Chapter 97: The Grand Finale, Part Two

Fang Jin was still wearing a mask, leaving only his forehead and eyes visible. Yet, with just this small exposed area, Yao Jia instantly recognized him with delight.

His mask even had a Kumamon bear on it.

Both the bear on the mask and the person beneath it filled Yao Jia with joy.

The moment she recognized Fang Jin, she was so elated it felt like she was floating on air. She eagerly shared her happiness with Meng Xingzhe.

Holding a brand-new “Heartfelt Card,” Meng Xingzhe felt as sour as if he had overturned a jar of vinegar under a lemon tree.

He hadn’t expected to receive this card thanks to Yao Jia’s happiness over another man. And to think he was the one who had brought that man over…

Meng Xingzhe struggled to suppress the spreading sourness in his heart, fearing that if it continued, a vast field of green jealousy would grow there.

Meanwhile, Yao Jia initially seemed reserved, as if speaking might offend Fang Jin.

But Bei Luonan reassured her, “Yao Xiaojia, just relax and chat with him. You don’t need to take him too seriously!”

Seeing Bei Luonan’s casual attitude with Fang Jin, Yao Jia naturally relaxed, almost dismissing Fang Jin entirely.

She couldn’t help but ask, “You two are…?”

Bei Luonan replied, “High school classmates.”

“Wow!” Yao Jia’s eyes lit up with envy, wishing she could turn back time to skip grades and transfer to Bei Luonan’s class.

Watching her expression, Meng Xingzhe felt every part of him turn sour.

Before the food arrived, Yao Jia took a moment to ask Bei Luonan, “Why didn’t you bring Xiao Xin’er?”

Bei Luonan chuckled, “I’m not as reckless as your man. I wouldn’t give Xiao Xin’er the chance to bat her eyes at another guy right in front of me!”

Yao Jia almost spat out her water. Under the table, Meng Xingzhe kicked Bei Luonan hard, signaling him to shut up.

Fang Jin, unfazed, asked again when the pizza would be ready. He was genuinely hungry.

Hearing such a down-to-earth question, Yao Jia wished she could bring the entire Pizza Hut kitchen to him.

After a while, the food finally arrived. Fang Jin, seated inside next to Bei Luonan, was somewhat hidden. He removed his mask, his eyes lighting up as he prepared to dig into the pizza without hesitation.

Meng Xingzhe clearly saw Yao Jia’s eyes widen and her smile stretch wide as soon as Fang Jin took off his mask. Her expression was one of pure infatuation.

Unable to bear it, Meng Xingzhe gently pinched Yao Jia’s chin, turning her to face him. “Why don’t you ever smile at me like that? Am I not handsome enough?”

Yao Jia brushed his hand away, playfully scolding, “Stop it! My idol is here!”

Meng Xingzhe regretted helping Yao Jia meet her idol.

He couldn’t understand why he cared so much, remembering every word and wish she had ever expressed.

If it weren’t for that time at this very Pizza Hut when Yao Jia sighed and said, “I wish I could have a meal with Fang Jin,” he wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble for nothing!

For the rest of the meal, Meng Xingzhe sat like a statue next to Yao Jia, quietly watching as she chattered non-stop about Fang Jin’s films, interviews, and life events in front of her idol.

He listened as she talked about Fang Jin’s first movie.

“That movie was such an inspiration to me! Your perseverance in making it encouraged me to never give up, no matter the difficulties I face!”

Meng Xingzhe couldn’t help but cover his forehead.

—Why do young girls turn so melodramatic when they meet their idols?

“Perseverance is Xu Sanduo’s spirit, not his!” he interjected, almost exasperatedly correcting Yao Jia.

But Yao Jia was too busy to argue. Across the table, Bei Luonan laughed gleefully at Meng Xingzhe’s expense.

Meng Xingzhe kicked Bei Luonan under the table while listening to Yao Jia and Fang Jin discuss the investor who had resolved Fang Jin’s early career crisis.

Fang Jin, with a piece of pizza still on his fork, gestured towards Meng Xingzhe with his oily mouth and said to Yao Jia, “This is the mysterious investor who saved me and made my perseverance possible!”

Yao Jia turned sharply to look at Meng Xingzhe.

This time, her eyes sparkled like stars, reflecting a brilliant light.

“Was it really you?! The idol I admire was actually supported by your investment?! Meng Xingzhe, let me give you another card!”

Yao Jia eagerly searched her bag for a card.

Meng Xingzhe, his expression almost twisted, stopped her. “There’s no need for that! Isn’t the same trick only effective once?!”

He refused to allow himself to earn two cards because of Fang Jin.

By the end of the meal, Yao Jia had calmed down from her initial excitement.

Before parting, Meng Xingzhe asked Fang Jin irritably, “Did you bring what I asked?”

