He said he’d be fine once he saved enough money to dissolve the contract and asked if she could hold off on the breakup.
But they were only nineteen then—who could bear the weight of the other’s future and dreams?
Singing was his dream; she insisted on breaking up.
Even after the split, no matter how many conflicts they had, they never spoke harshly.
Who would have thought that when she and Zhōu Shíyì had conflicts, their harsh words had wounded each other deeply.
After the call with Jì Fánxīng, Zhōng Yì dialed Zhōu Shíyì.
She rarely called him at this hour. Zhōu Shíyì answered and asked, “What’s up?”
“Nothing much, just calling you.”
Zhōu Shíyì stopped what he was doing. Today was the day Lù Chéng and his agent publicly ended their contract; Zhōu Shíyì hadn’t checked the trending topics, but it should be there.
“No need to thank me; this was purely a business decision.”
Zhōng Yì thought for a moment to understand his meaning, then explained, “It’s nothing to do with Lù Chéng. I just suddenly missed you.”
She thought of him while working, and Zhōu Shíyì was somewhat flattered. Before, when she sent a message, he’d reply, but she might not respond for hours.
“How much do you miss me?” he asked.
His questions always caught her off guard.
Zhōng Yì: “More than you think.”
Zhōu Shíyì snapped the pen cap closed and said simply, “More is enough.”
Zhōng Yì then asked, “Are you sure you’re not going to Shanghai?”
“No.”
It wasn’t because of Yan Tinglin; “there’s just a lot going on, can’t get away.”
Whether he went or not, the result wouldn’t change Yan Tinglin’s decision.
Zhōu Shíyì kept the question of “how much she missed him” in mind.
They couldn’t talk more on the phone.
That evening, after getting home, they worked two extra hours in the study.
When she shut the computer, he asked, “You said you missed me at lunch—how much?”
Zhōng Yì looked at him thoughtfully; it was obvious he wasn’t expecting a verbal answer.
She put down the mouse, tidied her desk, stood up from her chair, and sat on his lap under his gaze.
“I’m keeping you company while you work overtime,” she said, pretending to be calm.
Her heartbeat was already racing.
Zhōu Shíyì pulled her closer, letting her settle comfortably on his legs.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and used his free hand to gently pat her back. “It’s been ten days since we got married, why are you still so tense in my arms?”
“Not tense.”
Zhōng Yì wasn’t lying; she did feel relaxed enough.
Perhaps compared to before, it still wasn’t completely carefree.
Back then, she had acted wildly in his arms. Once, when he accidentally knocked her canvas bag off, she pretended to calculate the loss in his arms for a long time.
She said, “Maybe I was younger then and liked to act spoiled.”
“Not much older now either.” Zhōu Shíyì held her and spun the swivel chair, so she faced sideways to the computer, not blocking his view.
Zhōng Yì hadn’t brought her phone; it was still on her desk.
With nothing to do, she just sat quietly.
She turned to look at him, wondering whether to ask for a kiss.
Zhōu Shíyì looked at her. “There are still many emails to handle; do whatever you want.”
Zhōng Yì didn’t reply and kissed him instead.
Zhōu Shíyì caught her kiss, letting her press forward, claiming ground.
She sucked on his lips and mumbled, “I love you.”
***
In the past, he had always been unsure if she loved him; now she was learning to express it more.
Zhōu Shíyì’s arms closed around her tightly as he looked into her eyes. “More than you love others?”
That was the only thing he was uncertain about in all these years—whether in business or private life.
Zhōng Yì continued kissing him, replying with a definite “Mm.”
Zhōu Shíyì cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss.
Zhōng Yì had intended to end the kiss and go back to the bedroom to sleep without disturbing his work.
But in the end, she couldn’t leave his embrace.
She slowly settled down, taking in all of him.
During this, the chair spun and accidentally knocked over a stack of documents by the desk cabinet, scattering them all over the floor.
No one cared about the papers.
Her world finally stopped spinning; Zhōng Yì lay on his shoulder, too exhausted to move.
From her lips to her entire body, it was all his scent.
Zhōu Shíyì adjusted her spaghetti-strap nightdress and pulled the jacket hanging on the chair over her, wrapping her in.
Zhōng Yì relaxed her lingering tingling against his shoulder. Her eyes glanced at the papers on the floor and caught sight of a jewelry appraisal certificate.
She thought to pick it up later when the tingling subsided to see exactly what it was.
