Shang Xinglu made another phone call with Yin Yao on the way.

From their conversation, she learned that this urgent business trip was because Yin Yao had received some news: Dr. Zhang, who held a patent, was considering selling it.

Dr. Zhang’s full name was Zhang Bo, a Chinese-American who retired and settled in City C after his career.

After retiring, he initially only worked as a teacher at C University, but having spent decades in research, he couldn’t let go of his work.

After leaving his professional team, Dr. Zhang continued to use a new technique in C University’s lab to extract a particular essence, maintaining the active ingredients’ effectiveness.

Not only did it make the cream lighter in texture, but it could also effectively repair sensitive skin.

The technique had passed animal testing with exceptional results, and it achieved effects that current products on the market couldn’t match. If mass-produced, it would undoubtedly monopolize the market.

Dr. Zhang had decided to sell the patent.

Of course, he had not contacted any manufacturers himself, and this intention was just a casual remark made to a friend, which then spread by word of mouth.

Companies eager to acquire this technology rushed to City C overnight, worried that they might miss the auction.

Yin Yao and Shang Xinglu were no exception.

Although Bichen had only undergone a rebranding in the past year, its sales in mainland China were already comparable to major international brands.

If they could secure this technology and operate it well, it could quickly become a top-tier brand.

So now, time was everything.

Yin Yao had already bought a ticket to City C, and they couldn’t afford to waste a single moment.

They didn’t know how long they’d stay in City C.

It might be short—perhaps Dr. Zhang liked them and would immediately sell the patent to them; or it might take longer, with them competing with other bidders and still not securing the patent.

But regardless of the outcome, they had to try, and as the saying went, “Do your best, and let fate decide.” Shang Xinglu had asked Marilyn to prepare three days’ worth of luggage. If they didn’t have enough clothes, they could buy more in City C.

At the airport, Shang Xinglu met up with Marilyn.

To her surprise, Lin Heng had also come.

Even in summer, he was dressed in a sharp three-piece suit, his clothes crisp and immaculate.

If not for the air-conditioned environment, he likely wouldn’t have been able to maintain such a gentlemanly appearance.

As he stepped out of the car, his polished leather shoes clicked against the marble floor, the sound crisp and clear. Lin Heng walked toward them from a distance, calm and imposing.

Because of the urgency of Yin Yao’s news, Shang Xinglu had been a bit anxious.

But the moment she saw Lin Heng, her eyes narrowed, and a smile appeared on her face.

It was as though the anxiousness was gently smoothed out by a warm hand.

Shang Xinglu smiled and asked, “Why did you come?”

“Seeing you so flustered,” Lin Heng walked over to Shang Xinglu’s side and took out a handkerchief to wipe the light sweat on her forehead. “I had some free time at home, so I came to see you off.”

Shang Xinglu smiled again, her lips curving into a dazzling arc, showing her bright white teeth.

Her expression was one of satisfaction and pride, and it couldn’t be hidden even at the corners of her eyes.

Her voice softened naturally, but her tone was playful, “I’m going to make money and support the family! Don’t miss me too much.”

Every time she said that, Lin Heng couldn’t help but chuckle.

To be honest, Lin Heng had never expected Shang Xinglu to make money.

In fact, he had a bit of a conservative mindset about this—he believed that men should be the ones earning money to support the family, while Louise should be in charge of spending it.

So, when Shang Xinglu first mentioned “making money to support the family,” Lin Heng had simply thought, “Let her be happy.”

But she really did put in the effort to achieve her goals.

Although Bichen was still young, its growth in a short time had been much faster and more stable than most companies.

Lin Heng handed her the luggage and said, “The wind in City C can be strong at night, remember to wear a coat and keep warm. Be careful on the road.”

Shang Xinglu gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“Alright, I’ll be going now!”

She grabbed her luggage and turned to leave, but Lin Heng pulled her back, firmly holding her waist, and kissed her red lips without warning.

The airport hall was crowded with people, many of whom were there to see someone off. But good-looking couples were few, and public displays of affection were even rarer. A lot of people noticed them, and after watching, they felt as though they’d been hit with a cold, hard “dog food” (a term used humorously to describe seeing too much PDA).

After a long moment, they finally pulled away. Shang Xinglu’s face flushed with two red spots.

Lin Heng looked at her and said, “That’s how you say goodbye properly.”

Just now, someone was behaving like a primary school student—not even as well as one.

Shang Xinglu, still a bit dizzy, could only say, “Oh, alright.”

She turned to leave again, but this time she went the wrong way. Lin Heng gently pulled her back and nudged her waist, guiding her toward the right direction. His voice was filled with amusement, “Go on.”

Shang Xinglu scratched her face, blushing, and walked off.

Shang Xinglu and Yin Yao met up at the boarding gate, and two hours later, the two of them arrived in City C.

They weren’t the only ones who had arrived—several employees from Bichen, along with two lawyers, had also made the trip.

They had heard that Dr. Zhang’s health had been poor in recent years. Although representatives from various companies had come, Dr. Zhang would not meet with anyone that night. Everything would be discussed the following day.

So the Bichen team checked into a hotel near C University and held a meeting that evening to discuss the acquisition price and plan. By the time the meeting ended, it was already past midnight.

