Back to the teenage years

Chapter 608 I'll Cook You a Bowl of Noodles

The summer breeze is intoxicating.

Lu Yuanzhou stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of Jinzhao Industrial.

Outside the window is the night view of Lijin, with the Xiangjiang River winding by and the lights on both banks like an inverted Milky Way.

Further away, the lights of Qingwu Commercial Pedestrian Street on Huangxing South Road were still on. It was a lighting system that he had imported from abroad, which should have shone brightly on the opening night.

Now, it has become the biggest joke in all of Ritu.

He held his phone, turned on the speakerphone, and Xu Kai's deep voice blared continuously: "What did you promise me back then? That everything was under control? And now? This has blown up so much, with all sorts of media outlets reporting on it. Yang Jiarong seized on this as a pretext, and even Lu Feng backed down! Think carefully about the consequences of related-party transactions and tax investigations!"

Xu Kai's voice was sharp as a knife, each word piercing his eardrums.

Then, Lu Yuanzhou hung up the phone.

He understood Xu Kai's anxiety, but he had no interest in comforting him.

We're all in this together; we share the same fate. It's only right to be more considerate of each other. Perhaps that's not quite right either. He wasn't the legal representative of Jinzhao Industrial, and he hadn't personally given Xu Kai any benefits. Everything was a business operation orchestrated by Xiongsen Group through layers of outsourced companies.

What does it mean?

If something happens on Qingwu Pedestrian Street, it means Xu Kai is in trouble, but that doesn't mean Lu Yuanzhou will be in trouble. Even if this street is in turmoil today, he's confident he can escape unscathed! At least legally, no matter how big the storm, it won't get him wet.

Of course, the situation is far from that point now. Liu Mingde was deeply involved in this project, so it's not surprising that he had some materials related to Jinzhao's transactions. It's also normal that these materials ended up in Zhang Yunqi's hands, given that Liu Mingde already harbors deep hatred for him. However, while these materials may be sensational and useful, they are far from sufficient to seize Jinzhao.

Zhang Yunqi is slightly better than Liu Mingde, but that's about all he can achieve. Business is a competition of capital, leverage, and the real power to mobilize resources!
Just then, the office door was gently knocked on and pushed open.

A tall, slender young woman walked in.

This is Su Nan, Lu Yuanzhou's assistant. She is a high-achieving graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and was brought into the Xiongsen Group by Lu Yuanzhou as soon as she returned to China.

Su Nan wore a well-tailored black suit skirt, her hair was neatly pinned up, revealing her long, fair neck. She had a beautiful face and a capable demeanor, and was considered Lu Yuanzhou's most capable confidante.

Su Nan gently placed a document on Lu Yuanzhou's desk, her voice clear: "President Lu, after several rounds of secret negotiations, the major shareholders of Xiangtai Pharmaceutical have basically reached an agreement on the restructuring. This is a summary of the core terms of the preliminary restructuring plan, as well as our subsequent shareholding increase plan calculations."

Lu Yuanzhou didn't look through it immediately; his gaze fell on his female assistant's face: "What about the audit?"

Su Nan said, "The audit team will be stationed at Xiangtai Pharmaceutical on July 1st. This has been decided. The specific team members will be sent out by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection next Wednesday."

Lu Yuanzhou nodded: "Then let Zhao Mingxuan continue to intensify his efforts and quietly accumulate shares. Control the pace well, and the key is to gather as many shares outside the circulating supply as possible into the few accounts we designate."

Su Nan deftly jotted down the key points: "Understood, I will inform General Manager Zhao."

Lu Yuanzhou added, "Also, try to leak this news to a small circle. After all, some people are waiting to join in the fun."

Su Nan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She then placed another document on the table: "President Lu, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bamboo Fragrance Ancient Alley project is scheduled for 9:00 AM tomorrow. This is the list of media invitees and the press release."

Lu Yuanzhou smiled and said, "Let's start construction directly. The mobilization meeting is canceled. We're in the eye of the storm right now, so we need to keep a low profile."

After a pause, he continued, "Recently, there have been many opinions within the group regarding the Qingwu Commercial Pedestrian Street project, right? Please make arrangements for me to attend Xiongsen's board meeting next week."

Su Nan nodded: "I'll coordinate the time and prepare the materials."

After saying that, she left in her high heels, but when she reached the door, she suddenly stopped, looked down at the ground, and then turned to say, "By the way, this weekend, Miss Yufei and her friends have an outdoor cycling activity planned to go to Black Elk Peak."

Lu Yuanzhou hummed in agreement: "Understood."

The door closed again.

Lu Yuanzhou returned to his desk and sat down.