Before her warmth faded, Zhōu Shíyì carried her back to the bedroom.
***
The next afternoon, she and Níng Quē accompanied Yan Tinglin to fly to Shanghai.
Yan Tinglin said he had dinner last night with Shen Chi and his wife, remarking how small the industry circle was. It turned out Zhang Nuoxu was Zhōu Shíyì’s previous arranged marriage partner.
“Shen Chi said he can finally sleep well now that I’m leaving on the fourth.”
Zhōng Yì was a bit taken aback. “So soon? Leaving on the fourth?”
“Yeah. I have a forum to attend back home. After the Semiconductor Exhibition, I’ll return to Beicheng and have a meal with you all.”
Who knew when he’d come back next time; maybe by then Zhōng Yì and Zhōu Shíyì’s child would be calling him uncle.
They landed in Shanghai at dusk. After checking into the hotel, Zhōng Yì streamlined the materials she had prepared and sent them to Yan Tinglin.
Yan Tinglin replied after reading: [Thanks for giving me so much internal information.]
Zhōng Yì half-jokingly said, [I really put a lot of effort into it.]
Some of the data wasn’t public, even business secrets. Her cousin had authorized her.
There was also some data provided by Zhōu Sujin; those were Kuncheng Semiconductor’s business secrets.
Zhōu Sujin said that if he could help in bringing Yan Tinglin over, these sacrifices would be worth it.
After reviewing all the materials, Yan Tinglin’s heart was stirred quite a bit.
That night, maybe because they changed hotels, he woke up once.
The next morning at breakfast, he asked Zhōng Yì, “What made you bold enough to reveal two companies’ business secrets to me?”
Zhōng Yì clinked her coffee cup against his. “I trust you. Even if you don’t come, you wouldn’t sell these secrets.”
Yan Tinglin smiled, “Much obliged.”
Besides trusting his character, she also had the backing of her father, Jiang Jingyuan.
Any risks, her father would cover for her.
She said, “Once you go to the Semiconductor Exhibition, you’ll be even more shocked.
The scene is packed with people.
The organizers didn’t know a big shot like you would come, and he didn’t want to be recognized, so he wore sunglasses before entering the venue.
He understood the domestic semiconductor exhibition only through the data on various PPTs.
But the contrast between data on paper and the real bustling scene was earth-shattering.
From chip design to packaging and testing,
equipment and materials, the entire industry chain had achieved self-sufficiency.
Zhōng Yì handed him a bottle of water. “The domestic semiconductor industry chain is developing faster than you expected, right?”
Yan Tinglin: “Faster than fast.”
“Of course, there’s still a gap compared to the Bay Area. But in ten or twenty years, the future of semiconductors will definitely be here.”
She opened a bottle of water herself. “You saw Kuncheng Semiconductor’s data. Their advanced process yield has already reached 70%, maybe even higher.”
“Breaking through the technology blockade is just a matter of time.
“Currently, the Zhijia Large Model can only serve as an auxiliary system. To develop fully autonomous driving, existing chips can’t meet the ultra-high computing power requirements.”
Yan Tinglin: “So you want to develop your own chips?”
Zhōng Yì nodded. “Yes. Over-reliance on imported chips will sooner or later be restrictive. We can’t leave the future in others’ hands.
As for custom chips,” she looked at him, “you know how fast algorithm iteration is. I need programmable chips. That will definitely be the trend. I want to get ahead.
I know how difficult this is, but breaking through the bottleneck reduces supply chain risks and ensures the safety of the driving system.
I rejected Kuncheng’s original large model; almost all the investment went down the drain.”
“Because for me, nothing can be sacrificed except safety. Once an accident happens, it’s not just a life lost.
The programmable chip I want can only be designed by you and your team.
The large model I built can only be brought to mass production and dominate the market by you.”
Yan Tinglin looked at her and listened quietly.
Zhōng Yì said, “I’ve been thinking these past few days about what you’re still missing, what can attract you. After much thought, perhaps only the future of this industry can attract you.
“When I was a kid, I wanted to be someone written about in professional textbooks, to leave a faint mark in this vibrant world. My original intention has never changed. How about you?”
Yan Tinglin smiled. “I do want to be someone the future follows.”
He reached out his hand. “Then, happy cooperation.”
Not only Zhōng Yì but also Níng Quē was stunned.
Zhōng Yì’s nose tingled as she reached out her hand. “Happy cooperation!”
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