Gao Yi had already prepped the meat and vegetables and was waiting for his son-in-law to take over.

Chen Jubai scanned the room before asking, “Where’s Weiwei? Did she go out?”

“She went downstairs to buy oyster sauce. We ran out,” Song Gao Yi replied.

Chen Jubai nodded, stepping into the kitchen. “Dad, what are we cooking today?”

“Stir-fried shrimp, dry-fried green beans, a side dish, and soup. I’ve already started the soup; I’ll teach you how to make it next time. Now, come here and prep the shrimp.”

Song Gao Yi picked up a shrimp and demonstrated carefully. “First, cut off the head, but don’t throw it away. We’ll use it later. Then devein it, and remove the shell.”

He added with a smile, “Weiwei loves shrimp but hates peeling them. If you don’t peel them before cooking, she won’t even touch them. But if you do, she could eat a whole plate herself. Always peel them for her when you cook shrimp in the future.”

“Got it,” Chen Jubai replied. Then he asked, “Does she not like fish?”

“She does, but she’s afraid of bones. She choked on one as a kid and has been wary ever since. But fish is important in a diet, so when she was young, we’d always pick out the bones for her before serving.”

Chen Jubai glanced at his father-in-law, who was speaking with a doting expression, showing not the slightest hint of annoyance.

The phrase “the apple of his eye” came to life before him.

Even teaching him to cook seemed to stem from a single purpose: to care for Song Wei.

It felt as though they were pulling him into a shared alliance—a collective effort to love and spoil her.

Surprisingly, he didn’t mind. On the contrary, an indescribable warmth arose within him. Perhaps, he thought, this was what a family should feel like.

Chen Jubai quickly caught on. After watching one demonstration, he prepped the next shrimp on his own.

Soon, half a pound of shrimp was peeled.

Song Gao Yi then handed him the scallions, ginger, and garlic to prepare, reminding him, “Weiwei doesn’t eat cilantro. Don’t forget that.”

“I know.”

The small kitchen was alive with the sound of chopping and conversation.