On the mahogany table sat a framed photograph. He reached out and touched the photograph. The background of the photograph was the old osmanthus tree in the Bamboo Fragrance Alley, with its thick trunk and canopy-like branches.

Below the photo is a line of pencil writing, childlike yet full of innocence: "Tree Hole, oh tree hole, am I the prettiest girl in the Bamboo Fragrance Kingdom?"

******
The summer night breeze cannot dispel the restless spring passion.

Zhang Yunqi felt that there were two very distinctive oddballs in his dormitory.

One of them is Ma Rulong. This guy has an excessive amount of hormones and is always in heat. He has chased after countless girls, but he hasn't managed to get one of them. His reputation at school is completely ruined, to the point that even female dogs have to avoid him now.

One of them is Song Junxian. Damn it, he's so handsome, has such a great body, and such a good-looking face, yet he ignores all the girls waiting to be favored and spends all his time thinking about that Lin Lin. To be honest, even Yang Guo would be ashamed of himself for wearing that green hat.

When Zhang Yunqi heard him mention Lin Lin again, he quickly stopped him and told everyone to drink.

Li Yufei sat next to Zhang Yunqi. She didn't eat much, and most of the time she watched the group of boys drink and brag with a smile on her face. Occasionally she would say a word, gentle and generous, making the people in dormitory 213 feel that this fairy-like woman wasn't so cold after all. As for her relationship with Zhang Yunqi, everyone tactfully didn't mention it.

After a few rounds of drinks, Ma Rulong was a little tipsy and became even bolder. He suddenly asked Li Yufei, "Beautiful Yufei, I suddenly have a question for you."

Li Yufei said, "What? Why are you taking it so seriously?"

Ma Rulong said, "Exactly, tell me, what kind of guys do you girls like?"

Li Yufei smiled, resting her fair chin on her hand: "Well, it depends on the situation. Sometimes it depends on feelings, sometimes it depends on how you get along. It's hard to generalize."

Ma Rulong was a little skeptical: "Does that depend on the situation?"

Li Yufei smiled and said, "Otherwise what?"

He Linshen followed Ma Rulong's lead: "It seems that Old Ma has another touching love story from Hunan University. Tell us about it."

Ma Rulong scratched his head and said, "The exams are coming up soon. A few days ago, I noticed that Cao Ni from the English department was always studying in the classroom. I took the opportunity to sit next to her, and we got to know each other better. Once, I wanted to give her a hint, so I asked her what kind of guys she liked. She told me that all girls are the same and like handsome guys, but you're an exception."

"So, does she mean she likes you even if you're not handsome?"

Ma Rulong shook his head: "At the time, she laughed and said: 'Even if you're handsome, I won't like you because you're so poor!'"

The entire table fell silent for two seconds.

He Lin spat out a mouthful of beer: "You're still the best!"

Ma Rulong couldn't hold back any longer: "Damn it, those words are too damaging, it's practically a class attack! How can he be a successor of socialism? Come on, let's not talk about this anymore, let's have a drink."

The city lights are bright, and the glasses are full of wine.

They drank until after 9 p.m., leaving the table in a mess of cups and plates, with beer bottles scattered all over the floor.

The group of guys had drunk quite a bit and, thinking themselves experts, greeted Zhang Yunqi and Li Yufei before walking off arm in arm, swaying and staggering.

Zhang Yunqi paid the bill and drove Li Yufei home.

Deep night.

The streetlights twinkled in the dim light of the decadent streets.

It's currently the busiest time of day on this street, filled with the aroma of cooking, bustling crowds, and the laughter of young girls mingling with the shouts of vendors—a vibrant and energetic summer atmosphere. Amidst the cacophony, the sound of karaoke drifts in—Richie Jen's "Too Softhearted."
You're always too soft-hearted, too soft-hearted.

You cried alone until dawn, loving that person without regret.

I know you're not that strong at all.

……

As the two strolled through the bustling street, Li Yufei suddenly turned her head and asked, "Why do you think this street is named 'Degenerate'?"

Zhang Yunqi thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I don't know either. Maybe the student who chose this name thought that people should rebel cautiously within the rules so that they don't waste their youth."

Li Yufei smiled and said, "Sometimes you're rational, sometimes you're emotional."

Zhang Yunqi nodded and said, "Indeed, sometimes I don't even understand myself. Let's go."

As they talked, the two strolled through the intersection of the decadent street, gradually leaving the noisy crowd behind. The night breeze dispelled the summer heat, and the sycamore leaves cast two swaying shadows under the streetlights.

When Zhang Yunqi arrived at Lushan South Road, he saw an open-air movie being shown on the playground of a normal university.

