Chapter 24: – World 1 [24] Part 3

This approach had an immediate effect. On the second day of the broadcast, the property buyers stopped filing complaints and protests entirely.

Not only that, after a bit of marketing, it attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers. The remaining unsold units, which had been hard to move, were sold out before the New Year, leaving fewer than ten available.

Shang Siyu’s busy period came because it was year-end. The documents needing approval and matters to be processed were nearly double the usual amount.

Considering many of the senior talent were from out of town, Shang Siyu set the holiday start date two days before the statutory holiday.

This way, most employees could just pack up and leave after the annual meeting on the evening of the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, avoiding arriving home only on New Year’s Eve.

New Life Technology’s first annual meeting was very lively. The financial backer, Jing Ke, directly sponsored five million in funds. Each attendee received a gold Fortune Bead as a souvenir gift. Additionally, nearly a hundred prizes were raffled off.

Combined with the number of attendees, the chance of winning was roughly one in two, an incredibly high ratio.

Jing Ke had originally intended to just be a backdrop, acting as the chauffeur to drive her girlfriend home after the event.

But when everyone heard Jing Ke had sponsored five million, they eagerly invited her to be the raffle draw guest. After drawing the prizes, she also took a commemorative photo with each winner.

Once Jing Ke was pushed onto the stage, President Shang Siyu used the opportunity to slack off in the audience.

When Jing Ke went onstage, Shang Siyu led a vigorous round of applause. After Jing Ke returned from taking photos, Shang Siyu very considerately poured her a glass of juice.

Professor Lin, who had been invited, sat beside Shang Siyu. As Jing Ke went up to draw the first prize, she couldn’t help asking, “Little Yu, have you and Jing Ke been living together all this time?”

“Yes.” Shang Siyu nodded. “Since we started working together, we’ve been living together.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Professor Lin’s brow. After careful consideration, she swallowed her question.

Even if Shang Siyu was her student, she wasn’t a minor child anymore. As the president of a company, she wouldn’t make certain decisions impulsively.

“It’s good. Living together, you two have company and can look out for each other,” Professor Lin finally said, not pressing further.

However, even though Professor Lin didn’t ask, it didn’t mean Shang Siyu wasn’t planning to tell her.

“Teacher, you are very perceptive. We’re already partners,” Shang Siyu said. Seeing Jing Ke holding a fake smile onstage while taking photos with winning employees, the smile on her face deepened involuntarily, the affection in her dark pupils almost overflowing.

Professor Lin was taken aback. “You’re partners?”

“Mm. There hasn’t been a suitable moment before, so I didn’t tell you, Teacher. Please don’t be angry with me.” Shang Siyu turned to Professor Lin, a hint of ingratiation in her voice.

Professor Lin chuckled. “It’s not your fault. I’ve been all tied up with that report and lectures, I honestly haven’t had time to meet with you.”

“You’re not a child anymore; you don’t need to report to me just because you’re in a relationship.” Professor Lin’s tone turned serious. “Since you chose Jing Ke, it must be the result of careful thought. Just live your life well together from now on.”

“Yes, Teacher is right.” Shang Siyu replied, her voice carrying a slight hint of guilt.

Had she really thought it through carefully when she decided to be with Jing Ke?

Looking back, she had definitely been somewhat impulsive.

But then again, matters of the heart can’t be judged by pure reason. If there wasn’t even a moment of impulse, one would truly be a machine.

After all, even Jing Ke became more emotional at night.

–

As executives of New Life Technology, many people came over to toast Jing Ke and Shang Siyu after the annual meeting started.

At first, Shang Siyu could substitute tea for alcohol, managing to bluff her way through one wave. But as time passed and the atmosphere grew livelier, the investors who had initially been more reserved also came over, glasses in hand.

Seeing that they were sincerely toasting, Shang Siyu could only pick up her wine glass, intending to take a small sip for appearances.

“Let me handle it. Little Yu, you can drive later.” Shang Siyu’s glass was snatched away by Jing Ke.

Jing Ke first curiously sniffed the red wine. Once she confirmed she didn’t dislike the smell, she gently clinked glasses with the investor and tried a tentative sip.

Hmm, the taste seemed quite good actually.

Jing Ke savored it carefully with the tip of her tongue. Finding it acceptable, she took over all the drinks meant for Shang Siyu.

But Jing Ke didn’t seem to show the effects of alcohol on her face. After drinking nearly a whole bottle of red wine, her complexion remained normal, far less flushed than after kissing Shang Siyu.

Seeing Jing Ke’s face wasn’t red and her logic still very clear, Shang Siyu assumed her girlfriend had a good alcohol tolerance. After trying to stop her a few times, she let Jing Ke be.

–

Don’t drink and drive.

With Jing Ke being the one who drank, the driver naturally became Shang Siyu.

Less accustomed to driving than Jing Ke, Shang Siyu was more cautious and strictly adhered to traffic rules. A journey the navigation said would take thirty minutes took her thirty-seven; she didn’t run a single yellow light.

When she had first gotten into the car, Jing Ke showed no difference from usual, except for a faint smell of alcohol.