Fang Jin reached into his pocket and pulled out a mask, handing it to Yao Jia.

Yao Jia accepted it with delight, opening it to find a mask with a female Kumamon bear. Unlike Fang Jin’s mask, this one had a flower on one side of its head.

The female Kumamon also bore Fang Jin’s signature.

Yao Jia cherished the signed mask from her idol.

Before leaving, Fang Jin put on his male Kumamon mask.

Meng Xingzhe immediately snapped, “Wear it inside out!”

Fang Jin, confused by the outburst, looked at Yao Jia, who was also puzzled.

Bei Luonan laughed, enjoying the spectacle, and teased Fang Jin, “Don’t you have any shame? Giving Yao Xiaojia a female bear mask while you wear the male one? Do you even remember your original investor?”

Fang Jin shrugged, speechless but compliant, and reversed the mask.

After putting it on, he muttered, “This bear is too protruding, it rubs my face!”

Meng Xingzhe and Bei Luonan teased him, “Keep wearing it, it won’t hurt you, your skin’s thick!”

Watching them, Yao Jia felt like she was on cloud nine.

Her beloved idol could be so close! It seemed that as long as she maintained a good relationship with Meng Xingzhe, she could dine with her idol from time to time!

After parting ways with Fang Jin and Bei Luonan, Yao Jia got into Meng Xingzhe’s car, and he drove her home.

She was blissfully happy the entire way.

Seeing her so thrilled after meeting her idol made Meng Xingzhe’s stomach churn with jealousy. If he weren’t driving, he would have been tempted to tease her mercilessly.

When they reached Yao Jia’s home, she turned to Meng Xingzhe before getting out. “Just thinking about how the idol I admire was supported by your investment makes me inexplicably excited!” Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at him. “It’s as if you created Fang Jin years ago just to make me happy now!”

When Yao Jia spoke the first half of the sentence, Meng Xingzhe was filled with jealousy. But upon hearing the latter half, his mood shifted from sour to sweet. It felt as if some sweet destiny was at play.

He looked at Yao Jia’s radiant smile, as if enchanted, and couldn’t hold back. He leaned forward and kissed her honey-sweet lips.

Their kisses were tender yet intense, entwining with each other passionately.

They finally parted when a car horn sounded nearby, bringing them back to reality. They realized it was broad daylight, and they were indulging in public displays of affection.

Yao Jia, blushing, was about to give Meng Xingzhe another card before getting out of the car.

Meng Xingzhe specifically asked about the card’s purpose.

Yao Jia’s eyes sparkled as she told him, “You made Fang Jin famous; this is your reward!”

Meng Xingzhe suddenly felt a surge of pride. Contrary to his previous eagerness to tempt her into giving him all the romantic cards at once, this time he adamantly refused, even pushing her hand away dramatically. “Take it back, take it back quickly! If you give me another card because of Fang Jin, I’ll go and deal with Fang Jin myself!”

Yao Jia laughed heartily and put the card away.

She thought to herself, teasing a man into jealousy was unexpectedly delightful and fulfilling.

But she had no intention of telling him that she had been deliberately making him jealous all day.

After eliminating the internal parasites and undergoing a period of restructuring, Kunyu Electric’s functions and mechanisms became more efficient than ever.

Yao Jia imagined Jiangfeng Electric, their rival, must be disappointed. The internal chaos they had hoped for at Kunyu Electric never materialized, and their planned media attacks had no opportunity to unfold.

They had been preparing confidently to strike at Kunyu Electric, only to find themselves with no target.

However, Yao Jia found it strange that Jiangfeng Electric had gone quiet, not causing any trouble. In the past, even without a reason, Jiangfeng Electric would stir up some trouble.

While she was pondering this, she heard some bad news about Xingbei Technology. It wasn’t Meng Xingzhe who told her; she learned it while accompanying Yao Bingkun to meet with industry suppliers.

“Good thing Kunyu Electric placed another order with us, or these raw materials would have been sitting idle for a while,” the supplier said with a smile after signing the contract with Yao Jia and Yao Bingkun.

Yao Jia caught the word “another” and asked, “Did you have any orders that were put on hold?”

The supplier, in a good mood after signing the big contract, was forthcoming. “Yes, we had agreed with Xingbei Technology to produce small appliance components for them, but just a few days ago, their boss urgently informed me that the production plan was temporarily on hold.”

Yao Bingkun asked, “Why did they put it on hold?”

The supplier replied, “According to Xingbei Technology’s President Bei, it’s because Heyi.com terminated their contract with Xingbei Technology, stopping their products from being sold on Heyi.com. This made them hesitant to continue mass production, fearing excess inventory.”

This news made Yao Jia’s heart sink.

