Chapter 105 Little Secret
Seeing Song Guangyuan come in, Liu Shang greeted him with a natural smile.
As for Song Jia, after a moment of surprise, she began explaining herself a little too defensively.
"Liu Shang asked me to watch the NBA with him, so I reluctantly agreed to keep him company."
Song Guangyuan joked with a smile, "Oh, so at home, it's usually your father who has to make you watch the game with him?"
Hearing this, Song Jia looked even more embarrassed.
At that moment, Song Guangyuan smiled and patted Liu Shang on the shoulder.
"Liu Shang, there's nothing much going on at the company right now, so I've enrolled you in the VIP class at Tongjia Driving School."
"It just so happens that you two can go take the test together. Otherwise, this girl won't want to go by herself."
"And you're such a good driver already. Once you get your license, it'll be more convenient for you to drive yourself around, don't you think?"
Liu Shang naturally nodded in agreement, while Song Jia's face immediately lit up, and she eagerly raised her hands in approval.
***
In the days that followed, they spent a couple of mornings at the company, but the rest of their time was spent at the driving school.
Even the instructor was amazed by Liu Shang's driving skills.
"I'm telling you, brother, if you told me you'd been driving for over ten years, I'd believe you," the instructor said. "Why are you only just now getting your license?"
Liu Shang just smiled and shook his head. The instructor's humorous tone also amused Song Jia, who was sitting in the back seat.
For a moment, the atmosphere inside the small Jetta was as pleasant as a spring breeze.
Seeing the two of them, the instructor sighed softly and then patted Liu Shang on the shoulder.
"Brother, I've taught you all the key points you need to know."
"You'll pass with no problem. As for this young lady... she's been a student here longer than I've been an instructor, so I'll leave her in your hands."
Hearing his words, Liu Shang burst out laughing.
This, however, infuriated Song Jia in the back row.
"Hey, what are you two laughing at?!"
"I'm plenty smart, I'm just too lazy to practice, okay?"
After that, the instructor, a man in his thirties, simply smiled, shook his head, and got out of the car, leaving the beautiful and wealthy young woman behind with a heart full of regret.
He had been a driving instructor for four or five years. Thanks to his decent looks and sense of humor, he had used his position to get close to quite a few pretty students over the years, from lonely young wives to pure and beautiful university students.
In terms of an overall ranking of looks and temperament, Song Jia was undoubtedly number one. Her lively, cheerful, and playful personality was the kind that men found especially exciting.
However, when faced with such a top-tier beauty, he didn't dare to overstep his bounds in the slightest. He didn't even risk using the most common "hands-on" teaching excuse to touch her hand.
Song Jia and Liu Shang were dropped off and picked up by a private driver every day. He had learned a bit about them while chatting and smoking with their driver. These two were the only daughter and the future son-in-law of the oil field's big boss.
Seeing Song Jia and Liu Shang's unique auras, especially Liu Shang's maturity and composure that were clearly beyond his years, he wouldn't dare to even think about making a move on Song Jia.
Furthermore, when they first came to the school, the owner of the driving school himself had personally led them to him. The owner's attitude had been more than enthusiastic; it bordered on fawning.
It was obvious that the status of these two young people was far beyond what a small fry like him could ever afford to offend.
So, out of sight, out of mind.
It was better to stay away and save himself the frustration of being near such a delicious cake that he could never touch.
After the instructor left, the car became a private space for just the two of them.
The occasional brush of their hands and skin as Liu Shang corrected her made Song Jia flustered, and she became even more distracted while practicing.
In a vicious cycle, Song Jia's driving, which was usually passable, fell to pieces. The car lurched and swerved, becoming a danger on the training course.
In the end, even Liu Shang was sweating, fearing for his life.
Perhaps because he was so focused, Liu Shang's entire attention was on the road. On the other hand, Song Jia, occasionally feeling the warmth from his large hand, grew even more nervous and unsettled.
She really couldn't figure it out. Over the years, she had interacted with plenty of boys like Tan Feng and Lu Kai. An accidental touch of the hands was common, but she had never felt this inexplicable, nervous flutter before.
About an hour later, Song Jia, who was now drenched in sweat, turned off the ignition and brought the car to a stop.
She collapsed onto the steering wheel, completely exhausted.
"I can't, I can't do it. I'm not practicing anymore, I'm exhausted."
"Liu Shang, did you turn on the heater? Why is it so hot in here for this time of year?"
Liu Shang let out a long breath and leaned back heavily in the passenger seat.
"The heater's not on. You're just too nervous, that's why you feel so stuffy."
However, this harmonious atmosphere lasted only for a moment. Liu Shang's next comment instantly turned the cute, well-behaved kitten back into a sharp-clawed little tigress.
"Well, women really aren't wired for driving."
"Now I finally understand why you're a legend at this driving school."
