Chapter 38.1

The workday began as usual—with coffee for survival.

The pantry was as lively as ever today, with conversations centered on Ning Shuhui, who had just returned.

“President Ning is the eldest daughter of the Ning family and its most accomplished one. Ning’s family-wide success in our industry is all thanks to her.”

“I heard President Ning now oversees the Ning family’s overseas operations. Her influence spans several continents.”

“Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

“Exaggeration or not, President Ning is indeed incredible. Guangnian is just a small piece of her business empire.”

“Speaking of which, is President Ning married?”

“Not yet.”

“Then maybe our President Chen…” The speaker trailed off with a playful tone, leaving the implication obvious.

Another person chuckled knowingly. “If I were President Chen, I’d step up my game. Becoming the Ning family’s son-in-law isn’t something just anyone can achieve.”

“I think President Chen has a huge advantage. Handsome, wealthy, capable—and they’ve been through so much together. They’re a perfect match.”

They turned to Song Wei, who was preparing to leave with her coffee. “What do you think, Manager Song?”

Song Wei smiled politely. “I’ve only been here for six months, and this is my first time hearing about it. I wouldn’t know.”

“Wait until you meet President Ning; you’ll understand.”

Maintaining her smile, she left the pantry.

At 9 a.m., the general office announced a meeting for all managers and above.

Song Wei gathered her things and headed to the 22nd floor.

Her rank wasn’t high enough, so she took a seat at the back. Next to her was Manager Hao, a recently hired female manager who had taken over from Fang Hongshen. The two had a decent relationship.

Manager Hao also didn’t know Ning Shuhui. She whispered, “Is she really that amazing? Calling everyone to a meeting the moment she arrives—what’s this about? She doesn’t even handle day-to-day operations.”

Song Wei shook her head. She had no idea. Chen Jubai hadn’t mentioned any of this to her. “Maybe it’s just an introductory meeting.”

“But I heard rumors that President Chen and she might be a couple. It’d make sense for the boss’s wife to come assert her dominance.”

“…” Song Wei couldn’t help but laugh. Rumors often started like this, twisting facts until white became black.

The room suddenly fell silent. Both women looked up to see a man and a woman entering together.

The man, dressed sharply as always, exuded his usual commanding aura. The woman wore a sleek professional suit, her hair neatly tied back. Her demeanor was poised, mature, and composed.

Manager Hao gasped softly. “Wow, they do look good together.”

Song Wei lowered her gaze, not looking further, and opened her notebook to prepare for note-taking.

The pair took seats at the front, facing over twenty managers and executives. Chen Jubai spoke first, introducing Ning Shuhui. The room erupted into applause.

When it quieted down, Ning Shuhui smiled slightly and began speaking with ease and confidence. “It’s been too long since I’ve been back. Guangnian feels more vibrant than ever. Sitting here, I realize I hardly recognize any faces in this meeting room. Instead, I see a lot of fresh, energetic ones—just like Guangnian itself, full of vitality.”

She glanced briefly at Chen Jubai before looking back at the audience, her professional smile unwavering. “As President Chen mentioned, I hold the title of Vice President, but I haven’t contributed much to deserve it. Guangnian’s success is entirely thanks to you and President Chen. I feel unworthy.”

She paused for a moment before continuing with conviction. “Colleagues, I can’t just hold a title and do nothing. This time, I’m here to work alongside all of you.”

Chen Jubai’s eyes flickered with surprise as he turned to look at her. He hadn’t been informed of this.

“The upcoming months of July and August will be pivotal for Nan’an and for our company. During my time overseas, I witnessed the rapid development of AI, VR, and AR technologies—advancements we cannot ignore. For Guangnian to go further, we must integrate with the international stage. The upcoming World Expo presents both a challenge and an opportunity, and I look forward to striving together with all of you to make Guangnian even better.”

It was clear Ning Shuhui hadn’t secured her position in the Ning family’s overseas business through sheer luck. Her words were both powerful and inspiring, eliciting another round of enthusiastic applause.

Song Wei joined in, her gaze lingering briefly on the man next to Ning Shuhui. Chen Jubai’s expression was unreadable—his eyes dark, though his lips maintained a smile.

The meeting ended, with the higher-ups staying behind for further discussion.

Song Wei left with the crowd. Chen Jubai was talking to someone and didn’t notice her.

Back at her desk, she sat quietly for a moment before letting out a soft sigh and resuming her work.

….

In the General Manager’s office on the 22nd floor, the atmosphere was tense.

Chen Jubai sat on one side, his expression grim. Ning Shuhui leisurely poured herself tea. After taking a sip, she frowned. “I’ll send you some good tea next time. This stuff is too bitter.”

He ignored her and got straight to the point. “You’re staying, aren’t you?”

She smiled. “Didn’t I just announce it?”

Chen Jubai’s tone turned serious. “Sister Ning, we’ve considered the overseas market, but the domestic one isn’t stable yet. Rushing forward recklessly could lead to disaster.”

