“What’s the gift?” She asked eagerly, like a curious child, persistently inquiring. After spending so much time together, he knew her very well. She had to open any gift immediately, and she wanted to know everything right away, or else she would be so anxious she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

“The gift is on the computer in the living room.”

“Open it and see.”

Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, she quickly got out of bed, went to the living room, and opened the computer, eager to see. But his computer was password protected.

“What’s the password?” she asked, typing in the numbers he provided.

“What does this number mean?”

“It means something.”

She had just asked out of curiosity, not expecting it to actually have a meaning. It turned out to be his birthday or an anniversary—or maybe some other significant day.

“What does it mean?”

“It’s the day we first met.” It was also the day his heart had raced, the day his soul had been shaken by her.

She quickly did the math in her head and figured out that this must be the day they had met at the confernce where he introduced the internet, their first real meeting.

Meng Suihuan, sitting cross-legged with her toes curled up, moved absentmindedly, her mood very happy. “I’ve opened it. Where’s the gift you mentioned?”

Following his instructions, she opened a nameless folder, installed the software, and when the installation finished, she finally understood what the gift was.

She was pleasantly surprised by the interface in front of her. It was simple and only had basic functions like chatting and sending pictures, but it was similar to a certain chat software she remembered.

“Lu Linshen, you actually made this chat software!”

Though happy, she was a little concerned. “But Lu Linshen, won’t the other company sue you for this?”

Earlier, she had used intellectual property to strike against Shoucheng Group. If they had leverage over her, they might want to take down both her and Xuyu.

“Suisui, they won’t sue. Don’t worry. I’ve already acquired the company.”

Excitedly, she played around with the software and shared her thoughts with him. As they talked, she became sleepy and eventually dozed off.

Calm breathing came through the earpiece, and Lu Linshen softly said, “Good night” to her. He held the phone close to his ear, and after an unknown amount of time, he slowly fell asleep.

She slept soundly, deeply, and vividly. In her dreams, she kept entangling with Lu Linshen, just like the afternoon, their bodies pressed tightly together, their breaths mingling. He kept calling her name, loving her, and her sweat ran down his chest, legs, and body…

When she woke up, she found herself tangled in the blanket, tightly clutching it, exactly like the position she had been in during the dream.

Her face turned red, and she muttered to herself, “Meng Suihuan, you really did it, hugging the blanket while having such a dream. How could you be so shameless?”

“It’s all Lu Linshen’s fault! If he hadn’t kissed and touched her, making her body react, she wouldn’t have had such an explicit dream!”

“But Lu Linshen really does have such a great body, his abs are really… hard…”

She quickly slapped her face. “Ahhh! Meng Suihuan, get a grip, stop thinking about men! Think about work, think about something else!”

She rolled around on the bed for a while before picking up her phone to check the time. But when she opened it, she was shocked.

She… she was still on the phone with Lu Linshen.

“Ah—”

She quickly covered her mouth, silently shouting in her mind.

Ahhh! Ahhh! Why didn’t I hang up the phone?! What did I just say—those terrible words! Oh my God. My image is ruined.

With her eyes closed, she gently called out to Lu Linshen, once, twice, but there was no answer. The only sound that came through was long, steady breathing.

“Thank goodness, he didn’t hear me. Meng Suihuan, if he heard that, where would you put your face—”

She secretly ended the call, calmed herself down, and finally went to work. When she talked to Lu Linshen at lunch, she still felt guilty, trying to fish for information.

“Lu Linshen, how did you sleep last night?”

“Pretty well, why?”

“Well, I woke up this morning and saw that our call hadn’t ended, so I was worried I disturbed your sleep…”

She scratched her head, coming up with excuses, wishing she could directly ask him if he had heard her shocking words from the morning.

“Don’t worry, Suisui, I slept soundly, you didn’t disturb me.”

“Oh, okay, that’s good. I tend to talk in my sleep once I fall asleep, did you hear anything I said last night?”

Her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing became tense. She was both afraid and eager to hear his answer.

“Talk in your sleep? You did say a few things—”

“What did I say?” she asked eagerly, covering her ears with her hands, wanting to hear but too afraid to. She was afraid of hearing something that would break her.

He chuckled twice. “I’m just teasing you, Suisui. You were so good while you slept, you didn’t talk in your sleep.”