"The owner must be a man with a strong sense of social responsibility."
"For the sake of traffic safety in all of Windy City, he would rather you waste the school's limited resources than let you graduate early and get on the road."
Before he could finish, Song Jia's sharp glare was already fixed on him.
"You're horrible!"
"Before you came along, I was practicing just fine, you know?!!!"
"Today was just an off day."
"Forget it, I'm done for today."
"And to make up for the verbal assault on my delicate heart, I'm punishing you by making you treat me to dinner."
"How about malatang?"
Liu Shang rolled his eyes at her. "How many times have I told you? That stuff is unhygienic, not to mention unhealthy."
"If you're really craving something like that, let's go for Jiugongge hot pot, or the Chuan Chuan Xiang from that big restaurant."
"Those are both things you like."
Song Jia smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "Since you're being so sincere, I will reluctantly accompany you for a meal."
"Besides, with your high salary, you can't afford to be cheap."
Chapter 106 The First Acquisition
Whenever Song Jia and Liu Shang went out to eat together, Liu Shang was always the one who paid.
For one, Song Jia knew that Liu Shang was quite wealthy, and she felt it was more appropriate and reasonable for him to pay the bill. It also seemed to solidify her important position in his life. But when she went out with Tan Feng, Lu Kai, and the others, she was always the one who insisted on paying.
Second, Song Jia wasn't actually taking advantage of Liu Shang; in fact, she ended up spending much more in return. In her spare time, she bought Liu Shang a Hermès leather wallet, which cost more than 3,000 yuan.
Liu Shang, however, knew next to nothing about luxury leather goods brands.
After receiving the gift that Song Jia had so carefully selected, he assumed it must have cost a few hundred yuan at most. He didn't have a big reaction and just accepted it happily.
Seeing him like this, Song Jia felt a pang of disappointment in her heart, but at the same time, she was also relieved. She was disappointed because the gift she had meticulously prepared didn't elicit any surprise from Liu Shang. She figured the blockhead wasn't familiar with the Hermès brand. And she was relieved because she had been afraid his reaction would be too dramatic, which would attract the attention of others in the company.
If people knew she had given Liu Shang such an expensive wallet, the rumors would be impossible to shake off. But they wouldn't understand her innocent intentions; she had simply wanted to thank Liu Shang for treating her to so many meals.
However, as luck would have it, Song Jia's purchase of an Hermès wallet for Liu Shang was discovered by accident.
One day, while Wu Caiyun was cleaning Song Jia's room, she happened to see the wallet's original packaging and invoice.
That night, Wu Caiyun remembered the incident and asked her husband if their daughter had given him a Hermès men's wallet recently. She remarked that their daughter was a good girl in every way, but she spent money too freely. Buying a wallet for over 3,000 yuan was somewhat wasteful.
At this, Song Guangyuan was taken aback. His daughter hadn't given him any presents recently. The wallet he was currently using was a gift from her three years ago. It was a Woodpecker brand and had only cost a little over 800 yuan.
After sharing this, the husband and wife were both stunned. Then, at the same moment, they came to the same conclusion: their daughter had finally grown up. Maybe she had fallen in love and found a boyfriend.
The next day, choosing a moment when the whole family was gathered in the living room watching TV, Wu Caiyun casually brought up the wallet.
Song Jia felt her heart suddenly start pounding. At the same time, she was kicking herself. Why on earth had she kept the invoice and packaging?
In the end, Song Jia stumbled through an explanation, admitting the wallet was for Liu Shang. She quickly added that they shouldn't get the wrong idea; it was because he had treated her to dinner so many times while they were practicing driving. It was a lot of money, and she was just returning the favor as a normal courtesy.
Unfortunately for her, how could Wu Caiyun and Song Guangyuan possibly believe that? If it were really as she described, there were many other ways she could have expressed her gratitude. There was absolutely no need to choose this particular method.
Moreover, they could tell how carefully she had chosen the wallet. It was luxurious yet fashionable, and quite suitable for a young man Liu Shang's age. They had to admit, Song Jia's eye for fashion and taste were truly excellent.
After hearing Song Jia's lame explanation, Wu Caiyun smiled happily. Her precious daughter had finally grown up, and the boy she liked was Liu Shang—outstanding, steady, with a good temperament and appearance. She liked him too. If a boy like Liu Shang were to really take care of Song Jia, the couple would be truly relieved.
On the other side of the couch, Song Guangyuan let out a heavy, lonely sigh. The little girl he had treasured since she was a baby had finally grown up and was starting to turn her elbow outward. She was already using her extraordinary vision and good taste to choose wallets for other boys, while her own father had been left behind.
Seeing her parents' reactions, Song Jia's ears were burning with embarrassment. Finally, she muttered, "I'm not talking to you anymore!" and fled back to her room.
