Chapter 27: Number One in the World [Complete] Part 1

After returning from Spring Source County to Sea City, the word “troubles” seemed to disappear from Shu Heng’s world. Whether driving her girlfriend to the company or studying under her future mentor, everything went extremely smoothly.

Especially on her birthday, Shu Heng felt like she was soaring through the sky, utterly exhilarated.

Don’t get the wrong idea—Shu Heng really did reach the sky that day, piercing through the clouds and leaving a very obvious trail in the blue heavens.

Li Jianwei and Shu Heng’s birthdays were only two days apart. To make it an unforgettable celebration, Li Jianwei had cleared her schedule early and took her little girlfriend to the flight base on Shu Heng’s birthday, ready to fly her around for a spin.

“When I used to travel the world with Mom, I fell in love with the feeling of flying. Not long after turning adult, I got my pilot’s license,” Li Jianwei said with a smile as she fitted the helmet onto her little girlfriend’s head and buckled it securely.

“Sister, you’re so amazing!” Shu Heng’s eyes instantly turned to stars. “When I have time, I’ll learn too!”

“Sure, I’ll teach you when the time comes,” Li Jianwei replied while checking the seatbelt. “I have an instructor certificate too.”

Shu Heng grinned foolishly nonstop, like a bee that had fallen into a jar of honey, feeling so happy she might faint.

If Shu Heng received a flight experience voucher for her own birthday, then for Li Jianwei’s birthday, what she got was a real-life “die of pleasure” experience card.

With the goal of fulfilling her girlfriend’s birthday wish, when Li Jianwei suggested trying out some little toys, Shu Heng hesitated for only a second before nodding in agreement.

To loosen herself up a bit, Shu Heng took a few extra sips of red wine, entering a pleasantly tipsy state where bodily sensations were amplified.

That night, Shu Heng’s eyes never stayed dry, just like another part of her body—they remained perpetually wet.

Her rationality told her she might need to call a stop a few times, as her body could barely hold up.

But the pleasure in her body and the emotional fulfillment made it impossible for Shu Heng to stop, and she began to crave this dual satisfaction of mind and flesh.

Shu Heng had never seen Li Jianwei like this before. Her eyes brimmed with possessiveness, those beautiful peach-blossom eyes fixed solely on her, her entire being moved by Shu Heng alone.

She loved this side of her sister so much—eyes and heart filled only with her.

If only Sister could stay like this forever. For that, she was willing to sink eternally.

–

The aftermath of their excessive indulgence was obvious. When the sun was high in the sky, both lay in bed unwilling to move. Even going to the bathroom took forever.

Li Jianwei managed okay when she got up—muscles sore, but she could grit her teeth and walk normally.

Shu Heng was different. When she climbed out of bed, her legs nearly gave out, and she almost knelt on the carpet. After struggling back while supporting herself against the wall, she furiously bit Li Jianwei.

“Sister, you were so mean last night!” Shu Heng accused in a small voice.

“But you didn’t say stop. I’ve told you—as long as you say ‘stop’ three times in a row, I’ll stop,” Li Jianwei said, letting Shu Heng nibble at her neck.

After feasting her fill last night, Li Jianwei’s indulgence toward Shu Heng had increased even more.

Shu Heng had no rebuttal for that. She could only suck mark after mark onto the instigator’s neck, then warn sternly with a pout, “Only on the day of your birthday will I agree to something like last night. Just once a year.”

Li Jianwei raised an eyebrow. This kind of thing only once a year? She’d thought this indulgence experience card could only be used once anyway—after all, she’d bullied her pretty harshly last night.

Seeing Li Jianwei fall silent without responding, Shu Heng proactively conceded. “Twice a year—no more than that.”

This meek statement made Li Jianwei chuckle. “Alright, you call the shots. Whenever you’re ready, that’s when we start. Okay?”

Shu Heng huffed without replying, just relentlessly leaving marks all over Li Jianwei, trying to regain some ground.

–

While Shu Heng diligently worked on research under Professor Gong Li, Li Jianwei maneuvered Wang Qian and Little Wang Executive like chess pieces, smoothly splitting Photon Dynamics internally into three factions.

One led by Wang Yuanfei, one by Little Wang Executive, and one backed by certain shareholders under Executive Chen.

As a proxy spokesperson for her father, Wang Qian controlled the situation. If any side showed a clear disadvantage, she covertly lent a hand to keep the internal brawl going.

If a company’s internal struggle was obvious enough for regular employees to see easily, then it wasn’t far from falling apart.

At this stage of the factional warfare, whether to continue was no longer up to individuals. Even Chairman Wang, who held the most shares, couldn’t stop the fight that had dragged in nearly all the company’s mid-to-high-level management with a single word.

Thus, the formerly aloof Chairman Wang had no choice but to step in personally to prevent further deterioration.

