Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Innocent Commander Yue

He was well aware of his place; outsiders weren’t allowed into the laboratory at Xie Changning’s factory.

Entering the laboratory.

Sheng Jiaojiao and the others were already waiting inside. At the sound of the door opening, their gazes fell upon the entrance.

Yue Yang and Huo Xiaoqian felt a little self-conscious under the gazes of the lab’s experienced technicians. However, they had already learned how to use the glassware from them the previous evening.

The two of them had even reviewed the steps again before going to sleep, confident they could get it right today!

They exchanged a glance, giving each other a silent pep talk, then walked over to their designated workstation.

To avoid pressuring the two, Sheng Jiaojiao didn’t lead the others any closer, instead watching them from afar.

She didn’t want them to get nervous with everyone looking on.

The fact that Sheng Jiaojiao and the others kept their distance was indeed a relief to Yue Yang and Huo Xiaoqian. The pair suppressed their anxiety and began their first experiment.

’That’s right, what we did in our rented courtyard couldn’t truly be considered an experiment.’

’Only here did it feel like a real experiment.’

’Only here did we feel like actual technicians.’

Their minds were racing, but their hands never faltered. They had made the moxa incense so many times that it was pure muscle memory; they could measure the ingredients perfectly without even looking. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A faint fragrance of moxa began to drift through the laboratory.

Sheng Jiaojiao folded her arms and looked at Xie Changning. "You’re really something else. To have such incredible talent at your age... your future is truly limitless."

Qiao Tiantian nodded in agreement.

Xie Changning’s lips curled slightly. "I didn’t expect to find such promising newcomers in our factory either." ’It’s a good thing I discovered them. Imagine the loss if they’d ended up somewhere else!’

Everyone knew how much Xie Changning cherished talent.

While the others conversed, Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang remained completely absorbed in their work. If the procedure hadn’t been so straightforward, who knows how long they might have been at it.

Only when the moxa incense was complete did Qiao Tiantian and Sheng Jiaojiao draw closer.

Sheng Jiaojiao grinned at Qiao Tiantian. "Come on, Technician Xiang Bi Zi, have a sniff and tell us what spices they put in here."

Qiao Tiantian knew Sheng Jiaojiao was poking fun at her.

She didn’t get angry, merely turning to the two young women before her. "This is very well done. The scent is light, long-lasting, and it definitely works as a mosquito repellent. We’ll create the finished product with the utmost speed and get it into production."

Seeing her refuse to take the bait, Sheng Jiaojiao let out a light huff.

The others also chimed in with praise for Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang.

Everyone in the lab was a true expert in their field. Being praised by people like that made the two of them more than a little bashful.

The two of them covered their faces in embarrassment. "Please, everyone, stop praising us! Any more and I think I’ll burst into flames!"

Huo Xiaoqian, in particular, was being dramatic.

Her face was now beet red.

This made the technicians burst out laughing.

With the experiment complete, Xie Changning turned to Sheng Jiaojiao. "You got the whole procedure down, right?"

"Of course!"

"Alright, your turn to run through it."

The technicians nodded and quickly replicated the procedure demonstrated by Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang.

Yue Yang watched the technicians’ deft movements, her eyes filled with awe and aspiration. ’I have to become an amazing technician just like them someday!’

After leaving the laboratory, Xie Changning led the two to her office.

"We have a verbal agreement, but we still need to make it official with a contract. The lawyer will be here shortly to draft a licensing agreement," Xie Changning explained.

The contract would be in triplicate, with one copy for each of them.

By the time Yue Yang and Huo Xiaoqian headed downstairs, contracts in hand, the reality that they were now capable of earning real money was just starting to sink in.

They exchanged a glance, and each saw the same hidden joy in the other’s eyes—the joy of finally being able to earn money.

’We can finally help the Director!’

Since things wrapped up early, Xie Changning had the driver take the two back to Chuncheng. She remained at the daily chemical plant to look over plots of land for expanding the production lines.

Of course, the management committee hadn’t given Xie Changning an answer on the matter yet.

But that didn’t stop her from doing some preliminary scouting.

At the same time, she was also contacting packaging manufacturers.

There was so much to do, Xie Changning wished she could split herself into eight people.

By the time Xie Changning finally stepped out of the factory gates, the sky was already dark. If not for the light by the entrance, which let her spot Yue Yihan waiting in the distance, she wouldn’t have even known how she was going to get home.

"How long have you been waiting here?"

A smile instantly blossomed on Xie Changning’s face when she saw Yue Yihan waiting for her at the gate.

She quickened her pace, walking right up to him.

Yue Yihan turned his head. "Not long. It’s late. Are you hungry?" As he spoke, he pulled two warm buns from his coat and offered them to Xie Changning.

"Eat up. We can head home after."

’Can’t have you going home on an empty stomach.’

The driver had taken the car back to Chuncheng, so Yue Yihan had ridden his bicycle over. The trip home would take some time, and fearing Xie Changning would be hungry, he had prepared some food in advance.

"I really am starving!"

Xie Changning’s eyes lit up when she saw the buns.

She was genuinely hungry.

’I was thinking about heading home early, but then I looked up and it was already this late...’

"No rush, eat slowly."

"MMHMM!"

Aunt Wang’s buns were exceptionally delicious; Xie Changning could eat three in one meal (and each one was the size of her palm).

As Xie Changning ate, Yue Yihan produced a cup from his coat and handed it to her. "Slow down, don’t choke. Drink some water."

He was worried she might choke, seeing how fast she was eating.

Xie Changning didn’t hesitate.

After devouring two buns and taking a large gulp of water, she sighed contentedly. "Ah, that hit the spot!"

’They were her favorite—beef buns!’

Once she was finished eating, Xie Changning hopped onto the back of the bicycle, wrapping her arms around Yue Yihan’s waist as they prepared to head home.

Yue Yihan, already on the bicycle, couldn’t help but stiffen for a moment when he felt her hands on his waist. In the darkness, his face flushed red again as he began to pedal for home.

He didn’t speak the entire way.

It was Xie Changning who did all the talking.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"I... I’m listening to you."

Yue Yihan’s voice was a little strained, sounding anything but natural.

After a moment of puzzlement, Xie Changning raised an eyebrow. "Yue Yihan, don’t tell me you’re getting shy just because I’m holding onto your waist?"

"..."

His only answer was to pedal the bicycle faster...

Sensing his embarrassment, Xie Changning let out a brazen laugh. "Who would’ve thought? The great Commander Yue, who calls the shots in the military, is this easily flustered?"

"Changning!"

Yue Yihan’s voice was full of exasperation.

To an unknowing ear, he almost sounded like he was pouting.

"Alright, alright, I’ll stop talking~" Xie Changning said, but she couldn’t resist giving his waist a little tickle.

Yue Yihan: "!"