Xingbei Technology’s main sales channel was online, and Heyi.com accounted for the largest share of their online sales.

Heyi.com terminating their partnership with Xingbei Technology effectively cut off half of their sales.

On the way back to Kunyu Electric, Yao Jia sat in the back seat, deep in thought.

“No wonder you’ve always said that both traditional companies like ours and new tech startups like Meng Xingzhe’s should strengthen their online sales channels. Relying on a major e-commerce platform means we’re at their mercy if they suddenly decide not to cooperate,” Yao Jia said to Yao Bingkun with a sigh.

“Dad, why didn’t Meng Xingzhe tell me about this? No wonder he’s been saying he’s busy and hasn’t been reaching out much,” she said, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment.

She shared her troubles with him, so why didn’t he confide in her when he faced difficulties?

Yao Bingkun patted her hand reassuringly. “He might be so overwhelmed that he doesn’t have time to talk about his troubles.”

Hearing this, Yao Jia felt somewhat relieved. Meng Xingzhe had a company and many employees to be responsible for; he had to prioritize them before venting his frustrations.

That’s what a company leader should do.

“Dad, why do you think Heyi.com suddenly stopped working with Xingbei Technology?” she asked Yao Bingkun.

Yao Bingkun glanced at her and asked, “Think about Xingbei Technology’s business focus and Heyi.com’s recent actions. Then tell me what you think is going on.”

As the car smoothly traveled down the road, the pavement stretching endlessly behind them, Yao Jia’s thoughts began to unfold.

Following her father’s lead, she pondered, “Xingbei Technology specializes in functional and creative small appliances.”

“And?” Yao Bingkun prompted her. “Didn’t they establish a subsidiary?”

“Right! They have a subsidiary dedicated to developing Smart Communication Chips, which can be used in appliances to make them smart.” As she said this, a light bulb went off in her head. “Smart homes! Heyi.com sees potential in this market and wants to take over Xingbei Technology. So Wen Zhihe terminated the contract to pressure Xingbei Technology into submission!”

Yao Bingkun turned to look at Yao Jia, nodding approvingly.

But Yao Jia was anxious. “With Meng Xingzhe’s pride, there’s no way he’d let the company he built be taken over!”

So now he’s stuck, refusing to yield yet trapped in a difficult situation.

“What should he do to get out of this predicament?” Yao Jia asked her father.

Yao Bingkun asked her in return, “If you were in this situation, what would you do?”

The car turned a corner. Yao Jia vaguely felt they weren’t taking the usual route back to Kunyu Electric.

But she didn’t have time to study the path through the window. She focused on her father’s question.

“If I were in this predicament, I’d probably first try to negotiate with Heyi.com… But since they’re determined to take over my company, negotiations might be futile. So that path is blocked… Next, I’d look for new sales channels,” Yao Jia said as she thought aloud.

Yao Bingkun asked, “How would you find new sales channels?”

Yao Jia thought about it, feeling troubled on behalf of Meng Xingzhe. “Yes, how would I find them? Heyi.com dominates the e-commerce market for appliances.”

She turned to her father, the seasoned veteran. “Dad, what should Xingbei Technology do now? Can you give Meng Xingzhe some guidance?”

Just as Yao Jia finished speaking, she heard Yao Bingkun’s phone ring.

She caught a glimpse of the caller ID; it seemed to be Meng Yutang calling.

The moment Yao Bingkun answered the phone, she thought, Uncle Meng is probably calling to discuss something about Meng Xingzhe and Xingbei Technology with my father.

As the call was wrapping up, she vaguely heard Meng Yutang say to her father, “Alright then, Old Yao, let’s settle it this way!”

Yao Jia couldn’t help but shiver a little. She had a feeling that something big was about to happen again.

The last time these two old foxes conspired together, they tricked her and Meng Xingzhe into the Customer Service Department of Kunyu Electric, putting them through a grueling training session.

What could they be plotting this time?

The car came to a smooth stop. Yao Jia felt something was off about the surroundings; the underground parking lot didn’t seem to be beneath the Kunyu Building.

Puzzled, she opened the car door. Once out, she realized they were in the underground parking lot of the building where Xingbei Technology was located.

She immediately turned to her father, “Dad, what are we…?”

Her father glanced at her, his voice steady as a bell, “Come on, we’re here to rescue that kid Meng Xingzhe.”

Yao Jia widened her eyes in confusion and followed her father’s steps.

Yao Jia sat in the conference room of Xingbei Technology. Beside her was her father, Yao Bingkun. Across from them were the two bosses of Xingbei Technology, Meng Xingzhe and Bei Luonan.

The atmosphere was solemn and heavy, with everyone seeming to set aside their personal identities.

Yao Bingkun, sitting in the conference room, addressed Meng Xingzhe with a very businesslike opening.