But after Shang Siyu parked the car in its spot, she found Jing Ke in the passenger seat, having fallen asleep at some point.

“Jing Ke, wake up, we’re home,” Shang Siyu said softly, poking Jing Ke’s cheek.

“Hmm?” Jing Ke opened her eyes groggily, her voice sounding softer than usual. “We’re home?”

“Yes, we’re home.” Shang Siyu unbuckled her own seatbelt and reminded, “Remember to put your scarf on; it’s windy outside.”

“Okay.” Jing Ke rubbed her eyes, found the scarf she’d put aside, and looped it around her neck a couple of times.

When she tried to open the car door, Jing Ke realized she couldn’t leave her seat. A trace of confusion appeared on her face.

“Little Yu, I can’t move.” Jing Ke began to struggle, her amber eyes looking helplessly at Shang Siyu, sending a distress signal.

Shang Siyu, who hadn’t gotten out yet, looked over. Her gaze landed on Jing Ke’s still-fastened seatbelt, and she immediately didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

So Jing Ke really was drunk, not even knowing her seatbelt was still on.

“Don’t move, I’ll come rescue you in a moment,” Shang Siyu said. After turning off the engine, she opened the driver’s side door.

The instant the door opened, a gust of cold wind hit Shang Siyu, making her pull her coat tighter. She jogged around to the passenger side.

Bending down to unbuckle the seatbelt, Shang Siyu reached out to straighten the scarf around Jing Ke’s neck, simultaneously pressing her palm against Jing Ke’s cheek to feel its temperature.

“Little Yu?” Jing Ke blinked, a hint of incomprehension in her amber eyes. “Why aren’t you kissing me yet?”

Kiss you?

The jump in Jing Ke’s train of thought stunned Shang Siyu for a moment. But seeing the person whose face she cupped already obediently closing her eyes, Shang Siyu couldn’t bear to disappoint her and closed her eyes, leaning in.

Sweet, with a slightly astringent aftertaste; it was the flavor of red wine.

Because the posture was a bit awkward, Shang Siyu ended the kiss in less than a minute, licking her lips and making a mental assessment.

“Alright, let’s go home now.” Shang Siyu clasped Jing Ke’s hand, guiding her out of the car.

“So cold,” Jing Ke mumbled softly upon feeling the cold wind. “Little Yu, can I hug you? In extreme environments, humans, like animals, huddle together for warmth.”

“Okay, is this alright?” Shang Siyu agreed instantly.

Even though it was less than a hundred meters from the parking spot to their building entrance, Shang Siyu opened her arms and hugged Jing Ke, letting her feel the warmth of a companion.

“Yes, so warm.” Jing Ke buried her head in the crook of Shang Siyu’s neck and closed her eyes contentedly.

If she could, Shang Siyu would have gladly been Jing Ke’s human support, letting her lean on her forever.

The heavens seemed a little too cooperative. After they’d stood in place for less than three minutes, snowflakes began drifting down from the sky, quickly growing heavier. Who knew if it was to create a sufficiently romantic atmosphere for them?

“Jing Ke, it’s snowing,” Shang Siyu said, rubbing her cheek against Jing Ke’s head. “Do you want to see the snow?”

“Snow? It’s snowing?” Jing Ke slowly lifted her head, cracking her eyes open to look at the snowflakes in the sky.

“Mm. The last time it snowed in the middle of the night, weren’t you sorry you didn’t get to see it? Now you have the chance.” Shang Siyu said, white puffs of breath continuously escaping her lips.

“It’s snow.” Jing Ke opened her eyes wide, freeing a hand to try and catch a snowflake.

“Little Yu, it’s snow, look.” Jing Ke held up the snowflake in her hand, presenting it like a treasure to Shang Siyu.

Seeing the snowflake that had already melted into water droplets by someone’s warm palm, Shang Siyu lied with her eyes wide open. “I see it, it’s a very beautiful snowflake.”

“Little Yu, I read a saying online. If we can walk hand-in-hand for one hundred steps in the snow, we can stay together until we’re one hundred years old,” Jing Ke said.

Her amber eyes seemed extraordinarily clear and bright at that moment, showing no trace of an intoxicated person.

“That’s an old saying from long ago. The internet also says, ‘If we share the falling snow, this life can also count as growing white hair together.'” Shang Siyu said with a smile. “Want to share this snowy white head together?”

Jing Ke thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“Why? Don’t you want to grow white hair together with me?” Shang Siyu asked.

“If we let the snow cover us until our hair turns white, we’d probably catch a cold,” Jing Ke said very seriously. “But if we hold hands and walk one hundred steps in the snow, we won’t. We’ll just successfully reach our destination.”

Shang Siyu laughed, internally questioning if Jing Ke was really drunk.

Could a drunk person really maintain such clear logic? Or was it because Jing Ke was special?

“Then why do you want to walk one hundred steps with me? Is it because you want to reach one hundred years old with me?” Shang Siyu changed the question.

“Yes. Human lifespans are too short. I want to accompany you for a longer time,” Jing Ke said earnestly. “The average human lifespan is only around seventy. I’m not greedy. I just want to accompany you until you’re one hundred years old.”