Chapter 29

This time, her cramps didn’t hurt. When Song Wei woke up in the morning, she felt completely fine, guessing the day would pass without issues.

Meanwhile, the first thing Chen Jubai did upon waking was rush upstairs without even brushing his teeth.

At 8 a.m., everyone gathered in the hotel restaurant for breakfast.

Chu Qi didn’t seem heartbroken at all. When he saw her, he smirked teasingly. “Manager Song, did you sleep well last night?”

Recognizing the playful tone, Song Wei smiled faintly and replied, “And you, Mr. Chu? Did you sleep well?”

Chu Qi’s face darkened immediately. He glared at Chen Jubai, who walked in a moment later, before sulking in silence as he ate breakfast.

At the table, Dong Ruicheng, mouth full of croissant, asked, “Mr. Chu, is it true you’re single again?”

Chu Qi’s face turned even darker. “Chen Jubai, did you broadcast it in the company group chat?”

Chen Jubai remained calm. “No, but if you talk any louder, it’ll have the same effect as a group announcement.”

Chu Qi threatened, “President Chen, you’d better keep your mouth shut, or else…” He shot a glance at Song Wei.

Chen Jubai chuckled and said no more.

Not far away, Zhu Qingfei, wary of misunderstandings, pulled out her phone and messaged Chu Qi: [I know you’re not talking about me. Don’t worry; it’s fine.]

Surprised she’d respond, Chu Qi quickly replied: [Got it, no problem.]

Sitting beside Zhu Qingfei, Song Wei observed their exchange and raised an eyebrow, thinking something might be brewing between them.

After breakfast, the team departed for Changyan Technology.

The next week would be spent working at Changyan’s office. On the first day, they were welcomed with a short ceremony, which concluded by 10 a.m., followed by a meeting with the local project team.

Changyan wasn’t a small company, and the meeting room carried a formal, serious atmosphere.

This was rare in Guangnian, leaving younger colleagues like Dong Ruicheng and Xiao Xu visibly nervous.

Chen Jubai opened the meeting. “Mr. Yu, Manager Song has already coordinated with Manager Fu on this project. Last week, they finalized the requirements and development plan. Manager Song will now present. Please feel free to share any feedback.”

Yu Shao nodded and gestured politely. “Manager Song, please go ahead.”

Song Wei had faced far greater pressure in the capital and wasn’t fazed. She confidently took the stage to present.

Having thoroughly prepared to win this project over Fang Hongshen, Song Wei had gained a deep understanding of VR technology in the medical field. She had personally overseen every aspect of the subsequent work, making the presentation a breeze.

After over half an hour, she set down the clicker. “Mr. Yu, President Chen, this is our current development plan and project timeline. Please let me know if there’s anything you’d like us to improve.”

Her gaze swept over to Chen Jubai. He curled his lips into a subtle smile and gave a small nod.

Song Wei caught his expression—a superior’s affirmation of a subordinate’s work. She responded with a relaxed smile and shifted her attention to Yu Shao.

Yu Shao asked first, “Manager Song, have you worked on medical projects before?”

“No, this is my first time.”

“Oh?” Yu Shao sounded intrigued. “May I ask about the products you’ve handled before?”

Song Wei listed them one by one, selecting two major projects from her previous company and three from her time at Guangnian. After listening, Yu Shao smiled and said, “No wonder Manager Song handles her work so maturely.” Turning to Chen Jubai, he joked, “President Chen, you should give your HR department a bonus.”

Chen Jubai smiled back. “Definitely. Let’s hand them out when our collaboration concludes.”

“Haha, sounds good to me.”

After the light banter, the discussion shifted to the core of the meeting. Yu Shao and Fu Yaoqing raised questions about the proposed plan, covering everything from operations to development. For questions Song Wei couldn’t answer, Zhu Qingfei and Shan Kaicheng stepped in to assist.

The team had prepared thoroughly for this trip, and after two hours of intense discussion, there wasn’t a single question left unanswered.

When the meeting ended, Chen Jubai sent red envelopes in the group chat for everyone.

Dong Ruicheng: [Thank you, President Chen! President Chen is so generous!]

