As a former staff member of the National Science Academy, Xie Changning used to have a security detail and had also learned some self-defense techniques.

She wouldn’t be at a disadvantage if they came to blows.

Xie Changning wouldn’t make a move unless she was certain of the outcome.

Director Zhao wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I was so worried something would happen to you, kiddo. I rushed over as fast as I could. Thank goodness you’re alright!" ’What would I have done if something had happened!’

Sitting in the office, the group discussed the purpose of those people’s visit.

After she had spoken, Xie Changning asked about the man with the glasses. "Director Zhao, from what I could see, the director with the glasses was the leader of the group. Do you know him?"

"Him? He’s a top student who just returned from abroad."

Director Zhao knew that Southern Province had a young factory director.

"His name is He Guosheng. He’s a top student who studied abroad in Japan. He’s 32 this year—very young and accomplished. Since he took over as director, he’s been constantly increasing revenue. Last year, it was ten percentage points higher than the year before."

Director Zhao’s tone was flat as he spoke. His words were praise, but his expression said otherwise.

He didn’t tell Xie Changning about his personal issues with He Guosheng. He just felt that after a few interactions, this Mr. He’s personality... wasn’t as cheerful as he appeared.

On the contrary, there was a sense of danger about him.

He was two-faced.

"No wonder he’s so reckless. So he studied in Japan." Xie Changning’s tone made Director Zhao glance at her.

Combining this with what Xie Changning had said earlier, a hint of wariness flashed in Director Zhao’s eyes. He had never considered that possibility before. ’Could it be... he really is?’

’No, I have to report this to Mr. Wang. Otherwise, our entire province might get screwed over by him in the future!’

"Hah, isn’t extorting people a way to ’increase revenue’?" Wang Lisheng sneered.

’If I went out and extorted someone once a month, I could increase revenue too—probably even more than he does!’

’The nerve of him!’

Li Guodong nodded in agreement with Wang Lisheng.

"That man is crooked. His factory is bound to go downhill in the future." People who don’t know the inside story of his factory might cooperate with them for now, but in the long run, no one’s a fool.

You might get tricked once, but are you going to get tricked a second time?

Compared to Wang Lisheng’s and Li Guodong’s agitation, Xie Changning’s expression was much calmer. "Hmm, a reporter from the Lin Province Daily has been contacting me for an interview. I think... I might just accept."

"I’ll talk about the returned goods from Southern Province."

Director Zhao shook his head. "It’s not good for you to be the one to step forward on this. When we go out for a meeting another day, we’ll have Mr. Wang speak to the director of the Southern Province Industrial Bureau."

Making it public knowledge would just create enemies.

It’s good for young people to be driven, but for this kind of thing, it’s better for the leadership to handle it.

If he really was a traitor, and Xie Changning was this aggressive, he might very well make a move against her.

After they finished with business, Director Zhao started asking about Xie Changning and Yue Yihan’s wedding date. "Have you set a date yet? Have you taken your solo wedding photos? You need to pick out your wedding clothes carefully, too."

Director Zhao was truly worrying over the details like a member of her own family.

Xie Changning was a little moved. A superior was showing her such concern, yet the Xie Family had ignored the original owner of this body for so many years!

’They’re so heartless!’

"What do both sets of parents say?" Director Zhao asked while Xie Changning was distracted.

Speaking of parents, Director Zhao also remembered the special circumstances of Xie Changning’s parents and wasn’t sure if they could attend. "What about your parents-in-law?"

"Director Zhao, I’d like to ask you for a favor. I want to know how my family is doing now."

’They deserve to be miserable.’

"Of course. When I get back, I’ll ask a classmate of mine in Shanghai to look into it and see what the situation is over there."

"Okay. I’ll wait for Yue Yihan to come by tonight and ask him about his side of things."

Once they were more or less finished talking, the group saw Director Zhao off.

...

In the evening, Yue Yihan, who had requested leave to go home and see his wife, found Xie Changning sitting in a chair, writing something.

He leaned in for a closer look and saw it was a list of things needed for the wedding.

"I’ll prepare all of this. You just need to focus on taking care of yourself. Your health is what’s important." Yue Yihan took the fountain pen from Xie Changning’s hand as he spoke.

Only then did Xie Changning realize he was back.

’He’s so quiet when he walks.’

"Mm, Director Zhao asked about the date today, and I was just about to ask you. What are the plans for your family? How many people will be coming? My family can’t make it, so I’m just planning to invite the factory workers and the management team."

"My family... it’s just me."

Yue Yihan looked at Xie Changning and spoke softly.

His words made Xie Changning pause, and she looked at Yue Yihan in surprise.

"I was separated from my family when I was young and was taken in and raised by the brigade commander. For my wedding, I’ll just invite the brigade commander’s family and my soldiers."

"Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know..."

Xie Changning really didn’t know anything about Yue Yihan’s background.

She hadn’t expected that Yue Yihan had been taken in and raised by a brigade commander as a child.

Yue Yihan shook his head. "Don’t be. I never told you." The fact that she had agreed to marry him without asking a single question was, to him, the greatest gift he could have asked for.

"For the witnesses of marriage, I was thinking we could ask your superior and Director Zhao to do it."

They weren’t strictly necessary, but with leaders from both sides present, it would be good to observe the formalities.

Yue Yihan had no objections.

As they discussed the wedding plans, it was mostly Xie Changning talking while Yue Yihan listened, occasionally jotting something down.

"Decorating the newlywed suite..."

The two of them discussed things until midnight before going to their rooms to sleep.

Their marital room was the largest master bedroom on the second floor, but Xie Changning was currently staying in a room on the first floor, in consideration of her future mobility issues.

As for Yue Yihan, he was staying in the room next to Xie Changning’s, worried she might need help if she woke up during the night.

Back in her room, Xie Changning couldn’t resist checking her materials to see if she had enough to upgrade her workbench. Then she started crafting high-quality steel nails and other small components.

「The next day.」

Xie Changning hadn’t been at work for half an hour when Wang Lisheng rushed out of his office. "Changning, quick, something’s happened!"

"What’s wrong?"

"Old Li from the machine tool factory called. He said the expert from the United States is angry because their translator can’t keep up. He’s on the other end of the line, refusing to guide them through the repairs!"

"So what are we going there for?"

"Don’t you speak a foreign language? We want you to go communicate with him, try to smooth things over."

And just like that, Xie Changning was dragged into the car by Wang Lisheng.

Forced to go along, Xie Changning sighed. "Director, guiding repairs over the phone is difficult enough as it is." ’It can be hard enough to explain things face-to-face, let alone over the phone.’

"Old Li has run out of options, hasn’t he? The translator can’t keep up, so he had no choice but to ask for your help!"

Since Wang Lisheng put it that way, Xie Changning could only go along and see what was happening.

Before long, the two of them arrived at the entrance of the machine tool factory.

Old Li from the machine tool factory was one of the several factory directors who had traveled with Xie Changning on the train that day.

As soon as he saw her and Wang Lisheng get out of the car, Director Li, who was waiting at the entrance, rushed forward. "Quick, come with me! The expert is so angry he’s about to hang up!"