“Xingzhe, I’m not speaking to you as an elder now. I’m here to seriously discuss the future development of our two companies from a professional standpoint.”

Yao Jia sensed her father’s expression, tone, and attitude were all serious and earnest. At this moment, he truly wasn’t treating Meng Xingzhe as a junior but as an equal in the industry.

Meng Xingzhe responded respectfully and formally, “Please, go ahead.”

“I know your subsidiary is developing a Smart Communication Chip. Can you tell me the future direction of your integrated circuit development?” Yao Bingkun asked.

Meng Xingzhe sat upright and answered earnestly, “The future direction of our integrated circuit design focuses on enhancing the performance and power efficiency of the chips to meet the needs of AI algorithm training. Based on this, we will launch AI chips tailored to various terminal scenarios.”

Yao Bingkun nodded and even smiled slightly.

“Your company is expanding rapidly. Besides functional small appliances, you’ve been venturing into the Smart Communication Chip sector. You have more ambition and strategy than us old folks. We’ve been focusing on smart home appliances, mainly starting from home appliances. Although we’ve set up R&D teams, most of the core smart chips still need to be purchased from others. You have foresight, having started your own R&D early on.”

He then shifted the conversation, “But I know your financial chain is currently very tight. After all, the integrated circuit design industry requires significant capital investment and support at every stage to achieve R&D results, especially in early R&D and subsequent product upgrades, which are very costly.”

Yao Bingkun paused, his voice steady and resonant, “So, it’s not just me who knows your financial chain is tight. Wen Zhihe likely knows too, which is why he’s taking the opportunity to pressure you, trying to swallow you up.”

Hearing her father say this, Yao Jia suddenly realized that perhaps her father had known about the situation between Heyi.com and Xingbei Technology even before the suppliers informed them.

She thought her father was calm in the face of change, but it turned out he was well-prepared and had everything under control.

“Coincidentally, Kunyu Electric’s development focus in the past two years has also been on AI and smart home technology. Your chips and integrated circuit design are actually key components for realizing AI. But with your current financial strength, trying to independently develop the chips is quite challenging.”

Meng Xingzhe and Bei Luonan listened quietly to Yao Bingkun’s statement.

After a moment of silence, Bei Luonan was the first to speak, “President Yao, we’re all quite familiar with each other, and we might become even more familiar in the future—” he glanced at Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe, then continued, “—so I won’t beat around the bush. As a junior, I’d like to ask, what’s your specific idea?”

Yao Bingkun’s lips curled into a faint smile as he said, “My idea is to merge Xingbei Technology into Kunyu Electric.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present was taken aback.

Yao Jia never expected that her father’s solution to prevent Xingbei Technology from being swallowed by Wen Zhihe was to swallow Xingbei Technology himself.

She turned to look at her father in surprise. She knew that Meng Xingzhe and Bei Luonan were just as surprised as she was, and they too were looking at Yao Bingkun.

They were all waiting to hear what else Yao Bingkun had to say.

In that moment, Yao Jia understood what Meng Yutang and Yao Bingkun had been plotting during that phone call in the car.

“Merging Xingbei Technology into Kunyu Electric is actually beneficial for both you and Kunyu Electric. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Yao Jia heard her father confidently state this conclusion.

Then she listened as her father continued to explain the reasoning in detail, “Heyi.com is trying to block your main sales channels to force you to capitulate. But if Xingbei Technology merges with Kunyu Electric, this coercion will become ineffective because your products can then be sold through Kunyu’s sales channels. Kunyu’s sales system, both online and offline, is already very mature. Facing a company as large as Kunyu, Wen Zhihe won’t be able to block you through Heyi.com. In fact, if Kunyu pulls out of Heyi.com, it would impact their traffic and revenue.

“But if you don’t merge with Kunyu Electric, in the long run, it’s not good for either of you. The two companies are bound to become competitors in the future.”

Yao Bingkun looked at Yao Jia beside him, then at Meng Xingzhe.

“Both professionally and personally, you shouldn’t want to see such a situation.”

The conference room fell into a dead silence.

Yet within the silence, the thoughts of the young people were boiling.

Yao Jia thought that since she and Meng Xingzhe developed feelings for each other, she had never really considered what kind of situation they would face in their careers, apart from their personal relationship.

Yao Bingkun was right; both companies’ future development focuses are related to AI, smart homes, and the Internet of Things.

They would inevitably become competitors.

She looked up and exchanged a glance with Meng Xingzhe. In each other’s eyes, they saw the desire to avoid a fierce business rivalry.

“Xingzhe, I know Xingbei Technology is your own startup. Letting Xingbei merge with Kunyu and turning from an independent boss into a high-level executive with constraints is not easy. But what I can promise you is that you and your Xingbei will not become a subsidiary of Kunyu.”