Xiao Xu: [Thank you, President Chen! President Chen is so generous!]

Zhu Qingfei: [Thank you, President Chen! President Chen is so generous!]

Even Chu Qi joined in on the celebratory messages.

Chen Jubai: [Thank you all for your hard work. Let’s keep up the good effort for the next five days.]

The next five days were packed. After lunch at the cafeteria, the team returned to the hotel for barely an hour of rest before heading out again. The afternoon was spent touring Changyan Technology’s suburban tech park, a two-hour round trip.

By 8 p.m., they had a dinner reservation with the Changyan team. With so many people, they split into two tables—the executives at one table and the regular employees at another.

As soon as they sat down, Zhu Qingfei stretched her legs out and groaned, “I can’t anymore. My legs are dead.”

Song Wei chuckled, “Want me to massage them for you?”

“No, no, I wouldn’t dare let the boss’s wife do that.”

“Lower your voice.”

Zhu Qingfei leaned closer and joked, “Fine, then I wouldn’t dare let our star contributor do that either.”

Song Wei laughed and gave her leg a playful squeeze. Zhu Qingfei yelped in pain, “Ahhh!”

Her cry abruptly stopped as Chu Qi walked over. She froze, quickly retracted her legs from the chair, and sat upright, trying to look innocent.

Chu Qi, having seen everything, let out a chuckle and walked past them.

Once he was gone, Zhu Qingfei buried her head in silent despair. “This is so embarrassing!”

“What’s embarrassing about it?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Alright, alright, I don’t understand.”

At that moment, Fu Yaoqing sat down beside them. “You walked a lot today, didn’t you? Every time I visit the tech park, I dread it—it’s way too big.”

Having interacted with her during online communications and now in person, Song Wei found Fu Yaoqing to be capable, gentle, and easy to get along with.

“Manager Li did an excellent job guiding us,” Song Wei replied. “We’re tired but gained a lot.”

“Make sure to rest well tonight. Soak your feet if you need to relax.”

“I will.”

Before dinner was served, everyone chatted casually. Fu Yaoqing shifted the topic. “Is this your first time in Shenzhen?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then you must try some of our specialty snacks later. The candied tangerine bean paste buns and taro crisps are highly recommended.” She glanced at the other table and smiled. “Last time President Chen came here, he even packed some buns to take home for his wife. Said she loved them.”

Song Wei froze for a moment, her memory rewinding. Did that happen? Why didn’t she remember receiving those snacks?

When the desserts arrived, Song Wei stared at the bun shaped like a little chick and suddenly recalled. Oh, so that’s where they came from. She had admired their adorable design but had no idea they’d traveled hundreds of kilometers in his luggage.

Looking over at the other table, she clicked her tongue softly. This man does kind deeds quietly, doesn’t he?

After some chit-chat, Fu Yaoqing couldn’t resist her curiosity and asked, “Manager Song, is it true that President Chen is married?”

Next to her, Zhu Qingfei held back a laugh and kept eating her dessert.

Song Wei nodded awkwardly. “Yes, he is.”

“Have you met his wife?”

“No…”

“I’m just surprised,” Fu Yaoqing admitted. “President Chen is so young—why would he get married so soon?”

Zhu Qingfei, sensing an opportunity, quipped, “Because he’s happily in love. Isn’t getting married for love perfectly normal?”

“I thought it might be some kind of business alliance,” Fu Yaoqing remarked. She didn’t harbor any designs on him, just curiosity. Naturally, she had done her homework before collaborating with Guangnian. Chen Jubai’s capabilities and Guangnian’s success were undeniable. Given the 30% stake held by a prominent family-owned enterprise in Nan’an, Chen Jubai seemed like the ideal son-in-law candidate.

Zhu Qingfei retorted, “Wrong guess. They genuinely fell in love. They’re so close that President Chen even stopped working overtime after getting married.”

Fu Yaoqing chuckled awkwardly and dropped the subject.

Zhu Qingfei leaned toward Song Wei and whispered, “Congratulations, you’ve got another admirer to compete with.”

