Chapter 173: Long Time No See

Lin Xi was slightly startled; she knew nothing about these things.

"Did you two know each other since childhood?" Nange asked out of curiosity. "Or did you meet later on, like with my uncle?"

Lin Xi replied, "We've lived in the same courtyard since we were born."

"Wow. Childhood sweethearts!"

Hearing the term out of the blue, Lin Xi's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she didn't refute it.

"No wonder you two have such a close relationship. It would be such a waste if you didn't end up together." Nange didn't forget to push her agenda. Before coming, Cheng Si had mentioned that Qin Yu and Lin Xi's current relationship was a bit awkward.

"Why would you think that?" Lin Xi raised an eyebrow. "Just because we've known each other for a long time, does that mean we have to be together?"

Nange shook her head. "That's not what I mean."

"It's just that you already have feelings for each other. And since you grew up together, your bond is much more solid than other couples'. With such a great foundation over more than twenty years, wouldn't it be a shame if you didn't end up together in the end?" Nange asked Dou Yangyang.

Suddenly called upon, Dou Yangyang hesitated. Under the pressure, she still nodded and said, "Yes, it would be a shame."

Nange smiled.

"Aside from Uncle Qin Yu, has Engineer Lin ever liked any other guys? Or perhaps someone you had a slight crush on and thought was decent?" Nange remained steadfast in her mission.

"No." It wasn't just a brush-off; Lin Xi genuinely thought about it for two full minutes, but the final conclusion remained the same.

"Not at all, all these years?" Nange was surprised. "Not even a classmate you thought was really handsome?"

Lin Xi shook her head again. "No."

"Huh?"

Nange was completely baffled.

"I haven't paid much attention to that aspect, and I'm not sensitive to it. When I was studying, all my focus was on my studies."

"Then when did you start liking Uncle Qin Yu?"

"High school." Lin Xi contradicted herself.

"!" Nange widened her eyes. "P-Puppy love?"

Lin Xi took a sip of her coffee. "Didn't work out. Puppy love failed. At best, it was just a secret crush."

"If it was a secret crush, wouldn't it affect your studies?" Dou Yangyang asked softly. "When I had a secret crush before, my grades kept dropping."

"How could that be?" Nange tilted her head and told her, "If Engineer Lin's studies had been affected, she wouldn't be where she is today."

"Ah, that's true."

The two of them thought Lin Xi was superhuman, but in reality, how could it not have had an impact?

"There was a period of time when my grades dropped. During that joint examination, I slipped from first place in the city to third."

Nange and Dou Yangyang: "..." Your idea of a grade drop seems rather different from ours.

"Then how did you get back up?"

"Because my language system had some issues back then, and it was inconvenient for me to speak. The teacher called my parents in for a talk, trying to figure out the reason for my declining grades."

"And then?" The two young girls stopped eating their food and stared at Lin Xi in unison.

"And then..." Lin Xi finished the last sip of her coffee and slowly said, "Qin Yu went."

"!"

"Later we had a conversation, and he suspected that I might have puppy love. I said no. Then, fearing he wouldn't believe me, I studied hard and won first place back."

"Let's not talk about this anymore." Lin Xi stopped right there. She checked the time and said, "Time to head out."

"Ah, we..." The two girls were still not quite satisfied, but business came first, so they grabbed their things and followed her.

---

At the exhibition venue.

Lin Xi adjusted the work badge around her neck and said, "You guys stay here. I'm going to go say hello to Huasheng and Dili."

Engineer Li acknowledged and motioned for her to go ahead, assuring her that everything was fine on their end.

Lin Xi turned her head and looked at Nange, who was standing aside like a statue. She tilted her head and asked, "Are you coming?"

"Me?" Nange blinked. Realizing Lin Xi was asking if she was coming over to Huasheng's side, she quickly waved her hands. "I'm not going! I'm working! If I go over there, Uncle will dock my pay later."

Lin Xi's shoulders shook with a chuckle. "Alright."

For most of the morning, Lin Xi was busy socializing.

First with several other domestic companies, chatting for a while, and then with a few foreign ones.

Especially when she ran into her former employer. The manager, who was of Chinese descent, gave her a hug and asked with a deeply regretful tone, "Lin, why did you return to China?"

"If you had stayed, you'd be working with us today."

Lin Xi offered an apology and explained, "I stayed abroad for too long, and my family elders are getting older. I thought that by going back to work, I'd be able to spend more time with them."

"We're opening a branch office domestically soon. If you're interested, shall I introduce you?"

"Feiyun is just a small company, after all. You're really shortchanging yourself by going there."

Lin Xi replied, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I actually have another connection to Feiyun. It's my brother's company."

"OMG! Really?"

"Yes. As you knew before, it wasn't easy for me to spell out that kind of relationship." Lin Xi smiled apologetically. "I hope you understand."

The manager nodded vigorously. "I understand, I understand."

"So you probably won't leave Feiyun from now on?"

"Yes."

Usually, it's not wise to make such absolute statements, but Lin Xi nodded without hesitation.

Cheng Si would never screw anyone over, least of all her, so she had no reason to change places.

"I wish you all the best." The manager couldn't help but hug her again. "I really like you. Although I can't bring you back, I still hope everything goes well for you."

"Thank you."

"Do you have time tonight? Let's grab dinner together."

"Of course. Once things wrap up here, I'll come find you."

At noon, Lin Xi chose a nearby Western restaurant where she had been dining for many years.

"Everyone, order whatever you like. President Cheng is paying."

Hearing this, no one held back anymore, and they almost ordered everything on the menu.

"Engineer Lin, what are we eating tonight?" Engineer Wang asked. "It better not be worse than this meal."

"You guys pick yourselves. I'm going out tonight to have dinner with the managers of some other companies."

"Then should I go with you?" Dou Yangyang didn't know this counted as Lin Xi's personal itinerary.

"I'll go by myself." Pausing for a moment, Lin Xi added, "However, you have a task tonight as well."

Hearing this, Dou Yangyang instantly turned as serious as if facing a formidable enemy and straightened her posture. "Go ahead!"

"You don't have to be so serious." Lin Xi curved her lips. "Your job tonight is to keep an eye on Nange."

"After having dinner with Engineer Li and the others tonight, head straight back to the hotel."

"Got it!"

In the afternoon, Dili's side sent over some fruit.

"Engineer Lin, care for a peach?"

"No thanks." Lin Xi was buried in her work and didn't notice who was standing in front of her.

"Ah, you won't even eat the peaches I brought?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Xi raised her head, startled for a moment, and quickly stood up. "Senior."

Standing before her was a blond, blue-eyed man who smiled and waved at Lin Xi, speaking fluent Chinese. "Lin, long time no see."