“Are you sure you heard clearly?” she asked again, still not convinced.

His voice softened with affection. “I heard clearly. Your breathing was calm and steady, with such rhythm, it made me sleepy just listening to it.”

“I couldn’t resist, I ended up falling asleep with you.”

Meng Suihuan gripped her phone tightly, gritted her teeth, and finally asked the question she most wanted to ask, “What about after you woke up? Did you hear anything?”

“No, I didn’t hear anything.” After a pause, he continued, “I woke up late, you had already hung up by the time I woke up.”

Thank goodness. Thank goodness he didn’t hear her inappropriate words. She sighed in relief, finally able to relax.

“Suisui, did I miss something by waking up late?” His tone was full of curiosity, clearly eager to know what she was asking.

Her eyebrows twitched, and she bit her lip, retaliating. “No! You didn’t miss anything!”

After saying that, she realized she had overreacted, so she suppressed her emotions, softened her tone, and repeated, “Really, nothing happened.”

“Lu Linshen, don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I trust you, Suisui.”

“No matter what, I always trust you.”

She snorted softly, her tone lifting slightly, showing that she was in a good mood. He seized the opportunity to make an invitation.

“Suisui, do you have time this afternoon? Come help me screen some game companies and talk about a possible collaboration.”

Naturally, she didn’t refuse and agreed right away. At 3 PM, she arrived on time, and Lu Linshen was already waiting outside, leading her in.

When Qin Yu saw Meng Suihuan, his eyes brightened, and he instinctively wanted to share this with Xie Zhixin, but then remembered that Xie was out taking a call. He turned to Xu Xuanyi, next to him, whispering in his ear.

“See, see, I told you this seat was saved for Meng Jie, and it really was!”

Xu Xuanyi subtly moved aside, clearly not wanting to engage with him. Seeing that Qin Yu wanted to say more, Xu Xuanyi couldn’t help but knock on the table and lower his voice to remind him, “Lao Qin, you represent the whole company now, be mindful of your conduct.”

“I know,” Qin Yu pouted. “I’m just telling you quietly.”

Xu Xuanyi: “…”

He didn’t want to hear it, thanks.

The five companies that had come were quite different from one another—some were top companies in the industry, while others were lesser-known smaller companies. The selection process was simple: participants explained their understanding of games and chose a game to explain their creative concepts, gameplay, and innovations. The order was determined by a drawing.

The first company to present was Shanggé, one of the top companies in Ning City. They spoke confidently on stage, their every gesture exuding self-assurance. The only problem was that the content they presented didn’t match the competition. They didn’t talk about games but about search engine technology.

Lu Linshen couldn’t help but furrow his brows and glanced at Xie Zhixin, who smiled at him in return. The others around them were quietly discussing the matter, but they didn’t bring it up openly.

In the corner, two figures were whispering to each other.

“Wen Ge, I was worried that Shanggé’s strength would leave us in the dust, but unexpectedly, they didn’t talk about any games. Instead, they talked about engines.”

“How strange, wasn’t the theme today about games and the future development of games?”

Chen Wen was also puzzled, not understanding why Shanggé would lower themselves to compete with them, and then discuss search engines that had nothing to do with the competition.

However, he didn’t have time to think too much, as the second company, Longting Games, was about to present. While Longting’s reputation wasn’t as high as Shanggé’s, their strength in the gaming sector was undeniable, especially the game they showcased, which was top-notch in both content and production.

“Wen Ge, no matter whether it’s in production or experience, we’re no match for a big company like Longting. Are we really going to embarrass ourselves when we go up?”

“We have to go up,” Chen Wen said firmly. This was their last chance. If they missed it, their gaming career might end here.

Soon, it was time for the final group—Chen Wen’s team. He patted the chubby figure next to him. “Haozi, let’s go.”

They briefly introduced themselves, and the first half of their presentation was normal, but when it got to the second half, their voices suddenly got louder, shocking everyone, including Meng Suihuan, who was no exception.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the loud voice. She looked up and saw a man with a round face, who seemed quite likable. She didn’t recognize him at first, and the company name didn’t ring a bell either. However, as they showcased their game and their future plans, Meng Suihuan, who had been relaxed, couldn’t help but furrow her brow. Her fingers began tapping rhythmically on the table, one tap after another.