Shang Xinglu took a shower. She was exhausted, but she still forced herself to stay awake and decided to look up some information about Dr. Zhang.

Although Dr. Zhang was a big name, it seemed that most people didn’t pay much attention to renowned scientists. Shang Xinglu searched around and found only a little information.

Asian people often face discrimination and unfair treatment abroad, something that has been a reality for many years, and especially in the past. Though Dr. Zhang had been living well in recent years and had earned a decent amount of money from a few patents, he had endured many hardships before becoming famous.

He and his wife had an only daughter. His wife had passed away two years ago from lymphoma, and now, Dr. Zhang lived alone in a staff dormitory on the campus of C University.

There wasn’t anything particularly special about his life.

However, talking about the staff dormitory reminded Shang Xinglu of some memories.

Back when she was a student, living away from home, her professor, who was quite fond of her, would often invite her out for meals.

She would often stay in the lab all night like one of the boys, rarely taking proper meals.

Her professor’s wife, who was from Sichuan, would cook for them, and her specialty was the “boiled” dishes—boiled fish, boiled meat, boiled bullfrog—anything that could be boiled was incredibly delicious!

The dishes were fragrant, spicy, and tender. The vegetables soaked in the broth were so flavorful that Shang Xinglu could eat two large bowls of rice with them.

Though she now ate all kinds of high-end dishes, in the middle of the night, when she thought of the meals her professor’s wife made, Shang Xinglu couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

This was something she couldn’t understand.

Now, with a degree in a different field, she couldn’t pass the threshold for astronomy. She wondered why, even though she had come from the past, she never thought about continuing her studies in astronomy.

Shang Xinglu didn’t think of herself as omnipotent.

She didn’t believe that choosing astronomy would make a big difference.

In fact, the more she learned, the smaller her world became. The more excellent brains and interesting souls she encountered, the more she realized her own smallness.

But one couldn’t be overly self-deprecating.

By frequently observing the vast universe through a telescope, Shang Xinglu understood that humanity’s achievements were both great and insignificant at the same time. It was the two sides of the same coin, and one had to view it dialectically.

She could acknowledge her shortcomings while also recognizing her strengths.

So what else could make her give up?

These past few days, Shang Xinglu had been unable to make sense of it.

As she thought about it, sleepiness seemed to fade away.

She had to wake up early the next day, and as she wondered if she should count dumplings… oh wait, maybe she should just count Lin Heng to help her fall asleep.

Like some kind of telepathic connection, her video call from Lin Heng came in.

Her restless heart seemed to calm just a little bit.

Shang Xinglu answered with a sweet, “Hello.”

On the other side, Lin Heng seemed to have just taken a shower. His black hair was damp and hanging down, and he wore a dark-colored bathrobe. Although he tied it neatly, his exposed collarbone and chest still looked quite tempting.

Shang Xinglu couldn’t help but swallow.

But then, Lin Heng’s nagging voice ruined the mood.

He asked, “You arrived safely, and you didn’t even give me a call?”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

Lin Heng: “You’re out there alone, and you didn’t even bring a bodyguard? It’s dangerous.”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

No, Lin Heng, your wealth has clouded your view of the world. Ordinary people don’t take bodyguards when they travel for business, okay?

Lin Heng continued, “Did you eat dinner? What did you have? Make sure to eat nutritious food, don’t just take the easy way out.”

When it came to food, Shang Xinglu finally had something to say.

She snorted and countered, “Why don’t you tell me what you had for dinner first?”

Lin Heng: “…”

As expected, silence was his response.

When it came to food, Shang Xinglu was as obedient as could be, but this person in front of her was the one who wasn’t behaving!

She thought about it for a moment—this was a rich heir from a prominent family, the CEO of a listed company. His lunch? He casually ate whatever leftovers his assistant had from breakfast.

… Just one meal. It wasn’t even about whether he could eat well; it was about whether he could eat enough!

Shang Xinglu had heard that some fast-paced companies have a well-stocked cafeteria, but employees often eat very little at lunch to maintain efficiency for the afternoon. They also try to avoid grains to prevent blood sugar spikes that could make them sluggish.

But what was this? Was it working yourself to death?

Shang Xinglu quickly retorted, “Before you call to lecture me, you should reflect on what you’ve eaten. If you haven’t eaten, go get something now.”

Lin Heng asked, “Then what did you eat? Let me take a note.”

Shang Xinglu grinned shyly, “Hehe, I had a candlelight dinner with Yao Yao!”

Lin Heng: “…”

That stung, it would’ve been better if he hadn’t asked.

Shang Xinglu added, “It’s late already, so you should eat something and then go to sleep.”

Actually, Lin Heng had just eaten something very simple for dinner.

At this moment, Lin Heng softened his voice, “Wait a little longer.”

His gaze was so intense that Shang Xinglu felt a bit shy.

She bit her lip and, with a small sense of pride, said, “I know you miss me.”

“Mm.” Lin Heng was direct, “What about you?”

Shang Xinglu thought carefully, “I also miss…”

No, she was actually too busy to think about it.

Shang Xinglu’s mood shifted, and she quickly changed the subject, “I’m craving boiled pork slices, boiled fish slices, and boiled bullfrog…”

Lin Heng: “…”

You said you missed me, huh?