***
Inside the company, Liu Shang and Song Jia had become inseparable recently, whether it was coming to work, practicing driving, or eating in the company cafeteria. Coupled with the fact that they were a "golden couple" with excellent appearances who joked around all day, it was difficult for others not to misunderstand.
Sometimes, Mr. Zhong would walk into their shared office with a grin, laughing and joking with them.
"I say, Jiajia, since you moved into this office, you've saved this rascal Liu Shang."
"Look at this place. It's like a love nest. Even when people in the company need to see Liu Shang for work, they try to bear it and stay away if they can."
"It's only an old man like me, with my thick skin, who doesn't mind being a third wheel. I'll take any excuse to come bother you two."
Hearing Mr. Zhong's joke, the thick-skinned Liu Shang naturally just smiled and said nothing, remaining indifferent.
But Song Jia was different. Her face flushed red as she playfully shot back, "Mr. Zhong, you're bullying me again!"
***
On another front, taking advantage of the free time he had, Liu Shang had begun to visit small auxiliary chemical companies in the Fengcheng area.
The ingredients and production processes for most of the additives commonly used in oil fields were not very complicated or difficult to master. With Liu Shang's experience and technical knowledge, if he were to rent a factory and purchase the equipment to build it himself, it would cost between 400,000 and 500,000 yuan.
However, in the oil field industry, the real difficulty was never the factory buildings or hardware like equipment. Even the technical formula wasn't the most important part.
What was truly difficult was navigating a series of bureaucratic hurdles. The access qualifications for the oil fields, the processing of oil chemical handling certificates, safety and environmental protection qualifications, and the testing and filing of the produced chemicals—all of these were extremely difficult to manage.
For someone like Liu Shang, with no background or connections, trying to go through the process one by one on his own would be impossible to complete in two or three years.
Therefore, the easiest way for him was to acquire a ready-made additive company.
While visiting various companies in the Fengcheng area, he found that some had incomplete paperwork, while others simply weren't for sale. There were also some with the right certifications whose owners wanted to sell, but the scale of the factory was too large, costing at least tens of millions, which was not suitable for Liu Shang.
In the end, there were only two small additive companies that met his basic requirements.
The first of these had old, backward equipment, but it possessed a complete set of qualifications. If the price was right, Liu Shang could buy it and then rebuild and procure new equipment.
Unfortunately, when the owner saw how young Liu Shang was, he opened his mouth like a lion. For the factory building with a one-year lease, equipment that was ready for the scrap heap, and a set of qualifications, he demanded 3 million yuan from Liu Shang.
Hearing this, Liu Shang sneered internally, turned around, and left immediately. With that kind of person, even if they did reach a deal, there would be too many hidden risks in the process.
Chapter 107: An Expert in Disguise
The second company Liu Shang selected was also small in scale.
From a chat with the security guard, he learned that the owner of this company was a man named Lu.
He was in his fifties and used to be the director of the inspection department at the Oilfield Research Institute.
Now, he was retired.
This small additives company had no permanent staff at all, aside from the guard and a warehouse manager.
The small factory only produced a few batches of additives each year.
The owner himself was a technician; when an order came in, he would handle the formulations and direct the process, temporarily hiring a group of workers for production.
Since it was the end of the year, the oilfield's off-season, the company was even less likely to have any production tasks.
According to the guard, Boss Lu had gone on a trip and there was no telling when he would be back.
With no other option, Liu Shang got Boss Lu's phone number, spoke with him, and arranged a meeting for when he returned to Fengcheng.
In the meantime, Liu Shang and Song Jia faced the second part of their driving exam.
On the day of the test, they arrived at the examination center after ten in the morning and received their number plates to prepare.
However, due to a problem with the center's computer system that day, the two of them endured a grueling wait in the preparation area until three in the afternoon, and still hadn't been called in.
"Ugh, what is this mess? This wait is killing me."
"I'm so bored, so tired, so sleepy, so hungry..."
"If we'd known it would take this long, we could have gone out and found a decent place to eat..."
The testing center was in a remote location, surrounded by single-story residential areas on the edge of the city.
It was hard to find even a respectable restaurant nearby.
Since they had no idea when the damn system would be restored, they didn't dare to wander too far.
At noon, Liu Shang had no choice but to buy some off-brand bread and ham sausage from the small shop at the entrance of the test center to tide them over.
In such a crowded, noisy, and anxious environment, Song Jia just frowned and took two bites of the expensive but poor-tasting bread before giving up on it entirely.
For that entire time, she had only eaten a single ham sausage and had a few sips of water, so it was no wonder she was starving.
In the cramped test preparation area, there were only two simple, parallel rows of long benches set against the walls on either side.
Hungry, sleepy, and exhausted, Song Jia had already lost all the excitement she'd had when she first arrived. Now she was leaning limply against Liu Shang's arm.