Ning Shuhui’s demeanor turned serious as well. “Jubai, you can take steady, careful steps—but if you move too slowly, you’ll be overtaken by those striding ahead. We have two feet. One should move cautiously, while the other takes bold strides forward. You understand this, don’t you?”

Chen Jubai understood—more than anyone else.

Back when Ning Shuhui chose to invest in him, her motives were far from pure. Guangnian was just a fledgling back then, barely learning to walk, and it needed a guiding hand.

Capital is never pure. Apart from Ning Shuhui, there were also other companies and venture capitalists eyeing Guangnian.

He chose Ning Shuhui because he acknowledged her capabilities—it wasn’t easy to survive in the Ning family. Additionally, she promised not to interfere in Guangnian’s affairs, leaving management and R&D entirely in his hands.

But the Ning family was now in turmoil. Ning Shuhui’s sudden return and her unilateral announcement at the meeting clearly served her own purposes. He just didn’t want Guangnian to become a pawn in her power struggle.

Ning Shuhui: “This time, I’ve returned not only to secure partnerships for you but also to help prepare Guangnian for going public. The team I’ve brought back can help you achieve this goal.”

Chen Jubai raised his gaze, his voice deepened: “Guangnian currently has no plans for an IPO.”

“Wasn’t going public always your goal?”

“It was, but not right now.”

“Why not? Is it because you’re married now? Because you want to take care of your family? Start having kids?”

Chen Jubai frowned tightly. “The two matters are unrelated.”

Ning Shuhui’s face turned cold. “Chen Jubai, don’t forget the dream you had back then.”

She indeed had her own motives, but she wasn’t someone who would invest in just anyone. Choosing Chen Jubai was a calculated decision, based on his tenacity and potential. She could accept that he got married, but if marriage meant abandoning the career he was passionate about, then she had misjudged him.

Chen Jubai reiterated, “Sister Ning, before your return, we just secured a medical project. Guangnian has been steadily advancing, not regressing. I haven’t forgotten my original aspirations, so you can rest assured.”

“You mean the project with Changyan? I heard you assigned it to your wife.”

He looked at her for three or four seconds before realizing her insinuation. His voice turned colder, edged with frost. “Marrying Song Wei was not an impulsive decision. Family and career don’t conflict. As for her work, I haven’t intervened. She’s done an excellent job with the Navigator Project.”

“Sister Ning, you don’t know her well. I hope you won’t look at her through tinted glasses just because of her relationship with me.”

Ning Shuhui saw a flicker of anger in his eyes and felt a twinge of surprise. Chen Jubai had never spoken harshly to her before. Today, he was angry—for his wife.

She composed herself, sidestepping the topic. “I’ll be staying for the next two months to help you plan for the IPO.”

Chen Jubai remained firm: “Expanding into foreign markets is fine, but the IPO will be delayed.”

“Jubai…”

“That’s final.” He stood and walked toward his desk, leaving her with a resolute back, brooking no argument.

Ning Shuhui stared at him for a moment, suppressing her emotions. She didn’t want to escalate the conflict and softened her tone. “I’ve reserved a restaurant. Tonight, we’ll have dinner with Old Ling and the others. Bring Manager Song along.”

“Okay.”

….

After lunch, tasks began trickling down from Jiang Zhendong’s department for the upcoming exhibition.

The exhibition was more than just a showcase; it was an opportunity to attract investors and secure partnerships. Guangnian’s technology solutions and products were outstanding. Just as Ning Shuhui had mentioned, to grow bigger and stronger, they couldn’t solely rely on the domestic market. In the tech industry, one couldn’t work in isolation.

Song Wei’s assigned tasks were twofold. First, she had to accelerate the Navigator Project, ensuring it passed product acceptance testing before the exhibition. This was Guangnian’s latest breakthrough in the medical field and would be a centerpiece of the exhibition. With only a month left until July, the pressure on her was immense.

The second task was conducting a market analysis for foreign sectors. Unlike her previous assignments that focused on specific products, this required compiling data on the entire industry’s history, trends, and major competitors—a tedious and time-consuming endeavor.

After receiving her tasks, Song Wei broke them down into actionable items. At 5 p.m., she held a meeting with her team.

Already swamped with work, her team groaned at the added responsibilities. Some, however, were invigorated, like Ji Yao.

“This is great! I knew Sister Ning came back to make big moves,” Ji Yao exclaimed.

Dong Ruicheng added, “I heard Guangnian is preparing for an IPO. The team Sister Ning brought back is made up of elites specializing in this.”

Yao Miaoxuan chimed in, “My dad mentioned that the Ning family patriarch’s health is failing, and the internal power struggle is intense. Sister Ning must make significant achievements, and Guangnian’s IPO is likely just one of her goals.”

Ji Yao was even more excited. “Wow, this is like watching a real-life drama with a powerhouse female lead!”

Song Wei didn’t comment. After a day of hearing about Ning Shuhui, she felt admiration for her as an employee but was still sorting through her complicated emotions as Chen Jubai’s wife. She wrapped up the meeting succinctly.

Around 5:30, Chen Jubai messaged her, asking if she wanted to join them for dinner.

Song Wei deliberated for ten minutes before agreeing.