After the presentations, they held a small internal meeting. Qin Yu and Xu Xuanyi both favored Longting, given their strong overall abilities, which met the selection criteria. Lu Linshen’s gaze turned to Xie Zhixin.

“Lao Xie, what do you think?”

Xie Zhixin, calm and unhurried, replied, “I choose Shanggé.”

All eyes turned to Xie Zhixin, surprised by his choice. Especially Qin Yu, who couldn’t hold back and said directly, “Lao Xie, our task today is to choose a quality game company. You didn’t even seriously vet the information, and now you’re intentionally causing trouble. Shanggé is a poor fit for us!”

Xie Zhixin smirked and smiled knowingly. “Not a good fit?”

“Shanggé was once at the top of the internet industry, their strength is unquestionable. In research, they’ve been deeply involved in the internet sector. Whether it’s networks, operations, or even the more advanced field of search engines, they’ve been exploring and advancing. From a long-term development perspective, Shanggé’s business sector aligns perfectly with our future development.”

After he finished speaking, he looked at Lu Linshen and said firmly, “Lao Qin, do you dare say Shanggé doesn’t fit?”

Qin Yu was momentarily stunned, then quickly retorted, “So what if Shanggé is powerful? We’re choosing a partner for game collaboration. Based on that alone, Shanggé is not suitable!”

Xie Zhixin ignored Qin Yu and continued to look at Lu Linshen, smiling lightly and casually asking, “Lao Lu, what do you think?”

Lu Linshen didn’t respond right away. After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly spoke, his gaze moving toward the distant, elegant figure. “Suisui, what’s your opinion?”

Meng Suihuan turned around and calmly addressed everyone. “I think Tiancheng is good. Their ideas are innovative, and they have potential. They’re worth collaborating with.”

Qin Yu, with his mouth agape, turned to Xu Xuanyi beside him. “Lao Xu, which company is Tiancheng? Do you remember?”

Xu Xuanyi answered, “The last one to present.”

Qin Yu exclaimed, “That small, flashy company? Compared to the other companies, their game is poorly made. Meng Jie, are you sure?”

Meng Suihuan smiled. “If it were me, I would choose Tiancheng.”

Qin Yu was taken aback, then shifted his gaze to Lu Linshen, who had not yet voiced his opinion. “Lu Ge, what about you? You wouldn’t choose Tiancheng just because Meng Jie did, right?”

Lu Linshen replied, “Longting has strong overall abilities, and Tiancheng has innovative ideas. Both companies are very good.”

“So, Lu Ge, what’s your decision?”

“Both companies will be selected, combining the strengths of both.”

Suddenly, Xie Zhixin, who had been quiet, interjected. “What about Shanggé? Is Shanggé in your choices, Lu Ge?”

Lu Linshen looked at him directly and said, “Not for now.”

Xie Zhixin suddenly stood up, smiled mysteriously, and left without saying another word. Qin Yu and Xu Xuanyi exchanged confused glances, not understanding why Xie was acting so strangely today.

In the end, the results were out. They chose two companies to collaborate with: one was Longting, with strong overall abilities, and the other was the lesser-known Tiancheng. The choice of Longting was understandable, as their strength was evident, but Tiancheng’s capabilities were the weakest among all the companies. Given that they were stronger than Tiancheng but still didn’t make the cut, some people naturally questioned the decision.

Faced with these questions, some chose to explain and clarify, while others tried to soothe the emotions of the ones who were disappointed. But Lu Linshen didn’t do either.

“This result may not meet everyone’s expectations, but after comprehensive consideration, it’s the one that aligns with our company’s development.”

“Since it aligns, this is the final decision.”

His voice was firm and resolute, not allowing for any argument.

“Although we couldn’t collaborate this time, I still want to thank everyone for your participation. In the future, when opportunities arise, our company will prioritize considering all of you here.”

After the event, Meng Suihuan was about to leave when a figure appeared in front of her—it was Chen Wen. He gently called out, “President Meng.”

Meng Suihuan raised an eyebrow, glanced around, and replied casually, “Is there something you need?”

Chen Wen politely bowed to her and then slowly explained, “Thank you for your recommendation and recognition just now. I, Chen Wen, will remember this favor, and I’ll repay it with more opportunities if I have the chance in the future.”

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s your talent and ideas that earned you this opportunity.”

“If there’s anything to thank, it should be for yourself, not anyone else.”