A stream of complaints and sighs escaped her lips.
Seeing her like this, Liu Shang, who also felt bored and tired, sighed.
"Look at the time. It's no wonder you're hungry."
"Why don't you have some more bread, or at least a piece of ham to tide you over?"
"I don't want it!"
"I've held out this long, I'm not eating that stuff now!"
"I've already decided. When we finish this exam, we're going to get hot pot!"
"In my current state, I bet I could eat three whole plates of meat by myself!"
During this long and difficult wait, countless male candidates in the huge preparation area cast more than a few inadvertent glances in Song Jia's direction.
In this otherwise dreary environment, the youthful and beautiful Song Jia was undoubtedly the most eye-catching oasis in the desert.
Countless men envied Liu Shang in their hearts.
If they could have such a girl to accompany them, they wouldn't just wait a day.
They would happily wait for a month, or even a year!
Finally, after another half an hour, it was Liu Shang's turn.
Just before Liu Shang's turn came, a trace of nervousness appeared in Song Jia's eyes.
When Liu Shang returned, having passed without any trouble, it was Song Jia's turn to take the exam, and she was even more frightened.
"What do I do, Liu Shang? I think I'm a little scared..."
"I regret it so much now. I shouldn't have let you go first."
"You already passed. What if I can't?"
Liu Shang could only give a wry, speechless smile as he gently pushed her toward the examination area.
"Enough with the nonsense. Just take the test like you always do in practice..."
After a few minutes, Song Jia emerged, having passed without any issues.
Upon leaving the test area, it was like she went from having a dead battery to being fully charged.
Excited, she jumped directly into Liu Shang's arms.
Then, she grabbed his arms, laughing and practically dancing with joy.
"Haha, Liu Shang, I passed too!"
"Yes! I finally passed the second subject!"
"I have to tell everyone the good news!"
Still holding his arm, she half-dragged him toward the exit.
"No, no, I'm seriously going to starve to death."
"We have to go eat right now."
"By the way, you brute, you just pushed me into the examination room like that. I haven't settled that score with you yet!"
...
A few days later, as luck would have it, Lu Jianguo, the owner of the small additives factory, returned to Fengcheng.
After setting a time, Liu Shang came to the small company located in the industrial park once again.
It was the first time he met the easy-going, nearly sixty-year-old owner.
Later, Liu Shang finally got his wish and toured the laboratory and production workshop.
Much to Liu Shang's surprise, although the laboratory was a bit rudimentary, it had all the necessary equipment for experiments related to petroleum additives.
As for the production workshop, although the scale was small—just some basic reactors—it was extremely well-maintained.
It was basically ready to start production at any time.
From their conversation, he learned that all the company's qualifications were in order.
Lu Jianguo had even used his connections to apply for qualifications for more types of additives than the company currently produced.
His company, despite its small size, was truly well-equipped.
This Lu Jianguo was clearly a true professional in the oilfield additives industry. He was pragmatic and knowledgeable, far better than the owner of the previous company.
Similarly, as they talked while touring the facility, Lu Jianguo grew more and more shocked by the young man beside him.
An expert's touch is unmistakable.
From just a few words and key points that Liu Shang dropped inadvertently during the conversation, Lu Jianguo could tell that this young man was an expert!
He knew this because he had worked in the oil field his entire life and had served as the director of the oil and chemical department of the research institute.
He had conducted, seen, and attended countless technical conferences over the years.
His current level of technical knowledge and vision was the result of a lifetime of experience.
But this young man?
From what he'd said earlier, he was just a freshman? ? ? ! ! !
Chapter 108 An Unexpected Lead
After visiting the production workshop, Liu Shang got straight to the point and stated his offer: 600,000 yuan.
Lu Jianguo smiled gently.
"Liu Shang, to be blunt, what does my small company really have?"
"The factory is rented from the industrial park, and the equipment is just a few reactors, plus the odds and ends in the laboratory. Calculated by depreciation, the total value wouldn't exceed 150,000."
"What's left is the company's full set of qualifications, but that's not worth a fortune to someone in our line of work."
"If you were to start from scratch, it wouldn't take more than 200,000 to grease the wheels, and you could get it all done in a little over a year."
"I can tell you're an insider, someone who understands the business."
"The price you've offered is very sincere."
"But, Liu Shang, to tell you the truth, I don't intend to sell this company."
"Although it doesn't have many production orders in a year, it can still generate a profit of 100,000 to 200,000 yuan annually without any issue."
"Most importantly, by keeping it, I'll have an easy way to produce things in the future."
"At my age, I need to find something to keep myself busy."
"Besides, I've worked in the oilfield my whole life. An extra 100,000 yuan here or there doesn't mean much to me."
After hearing Lu Jianguo's reasoning, Liu Shang nodded in understanding.