Song Wei didn’t feel much about it. If she and Chen Jubai had no connection, it’d be natural for someone to be curious about a talented and accomplished young man getting married.

Zhu Qingfei teased further, “Don’t dismiss it. I’ve got sharp instincts.”

Song Wei placed a piece of taro crisp on her plate. “Focus on your food.”

…

After dinner, they returned to the hotel. Exhausted from the day, Song Wei fell asleep immediately after her shower, missing Chen Jubai’s calls to open the door for him. When she woke up the next morning, she saw several missed calls and messages.

At breakfast, feeling guilty, Song Wei asked while pouring coffee, “Would you like a cup, President Chen?”

He glanced up, his tone indifferent. “Yes, please. Thank you.”

Chen Jubai sat opposite Shan Kaicheng, so she naturally asked, “Manag…” Halfway through the word, she remembered someone mentioning it specifically last time and corrected herself, “Manager Shan, would you like some?”

“I don’t drink coffee, but thank you,” Shan Kaicheng replied.

Carrying two cups of coffee, Song Wei sat down next to the boss’s empty spot—where no one else dared to sit. Pretending to chat with Shan Kaicheng, she asked, “Manager Shan, are you spending the morning with their R&D department or joining us?”

Shan Kaicheng replied, “We’ll connect with them this morning and join you in the afternoon.”

“Got it.”

Song Wei turned to Chen Jubai with a radiant smile. “What’s on your agenda today, President Chen?”

Chen Jubai met her gaze with the calm, steady tone of a superior addressing a subordinate. “I’ll be with Manager Shan.”

“Thank you for your hard work, President Chen.”

The breakfast hall was bustling. After the polite exchange, there wasn’t much else to say. Before long, a message popped up on her phone:

[Are you feeling unwell?]

Out of the corner of her eye, Song Wei noticed Chen Jubai had just put down his phone. She replied, [No, I’m fine.]

A minute later, he picked up his phone again: [I’ll come down early tonight. Leave the door unlocked.]

Suppressing a smile, Song Wei replied with a nodding emoji.

After breakfast, the team split into two groups. Chen Jubai and the others headed to the R&D department, while Song Wei and Dong Ruicheng visited the product management department.

The morning was packed with detailed work. Later, Fu Yaoqing took them on a field visit to a hospital.

In medical equipment innovation, the users’ experience—both doctors and patients—is paramount.

Their current project focused on launching a medical imaging device. While traditional imaging technology is already highly advanced, doctors still need to review a multitude of films and reports, using their expertise to synthesize a diagnosis. AR technology, however, could integrate all this information into a single 3D holographic interactive model, significantly aiding diagnostic accuracy.

After returning from the hospital, Song Wei didn’t rest. She immediately began organizing data.

By 4 p.m., the R&D team joined them for a joint meeting.

Song Wei presented the day’s findings and raised a critical point about their hospital visit. “President Chen, most patients are ordinary people. Should our system display all the information to them? Would knowing too much lead to increased tension in doctor-patient relationships?”

Chen Jubai asked, “Do we have supporting data?”

“No, we haven’t investigated this aspect yet.”

Turning to Fu Yaoqing, he asked, “What’s your opinion, Manager Fu?”

“I believe it’s worth considering. Some patients may have weaker emotional resilience. Whether to provide full, unfiltered information to them should be carefully evaluated.”

“Then we’ll conduct research on this.”

Fu Yaoqing replied, “Understood, President Chen.”

Song Wei posed another question: “Currently, our device uses algorithms to suggest the next steps to doctors. If doctors rely on AR and AI technology for an extended period, will it weaken their role? Additionally, in cases of medical malpractice arising from following system recommendations, how would responsibilities be divided?”

Chen Jubai asked, “Are there standardized ethical guidelines?”

Fu Yaoqing replied, “Yes, WHO established relevant ethical principles a few years ago.”

Looking back at Song Wei, he prompted her to continue.

Song Wei elaborated, “While ethical guidelines can mitigate such risks, they act as a remedy after the fact. Can’t we address this issue at its technological roots?”

