Chapter 13

Which is more comfortable to sleep with—a person, or a body pillow?

Shang Siyu suspected the answer was the former, as it was the only explanation for why she fell asleep hugging her body pillow but woke up hugging Jing Ke instead.

The first morning she woke up in Jing Ke’s arms, Shang Siyu managed to stealthily retract her hand without Jing Ke noticing anything out of the ordinary.

But the second time, Shang Siyu wasn’t so lucky. Before she could even move her hand, Jing Ke, who was resting on her shoulder, opened her eyes first.

“Shang Siyu, good morning.” Jing Ke greeted her just as calmly as the previous day, her tousled chestnut-colored head turning towards her.

“Go… good morning.” Shang Siyu responded instinctively.

Jing Ke blinked and asked, “I need to get up to use the bathroom. Can you let go of me?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Shang Siyu withdrew her hand as if electrocuted, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

Shang Siyu explained with some embarrassment, trying to rationalize her actions. “I was hugging a body pillow before I fell asleep, but somehow, it turned into that position. I didn’t do it on purpose, maybe I was…”

A flicker of understanding passed through Jing Ke’s amber eyes. “I understand what you mean. Holding something while you sleep is a long-standing habit of yours. For people who live alone, holding onto something gives them a greater sense of security.”

“And the security from holding a body pillow can’t compare to the reassurance of holding a person. It’s perfectly normal that you’d choose me over the pillow.” Jing Ke paused in her explanation, reaching out to brush the stray hair fallen across Shang Siyu’s face, gently tucking it behind her ear.

She continued, “We are friends and partners. Providing you with a sense of security is also one of my responsibilities. You don’t need to apologize for your actions.”

A hint of bewilderment crossed Shang Siyu’s face. She responded with a dazed “Mm,” and then watched as Jing Ke decisively moved away from her side and headed straight for the bathroom.

Only upon hearing the door click shut did Shang Siyu reflexively touch her own face.

Her face was so hot. Had she just been… blushing?

But what was there to blush about? Jing Ke had said they were friends; holding each other while sleeping was normal.

Shang Siyu tried to calm her emotions, willing the temperature of her face to drop.

Three minutes later, having failed to compose herself, Shang Siyu, mind a jumble of chaotic thoughts, rolled across the bed and buried her face into a pillow.

She had intended to use this ostrich tactic to escape reality, but she forgot one thing: sleeping on the left side, when she rolled right, the pillow she buried her face in wasn’t her own, it was Jing Ke’s.

A familiar scent, mingled with a faint, fresh fragrance, flooded Shang Siyu’s nostrils. The familiar scent was easy to identify—the smell of shampoo.

But the latter didn’t smell like shower gel. Could it be Jing Ke’s natural scent?

At this realization, Shang Siyu immediately rolled back onto her own pillow and once again attempted to steady her heart.

She placed a hand over her chest and felt her heartbeat drumming much more distinctly than usual within her ribcage.

Shang Siyu was twenty-five years old. Though lacking any significant romantic experience, she could tell that her body’s reactions were abnormal.

Normally, who would blush at seeing a friend’s body? Who would let their mind wander into wild fantasies just from a hug?

“Shang Siyu, are there any plans for today?” Jing Ke asked, drying her hands with a paper towel as she emerged from the bathroom.

“Ah, plans for today? It’s Sunday. Is there anywhere you wanted to go?” Shang Siyu swiftly composed her emotions, using the motion of rubbing her eyes to mask the lingering blush on her face.

Jing Ke thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t have any place I particularly want to go. Why don’t we discuss the details of the contract, and also ask the other shareholders for their opinions on the cooperation?”

“Alright, then let’s aim to draft an initial contract,” Shang Siyu said, sitting up, letting out a gentle breath, and patting her own cheeks.

“You’re investing three hundred million and only taking twenty-eight percent of the shares. The shareholders will be more than happy; no one will object.” Shang Siyu said, actively meeting Jing Ke’s gaze.

Seeing that Jing Ke’s amber eyes were crystal clear, untainted by even the slightest hint of desire, Shang Siyu quickly calmed down.

Stop overthinking. Jing Ke only possesses a human body. Fundamentally, she isn’t an entity that needs romantic love, and she certainly wouldn’t have such thoughts.

I was just shy because it was my first time seeing someone else’s body. A case of being startled by the unfamiliar, that’s all.

–

Shang Siyu was right. No one would refuse to exchange twenty-eight percent of New Life Technology’s shares for a three hundred million yuan investment. Even the other investors, upon hearing the news, quickly doubled their additional investments while keeping their share percentages unchanged.

Just like that, New Life Technology’s books suddenly became very flush with cash.

Jing Ke had channels to procure high-precision instruments. Going through all the approval procedures and shipping the machinery from abroad would take only forty days—remarkably fast.

With the vote to bring Jing Ke in as an investor unanimously passed, the most urgent task shifted to finding and acquiring suitable land to build a factory.