In fact, Lu Jianguo was right. With his technology, Liu Shang could set up his own company, equipment, and laboratory. If he spent the money to have someone knowledgeable handle the applications and pull some strings, 400,000 to 500,000 yuan would be enough.
But the most crucial thing was that Liu Shang didn't want to waste two precious years!
Just as Liu Shang was about to say goodbye, Lu Jianguo smiled and asked him to stay a bit longer.
"Liu Shang, I think you're a good kid."
"If you really want to produce something, you don't necessarily have to buy a company."
"When I'm not busy here, I can lend you the laboratory and workshop, as well as the company's pharmaceutical qualifications."
"You would only need to pay for utilities and normal equipment depreciation. I won't make any money off you; I really don't care about that small amount."
"By my estimation, even if you manage to get some business from the oilfield, your production volume probably won't be too large at the start."
Hearing Lu Jianguo's words, Liu Shang's eyes lit up. Although this wasn't the ideal solution he had in mind, it was an excellent fallback.
"Mr. Lu, thank you so much."
"If I really do end up troubling you, please rest assured that I would never borrow your company's equipment and qualifications for free."
"Hehe, you're a good kid."
"Alright, we can talk about it more when the time comes."
"And I know a few people here and there in the Fengcheng Oilfield."
"If you ever need to ask about someone, or if you're trying to get something done, feel free to call me anytime."
"Perhaps I can offer some advice."
***
After bidding farewell to Lu Jianguo, Liu Shang had no choice but to continue his search. However, he had already scouted all the potential targets in the Fengcheng area and had come up empty.
One day, during the company's lunch break, Mr. Zhong and the others started discussing something that piqued Liu Shang's interest.
"Now that the powerful deputy director has fallen, Pan Qingfeng and his allies have benefited greatly."
"But there are also many who have been dragged down with him."
"Before, Old Fan was riding high, arrogant as could be."
"But look at him now. It feels like he was knocked off his pedestal almost overnight."
"To put it bluntly, in the oilfield industry, it all comes down to your backing and connections."
At this, HR Manager Sun added mysteriously, "I heard that in just a few months, Old Fan's company has already been subjected to several rounds of inspections."
"They even confiscated all of the company's original accounting books."
"I hear he's started trying to sell the company."
Mr. Zhong chuckled lightly. "You're behind on the news, Old Sun."
"Actually, Fan Shikang has been trying to sell the company ever since his backer at the oilfield fell from power."
"At first, he thought he could fool some out-of-town bosses, take advantage of the information gap, and sell the company at a high price."
"But how many people in this business are fools?"
"So after all that effort, he still hasn't managed to sell it."
"And now that the company is in trouble, who would buy it at such an inflated price!"
Li Shaohua, the technical manager, also shook his head with emotion.
"I'm quite familiar with Old Fan. He was always ambitious."
"The main reason his company is priced so high and won't sell is because of the complete set of chemical equipment and the chemical plant that comes with it."
"Back then, he spent a full 20 million yuan just to set up that plant. Even if he sells it at a discount now, how low can the price possibly go?"
The mention of a chemical plant instantly grabbed Liu Shang's attention. But when he heard about the company's scale and structure, he was disappointed again. A company of that size was simply beyond his reach.
Now that chemical companies and equipment were the topic, Xu Tiande, who had the most expertise in the room, finally spoke up.
"Actually, when Old Fan was establishing this company, he came to me for advice."
"My view then is the same as it is now: in Fengcheng, all chemical-related business must revolve around the oilfield."
"Building a chemical plant and equipment of that scale was simply a waste."
"The country's major chemical industries are all concentrated in the Central Plains and the Yangtze River Basin."
"If Fengcheng really had that kind of potential, do you think Old Fan would have been the first to pioneer it?"
"He himself doesn't know much about chemical engineering."
"He rushed in headfirst after listening to some bad advice. When you take a step that big, you're bound to stumble."
"If his backer hadn't fallen from power, and the oilfield business kept coming, his chemical plant might have recovered its costs within seven or eight years."
"At least it wouldn't have been a catastrophic loss."
"But who could have imagined the situation would change so suddenly."
"In the end, it's all a matter of timing and fate!"
Originally, the older managers had been having their own conversation, while Song Jia and Liu Shang had theirs. But as the topic shifted, Liu Shang grew obviously absent-minded.
This made Song Jia quite curious. Why would someone her age have so much in common with those old men?
Another week passed, and Liu Shang and Song Jia finally had their third exam. The exam was scheduled for the afternoon. Since it was a Sunday, no one else was at the company.
Song Jia had come over in the morning to find Liu Shang so they could go to the exam together.
With nothing better to do in their shared office, Song Jia turned on her computer and streamed a live NBA game. Since they were alone in the building, they could finally listen to the broadcast out loud instead of using headphones.