Yao Bingkun looked at Meng Xingzhe and gave him a promise, “I will give you the entire small appliance production line, allocate the small appliance business unit to you, give you the R&D department, and work with you on smart chip and smart home R&D. Additionally, I will provide you with continuous financial support so you can expand your R&D team and continuously upgrade chip technology without any worries.”

Yao Jia listened intently to Yao Bingkun alongside Meng Xingzhe. It was only during meetings that she heard Yao Bingkun speak so much, and everything he said was substantial.

“In the future, not only will we use our own developed chips for mass-producing smart home devices, but we will also ensure that others’ smart home devices, smart wearables, smart payment terminals, and even sensor equipment and everything related to the Internet of Things rely on our chips for their smart functionalities,” Yao Bingkun said, his eyes bright and voice firm as he looked at Meng Xingzhe. “When the time comes, how about letting the merged Kunyu Electric lead the industry’s smart transformation? Are you interested? Do you have confidence?”

Yao Jia felt her blood boil with excitement at her father’s words.

She glanced at Meng Xingzhe and Bei Luonan. Their eyes also sparkled with passion and anticipation.

Meng Xingzhe and Bei Luonan exchanged a glance, then leaned in to quietly share their thoughts.

Afterward, Meng Xingzhe turned to Yao Bingkun and solemnly said, “President Yao, I need to discuss this with my partners and the company’s executives before making a decision.”

Deciding whether to merge with Kunyu Electric was a huge dilemma for Meng Xingzhe.

He understood Yao Bingkun’s intentions. Eventually, Kunyu Electric would be handed over to Yao Jia, and Yao Bingkun didn’t want to see them become competitors after his retirement.

Just like Kunyu Electric and Jiangfeng Electric.

On a personal level, he also didn’t want such a situation to arise. The future competition between the two companies would inevitably affect their personal relationship.

This impact could even be devastating—where in the world of business and fame can a relationship withstand such tests?

Differences in positions would eventually tear their relationship apart.

However, the company was his creation. He was the independent boss. If it merged with another company, he would lose his autonomy.

How proud had he been all his life?

To go from being the one who called all the shots to someone who had to consult others before making decisions was a huge challenge for him.

How could he willingly submit to others?

On the other hand, merging Xingbei Technology with Kunyu Electric would indeed benefit the company—providing more resources, better development opportunities, and a clearer future.

Meng Xingzhe was caught in a dilemma.

He kept asking himself whether to merge with Kunyu Electric.

After the meeting, he met with Yao Jia. It was at his home, on the sofa in his living room.

This time, they didn’t entertain any wild notions. They talked seriously.

He asked Yao Jia what she thought about the matter.

He asked her, “If I don’t agree with your dad and don’t want to merge with Kunyu Electric, will it affect our relationship?”

He asked seriously, with a weight that almost felt heavy.

Yao Jia answered him just as seriously, with a weight that also felt heavy.

“In the short term, probably not. But in the future, if we really become competitors, it might.”

“So, do you want me to merge with your company?” Meng Xingzhe asked.

“I didn’t say that,” Yao Jia frowned. “But it’s undeniable that if you let Xingbei merge with Kunyu, it would be a win-win decision.”

“A win-win?” Meng Xingzhe also frowned. “After the merger, Xingbei Technology would become a subsidiary of Kunyu Electric. In the future, when you take over from your dad, wouldn’t I then become…”

He paused.

Yao Jia finished for him, “Wouldn’t you then become my subordinate?”

She watched Meng Xingzhe’s reaction and knew she had hit the mark.

She understood his frustration.

He was so proud and self-assured, living his life without bowing to anyone but dogs and ants. How could he willingly live under someone else’s authority?

“As for that, I don’t know how to ease your mind. In the future, my dad will definitely transfer the shares to me, and I will be his successor. If Xingbei Technology merges with Kunyu Electric, I will inevitably be your superior. If you can’t accept that, I don’t know what to say.”

Yao Jia suddenly gave Meng Xingzhe a wry smile.

“Are we at a dead end? If Xingbei doesn’t merge with Kunyu, we’ll become competitors in the future, and our relationship might be destroyed. But if Xingbei merges with Kunyu, you’ll have the unresolved issue of being under me, and our relationship will still be affected.”

At this, Yao Jia’s eyes dimmed.

“Meng Xingzhe, haven’t we officially started dating, and yet we’re already facing a breakup?”

Her voice trembled with a hint of tears.

Meng Xingzhe, lacking confidence, pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back to comfort her. “Don’t overthink it!”

But as he said those three words, he couldn’t help but follow Yao Jia’s thoughts, endlessly overthinking.

In the following days, Meng Xingzhe and Yao Jia didn’t meet. It was as if they had silently agreed not to see each other until the acquisition issue was resolved.