“Personally, I think this piece of currently unclaimed land in the High-tech Park is a good choice. Once our production line is established, it can provide at least a hundred entry-level jobs, meeting the government’s subsidy requirements.”

Well-prepared, Shang Siyu spoke eloquently from the podium, presenting the materials she and Jing Ke had compiled the previous day. She garnered a lot of appreciation and admiration from the shareholders.

Even a professional like Cui Xiangxiang nodded in approval, silently contemplating.

To have grown to this extent in just a month’s time—Shang Siyu’s talent for business might not be any less than her talent for scientific research.

Given time, I’m afraid I’ll be completely reduced to Shang Siyu’s Vice President, no longer the so-called ‘Senior’ who can guide her progress.

The meeting proceeded very smoothly. However, before it adjourned, Shang Siyu made a request.

“I hope the news of a large capital injection into New Life Technology doesn’t spread for now,” Shang Siyu stated from the head seat, her tone very sincere. “Many companies in the industry have their eyes on us. My personal thought is to announce this news after our production line is actually established.”

“I agree. The procedures for the high-precision instruments are many. If competitors deliberately try to trip us up, we definitely won’t be able to set up the production line within three months,” Jing Ke voiced her support.

Jing Ke, her expression serious, added, “Regarding the production line, we need to recruit skilled personnel proficient in operating the instruments ahead of schedule for training. I hope the HR department will handle the corresponding confidentiality during recruitment.”

“Sister Cui, can this be done?” Shang Siyu asked.

Cui Xiangxiang nodded. “I’ll personally oversee the recruitment for these high-level talents. After they pass the interview, I’ll have them sign a non-disclosure agreement.”

“However, to genuinely ensure they abide by the NDA, their salary during the training period cannot just be the basic pay. Ideally, it should be eighty percent of their full salary, including performance bonuses,” Cui Xiangxiang added. “The full amount would be best.”

“The full amount is not a problem. If funds are insufficient, I will invest more,” Jing Ke stated calmly.

While discussing work with Shang Siyu the day before, Jing Ke had also reassessed all the assets under her name.

Excluding her overseas real estate and stock holdings, the liquid funds she could mobilize amounted to one hundred and eighty million US dollars, roughly equivalent to 1.3 billion in local currency. Investing in New Life Technology had barely touched the spare change.

“If funding isn’t an issue, then it’s not a problem on my end either,” Cui Xiangxiang quickly affirmed.

Seeing everyone was in agreement, Shang Siyu then announced, “This meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules. I will notify everyone of future developments via email.”

Cui Xiangxiang deliberately slowed her movements. As the others were mostly gone, she shot Shang Siyu a look, signaling that she wanted a private word.

Shang Siyu instinctively glanced at Jing Ke. Seeing her still diligently organizing the meeting minutes, she gently tapped her shoulder, leaned down, and whispered, “I’ll chat with Sister Cui alone. Wait for me in the office in a bit?”

Jing Ke looked up and smiled at Shang Siyu, making an “OK” gesture with her pen.

–

“CEO Shang, is Jing Ke your friend?” Once they entered the small meeting room, Cui Xiangxiang got straight to the point. “With such a capital injection and share ratio, I can’t help but worry… will she have regrets later and withdraw the investment?”

Hearing Cui Xiangxiang’s words, a look of understanding dawned in Shang Siyu’s eyes. She knew Jing Ke’s philanthropic approach was bound to make people suspicious.

“Sister Cui, you can rest assured. Jing Ke is a very good friend of mine. My initial startup funds were secured with her help,” Shang Siyu assured her.

“If she wanted to, she could absolutely replace me in my position,” Shang Siyu said with deep sincerity. “The reason she only wants twenty-eight percent is specifically so I can hold thirty percent and command greater control.”

As the image of a certain chestnut-colored, fluffy head flashed through her mind, Shang Siyu added, “I have one hundred percent trust in her. I will bear full responsibility for any of her actions.”

Seeing that the expression on Shang Siyu’s face was undeniably genuine, Cui Xiangxiang finally let go of the worry hanging in her heart.

“That’s good, then. I wasn’t aware of Jing Ke’s background earlier and worried she was sent by Kangxin Group,” Cui Xiangxiang admitted, a hint of guilt surfacing. “I’m truly sorry for suspecting your friend.”

“It’s fine. I would have been suspicious too, if I were you.” Shang Siyu’s expression gradually relaxed. “In the future, if there’s anything else I need to watch out for, Sister Cui, please remember to continue advising me.”

Cui Xiangxiang nodded in agreement, mentally raising her assessment of Shang Siyu again.

Not only talented and gifted, but also clear-headed and sensible. Having a boss like this meant no worries about talent drain.

With funding, personnel, and technology, it would be hard for New Life Technology to remain unknown in the industry. Once the production line was operational, it would quickly capture the market and start turning a profit.