Liu Shang was also in a good mood. He leaned back in his chair, hands comfortably laced behind his head, and stretched out his legs.
Song Jia, equally relaxed, followed his example, watching the game comfortably while eating snacks.
But then, quite casually, she rested both of her legs on top of his.
For a moment, their legs were stacked together like two pairs of chopsticks.
In Song Jia's mind, it was no big deal.
But in reality, the moment her legs were on his, it felt like something else entirely.
Chapter 109 He Is Jiang Ruolin's Boyfriend
Although they were both wearing thick clothes for the season, Song Jia could still feel the distinct pressure of his leg against hers through her jeans, heightening her nervousness.
She was caught in a dilemma, forced to pretend that everything was normal. Any reaction would only make the situation more awkward.
After a while, when Song Jia finally retracted her leg, it was already numb, and she grumbled to herself endlessly.
At noon, as the two of them left the company to grab lunch before heading to their driving test, Song Jia was surprised to see Liu Shang carrying a huge backpack.
"Hey, what's all this?"
Liu Shang smiled and shook the train ticket in his hand.
"Uncle Song gave me a special ten-day leave. After the exam today, my winter vacation officially begins."
"Are you going home for the New Year?" Song Jia asked, her eyes falling on the ticket in his hand. Her surprise deepened.
"Huh? The Imperial Capital?"
"I thought your home wasn't there."
Liu Shang nodded. There was still some time before the Spring Festival, so it didn't make much sense to go home early.
This trip, he would go to the Imperial Capital and then the Central Plains.
In fact, the secondary purpose of his trip to the Central Plains was to investigate the region's well-developed chemical additive industry.
If he could find a suitable company with network access qualifications for the entire petroleum system, Liu Shang would consider buying it.
But if that happened, his future plans would have to be adjusted accordingly.
The main reason he was going to the Imperial Capital this time was that Jiang Ruolin, who had been studying English there, had also recently graduated.
He planned to go secretly and give her a surprise.
"Hey, are you serious?" Song Jia exclaimed.
"You were planning to go to the Imperial Capital? Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
*We could have gone together!*
Of course, Song Jia kept that last sentence to herself.
After that, the two of them went to the examination center.
The Subject Three test today went relatively smoothly, and soon it was Song Jia's turn.
However, her road test did not go well.
Both of her attempts ended in failure.
After leaving the examination area, Song Jia was utterly dejected.
"I failed. It's your turn to go in."
"You'll definitely pass with your skill level."
"Then I'll have to face the next exam all alone..."
Liu Shang found it rather amusing to see her, who was always so carefree and bold, looking so crestfallen.
"Forget it. I won't take the test today. I'll fail with you."
"That way, you won't have to face the next exam alone, right?"
Hearing Liu Shang's words, Song Jia's eyes first filled with disbelief, and then she was extremely moved.
"Really?"
"Oh, Liu Shang, why are you so nice..."
Liu Shang just smiled. "It's just an exam. It doesn't matter if I take it sooner or later."
"I'm heading to the station later. I'll have the driver take you home first."
But Song Jia didn't follow Liu Shang's arrangement.
Instead, she insisted on taking him out for Korean barbecue first, as a farewell meal.
And this time, the treat was on her.
After the car arrived at the station, Liu Shang, carrying his large backpack, waved goodbye to Song Jia.
Then, at the entrance to the waiting room, he met Cheng Meng, who was already waiting for him.
Because Liu Shang's travel plans had been confirmed so suddenly, Cheng Meng's family had used their local connections to get him the ticket.
While handing it over, Cheng Meng also gave Liu Shang a small package to deliver to a cousin who worked in the railway system in the Imperial Capital.
Meanwhile, after personally seeing Liu Shang off at the station, Song Jia didn't go home. Instead, she joined a long-overdue get-together with her friends.
Seeing Song Jia, who had been dodging their invitations, suddenly appear, everyone was surprised and immediately began to "condemn" her.
"Jiajia, what has been going on with you this winter vacation?"
"It's impossible to get ahold of you!"
"And you've been in Fengcheng the whole time. Don't tell us there isn't some special situation. We'd never believe it."
"Look at her, she's been smiling at her phone and texting ever since she walked in."
"Spill it! Did some lucky guy swoop in and steal the first love of our beautiful Jiajia?"
Hearing this, everyone began to hoot and cheer.
Despite her best efforts to deny it, Song Jia couldn't stop a blush from creeping up her neck.
"Hey, what's wrong with you guys? Stop making wild guesses, okay?"
"Didn't I tell you? I've been checking my texts for the train ticket."
"Most days, I've just been at my dad's company, playing computer games and practicing my driving."
"And for your information, I just failed my Subject Three test."
"You inhuman bunch! Instead of comforting me, you're ganging up on me!"
With this counterattack, Song Jia finally managed to deflect their questions.