The movie is Stephen Chow's "Forbidden City Cop".

Li Yufei suddenly stopped in her tracks: "Should we take a look?"

Zhang Yun nodded and said okay.

He spent four yuan to buy two tickets. The girl next to him was quite famous at the university. To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, the two sat in a dark spot at the very back.

Zhang Yunqi couldn't remember how many times he had watched the movie "Forbidden City Cop" in his previous life. The plot was very vague, and now, compared to Stephen Chow's other works, he felt it was only a mediocre film with some awkward parts. The only thing that impressed him the most was Carina Lau's repeated line: "Honey, are you hungry? I'll go cook you a bowl of noodles."

The weight of these words can perhaps only be truly understood by older men who have experienced the harsh realities of life and the vicissitudes of time.

The movie was already halfway through, and bursts of laughter occasionally erupted from the playground. It was unavoidable; entertainment options were scarce in those days. Aside from outdoor activities, cultural and entertainment venues like karaoke bars and dance halls were too expensive. Even online platforms like "Shui Mu Qing Hua" and "Xiao Bai He" were just emerging, requiring access from computer labs or computer labs. Ordinary university students mainly cultivated their minds by playing cards and mahjong; watching a movie was already a significant expense. However, these open-air movies were a benefit provided by the university, offering exceptional value and making them very popular among university students of that era.

Li Yufei was in a good mood, watching the projection on the screen with great interest: "I suddenly remembered the last time we watched a movie together was two years ago, 'Léon: The Professional.' I remember it snowed heavily that year. Brother Guibing even recited a poem to me with great affection."

Zhang Yunqi laughed and said, "I didn't recognize it. What kind of poem is it?"

Li Yufei laughed and said, "With such heavy snow, there's really no wish that can't be fulfilled."

Zhang Yunqi found it hard to imagine Wang Guibing, such a rough and unrefined man, reciting Wang Guozhen's poems with such deep emotion, and he held back his laughter.

Li Yufei asked, "Do you think Jean Reno in 'Léon: The Professional' is better, or Stephen Chow in this movie?"

Zhang Yunqi thought for a moment: "One is a man in reality, and the other is a god in a fairy tale. Girls need fairy tales, while men have to face reality."

There's some truth to that.

So which one do you think is better?

"I already have someone I think is good for me."

＊＊＊＊＊＊
It was nearly midnight when the show ended.

The students dispersed in twos and threes, leaving only a few staff members packing up equipment on the playground.

The evening breeze rustled the fallen leaves.

The two left the playground, walked through the sparse shadows of trees on the campus of the Normal University, and headed towards Yuelu Mountain along the archway road.

After passing Dongfanghong Square, we turned into the familiar tree-lined path.

A crescent moon hung in the sky, its warm light illuminating the way ahead. The evening breeze was a little cool, and a few strands of hair on Li Yufei's neck were blown by the wind, carrying a subtle fragrance.

When they arrived at the South Gate Villa, Li Yufei had been a guest there many times before. She had her own bedroom and knew the place well, so Zhang Yunqi didn't need to make any arrangements.

Zhang Yunqi took his pajamas to shower, and went straight back to his room to go to bed after showering. He couldn't fall asleep easily, so he picked up a copy of "Zizhi Tongjian" from the bedside table. He flipped to the corner where the "Han Annals" section was written. He wasn't very interested in the book, but it was good for putting him to sleep.

As I read, the moonlight outside the window was still, and the shadow of the camphor tree was cast on the curtains, swaying slightly. In the distance, I could faintly hear the remaining sporadic noises from Lushan South Road.

Duoduoduo...

Then there was a knock on the door.

Then, Li Yufei's soft voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Yunqi, are you asleep?"

"no, what happened?"

"This weekend... Xiaoman and the others invited me to go to Black Elk Peak. Do you have time?"

"Have."

"Ok!"

"Yufei?"

"Ok?"

"I have a question for you."

"what?"

"Yeah, why are you all alone on Fallen Street today?" Zhang Yunqi's voice came through the door: "Do you know that you're a celebrity now, and a girl at that? It's dangerous for you to be out alone?"

There was silence outside the door for a moment.

Li Yufei was wearing a loose white shirt, barefoot, leaning against the corridor wall. Her two legs, exposed in the moonlight, were long and straight. Her voice was very soft: "It's okay."

"How could nothing be wrong? Security was withdrawn after Qiao Zhiwu's incident. I'll have Ma Shi arrange two more for you later."

"Ah."

"Then, get some rest."

"Um……"

"Good night."

"Clouds rise..."

"Ok?"

Are you hungry?

"what happened?"

"I'll cook you a bowl of noodles."

******
(End of this chapter)