Because they didn’t know how to predict the future of their relationship.

Sometimes, Meng Xingzhe even felt a panic as if a breakup with Yao Jia was inevitable. He thought Yao Jia might feel the same.

He pondered the acquisition over and over.

In his frustration, he went to the nursing home to seek Meng Yutang’s advice.

As soon as he explained his purpose, his father told him, “Didn’t your Uncle Yao tell you? We already discussed it before he approached you about the acquisition.”

“???”

Meng Xingzhe suddenly felt like his father was setting him up again.

“So what’s your opinion? Should I agree to the acquisition?” Meng Xingzhe asked Meng Yutang.

“Me? I don’t oppose it, but whether you agree or not is up to you.”

“…” A standard non-answer.

Meng Xingzhe had hoped for wise guidance from his father. But his father’s ambiguous attitude only left him more confused.

Meng Yutang tried to shoo Meng Xingzhe away, saying he wanted to take Jiang Rui to dance with the neighbors. Meng Xingzhe clung to his father’s leg.

“Can’t you just talk to me and listen to my troubles? Was I adopted?!” Meng Xingzhe nearly shouted these words.

To prove he hadn’t adopted a child, Meng Yutang finally let Jiang Rui go dance and stayed behind.

“Son, let’s make the most of this time. Tell me your troubles and make your dad happy.”

…Meng Xingzhe seriously suspected he was adopted!

Father and son sat on the sofa, both leaning back with their legs propped on the coffee table, one leg crossed over the other.

Luckily, Jiang Rui was off dancing with the neighbors. Otherwise, seeing the two of them lounging like that, she would have posted their photo online.

“I actually have a small, dark thought that I don’t dare share with Yao Jia or Uncle Yao.” Meng Xingzhe frowned, speaking to Meng Yutang beside him.

Meng Yutang chuckled, “Let me guess.”

“Are you worried that once you merge with Kunyu Electric, when Yao Jia takes over, she’ll become your boss? Does that make you uncomfortable?”

“…Yes.” Meng Xingzhe replied gloomily.

“Why does it bother you?” Meng Yutang asked.

“I’m used to being at the top, the leader with no one ahead of me!” Meng Xingzhe said, chin raised.

“But learning to yield appropriately is also a necessary part of growth,” Meng Yutang began to impart some wisdom to his son. “Son, no one can remain proud and at the top forever. Everyone will eventually be influenced by people or things they care about, weighing their decisions and concerns. Taking a step down for this reason is not shameful.” Meng Yutang spoke earnestly to Meng Xingzhe. “A person must often give up some of their comfort to ensure the comfort of those they care about. After all, energy is conserved. If you don’t sacrifice something, how can you gain anything?”

Meng Xingzhe leaned back on the sofa, deep in thought.

He realized that Meng Yutang was right. To gain something, one must first learn to sacrifice—if he wanted Xingbei to develop better, he had to sacrifice the situation where he held all the power.

He reconsidered whether he could accept being subordinate to Yao Jia in the future, being led by her.

Suddenly, he recalled the times in the dormitory when Yao Jia would press him to do the dishes in the kitchen.

It seemed… being managed by her, following her instructions, and obeying her commands wasn’t so unbearable?

Thinking about life in the dormitory, his tense emotions suddenly relaxed.

He turned to look at Meng Yutang.

“Dad, I actually have a hidden concern.”

Before he could continue, Meng Yutang laughed. “Let me guess! Your concern is that if you and Xiao Yaojia end up together, it won’t matter if Xingbei Technology merges into Kunyu Electric because the company will belong to both of you. But the fear is that matters of the heart are unpredictable. What if you don’t end up together? By then, Xingbei Technology would have already merged into Kunyu Electric, and if you and Yao Jia break up, wouldn’t it be like losing both your girlfriend and your company?—Son, your dark side is worried that you and Yao Jia might not end up together, right?”

Meng Xingzhe stared at his father, feeling as if he were looking at an old monster, a bit terrified.

“How do you know everything?!” he blustered, trying to maintain his facade. “You really are my father, Meng Xingzhe!”

“If I were someone else’s father, I might be even more impressive.” Meng Yutang never held back when teasing his son. Meng Xingzhe almost wanted to disown him.

But he had to admire his father’s foresight and strategic thinking.

He finally understood the deeper meaning behind what Meng Yutang had told him before—his relationship with Yao Jia wasn’t just about the two of them; it involved the future of two companies. Until these matters were fully clear, they couldn’t take their relationship lightly.

Matters concerning the future of two companies couldn’t be resolved by mere romantic sentiments.

“Dad, if you were in my position, what would you do? I don’t want my decisions to be influenced by personal feelings.”

Meng Yutang laughed heartily.