Afterward, the group chatted idly about various topics.
At one point, a friend who had returned from studying elsewhere turned to Tan Feng.
"So, Tan Feng, what have you been busy with this winter vacation?"
"And how's your 'love offensive' with Jiang Ruolin going?"
At the mention of this, many people couldn't help but turn their attention toward him.
Tan Feng let out a long sigh.
"As soon as the winter vacation started, Jiang Ruolin left Fengcheng for the Imperial Capital to improve her English."
"I've barely been in contact with her since then. She hardly replies to my messages."
"Based on the timeline, her course should be finishing up soon."
"As for my love offensive?"
"Hah, what a mess."
"Brothers, my heart is more bitter than this wine!"
After speaking, Tan Feng downed the wine in his glass with a look of despair.
While everyone else was sighing sympathetically, Song Jia, who had been in the middle of a conversation with Liu Shang, felt as if she'd been struck by lightning. She froze.
Tan Feng's words were like a bucket of ice water, shocking her into a sudden, deafening realization.
Liu Shang's sudden trip to the Imperial Capital... it was to find Jiang Ruolin!
And here she was, feeling a faint sadness about their parting, even buying him a pile of snacks and fruit for his journey.
She had even been chatting with him throughout her own party.
Only now did Song Jia finally wake up.
That girl, Jiang Ruolin, who surpassed her slightly in looks, temperament, and family background—she was Liu Shang's girlfriend!
So what were she and Liu Shang?
If they were just very close friends, there would be no problem at all.
However, was that really the case?
Her feelings for him, especially the time and energy she had invested in him recently... was that really just friendship?
A montage of scenes flashed through her mind.
Without even realizing it, she had already been spending far too much time with Liu Shang.
It had even caused her to completely alienate her own friends!
What... what was she doing?
Fortunately, she had caught on early. Otherwise, it would have been too dangerous!
After thinking it all through, Song Jia immediately deleted the half-finished text message she had been about to send to Liu Shang.
In that same instant, Song Jia severed all the ambiguity between them, along with all her budding, inappropriate feelings.
As a Scorpio, she had always been this way.
Extremely warm, but also capable of becoming as cold as winter in an instant.
Chapter 110 Long Time No See, I've Missed You So Much
Although Song Jia understood everything in her heart, and her rational side knew the right thing to do, she couldn't control the emotions that were already taking root.
And so, having never truly experienced being in a relationship, she tasted for the first time a bitterness akin to unrequited love. After the incident with Tan Feng, she, too, now found herself drinking from a bitter cup. The sadness and loneliness that filled her felt much stronger than anything she had felt before.
At this point, her friends noticed her sudden change in mood. When she had first arrived, Song Jia was as bright and sweet as a girl in love, her entire being radiating a charming happiness. But why the sudden shift?
Under their concerned inquiries, Song Jia could no longer hide the sadness and grievance in her heart. With tears already welling in her eyes, she cried, "I told you, I failed my Subject Three road test today! Instead of caring, you all ganged up on me!"
At her outburst, the boys around her hurriedly apologized, playfully punishing themselves by downing a drink to cheer her up. Several of the girls also rushed to comfort her.
But almost everyone there knew Song Jia well enough to guess that her sudden despair had little to do with failing her driving test.
That night, Song Jia drank a lot. In the end, several of her girlfriends had to take her home.
When she got back, Song Jia ignored her parents' worried questions, went straight to her room, and locked the door. Then, she buried herself under the covers, letting the tears flow freely, hoping they could wash away the memories that caused her so much pain.
***
Meanwhile, after arriving in the Central Plains region, Liu Shang met up with Cheng Meng's cousin, Chen Xue, and gave her the items he had brought for her.
During their brief chat, Chen Xue mentioned with a wry smile that plans in the railway system never keep up with the changes. She had originally expected to be away for much longer, but she was temporarily reassigned to a different train crew. In a few days, she would be working on the train running from the imperial capital back to the provincial capital of Fengcheng, which meant she could go home along the way.
Upon hearing this, Liu Shang's eyes lit up. After confirming the exact date, he realized it coincided perfectly with Jiang Ruolin's expected return. He had been planning a surprise for her and had already found out all the details of her trip without telling her he was coming.
As luck would have it, Chen Xue was the attendant for the soft sleeper car. Furthermore, since the train originated in the imperial capital, there were still plenty of tickets available. So, Liu Shang asked Chen Xue to buy four tickets for the same soft sleeper car. Back in 2007, when ticket scalpers were rampant, having an insider like Chen Xue buy a few tickets was incredibly easy.
For the next two days, Liu Shang, acting as the deputy technical manager of Fengcheng Oilfield's Huahai Company, inspected several target companies to evaluate their oilfield additives. It had to be said that the chemical industry in the Central Plains was far more developed than in Windy City.