After a moment of thought, Chen Jubai responded, “It’s technically feasible. However, whether it’s AR or AI, accuracy must always be the top priority. If we compromise accuracy to avoid potential malpractice, wouldn’t that ironically increase the risk of malpractice?”

Song Wei frowned, lowering her voice. “I never said we should compromise accuracy. My point is that we should maintain the current level of precision while proactively addressing these concerns. If we go the extra mile, users will feel more at ease.”

Chen Jubai countered, “Stephen Hawking once said, ‘Our future is a race between growing technological power and the wisdom with which we use it.’ How technology is used depends on people—governments, hospitals, and the mutual understanding between doctors and patients. If we fear technology undermining doctors’ roles and hesitate, progress will never be made.”

For some reason, the discussion escalated to this level. Song Wei argued back, “Humans have warmth, thoughts, and life. AI and virtual reality are tools created to serve humanity. The relationship between the two should be symbiotic, not substitutive.”

Back and forth they went, neither yielding an inch.

The room was silent, so still one could hear a pin drop. Watching the heated exchange, Chu Qi leaned back with arms crossed, clearly amused: a marital quarrel disguised as a professional debate.

Finally, Chen Jubai softened his tone. “Song Wei…”

Maintaining her resolve, she said, “President Chen, I admit I wasn’t fully prepared. I’ll organize a report with detailed data and refined development requirements in the coming days for your review.”

At this, Chu Qi straightened up and stepped in to mediate. “Alright, Manager Song will prepare further, and Manager Fu, let’s follow up on your end too.”

Fu Yaoqing agreed, “Of course.”

Chu Qi glanced at his watch. “Wow, six o’clock already. Let’s adjourn and eat. We can continue tomorrow.”

Everyone exhaled in relief and quickly exited.

Only Song Wei and Chen Jubai remained. As she packed her files, he suggested, “Let’s grab dinner first.”

He had seamlessly shifted roles, but Song Wei hadn’t recovered from their argument. She shot him a glance. “I’m working overtime.”

“I’ll stay with you after dinner.”

“I don’t need your company. Our opinions differ, and I don’t want to be influenced.”

Helplessly, he replied, “I won’t influence you.”

“No.”

Surrendering, he added, “Your perspective isn’t wrong. But controlling human behavior through equipment and systems is inherently a flawed premise.”

Song Wei paused mid-motion, now speaking candidly in the absence of others. “Our core disagreement lies in your vision of this tool as a highly precise, error-free replacement for doctors. In contrast, I see it as an auxiliary tool, meant to assist doctors and hospitals in more efficiently diagnosing and treating patients. The primary agent in healthcare remains the doctor—the human—not a cold machine.”

Chen Jubai stood still in place.

Song Wei looked at him steadily. “It’s my job to convince you. If I fail in the end, I’ll still proceed according to the current plan. It won’t change anything.”

Their gazes locked once more. The atmosphere was taut, like the calm before a storm, brewing with tension and unresolved energy.

Their silent standoff was interrupted by Chu Qi, who had returned unexpectedly. “President Chen, Manager Song, still arguing?”

Chen Jubai ignored him. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke in a composed tone, “Alright, I’ll wait for your report.”

The two left separately. When they reached the restaurant, Chen Jubai instructed Dong Ruicheng, “Pack a meal for your manager and bring it to her. Also, organize today’s discussion points as soon as possible. Thanks for your hard work.”

Dong Ruicheng nodded immediately. “No problem, President Chen. I’ll go keep Sister Wei company while she works late.”

After dinner, Chen Jubai and Chu Qi returned to the 16th floor. Despite his recent heartbreak, Chu Qi hadn’t let his personal emotions affect his work. The two had meticulously toured the Changyan R&D Center earlier in the day, and Chu Qi now clearly understood the gap between himself and others. Once they got back, he immediately opened his laptop and began studying.

Chen Jubai, in no rush, loosened his tie and sat on the sofa. He sent a message: [Have you eaten yet?]

No response.

At 8 p.m., he sent another: [Still at the office? Want me to pick you up?]

At 9 p.m.: [Are you back yet?]

By 10 p.m., he sent: [I’m coming down.]

Finally, a reply came: [You’re sleeping alone tonight.]