“I would agree to the merger without a second thought.”

“?” Meng Xingzhe looked at Meng Yutang in confusion.

“You know your dad is a romantic. If I had to choose between the company and your mom, I’d definitely choose your mom,” Meng Yutang said proudly.

“……….” Meng Xingzhe almost fainted.

Meng Yutang chuckled. “Just kidding.” Then he became serious. “A company is not a game. Every decision you make affects the future of the company and the livelihood of every employee. If I were you, I wouldn’t deliberately try to separate personal feelings from this matter. After all, you and Yao Jia do have personal feelings for each other, and that fact can’t just be ignored. It will inevitably influence your decision. So face that influence, accept it. Avoidance is useless.”

“Have you been deliberately avoiding Xiao Yaojia lately?” Meng Yutang turned to Meng Xingzhe, smiling as he asked.

“Idiot,” Meng Yutang said to Meng Xingzhe.

“……….” Meng Xingzhe really couldn’t understand why a father would describe his own son like that!

“What’s there to avoid? Avoiding it just makes you seem narrow-minded.” Meng Yutang made a small gesture, showing it to Meng Xingzhe.

“……”

After a pause, Meng Yutang became serious again. “Son, if you really want my opinion, I would tell you that merging Xingbei Technology into Kunyu Electric is undoubtedly the most beneficial for Xingbei’s future development. Kunyu Electric is well-established and can protect Xingbei from being targeted and bullied by ambitious people like Wen Zhihe. Xingbei can also bring new vitality to a traditional home appliance company like Kunyu. The merger is a win-win situation.”

Taking a breath, Meng Yutang continued, “Even if, worst-case scenario, you and Yao Jia don’t end up together, and staying at Kunyu becomes awkward, or leaving feels like losing your company completely—so what? A real man can always create a new world. You can start a new business again.”

Meng Yutang spoke lightly, but Meng Xingzhe took it to heart.

Exactly! Who was he? He was Meng Xingzhe! When couldn’t he start a business if he wanted to? After all, he was such an outstanding person!

With this thought, Meng Xingzhe suddenly felt enlightened.

It was as if his worries had vanished.

Meng Xingzhe returned to the company and held a serious, extensive meeting with the executives.

The meeting lasted longer than ever before, with each attendee thoroughly analyzing their opinions.

As Meng Xingzhe listened, he realized that everyone was very resistant to Wen Zhihe’s acquisition intentions but very receptive to the olive branch extended by Kunyu Electric.

He asked everyone for their reasons.

His executives expressed their views one after another.

An executive said, “Wen Zhihe? Wen Zhihe is the ‘barbarian at the gate.’ He wants to acquire Xingbei maliciously. Once Xingbei Technology falls into his hands, he’ll definitely overhaul the management and replace all of us veterans. In the end, he’s just a capitalist, not someone who genuinely wants to do business. People like him only pursue profit and cashing out. He won’t respect those of us who want to work seriously!”

Another executive added, “But Kunyu Electric is different! The old head, Yao Bingkun, is absolutely a responsible entrepreneur with a sense of duty. He respects workers and has a professional belief!”

Meng Xingzhe was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected his employees to praise another company’s boss so highly. And they only praised him for being handsome. Suddenly, he felt that just being praised for his looks wasn’t satisfying his vanity…

“Moreover, the future successor of Kunyu Electric, Yao Bingkun’s daughter, Yao Jia, though young, is very capable. Recently, she made bold reforms in the company. No matter how deep-rooted some people were, if they were parasites, she cleared them out! After clearing them out, she had follow-up plans and managed to stabilize the situation without causing turmoil in the company,” another executive said.

“Also, this young lady—no, that’s not respectful enough. This Little General Manager Yao is particularly concerned about the grassroots. I heard that after she took office, she first improved the welfare benefits for departments like security, customer service, and after-sales, which are both exhausting and low-paid. This won her a lot of goodwill. If Yao Bingkun and Yao Jia can be so attentive to grassroots employees, they will certainly respect us as well. Besides, Kunyu Electric is well-established in the industry with strong resources. If they can provide us with funding and technical support, Xingbei Technology will definitely develop faster. So if we merge with such a company with a good corporate culture and strong resources, I have no objections.”

“I have no objections either. To be honest, with financial support after the merger, our technology development can progress faster, and our smart home and IoT layout can be realized better. Right now, relying on ourselves alone, development is indeed slow, and we have to constantly fend off attacks from capitalists like Wen Zhihe.”

“I agree too. I have no objections to merging with Kunyu…”

“I agree as well!”

…

As Meng Xingzhe listened, he smiled.

Alright, he had no objections.

After merging with Kunyu Electric, it simply meant his independent company would cease to exist.