However, perhaps due to his age, whenever Liu Shang casually asked about pricing, the representatives were full of hot air, making all sorts of exaggerated claims.
During this short inspection trip, Liu Shang met an interesting person. At a medium-sized chemical additive company, the staff clearly showed their contempt and disregard for him after seeing how young he was. But because he was there representing Party A (the client) on an inspection and procurement visit, they couldn't simply turn him away.
Instead, they assigned a site engineer to accompany him.
The engineer's name was Guan Tu. To Liu Shang's surprise, he was a master's graduate in chemical engineering from Chunda University, a well-known and prestigious university in the country. By some twist of fate, Guan Tu had ended up at this medium-sized chemical plant. His monthly salary was 5,500 yuan, which was a bit low for someone with his qualifications.
Within this family-owned company, Guan Tu was not popular; he was ostracized and even suppressed.
There was, however, a reason for this. Guan Tu was one of those rare individuals with a stern, serious personality and poor interpersonal skills. In a family-run business rife with complicated internal interests, many people relied on their positions to line their own pockets. Guan Tu's job, however, was in the critical area of chemical inspection and production line checks.
Over the years, he had identified faults in countless batches of purchased raw materials. He had also exposed numerous instances of corner-cutting and substitution of inferior products during the production process. It was no surprise, then, that Guan Tu had offended nearly every powerful figure in the factory. Almost no one liked him.
He had likely been hired and placed in this position by the company's top boss, which created and maintained this strange equilibrium for several years. Guan Tu could hold his position securely, but because he had offended so many people, he had virtually no chance of receiving a raise or other benefits.
Despite his situation, Guan Tu's professional knowledge was truly impressive. Liu Shang found him very easy to talk to, and the two exchanged contact information.
Guan Tu, in turn, was deeply impressed by Liu Shang's incredibly high level of theoretical knowledge. He felt that not even the renowned doctoral supervisors back at his university possessed such a profound understanding. It was hard to imagine that someone so much younger than him could have such a solid theoretical foundation.
Life in such a stifling environment was usually dull and lifeless for Guan Tu. Having finally met a kindred spirit in Liu Shang, he was reluctant to see him go.
***
Finally, after two or three days, the inspection tour was over. Liu Shang took a train to the imperial capital, arriving early and making his way to the area near Jiang Ruolin's university.
Jiang Ruolin's winter vacation classes had actually ended the previous afternoon. But since the university was far from the train station, she had decided to leave today, spending the night alone in the empty dormitory.
With the Spring Festival approaching, being a young woman alone in a strange city, she couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. Her longing for her boyfriend, Liu Shang, grew more intense.
Moreover, today was her birthday. She hadn't told anyone, especially not Liu Shang, because she didn't want him to worry.
Given her popularity and family background, Jiang Ruolin had many friends and relatives in the imperial capital. Naturally, there were also many suitors who knew it was her birthday. However, no matter how lonely she felt, she turned down all invitations, especially from those who had prepared romantic gestures. She even turned off her secondary phone, keeping on only the one she used to contact Liu Shang and her closest family.
As Liu Shang had planned, the two of them chatted via text message just like any other day. But in reality, Liu Shang had already hurried to the large supermarket where he knew Jiang Ruolin was shopping.
"If I remember correctly, your train is tonight?" he texted.
"Yeah," she replied. "I'm at the Carrefour supermarket right now. They have so much stuff here. Is there anything you want me to get you?"
"I can buy it and mail it to you as a New Year's gift."
"Okay, then tell me what aisle you're in. I'm trying to think of what snacks are there."
"I'm by the jellies, candies, and all the snack packages."
Soon, Liu Shang arrived in the same section of the store, not far from her. He spotted Jiang Ruolin, looking fashionable and beautiful in a white, lightweight cotton jacket. He watched as she earnestly picked out a gift to mail to him.
Moved, Liu Shang quickly typed another message: "Then I want a Golden Monkey candy gift bag!"
Since there were so many types of products in the supermarket, Jiang Ruolin began searching more seriously after receiving his text.
Just then, another message from Liu Shang arrived.
"It's the big green one, right in the top center of the promotional display!"
Following his description, Jiang Ruolin quickly found the large, green-packaged candy gift bag. But her happiness lasted only a second before her sharp mind instantly put things together.
How could Liu Shang, who was all the way in Fengcheng, know the exact location of this green gift bag?
Panicked, she quickly looked around.
At that exact moment, Liu Shang stepped out from behind a shelf, appearing as if from thin air right in front of her.
The moment she saw him, Jiang Ruolin's head felt dizzy. A powerful sense of unreality flooded her mind. In the next instant, all her feelings of grievance, loneliness, and longing burst forth at once.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
With a speed she didn't know she possessed, she threw herself into Liu Shang's arms.
---
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