Chairman Wang’s intervention made Wang Yuanfei and Little Wang Executive temporarily team up to push out Executive Chen, the outsider. Then both got stuck at vice president, vying for the final president position.

Perhaps all three were too overconfident. When Wang Yuanfei and Little Wang Executive reached a stalemate, Wang Qian emerged as the compromise choice and was elected president.

After seeing Photon Dynamics’ public personnel announcement, Li Jianwei paused with her mouse cursor, even couldn’t help reflecting on herself.

Why did they think Wang Qian wouldn’t develop ambitions for power? Because she was a woman, or because Wang Qian’s disguise was too perfect?

Li Jianwei hadn’t been particularly secretive in directing Wang Qian. Tracing some of Wang Qian’s actions would easily point to her as the behind-the-scenes manipulator.

But in the end, not only did she avoid detection—they didn’t even know Wang Qian had contacted company shareholders.

Had she overestimated the intelligence of people like Wang Yuanfei? Maybe she didn’t need all these roundabout tactics; simpler, more brutal schemes could have collapsed Photon Dynamics too.

But what was done was done. They’d stick to the original plan—no harm in waiting a few more months.

–

Just before the summer vacation travel peak, Father Li finally returned to Sea City from abroad with his works.

While focusing on artistic creation overseas, Father Li had already learned from his daughter about her little girlfriend. Though they hadn’t video called, Father Li had seen plenty of photos of his daughter and her little girlfriend.

Inspired by them, Father Li had painted a piece themed around dawn and a young girl, mailing it back from afar.

However, after finishing the painting, Father Li inevitably thought of his departed wife, broke down crying, and only mustered his spirits after a long accumulation, which delayed his return.

“Little Shu, hello. I’m Jianwei’s dad,” Father Li greeted Shu Heng with a smile upon arriving at the villa.

“Hello, Uncle,” Shu Heng replied somewhat stiffly.

This elder looked different from what Shu Heng had expected— even younger than in the photos she’d seen.

It wasn’t Shu Heng’s fault. Though Father Li was over fifty, he still looked very young, the type who’d be called “little brother” by girls on the street instead of “uncle.”

Two reasons made Father Li look so fresh and youthful. First, he rarely had worries; after marriage, everything was carefree, keeping his mindset—and appearance—young.

Second, Father Li cared deeply about his image. Even after marriage, he frequented beauty salons more than Mother Li had, and he’d kept it up for over twenty years.

After his wife’s passing, Father Li maintained the habit. If asked, he’d proudly explain.

“My wife loved my face. She might sneak a peek at me while I’m asleep—I can’t turn into an old geezer! What if she sees me and gets disappointed, refusing to be with me in the next life?”

Father Li got along splendidly with Shu Heng. The more he looked at his daughter’s little girlfriend, the more satisfied he was. Learning she studied under Professor Gong Li made him gaze at her in admiration.

Professor Gong Li was a cutting-edge talent his wife had highly praised too. If Shu Heng was her student, his wife would surely approve!

A daughter-in-law his wife would like—how could he, as her husband, object?

Regrettably, Father Li couldn’t stay long in a place filled with memories of his late wife. After meeting Shu’s Mother, he flew off to another country for inspiration and creation.

“Dad’s always been like that. He once said he’d paint so many paintings, capturing all the world’s beautiful scenery on canvas,” Li Jianwei sighed.

“Once he’s painted everything he wants, he’ll embrace death peacefully. Then, he hopes I’ll burn the paintings he selects along with him, so he can take the beautiful views to see Mom.”

“Sister…” Shu Heng gripped Li Jianwei’s hand, unsure how to comfort her.

“We have no artistic talent—we can’t paint beautiful scenes on canvas,” Li Jianwei said, ruffling Shu Heng’s hair. “When we retire, let’s travel the world together!”

“Yeah! I’ll go anywhere Sister wants!”

–

As time moved from mid-year to year-end, Shu Heng, who had spent over half a year at the Research Institute, transitioned from learning alongside her senior sister to becoming a core member of the project research team with her.

Facts proved Shu Heng had great talent for research. While advancing the project, she even figured out several useful innovations on her own and conquered an optimization problem that had stumped many.

After the patent smoothly passed approval, Shu Heng immediately gifted the patent ownership to Li Jianwei.

“Thanks for thinking of me first, but have the company buy the usage rights from you instead,” Li Jianwei said, kissing the Little Cabbage in her arms. “Don’t forget, you still need to earn money to buy a house for Auntie.”

Shu Heng blinked. “Then I’ll listen to Sister and sell the patent to Zhizhu!”

Li Jianwei: “Do you want a buyout or royalties?”

Shu Heng buried her head in Li Jianwei’s body, her voice muffled. “You decide that, Sister. I’m fine either way.”

Li Jianwei leaned back on the sofa following the momentum. “Your patent can be applied in many areas. I suggest royalties—the cumulative amount will be more than a one-time buyout. You can look at houses first, or buy one under my name on installment.”