But when he thought about it, holding onto a company with limited growth as the big boss was far less appealing than merging into a large corporation with boundless prospects, even if it meant being the second-in-command.

Though he would no longer be the top boss, the benefits for the company’s future, the employees, the development of smart chips, the smart home industry, and the smart Internet of Things were undeniable.

For these benefits, he was willing to sacrifice a bit of his ego, transitioning from the big boss to the second boss.

He was also ready to face the risk that if one day things didn’t work out between him and Yao Jia, the company would still be part of Kunyu Electric.

The future is full of uncertainties, and worrying about it to the point of hesitating at every step would be a waste.

Who cares what the future holds? Living without regrets in the present is what truly matters.

The same goes for his relationship with Yao Jia. If they cherish each day together, how could they not make it to the end?

Meng Xingzhe gathered all the executives’ opinions and consulted Bei Luonan before finally expressing his intentions to Yao Bingkun.

He accepted the proposal for Kunyu Electric to acquire Xingbei Technology.

In the spacious and bright meeting room of Kunyu Electric, after he announced his decision, Yao Bingkun stood up.

He extended his hand for a handshake.

At that moment, Meng Xingzhe felt that Yao Bingkun was both the Chairman and a gratified father figure.

“My child, thank you for finally accepting my proposal. I will grow old one day, and I don’t want to see the younger generation torn apart by interests. Uniting you in your careers is the best outcome, regardless of whether you can stay together emotionally in the future. But I hope you can! Let me tell you now, although Kunyu Electric is acquiring Xingbei, it’s not swallowing it. You and Yao Jia will both be the future masters of Kunyu Electric. I will give you and her equal voting rights. For major decisions, you must discuss them together; there will be no situation where one dominates the other. If you reach an impasse, I will have the final say.”

Listening to Yao Bingkun’s comforting tone, Meng Xingzhe felt a deep sense of relief.

That evening, after finalizing the acquisition, Meng Xingzhe took Yao Jia out for dinner.

Neither of them said anything special, but the potential crisis that had almost fractured their relationship naturally dissipated.

As they were about to finish eating, Yao Jia quietly took out a card from her small bag and handed it to Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, “What’s this for this time?”

Yao Jia replied, “I don’t know what to call it. It’s just that you were willing to compromise in the end, and I feel both moved and touched. This must have been a very difficult decision for you, right?”

Even though Yao Bingkun had the final say, and in the future, major decisions would require mutual discussion, from an outsider’s perspective, it appeared as if Meng Xingzhe was accepting her leadership.

Meng Xingzhe smiled at Yao Jia, his expression carefree. “It’s not as hard as when you force me to wash dishes.”

Yao Jia playfully punched him, then asked, “Will you regret handing Xingbei over to Kunyu in the future?”

Meng Xingzhe looked at her, his voice hoarse as he countered, “If I asked you not to go home today and to come with me, would you regret giving yourself to me in the future?”

When he asked this, his gaze was deep and serious, with something unspoken lingering in his eyes.

That something only became clear to Yao Jia when she lay on Meng Xingzhe’s pillow, breathing lightly and looking at him again.

It was both love and desire.

Facing these unspoken feelings, Yao Jia blushed, her heart racing, yet she stubbornly refused to back down, telling him, “We’ll see if we try!”

Meng Xingzhe said, “Then let’s try.”

He immediately took Yao Jia back to his place. He thought that since he had already compromised to listen to her, being intimate with her wouldn’t be crossing any lines.

It was simply a natural progression of their feelings.

This time, he remembered to change the lock code as soon as they got home.

Yao Jia hurriedly informed her family that she would be staying at Ling Xiaoxin’s place and wouldn’t be coming home.

Then her phone disappeared.

Her clothes disappeared too.

She lay on Meng Xingzhe’s king-size bed, tossed and turned by him.

Only then did she realize that a man’s ability to tease a woman was innate. She was almost driven to tears by his teasing.

Yet within those tears of surrender, there was an undeniable, indescribable joy.

She wondered why this matter was so strange, wanting to say no, yet also wanting to indulge in this slightly painful joy.

She rested her head on his pillow, looking into his eyes.

There was an intensity of love and desire that couldn’t be dissolved. He reached out to caress her face, her lips, and more.

Sweat dripped from his forehead onto her face.

She closed her eyes, listening to him hoarsely call her name.

She was in pain and joy, softly responding.

She felt like she was about to faint.

— Translator’s Notes —

• Kumamon bear: Kumamon is a popular Japanese mascot character, a black bear representing Kumamoto Prefecture, known for its cute and energetic personality and often featured on merchandise like masks.

• Xu Sanduo: Xu Sanduo is the protagonist of the Chinese TV series ‘Soldiers Sortie’ (2006), a soldier famous for his unyielding perseverance and determination in overcoming hardships.